Chapter 224
Chapter 224
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Waiting for the Semester to Start (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Haha! Just like Shirone. What kind of letter is this long?”
It was a rare sight to see his son smiling so brightly at home. Finally conceding defeat, he lowered his newspaper and asked Iruki.
“Is that the boy you mentioned?”
“Yes, he sent a letter. He's a very good writer.”
“If you're that close, invite him over. An ‘Unlocker,’ you say? I'd like to meet him.”
“...Alright. I'll mention it to him.”
Iruki's reply was devoid of any spirit. Introducing Shirone wasn't the problem; introducing his eccentric father to his friends was a massive one.
*‘In six days, Father.’*
@
The central city of Sadia was the region in Tormia where the most provincial nobles resided.
As a renowned granary region, its finances were robust, so few powers sought to expand outward. However, it was characterized by fierce internal competition for territory, leading to frequent shifts in hierarchy. Nade's family, the Wests, was no exception.
During the break, Nade practically lived in his workshop. Having stayed up for two days straight, his eyes were sunken and hollow.
The workshop looked like an extension of the Paranormal Research Society's clubroom. Tools of unknown purpose were scattered across the floor, and the engine part of some mechanical device lay on a table.
“Hoo, maybe I'll call it a day.”
The season was shifting to autumn, but the workshop was still stuffy and hot. As he threw off his shirt, a scar running diagonally across his back was revealed. It was an old wound, but it sometimes throbbed with unbearable pain.
Nade pulled a tarp over the table to cover it. If his family found out, they would raise hell about him wasting money on useless things.
Though they were now in decline, just three generations ago, half of the Sadia granary had belonged to the West family.
Nade had never been told the reason for his family's decline. But after seventeen years of life, he suspected there was no special reason. They had simply spent it all.
“Nade, Nade.”
Returning to the mansion, he heard a voice that made his heart stop.
Ironically, the voice belonged to his mother, but to Nade, she was the most terrifying person in the world.
“Yes, Mother.”
“You're good with machines, aren't you? Go over to the Jones family and fix something for them.”
“Let me just get a little sleep, and then I'll go.”
His mother's face twisted into a monstrous scowl. It was like a lock that rendered Nade completely powerless.
He had defied her when he was younger. But she had resorted to self-harm, turning him into the worst kind of unfilial son.
He couldn't win against a mother who would harm her own body. No child in the world could ever win against a parent.
“It’s because I’m tired. I haven’t slept in two days.”
“What on earth do you do all day? You're not out earning money, nor are you helpful around the house. I didn't tell you not to sleep, so why are you saying you can't go?”
Nade fought to control his facial muscles. He didn’t want to wear the same expression as his mother.
“Can't you see how hard my life is? Do you have any idea how much money it costs to send you to that fancy magic academy? You might as well just disappear from this house. I don't think I can support you anymore.”
Nade tried to remember when she had ever supported him. But no such memory existed. There was only the wretched scar on his back, throbbing with pain.
No one in the West family ever tried to use their assets to start even a small business. They did nothing. Because they had never done anything.
“I'm sorry, Mom. I understand. I'll go.”
A burning pain shot through Nade's scar. But he couldn't show it. The family was powerless against her. No, they simply avoided her, not wanting to deal with her.
And on the days she did harm herself, all the family's frustrations would be unleashed upon Nade.
When he was young, he didn't understand why he was the only one who had to endure it. But as he grew up, he realized there was no reason at all.
Nade's family pushed everything onto others, and he was the only one who knew he couldn't do the same.
“Go quickly, before the sun sets. The Jones family is looking for someone to check their boiler. Have you ever thought about becoming a repairman?”
“I think I'll be able to graduate soon. Please just let me finish school first.”
“Is that damn school some kind of parasite that teaches nothing and just sucks up money? I'd rather just die.”
Nade wanted to understand his mother.
She had married into a wealthy family, only to see everyone spend money lavishly; it was understandable that she would be heartbroken.
