Chapter 86
Chapter 86
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Lena's Apprenticeship
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Lena Silvermont will be joining our dispatch team as an apprentice starting today."
"Hello, I'm Lena Silvermont. I know I'll have many shortcomings, but please take good care of me going forward."
One week after receiving permission from Alexar.
Lena had entered the White Tower.
Getting permission to enter had been the hard part; the actual entry process itself wasn't difficult.
"She's fifteen, and already a 4th Circle mage?"
"Aren't there too many geniuses these days?"
The members of the dispatch team, receiving Lena's self-introduction and greetings in their office, were so amazed that they clicked their tongues in astonishment. At such a young age, she had already reached the 4th Circle.
When she expressed her desire to join the White Tower, they welcomed her with open arms.
'They didn't even make her take a test.'
Well, at her age and circle, no further verification was really needed.
Still, there were conditions attached to Lena's entry.
Not from the White Tower, but from her father, Alexar.
'They only approved a three-month apprenticeship.'
Full membership in the White Tower was out of the question.
They had only permitted a three-month apprenticeship stint.
And on top of that...
'She has to stick by my side... right.'
Of course, that was a simplified version of it.
Alexar's message had stated that, given Jeon's significant growth, one of the conditions for permission was for her to stay by his side and observe and learn from that growth.
On the surface, it seemed reasonable enough.
After all, the very reason Lena wanted to join the White Tower was Jeon's explosive growth.
So the condition made sense, but Jeon suspected there was a hidden motive.
'Hmm... that uncle hasn't given up yet.'
He could sense Alexar's intent to subtly pair him and Lena together.
'She's still way too young for that kind of thing.'
Of course, he understood why Alexar was doing this.
Unlike his previous life, marriage happened at a much younger age here.
There were plenty of people getting married at Lena's age, and in just a year or two, people would start looking for marriage prospects for her, calling it her prime marrying age.
Even knowing that was the norm here didn't make it easy for Jeon to accept.
'I was over thirty in my previous life and still hadn't married. Marriage at this age? No way.'
In his past life, marriage came around double his current age, give or take.
But marriage at this tender young age? Unthinkable.
Besides, with his past life's mindset lingering, marriage was something for after achieving stability.
How many clashes with the Ruin Church lay ahead? Dreaming of marriage now?
'Once everything's settled, if a good woman comes along, I'll think about it then.'
Anyway.
While Jeon was lost in his own thoughts,
Lena had finished her greetings and was chatting amiably with the dispatch team members.
"Wow, you're the lady of the Silvermont family?"
"It's an honor to meet you."
"No need for that. I'm the one joining the dispatch team as the junior here, so please take care of me."
She might act like a spoiled brat around Jeon or Risar and ignore them,
but out in public, Lena was the picture of a well-educated noble lady.
'Ugh, this doesn't sit right.'
Watching her sweetly greeting and chatting with the dispatch team made Jeon feel a strange cringe.
Of course, the team had no idea about her other side, so their first impression of her was sky-high.
'Being a Silvermont lady helps too.'
Most dispatch team members were affiliated with the White Tower.
So while they wouldn't show it outright, they couldn't help their curiosity about the Silvermont family, now established in Ringle.
And that curiosity translated into interest in Lena.
"Since it's your first day, I'll give you an overview of the dispatch team and the White Tower in general."
"Sure, sounds good."
"For guides... Tasha and Jeon should do nicely."
"...Me?"
Jeon had been hanging back, not wanting to interrupt her greetings with the others, when Knekt suddenly assigned him and Tasha to show her around.
"I'm on vacation."
"But you came in anyway, didn't you?"
"...This is why you shouldn't come to the office on your days off."
"Please."
Jeon grumbled,
but he accepted Knekt's request.
Lena would probably feel more comfortable with someone she knew anyway.
'Risar's stuck outside since he can't come in.'
Risar was her sworn knight,
but entering the White Tower's main spire was tricky for non-members.
Unless he had specific business, he couldn't enter just to act as a guard.
"Then, Lady Lena, I'll give you a general tour and explanation of the White Tower."
And since Tasha would handle most of the talking anyway, Jeon just needed to tag along.
'Come to think of it... they do seem kinda similar.'
During the White Tower tour for Lena that ensued,
Jeon suddenly realized that Lena and Tasha shared a similar vibe.
Sure, Lena looked every bit the flashy noble lady with her striking hair and fox ears, while Tasha was plain by comparison, but...
'One turns into a total kid around comfortable people, and the other gets timid and hesitant away from the tower...'
