Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: During the Absence (1)
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"Chairman. What more words could possibly work on you?"
Long ago, there was a time when magic belonged exclusively to races other than humans. According to ancient texts (??), that race possessed bodies as massive as the Ravier Mountains, razor-sharp claws, wings that allowed them to soar freely through the skies, and a language that transcended mere communication to embody the mysteries of divine providence.
"The guards' resentment is piercing the heavens. Honestly, if you'd truly been so broke that you mixed sand into their pay, I wouldn't have come all this way. They're Pharenchia's soldiers to begin with, and that amount of money is no issue for me to cover."
Now-extinct mystical beings, the dragonkin. Through their mouths and eyes, humans were able to glimpse the Threefold Origin, the laws of the world.
Yet the providence upholding the world was far too vast a body of knowledge for mere mortals.
Those who pursued that knowledge were called mages walking the path of magic arts, but among the countless grains of sand on a beach, only a scant handful could capture even a fragment of truth in their gourds.
"But that's not the case, is it? Chairman, it wasn't a lack of money. Nor was it stinginess with their pay! Do you know why I'm raising my voice like this? Because you turned your back on those you're supposed to take responsibility for, without a second thought!"
And even now—the archmages called grand dukes, who possessed unique magic arts, had yet to fully comprehend that truth.
On the contrary, the deeper they delved, the more they honed their personal magic arts, the more they neglected the world, their own bodies, and their minds.
"Was that ennui of yours truly worth the fare for boarding the ferry called Pharenchia Academy?"
The moment she first learned magic from one of those ancient dragons, now vanished at the empire's spearpoint, Lehel's heart had throbbed with brilliance as if scattering light across the universe.
"Isn't that weight too heavy, sinking the boat?"
But now, that starlight was crumbling silently, like a star at the end of its lifespan.
"Listen, Lehel. Are you even listening?"
Was it a merchant's instinct or a leader's intuition? At the call of Darling Tokarev de Luhillen, lord of Pharenchia and head of the Luhillen Merchant Guild, Lehel stopped fiddling with her prayer beads made from dragon fangs (??).
"Yes, I'm listening, Viscount."
"Good. Then your answer to my question..."
"I made a mistake. I should have paid the guards properly. In addition to the amount you advanced this time, I'll pay them their original due."
A crisp response. Though paying the withheld wages wasn't the root issue, Darling sighed and gazed at the grand duke before her.
She couldn't draw any proper resolution from her anymore. No, more precisely, she couldn't change the mindset of the mage named Lehel Darad.
Those who mastered unique magic arts were all mad, without exception.
Reaffirming that thought, she clicked her tongue and asked,
"...Haa. By when?"
"Mm. Next week?"
"..."
"If you're done, could you get down from the desk...? It's hurting my neck."
"Understood."
Darling, who had maintained eye level for scolding by climbing up, hopped down, slipped on her shoes, and Lehel saw her off.
"Take care~."
"Hmph."
Bam! The door shut with a thud, and silence seeped back into the chairman's office.
The weekend after the election ended. Once Adella could move again, I took her from the dorm straight to the canteen.
At first, I couldn't fathom what she meant by getting lost and not finding the canteen, but I soon understood.
"Adella?"
"This way~."
"Not there."
"This is right~."
She kept veering sideways. That's when I realized there was something wrong with Liv's ideological barrier.
I finally arrived at the canteen holding her hand and informed Liv.
She tilted her head with an expression of complete ignorance, then stood up.
"I'll check it out."
"Okay."
"..."
She spent more time blankly staring at Adella than actually checking. Meanwhile, I was feeding the iron dogs scraps from the junk metal I'd bought last time.
As I tore the sheet metal into bite-sized pieces, I heard a faint tsk from somewhere.
A moment later—
"I must have messed up. It's fixed now, should be fine."
"Ah, really? Good thing."
"No big deal. Anyway, boss, here's the list of damaged items from the election period and this month's financials."
Liv naturally cleared the cushion next to where she'd been sitting behind the counter for me. Behind that, she'd brewed tea using the cafe's utensils and handed me a warm cup.
So meticulous. That's why I've been able to trust her lately and wander around.
"No bread delivery last week?"
"Yeah. They said protesters seized it on the way from the main gate to the canteen."
"Mm, poor Aunt Mariel..."
"I paid this week's amount by mail first. And if the workshop sends the repair estimate for the wagon, I'll demand the academy cover the costs."
"Well done. As expected from Baroness Liv."
"That's... thank you."
Weekend, peaceful afternoon. No customers, gentle breeze entering through the windows with the sunlight.
