Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: A Budding Misunderstanding
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The streets at dusk held a vitality not found during the day. Students, reluctant to part ways, savored their final moments together, while mages who had finished their day's research cinched their robes.
Behind them, assistants dragged their feet, their faces gaunt.
Allen walked on, the now-familiar scenery serving as his backdrop.
Long shadows stretched across the clean, gray-tiled ground. Allen passed through the forest of shadows as if hiding himself.
On his way to meet Maria, he overheard many conversations.
"Ugh, I'm taking Basic Spiritism, and this elf is just insane..."
"You saw him, right? The professor for water-based magic looks like a frog..."
"Did you hear? A freshman from the remedial class beat a student from the intermediate class."
Which professor was annoying, who looked like a frog.
Who had dueled, and even who the victor was.
"Speaking of which, did you know the second-place record for the intermediate ruins was broken today?"
"Huh? Really? By who?"
"You know, that famous girl. The Descendant of the Hero."
"Ah... the one who's been crazy about breaking that record, diving into the ruins nonstop?"
From tales of today's events to stories about the currently famous ruins, all sorts of conversations drifted on the gentle breeze.
Then, a familiar name caught his ear.
-...rius.
Focusing his hearing with his affinity, a voice cut clearly through the surrounding noise.
"Did you say Julius? Isn't he a bit too ruthless?"
A refined, seemingly polite tone.
It had to be one of the students from a noble family.
"That's right. As a noble, it's proper to accept a challenge. But... for that very reason, he should have controlled his strength to fit the pretense of a duel."
"It's a pity what happened to the other guy. It seems he recovered safely, perhaps with the Prince's help, but still... it lacked dignity..."
*Pfft.*
Allen deactivated his affinity and quickened his slowing pace.
'Of course, there were bound to be complaints.'
It's human nature to find something to complain about, no matter what happens.
The duel between Julius and Benjamin had certainly made Julius's name known, but opinions on him were sharply divided.
'Spreading rumors like I did back in the domain would be impossible here.'
I can't afford to make such a clumsy move.
Allen put the matter aside and thought about Maria, whom he had been meeting for several weeks now.
A woman with a stoic expression, whose emotional displays were rare—no, nonexistent.
She was called the Descendant of the Hero, but there was no way to confirm if she was a true descendant.
It couldn't be confirmed, but given that the holy sword had reacted to her, the possibility was high.
If the reason the holy sword reacted to Allen was external—due to the Hero's divine artifact—then it was highly likely she was something else.
Allen wasn't sure if it was related to her bloodline.
Before his regression, she had not been the master of the holy sword.
'The master of the holy sword, one of the five divine artifacts of the Hero,'
Was the former Demon Lord and the protagonist of the 'original story.'
It was Haizel.
***
The narrowing path and the shadows of the walls looming overhead. The rapidly fading noise made it feel as if he had entered another world.
Allen weaved through the alleyways, the sunlight brushing against his skin.
Just as he was slowly walking, lost in thought,
A flat, rigid voice that suited the desolate scenery greeted him.
"Hello."
He turned his head to see her in the same alleyway where they had first met.
…She was sitting in a corner, staring intently at a cat.
The way she was huddled in the corner, trying her best to appear non-threatening, was almost pitiful.
Allen watched her with a complex feeling, finding it hard to say anything, before finally managing a single question.
"...Is there a particular reason you like cats so much?"
The cat, which had been wary of her, immediately darted into Allen's arms as he approached. He felt a weight on his arm, heavier than before.
*Meow-*
"...No, there isn't."
Her response was a little slow.
'A personal matter, perhaps?'
He had met with her consistently more than ten times now.
Yet, despite their numerous meetings, Allen didn't feel the distance between them had closed at all.
'She's never once talked about herself.'
Allen wasn't oblivious to the meaning behind her actions.
She was deliberately keeping her distance.
That was the conclusion he had reached after meeting her for several weeks.
He didn't know if her actions were conscious or unconscious, but he realized that getting any closer to her would be nearly impossible without some kind of special trigger.
