Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Vice President and the Gate
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He turned his head to find a green-haired man with round glasses smiling roguishly.
“What’s this? Not even a greeting for your senior?”
Allen calmly observed him.
Green hair, round glasses, amber eyes. Shaggy hair obscuring his eyes, and a nearly perfect accent.
His smile was unpleasant, and the aura he exuded felt steady and controlled.
Even by Allen’s standards, he was quite skilled.
‘Benjamin, tenth-ranked in the second year.’
One of the names he had seen in the information Inellia had compiled.
And the very person who would cause Julius’s first major incident.
“What’s the matter, got a problem because I’m a commoner? Can’t bring yourself to greet a commoner first? Huh? Or what, does your oh-so-noble etiquette forbid you from mixing words with us lowly common folk?”
Other seniors sat on either side of Haizel, pressuring him.
He was debating whether or not to make a move.
Allen focused his prana on the bracelet on his wrist.
An artifact that could transmit telepathy within a radius of less than one meter.
[I'll handle this.]
Hmm? Haizel turned his head and looked at Allen.
[I'll take care of it, so you don't need to get involved.]
At his words, Haizel, who had looked ready to cause a scene at any moment, nodded.
“Hey, are you ignoring me? Do my words mean nothing to you? Hah, unbelievable.”
Benjamin laughed as if in disbelief and applied pressure with his arm.
A delicate control of prana, belying his rough words.
*Squeeze—*
A surprisingly refined force pressed down, preventing him from standing.
“You seem to be under some sort of delusion. This isn’t your family’s fiefdom, you get it? The power you threw around back home doesn’t mean a thing here.”
Calmly observing his surroundings, he saw that few people were sitting near them.
Only a few second- and third-year students were scattered about.
Allen understood the situation.
“Pisses you off, doesn’t it? Huh? Outside, you could just crush people with your family’s authority, but you can’t do that here.”
Normally, when suddenly faced with verbal abuse and insults, one would react in one of two ways.
Either with rage born from humiliation, or with submission born from intimidation.
Especially if the opponent was stronger, they would likely lean toward the latter.
“But here, at Galshdin Academy, skill is everything…”
“Senior, that’s enough.”
But Allen was different.
“…what did you say?”
“I understand your intentions, Senior, so you can stop.”
“What, what bullshit is— uh…”
*Flinch—*
Benjamin, who had turned his head intending to mock his opponent, stopped short at Allen’s unexpectedly calm expression.
“I mean that you can stop the act, as we have no intention of running wild even without such warnings.”
“What, what are you pretending to know…”
“Your goal is to intimidate the new first-year students, is it not?”
The reason was obvious.
‘They're trying to make a point to those who haven't yet adapted to the academy.’
That this place is different.
That it isn't a place where you can run rampant as you please.
A quick glance around revealed a few first-year students staring at them with bewildered expressions.
“We will act according to the rules, so there is no need for you to act this way, Senior.”
Taking advantage of the moment he stiffened, Allen removed the arm from his shoulder.
‘This amount of prana… is he around the middle of the 4th Circle?’
He was likely not a mage, so his actual skill level might be different, though.
“You don't want to create unnecessary conflict with us either, do you, Senior?”
“Uh, uh, no… I mean, that's true, but.”
The moment he inadvertently nodded, the people next to Haizel sighed.
“Hey, you idiot. Why would you nod there…?”
“Ah, my bad… but who knew they’d be like this?”
Benjamin scratched his cheek with an embarrassed look, as if he'd never said a single sharp word.
As the corners of his eyes drooped, his expression instantly shifted to a gentle one.
“What more can you say to kids who already know the deal?”
Even if they were the top or second-ranked students, their opponent was the 10th-ranked second-year.
No matter how talented, it would be difficult to defeat a genius who had worked hard for a year longer.
Of course, Allen and Haizel were no ordinary students, so it wouldn't have mattered if they fought back.
However.
‘The reputation I build from now on is important.’
Allen was looking at the future, not the present.
