Chapter 282
Chapter 282
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 282
>Chapter Title: That is the Owner of the Magic Tower
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The reason for climbing a mountain is because it's there.
The reason I cracked open the safe was the same.
However, the actions I was about to take from here on required a bit more thought.
‘I just opened Professor Pellina’s safe.’
And what was inside belonged to me.
So, if I took that item, would it constitute theft, or not?
That was precisely why I hesitated with Fresen’s artifact right in front of me.
Of course, considering what lay ahead, it was right—no, appropriate—for me to take Fresen’s artifact.
But.
‘I’m not that close with Professor Pellina.’
Our interactions amounted to a few conversations after the Trial Chamber incident.
As friends, we’d greet each other without hesitation if we bumped into one another alone in the hallway, but with companions around, we’d hesitate on whether to even say hello.
Even if we did greet, if someone asked, “Who’s that?” it’d be awkward to reply, “Yeah, a friend.”
On the other hand, calling them “just someone I know” felt oddly too distant.
I pondered my next move for a moment.
It was more serious than choosing lunch, but less so than picking dinner.
How much time passed like that?
“……Yeah, screw it.”
With no way of knowing if Professor Pellina expected gratitude, this was the most appropriate choice right now.
It wasn’t theft.
‘It’s mine anyway.’
Of course, someone might question me.
Like, what if the imperial auditors hadn’t found the secret safe?
To that, I’d reply:
‘Try jumping headfirst from the second-floor railing.’
You might not die.
……Or maybe you would. This one’s definitely fatal.
Anyway.
Once I’d made up my mind, there was no hesitation in my actions.
I stored Fresen’s artifact in my subspace, then examined the contents of the secret safe.
“Let’s see…… I don’t know what this is, but it looks like research materials.”
I wasn’t sure if they were related to the Fresen artifact.
If I took it, I’d need to grab the research notes too…… Artifact studies differed from general magic, making them hard to decipher.
‘Tch, might as well take it all.’
In the end, I swept every item from Professor Pellina’s secret safe into my subspace and slipped out.
To reiterate, this wasn’t theft.
It was the best way for both Professor Pellina and me to survive.
‘……Though I wouldn’t die no matter what.’
Wait, thinking about it that way, isn’t this a good deed?
As I left Professor Pellina’s private lab, I mulled it over.
By the time I reached the dormitory, I had my answer.
“One good deed a day.”
Professor Pellina, rescued. Success.
The satisfaction of helping someone.
That was all.
* * *
The next morning.
Was it because of yesterday’s good deed? After a deep sleep, I rubbed my eyes at the unusually bustling noise.
‘……I need to sleep well.’
Lately, I’d been switching my morning breathing exercise to evening specifically for sufficient rest.
Deep sleep aided not just internal injury recovery but also growth.
So I tried to drift off again, but the racket outside made it impossible.
“What’s that?”
Who were these idiots making noise at the crack of dawn?
Suppressing my rising irritation, I approached the window to identify the culprits hindering my growth.
There were more than a few offenders.
Dozens were visible just at a glance.
‘Not academy students…….’
Judging by their uniforms, not staff either.
So……
Looking at the emblems on their chests.
“Hmm, imperial auditors.”
As expected, Parun.
What a guy with a head whose efficiency per mass was top-notch.
But my admiration ended there.
The staff might be frantic with auditors arriving at dawn, but that was adult business.
It had nothing to do with an innocent academy student like me.
Still, it was an awkward time to fall back asleep.
After a moment’s thought, I dragged a chair over and settled by the window.
A sunny Sunday morning with lazy sunlight pouring in. Air still fresh with morning dew.
Me, relaxing.
Auditors, working.
Staff, scrambling.
‘……Healing.’
Healing? Nothing special.
Being able to lounge like this while watching their hectic routine felt restorative, like HP regenerating just from observing.
As I enjoyed the view, a familiar *peep—* echoed from the distant sky, heralding Breakfast No. 1’s arrival.
“Want food?”
*Peep, pee……*
“Alright, eat up.”
I handed Breakfast No. 1 a moonstone……
*Peep! Peek!*
“Ow, hot! Ack……!”
It ate whatever I gave it.
I glared at Breakfast No. 1, then pulled jerky from my subspace, tore it into bits, and fed it piece by piece.
*Peep, pee……*
Breakfast No. 1 seemed pleased, chirping happily as it munched the jerky.
Without the headmaster senior around, the little guy was quite subdued.
‘Looks kinda cute up close.’
“Asik.”
For reference, Asik was short for Breakfast No. 1.
*Peep?*
It tilted its head, recognizing its name, and I continued feeding it jerky.
“Look over there.”
*Peep?*
“You’re lucky to be born a beast. Imagine being human. Birds catch worms early, but humans? They flutter around like paper scraps or ants, worthless stuff you can’t even eat…… Tch.”