"Well, if you say so."
As usual, once Allen had the cat secured in his arms, Maria, who had stood up at some point, cautiously approached.
*Stroke. Stroke.*
"This little one seems to have gotten quite used to this."
"Yeah."
"It's already been a month since we started meeting."
The cat merely turned its body as if annoyed, no longer reacting violently.
Compared to the first time, it was a huge improvement.
She seemed pleased by this, the corners of her mouth twitching upward slightly.
Though the smile vanished almost immediately.
"It's still early evening, but it's hot. I suppose that's to be expected, being in the middle of a desert..."
In a somewhat detached tone, as if irritated by the heat.
"I'm not used to it."
She tilted her head and looked at Allen.
"My family's domain is in the west of the Libre Kingdom. The westernmost edge of the western continent. It borders the ever-green Michelant Mountains, and near there is the Great Elven Forest."
A hint of interest appeared in Maria's pure white eyes.
"In autumn, golden plains stretch to the horizon, and colorful leaves paint the mountains behind our home. Do you know what the harvest festival is like?"
Popular songs sung cheerfully by farmers fill the city with rhythm, and merchants arriving just in time haggle and vie for the best spots.
"And winter. You probably don't know the charm of enjoying the view of the white, snowy landscape."
She said nothing, but she was now deeply focused on Allen's words.
Allen continued his story, then stopped when he felt the time was right.
He began to voice the question that had been on his mind.
"But you seem quite comfortable... Are you used to the heat?"
Inellia hadn't been able to find out 'anything' about her.
Her hometown, family relations, upbringing, personality, and even the reason she came to be called the Descendant of the Hero.
It was as if she had simply fallen from the sky, appearing with the title of Descendant of the Hero.
"..."
She remained silent.
Just as Allen began to feel puzzled by her silence, she spoke.
"I'm used to the heat."
"Then you must be from the south or the central regions."
"Do you need to know?"
The atmosphere shifted.
"...Not really."
"Allen, you said you were a noble."
Her expression was a little stiffer than usual, her speech a bit faster.
Noticing her slightly different demeanor, Allen spoke.
"That's right."
"I've heard that nobles are particularly sensitive about their private lives."
"Yes, you're correct."
"So am I."
Maria's voice was the same as always. That's how Allen knew he had really misstepped. And that she was surprisingly perceptive.
A fox masquerading as a bear.
'...I knew she was hiding things about herself, but I didn't expect her to react so sensitively to something this minor.'
Does that mean there's something to it?
Allen admitted his mistake.
"...My apologies. I was out of line."
"It's fine."
"...Thank you. As an apology, let me take you to a place I frequent. The tea there is quite good."
As Allen naturally set up their next meeting, she accepted without any outward sign of suspicion.
"Okay."
Allen blinked, looking at Maria who had returned to her usual self, and then spoke.
"Hmm..."
"Hm?"
"Did something happen today?"
Her pupils contracted rapidly before returning to normal.
"...No?"
Despite her denial, Allen recalled how unusually sensitive she had been and began to piece the puzzle together.
Breaking a record, a challenge, second place, a change in attitude, and the artificial ruins.
"Is this perhaps about the artificial ruins...?"
"Ah."
So that was it.
Her hand tensed for a moment.
*Hiss!*
The cat struggled frantically.
She immediately realized her mistake and loosened her grip, but the cat, having lost a few strands of fur, quickly rounded the corner and disappeared.
"Ah..."
"Well, I suppose that's it for today."
"This is your fault."
As Maria narrowed her eyes, Allen politely took a step back.
"I didn't do anything."
At Allen's infuriatingly calm demeanor, Maria stared at him intently.
"But really, are you going to tell me what happened?"
"...Never mind."
After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head.
As if that wasn't enough, she spun around and started walking away.
"Then I suppose there's no helping it."
"I'm leaving."
Allen backed off cleanly.
'Forcing the issue would only ruin the relationship we have now.'
Allen was satisfied with just that fleeting moment of her hesitation.