Their personalities shifted dramatically depending on the situation, making them alike in that way.
And perhaps because of it, Tasha and Lena hit it off quickly.
"Can I call you Sister Tasha?"
"Oh, I'd be delighted."
"Sister! Then speak casually with me too."
"Should I? Yeah, why not?"
How long had it even been? One was already calling the other "sister," and the other was dropping formal speech.
'Were they both always this sociable?'
Or maybe their similarities just clicked.
"Is the tower always this busy?"
"Mm, pretty much. Labs often run without even clocking out. But the extra bustle around here lately is for a different reason than usual."
"Different reason?"
"Yeah. We have an important guest coming from outside."
An external guest...
'News even to me.'
In the week before Lena arrived,
Jeon hadn't come to the tower, focusing on rest instead.
With everything that had happened lately, he felt he needed a break.
So he was out of the loop on the latest tower gossip.
"Judging by how hectic it is... quite the VIP, huh?"
"Yes, exactly. A very high-ranking one."
Tasha nodded affirmatively at Jeon's casual probe.
If she was confirming it that readily, it had to be someone prominent even in the Empire.
"Royalty or something?"
"Yes. His Imperial Highness the Third Prince is scheduled to visit."
"...What?"
It was just a throwaway guess, but it hit the mark.
Stunned by the unexpected bigwig's visit, Jeon stared at Tasha.
Lena looked equally shocked.
"Wh-why would the Third Prince come here...?"
"He's stopping by on his way back to the capital after completing a mission from His Majesty the Emperor. Technically, he's visiting Linkroft anyway, and stopping at our tower while he's at it."
It wasn't all that strange.
Linkroft was the biggest city around, with all the infrastructure for a comfortable stay.
And as a city directly managed by the Empire without a lord, it was natural for royalty to visit.
'I was holed up resting and missed it.'
No doubt the entire city was buzzing with preparations to welcome the prince, matching the tower's frenzy.
Jeon had just spent most of his "rest" cooped up in his room, oblivious to the commotion.
"It's kinda surprising for us too. The Third Prince follows the classic knight's path, and he surrounds himself mostly with fellow knights. He's not really known for interest in magic."
"And he's visiting the tower?"
"Yes. He's been to Linkroft before, but last time he just stayed in the city and left. This time is unusual—he specifically mentioned stopping by the tower."
Whether the Third Prince had real business at the tower or it was just a whim,
no one knew the exact reason.
But with the prince announcing his visit in advance, the tower had no choice but to prepare a proper welcome.
"A prince, huh..."
Jeon's impression of princes wasn't bad.
The first one he'd met, Lucian, had been a decent guy.
'Even gave me the Empire Guardian Medal.'
He still had it safely stored away, unused so far.
That said, he had no particular desire to see the Third Prince.
'Don't want to get involved.'
As Lucian had told him before,
the current Emperor was in his twilight years.
Not on his deathbed yet, but succession needed deciding.
The palace was in constant turmoil with the First and Second Princes vying politically.
'Even Fifth Prince Lucian was preparing for it...'
The Third Prince, right after the Second, went without saying.
If anything happened to either the First or Second, he'd be thrust into the succession spotlight.
"When's the visit?"
"Two days from now."
"That's soon."
The whole city would be abuzz in two days.
"Will you come too, Jeon?"
"Huh? Nah, too much hassle... I'll rest at the dorms."
Jeon waved off Tasha's question about joining for the prince's arrival.
Unlike with Lucian, who had personally requested to meet, this was just a distant glimpse at best.
No interest in royalty fantasies, and no desire to deal with the tower's welcoming chaos and stress.
'I've got plenty of vacation left anyway. Might as well chill till the prince leaves.'
Of course, "resting" didn't mean doing nothing.
He had plenty of magic training he could do from his room.
That would easily kill time until the prince came and went.
Yeah, that's how it should've gone.
Two days later, while Jeon was resting at the dorms, someone came calling.
"Wh-who is it...?"
"I'm Alfonso, a knight in service to the Third Prince."
"...Pardon?"
A knight serving the Third Prince?
Why would such a person come looking for me?
But before the questions in his head could clear,
Alfonso continued.
"His Highness the Third Prince wishes to see you, Jeon."
"...What? Who wants to see me?"
Did the prince even know who he was?
It made no sense, but Alfonso didn't wait for Jeon to process.
"So you'll need to come with me."
"W-wait, hold on a second...!"
And just like that, Jeon's plans for a peaceful vacation on the day the prince arrived went completely awry.