Chapter 284
Chapter 284
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 284
Chapter Title: Academy's Winter
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Envers Redburn, who had been brainwashed by a fake mad wizard he happened to pass by, ended up losing the trust of Duke Redburn because of it.
There was a concern that remnants of the brainwashing might still linger, or that the mad wizard could have fully handed over control, turning him into an enemy of the family. But discarding a capable talent based on mere suspicion felt like too much of a waste.
Moreover, after breaking free from the fake mad wizard's brainwashing, he'd been in a complete daze until Roderus told him that the Blue Rose had survived. He'd realized his own shortcomings and wandered around like a walking corpse, hollow-eyed.
To the duke, that had looked like the picture of self-recrimination and reflection for failing the family.
So.
"Brother, what is it?"
"It's the duke's orders. Return to the academy."
"What?"
"Identify people you can recruit using the power and money of the duke's house, and approach them. But if an opportunity arises to assassinate the mad wizard, carry it out without hesitation... That's all."
The verdict was release instead of execution.
Boom.
Envers froze as if struck by lightning. He'd left the academy with dreams of changing the family alongside his brother, and now he was being told to go back?
He'd even said his goodbyes before leaving, setting the mood like he wouldn't return for a decade. But to come back in less than half a year? How was he supposed to face his friends?
But Roderus was ruthless.
"Go. It seems they've decided to let suspicion be just that for now, so stay quietly at the academy for a while. I'll call for you when the time comes."
"...Understood. But I'm worried about leaving you alone, brother. Don't get too close to the Blue Rose. Her intentions are just, but she's using your pure heart for her sense of justice!"
"......"
"A real man must beware of those three ends... Ack!"
Roderus kicked away Namgung Cheonghwi's sincere advice and sent him packing. And so, Envers Redburn returned to the academy.
What was the academy like at year's end?
Up until then, the students had grown through trials under talented professors. Now, it was time to show that growth and prove themselves. What good is learning if you don't put it to use?
This matched perfectly with the needs of potential employers eager to gauge how capable this academy class was.
Last year, to celebrate the end of the year, they'd held one-on-one duels against professors. They'd invited spectators from outside the academy, pitting students against foes under the gaze of countless onlookers.
For students with ambiguous social standing or uncertain futures, it was also a chance to open career paths.
Merely brushing a professor's hem would bring a flood of offers: "Come be a knight in our territory," or "Join our mercenary band as an officer."
This year, students expecting professor duels as the main event were busy compiling strategy guides.
"To show off my magic's firepower, I should pick Professor Alejandro. He's a defense specialist, so my attack power will stand out."
"If I get cocky with sword draws against Professor Alexon, I'll lose, right...? Maybe pick the mad wizard instead."
"Are you insane?"
But their plans turned to scraps of paper.
The mad wizard who returned to the academy wouldn't miss such entertaining event, and he kept persuading them to add a touch of romance.
And so it was born.
"Form teams of ten or fewer..."
"To let you all showcase your diverse talents, the professors—including the Mad Wizard—have prepared various trials. The trials will cover the full scope of academy classes."
"Rankings will be based on total scores from each trial. There are plenty of combat stages, but also ones requiring wisdom or miscellaneous skills. We recommend balanced team compositions."
The Academy Team Competition.
Naturally, the academy heated up with fervor to form the best teams.
The three musketeers from the Goddess Church, back for their diplomas, were top recruitment targets. Even White Snow, who had reached Transcendence, received countless offers.
In response, Azure Tower's Transcendent mage White Snow declared at the registration desk.
"Solo."
"Pardon?"
"My team... is just me."
Solo play declaration.
Selvia, who had been chatting with Envers nearby, spontaneously combusted. If White Snow was doing it, so would she. She'd already achieved Transcendence, so no more backing down.
Finally, the time had come to end this long rivalry and prove who the true powerhouse was!
She dashed to the registration desk and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Me too! Solo entry!"
"Selvia, didn't you say you'd team up with me...?"
"Not anymore. Find someone else!"