It meant there was an opening.
'I was too hasty just now.'
In the end, all I can do is wait patiently for an opportunity.
He called out to her retreating back, her long strides clearly meant to show she was angry.
"By the way, the dorms are in the other direction."
Maria froze.
Her earlobes turned red. As if nothing had happened, she turned back toward the dorms.
"...Thanks."
Her reply was faint.
"Don't mention it."
***
Just as the freshmen were getting used to academy life, the day finally arrived.
It was time for the students to choose their own courses.
Until now, the freshmen had been divided into only two groups: the remedial class and the general class.
However, after a month of evaluation, the broadly divided classes were now split more granularly into remedial, lower, intermediate, advanced, and high-level classes.
Allen was, of course, assigned to the high-level class.
Within that class, they would then choose the specific courses they wished to take.
Even though they were grouped together, they wouldn't necessarily take the same courses.
It merely instilled a sense of superiority, of being in the same class and on the same level.
Endless competition.
It was a system designed to force students to constantly throw themselves into competition to prove their worth.
'It seems awkward for now, but they'll soon realize.'
The freshmen were chatting with the friends they had made.
"What classes are you taking?"
"What about you? I've had formal knight training, so I'll probably take Advanced Melee Weapons."
"Anything else? Didn't your family tell you what to take? Ah, right, you're a commoner, so I guess not."
"No, they did."
"Huh?"
"I have to take Basic Spiritism. My father recently bought a slave elf as his new wife."
"...An elf as a slave?"
However, the scene was a bit more free-spirited than before, when factions were drawn along lines of race and status.
Allen felt a slight sense of admiration at the sight.
'It's certainly a clever method.'
In the first week, under the pretext of assessing their skills, they were made to duel with upperclassmen to instill a sense of camaraderie and cooperation, while those of noble blood, including the vice president, continuously aligned their ideologies.
With a few other methods he could only guess at, it didn't take long for the students to change, reaching a point where they could mingle without looking down on one another.
One reason for this was likely that most of the students admitted here were talented prodigies.
Still, Allen couldn't help but be surprised that they had managed to create even a small crack in the barriers of status and racial discrimination.
'Then again, those who seemed completely unable to assimilate were weeded out early on, so perhaps it's not so strange.'
With that thought, Allen finished selecting his courses.
Since these were the subjects he would be taking for the next year, he had researched them in advance.
And so, he had carefully chosen eight courses.
Understanding of Space - Advanced
Soul Multivariance Theory
Summoning Contracts and Taming
Basic Multidimensional Studies
The Fundamentals of Natural Barriers
Orchestra (I)
Dungeon Practical Training - 1
Monster Ecology - 1
Including the mandatory courses, Dungeon Practical Training and Monster Ecology, it came to a total of eight subjects.
He could have registered for up to ten courses, but Allen also had to consider the time he needed to train with his sword separately.
'I can learn swordsmanship from Vestla.'
As per his original purpose for coming here, it would be enough to focus on improving his magic.
The amount of his prana was incomparable to his past life, but the level of his magic had stagnated.
For the sake of the future, he needed to break through this plateau quickly.
"Regarding your course selection, as previously announced, fill out the form and then simply tear it to complete your registration."
Before the professor at the podium had even finished speaking, the sound of paper tearing in half filled the classroom.
The torn paper flashed with a blue light and then slowly dissolved into the air.
'Just what level of magic is that?'
Space, classification, tracking, disintegration...
The number of concepts embedded within it alone was comparable to the level of magic wielded by a 7th Circle mage.
Allen tore his paper, impressed by this subtle display of the academy's power.
*Riiip-*
The paper crumbled in mid-air and dissolved.
"Next, I'll explain the merit point system... You can think of it as a type of currency usable within this city."
You can use them to peruse the profound knowledge in the library, use the shops on Elpis Street, or borrow and exchange items stored in the academy's repository.
"Merit points can be earned through various activities. The details are on the back of the newsletter we handed out, so please take a look."
