Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 60
>Chapter Title: But, You Don't Have a Home
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The trip to the Hamern Great Forest had been decided on suddenly.
It was originally planned for during the break, but now there was no more time to delay.
Thanks to that, I'd pulled an all-nighter packing, but fortunately, the senior had most things ready in advance.
A few hours later.
We gathered back at the hideout.
The senior arrived a bit late, arms loaded with stuff, and plopped down in front of me.
No time even to catch his breath, he dove straight into it.
"This is a warp gate ticket. Show it, and they'll let you through without delay."
A ticket extravagantly adorned with golden tassels.
I let out a soft gasp at the sight.
'A Semi-Royal ticket. First time I've seen one.'
The kind only issued to those recognized by the imperial family—even the heads of great houses couldn't get them.
And that wasn't all.
"This is a robe."
"I can see that, but..."
"Not just any robe. It's an artifact infused with defensive magic. And this..."
What all had he lugged in?
A small sub-space pocket stuffed with clothes for the journey, first-aid supplies, odds and ends useful in the great forest.
Even what looked like several days' worth of emergency rations.
No way he'd gathered all this in just a few hours.
Some must've been prepped ahead, and I stared at him in disbelief.
"...You're the one who said I didn't have to go, right?"
The preparations were too thorough for someone like that.
The senior replied without a hint of embarrassment, face unchanging.
"You never know. Being ready when it hits is the key—prepping after is always too late."
Well, true enough.
But even so, his preparations were beyond thorough—they were excessive.
"Sign here."
"...What's this?"
It appeared on the table.
"A class credit certificate in my name. All filled out. It'll cover interpersonal combat and finals grades too."
"...Ah, got it."
He'd brought papers to make up for my academy's missing attendance days and substitute exam scores.
Even a forged ID in the academy headmaster's name to head off any petty issues.
By the time I'd received all the essentials, it was already 3 a.m.
*Gulp, glug.*
Breakfast No. 1, freshly awake, swooped down onto my head and settled in.
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"The emergency rations..."
"...No."
He cut me off before I could even suggest it.
Not just the owner was sharp—the bird ruffled its feathers and let out an indignant chirp.
*Tsk.*
Too bad.
Not that I really meant to make it emergency rations.
Just wanted to teach this ill-mannered bird a lesson in human dignity.
Anyway, I was smacking my lips over the minor disappointment when...
The senior pulled something out for me right then.
"Take this."
"...What's that?"
I eyed the item in his hand.
How to describe it.
A mask radiating heavy use.
Scorched and scratched all over, with faded dark red stains between the marks.
Clearly soaked in more than a little blood, yet surprisingly well-maintained.
As I stared at the mask, the senior spoke.
"It's the token of Sakwol."
"Sakwol..."
"No need to know. Just take it. Knowing you, you'll slap on some perception-blocking spell or mask to hide your identity. Do that, and my friend's boys will cut you down before you know it."
"...Hm."
Hit the nail on the head.
Sure, at this point, why hide? But his colleague was joining the academy once things wrapped up.
Better to conceal my identity as much as possible.
Not strictly necessary, but I preferred avoiding hassle.
"So, wear this, and they'll leave me alone?"
"Yeah. Oh, don't use it in the city. Put it on once you're in the forest. Unlikely, but... if luck's bad, the wraiths might pull something."
"...Got it."
I could tell at a glance.
This mask was a mark from some old war.
Tied up in complicated grudges.
Normally, I'd refuse, but I quietly accepted it from him.
Because watching the senior had shown me just how monstrous old war wizards were—and how twisted inside.
By the time I'd tucked away the Sakwol token too.
"Alright, looks like you're geared up. When do you depart? I can give you till tomorrow if you want."
The senior asked.
A cigarette now dangling from his lips.
Faint smoke wafted as his sunken eyes fixed on me through it.
I watched him a moment, then replied without hesitation.
"Right now."
"What about the Blandoga family? I handled the academy, but if they find out you're gone, it'll be chaos. Not sure if you know, but..."
"They seem to care about me quite a bit."
He nodded slowly at my words.
"First time I've seen the Blandoga show this kind of favor to an outsider. Could even spark a political feud with the academy. Got any ideas?"
"Hmm..."
I crossed my arms, deep in thought.
He was right—they valued me more than expected.
But a political dispute over it? I was skeptical.
What kind of group was the academy?
What kind was the Blandoga?
Over some Black-White Slums stray vanishing?
'Slim chance.'
But.
'Can't just vanish without a word either.'
Worse, it'd put the senior in real trouble.
Though he seemed ready to weather it...
"Eh, whatever. I'll handle it."
The senior didn't dwell.
Or rather, no room to—he'd roll with it.
Even the worst case, he'd endure somehow.
"Senior, I'm off then."
He just watched me silently.
No flowery farewells between us.
No "see you later" or "come back safe."
