Chapter 504: Jealousy is My Power (4)
Chapter 504: Jealousy is My Power (4)
The Emperor of the Empire was visiting the Academy.
Furthermore, he was arriving with two of the only three Masters on the entire continent in tow. This was news that would inevitably send shockwaves not just through the Academy, but across the whole continent.
Who was the Emperor?
He was one of the absolute sovereigns of the continent.
From the sprawling archipelagos across the seas to the very land we stood upon, the continent was teeming with various nations. Of course, most were merely weak states—small principalities or city-states.
Among them, only a few possessed the national power to truly be called 'countries.'
The Empire, the Holy Kingdom, and the Southern Kingdoms—a confederation of smaller realms.
These were the only three nations that led the continental order. Each possessed at least one Master, the symbol of their respective nations, and had maintained stable rule for centuries centered around them.
The Empire was the pinnacle of them all.
It was a power to which even the Holy Kingdom and the Southern Kingdoms had to defer. Moreover, because the Empire maintained the most centralized system among the three, its prestige was so overwhelming that it was difficult to find anything comparable.
Perhaps only the Masters of other nations could expect to be treated as equals.
And now, the very heart of this continental power was coming to the Academy.
The Academy had no choice but to be on high alert, like a cat that had just given birth. Unlike the Masters, who rarely interfered in secular affairs without significant cause, the Emperor of the Empire was a man who functioned as a statesman in his own right.
In a sense, he was a more dangerous existence than a Master.
But the shocking news didn't end there. Rumors were spreading like wildfire that the Great Witch herself would be searching the Academy for a disciple to inherit her secret arts.
It was a golden opportunity to gain the enlightenment of the Matriarch of the Southern Kingdoms and a State Preceptor.
An atmosphere thick with tension and excitement naturally flooded the Academy. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, all sorts of political deals were likely being struck according to the interests of each nation.
None of that mattered to me.
In a theater where politics was the main objective, there was precious little room for me to maneuver. Besides, I had never been particularly interested in politics to begin with.
More importantly, the issues I was currently facing were far too critical.
First, the vampire infiltration.
Second, the private audience with the Emperor.
And the last one... I was just about to resolve it.
"What exactly happened?"
After finishing my brief conversation with the Princess, I was walking briskly.
The Emperor was scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Since the Academy was within arm's reach via the Warp Gate, it wouldn't take long.
I needed to get my formal attire ready immediately.
As I headed toward the city, one person naturally followed behind me.
'Senior Elsie.'
To be precise, it was the Senior Elsie from the future. I had no idea why she had appeared at this specific moment.
"I wonder? I'd like to ask that myself... More importantly, do you know me? Why are you accepting this so naturally?"
"Where did the original Senior Elsie go?"
"How should I know?"
She let out a haughty snort, and for a moment, I saw a glimpse of the Senior Elsie I knew.
The Senior Elsie from before she got hit by my hand axe, that is.
I wondered for a split second if repeating the same process would make her more cooperative.
It was a ridiculous thought, of course. I couldn't just assault someone simply because they were being uncooperative. Besides, her skill level was nothing to scoff at.
An 'Archmage.'
She had reached a level that at least deserved that glorious title. I could tell just by looking at her refined mana and the original spell formulas she used to mix two elements.
Suddenly, a scene from a dream flashed through my mind.
In the memories of the man from the future, I thought I heard something about a 'Boundary'...
I couldn't remember the details. I simply associated it with the fact that Senior Elsie had recently been on the verge of a breakthrough in her realm.
One way or another, Senior Elsie must have seen the 'Boundary.'
Sir Reynold's keepsake had the effect of making the 'Boundary' easier to see. Furthermore, since Senior Elsie's goal was to become an 'Archmage,' encountering the 'Boundary' in the future was inevitable.
Did some anomaly occur during that process?
It was impossible to know for now.
So, as we reached a secluded path, I came to a halt and decided to get straight to the point.
"......It's time you gave her back."
"Gave what back?"
It was a request with clear intent. Nevertheless, Senior Elsie merely averted her gaze and tried to change the subject.
I could feel her stubbornness, as if she were determined to hear the words explicitly from my lips.
In the end, I had no choice but to meet her expectations.
"I'm talking about the 'Senior Elsie' I know... She was in the middle of crucial training. She has her Graduation Mission coming up, and she needs to raise her realm just in case, doesn't she?"
