Chapter 17
Chapter 17
“Quistian.”
Ophelienne murmured softly, her gaze following Matios’s small figure disappearing into the distance.
As if answering her call, an old man who had been silently lurking in the shadows appeared.
“Yes, milady.”
His white hair swept back smoothly, his beard sharp and precise like a blade. A towering man over 190 cm silently appeared and bowed respectfully.
He was Quistian Orlingen, the butler who had loyally served the Moretti family for over fifty years. A gift from Househead Servan to celebrate his daughter’s academy admission, more threatening and dependable than any treasure.
“Investigate Professor Harsen thoroughly.”
“Yes, milady.”
Ophelienne sipped her wine, the lush red liquid brushing against her lips.
Quistian melted into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had appeared.
Harsen Caripier.
The head of a prestigious bureaucratic family, widely respected in society.
Generous donations, various volunteer work, representing the voice of the people with integrity.
In truth, Harsen’s abilities were insufficient for an academy professorship. But his connections and amiable personality had secured him the position.
Even as a professor, Harsen did not abandon his principles. With his salary, he supported orphanages and shared what he had without hesitation.
So much so that the citizens of Porca called him “Harsen the Generous.”
Yet every light casts a shadow.
“Who… who is there?!”
Seeing a young girl playing in the yard, Harsen felt a fragment of life he had lost.
Her petite frame, the gentle slope of her shoulders, her delicate knees.
He realized what he felt was absolute evil itself.
He restrained himself, keeping reason above desire. Otherwise, all he had built would collapse.
But just as a river cannot hold infinite water, Harsen’s vile desire began to exceed the bounds of reason.
It reached its limit.
“What… what torments you so?”
A figure in black robes suddenly appeared. How had someone broken into the academy professor’s office? Before Harsen could question it, the intruder’s words struck at the core.
“I also know you. You desire and wish to harm the innocent.”
“…That’s…!”
“Do not fear. I will grant you the freedom of restraint. Receive this respectfully.”
The mysterious figure handed him a black scripture, its cover marked with a crimson inverted pentagram instead of a cross.
“From now on, serve the ‘true’ god. Only then will you find peace.”
Harsen stared at the scripture in daze, then looked at the figure again. He was gone.
From then on, Harsen sought a new ‘true’ god. He understood. He believed.
In the dark basement of the Caripier estate, a secret chamber only Harsen could enter.
“P-please… save me…”
A young girl trembled, her arms and legs bound by strong chains.
“…Sophia. Did you know? You shone for me.”
“Please… save me…”
“From the moment I first saw you, I couldn’t resist the love boiling in my heart!”
Harsen’s breath was rough as he gazed at her with desire. Sophia sobbed and hiccupped.
“I have restrained myself until now. I had to, for I am virtuous. But no longer.”
He raised the black scripture.
“The god has granted me absolution. Sophia. Do not resent me, do not mourn. This is the will of the divine!”
Clink.
Harsen loosened his belt, revealing the bulging flesh of his belly and a patch of coarse hair in his groin.
As he approached, Sophia screamed. In the depths of the basement, no one could hear her cries.
“Indeed.”
Suddenly, a man in a suit stepped from the shadow behind Harsen.
“The young master spoke true.”
Harsen spun around. Quistian stood calmly behind him, hands clasped.
“Who… are you?”
“I serve the Morettis. I am Quistian Orlingen.”
“You’ve been following me?”
Harsen, sweating, asked with forced composure, fingers on the trigger of a gun he had drawn from his pocket.
“You have questions, yes? Answer them, Professor Harsen.”
“Speak.”
“Do you have a record of crimes like this?”
“…This is my first.”
It was true. Sophia had been the object of his lust.
“Second… would you plan the same against Master Matios?”
“Matios…?”
Harsen looked utterly confused.
“What of it?”
At that moment, Harsen attempted a surprise shot with his gun.
The bullet flew toward Quistian.
Ting!
Quistian effortlessly deflected it with a translucent barrier.
Magic was stronger than firearms in this world.
Shhlick!
Quistian’s hand swept, throwing daggers that flew like pigeons, striking Harsen along the way.
Pock, pock, pock, pock.
Wrists, inner thighs, sides, eye.
“AAAH!!”
Harsen, a 6th-tier mage, collapsed screaming. Quistian was also a 6th-tier mage, but not all mages excelled in combat. Harsen specialized in theory, not battle magic.
Thud, thud.
Quistian walked calmly, his footsteps echoing through the basement.
Click.
He cut the chains binding the girl with a dagger.
