Chapter 251
Chapter 251
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 251
>Chapter Title: Huh? Why Me?
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After cleaning Lucifer's body thoroughly with Mana Shower, I spent some time teaching him magic techniques before heading to the meeting spot.
When I explained the self-sufficiency project, Lucifer blinked in disbelief at the idea of potatoes growing in this vast, empty plain.
"Potatoes will really grow in this barren wasteland?"
"Yeah. Just watch. It'll be a good lesson. By the way, this would've been impossible without Riheim sunbae and Myselrn sunbae. Of course, the most impressive part is me."
"......"
What was that look?
A flicker of contempt crept into eyes that had been full of admiration just moments ago.
Did he need some physical re-education?
Myselrn sunbae's voice reached me right as I was clenching and unclenching my fist in inner turmoil.
"Hurry up. We don't have much time."
"Why?"
"Didn't you hear? The grand duke... no, Riheim's disciple is enrolling in the academy. We've got a ton of prep to do after this."
Oh, right. Obern was becoming an academy freshman, wasn't he?
'So he's really my junior now.'
As that thought crossed my mind, Myselrn sunbae's voice rang in my ear again.
"By the way, you..."
"Cut it out."
"Heh heh, yeah, better stop. But isn't it wild? Your sunbae is a real sunbae now. Riheim's disciple seems to like you a lot. Bet he's thrilled..."
He must've found an opening, because Myselrn sunbae kept teasing me with that mischievous grin.
What a jerk.
I tuned him out with one ear and let it flow out the other as I approached Riheim sunbae, who spotted me right then.
"Ah, you're here."
"Yes, sunbae."
Riheim sunbae smiled kindly.
Yes, this was the dignity of a veteran mage...
"The busy tower lord graces us with his presence. What an honor. My disciple's sunbae shows up, so he's been buzzing around checking the magic circles on this plain all day, wearing out his old bones."
"......"
"Heh heh, not saying it for you to hear. Just sharing. See over there? Obern's waving happily... Tower Lord's hand must be heavy, huh? Oh, not telling you to wave. What can this old man say to the hidden hero of the Second Black-White Slums, the Tower Lord? Heh heh."
"......"
This guy sure had a long aftertaste.
Reluctantly, I waved at Obern.
"Put a bit more enthusiasm into it."
"......Ah, sure."
I waved back at Obern. The faster he waved, the faster I went.
Anyway, after that joyful reunion with Obern.
"Let's get started, Riheim."
"Prep done?"
"Mine's been ready ages ago. You're the issue."
"Hm. Got it."
Riheim sunbae called over Obern from afar, then turned to the Svetlana organization member beside him.
"Here."
The member brought a sack of seed potatoes for planting. But it wasn't just one or two.
Dozens more members followed with identical sacks.
Some were empty-handed—they were the workers who'd harvest once the potatoes grew.
And so, with hundreds gathered—not just Svetlana's crew, but reinforcements from nearby districts...
"Begin."
Riheim sunbae signaled the project's start.
Myselrn sunbae had Fury scatter the seed potatoes across the plain. Then mana rippled through the air.
Tzzzz—
A massive barrier spell.
The atmosphere shifted, the earth writhed and teemed with life. Dark clouds soon drenched the barrier in rain, and life-laden winds stirred.
Amid it all,
I spun my circle, manipulating the mana in the air.
Soon—
Crackle, crackle...!
Green vines sprouted across the barren winter plain.
As the vast plain became engulfed in vines, with my circle spinning at its limit, a thought suddenly struck me.
...It felt like the blood on my hands was washing away.
In that moment, I understood why Riheim sunbae and Myselrn sunbae devoted themselves to this.
And so, vacation drew to a close.
* * *
Inside a lavish carriage emblazoned with the imperial crest.
Bellrose, third princess of the Aderian Empire, sat reading a thick magic tome.
Her signature imperial red hair sparkled in the sunlight, while her eyes delved deeply into the world of magic theory.
Then, a shadow suddenly loomed across from her.
"......"
The knight in black tunic bowed silently.
Bellrose closed her book soon after.
"What about the intel I ordered?"
"Lortel and Decullan's front lines are fierce. It's too close to call a superior side—war's likely to drag on."
"Who's leading each?"
"Lortel: the Four Swords, Three Swords, and Young Patriarch. Decullan: the newly ascended Seven Mage Holland and the third Seven Mage."
Two from the Ten Swords and two Seven Mages...
"Not a total war, then."
"They know each other too well."
Probably.
The two houses, rivals for ages, knew best how formidable the other was.
The knight's detailed report continued.
By the end, the third princess realized this war wouldn't last long.
Not going all-out meant they were ready to pull back anytime.
'Father can't be unaware of the temperature.'
With both houses' temps gauged, the imperial family would mediate soon.
It wouldn't welcome a powerhouse growing bolder under a victor's name.
The two noble houses would grudgingly accept, feigning reluctance.
"...No need to worry about the war anymore."
"Yes. Your Highness can focus on academy life."
"Academy..."
At the word, the third princess turned to the window.
A vast plain stretched outside—Hazen city wasn't far now.
What would the academy be like?
She'd visited before for the Pistinike Award ceremony, but daily life there was hard to picture.
Still.
'...Hope it's fun.'
The palace was suffocating.
Especially since Grandfather, the late emperor, passed.
