Chapter 280
Chapter 280
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 280
>Chapter Title: Look Over There. See That Sky?
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I moved to the second-year cafeteria on the campus grounds with the idiot trio.
"Wasn't that Principal Schwertz just now?"
"...Looked like he was being dragged off by imperial knights."
"Any idea what happened?"
Word must have spread already, because the students in the cafeteria were buzzing about the principal's arrest.
The idiot trio was no exception.
"What do you think happened to the principal...?"
"Who knows. Maybe he caused some kind of incident?"
"An incident? What kind?"
Chenbi, Evelyn, Damian, in order.
The three of them speculated about why the principal had been taken away, but it was more out of curiosity than concern.
I tuned out their empty chatter with one ear while sorting through my thoughts with the other.
'Real embezzlement...?'
The items in the hideout had been unnecessarily luxurious. They hadn't been that extravagant until before I went to rescue the Kallia mercenary captain.
Is this why people should live frugally?
That's when...
Thump, thump.
Something tapped against the cafe window.
"...?"
I tilted my head to look, but Damian's voice rang out first.
"Owl!"
"Owl?"
"Isn't that an owl?"
"Evelyn, do you even know what an owl looks like?"
"Well..."
Damian's sharp question left Evelyn trailing off.
Fair enough. It's not hard to tell if you look it up on purpose, but hardly anyone bothers.
Anyway.
'...Breakfast No. 1?'
What brings you here?
It had pitifully hooted after the principal as he was dragged away, but now it was back at the academy.
As eyes focused on it, it simply turned its back and stood there, glancing sideways at me.
A signal to come out.
'Why should I?'
Whether it was a message from the principal or Breakfast No. 1 coming on its own, I had no reason to go.
After all, according to the principal's pathetic words, it was the natural flow of history: rewarding good and punishing evil.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tired of waiting? Breakfast No. 1 pounded furiously on the cafeteria window with angry eyes. But my mind didn't change.
'That's plenty already.'
It wasn't because I was sulking over the principal's insults a few days ago.
This was more like... hoping my respected senior could retire and live peacefully.
I ignored Breakfast No. 1's calls and sipped my coffee when a wail came from outside.
Pii... Pii.
Piiii...
A feeble cry, unlike its usual one.
"What do we do? It sounds sad."
"Yeah, what is it?"
The mournful sound made the academy students in the cafeteria murmur sympathetically.
What, you think that'll make me come out?
"Aster? Where are you going?"
I answered Evelyn's question.
"...Time for my medicine."
"Medicine? Oh..."
Evelyn, who knew about my injury, nodded in understanding.
That's when Damian's voice came.
"Friend, even after taking your medicine?"
"...?"
What the hell is this guy saying?
Puzzled, I tilted my head, and Chenbi shot Damian a stern look.
"Damian, that's not something you say."
"Why?"
Good job, Chenbi. Well d...
"It's rude to say that to someone else. And didn't you hear in class?"
"What?"
"Don't have fixed ideas. It's not 'even after medicine,' it could be because of the medicine."
"Aha!"
Aha? What aha...
What do I do with these idiots?
My eye twitched, and Breakfast No. 1's pitiful wail reached my ears.
Pii, pii. Piiii...
Fine, I'm going.
I left the two idiots behind and stepped out of the cafeteria.
* * *
As I exited, Breakfast No. 1 flapped up into the sky.
It circled above my head a couple times, then turned and flew off in a certain direction.
'Looks like it's telling me to go to the hideout...'
I hurried to the hideout. Breakfast No. 1, who had arrived first, flapped its wings on the new desk.
Not pitiful for a speechless beast... It expressed itself just fine through actions.
"Open it?"
Pii, pii.
I glanced at Breakfast No. 1, who hooted affirmatively, and opened the desk drawer.
Inside was a single envelope.
'Not thick enough for a secret ledger...?'
Piiii.
Urged by Breakfast No. 1, I broke the seal and opened it.
A will? Or a message to dispose of the secret ledger?
I read on, pushing aside the questions.
...How much time passed.
"Ugh."
After finishing, I couldn't hold back a sigh.
