Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Rodri Beauty Research Institute (1)
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Roin and Jerka had returned to the swordsmanship academy.
The two, whom everyone expected to take the longest, were the first back, leaving Barton and the instructors stunned.
But it was too early to be surprised.
Jerka's report was even more astonishing.
They had encountered members of the kingdom's knight order escorting a fragment of the Demon God.
And alongside them, they had triumphed over mercenaries attempting to plunder that fragment.
Moreover, they had safely delivered both the Demon God fragment and their original target, the oupf, to their destinations.
What even senior knights would have struggled with had been accomplished by two junior knights.
Barton, holding Jerka's written report, went to see the headmaster.
With every line he read, exclamations of admiration escaped the headmaster's lips.
"It's like reading a novel."
"I felt the same way at first."
Jerka and Roin's exploits were that remarkable.
"Where are the two of them now?"
"They're both back in their rooms, resting."
"I see."
After a moment of thought, the headmaster made a request of Barton.
"Could you fetch Student Roin? I happen to have something to discuss with him."
Roin finished his refreshing shower in a great mood.
On the way back to the academy after completing the mission, he had opened the packaging for the moisturizer he'd bought in Inot.
He cracked open the lid slightly, and a forest-fresh scent filled his nostrils.
"Nice smell."
Since it was going on his skin, it might as well smell good too.
Beauty encompassed a vast array of things.
Skin was paramount, but so were hair, eyebrows, nails, toenails, dental care, and even body odor.
It wasn't just about sightit had to account for touch and smell as well.
No matter how handsome you were, if you reeked of sewage, would people still like you?
Not a chance.
That level of stench would push you beyond what looks alone could salvage.
Back when he was Rodri, he didn't usually stink in daily life.
But wandering from place to place, fighting battles constantly, he was always drenched in sweat.
That kept people at a distance from Rodri.
Lately, Roin had started paying attention to perfumes for that reason.
It was why he'd been so eager for the oupf.
'Plus, oupf can be used as an ingredient in other beauty products.'
In the realm of beauty, oupf was like a gold mine.
Thanks to the deal with Zivner, he'd secured extra stock too.
'Now all that's left is to reestablish the beauty research institute.'
He planned to reassemble the talents who'd once pooled their efforts to improve Rodri's appearance in his past life.
Most had been reachable and agreed to return to Rodri's beauty research institute.
However.
'A few key personnel couldn't be contacted.'
No choice thenonly one option remained.
'I'll have to track them down myself.'
But how?
Roin was still a student at Loud Swordsmanship Academy.
As a trainee, unauthorized outings or overnights were forbidden.
'I don't have any saved leave slips or overnight passes. Tricky.'
Should he just sneak out?
The thought crossed his mind.
'Training's on hold anyway until the other trainees finish their missions and return.'
He could slip away unnoticed in the meantime.
NoRoin was confident he could do it without anyone noticing.
The mission he'd done with Dian in the junior course had been an assassination.
From then on, he'd shown talent for infiltration.
'And now my stats are even higher than in my past life.'
It should be easier.
'Why do my abilities keep improving, though?'
Still a mystery.
But getting stronger wasn't a bad thing.
'Think positive.'
Just as he was brushing it off lightly.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on Roin's door.
"Student Roin. The headmaster is calling for you."
'The headmaster wants me?'
Jerka must have submitted the report.
If there were questions, it'd be Jerka, not him.
Calling for Roin suddenly felt off.
'I'll find out when I go.'
He decided to meet the headmaster first, then figure it out.
The headmaster greeted Roin with a beaming smile.
"Come in. I heard you had quite the ordeal on this mission."
"Yes. We ended up on the same ship as the Demon God fragment escort team out of nowhere. Things got complicated from there."
Unforeseen incidents drained you physically and mentally.
From the headmaster's perspective, Roin and Jerka were still green junior knights lacking real combat experience.
He could vividly imagine their exhaustion.
For such a Roin, the headmaster wanted to offer a special reward.
"You've earned it, so how about I grant one of your wishes?"
"Is this a reward for clearing the mission?"
"Partly. And partly because of what Dian mentioned."
Dian had once suggested motivating top performers like Roin with some kind of reward.
Roin had resented him back then for nearly complicating things with his antics.
Who knew it would turn into a boon now?
"Anything you want from me or the academy? Speak up. I'll do my best within reason."
