Chapter 328
Chapter 328
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 328
>Chapter Title: Collect……ion?
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For now, Sallie decided to focus on her studies until midterms were over.
“Stop the morning physical training. Limit personal training to breathing exercises only. No other magic practice.”
“But I…”
“You have no talent? Think about it. Your goal is transcendence. Lasting ten years steadily is commendable, but holding out like that for twenty or thirty? It doesn’t make sense. No matter how strong your will is. Rest isn’t optional—it’s essential.”
It was a conversation they’d had the day after Aster decided to teach her.
But perhaps she wasn’t pleased with the orders.
“Transcendence…”
Sallie’s face twisted slightly as she mumbled.
Of course, Aster didn’t let it slide.
“Got a problem?”
“Huh? Oh, no? Why would I?”
“Really?”
“Yes, no complaints. More than that…”
What Sallie felt wasn’t dissatisfaction—it was closer to emotion.
Transcendence.
That she could reach it.
No one had ever said that to her. Even if it was empty words.
Of course, Sallie didn’t fully trust Aster’s words.
Her reaching transcendence?
It didn’t make sense in reality.
But setting belief aside, Sallie decided to follow him.
Because for the first time in her life, someone believed in her.
Still, it puzzled her.
- Just as I spare you today and bestow teachings, I shall show mercy to the weak.
Judging by his words, the masked man clearly approached with ill intent toward her…
‘Why?’
She couldn’t fathom why he’d show kindness.
But Sallie didn’t voice the question—not out of trust in Aster, but fear.
It felt like the mage might flip on a whim if she spoke up.
Of course, separate from that unease, Sallie was truly grateful to Aster.
And so?
“Um, so… should I call you Master?”
Sallie asked with a strangely pounding heart.
But the response sent chills down her spine.
“I don’t want to be a master who kills his disciple.”
“…Huh?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re going to… kill me?”
“Maybe. Don’t worry about it. Just talking possibilities, not a promise.”
“…”
How could she not worry about being killed?
But Sallie wasn’t ordinary either.
The anxiety didn’t vanish, but one “don’t worry” shut it off.
What mattered now wasn’t some uncertain future event, but today.
“So, focus on academy classes for now?”
“Yeah, that’s best. If you’re antsy, think of rest as part of training.”
He’d declared he’d teach, then basically left her to her own devices, but Sallie had no complaints.
Just worries.
‘Rest as part of training…’
So, how to rest efficiently?
Thus began their strange master-disciple relationship—or not.
Meanwhile.
“Hmm… let’s see.”
After ordering Sallie to rest, Aster spent the following days diligently scouting the academy for talent.
With midterms approaching, everyone was busy, but it didn’t apply to him.
And someone suffering because of it was.
“Um… I’m really busy? Can’t you figure it out alone?”
Evelyn vented her frustration at Aster, who’d been clinging to her for days.
No wonder—midterms prep was hectic enough without him stealing her study time.
But Aster’s logic was sound.
“Listen. You’re bringing in an armed group, right? What do you need for that?”
“Money…?”
“Exactly. Money. And who manages the Magic Tower’s funds?”
“Me…?”
“You know it.”
“…”
No retort.
Armed groups were money pits.
Consulting her was essential.
Of course, Aster wasn’t just taking her time.
“Here.”
“This is…”
“Pulled some predicted questions within the exam scope. Probably from these.”
“You have a helper in the academy…?”
“It’s me?”
“…”
Evelyn bristled briefly but swallowed her anger.
With her black market stunt, she had no ground to argue.
“Anyway, thanks. I’ll take it. But giving this to Chenbi too…?”
“Told him, but he refused. Says process matters as much as results. Constructive, unlike you.”
Anyway.
“Look. Here’s what I’ve gathered.”
Over the past few days, Aster’s shortlisted candidates were these.
First.
“Pola. Told you before? She’s the daughter of the Kallia Mercenary Corps leader. Easiest connection here.”
“They have ties to the Magic Tower too?”
“Yeah. One issue, though… as mercenaries, hard to make them direct subordinates. Employment’s different.”
“True.”
Ties made pulling in Kallia easy, but Aster wanted talent to guard Arapur land post-development.
Kallia, bound by contract, was half-measure.
They’d leave when it ended.
“Next?”
“Next…”
Aster listed academy students and their connected armed groups.
Focusing on those without ties, naturally.
But after hearing them all, Evelyn’s expression soured.
