Chapter 291
Chapter 291
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 291
>Chapter Title: Now It's Even This
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After talking with Damian, I headed straight to see Parun.
I couldn't put off the meeting forever, and he needed to know about the Third Imperial Princess situation too.
For now, I decided not to dwell on all sorts of truths.
'What... I didn't exactly deceive him anyway.'
Strictly speaking, it was more like mutual agreement to turn a blind eye.
Anyway, I arrived at Parun's mansion like that.
"Long time no see."
"Same here."
Parun was just like his usual self, as if nothing had happened, but I glanced at him and sat on the sofa.
"Need something to drink?"
"Anything."
"Wait here."
While waiting for Parun to bring the drinks, I took in the study for a moment.
I'd heard even his home had been raided, but the study looked pretty much the same. Everything was identical to the last time I'd visited.
It was a glimpse into Parun's personality, even if indirect.
How long did I wait like that?
"Drink up. That's all I have right now."
What Parun handed me was a glass bottle of fatigue recovery drink. In other words, diluted potion.
"Ah, thanks."
Crack.
Twisting off the cap produced a strange frictional sound. Soon Parun sat across from me with his own crack.
I took a sip of the fatigue recovery drink and absentmindedly lifted my gaze upward.
'The pattern's really pretty.'
Embroidered or something?
The ceiling wallpaper, whether cloth or paper I couldn't tell, was clearly high-end at a glance.
What to call it. The details stood out, maybe.
This place must cost a fortune. Using wallpaper like that.
So, what about the bathroom in a mansion like this?
I'd vaguely heard that the bathroom reveals the true class? Luxury? Of such homes...
"You're awfully quiet today."
"Hm? Oh."
I took another sip at the sound of Parun's voice.
"No, the wallpaper's nice."
"...Wallpaper? No idea what you mean."
Parun didn't pry further, as if it was nothing new. He just turned his gaze to where I'd been looking.
Then he muttered, 'Not a rip-off after all,' and nodded, so it must've been pricey.
Up to here, it wasn't much different from our usual chats.
But why?
This awkward feeling.
Even though I hadn't hidden or done anything wrong, it felt like I was deceiving Parun.
'As expected, maybe the silkworm has to eat mulberry leaves.'
For someone innately honest who couldn't lie to others, trying to do so was no small torment.
But the world was too harsh to live purely honestly.
I was sinking into melancholy, newly aware of the world's harshness, when Parun's voice came soon after.
"Didn't you come here for a reason?"
"No, well. Just curious how you've been."
Parun furrowed his brow, staring at me like I'd said something absurd.
...No, can't I at least ask how you're doing?
I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Or tried to. If Parun hadn't continued.
"If you don't want to talk about it right now, I'll go first."
"...?"
I tilted my head.
"I'm thinking of wrapping things up at the academy soon."
"You're... retiring?"
"Yeah. No matter how I think about it, now's the right time. Once the war between Lortel and Decullan ends, things get messy in all sorts of ways."
"Still, there are plenty of benefits to staying at the academy."
Parun shook his head at my question.
"If I planned to stay there forever, sure, I'd stick around."
I could agree with that.
If he was retiring, now while Decullan's watch was lax was the perfect moment.
But Parun's words didn't end there.
"And I'm thinking of bringing one more person along."
"...? Henji's little brother?"
"Him too... yeah, I should take that guy. He's not cut out for lab work no matter how you look at it. But that's not the dimwit I'm talking about."
For reference, Henji's little brother had been at the orphanage until handed over to Parun. Since he was a Magic Tower slave, Parun had a stake too.
So, who then?
As I tilted my head, Parun spoke.
"An academy professor."
"A professor?"
Which professor?
A bad feeling crept in for some reason.
"Major in magitech engineering and artifacts. Pretty well-known in that field, though you might not have heard."
No way...
"Know a Professor Pelina by any chance?"
Damn it?
* * *
After Parun's question ended, a chilly silence settled over the room.
The scene was still as if time had stopped, but my mind was a tangled mess of snapped thoughts.
'Why Pelina?'
Why was Professor Pelina coming up here? No, how do they even... well, same academy professors. But were they close? Close enough to discuss job changes?
All sorts of questions boiled over.
"Why so quiet? You know the name?"
"Uh... no? Not really..."
"Not really?"
I shut my mouth midway through speaking.
The word 'don't know' wouldn't come easily, probably because of the prickly conscience in my heart. A brand-new one that hadn't worn down even once.
So, it was time to choose.
...A brief moment of deliberation.
'Alright, decided.'
Once decided, my answer was swift.
"No, I don't know her?"
