Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 44
>Chapter Title: Pretty Trash
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A few days had passed since Pahren left.
In the meantime, the academy had largely shaken off the aftermath of the Trial Pavilion incident.
Once it became known that the mysterious intruder was Vimar's subordinate, public opinion against the Decullan Family boiled over, but Pahren's performance was more than enough to quell it.
Of course, that wasn't all.
- The Decullan Family will send a direct bloodline member to the academy as a student.
It was a groundbreaking declaration.
It had been decades since a direct bloodline member of the Decullan Family enrolled in the academy.
But the implication behind it was even more radical.
'A hostage.'
The strongest card a great noble house could play.
By entrusting a bloodline member to the academy, it was a direct statement of the Decullan Family's position.
And then, as if in perfect coordination—or perhaps not—the imperial response that followed was quite unexpected.
- The Third Imperial Princess will enroll in the academy.
Decullan bloodline and imperial royalty too.
The changes the Trial Pavilion incident brought to the academy were quite significant.
However, this was still a story for a bit further down the line.
The Decullan bloodline and imperial family enrolling in the academy would happen at the earliest next semester, at the latest next year.
But.
Regardless, the current academy students had their eyes sparkling at the event right in front of them.
That event being……
[Pistineke Festival]
The academy originally held a regular festival once a year, but the Pistineke Festival wasn't technically an official one.
It was more like……
'A victory celebration.'
A remnant of the war era.
During wartime, the academy itself operated as a military unit, and Pistineke was the victory ceremony held when academy students returned triumphant.
So why was the Pistineke Festival happening at this time?
'The academy side must be treating the Trial Pavilion incident as equivalent to that.'
Of course, there were probably other reasons too.
The academy's overall mood had indeed sunk after the Trial Pavilion incident.
Even though it had ended well, the affected students must have suffered some psychological impact knowingly or unknowingly.
Anyway.
“…….”
Outside the academy grounds, following Damian and Chenbi.
The usual serene landscape steeped in history and tradition was now bustling noisily.
Squares scattered throughout the grounds were lined with food stalls, and streets were filled with clowns and artists performing.
It wasn't just academy students wandering the grounds.
“Balloon! Mommy, look at that balloon!”
From children holding their mothers' hands as they toured the festival.
“Uahaha! Drink! Whoever finishes it all takes it all! Come on, put up your bets!”
Local mercenaries had joined the festival too.
Some wearing uniforms emblazoned with the academy's crest suggested they were among the mercenaries hired for security this time.
Seeing them chug alcohol so boldly, they were probably off-duty.
One might wonder about alcohol at an academy festival, but as mentioned, the Pistineke Festival originated as a victory celebration.
Having alcohol wasn't strange.
And Damian……
“Me too! Me too!”
Boldly headed to the stall crowded with mercenaries, slapping down a bet and declaring his participation.
“…….”
“…….”
The icy silence was to be expected.
Fortunately, though, Damian didn't end up joining the mercenaries' drinking bet.
Thud, thud.
A expressionless woman appeared from somewhere.
“Young Master Damian?”
A familiar face after a long time. The blunt, oblivious servant Ransi.
Apparently, during the Trial Pavilion incident, the Blandoga Family had come along, and she'd taken leave to stay behind.
Being on leave, she wasn't in servant attire or bound by duties, but she couldn't just ignore Damian's drinking bet.
For Damian, luck couldn't get any worse.
In a way, aside from Lady Bianca, Ransi was Damian's one true nemesis.
That aspect shone through even on her vacation.
“……, ……, …….”
As Ransi whispered something into Damian's ear, his face paled white.
Right after, Damian slinked away from the table like a soulless man and withdrew from the game.
What on earth had she said?
Just as curiosity peaked.
Shh.
Ransi put a finger to her lips, and Damian nodded weakly.
“Then, I'll be off. Have a good time.”
Ransi bowed slightly toward me and soon headed her own way.
Appearing like a ghost and vanishing like one.
Watching her, Chenbi's mouth fell open with a 'heh.'
“That lady is the…….”
“Yeah, that blunt, oblivious servant.”
“What did she say? How does she make Damian like that…… Hm hm.”
Chenbi trailed off there.
She must have been worn out from keeping Damian in check lately, but I didn't respond.
Truth was, I was curious too.
Damian was a learning animal.
One that accumulated data from its surroundings to build a base and smoothly perform inference and analogy.
'Threats of expulsion and such weren't working anymore.'
So what had she said to make Damian obedient in an instant?
It was utterly baffling.
I might never know in my lifetime.
While distracted like that.
[This is an announcement for the entire academy. The Pistineke commendation ceremony will begin shortly. Those wishing to attend, please gather in front of the Sage Hall.]