Selvia glared at White Snow with burning fighting spirit, but she just gazed off into the distance, utterly disinterested.
Despite their friendship from the Trial Tower, she'd gone off chasing her solo path. That left Envers with only Luna.
In truth, Envers had tried to find Luna first before Selvia.
But no matter how he searched the academy, he couldn't even catch a glimpse of her. Wondering if she'd left, he asked the mad wizard, who said she was still enrolled.
Unable to find her to recruit, he'd approached the more visible Selvia first.
After much inquiring, Envers finally gathered sightings of Luna.
"Luna Steri...? I think she's with the White Lily Princess."
"Thanks!"
Found her. She'd surely team up with him...!
Hugging his swelling dreams, Envers went to Luna—and froze in shock, mouth agape. There was already another woman beside her.
The wide-hearted leader of the academy's noble faction. The White Lily Princess.
"V."
"Luna, why did you join the White Lily Princess's team...?"
"Are you saying it's wrong to choose Her Ladyship's team right now?! Of course everyone wants to bask in her warm embrace for eternal peace!"
"Exactly! It's as natural as the sun rising and the moon setting for followers to gather under Her Ladyship's leadership and dignity! How dare you question it!"
The princess's loyal guards raised their voices beside her, but they fell on deaf ears as Envers focused on Luna.
Luna said,
"If we're not on different teams, we can't fight."
"We... have to fight...?"
"If we don't fight, we can't know."
A martial artist communicates with fists. Sharing drinks under the moonlight to catch up comes after testing each other's skills... That's what Luna was saying.
Envers was bewildered. He understood fighting as a fine way to connect. But he'd achieved Transcendence, and she hadn't. Wasn't the outcome obvious?
"But there's already a gap between us..."
"That's a mistake."
Luna wagged her index finger side to side, denying it firmly.
And then, faintly. A figure appeared behind her, arms crossed.
How could he forget that sight? The terrifying existence etched indelibly in his mind. The Heavenly Demon. Envers paled in horror.
"What in the world...?!"
"Came one day. Left one day. But I learned a lot."
When the mad wizard shattered into pieces, the Heavenly Demon module had dwelled in Luna Steri's body. Yuna later came and reclaimed it... but the martial arts remained.
Once, the mad wizard had overwhelmed Roderus with a frail body. If Luna had properly inherited the Heavenly Demon's arts, the Transcendence gap might as well not exist.
Luna thrust out her clenched fist.
"Duel."
"...Alright! I've learned and experienced much from brother and the nobles too. I'll show you how much I've grown!"
"Wish Fist. Bet."
"As much as you want!"
Thud.
Their fists bumped. Their reunion looked set to drag on.
And beside them, the White Lily Princess fidgeted slightly. It looked cool and heartwarming on the surface, but inside, it was different. Hadn't Luna said it? You can't know without fighting.
Envers interpreted it as "You can't know (how much I've grown) without fighting."
But to the princess, it was "You can't know (my wrath) without fighting." Shouldn't he pay for planting that kiss and then bolting from the academy to handle family business?
The princess remembered the conversation from the day Luna had come to her alone.
—Why do you want to join my team? Of course, I'd happily accept if Luna's with me... but there were already close friends.
—To beat her, different teams. Princess. No men. Then, definitely different from Envers.
—I don't discriminate by gender for followers, though...?
—Those followers. Zealots. Man joins, they burn, say he's after princess. Chase him out.
—Ah.
Luna had made it clear. She wanted to beat up Envers a bit.
What Envers should have done wasn't mingle boldly, but kneel demurely and apologize.
But with his dull instincts, he couldn't grasp Luna's true feelings, and the golden opportunity slipped away futilely...
Crack.
Only the veins bulging on Luna's hidden hand hinted at what was to come.
If Luna had joined the White Lily Princess, where should he form his team? After much deliberation, the answer was clear. Opposing the noble faction was the Golden faction led by Gordius of the Golden Tower.
Envers, wandering like a stray knight in search of a team, went to Gordius.
