Chapter 284: To Aldreque (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 284: To Aldreque (2)
My ears were ringing. I could barely hear Abel’s incessant chatter.
It was because I was focusing all my attention on Vuel—also known as Instructor Ronzainus—who was sitting right across from me.
The carriages bound for Aldreque had begun crossing the landing bridge, traversing the continent. According to what I’d gathered from Vuel, he had boarded the lead carriage in his capacity as a supervisor.
Of all the times for this to happen…
I couldn’t tell if my luck was incredibly good or catastrophically bad.
“…I didn’t want to say anything, but did you two have a fight?”
Abel, who had been babbling while observing the heavy silence between us, finally voiced his thoughts.
“Why has the mood been so stiff? Come on, it’s a beautiful day! We should be excited, like we’re going on a picnic! We’re all on the same team, after all!”
“I like this kid. A picnic… I like the sound of that.”
Instructor Ron responded positively to Abel’s oblivious encouragement.
On the other hand, Roanna was quietly munching on some snacks, staying out of it.
“…Hmm?”
An unadorned ring on the ring finger of her left hand caught my eye. I shifted my gaze to Abel’s left hand. He was wearing the exact same one.
“Haha, it looks like Senior Isaac noticed.”
Abel responded nonchalantly. He had been tracking my gaze and immediately figured out what I was thinking. He lifted his left hand, showing off the ring with a grin. It was clear he wanted to brag.
“I wasn’t planning on hiding it, but since you’ve seen it, there’s no helping it!”
“You two are dating?”
“Correct…!”
Thud!
A dull sound echoed as Roanna smacked the back of Abel’s head with considerable force.
That had to hurt.
Abel clutched his head and groaned, “Kugh!” He glared at Roanna, complaining, “Why do you keep hitting me?!”
“Shut up, you sleazebag…”
Roanna’s breathing was ragged. Despite her usual vacant expression, her flushed cheeks were a dead giveaway. It was obvious what she was feeling, even without me having to use [Psychological Insight].
It’s not exactly a surprise.
In the original story, it was already predetermined that these two would become a couple. How could I not know?
“Dating, huh…? You’re in the prime of your youth.”
“Oh, Instructor, you’re surprisingly lenient about this? If it were our usual supervisor, he’d be like, ‘Why are you dating when you should be focusing on your studies, tsk tsk.’”
“I encourage relationships during your student years. It’s a beautiful thing when two people from different backgrounds meet and form a bond deeper than any other, second only to family.”
“I like people as understanding as you, Instructor. Haha!”
Abel immediately switched into flattery mode.
Instructor Ron wasn’t bound by human desires like romance. He likely didn’t care at all. Even the phrase "prime of your youth" was probably just something he’d picked up from a book or overheard somewhere.
“So, what’s the reason for the rings?”
“What? Well… it shows everyone that she’s taken. And it’s kind of satisfying, you know?”
The red-faced Roanna kept nibbling on her snacks in short, rapid bursts.
“Please, just shut up,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rattling of the carriage.
“To prove a non-binding contract known as a relationship. Since the contract has no physical substance, providing a visual aid is a valid reason.”
Instructor Ron crossed his arms and chuckled, seemingly finding the situation amusing.
“Isaac?”
“Yes?”
“Did you give Luce a ring too?”
“…What?”
Instructor Ron suddenly redirected the conversation toward me. Abel and Roanna both whipped their heads around to look at me in surprise.
“The ring Luce always wears on her left ring finger. Anyone can see that you’re the one who gave it to her. You’re not going to deny it, are you?”
Did he ask Abel that question just to set me up…?
“So that’s what it meant! A ‘hands off’ warning. A sign of having a partner. I like it! You’re enjoying your youth too, Senior!”
Abel nudged Roanna with his elbow and whispered, “See? I told you it was Senior Luce.”
It seemed these two had been gossiping about my "couple ring" behind my back.
“Senior Isaac, you haven’t answered. Are you admitting it?”
Abel giggled, clearly enjoying the topic, and pressed me for an answer. At this point, saying something like, “The ring I gave Luce is only effective when worn on the left ring finger,” or “I didn’t give it to her for romantic reasons,” would just make me look pathetic.
No one would believe me.
Not that I don’t have feelings for Luce, anyway.
I pushed up my glasses and offered a calm, neutral smile.
“I don’t really want to talk about it. Let’s drop this pointless discussion.”
In other words: Interpret it however you want.
“That’s such a stiff response…”
“How boring.”
Somehow, those two were perfectly in sync. Did they really just meet today?
“Oh, do you have a girlfriend, Instructor Ron? No, wait, are you married?”
“I have never had such a thing since birth. No one has ever met my standards.”
“What? Oh…”
Instructor Ron boasted pompously.
So, he’s been a lifelong solo.
Abel looked a bit flustered and seemed hesitant to push the subject any further. The conversation died out there.
*
“Senior Isaac, we’ve arrived! We’re in Aldreque!”
“Indeed.”
Abel had his face pressed against the carriage window as if he were glued to it, breathing heavily in excitement. Roanna also seemed intrigued, staring intently out the window alongside him.
“Are you that excited, Abel?”
“Of course I am! This place is a dream come true for guys like us. It’s the city where guild culture thrives more than anywhere else in the Zelver Empire! The City of Adventurers, Aldreque!”
A massive procession of carriages filled the road.
Aldreque was located in the southeast of the Zelver Empire, relatively close to Märchen Academy. As Abel said, it was famously known as the City of Adventurers. Guild quests—one of the "vacation content" features in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱—were mostly centered here.