“I imagine the sparring matches in a few days are part of this as well, are they not?”
If the first-years challenged them, they could show them the difference in skill, which was a gain. And even if they submitted, they could still weed out the troublemakers in the upcoming sparring matches.
At Allen’s confident words, those who had been waiting nearby approached.
Two men and one woman.
“Well, it’s a bust. This isn’t going to work. The supplementary class kids aren’t like this too, are they?”
“Wow… As expected of the second-ranked student. So clever.”
“Vice President, I think it would be better to just make it clear during the senior-junior bonding event.”
Members of the Galshdin Academy Student Council.
‘I thought they would show up. I'm glad I was right.’
Behind them, the person Allen had been waiting for appeared.
“It can’t be helped.”
A single word revealed an undeniable dignity.
“Let’s be more careful when we approach the supplementary class.”
A handsome man with gray hair approached with a refreshing smile.
He looked at Allen and Haizel and began to speak.
“A pleasure to meet you. My name is Elijah Havierron, the second prince of the Aldnian Empire, and…”
Before the regression.
The man who lost his brother, his father, and everything he ever had.
“…currently, the vice president of the student council.”
The man who met his ruin at the hands of Julius.
“I’m delighted to meet such talented individuals.”
“Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Your Highness Elijah.”
Finally, he had met him.
* * *
In the afternoon, after all his regular classes had ended.
Allen made his way to Philosophia Hall.
Once they realized their plan had failed, they quickly apologized and left.
Benjamin apologized and said they should meet separately later.
Allen was satisfied with having successfully made Elijah’s acquaintance.
Haizel had watched with interest without saying a word while Allen spoke with them, and returned to the classroom once the conversation was over.
As if he wanted nothing more to do with them.
“Hey, did you hear? There was a fight earlier.”
“What? Where?”
“In the supplementary class. A new first-year apparently fought with a senior. I heard they’re having a no-holds-barred sparring match in three days.”
“Ah, why do I always miss out? What a shame.”
Rumors were spreading among the students leaving the main building.
Since it was common for students from different years to take the same classes, the rumors naturally spread quickly through the various grade levels.
As Allen neared his dormitory, he spoke.
“So.”
Allen lifted Vestla up before his eyes.
“Do you know anything about what Haizel said?”
「I-I’m not really sure about that?」
As promised, Vestla had told him her story after they returned from the Forest of Divine Beasts.
“You said you were in the middle of a war with the dragonkin, died, and then woke up inside this sword, didn’t you?”
「…….」
Allen had also told her that he was trying to save his brother, who was possessed by a demon.
“But, from what Haizel said, it sounds like there’s more to it…”
The blade of the sword trembled, as if to prove her agitation.
“Do you really know nothing?”
「Ha, haha. M-Maybe that man was mistaken…?」
Allen stared at the sword without a word.
Vestla evaded his question with silence. They remained like that for some time.
Just as the sound of another person’s footsteps drew near, Allen, who had stopped walking, began to move again.
“I suppose trust must be answered with trust. We'll see if you can still keep quiet once you learn my secret.”
「……I understand.」
His room was on the fourth floor of Philosophia Hall, the third from the right end.
The dormitory suite was divided into three rooms, a living room, and a kitchen.
It was smaller than his family mansion, but more than enough for one person to live in.
When he entered the room, Inellia was waiting for him with tea already prepared.
Allen sat down and spoke immediately.
“How was it today?”
“I checked a total of eleven auctions starting from dawn, but there were no items related to soul or spatial tracking.”
“…Is that so.”
He hadn't expected to find it easily, but it was disappointing to have no leads at all.
“If you find any rumors about it, please report to me immediately.”
“Yes, I understand. But about the items related to demon extermination…”
“Get those as well, if you can.”
Since she believed his brother was possessed by a demon, it wasn't strange for him to say that.
“Oh, right. How is Linbelle?”
“She reports that the task you assigned her is proceeding smoothly. However…”
“Hm?”