We both knew.
These parting steps might just be fleeting footprints, destined to fade.
But we understood without words.
The worry, unease, guilt in his eyes—emotions he couldn't hide spoke more than a hundred words.
* * *
Morning, sun fully up.
The academy students greeted the day as usual.
Not entirely.
With interpersonal combat looming.
Students rose early for the training grounds, some pairing off to practice fights.
Others already prepping for finals.
While some braced for the near future, others met the morning routinely.
Damian and Chenbi, for instance.
"Yawn."
Damian sprawled on the dorm lobby sofa, yawning wide, while Chenbi scanned a textbook beside him.
Not really finals prep.
Just that lately, studying had become enjoyable.
How to put it.
Magic studies once done out of obligation now felt purely fun.
Thanks to the Blandoga sponsorship easing worries from his mind.
But.
"...Hm."
Chenbi, absorbed in the book, looked up.
"Damian, what time is it?"
"Now... 8:17:13. 14 seconds. 15..."
"No need for seconds..."
"...24, 25, 27..."
Whether hooked now or just habit, Damian ticked off seconds with the clock.
Chenbi watched a bit, then looked away routinely.
Too familiar to react every time.
Anyway.
"Hmm. Weird, right?"
Chenbi tilted his head at a sudden hunch.
"...41 seconds, why?"
Damian finally paused, interested.
Chenbi glanced at him.
"Aster, why hasn't he come down yet? He should've been here ages ago."
Aster.
Black-White Slums kid, Chenbi's first academy friend.
Showed little zeal for academy life overall, but his routine was model-student perfect.
Especially...
'When it comes to meals.'
Save the days after the Trial of Adversity, he never missed breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Same time daily, exact portions.
Something about eating well at this age.
Acted like a wise elder then.
Always down sharp at 8 for the student cafeteria—start of his day.
"Damian, think Aster's sick or something?"
Chenbi eyed him, worried.
Mana users were healthier than average, but not immune to illness.
Wizards even suffered worse when sick.
But.
"...3, 4, 5 seconds."
Damian back to his fixation.
Chenbi watched, then checked the clock again.
'Wait till 8:30 maybe.'
Class at 9 anyway.
Even if sleeping in, waking him then was fine.
Skipping breakfast sucked, but one day wouldn't hurt.
As he waited.
*Tick-tock.*
Soon 8:30.
"Hmm."
Chenbi sighed.
Damian, now awake, toyed with shapeshifting forms.
Blood, Sweat, and Tears No. 2, was it.
Now a full dragon shape.
Shifting so fluid, it almost seemed alive.
He admired it briefly.
"Damian."
"Yeah?"
"Aster's still not down. Wanna go check?"
Really getting worried.
Never skipped a meal like this.
Damian noticed too, nodding—just then.
"...There you are."
A shadow approached them.
"You're..."
"Butler Pola!"
"...Pola."
It was Pola.
But why?
Chenbi tilted his head at the sudden appearance.
Knew he was Aster's roommate, but first time acting familiar.
Then Pola held something out.
"This is..."
"Goblin-Eyed freak said to deliver it. Kept me up half the night."
Woke him from sleep, somehow knew he was a mercenary.
Shoved three fairy tale coins, called it a commission.
Guys waiting in lobby morning—pass this letter.
Ruined his day.
*Miss the days he was crashing at that temp lodging.*
Wanted to ignore, but three fairy tales? For one letter.
"Anyway, later."
Pola finished and left.
Chenbi watched him go, unfolding the crumpled, eight-folded parchment.
And there...
Off to train. Don't look for me.
"...What."
A single baffling line.
Train?
'Aster, you don't have a home.'
Where the hell was he training?
Skipping academy?
Bewildered by the incomprehensible situation briefly.
Then Chenbi felt an odd vibe again.
"...Training."
"Damian?"
"I'm going training too! Outta here!"
"...Back to your family?"
"Nah?"
Chenbi thought.
'...Gotta stop him.'
Let Damian out, disaster guaranteed.
Chaotic.
But the truly chaotic one was elsewhere.
"Aster, you bastard, finally!"
Puryon, hearing of Aster's training trip.
Some envious, some dizzy, some driven mad by Aster's training jaunt.
But only one knew the full story.
"Whew."
Schwartz, still at the hideout, cigarette in mouth.
'...Sorry.'
He'd half-doubted even broaching it.
No certainty.
Handless or not, sending a kid that young into hell?
War era, treated by skill not age—but Aster wasn't a war wizard.
But.
Schwartz recalled.
*Boom! Crash!*
Myriad Crimson Jade exploding midair.
Aster hid it well, but how many times had his barrier wavered?
Unbelievable.
His barrier shaken by some fourteen-year-old's spell?
'...Just buy time.'
Till his disciples arrived.
A stone-heavy emotion sank in Schwartz's chest.