“Th-thank… you.”
The girl, stunned, could hardly believe she had survived what had seemed inevitable.
“Wait outside briefly. Once this one is handled, I will escort you to the orphanage.”
Quistian looked down at the crippled Harsen like an ant.
Porca Academy, a place cultivating the elite of the future.
The education was excellent… and grueling.
Graduates were highly respected for good reason.
My adoptive father arranged my class schedule.
Monday: Swordsmanship.
Tuesday: Basic Mana, Combat Magic.
Wednesday: Advanced Hispania, Advanced Charlan.
Thursday: Unknown Region Exploration.
Friday: Finance, Social Etiquette, Dance & Music.
Saturday: Understanding War, General History, Strategy.
I had cursed immediately. Six days of classes a week. Only one day off. I hadn’t expected free periods, but six days? Ridiculous!
And every class was difficult. Two foreign languages, and even the dreaded war lecture.
This was Servan’s long-held belief:
“A mage who cannot see the battlefield is merely a soldier. You must become a general.”
Mages were gods of the battlefield. With overwhelming firepower, they could annihilate enemies where soldiers could not. Only mages could unleash spells at the right place, right time.
Sigh… exhausting.
Wednesday ended. Two foreign languages down: Hispania and Charlan. Fortunately, they were not impossibly difficult. Both descended from the Empire language, sharing roots.
Hispania would be helped by Juanna. She initially demanded lifelong servitude in return, but I refused, and she changed her mind, offering help freely.
Until now, Juanna and I had conversed in the Empire language. From now on, we would mix Hispania into our talks. Practice makes perfect.
The next day, the “Exploration of Unknown Regions” lecture.
As expected of a cross-grade class, the classroom buzzed with chaotic energy. I sipped my morning coffee, shaking off sleep. Coffee in the morning, always.
A light warmth touched my shoulder.
A soft wave of silver-white brushed the edge of my vision, followed by the faint scent of roses. I didn’t need to look—this was my sister.
“Did you sleep well?”
Her lazy voice whispered by my ear. She brushed my hair aside and sat next to me. Sunlight caught her hair, turning it into strands of translucent silver.
Her gaze lingered on my cup. I reflexively pulled it closer. This was my lifeline.
“Matios.”
She smiled, resting her chin on her hand. Her pale gray eyes glimmered mysteriously, like a dawn-misted lake.
“I’m thirsty. May I have some of your coffee?”
Damn it. I surrendered, pouting as I handed it over.
“Thanks. My little brother, always so kind.”
She pinched my lips playfully, then drank from the straw I had just used.
The coffee traced the curve of her long, white neck, red lips contrasting against translucent skin.
“Ah, refreshing. Tastes even better from my brother.”
She offered the cup again, straw glistening with residual warmth.
I reached for a handkerchief, but she pressed the straw against my lips. No resistance, no choice.
“…!”
She laughed at my flustered expression, a mischievous laugh unbefitting her elegance.
“Relax. I have good news.”
“Good news?”
“Soon, you’ll know.”
She drew a small chocolate from her jacket pocket and slid it into my mouth with precise thumb movements. Sweetness spread. She licked the crumbs from her thumb deliberately.
“Hello, Matios~”
Tiana arrived just then.
“Ah, hello, Matios-nim.”
Tiana greeted, eyes sparkling. My sister nodded gracefully.
“Ah, hello. You’re Tiana Filrn, yes?”
“You remembered my name!”
“Of course, a friend of my brother’s. And this is Taivon Filrn, right?”
Taivon nodded timidly.
“P-pleased to meet you…”
Not just the Filrn siblings, Yuri was also there, staring into space calmly.
The “Exploration of Unknown Regions” course was both fun and high-credit, making it popular.
“Greetings, everyone! I’m Professor Generica, your guide to exploring the unknown regions~!”
A petite, glasses-wearing middle-aged woman appeared. She gave off the scent of herbs, close to nature in every way.
After a brief orientation, she announced the exploration plans.
“As mentioned, we will explore the unknown regions in person! First stop: Thornwood!”
Generica passionately explained the map. I straightened.
‘Thornwood.’
A place I had to go to grow stronger.
“Once feared by kings, the forest of the Thorn Witch! You will explore it on foot. Groups of four, I will announce the teams now.”
She drew names from a box.
Matios Binna Moretti, Ohen Lan Deschpalt, Demian Raden, Yuri Ayende.
The team was set.
“You may not all get along at first, but after exploring and discussing together, you’ll become fast friends.