Chapter 311
Chapter 311
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 311
>Chapter Title: Glug-glug―
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The news of the armistice between Lortel and the Decullan Family set the empire ablaze.
Those struggling under skyrocketing prices in the war's aftermath cheered in relief, and the prices—which had soared to the heavens—began to drop steadily on rumors alone.
……That said, the war wasn't over just yet.
- Truce negotiations to commence under His Majesty's mediation.
In truth, it had been far too short a time for the two great houses to determine a victor.
Unless one side had thrown everything into utterly crushing the other.
Even so, both families had accepted the imperial mediation because no one wanted any more losses.
And so, as winter drew near.
The war faded away alongside the falling leaves.
A harsh winter approached, but no one shivered in dread. They knew even its biting cold would feel warmer than the winds of war.
Of course, not everyone was anticipating the warmth that would follow the armistice.
“……Hey.”
“…….”
Parun frowned faintly at Aster, who didn't so much as twitch at his call.
How many times was this now?
‘Since the armistice news.’
They met frequently even on weekdays for the academy's establishment, but at some point, that masked punk's chatter had dried up.
The timing made it clear: the armistice.
Whatever the cause, Parun had no reason to indulge it.
Snap!
“……?”
“Snap out of it. You've been spacing out more than usual lately.”
“Ah, uh. Sorry.”
Aster came to at Parun's finger snap and brushed back his fallen bangs.
“Ice water?”
“That sounds g―”
Splash!
Aster blinked as a torrent of water poured down on him from above. So this was……
“……Wanna fight?”
“There's the fire in your eyes. I get that the Decullan armistice has you rattled, but dwelling on what you can't fix is a lousy mindset. Not efficient.”
“……Tch.”
Aster clenched and unclenched his fist to steady his breathing, then let out a sigh and nodded.
‘Yeah, I've been spacing out too much.’
It was inevitable—he couldn't help but worry.
They'd bought time with the Lortel-Decullan war, but the situation would change after the armistice.
The Second Black-White Slums had Muspellun senior watching over them, but……
‘……That's not all there is to it.’
With that thought, Aster manipulated his mana to dry off, then brushed back his bangs again.
Parun was right—shelve Decullan for now. There were things he needed to focus on.
And what was that?
The academy.
That was it.
“So, where was I?”
“You didn't hear from the start, so start over. In your current state, you'd zone out on details anyway, so keep it concise.”
“Wise choice.”
In any case, the reason Parun had summoned Aster today was simple.
“Got approval for the academy's establishment. Both required papers passed unanimously. For the record, I'm president, and Professor Pelina's vice-president.”
“Professor Pelina's made up her mind?”
“Yeah, I told you about it recently—already forgotten?”
Aster gave an awkward smile.
Normally he'd be shaking his fist and preaching justice, but he had been spacing out lately, so fair enough.
However.
“You explained it properly to Professor Pelina, right? You know…… Decullan, the Second Prince, Salvatium, all that.”
“Explained.”
“And she's still in?”
“She's not one to balk at a little adventure. There is a condition, though…… Well, best hear it from her directly later. It's something you need to know anyway.”
“Condition?”
Aster tilted his head, and Parun nodded.
“Ask her yourself. It's awkward for me to spell out.”
“Hm.”
What could it be?
But the question was brief.
As Parun said, they'd hear it from Professor Pelina later.
Something more important came first.
“The academy's name?”
“……Does the name matter?”
“Of course it does.”
Look at the Assembly of 72. How cool is that?
If the name sucked, Aster was ready to coin one himself—his eyes gleamed, a rare sight lately.
“Babel.”
“……Babel? Like the barbell?”
“Not that. It's an ancient word meaning 'Radiant Light of Intellect.' No better option, so I went with something neutral for registration.”
“Hm…… Radiant Light of Intellect.”
It kinda sounded impressive…… and kinda not.
“Then if we build a tower, it becomes Babel Tower?”
“A tower owned by the Babel Academy.”
“Yeah?”
Tch, Babel Tower had a weird ring to it.
Think about it.
Somehow it sounded like…… a tower made out of Babel fish or something.
“We can change it later, so don't sweat the small stuff.”
“No, it's not small……”
“It is small.”
“Urgh.”
Aster couldn't muster a retort against Parun's firm tone. Lately he'd been spacing out so much that he was already half-defeated no matter what.
Aster, staunchly upholding the key to an undefeated record: 'Don't fight, or only pick fights you can win.'
In any event.
As the academy discussion wrapped up, Parun spoke.
“I'm wrapping up my professorship after next year. Pelina and I agreed on it.”
“Next year……?”
“Yeah. Gotta see my students graduate.”
Parun actually considering his students was surprisingly touching. He'd seemed so cold and abrasive—maybe he had a warm side after all.
