Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Organization Meeting (3)
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He said it so calmly, without the slightest change in expression, that for a moment I thought I'd misheard.
Even the reactions in the meeting room were a beat late because of it.
"Master? What do you mean by that?"
Luwen jumped to his feet, his face full of shock. It was clear he had never heard anything like this before.
"Taking him as your disciple? Liberic is my disciple! Even if you're my master, you can't just—"
"Calm down and hear me out first. I know he's your disciple. I know how much you dote on him. Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not trying to steal your student. I'm just going to teach him things that are different from what you teach."
As if he'd anticipated Luwen's reaction fully, Claus replied with calm composure.
Luwen was so flustered he was at a loss for words.
"There's no need for—"
"There is. There's every need. The demons are after Liberic—that Drook Grivis especially. No matter how much you shield him, there are limits.
That kid needs to get strong enough to protect himself. And he needs to understand and control the mana of the sealing orb inside him."
"Didn't you say imperial magic was utterly incomprehensible?"
"It is now. But from here on out, he needs to understand it. That's what I'm planning to teach him. And he'll have to come along for that.
You teach him what you can. I'll teach him the rest."
"But... Jayden, what do you think? Is this okay with you?"
The arrow turned back to Father.
Father glanced at me, then let out a small sigh.
"Claus, sir. It's a tremendous honor for you to take him as your disciple... but Liberic is still young.
He hasn't even mastered everything he could learn from Luwen yet. I'm not sure he can keep up with your teachings."
"I'll adjust accordingly, so don't worry about it. And your son's sharper than he looks, so no need for concern there either."
"...If you put it that way."
Father fell silent, as if he had no more to say against Claus's stubbornness.
Luwen clutched his forehead and let out a groan, looking utterly helpless.
"Then the best course is to hear from the person himself."
The White Guard Knight chuckled aloud as he interjected.
"Liberic?"
"Y-yes, sir."
Startled by the sudden call, I shot to my feet.
Everyone in the meeting room was staring at me. Tension flooded in all at once, stiffening my shoulders.
The White Guard Knight smiled gently and asked,
"You'll be very busy if you become Claus's disciple too. It takes resolve. Do you think you can handle it?"
I didn't have many options for a reply.
No one could sway Claus's determination.
Besides, I was inwardly impressed by his offer to take me as a disciple.
This was the perfect opportunity.
A chance to officially learn imperial magic.
Claus had said he needed to research imperial magic going forward, but in truth, he meant researching the imperial magic knowledge I possessed.
Worth the title of Sage, I thought.
Feeling the prickling stares, I slowly opened my mouth.
"...Yes. I'm okay with it. I can do it. But I hope Luwen will allow it."
Merian giggled at my words.
"Passing the buck, huh? Now Luwen has no choice but to answer."
Luwen pressed his forehead and let out a pained groan.
Sorry, but there's no helping it. I didn't want to see Luwen uncomfortable over something like this.
"Master's words do make sense... And considering what's ahead, I'll only get busier. No helping it, then."
Luwen finally came to a conclusion, his face looking utterly drained in that short time.
"I won't let this have a bad influence on Liberic. I'll be watching closely."
"Do whatever you want, you nag."
Claus shrugged irritably and plopped back into his seat.
Well, at least it worked out...
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Liberic. Come to think of it, we called you as a witness and just had you sitting there the whole time. Do you have any questions, or anything you'd like to say?"
The White Guard Knight gave me a warm smile as he asked.
I hesitated. Father nodded slightly, as if to say it was fine.
In that case...
"What about Ash...? Why can't I see him?"
The meeting room fell silent.
On the way back from the outpost, Ash had vanished at some point.
I'd asked Father, but he only gave a curt reply that he'd gone where he was supposed to be.
Only after pressing him repeatedly did I learn he'd been thrown back in prison. And Father sternly told me never to ask about him again.
But I couldn't do that.
"Liberic."
Father turned to me with a hardened expression.
"I told you not to bring him up again. He's not one of us. Especially not for you—he's dangerous..."
"No, Ash saved me."
Father shut his mouth in surprise.
It was the first time I'd cut him off. I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't stop myself.
I had to speak up here. Somehow convince everyone.
"When I woke up on the ramparts, Ash was the one holding onto me. He warned me of the danger and led me home.
Even when I was trapped in the mansion, Ash came for me and helped me escape. Without him, I..."
My breath caught.
Without Ash, I would have given up on life and death alike.
He'd said I had to get out, escape—to choose life or death.
That's how I fled, and chose to live. Without him, I wouldn't be here now.
"...Liberic."
The White Guard Knight looked at me with eyes full of pity.
"Ash is a demon. That fact doesn't change. And you're under threat from them.
We know he saved you, and we're grateful for that. But we don't know when his demonic instincts might resurface. We can't keep that risk by your side."
"Ash isn't dangerous..."