“…She says that for a handmaiden, she has no time to actually attend to you…”
Allen pictured her grumbling and gave a wry smile.
“We'll talk about that again this weekend. There are other priorities for now.”
“Understood. Then I will head out to continue the search.”
“Be careful.”
With her skills, she was unlikely to run into danger, but one could never be too sure.
For a moment, Inellia flashed a happy smile before turning into a shadow and leaving the dormitory.
“Now then, I should…”
*Flip—*
He flipped through the book.
『Despondent over the lack of clues to find his brother. After Inellia disappears, he… the book connected to ■■■■.』
One page, then another.
The alerts that had appeared when he spoke with Haizel…
『The book connected to ■■■■ detects the danger of ■■! ■■■■ is reacting to ■■!』
…had not yet disappeared.
* * *
Haizel passed through the inner city gate and wandered the streets.
The streets were filled with people.
The main races like elves, beastkin, and humans, as well as the occasional demi-humans like lizardmen.
Watching people as he roamed the city once a day was his hobby.
Though it felt somewhat underdeveloped compared to his memories, the fact that civilization had been rebuilt to this extent held a certain poignancy.
‘The Great Collapse, they called it.’
Even for him, who knew a part of the truth, it seemed a fitting name.
He himself had died, the hero had vanished, and the world had crumbled.
If he hadn't heard that the holy sword was here, he would have headed far across the sea.
“Don’t you think so, too?”
The unexpected voice made the hidden person freeze.
The sound echoed off the dead-end wall.
“I know you’re hiding, so come on out.”
As he spoke with his usual lighthearted laugh, a person walked out from the alley he had entered.
Azure hair and a face brimming with confidence.
An entirely different atmosphere from the person he had been with until lunch.
“I thought I was well hidden…”
Julius appeared, his face slightly flushed with excitement.
“I’m a little sensitive to gazes.”
To the point of neurosis, even.
“The protagonist, I see…”
The protagonist… Haizel grinned. A small whisper escaped his throat.
“You guys are the protagonists.”
“Huh? What was that?”
“So, why were you following me?”
Whatever the reason, whatever the business, no matter how good the offer, Haizel—the Demon Lord—I…
“I thought you might be interested in what I have to say.”
“I doubt I'll find it interesting.”
I don't want to get involved. Not with anyone. I don’t have enough time to just enjoy myself as it is.
“I know. But you'll think differently once you hear it.”
Julius nodded as if he already knew.
“I have the ability to detect demonic energy.”
“So?”
If he’s involved with those bastards, it’s not strange for him to have such an ability.
But, so what?
“You can sense demonic energy. What does that have to do with me?”
In his life as Haizel, he had only ever unleashed his demonic energy once, several months ago.
And even that was more of an unconscious reaction, triggered by the holy sword sensing his presence.
“It doesn’t. But I found something.”
He kept his distance, just as he did with Allen.
“Whatever you found has nothing to do with…”
“I found a gate connected to the Demon Realm.”
“What?”
But it didn't take long for that thought to shatter.
Julius calmed his excitement and spoke calmly. Yet, he couldn't hide his joy at Haizel’s reaction.
“I found a gate that demons are coming out of.”
At those words, Haizel’s face filled with shock.
Julius recalled the contents of the original story.
‘The gate isn’t supposed to appear for another six months…’
But if I can stop it, it's better to stop it now, right?
If I leave it alone, demonic energy will just accumulate and cause a Gate Break anyway.
‘That infuriating bitch… has she entered the Magic Tower by now?’
It didn’t matter. Even if she came, this ending wouldn't turn out like that.
‘An ending like that is enough to experience once.’
This was the world I had to live in now, so it would be a problem if it were destroyed.
Haizel lowered his head. Julius approached him cautiously. Haizel must be happy, too.
“This might take a while. Should we talk inside?”
He lifted his head.
“…Alright.”
“Let’s go to my dorm.”
Julius smiled.
“Alright, let’s hear it. Let’s hear what this is all about.”
Haizel, too, smiled.
Genuinely.