But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find a reason why he should have to become a boiler repairman for their sake.
As his mother returned to the mansion, a hot breath escaped through Nade's clenched teeth.
He felt as if every single one of his cells was seething with murderous intent. Just a little more... if it built up just a little more, he would explode.
“Young master, a letter... Eek!”
The butler who had run up to him turned pale. Only then did Nade snap out of it and shake his head. The moment he realized his mother's face was also dwelling within him, a second wave of pain washed over him.
“Ah, it's just lack of sleep. What is it?”
“A-a letter... It’s from someone named Shirone.”
“What? Shirone?”
Nade's face instantly brightened. He snatched the letter and began reading the words written in Shirone's hand.
The moment he saw the line saying 'I miss you,' a wave of sorrow washed over him, and tears welled up in his eyes.
“Just wait a little longer, Shirone! I'll be there soon!”
Nade clutched the letter and left the mansion. The Jones family wouldn't need to have their boiler repaired for the next ten years.
@
Seriel's family, the Fortress clan, had their main estate in the city of Creas, just like Amy's.
Their noble rank wasn't particularly high, but they were a distinguished family that had produced many great doctors, making them well-known throughout the kingdom.
At school, she was the best friend of the model student Amy, but at home, she was a wild filly who pushed her aspiring doctor of a younger brother to the forefront while she slacked off in the back.
Today was the third day she was in hiding, avoiding her mother's nagging. The room of her younger brother, who was expected to become a top doctor, was a nagging-free zone that her family rarely entered.
“Sob, sob! What am I going to do? This is so moving.”
Seriel, who had been reading a romance novel under the covers, finally couldn't hold it in and burst into tears.
Her younger brother, Veil, sitting at his desk, was about to lose his mind.
“Ugh, be quiet! I'm studying! Go back to your own room! Or at least stop your blubbering.”
Seriel hugged the novel that had ended in tragedy, savoring the lingering emotions. By her own assessment, it was one of the top-tier stories she had read during the break.
“It was such a sad love story. Ah, is there a man like Joseph out there somewhere?”
Veil stopped writing and looked up.
“There is.”
“Really? Who?”
“Joseph.”
“You're asking for it! Are you messing with your older sister?”
“Why? If he doesn't exist in reality, you might as well cling to a fictional character, hehe.”
Seriel glared at the back of her brother's head and scowled. She'd been putting up with him because she was freeloading in his room for a few days, but now he was really trying to walk all over her.
Just then, the door opened, and along with her mother's nagging, a letter fell to the floor with a soft thud.
“A letter came! I won't tell you to study, so just come out and stop bothering your brother. If you're going to laze around, at least wash up. I wonder if she'll ever get married like this. Tsk, tsk.”
Seriel pouted and crawled to the foot of the bed.
Since it was a letter, she'd assumed it was from Amy, but the sender was someone unexpected.
“Huh? It's Shirone! Shirone!”
Seriel quickly opened the envelope and read it. Her eyes immediately filled with affection. She sniffed the scent lingering on the paper, then hugged the letter to her chest and murmured.
“Ah, is there a man like Shirone out there somewhere?”
Veil, who had been engrossed in his book, looked up with hollow eyes.
*‘Shirone is a real person, you idiot. Just go ask him out.’*
The words rose to his throat, but he knew that woman wouldn't hear a thing. After days of burying herself in novels, she clearly wasn't in her right mind.
@
Creas Municipal Training Grounds.
Mark paid the expensive entrance fee and entered the training grounds. Having succeeded in an early promotion alongside Maria, he would be assigned to Class Six starting next semester, and his heart was already fluttering with excitement.
*‘Finally, I'll have underclassmen in the advanced course too.’*
If he hadn't met Shirone, a day like this would never have come. After his defeat at the Uncrossable Bridge, he had made Shirone his role model and worked tirelessly, which allowed him to achieve his goal.
“Hey, Maria.”
