Chapter 332
Chapter 332
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 332
>Chapter Title: One Step Toward the Abyss
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Hickster, still floundering in the afterglow of his enlightenment, closed his eyes once and opened them again.
“......I don’t get it.”
“What?”
“Why I was so obsessed with you.”
Two whole years.
Throughout his academy life, Hickster had been utterly fixated on this existence called ‘Aster.’
Yet now, he couldn’t even recall why he’d been that way.
It was just......
Yeah, he could’ve just chalked it up to bad luck and moved on.
“Now you’re finally coming to your senses, huh? But honestly, you were in the wrong on the day of the entrance ceremony too. Right?”
“......”
......Maybe he had a slight inkling of the reason after all.
Still, with superhuman patience, Hickster suppressed his negative emotions and pried open his stubborn mouth.
“......Thanks.”
“Right?”
His gut twisted, but he held it in once more.
Because.
Annoying as he was, the consideration this stray had shown him wasn’t something trivial.
Guiding an enemy toward enlightenment wasn’t something just anyone could do easily.
“Sit down for now. Let’s talk.”
“......Talk?”
“What, no chat for me?”
“No, I’ll sit.”
Hickster silently followed Aster’s request out of that gratitude, though he was puzzled at the same time.
What the hell was he going to ask?
Realistically, the only conversation between them should’ve been raw insults and curses.
And sure enough.
Aster’s opening line was just as unpleasant as any insult or curse.
“Got kicked out of your family, right?”
“......I wasn’t kicked out. I left on my own.”
“Got your ass handed to you by me and lost the patriarch race too.”
“I didn’t lose. I gave up myself.”
“No place to go, huh? So you’re joining Gale Wings?”
“......What the hell are you trying to say?”
He couldn’t hold back the anger anymore.
How could someone pick only the most infuriating words no matter what they said?
Realizing too late what was going on, Aster scratched his cheek.
“No, not picking a fight or anything. So, all that true?”
“......I already said no.”
“Yeah, you did.”
Hickster narrowed his eyes, taking in Aster’s face.
What was this guy on about?
From his expression, it really didn’t seem like he was picking a fight.
But if not that, then why dig into someone’s sore spots?
“Well...... nothing big.”
Aster said.
“Your post-graduation path set for Gale Wings?”
“Not set in stone yet.”
“Not set in stone?”
At Aster’s question, Hickster nodded.
“My uncle made an offer, but I haven’t fully decided. There were issues to resolve.”
“Issues......”
“They’re resolved now.”
The issue Hickster meant was his inner demon.
“Now, mind telling me the reason?”
“No, just trying to line up a job if you’ve got nowhere solid to go.”
“......A job?”
Hickster frowned at the unexpected reply.
A job?
Sure, he’d become the black sheep of the family, but he wasn’t hurting for money enough to scramble for employment.
Unlike heirs from other great houses, he wasn’t a spendthrift.
No regrets there.
With a healthy body, he could earn a living anywhere.
So, more than gratitude...... yeah.
“Are you insulting me?”
The insult stung more.
At Hickster’s sharp question, Aster let out a chuckle.
“No, not that. The conditions are tempting, is all.”
“I’m not short on money.”
“Yeah, not on cash.”
“......?”
How to put this.
Aster thought of friends like Shine, Rayleigh, and Evelyn, who’d agreed to join him, as he chose his words.
‘You wanna do a gig with me......’ usually didn’t end well, right?
So, skip that line.
Doubtful if Hickster’s personality could handle long-winded talk anyway.
Straight to the point, then.
Packed with nothing but truth.
“A place where you can receive teachings from a Master Knight.”
“What?”
Hickster shot up from his seat like he’d been shocked.
Aster was certain.
He’d almost hooked him.
“A job and a chance to bask in the joy of learning. How’s that...... pretty enticing, right?”
......Of course, no one knew where that Master Knight was right now.
Still, it was true.
Shine wasn’t stingy with his guidance.
And as expected.
“If that’s true, no reason to refuse.”
Hickster’s acceptance.
‘Collection, acquisition, success.’
Aster smiled.
* * *
On the way back to the dorms.
Aster whistled a tune, his steps light.
The idea to recruit Hickster had popped up on the spot, but it wasn’t an emotional whim.
‘If I play him right, huh? Useful guy.’
Not standout yet, but Hickster had potential.
Talent aside, his straightforward...... no, simple nature appealed to him.
‘Spit in his face, he spits back—won’t stab you in the back.’
Of course, not without worries.
“Shine, that guy needs to get back soon.”
He could handle light sparring, but not full-on instruction.
And Shine was off who-knows-where, no word......
Anyway.
