Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: The Nightmare Has Returned (5)
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"Don't mind me and enjoy yourselves. Until I take the stage, I'm just another guest here."
Only after Princess Luriel's words did the students begin to tentatively reach for the food, stealing glances at her. With that lingering tension in the air, the farewell party commenced.
The event was grand in scale, but a farewell party wasn't all that different from any other gathering.
They savored the food on the tables, sipped the beverages prepared for the students to enjoy... and asked the private questions they couldn't pose at the academy. That was all there was to it. But precisely because of that, it held meaning.
"So, Professor Lertia..."
"You look so young—what's your actual age?"
"Do you know any friendly mages, by chance?"
The students swarmed, eyes sparkling as they fired off questions.
Some were sensitive or hard to answer, but Kelrhalhm had decades of experience as an educator. He knew how to deftly deflect them.
"I've been studying magic for quite some time. There was a mentor who recommended the path of magical scholarship to me. He was the head librarian of a major city..."
Some students leaned in, listening intently.
"So, anyway."
Not all were gathered around Kelrhalhm—others clustered near different professors.
"Professor Lania."
Lania van Trias.
A considerable number of students had gathered around her. At the start of the party, they'd kept their distance out of deference to the two princesses seated beside her, but...
No alcohol? Hmm. What a shame. I was hoping to have a drink even in a place like this.
You're heading straight to official duties after this, aren't you, Sister? Try to hold back. You don't even drink that much anyway.
Aila, you seem to be mistaken. I don't drink often because there's no one worth sharing it with. Just looking at those pests around me sours the taste.
...
Professor? Stop twitching your lips and say something. To me...
If anything, the two princesses had made her seem more approachable.
Lania, sandwiched between Aila and Luriel, fidgeted restlessly. Seeing that human side made the students feel closer to her.
Professor Lania!
The ever-perfect Professor Lania was showing a vulnerable side. That departure from her usual poise gave the students the courage to approach.
And so, students began gathering around her one by one... and Lania didn't seem entirely displeased by the situation.
"I have one thing I'd like to ask."
"Sure? Ask away. What is it?"
Her tone had already softened.
A few students who'd encountered her outside academy duties knew her natural speech, but not everyone did.
It's... refreshing.
The casual banter felt fresh to them. In the relaxed atmosphere, one student posed a question to Lania.
"What do you think of your brother, Professor Lania?"
"Kuhk!"
Lania, who had been sipping lemonade, choked as if something had gone down wrong and coughed harshly. Her trembling eyes fixed on the student, a reaction of utter bewilderment at the sudden question.
"Wh-what's that all of a sudden?"
"Well, your brother is... the renowned Ashen Mage, right?"
It was common knowledge.
They weren't blood-related, but as members of the same Trias family... the students were convinced there had to be some connection.
"You've made so many admiring remarks about him. From calling him the 'great' Ashen Mage to your comments on battle mages..."
Lania's pupils shook violently.
Aila, seated beside her, bowed her head, struggling to suppress her laughter... while Belnoa, a few seats away, showed a similar reaction.
"Huh? Belnoa, what's up?"
"Khup, kuhm..."
"Something funny? I don't get it..."
Rak tilted his head in confusion, unable to grasp the situation, as the students pressed on.
"It seems like you really admire him. Did you perhaps learn magic from the Ashen Mage...?"
Naturally, most students didn't know Lania's true identity. So the question came from pure curiosity.
The Ashen Mage, Raniel van Trias.
A legendary figure who had achieved great scholarly feats and fought alongside the Hero on the battlefield.
But little was known about his personal life... so the students turned to Lania, who seemed like she might know.
"What was Raniel like in private settings? From the way you talk, it sounds like you were close. Objectively speaking, what kind of person is your brother...?"
Tell us about your brother in casual moments.
You two seem tight—spill some stories.
Lania understood the intent behind the question. She understood, but answering was another matter. Her stomach twisted in knots.
No, even if they ask how I was...
She didn't know.
How many people could view themselves objectively? Lania pressed hard around her eyes.
Just brazen it out?
That's what she would have done normally.
But with that iron mask on now... the 'certain' students right beside her would see right through it.
...
Lania glanced at Belnoa and Aila.
They hurriedly averted their eyes, but their lips still quivered. It was obvious they were holding back laughter.
Damn it...
It was an excruciatingly difficult question.
Kelrhalhm could have deflected it smoothly, but Lania, only recently drawing this much attention from students, lacked such deft conversational skills.
She felt compelled to answer somehow.
Um, uh...
As Lania's lips twitched, Luriel, seated nearby, seemed to notice her distress and spoke up.
"You won't get an objective answer from her. Don't you see those eyes?"
"Y-yes?"
"Eyes agonizing over how to spin it. An honest response is unlikely."
The students were startled by Luriel's sudden intervention.
Ignoring their reactions, she continued.
"Better to ask Aila. She had the Ashen Mage as her mentor in her youth."
The attention on Lania swiveled to Aila. Aila lifted her slightly flushed face—still fighting laughter—and nodded faintly.
"If Professor Lania is okay with it..."
...It's fine."
Permission granted.
Aila wet her throat with her drink and slowly began.
"A truly great person."
Emphasizing certain words, Aila started her tale.
"In official settings, he's coldly rational, showing no human warmth... but in private, surprisingly not so."
"Not so...?"
"Who knows? Probably very different from what you all imagine."
The students' eyes gleamed.