How early had those auditors woken to storm the academy?
Even if they’d camped nearby the night before, prepping gear meant no proper sleep.
How pitiful.
But anyway.
“I wonder if Professor Pellina’s doing okay.”
Hope she didn’t panic.
These guys looked prepared—they’d probably ransack everything, secret safe included.
‘She’ll be shocked at first.’
The Fresen artifact in the secret safe was her private research project.
Some might say what’s the crime in that, but in this situation, it counted.
Then they open the secret safe?
‘Ta-da.’
It was there, but now it’s gone.
To Professor Pellina, it’d seem like a miracle.
‘We said make it gone, make it gone—and poof, it really is.’
Imagining her joy, I tore more jerky for Breakfast No. 1……
“……That rotten thing, just flew off.”
The audacity of Breakfast No. 1 vanishing right after eating……
I clicked my tongue and headed out for my own breakfast.
On weekends staying in the dorm, I usually ate with the idiot trio, and it was already time.
“Yawn, Aster, you’re here?”
“Yep.”
“Boring.”
“Sorry.”
Exchanging nonsense with sleepy Chenbi, I walked with Damian to meet the third idiot.
“Wow, friend. Is it a festival?”
“No festival.”
Sometimes with Damian, I couldn’t tell if he knew and was trolling or was just clueless.
For now, chalk it up to lacking empathy.
“You’re here? What’s all this commotion?”
“Friend says it’s a festival.”
“Say that outside, you’ll get stoned.”
“It’s fine. I have a barrier.”
“……Ah, yes.”
The exchange between idiot Damian and idiot Evelyn was heartwarmingly stupid.
Who’d have guessed?
Those two would bond enough to share meals while spouting nonsense.
Anyway, after a hearty breakfast in the second-year cafeteria, we headed straight to the cafeteria.
Same routine whether attending classes or not.
“Yawn, let’s stay in the cafeteria longer today. I’m sleepy.”
Damian yawned, burying his head on the table. Evelyn blinked drowsily at the ceiling, hit by food coma.
Chenbi had long since faceplanted asleep.
‘This is the seedling life, huh.’
My peace, guarded by adult Musphelrun senior.
……Sure, his presence disrupted many others’ peace, but mine was intact, so whatever.
As I felt grateful to Musphelrun senior anew,
An academy student approached our table.
“Um, uh…… ex……cuse……”
What?
Peeking with just my eyes while sprawled, I only saw up to their chest. Red handkerchief in the pocket—first-year.
What’s a first-year doing in the second-year cafeteria?
I lifted my head indifferently, and the face looked familiar.
‘……Obern?’
Squinting, Obern scanned us one by one before asking.
“Um, th-then…… is this senior Damian senior?”
“Yeah, me.”
“Then this is Chenbi senior, and this one…… Evelyn senior?”
“Yeah.”
Chenbi rubbed his sleepy eyes, sitting up to reply.
“Y-Yes……”
Evelyn, who’d crossed paths with Obern multiple times in the Black-White Slums, responded a bit awkwardly.
Seemed the connection from when identities were hidden felt fresh now.
Obern’s gaze next landed on me.
“Then this must be Aster…… senior?”
Scratching my head, I answered.
“Nope.”
“……Pardon?”
“I’m not Aster.”
“Huh? What? No, aren’t you? Why? You are. Definitely…… or maybe not?”
Obern stammered, caught off guard.
‘Right, come to think of it, this kid……’
Had Gift Overclock and Awakened Insight. Insight pierced through essences.
Even if I denied it, they’d know it wasn’t a lie.
Anyway.
‘Picking me out specifically like this…… Did Musphelrun senior tell them?’
Yawning widely, I eyed Obern.
[Yeah, it’s me. What’s up?]
[Uh, um, uh…… You’re really the senior, right?]
[I said yes?]
Only after repeated confirmations did Obern speak.
[Um…… Master said if anything happens, seek out the senior, so I swallowed my pride and came.]
[What, someone bullying you?]
[No, not that……]
Obern trailed off, glancing at the idiot trio.
A signal to clear out.
Seemed like a problem even Obern couldn’t handle alone. Time to lend a hand.
“I’ll step out and talk for a bit.”
Telling the idiot trio that, I left the cafeteria with Obern.
Obern was Musphelrun senior’s disciple.
And I repay favors.
If senior’s disciple was in trouble, ignoring it would make me less than human.
One who yields to authority.
That is the owner of the magic tower.
“Let’s go, saint boy.”
“Uh, ah…… yes.”
Obern trailed timidly behind me.
Once we reached a secluded spot, Obern got to the point.
“The Forbidden Mage…… tried to enter the academy.”
“Forbidden Mage means……”
……Salvatium.