'To my junior. Leaving this letter in case of unforeseen circumstances.'
The six-page letter was quite long, and its contents were quite awkward for me.
Because.
The senior had anticipated his own death.
Slim chance this becomes a will, but who knows with people, so assuming it is.
If it were just a simple will, I wouldn't be troubled. The problem was the 'request' in it.
So, what was the request?
It split into two cases.
First.
If I die...
No, if he dies.
Here, 'death' meant sudden death: poisoning, accident, assassination.
Second.
If I get taken away...
Cases other than death.
'Second seems to be the current situation...'
So, set aside the first.
Per the letter, death was unlikely anyway, and if taken, no worry about dying.
For the second case, what do I do?
'Protect the Third Princess at least within the academy?'
The letter's nuance didn't require vigilant guarding.
Just check her complexion in the halls, see if suspicious figures lurk around.
Something like that.
A light request, if anything.
'Not hard.'
Guessing his intent, it was grandmotherly worry entrusting the Third Princess's safety to me.
The letter noted that if taken, unknown 1st or 2nd Prince's men would act moderately.
But for me accepting, it wasn't light, and the reason was simple.
"Why use the word 'will'... Tsk."
How could I take a light request lightly? Huh?
This was probably... a ploy to make me feel burdened. Otherwise, so malicious.
Grumbling about the principal's useless solemnity, Breakfast No. 1 tilted its head.
Pii, pii, pii...
Curious about the contents, apparently.
"Can't read? You seem to understand speech."
Pii, pii.
Seemed not.
Sigh, me interpreting letters for beasts now.
I sighed at my lot and explained the letter simply for the birdbrain Breakfast No. 1.
So... yeah.
"Look over there. See that sky?"
Breakfast No. 1 tilted its head but followed my finger to the window, letting out a soft cry.
Pii?
Asking what about the sky, I rubbed my nose and translated.
"He said to go peacefully."
Pii...?
Ah, idiom beasts can't grasp?
As I considered explaining, a wyvern's face flashed by, and I shook my head.
Then I stroked Breakfast No. 1 and gave the proper interpretation.
"No need to worry. Luckily, not the worst case."
Pii?!
Breakfast No. 1's eyes widened, then it spread its wings and flapped.
Pii! Pii, pii!
Seemed happy its master was safe, and watching wasn't bad for me.
Anyway.
'Senior couldn't gauge if 1st or 2nd Prince either...'
Why target the Third Princess?
Not without guesses.
Anxiety that Grand Duke Muspell backing her would shake succession.
'And... knowing principal was Sakwol's mage would heighten that anxiety.'
But speculation; truth beyond me.
'And no need to know.'
Principal safe, my job watch Third Princess. No more meddling.
With that, I looked at Breakfast No. 1.
"By the way, got a place to stay?"
Pii...
It drooped its head.
"Want me to introduce a friend?"
Pii?
Breakfast No. 1 tilted its head, pondered, then shook no.
Waiting for master, it seemed. I didn't push.
"If hungry, come find me."
I patted its head and left the hideout.
Piiii...!
The cry from behind wasn't pitiful anymore. ...At least to me.
* * *
The 'principal's arrest incident' wrapped up for me like that.
Not that I wasn't worried, but he said via his mouthpiece he'd be fine, so believe it.
Unlike the chaotic academy, it became someone else's problem for me.
'...As long as no rats stick to the Third Princess.'
With that thought done, I donned mask and robe and headed to Parun's mansion.
Parun sat at his work desk handling affairs, looking up at my presence.
"You're early today. Wait. Finishing soon."
"Take your time."
By the way, Parun and I discussed papers for academy submission every weekend. More to consider than thought.
Originality, etc.
Not entirely new, but some special angle for academy recognition.
"Oh, by the way, know about that?"
"..."
Parun eyed me irritably.
"What? Spit it out."
"Nothing big. Academy principal got arrested?"
Principal said fine, but nagging doubt. Threw it at Parun hoping he knew something.
"...When?"
"Just now. Why, know something?"
Parun set down papers and stood right then.
"Going somewhere. Follow."
...Parun knew something.
Or embezzlement.