Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Capital's Holiday -1-
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The first outdoor class for the Knight Department and Swordsmanship Department had ended, and time flowed relentlessly downward like a cascading waterfall.
Already, the end of the first semester at the academy was drawing near.
Isaac had sent Robert several letters updating him on the research progress, but no replies came.
'This is really ridiculous.'
It was an experiment that would benefit him too and was plenty intriguing, but could Robert really be this indifferent after requesting it himself?
Isaac himself needed time to finalize the research and devise a strategy based on whatever shaky foundation—stepping stone or wobbly bridge—the lessons from Robert provided.
As the saying goes, only the thirsty dig the well.
Unable to stomach the frustration any longer, Isaac grabbed the paper scrawled with formulas and his books, then stepped out of his room.
'...How many days has it been since I went out, aside from classes?'
Mana covered any shortfall in physical strength for experiments, but surely he ought to exercise a little on the surface.
There had been days fixated solely on temporal efficiency, but... ultimately, to capture the heart of the woman he cherished, sucking in the tadpole-like belly that had begun protruding fell under efficiency too.
'Female students are vulnerable to visual cues.'
Not just sucking in his gut—building stamina and bulking up a bit seemed promising.
Having neatly slotted this onto his list of topics to consult Robert about, Isaac headed for the Knight Department dormitory.
Not too far—a perfect stroll.
'...?'
He was definitely heading for the Knight Department dormitory.
Undoubtedly the men's dorm.
Yet at the main gate, a cluster of women buzzed about, half-blocking the entrance.
-Aren't you eating dinner tonight?
-Yeah... won't open up.
-Then let's just leave it by the door.
-What if that bitch...
'The women Robert hangs around with.'
All daughters of prominent noble houses.
Young ladies whose faces Isaac had crossed paths with multiple times at pre-academy banquets and events.
'Even their huddled behavior reeks of patheticness.'
Truly, compared to the daughter of House Dreitna, they were graceless lumps of meat.
Isaac approached the women with an impassive face.
"Mind if I ask about something?"
-
Isaac listened as they vented, seizing the opportunity.
From their grammar slyly weaving unverified "I heard..." as facts, he sifted out only the essential info and sank into thought.
'Robert's been acting strange...'
Lately, skipping over half his academy classes and holing up in his room the instant they ended, apparently.
He emerged occasionally to eat when hungry.
...Probably nothing major? Truly exhausted people can't even stomach food and give up eating altogether, no?
Thinking there might be some purpose if it was Robert, Isaac entered the Knight Department dormitory.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"..."
No response from Robert's private room, even after knocking.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Robert! You in there!"
Pounding harder and calling out brought rustling sounds from inside.
Creak—
From the slightly cracked door, Robert's eyes peeked out.
The room inside was pitch black, lights off and curtains drawn tight.
"Isaac...?"
Tired eyes.
A voice groggy like he'd just woken.
"I sent all those letters about the research you asked for—no reply—so I came myself."
"...Sorry. Come in."
Unlike what the female students said about him not even opening the door for visitors, Robert readily let him in.
Never once ventilated, door always shut—his room carried a sticky heat laced with an oddly displeasing smell wafting up.
Not as pungent as reagents or research materials, but the kind that soured the mood.
"Ahem... let me explain simply for now."
Clenching his facial muscles to keep his expression steady, Isaac laid out his progress for Robert.
Explanations of the magic circle would probably fly over his head anyway, so a simple list of conclusions would do.
'Has his face slimmed down a bit?'
Isaac observed Robert's appearance while talking.
Less like undereating, more like depleted vigor.
His build unchanged, but that hollowed face was eerie.
While mentally tracing the source of that displeasing smell, a gut sense warned there was nothing good to uncover, so Isaac cut the thought short and resolved to wrap this up fast.
"...So, around the start of the second semester, we can try activating the new magic circle?"
"In one line, yes. That's when we verify the standing hypotheses, nail down solid data, weed out errors and flaws, and push to a more perfect phase."
