Chapter 229
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Short-Term Lecturer
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Melissa had already enrolled in the academy, proven her skills, and even served on the student council.
Yet here she was, taking the entrance exam alongside the freshmen.
It didn't make sense, so I checked the bottom of the document. It turned out that all the cadets from her original class had already completed it, but Melissa's record was missing. So, she was retaking it now with the new students.
The paper doubled as a consent form.
I read it silently and picked up the family head's seal.
Thud!
I stamped it without hesitation.
Flip...
Then another sheet of paper dropped down.
"What's this? Is it for me?"
It was a document from Professor Rommel, Melissa's former mentor, and the dean of the Imperial Academy.
-Requesting short-term lecturer position from Lord Leon Cascadia.-
Hm? Out of nowhere? I'd assisted as a test proctor before, but I'd never actually taught anyone.
From what I could see, they wanted me to handle lectures for underperforming cadets and the new students this semester.
There were apparently quite a few cadets entering the academy under various pretexts, and several professors besides me were assigned to them.
However, my assigned list included Melissa.
After some thought, I roughly stamped the seal.
The reason for accepting was simple.
After all, Melissa fell under that category as a returning student, and this meant I could teach her.
Legally grind my annoying little sister into the dirt? How could I pass that up?
The next day, Luna borrowed the World Tree's Millennium Fruit for a bit.
From what I'd heard, she thought she could turn it into something even better than it already was, so she must have some plan in mind.
If Luna said so, it definitely wouldn't be a minor upgrade.
What, a +12 reinforced Millennium Fruit or something?
Just then, I heard Luna humming outside the door.
"Oops, my hand slipped~ Oops, my hand slipped~"
Was it really smart to hand fish to a cat? I was getting a little worried.
Part of me wanted to grab her and demand to know what she was up to, but I couldn't right now.
More important matters took precedence.
Since I'd sent word, they should be arriving any moment.
"Young Master, two guests have arrived. I've shown them to the drawing room."
"Got it. Let's go."
I stood up, and the maid quietly bowed her head before following behind me.
Waiting in the drawing room were a man and a woman.
"You've had a long journey. Duke Catsi Mielephon. And Sword Saint, sir."
"It's been a while, Leon... Hah. This is unbelievable. Is what I'm seeing truly reality?"
The moment he saw me, Sword Saint Osberg Mielephon's eyes widened in shock, as if he'd realized something. Beside him stood Duke Catsi Mielephon, her face etched with deep worry.
Duke Catsi spoke up immediately upon seeing me.
"Forgive me for jumping straight to business, but how is Isna?"
"She's sleeping for now. Her physical wounds are healed, but she seems mentally exhausted."
It had already been over 24 hours since she fell asleep.
It clearly wasn't normal sleep, but according to Luna, there was no immediate danger.
"Sigh... May I see her myself?"
"Of course."
I led the two to the guest room where Isna lay sleeping.
Seeing Isna slumbering peacefully, as if the world held no cares, Duke Catsi let out a heavy sigh and pressed her furrowed brow.
"Turning the family upside down and now sleeping so soundly here..."
"It looks like regular sleep, but she's unconscious from mental fatigue and needs rest. It was a severe injury that could have been fatal if we'd been even a little later."
After letting them confirm Isna's condition, I led them out and explained the circumstances of her discovery.
"The Great Forest, home of the elves... So that's where she vanished to, deep in those woods. No wonder we couldn't find her."
"Is there nothing else you've uncovered?"
"Nothing concrete yet. But when I found the young lady, the power of the monster that attacked the Great Forest lingered in her body. She might have known what was happening there."
That was just my guess.
On the day of the attack, Isna had learned something and left home for the elven forest.
"So, the ones controlling that monster in the Great Forest attacked Isna?"
"It could be the other way around. That wasn't a monster anyone could control."
The two looked confused, but there was nothing for it. Nothing would be clear until Isna woke up.