A voice leaked from the voice-transmission artifacts installed throughout the academy.
Pistineke commendation ceremony.
The highlight of the Pistineke Festival: rewarding academy students for wartime merits and boosting allied morale.
[Repeating the announcement…….]
The academy grounds were already buzzing with festival excitement, but the real festival began after the Pistineke commendation ceremony.
“Let's go.”
Normally, I wouldn't care about some commendation ceremony, but I grabbed the nape of Damian's pale neck and headed toward the Sage Hall.
If you've done the work, you get the reward.
'Time to collect.'
There were five Pistineke awardees in total.
As one of them, thinking of receiving that juicy…… no, honorable commendation made my chest swell grandly.
* * *
The Pistineke award ceremony was quite grand.
The open space in front of the Sage Hall was packed with spectators.
“Before the ceremony, we have an opening address from Third Imperial Princess Bellos Giggas Aderian.”
The Third Princess, scheduled to enroll next semester, ascended the podium and gave her speech, followed by academy mages dazzling the crowd with brilliant magic to liven the mood.
“Next, remarks from the Chairman.”
Then came the soulless, boring speech from my senior possessing the principal's body, finally wrapping up.
At last, the award ceremony began.
Five awardees.
“Dalia de Dinai.”
Dalia of the Dinai Family.
In her usual neat uniform.
Dalia rose at her name and ascended the podium with dignified grace.
The epitome of nobility, followed immediately by Damian.
“Damian von Blandoga.”
Still suffering the aftereffects of Ransi's whisper, he shuffled up like a soulless doll.
The senior's calls continued.
“Evelin de Planche.”
Evelin, daughter of the Goldrin Merchant Group, took the stage.
“Chenbi.”
Then Chenbi.
Last was me.
“Aster.”
At the senior's call, I stood and joined the four ahead, shoulders aligned.
Even in broad daylight, with lights focused on the podium from all sides, it was dazzling but bearable.
Anyway, five awardees total.
Dalia of the Dinai Family, Damian of Blandoga, Evelin of Goldrin Merchant Group, Chenbi, and me from the Black-White Slums.
Honestly, plenty of students must have questioned my inclusion among these five.
And rightly so.
'Dalia smashed quite a few golems on her own.'
A considerable number solo, and later united students to take down more.
Damian went without saying.
He had the biggest contribution here.
As for Evelin of Goldrin……
'Something fishy about her.'
Well, anyway, student testimonies from the Trial Pavilion consistently credited her, so the academy couldn't ignore it.
Unlike that shady Evelin, Chenbi was one who'd made real contributions.
But me?
'By nature, I'm a righteous Troubleshooter. I saved everyone's lives, but I don't step forward to advertise my good deeds.'
Pure goodwill. My spirit, armed solely with goodwill without a speck of personal motive, isn't swayed by honors.
But rewards are another matter.
Gulp.
In front of the senior giving his speech.
I eyed the five wooden boxes beside the neatly folded commendations.
They say good pastries look appetizing.
The wood of those boxes was no ordinary material.
Bury it, and roots would sprout, growing into a towering tree—the grain pulsed with life.
But the real prize was inside.
'Top-grade spirit medicine.'
Unshaken by honor, but swayed by material desire—that's the lofty spirit.
Good deeds are done to eat and live, after all.
These past few days, hearing about the rewards by chance while meeting the senior for various matters had made my stomach ache sorely.
But.
'Chenbi, you fine fellow.'
I glanced at Chenbi standing beside me.
Face tense, frozen stiff. Sometimes that was frustrating, but today it looked great.
Here's how I ended up receiving an award.
Originally, just four recipients.
But Chenbi had spoken up.
- Um, that…… I don't think it's right for me to receive it alone. I just told my friends, but if it weren't for Aster……
She even said she'd rather yield her reward to me.
A splendid friend with the same selfless mindset as me.
Anyway, the academy held a meeting on it……
'And my senior, Professor Fellina, with the Blandoga Family pitching in.'
Leading to this.
“With this, the above five receive commendations and top-grade spirit medicine.”
The senior, stern-faced despite it not suiting him, handed out the commendations and medicine.
I accepted mine politely and sent him a message spell.
[Do I return the commendation?]
[Are you mad?]
[It's just pretty trash…….]
[Get caught dumping it, and you'll burn with it.]
His glare was fierce, but whatever.
Top-grade spirit medicine was prime fuel to advance my old realm further.
'Pretty trash…….'
I could burn it secretly.
Thinking again, goodwill needs reciprocation.
Beware those who say true goodwill expects no reward—they're stuffed full of greed, true villains.
And so—
As the awardees descended the podium.
“Please fully enjoy the three-day Pistineke Festival.”
The true Pistineke Festival curtain rose.