Aila glanced sideways, enjoying the attention. Lania's head was tilting downward beside her.
"Lighter than you'd think, candid and unpretentious. His eyes revealed what he wanted to say. Even when teaching me, he'd stare with those 'Why can't you get this?' eyes..."
Aila let out a soft chuckle.
"In a way, he resembles Professor Lania."
The students hung on her every word. Stories of the Ashen Mage they couldn't hear anywhere else. As their eyes sparkled, Lania kept her gaze fixed on the floor.
Her ears are red.
Aila smiled faintly.
Through her fallen hair, Lania's earlobes burned bright red.
Better stop teasing now.
"Still, even in private, he was remarkable. His mindset as a mage, the nature of the magical path... in the study of magic, no one was more earnest."
Aila poked Lania's side.
"Right, Professor Lania?"
...
After a brief silence, Lania lifted her head.
Having decided to go full iron mask, she spoke in a steady, expressionless voice.
"Yes. A truly excellent person."
Belnoa choked with a "kehck."
As Chloe, oblivious, patted Belnoa's back asking if she was okay... Lania maintained her blank expression.
Of course, her ears remained brightly flushed.
2.
Toward the end of the farewell party.
"Ugh, I thought I'd die of embarrassment..."
Stepping out of the hall, I gulped fresh air and wiped my face. Heat still rose to my cheeks, burning.
"My karma... damn karma..."
It was hard to blame anyone.
The words I'd spoken had come back at me verbatim—no room for rebuttal. Aila's playful laughter still echoed in my ears.
...Still, it didn't feel bad.
Basking in the cool breeze, I recalled the recent memory.
As the party's mood peaked, Princess Luriel took the stage for her address.
"I offer my heartfelt praise to you, guardian of Aphria."
Officially, only my contribution as Lania was known.
The students didn't know Professor Lertia was the mad Kelrhalhm. So the address seemed aimed at me alone... but Luriel's words were layered.
"Not everyone can fathom the hardships you endured in the shadows. But I will remember your efforts. I won't forget the spirit of sacrifice you showed."
Even if unknown, I remember.
I, at least, will never forget.
"I will never forget."
A few simple lines.
But sincere words were reward enough. Amid the students' applause, Luriel stepped down, and for a while, I held all their gazes.
I didn't do it for reward.
I did it because I had to.
I did it because I wanted to.
Yet hearing their gratitude... something swelled in my chest. Thinking back, my proudest battlefield moments weren't victories, but the satisfaction of 'protecting'.
"Thank you, Lady Raniel."
"We held because of you. Today, humanity didn't retreat. We defended what must never fall."
The knights bowing to me.
Their battered armor, muddied from charging over mire and comrades' bodies, couldn't hide their smiles.
The knights' smiles of protection.
The students' thanks.
Different yet similar. I found myself smiling unwittingly. As the cool wind blew, footsteps approached from behind.
"Did you have a good talk?"
I asked without turning.
The mana signature told me who it was.
"Kelrhalhm."
No listeners around, and as he approached, he erected a barrier. So I spoke his name. Kelrhalhm, halting beside me, nodded.
"Yes. A fine person."
"Right?"
"The First Princess, was it? Far from the rumors. She called me aside just to apologize."
Kelrhalhm smiled wryly.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding, thanks to your sacrifice we all survived... we talked about this and that."
"That's the kind of person she is."
"Yes, people like that exist."
Having spent so long on battlefields, both Kelrhalhm and I found someone like the First Princess particularly special.
"So."
I exhaled shortly.
"Time to head back?"
"Afraid so. I've rested enough."
Kelrhalhm had already changed.
Not professor's attire, but the worn robe from the frontlines.
"How was the month?"
"Felt like returning home. My true calling is educator, after all."
"Good reputation."
"Glad to hear it."
Kelrhalhm shrugged.
"Many talented kids. Rewarding to teach."
"Plenty of talent, yeah. So, the lecture I asked for?"
I shot him a look. Before he left, I'd made one request.
...Resti Eleanor and the special lecture?"
"Yeah, that."
Kelrhalhm had taught the once-titled strongest spiritist. No one knew more about the Summoner class than him.
So I'd asked.
For him to lecture Resti on being a Summoner. Things only he could teach.
"Reminded me of Celestia."
...Your prized disciple?"
"Yes, just like her. Even the learning speed. No, faster than her."
Kelrhalhm's eyes drifted afar.
Recalling the past.
"Only a month, but I taught all I could. The rest is up to her."
The special lecture had succeeded. Smiling satisfied, I extended my hand to him.
"Thanks. For a lot."
I offered a handshake; he accepted. After a light clasp, we faced each other. Kelrhalhm spoke first.
"I'll be waiting, expectantly."
Earlier, he'd said he'd buy time.
I'd promised to meet that expectation. We reaffirmed it one last time.
"Yeah."
I smiled.
"You can look forward to it."
In three years, much will have changed.
Truly, much.
3.
The farewell party concluded.
Post-vacation duties were mostly cleared. One task remained.
"Ready?"
In a forest a bit from Aphria.
I eyed Kalt before me.
"Yes. Ready."
Not his usual casual clothes.
Kalt, dressed as on the battlefield, nodded resolutely.
"Let's go."
I drew the Grail from my bosom.
Platinum liquid swirled in a circle.
The Holy Grail, the Star Cup.
Its first trial subject: Kalt.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Author's Note
Karma cleared!
Packed it generously :D