“Hmm… Colun Magic Corps is a bad pick. They claim independence, but I hear they’re tight with some baronet family.”
“Oh, really?”
“And Puriko Mercenary Corps has bad rumors. Size rivals Kallia, but most members are supposedly criminals washing their pasts. Leader from the 5th Black-White Slums cartel—probably not baseless.”
“Didn’t know.”
“They hush it up. And… you know what the 5th Black-White Slums is like.”
“Yeah.”
Not all Black-White Slums were equal.
Some like the 2nd were milder; others hid brutal criminals.
What to call it.
Crime hubs everywhere, but some notoriously rough.
The 5th was top-tier vicious.
Others had similar issues.
“Tch, nothing good.”
“Yeah. Decent ones already have strings. Especially if they send kids here. And stringless ones have reasons. Kallia’s the exception.”
“So, stuck with Kallia?”
“Kallia that bad?”
“No, not bad. Just wanted a long-term partner.”
Above all…
Mercenaries burned cash endlessly.
“Wish it cost less…”
If they promised to stick around forever, the money wouldn’t sting—but mercenaries didn’t.
“You look broke right now, you know?”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t skimp on necessities. Especially hiring people. Better overpay to avoid trouble.”
“So, just splurge?”
“Not exactly…”
Evelyn trailed off.
She lacked certainty.
‘Don’t give crazies firm answers.’
Commit, and he’d exceed expectations wildly. That was Aster.
But a question lingered.
“You didn’t miss one?”
“…Who?”
Aster tilted his head.
Evelyn did too.
“Don’t know? Most famous one. Doranpega’s fallen branch.”
“Doranpega?”
Doranpega… yeah.
He remembered.
A famed house, uniquely martial arts-focused.
They revered magic armor over swords or grimoires—lagged behind sword or magic houses but deserved the name.
“Why them?”
Aster asked, and Evelyn frowned.
“Don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
“The… entrance ceremony? Ring any bells?”
“Entrance ceremony?”
Aster rummaged through memories.
“That… who was it? Uh… someone was there?”
“…Heavens.”
Evelyn sighed unwittingly.
“Got one thing clear now.”
“What?”
“‘The beater can’t stretch his legs in sleep, but the beaten can.’ That’s wrong.”
“…?”
Isn’t it obviously wrong?
Aster tilted his head like it was obvious, and Evelyn sighed deeply before speaking.
“Hickster de Doranpega. Doranpega second son. Really don’t remember? You and Damian beat him senseless. Mercilessly.”
“No, words matter. Damian helped, actually?”
“You… remember?”
“Yeah?”
Disgust flashed in Evelyn’s eyes.
What biased memory.
Only sharp for his own defense.
“But why him?”
“Why? After that, Hickster lost the patriarch race, plans to go independent post-graduation.”
“…I’m the villain again?”
“You know it’s ‘again’?”
“No, not that…”
Aster coughed awkwardly, caught off-guard.
“But, dropped from succession over that?”
“Not just any house—a martial one thrashed by a mage. He survive that?”
“…Yeah.”
Made sense.
No, wait.
‘Honestly, I’m not the bad guy, right?’
Looking back, Damian was rude. But punching first?
‘Violent punk.’
“But why him?”
Scouting armed groups, now a noble scion?
Evelyn answered.
“You really don’t know? Ever hear of ‘Gale Wings’?”
“Gale Wings…”
“Mercenary corps. Active on the monster frontlines.”
“Oh.”
He vaguely recalled.
“One of the top ten?”
“Yes.”
“But why there…?”
“Hickster’s uncle runs Gale Wings. He’s joining post-graduation.”
“So?”
“So what? Options are slim. If Kallia’s the only contact, consider Gale Wings too. Rare stringless merc group.”
Aster pondered Evelyn’s words.
‘Gale Wings, huh…’
If hiring mercs, a top-tier contract wasn’t bad.
Kallia was solid, but more options better.
“Shall we… check it out? Conditions unknown, but…”
“Yes, even if Kallia, shop around.”
“Yeah, filling the collection’s not bad.”
Aster’s gaze flicked to Evelyn.
She tilted her head.
“…Huh? Collection?”
“Nah, nothing. Anyway, I’ll look into it.”
Aster finished and headed out of the cafeteria.
Evelyn watched his back.
“Collect…ion?”
Something… unsettling.
But fleeting.
“With a merc group… I could skim some slush funds?”
Whatever Aster’s angle, Evelyn secured her cut.