“You're here? A little earlier than yesterday, huh?”
Maria, who was already waiting at the training grounds, teased him lightly, and Mark laughed. She, who had once been so depressed that she activated the mechanism on the Uncrossable Bridge and endangered the students, had brightened up considerably after becoming Thadd's top disciple.
“Sorry. My father was giving me the side-eye. He kept asking why I had to go out and train when there are so many good instructors at the Magic Association.”
“That's true. The Slider family is involved with the Magic Association. Are you sure you're okay continuing with us?”
“No problem. You know me, when I say I'll do something, I do it.”
Mark winked and gave a thumbs-up. In truth, he'd had to skip breakfast just to escape. At some point, the fifteen-year-old boy had started to see the nineteen-year-old girl as a woman.
*‘I must have been completely out of my mind. To think I ever considered tormenting such a cute girl.’*
“Hey! Waited long? Sorry I'm late.”
As Thadd ran up from the entrance of the training grounds, Mark's expression soured. He was none other than his greatest rival. It was ridiculous for a master and disciple to be in a tug-of-war over one girl, but the age gap between a twenty-six-year-old man and a nineteen-year-old woman was perfectly fine, and the problem was that Thadd also seemed interested.
Whether she knew what was on Mark's mind or not, Maria greeted Thadd with a smile more affectionate than anyone's.
“Not at all. We just got here ourselves.”
“Yeah. I was a bit late seeing the Headmaster off.”
“Oh, where did the Headmaster go?”
“Yeah. Something came up. Anyway, sorry for making you wait.”
Mark, left out of the conversation, felt uneasy. He was sick of Thadd's womanizing personality, but the fact that he was especially kind to Maria was a thorn in his side.
Just then, Maria clapped her hands and pulled a letter from her bag.
“Oh, right! Did you see this? A letter came from Senior Shirone.”
“Huh? From Senior Shirone? I didn't get one.”
“You probably did. I just got mine on the way out. I haven't even read it yet.”
Maria shook the envelope as if showing it off, then took out the letter and began to read. Her expression melted as she read the contents, which were filled with heartfelt affection.
“Ah, he's such a wonderful person. He's strong, yet so kind. Senior Amy must be so happy dating Senior Shirone.”
A strange tension flickered across Thadd's face.
To be honest, he had been about seventy percent sure that Maria was completely smitten with him. But hearing her now, he started to think it might be nothing more than simple admiration.
Seeing Thadd's dejection, Mark felt a sense of triumph.
Most of the junior girls talked like Maria, so he didn't feel jealous of Shirone.
Besides, wasn't there an insurmountable wall named Amy standing by Shirone's side?
*‘Great! My goal to follow in Senior Shirone's footsteps has just gotten stronger!’*
Anxious, Thadd tried to recover.
“Haha! Right. Shirone is cool, I'll give him that. But don't people usually prefer someone older? If not, at least someone their own age. Younger guys are no fun, right?”
Not to be outdone, Mark retorted.
“Who says that? They say love knows no borders, so what does age matter?”
“Age is more important than borders. How about we ask Maria? Older or younger, which would you choose?”
Maria propped her chin on her hand, pretending to think, then playfully stuck out her tongue and evaded the question.
“Heehee, who knows?”
Mark and Thadd, who had been waiting in anticipation, were left feeling deflated. Perhaps she was the true master of playing hard to get.
In any case, they couldn't stand around chatting after paying such a steep entrance fee. Before starting the main lesson, Mark and Maria warmed up their minds with sequence formulas. Meanwhile, Thadd gazed at the sky, thinking of Shirone.
*‘The break is almost over. What kind of trouble will he get into when he comes back?’*
The path Shirone had walked since enrolling in the magic academy was truly unparalleled in the school's entire history.
But that was precisely why he was worried.
It all depended on the answer his master would bring back, but if permission was granted, Shirone's school life would change completely from how it had been until now.
*‘This time won't be easy, Shirone.’*