"We'll know for sure once the young lady awakens. Until then, House Mielephon should focus on protecting her as best they can."
Duke Catsi nodded quietly at my suggestion.
"Sigh... Very well. Can we take her now?"
"A teleport gate should be fine; she's stable enough."
Duke Catsi rose immediately, as if convinced.
At that moment, Sword Saint Osberg, who had been watching me quietly, called out.
"Young man. May I ask you something?"
"Of course, sir."
"Have you achieved Bloom?"
His question echoed what I'd told him long ago.
Will, conviction, Bloom, transcendence, pinnacle.
The Mind Master realm lay at Bloom.
No one had properly gauged me before, but a Sword Saint like him could apparently sense it even if I concealed my aura.
I thought for a moment before answering.
"Yes."
"I see."
He replied with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"You never needed a master to begin with."
Sharp old man.
Duke Catsi silently watched Osberg, seated across from her.
"What are you thinking, Father?"
"No, it's nothing. Just a bit disconcerting; pay it no mind."
"Is it about those who attacked Isna? I'll assemble a search party as soon as we return and exterminate them the moment they show themselves."
"No. Don't."
Osberg gazed at Isna, asleep with her head in Catsi's lap.
"What do you mean, Father? If we let them go, they'll keep targeting Isna."
"I know. What I'm saying is, don't disperse our forces."
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
"Leon, if that child says so, we can't take the enemy lightly. If we split our strength and get wiped out, it'll be a disaster."
"I know Lord Leon possesses remarkable skill beyond his years. But reacting so passively based solely on his judgment doesn't seem wise."
Duke Catsi's resolve seemed firm.
Leon had urged focusing on protecting her, but she wanted to hunt down the culprits.
Osberg quickly saw the mother's fury toward those who targeted her daughter.
He knew well how dearly she cherished her children, even behind her cool demeanor.
Yet he firmly rejected her view, which he would usually respect.
"No. Do as Leon says."
"Father!"
"If Leon calls it dangerous, it is. He wouldn't have said it if they were mere cultists."
"What...?"
"What do you see in that child, to you?"
The abrupt question made Catsi answer politely.
"Still a boy of immense talent."
"Nothing more?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can't see it. A way to win, unless I stake my life."
"..."
Coming from Sword Saint Osberg, no less.
Her mouth opened and closed at his dead-serious words, devoid of jest.
"What do you...?"
"He's been extraordinary from the start. Not only did he shatter the Expert realm in one go, but he unlocked Master right there on the spot."
The bewildering tale continued.
"Yet now, even that visible realm of his is gone."
In other words, Leon had already surpassed Osberg—or reached beyond.
"Such an absurd thing couldn't possibly..."
"Indeed. Normally impossible. A teen reaching Expert marks genius; Sword Master makes him an unprecedented prodigy in history."
No history book mentioned anyone achieving Master in their teens.
Similar tales existed, but all lacked credibility.
Yet the unreal growth before their eyes couldn't be dismissed as lies.
"Might you have sensed wrong?"
"Normally, yes."
He chuckled and glanced at his hands.
"Daughter."
"Yes, Father."
"How many years since I last felt fighting spirit?"
"Practically since you earned the Star title."
"Yes, ancient history. But... what if I felt it strongly from a boy not even a fifth my age?"
For a powerhouse of immense realm, unchallenged for ages, to feel fighting spirit meant the opponent was one who could make him tense.
He spoke smilingly, but it was instinctual.
Half-baked strength couldn't stir it.
Knowing this, Duke Catsi fell silent.
"We need to proceed cautiously. There's something I haven't mentioned: a death during the trace of Isna's path. A traitor emerged."
"Pardon?"
"Not someone who'd betray others. But by then, he was utterly changed, as if his soul ripped from his flesh and replaced. He tore out his own heart to unleash bizarre magic."
"What happened to him?"
"How does one survive without a heart? I thought it mere monster bewitchment at the time, but hearing this, it looks different."