Guild quests… That brings back memories.
I suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for the days when I could just play the game without a care in the world.
“Wow, look at all the carriages!”
“There are five academies participating in the competition, so it makes sense. Can the city even accommodate all these people?” Roanna asked, responding to Abel’s hype.
The Academy Clash was a massive event hosted by the Imperial Court. Aldreque had rented out a significant portion of its districts for the occasion, so there was no shortage of lodging.
The carriage came to a halt, and the driver shouted, “We have arrived!”
“Thank you so much!”
Abel cheerfully swung the door open and hopped out. I followed, with Instructor Ron and Roanna close behind.
In Aldreque’s vast central square, students were already gathering under the guidance of their respective faculty members. After a quick headcount, we were assigned our lodgings.
The participants and the spectators were housed in different areas quite far apart. It was a deliberate arrangement by the Empire.
Luce, Kaya, and Alice will be in the spectator lodgings.
They were attending as spectators under my instructions. Since the goal was to clear the scenario safely, it was better for my allies to be in the spectator group, where they faced fewer restrictions.
“The Academy Clash begins tomorrow. To ensure you are in top condition, focus entirely on resting today. That is all.”
Professor Fernando Frost spoke coldly into a loudspeaker, his voice as composed as ever. The specific events of the Academy Clash changed every year, so trying to predict them was a waste of time.
Today was essentially free time.
“Dismissed.”
Following the professor's orders, the students began to disperse.
“It’s my first time in Aldreque!”
“I’m so excited…”
“I’m glad I came, hehe.”
The atmosphere was light, almost like a school field trip. There was no need for the faculty to worry about the students wandering off; everyone was wearing a location-tracking bracelet, allowing the staff to monitor their whereabouts at all times.
“Isaac.”
As I was heading toward the lodgings, I stopped at the sound of Instructor Ron’s voice. I turned back to see him wearing a meaningful smile.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s event.”
“Hmm…?”
Leaving me with those cryptic words, Instructor Ron waved and headed toward the supervisor’s assembly point.
On the surface, it sounded like simple encouragement. The problem was that the man saying it was actively plotting my downfall.
Was it just a casual comment? Or does he have something specific planned?
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I never had to interact with Vuel outside of combat. Because of that, I lacked the prior knowledge needed to accurately read his social cues or behavior patterns.
As I quickened my pace, I spoke under my breath. “Cheshire.”
[Meow?]
A small purple cat wearing a bowler hat appeared, floating beside me. It was only the head of the Phantom Cat, Cheshire; the rest of its body remained invisible.
“While you were monitoring Instructor Ron, did you really see nothing suspicious?”
[Meowww… After my exhaustive and thorough stalking, I found absolutely nothing. I swear it on my adorable paw pads.]
The Phantom Cat revealed one of its fluffy paws, breaking its invisibility for a moment. I ignored the gesture.
There’s no point in confronting Vuel based on mere suspicion.
We were approaching a major scenario. Stirring up unnecessary trouble against an immortal backed by the Heavenly God would only increase the variables and risks I had to manage.
“…Keep monitoring him. Report to me immediately if you notice anything even slightly off.”
[As you wish.]
Cheshire’s head vanished in a puff of ashen smoke.
Before I knew it, I had reached the lodging area for the Academy Clash participants. The buildings were beautiful; in my previous life, this place would have been a prime dating spot.
Students from various academies, all wearing different uniforms, wandered the grounds and enjoyed the atmosphere. The area had a distinct, vibrant tourist vibe.
Looking up, I could see the towering silhouette of Hassen Volcano. Thanks to the geothermal activity, Aldreque was also a famous hot spring resort.
The cool night breeze tickled my skin. Walking around here with a cold beer in hand sounded incredibly relaxing.
What a leisurely thought…
“Makes you want to go out and have some fun, doesn't it?”
“Ack!”
Suddenly, a melodic voice whispered directly into my ear. Startled, I instinctively pushed off the ground and leaped back from the girl who had approached me.
A beautiful girl with a witch hat pinned to the back of her head covered her mouth and laughed mischievously.
“Nihihi!” That unique laugh revealed her identity instantly. It was Dorothy.
“You’re so cute when you’re surprised…!”
“Senior…?”
I hadn’t expected to run into her today.
“What’s wrong? You’re completely spaced out, kid. Are you that happy to see me?”
Dorothy tilted her head playfully. Even without reading her mind, her excitement was palpable.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the faculty lodgings? You’re a supervisor, aren’t you?”
“I received a special assignment! So I was assigned to a different building!”
Dorothy replied confidently, placing one hand on her hip and the other on her chest.
Is she actually proud of getting extra work?
“What’s this special assignment?”
“To be with you. To be precise, my special mission is to supervise you exclusively.”
Ah, I see.
I understood immediately. It made perfect sense.
“This isn't the academy, and you’re an important figure with immense power. They had to assign someone 'special' to keep an eye on you.”
At Märchen Academy, the only person who could truly keep me in check was Dorothy. It was a logical choice.
“So, you took on that role?”
“That’s right! You should be happy.”
“…Hooray.”
“Nihihi! That was such a lackluster reaction! But I appreciate the effort, so I’ll give you an A for trying.”
Dorothy playfully patted my shoulder. I had responded half-heartedly, but I was genuinely glad. Just seeing Dorothy felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’m heading to the lodgings first.”
“By the way, I’m staying in the same building as you tonight.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Nihihi.”
We walked side by side, chatting as we headed toward our rooms.