‘Said we’d talk details before graduation, so that’ll do.’
Aster set aside thoughts of Hickster and shifted to a new topic.
Everything was smooth sailing.
With midterms over, Salieri’s full-on training had kicked off without a hitch.
Sure, now and then......
- Can’t even do this...... but I can. Hmm.
......He’d been startled by Salieri’s dismal talent, but still within expectations.
‘Salieri doesn’t need to handle much anyway.’
Encompassing dozens or hundreds to grasp the core—that was genius territory.
The dull had their own domain.
If you can’t cover everything, perfect one thing.
That’s what Aster aimed to teach Salieri—easy to say, brutally hard in practice.
If someone hadn’t shown it was possible firsthand, even he might’ve doubted it.
And who was that someone?
Dalia de Dinai.
The third daughter of the Dinai family, forever second fiddle to the Decullans—that was her.
“Come to think of it, how’s she doing?”
He’d bumped into her around the academy a few times, but no deep talks since first year.
Both busy.
Enough idle thoughts.
“Aster, how’d it go?”
Aster snapped out of it, shrugging at Evelyn waiting at the corner.
“Buried him clean.”
“......Pardon?”
“Kidding. Went well.”
“He’s...... alive, right?”
“Obviously. You think I’d kill someone at the academy?”
“If it’s you?”
“Well......”
“Anyway, no issues?”
“Yeah. We even made up.”
“......What?!”
Evelyn recoiled like she’d heard the sun split in two.
No wonder—Aster reconciling with anyone was unimaginable.
Beating them until they apologized? Maybe.
“Details later. You ready?”
“Ah, yes. Want to hear?”
“Eh, you probably nailed it...... Hmm. No, lay it out.”
Aster, about to brush it off lazily, switched gears at a chilling vibe.
He’d felt off about Evelyn lately.
‘Definitely scheming something......’
Couldn’t pinpoint it.
Her scams were habitual, but no room for chiseling in the mercenary setup.
“Aster? Why the serious face? Spill it?”
“Nah, nothing. Go ahead.”
Evelyn tilted her head.
But only briefly.
“So, my plan is......”
Evelyn began outlining her plan for the Gale Wings contract.
* * *
“First, the fee at standard rates. And...... contract for one year.”
“Too short?”
“No, perfect length. First year, we adapt to variables, but after that? Who knows.”
“So, scout the Arapurugin land firsthand and adjust guards?”
“Exactly.”
Solid idea.
‘Makes sense—no need to tie down Gale Wings forever.’
Unless he knew when Decullan would strike, which he didn’t.
“But standard fee—would Gale Wings even take it?”
“Of course not. ......If just the fee.”
“Then? Split the land?”
“Are you insane? Why split that land?”
Evelyn shrieked in horror at the mere thought.
“What we offer Gale Wings is exclusive rights to future developed businesses on Arapurugin land.”
“Exclusive...... rights?”
“Yes. Not all businesses...... lodging for lodging, arms for arms, booze or bread. Hand over one full category or item to them completely.”
Up to there, Aster didn’t quite get it.
‘Exclusive what?’
Land was decent-sized, but just a bit bigger than a village.
Handing over one trade when the market was ripe for monopolizing whole?
“Not super appealing.”
“Don’t look at size—look at foot traffic.”
“Foot traffic?”
“Yes. And...... scale could grow bigger than you think? Remember Green Town?”
“......Ah.”
There, Aster got it.
Land didn’t multiply, so how to expand?
Look at Green Town.
Started as a small village, now a city.
People flocked, capital flowed, natural growth......
“So, it grows without us lifting a finger?”
“Yes.”
“But can we control the expanded area? Need influence for exclusivity......”
“Why not? The guy who rips bears apart is on our side.”
“Right...... yeah?”
Law’s far, fist is near.
With power to execute, methods follow.
“Wait. Isn’t that too generous?”
“Not really. From Gale Wings’ view, easy money means they could ditch us? Use your head.”
“My head......”
“Ah, scratch that.”
“......”
Aster glared at Evelyn briefly, then relaxed his fist and pondered.
Money flows.
But on Arapurugin land.
Not as bad as monster fronts, but beasts swarm, fat hyenas prowl.
Could Gale Wings really ignore it?
That realization hit.
“Ha, clever.”
Aster laughed.
He saw what Evelyn was after.
“So...... use Gale Wings for a year’s fee?”
“Just use? If desperate, they’ll invest later. ......If things go well.”
Hook set.
Lightning struck Aster’s mind.
“Damn...... brilliant plan.”
“Right?”
Another epiphany.
The moment Aster took a bold step toward the abyss.
‘Wait, if this works......?’
Countless inspirations flashed in Aster’s head.