The 'Graduation Mission.'
It was literally the final task performed to receive a diploma from the Academy. The unique thing about it was that one could not receive help from anyone.
The goal of the Graduation Mission was to face one's limits by performing the task entirely alone.
Naturally, many people were killed or injured during this process. Every year, about thirty percent of the prospective graduates became casualties while carrying out their missions.
It was already autumn. Winter would be here soon, and once it arrived, Senior Delphine and Senior Elsie would have to walk a lonely path where no one could help them.
For about two months, until the end of winter when they would return to prepare for graduation.
Naturally, I would have no way to help Senior Elsie during that time. Forget helping; I'd be lucky if we could even stay in contact.
The difficulty of a Graduation Mission varied wildly depending on the student's level. For a powerhouse like Senior Elsie, it wouldn't be strange if she were ordered to subjugate a named-class demonic beast single-handedly.
"Graduation Mission? Kid, I handled that just fine back in my—"
"Senior Elsie has drawn too much attention from the Dark Cult."
At my calm statement, Senior Elsie's moving lips faltered.
It meant my persuasion was working. I let out a sigh and spoke again.
"We don't know what might happen. And besides, the current Senior Elsie is too strange. Did you see Her Highness the Princess's face earlier?"
Senior Elsie groaned and looked away.
It was understandable. When she met the Princess, Senior Elsie had offered a polite bow and introduced herself as 'Elsie of the Lainella Family.'
How should I describe the expression on the Princess's face when she saw that?
It was a look of pure shock and horror. That was how much of a stranger this 'Senior Elsie' was to us.
And it wasn't just us; Senior Elsie likely perceived us as strangers as well. This meant she wouldn't be able to react in real-time to the rapidly changing political situation.
Not that I could sit her down and explain everything that had happened when time was of the essence.
Senior Elsie wasn't stupid enough not to realize this.
"......So much has changed."
Her tone was calm, but it was a sentiment filled with deep regret.
Her blue eyes settled into a quiet stillness. Her gaze, looking past the path, seemed somewhat lonely.
I couldn't possibly know exactly how she felt.
I tried my best to comfort her using logic.
"Lupin is alive, isn't he?"
"Right. Then that's enough."
With a bitter smile, Senior Elsie whispered.
"To be honest, I still feel like I'm dreaming. I thought for sure I was dead. At least at the end, I was able to save someone precious..."
With those words, her gaze drifted toward me.
I had no intention of meeting those blue eyes. I shifted my vision slightly to the side.
The person she had saved wasn't me. It was just a pitiful man who had to walk a different path than mine.
I wasn't cruel enough to recite the miserable future that man had to endure.
Realizing this, a melancholy smile touched Senior Elsie's lips.
"......It was a relief. Right, fine. I wanted to take it easy for a while, but well."
With a tone that sounded almost refreshed, Senior Elsie stretched her arms out wide.
"This isn't my time, is it? I get it, Junior... If that's how it is, there's nothing I can do. I'll leave quietly."
"Drinking a lot of alcohol should do the trick."
I threw that out there just in case her heart wavered.
Senior Elsie looked at me with surprised eyes for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
"You have the look of someone who knows something."
I maintained my right to remain silent.
It was a brief encounter, but perhaps because the man's emotions had transferred to me, I felt a strange reluctance to let Senior Elsie go so hollowly.
But what could I do?
The person important to me wasn't the 'Senior Elsie' before my eyes. It was my fiancée—clumsy and not exactly possessed of the best personality, but with a beautiful smile and a lovable heart.
It was likely the same for Senior Elsie.
She might have found comfort in seeing this world for a moment, but looking at my reaction, she must have realized the truth.
There was no place for this 'Senior Elsie' here.
The memories she loved and the people she cherished did not exist in this place.
Thanks to that, Senior Elsie bid me farewell more readily than expected.
"Alright, then... It was short, but fun. When you see 'me' later, tell her not to live like that."
She turned around and waved her hand toward the sky, showing not a hint of lingering regret.
This was for the best.
Just as I thought that and turned to leave as well...
"Oh, right."
It was a casual remark, as if she had just remembered something.
My questioning eyes met her blue pupils, which resembled blue sapphires.
Her eyes were full of mischief.
"This might be an unnecessary worry, but... watch out for the 'vampire.'"
The moment I heard those words.
Several facts I had forgotten exploded in my mind like fireworks.