Sipping tea leisurely, stroking the purring iron dog beside me.
And Liv's voice, softer and sweeter than any Earth ASMR I'd heard, whispers to me.
If this isn't heaven, then what is? This... is the successful life?
My efforts to protect the canteen's peace weren't in vain.
"Boss, tired?"
"Mm...? Huh?"
"No customers today, so if you're tired, rest upstairs. Or..."
Slide. Liv shifted her hips slightly, making space for my head on the spot where she sat.
"Rest here?"
Her meltingly sweet offer made my body lean involuntarily.
The moment I nodded without thinking—
Bam!!
"Teacher! What should I do!?"
I nearly jumped. Adella slammed the counter with both hands and leaned in.
Right, she came with me. Forgot she was here. I scratched my head and stood.
The reason I brought her was obvious: she had work to do.
"Follow me."
As I stepped out from the counter, Adella and Liv's expressions contrasted sharply. One bloomed like a flower in a bright smile, the other flashed lightning in her eyes.
"Teacher~. Nice weather today, wanna go play?"
Instead of answering the girl trailing behind me, I pulled out a key and unlocked the cafe door. Adella deeply inhaled the stuffy air of the long-neglected cafe.
"Ah~. Miss this place. I served you tea here before."
"What'll you do? Keep working from now on?"
"For real!? Yay!"
"Got it, then..."
I stopped Adella, who was excitedly shedding her cape and reaching for a server apron, and shoved a rag into her hand instead.
"Here."
"?"
"Clean."
"Huh?"
Huh what? The cafe had been locked even while the canteen operated, so tables, windows—everything was dusty.
We even had to disassemble and wash the tea sets, hand-drip equipment, and coffee grinders.
"Wipe everything here clean, peel off all the election posters on the windows. Clean tables and chairs twice with the drying solution and rose oil cloth from the cleaning kit. Mop the floor with a wet rag, but watch the lower latches so you don't scratch them."
"T-Teacher...?"
"Then rinse all the glassware and tools from the bar inside with water and set them out to dry in the sun. Get the raw materials inventory from the storeroom, check quantities, sort expired ones separately, and fill out the order form. Finally, find the hygiene certification from Pharenchia officials and put it on the canteen counter. Got it?"
Adella's eyes trembled at my machine-gun instructions. She reached out pleadingly.
"Y-You'll do it with me, right?"
"Time you learned. Ask Baroness Liv if you don't know."
"What about you!? Can't you teach me?"
"I'd love to, but I have work."
"Then I'll do that instead!"
Ridiculous. Me clean instead? Impossible for her even in death.
I told her to start with floors and furniture, then headed to the canteen.
The moment I opened the connecting door, Liv, standing right there, startled and straightened up.
"Baroness? Something you need?"
"N-No!? Nothing. Um... boss."
"Yes?"
"Later... wanna have dinner together?"
Dinner? Suddenly?
Flustered, but no one in the academy would refuse a meal with Liv Lavre de Greenwood. Me neither, but not right now.
"Mm... is it urgent?"
"Not that urgent. Busy?"
"Yeah. Looks like I need to head out soon. Let's talk when I get back."
"Okay. B-But boss. When will you return?"
Liv asked when, not where. Probably a time limit on whatever she wanted to discuss over dinner. Hard to answer precisely. Could take a while if unlucky.
"Planning to be back within a week... but with good prep, sooner."
"Prep?"
"Yeah."
I nodded, thinking of the person at the top of the Acasia Observatory visible between the oak trees.
"Gotta form a party."
The memo discovered on the iron dog pursuing Liv when she asked for my help.
If it were just their counterintelligence notes, no reason for me to touch it. What they do with the Holy Kingdom is their business.
But the moment I saw those ominous demon god statues, I decided to investigate. Whatever it is, anyone trying to restore the old demon race's glory must be crushed thoroughly.
One reason: to protect the small peace of the canteen and academy I enjoyed today.
Obviously, with only brute force, I can't outdo the iron dogs in intel or organization. They'd already sent recovered statues to HQ—no samples in my hands.
'Still... there's a way.'
Election over, canteen secured. Fires out, so time to leave the academy and probe the demon god statues.
Could close the canteen, but... losses too big.
Just fixed Roshiar soldiers' damage, then red revolutionaries turned academy into chaos—no customers.
So this time, leave it to Adella and Liv, go worry-free.
Hurts pride a bit, but students come for them, not me—no sales hit.
They're still awkward; girl time alone will build rapport. Like sending underlings to afterparty without the boss.
Ruler, but not tyrant. True employer's way.
Imagining Liv and Adella working amiably upon return, I smiled.