"That's enough."
I shut my mouth at Father's stern voice.
But the conviction that I had to do something only grew stronger.
Ash wasn't just any demon. This time, I'd have to rescue him from that prison...
"Well, there you have it."
Claus tossed out a casual remark.
As everyone turned to him, he cleared his throat with a hem.
"Talking about Ash here makes sense too.
That one's definitely different from ordinary demons. He doesn't hunt people on instinct; he acts rationally. Saving Liberic this time is something unimaginable for a normal demon."
Claus seemed to be backing me up. Hope flickered.
But the White Guard Knight frowned.
"Claus, sir, that doesn't mean we can let a demon loose in Prion."
"Since he's not your average demon, we should treat him as a special case, Petron. His uniqueness rivals Liberic's own. Hmm? Maybe that's why they bonded."
"Bonded? Ridiculous. I won't have a demon near my son."
Father objected immediately.
It surprised everyone to hear Father raise his voice like that, him always so polite and proper.
The White Guard Knight placed a hand on Father's shoulder to calm him.
"Well... we'll see."
Even amid the tension, Claus replied leisurely.
"We're researching what Ash really is right now. Whatever the conclusion, remember this one thing.
Ash was one of us. A fine knight of the Prius Knights, the Silver Moon Knights, guarding the seal vaults of ruined Dileina."
Neither the White Guard Knight nor Father could respond.
They'd all momentarily forgotten that before becoming a demon, Ash had been a human—a member of Prius.
I had no idea what horrors he'd endured to mutate into a demon and escape those awful instincts to end up here...
But it only strengthened my resolve to save him.
"Alright then, meeting's over, and I've got mountains of work, so I'll be off."
In the heavy silence of the meeting room, the sound of Claus pushing back his chair echoed.
He nodded toward me.
"Liberic, focus on recovering for now. And get some proper sleep at night."
"Ah... yes, sir."
He knew I wasn't sleeping well at night? I answered reflexively, surprised inwardly.
"Lessons and all that can wait. Luwen will sort out the schedule."
"As you wish, Master."
Luwen replied in a sigh-tinged voice, looking too tired even to argue.
Claus chuckled at Luwen's sigh, gathered his papers and belongings, and breezed out.
Before anyone could even stand to bid him farewell.
The White Guard Knight, who hadn't gotten a proper goodbye, let out a groan.
"Claus never changes, even after all this time."
"Indeed, where would that personality go?"
Luwen shook his head as if it gave him a headache, then turned to me.
"Anyway, Liberic, like Master said—focus on building your strength for now. We'll figure out the rest later."
"Yes, got it."
I replied, though I sighed inwardly.
Easier said than done.
The White Guard Knight stood, officially ending the meeting.
Merian and Collin sorted the table's papers, bid their farewells, and left first. Then Luwen trudged back to the tower, worn out.
Father had a brief talk with the White Guard Knight about knight academy policies.
The Black Guard Knight kept us company in the meantime. We chatted lightly about the Black Guard in Laitas or Loran knight training.
Father returned to us with a tired face.
"Looks like you've got your hands full, huh?"
The Black Guard Knight smiled, and Father gave a wry one in return.
"Knight academy life's always like that. Shame we don't have more time to talk, senior. It's been ages since you came back to Prion."
"I'll let you know before I leave—let's grab a drink. Who knows when we'll meet again after this."
The Black Guard Knight shook Father's hand and gave him a light hug.
They'd been seniors and juniors since Father's academy days, and they still seemed tight.
"See you later, then."
"Yes, I'll be waiting."
"Liberic, take care of yourself."
The Black Guard Knight ruffled my hair and waved as he left the meeting room.
Father watched him go with a wistful look before turning to me.
"Alright, back to the medical center. Erner, head to Blue Guard HQ first."
"Yes, sir."
We bid the White Guard Knight farewell once more and left the room.
We walked with Erner to the first-floor lobby of White Guard HQ, parting ways where the road to the medical center split.
After that, I walked quietly beside Father.
A clear, sunny noon. A wide, pristine garden.
Flower beds and street trees everywhere, staff from offices and the medical center strolling the well-kept paths.
I hesitated, watching Father's back, then steeled myself.
"Father..."
"Hm?"
Father turned to me. I couldn't quite meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry about earlier in the meeting... You told me not to bring up Ash again."
I had to talk about Ash. But disappointing Father weighed on me.
"It's fine."
Father spoke softly. He knelt to my level, meeting my gaze, and placed a warm hand on my shoulder.
"I keep forgetting you're still a child. I'm just grateful you're holding up this strong."
Father patted my shoulder with a look of regret.
"About Ash... give me a little more time to think. I'll talk to Claus again. I'll never forget the debt we owe him."
"Yes... thank you."
Father pulled me into a tight hug. His warmth lightened the heaviness in my chest a little.