Exploring ruins, submitting new theses, saving people, or defeating a certain number of monsters.
"The merit points you accumulate can be used in many ways. This is also on the back, so please read it."
Allen glanced around.
Haizel yawned, seemingly uninterested, while Maria was as expressionless as ever.
"You can even receive a day of personal instruction from Lord Gaion or Lord Zaqnir, who are in residence at the academy, so I encourage you to be active."
As soon as he finished, the students began to murmur in amazement.
"Whoa, insane. Private lessons with one of the Eight Strongest?"
"...I have to give this a serious try."
"Hmm, should I use my family's soldiers? Or maybe hire mercenaries..."
"Bilheim! Look into the details immediately. This is my chance to catch the eye of one of the Eight Strongest..."
Some hurriedly spoke with retainers who had enrolled with them, others' eyes gleamed as if at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and still others calculated what would be most profitable.
The classroom instantly became a clamor of excitement.
Even the commoners chattered with flushed faces, dreaming of a different future for themselves.
Unlike them, Allen wasn't swept up by the professor's words.
The cost in merit points was astronomically high.
'10,000 points for a single private lesson.'
A low-level monster was worth 0.5 points.
Exploring ruins, 10-100 points depending on the level.
Saving a person, 5 points per life. - Note: Additional points awarded based on social status.
Exchanging an item from the academy's repository already cost 3,000 points; he couldn't even imagine how much work it would take to get a day of lessons with one of the Eight Strongest.
'You can't spend your whole life just accumulating points, you have to keep up with classes too...'
When you thought about it, it was practically impossible.
A few other students seemed to have realized this as well, letting out sighs.
"Alright, settle down. We'll end the class here... Ah, right. I almost forgot."
The professor quieted the classroom's clamor and snapped his fingers.
*Snap.*
A piece of paper appeared in front of each student.
"As you can see from reading that, in two weeks, all first-year students will be participating in a dungeon practical, as per the schedule."
He searched his memories for a while, trying to recall if any incident had occurred during the dungeon practical, but when nothing came to mind, he stopped thinking about it.
'I should focus on something else.'
The incident that would happen soon.
"You will form teams amongst yourselves, and a second-year senior will be assigned to each team to lead you. As an exception, you will also be able to earn merit points, so please prepare in advance."
Not long after, the academy would be attacked by intruders.
'It's a matter related to those around me, so I must pay attention.'
I can't ignore something that involves my subordinate.
It was an event that had already happened before his regression, so he needed to be especially careful.
"That concludes the class."
As the professor finished speaking, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class.
Allen stood up.
Since the incident would occur soon, he needed to move quickly.
Just as he was about to leave the classroom, someone called his name.
"Allen, I'm here."
Before he could turn to the owner of the voice, another voice called out to him.
"Allen."
A rigid, monotonous voice calling his name.
"I don't think I can meet you at night for a while."
"I called you, why didn't you answer... Huh?"
Hearing Maria's voice, Rachel, who had been walking over, stopped dead in her tracks.
"Something came up."
Maria's expression was unchanged.
"So let's meet again in a few days."
"...Again?"
"And let's change the location. I'm tired of the back alley."
"Back alley? Tired?"
Rachel strangely repeated those specific words.
"Wait..."
Allen instinctively realized she had misunderstood.
"I'm going."
But before Allen could correct her, Maria finished saying what she had to and walked out of the classroom.
"Ah..."
Allen sighed.
Rachel, who had been watching blankly, rushed over, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him close.
Allen let himself be pulled along docilely.
"Allen, explain. Right now."
"...I'll explain everything, just wait a..."
「Must be nice to be so popular, huh? You philanderer!」
'I wish you'd shut that mouth of yours.'
「What mouth? I'm a sword. Maybe you should have treated me better normally, hmm?」
Only Vestla shouted excitedly, as if enjoying the spectacle.
Allen suppressed the urge to curse inwardly and lowered his head.
Her lake-like blue eyes reflected his image with perfect clarity.
"Tell me the truth. What is your relationship with her?"