Did even a Knight Department guy like Robert grasp that much?
He sat in his chair, nodding blankly into space.
"...Yeah. Somehow make it turn... women in this world can't be trusted..."
"?"
Robert muttered oddly at thin air.
Isaac found the demeanor strange but now craved fresh air outside.
'Guess I need to clean my room too. Did visitors feel this way...'
And above all, the pressing need to escape this room.
He wanted no part in whatever tiresome mess Robert seemed tangled in.
The ordeals of a prominent marquis house's eldest son—hardly ordinary.
The survival tactics of a mage-noble dipping into commerce.
Isaac had no immediate gains to extract from Robert by settling debts now.
Exercise advice? Plenty of other cadets to ask.
But if Robert asked for help, it'd be awkward to shut him down outright—so Isaac swiftly gathered the papers strewn on the table and tucked them into his bosom.
"Next time, when the magic circle's ready to activate. Same research supplies as before, if you would."
Tweet-! Tweet-! Tweee-!
Birdsong drifting in over the windowsill.
Eclair's eyes snapped open in her bedroom, her first thought:
'Today kicks off the holiday...'
A holiday delayed far beyond expectation.
Leo's urgent report of spotting black magic in a tavern had forced her to postpone the vacation she'd snatched once already, amid days of investigation.
Traces of black magic clearly lingered.
But the massive search that shoved her vacation aside turned up nothing meaningful—just empty hands.
Leo claimed he'd glimpsed it out of nowhere while drinking; with no testimony to extrapolate from, pinpointing the group proved impossible.
In the end, they stationed battle-hardened mages with the guard for a month, shifting fixed patrols to randomized ones.
And signaled the Church.
Open traces of a black mage in the capital had knights holding the center while talk swirled of handing it off to specialist adventurers—but no firm call yet.
The Church had already gone berserk on the traces and launched their hunt.
Why burn coin on adventurers? Public sentiment swung that way.
The palace atmosphere grew prickly, but the Church's round-the-clock hustle kept things from forcing Eclair to rescind her pre-filed vacation.
'About to get slammed soon... if I want rest, it's now or never.'
This rare two-day breather—she planned an outing with Chloe tomorrow, so today she wanted to meet Roman and tie up their talk.
"Huu-!"
Slipping from bed, she stretched massively—even onto tiptoes—before heading to the bathroom off her room.
Splashhhh—
Like Chloe, Eclair showered or bathed solo, no attendants.
With limbs still hale, why hand body-washing to others?
Nor did she fancy strangers eyeing or touching her bare skin.
After flicking moisture from her hair and wrenching her wild silver locks into a tight ponytail, she made for the kitchen.
'Breakfast today—'
If doable, she cooked it herself.
This habit proved huge for encampments.
She rested, but Chloe headed to the academy—so they started the day sharing a meal, sister in her academy uniform at the table.
"You still look sleepy."
"Hehe..."
Eclair's lips curved faintly at Chloe's soft blush and smile.
Off to the academy went the drowsy sister; now Eclair returned to her room to prep for heading out.
Wardrobe before her, she stroked her chin with a finger.
'Outfit's the snag.'
Holiday or not, first foray to the Adventurer's Guild—official-duty attire?
Venue aside, not official business per se—casual wear?
After suffocating deliberation, she picked a coat and leather pants.
Sword ever at her hip like a limb; she pocketed the black brooch from the table.
"Off for a quick errand."
Notified the servant sweeping the mansion's entrance, then donned heel-less flats and stepped out.
'Here goes.'
Clack- clack-
Fresh thrill stepping the street's blocks.
The Adventurer's Guild—she'd popped in countless times for work.
Yet as the destination neared, overlooked details began snagging her attention.
Like flipping breath from autopilot to manual.
"..."
Today, meeting Roman not as duty, but friend-to-friend.
Meet and greet naturally?
How'd she usually kick off chats with him?
Dive straight into the point?
No answers surfaced, only mounting worries.
By then, at the Adventurer's Guild door, Eclair steadied her breath and pushed it open.