As worry clouded the third princess's face, the knight spoke up.
"By the way, Your Highness. Info picked up this morning while scouting the front..."
"Tell me."
"Decullan's Young Patriarch is transferring into second-year Basic Class M3 this year. Jenion's recognizing his completion from Decullan's own academy."
"M3..."
"Same makeup as first year. Note: Blandoga's Young Patriarch is in it."
"Which class am I in?"
"M2, Your Highness."
"I see."
The princess nodded without much interest.
Even as Decullan's Young Patriarch, everyone who mattered knew he was the family discard.
'...Sent as a hostage, no doubt.'
As long as classes didn't overlap, she had no interest.
But wait.
"If it's the same as first year, M3... who was in M3?"
The third princess furrowed her brow at the hazy memory.
"Pardon? Excluding Blandoga's Young Patriarch, no one worth Your Highness's attention. If anything... Dinai branch Furyon."
"No, there was someone. That... student who hangs around with Blandoga's Young Patriarch."
The third princess dredged up her Pistinike chat with Principal Schubertz.
He'd been close with Grandfather, the late emperor—one of the few she could open up to.
Surely, back then...
- There's an interesting one. You'll see him soon, Third Princess. He's one of the awardees.
Yes, that was it.
She'd paid close attention since he was transferring mid-second semester, but imperial matters delayed it to second-year entry, and she'd forgotten amid the chaos.
"Ah, the commoner boy named Zenby?"
"...Zenby? Zenby... no."
Not Zenby.
"Wait..."
Third Princess Bellrose pulled out letters exchanged with Principal Schubertz over recent months.
They read like warm chats between granddaughter and grandpa. She opened the most recent, post-second-year enrollment decision.
"Ah, I remember now."
"Who...?"
As the knight asked curiously, the third princess shook her head with a smile.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"......Understood."
The knight bowed again, curiosity quelled.
The third princess gazed at him briefly, then glanced at the letter.
It read:
Dare I say, beware the one called Aster. Hangs with Blandoga's Young Patriarch, dull gray hair and rotten goblin eyes—easy to spot. I split your classes, but keep distance from this plague-like scum.
His name was Aster.
'Aster, Aster...'
Since Grandfather the late emperor's passing, Third Princess Bellrose had treated Principal Schubertz like a grandfather.
Their positions kept things formal, but her feelings were genuine.
Yet.
What kind of person could he be?
Schubertz wouldn't even mention him if he were truly irredeemable.
'For Sir Schubertz to say this...'
Principal Schubertz didn't know.
His letter would backfire spectacularly.
* * *
The opening ceremony arrived at last.
"Had a good break?"
"Was good, but won't be from now on."
"Why?"
"Your face."
Amid excited students reuniting with classmates after so long, I moved my stuff with blank eyes.
'What idiot decided to make us move?'
Clearing first-year dorms for incoming freshmen. Total hassle.
My stuff was just textbooks, spare uniform, basics—nothing major, but still annoying.
Too lazy for subspace, so I hauled it manually. Beside me, Damian and Zenby's chatter buzzed.
"I'm the new Prototype Damian 2. Way different from first year."
"Damian, only your height changed."
"That's the point. Some folks haven't changed at all."
......That punk shot up even more over break. And Zenby was finally sprouting longer limbs.
Me? Only one not growing. Quite the blow to the pride.
'Why? I should be due.'
After that ordeal of humiliation, I sat in my new second-year dorm, gazing out the window.
Honestly, last semester had been pretty meaningful.
Had an excellent slave... er, friend Evelyn by my side, screwed over Decullan, and snagged Lucifer for the magic tower's future.
The issue?
'...This semester's the problem.'
I figured on two types of talent.
First: wealth handler.
'...Evelyn covers that.'
Next: armed force...
'...Turns out, academy's no easy spot for that.'
I needed ready-to-deploy firepower, not promising sprouts.
So, table the force.
What else did the tower need?
Simple.
'...Land.'
Yeah, land.
Couldn't be Tower Lord without a tower forever.
Lucifer's "But where's our tower?" had been brutally awkward.
"Problem is..."
Building a magic tower wasn't just buying dirt.
Had to report to the Empire, jump through admin hoops—since it wasn't some simple library.
What'd Evelyn say?
- No clue what you're planning, but looks like an academy setup. Need land permitted as academy grounds. Tough. Other academies demand papers for recognition, and... you know how admin loves bribes.
Not easy.
...Backing makes it easy, but who am I?
Troubleshooter. No blood ties, no old-boy network, building academy ties now.
'Lortel doesn't know I lack a tower.'
Zero leverage there.
'Tch. Any academy brat with admin pull? Paper's fine—Parun's works, but no ties there either.'
Suddenly missing Henji's life ledger I'd torched.
A knock rattled the window.
Bang! Bang bang!
Familiar mug, asshole glare.
"Breakfast... No. 1?"
I took the note he handed.
From Principal sunbae.
......Long-overdue visit to the hideout.
There, I got an unexpected answer.
Knew an academy student with admin backing.
Who?
"The third princess is enrolling this time."
Yeah. The third princess.
"I called you today to give you a stern warning... no, junior. Why are your eyes so wide?"
"Huh? Why me?"
No clue what, but Principal sunbae was mistaken.
Because.
My eyes were duller and cloudier than ever.