Next year, though……
“You sure you're good? With Decullan in mind, maybe right away……”
“Even after the armistice wraps, it'll be chaos for a year. Busy solidifying things.”
“I see.”
Aster nodded, accepting it at face value. It wasn't long before Parun spoke again.
“So……”
“So?”
“Don't stress too much. It'll be fine for a while. Sometimes you act like you have to solve everything alone. It can be useful now and then, but it's a bad habit.”
“Hm.”
For some reason, Aster's chest twinged.
Hearing that from Parun of all people…… it felt like a reformer enlightening some lowly scum.
Which was why.
“Right now, I think I'm grateful.”
“……Thanks I could do without.”
Even as he said it, Parun let out a small chuckle.
Then, cautiously.
“If you're still rattled, how about a drink……”
“Ah, that's……”
Aster smiled awkwardly. Why not? He was still a student, after all.
The empire's drinking age was eighteen—bad idea even incognito. Unless he had a guardian.
“And I have an appointment anyway. Next time, next time.”
With that, Aster left the mansion.
And that night.
Glug-glug―
Parun tilted his glass alone.
* * *
The place I turned down Parun's drinking invite for was none other than the second-year student cafeteria.
What appointment?
This one.
“Evelin, happy birthday. It's nothing special, but…… here.”
“A scarf?”
“Yeah, you looked cold last year.”
“Thank you!”
Chenbi gifted Evelin a hand-knitted scarf for her birthday.
Damian……
“I'll give you a quarter of the floor area. Don't really wanna, but I learned about fairness.”
“……Ah, yes. I'm tearing up with gratitude. But that tower—you know I'm the one earning the money to build it?”
“Dunno, but if you don't want it, don't take it! I think it's great!”
“No, I'll take it. Of course I will.”
My tower was getting torn to shreds.
Shredded…… into pieces.
“Aster-kun, what about you? Got anything prepared?”
Ah, of course I did.
What was it?
“Check this out.”
“……?”
I balled my right hand into a fist, placed my left hand beside it, and twisted it like turning a lever. Then, my middle finger slowly extended……
Crack!
“……Gah!”
I groaned in pain, clutching my middle finger—now bent ninety degrees to the right from the second knuckle.
Wait, it was a joke……
“Aster, that was too much.”
“Friends can't hurt. I'll fix it.”
Whew, yeah. You're the only one, Damian.
As my middle finger healed……
Crack!
“Eek!”
“Damian-kun, one more time.”
“Evelin, you know how to have fun, huh?”
Damn……
Keep the jokes up twice, and I'd have no finger left.
In any case, the crack hell only ended after I presented my gift. So, what was the gift?
“This is……”
“Money.”
“……Money?”
“Yeah. I racked my brain over what you'd like most, and it was money. Whaddya think? Pretty good, right?”
I couldn't say the amount, but I'd stuffed in plenty.
‘Scarf…… nice, but money's king. Way better than some pipe-dream tower.’
I grinned smugly.
“Phew. Really…… thank you.”
Evelin smiled at me like she pitied me. Her eyes brimmed with genuine sympathy, which made no sense to me.
……Why? Why that look……
In any event, the fun birthday party with the delighted Evelin came to an end.
Time passed quickly yet slowly, slowly yet quickly.
Heeding Parun's advice, I pushed Decullan from my mind and focused on the time Muspellun senior had gifted me.
Of course, I wasn't just lounging around academy life.
I slipped over to Rapiter now and then for lessons from Librarian Teheman senior and contemplated the imagery of the Heavenly Origin Art.
I didn't slack on research to formalize circle theory, either.
As time flowed, many things changed—and in the midst of vacation, realization struck.
On a snowy midnight.
In the dark of night, as Jenion Academy turned white under the falling flakes.
‘……Ah.’
I got it.
What I'd infused into the Heavenly Origin Art.
……But was it coincidence?
There was a visitor.
Knock knock.
“Aster-kun.”
“……?”
Evelin, visiting my room in the dead of night. She'd rushed so frantically she was panting, with snow still clinging to her hair, unbrushed.
“Hey, student! Bursting in at this hour……!”
An angry shout echoed faintly from the distant dorm guard, but Evelin asked me in a trembling voice.
“Why…… won't you answer……?”
“I was in breathing practice. What's up……?”
I eyed Evelin curiously. After all, we weren't in the habit of private chats via communication orb.
Unless she'd been drinking again……
As the thought crossed my mind.
“Contact from Lucifer in the Second Black-White Slums. Said you weren't answering, so to me.”
Lucifer? Why would Lucifer……
“What'd he say?”
At my question, Evelin glanced around warily, as if afraid of eavesdroppers, then whispered.
Evelin said.
“The Decullan Patriarch…… is in the Second Black-White Slums.”
……Even before her words finished, I was already streaking across Hazen's night sky.