Perfect timingRoin had just the thing.
He laid out his prepared request straight to the headmaster.
"I need a leave of absence."
Trainees were to spend their time freely at the academy until all returned from missions.
But leaving campus was still prohibited.
That's why Roin had asked the headmaster for an official leave slip to exit legally.
Thus, Roin obtained a 3-night, 4-day leave pass.
On the first day of his leave.
Roin reported it to Training Captain Barton.
Barton admonished him sternly.
"During your leave, always remember you're a trainee of Loud Swordsmanship Academy. Any actions that tarnish our honor will bring discipline. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
After reporting.
Roin strode quickly out the gates.
The moment he stepped outside, Helond was waiting.
"Welcome back, Lord Roin."
"The oupf. You secured it safely?"
"Yes. Even the additional quantity you mentionedwe bought it all. The oupf has been moved to the beauty research institute's warehouse."
"Good work. Since we're on the topic, shall we head to the institute? Is the teleport circle connected?"
"Yes. Let's go to the villa. I'll prepare for immediate transfer."
Roin's villa in Endla.
There, a teleportation circle linked directly to his beauty research institute.
Guided by Helond, Roin stepped onto the circle at the villa.
Placing his hand on the crystal orb, the magic circle began to glow.
'Back in the Leyden family days, these were too expensive to use properly.'
Maintaining a teleportation circle wasn't cheap.
A single use cost as much as a commoner's monthly living expenses.
But money was no object for Roin.
He'd amassed wealth rivaling Dian's.
Once the light fully faded.
A completely different scene unfolded before him.
It had been so long, the familiar place felt both strange and nostalgic.
"Man, it's really been ages."
A massive facility rivaling any research center.
Gazing at the building designed in whites and reds, Roin smiled.
This was Rodri Beauty Research Institute, named after himself.
Rodri had poured most of his earnings into the Rodri Beauty Research Institute he'd founded.
Here, he delved deeply into beauty, conducting research and experiments.
A facility built solely for Rodri himself.
Surveying the vast grounds, Roin let old memories wash over him.
"I went through all sorts of crazy stuff here back in the day."
Though meant for beauty research, potions and magic experiments of every kind had been tested here.
The reason was obvious.
Rodri.
To fix his ugly face and skin, he'd slathered on potions made from unheard-of combinations.
He'd even taken magic blasts stark naked.
Yet Rodri's appearance never changed.
The hideous looks.
The baldness.
The atrocious skin.
All remained the same.
Each time, Rodri despaired.
He no longer dreamed of becoming handsome.
Just ordinary, like other men.
That would have been enough.
But Roin had lived as an ugly man until death.
Hiding his face with a helmet birthed the moniker "Black Helmet Hero."
It might sound cool to others.
'To me, it was the worst nickname.'
Anyone learning the full story would understand his feelings.
"The researchers haven't arrived yet, I see."
"Yes. We've decided to reopen Rodri Beauty Research Institute, but no firm schedule yet. We wanted your approval first, Lord Roin."
"Approval? On what?"
"Will you fully disclose to the researchers that you're Lord Rodri reincarnated?"
A crucial matter.
Back then, there'd been a clear purpose.
But with Rodri gone.
The researchers saw no reason to return to beauty research here.
Thus, the institute naturally disbanded.
No Rodri, no reason to maintain it.
Roin answered Helond.
"I'll tell only a few. No need for everyone to know. Too risky for leaks."
He'd reveal his identity only to the trustworthy.
"And the rest of the researchers?"
He needed to give them purpose and motivation for the research.
"That's easy."
Roin's idea was simple.
"Just say we want to start a business. That'll do."
Few motivators rivaled money.
"You'll be the representative for now, Helond."
"Me, at my age...? Not sure what the young researchers will think. Heh heh."
Helond was nearing seventy.
An old man suddenly passionate about beautyhow would the young ones react?
It embarrassed him, truthfully.
But for Roin, Helond could endure that shame.
"Understood. I'll proceed that way."
Now for the real issue.
"What about Director Iroa and Chief Researcher Belv?"
For rebuilding Rodri Beauty Research Institute, two were indispensable.
The beauty research scholar Iroa and genius mage Belv, whom Helond just named.
They had to be brought in.
Roin told Helond.
"I'll go meet them myself."
Persuasion or force.
He'd use any means necessary.