"Well, you wouldn't have ties to academia anyway."
What I discarded was my conscience.
The resolve wasn't easy, but once gone, it felt this freeing.
With a much lighter heart, I continued the conversation.
First question.
"But you two are close?"
"Close... we took advanced classes together once."
"Academy alumni?"
"If anything, Professor Pelina's my senior. Advanced classes are elective."
Ah, so Professor Pelina was the senior. Connected by school ties then.
Second question.
"Did she open up about the Magic Tower?"
"Nah."
Parun shook his head and explained the situation, which boiled down to this.
'During this audit, Professor Pelina grew disillusioned with her professorship... and then they happened to have drinks?'
It was a gathering of professors, and a wasted Professor Pelina spilled all sorts to Parun.
"Something about an artifact stolen, no clue what that means. But whatever the trigger, her heart's left the academy. She's thinking of setting up her own lab."
Oh no, stolen artifact. How tragic.
Anyway, summing up...
'...So Professor Pelina hasn't expressed any intent to join the Magic Tower yet.'
Mentioning her was just Parun's wishful thinking.
I couldn't help but wonder.
"Do we... really need to recruit her?"
"She'll definitely help. Every academy needs an artifact specialist. That's their main revenue source."
"Main revenue?"
"Yeah. Some run on noble or imperial funding, but most cover expenses with artifacts. That income's 20 to 70 percent of costs, low to high."
So, not necessarily Professor Pelina, but they needed an artifact expert...
"But does it have to be her?"
"Sounds like you're against her specifically. As I said, she's prominent in artifacts. Hard to find better."
"..."
I clamped my mouth shut at Parun's unnecessarily sharp question.
I wasn't against her. Well, actually, yes.
How to put it.
Setting aside the artifact awkwardness, it felt like I'd be the Magic Tower's worst matchup.
Parun was already that way, Evelyn... let's not. And now Professor Pelina too? Damn.
'...I'm the Magic Tower's master.'
Felt like they were gathering people all tough to deal with.
But I couldn't say that outright, so I smoothly shifted the topic.
Sure, even if we wanted her, it depended on Professor Pelina's will.
"We don't have money?"
Meaning, no research funds, not even salary.
But.
"I've got that covered."
"...You?"
Enough to pay a professor's salary?
"Didn't I say? Wealth built up over generations is substantial. Up to my grandfather, we ran a trading company."
"...?"
News to me.
"How much... exactly?"
"Just the bank deposits... what? That look?"
"What's wrong with my look?"
"Like a goblin starved three days. Just know it's decent enough for one professor's salary."
Parun... rich.
'Noted.'
Anyway, he's determined.
Dipping into personal funds to hire her? The guy who wouldn't budge on land talk?
Reading my eyes, maybe. Parun spoke calmly.
"Land was unavoidable. Lots of tied-up funds, not much liquid."
"Even so..."
"Misusing earmarked funds is a straight path to ruin."
"..."
Yeah, drop it.
After that, Parun lectured on his 'fund management theory,' which in my terms was this.
'Not having money' didn't mean broke, but 'all allocated so...' no spare cash.
Anyway, then.
"So... will Professor Pelina come?"
Her joining wasn't bad for me.
I'd already ditched my conscience. Yeah, should be fine for now. Neither Parun nor she planned to quit the academy right from next semester.
Wasn't changing my mind because Parun's paying. Absolutely not.
The issue was whether she'd actually come...
"Don't worry. Match her conditions, and she'll come."
"Conditions?"
"Salary goes without saying, plus funding for personal research beyond tower stuff. Can't fund forever, but profits soon."
He added various details after, but I just took it in stride.
Not sure if it's good.
And...
'...Not my problem anyway.'
Parun'll handle it fine.
More importantly...
'...Kinda reminds me of Evelyn's time. Nah, coincidence?'
Of course not. Probably not.
Just a nagging feeling.
Felt good yet off, grand yet somehow diminished. Complicated.
Still, whatever.
'Good is good.'
Professor-level ta... no, talent like that isn't common.
I was spinning positive thoughts when Parun's voice rang in my ear.
"Alright, I'll talk to Professor Pelina later. But really just checking up on me?"
"You think I only visit for business?"
"You've grown a step."
"...?"
"Self-reflection, huh."
...What?
I gave Parun a cold stare and sighed deeply.
Jokes end here.
Time for the real talk... I sorted my thoughts on where to start.
After a moment.
I resolved to lay out the facts straight.
"You know... about me moving with the Third Imperial Princess this time?"
"I figured."
Made things quick then.
"Thinking of teaming up with her. What do you think?"
"Now it's even scamming royalty?"