He lived in the men's dormitory, which was dazzlingly ornate compared to the others—bordering on rude. Statues struck poses at the entrance, and the front gate was layered with defensive spells.
And Gordius himself was decked out in expensive finery.
"Welcome to my faction, Envers Redburn! I was just gathering manpower. Prime stock walking in on its own feet—must be a lucky day."
"......"
"Come in and talk. Admire the artwork on the way, but don't touch."
The interior was lavishly decadent. Masterpieces lined the hallways on both sides, creating an overwhelming atmosphere.
But something... felt off.
Envers racked his brain for the source of the dissonance. The flashy, luxurious decorations matched Duke Redburn's mansion perfectly, so why the different vibe?
Clack, clack.
Walking along, enlightenment came from the footsteps. No carpet. Few candles, and sparse magic lamps.
Lots of expensive items, but the wallpaper and floor tiles were cheap and sturdy. No marble. The furniture didn't scream big spending either.
Come to think of it, as a Golden Tower mage, Gordius was skilled in golem sculpting. Those entrance statues... self-made meant basically free.
And the paintings, jewels... sellable for recovery!
"Ah, nobles always spot it right away. Yep. This is zero-cost luxury decor that makes my place look rich too. Recover it all, and it's free."
"So the rumors of you pinching pennies are true...?"
"I just avoid unnecessary spending. And Envers... heard you went back to your family, but you're back at the academy. Right at year-end too. Let me guess? Sent by family orders... to scout talent here!"
"...!!"
Envers's face screamed "How did you know?" Gordius's eyes gleamed. He'd poked expecting a sour grape, but it was ripe.
If Envers was here as a scout... he wasn't just another student anymore. He was a potential investor. The scent of money wafted strong.
If he buttered up Envers and secured research funds from the duke?
If a sliver of that vast wealth rained down as a boon?
Gordius slung an arm around Envers and dragged him along. His face was composed, but inside, visions of budgets had his eyes half-rolled back.
"I've got some inventions to show you. Come on, check 'em out and put in a good word with Duke Redburn. He'll love them."
"No, I'm here to find a team for the team competition..."
"Sure, you're in. But first, look at these inventions. Super economical!"
He invited Envers to his lab.
The lab interior was stunningly practical. Only essentials, nothing extraneous. Optimal efficiency from limited funds.
Gordius showcased his inventions to Envers.
"Here, a pet golem. Swap parts for custom designs, feed it dirt to grow bit by bit. Different models can combine too."
"Will that make money?"
"This is a model, but it's next-gen transport. Three wheels roll automatically until the embedded magic runs out."
"Just use teleport magic."
"...Then how about this? Wireless shower."
"No different from an Azure Tower apprentice."
Envers's gaze grew colder. Even without full intent to fulfill the duke's orders, if he'd been truly loyal, he wouldn't invest in such useless gadgets.
He turned stubborn investor and asked,
"Gordius. You're a golem-making specialist, right? Heard you've researched it for years. Skip the half-baked stuff and show me your real work."
"Waited for you to say that. Then, blueprints for my 50-meter golem..."
Blah blah.
"Wait, hold on. A 50-meter golem? What for? It'll cost a fortune to build, and no real utility. Who'd invest in that? I'm no golem expert, but for profitability, it'd have to be human-sized..."
"Nonsense! I don't need investors who want to shrink golems. Negotiations over. Out!"
"???"
Where did the suitor go? Gordius flipped 180 degrees in an instant. Envers blinked in confusion, unable to comprehend, and asked again.
"...Why refuse to make it smaller?"
Gordius declared firmly.
"Golems must be gigantic."
Ah.
Envers understood.
Why someone with the flashy title of Golden Tower Master's prized disciple scraped by on research funds and even skimped on food. It wasn't lack of talent—why no investors?
This was why.
That obsession. An inexplicable fixation on building massive golems that kept him poor. Without talent, he'd have starved long ago.
Envers silently offered condolences in his heart. Gordius's dream would never be fulfilled. Building that giant would require the whole empire's might or him hitting Sublimation.
Without a national crisis, it was a pipe dream...