Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Strange Spring Semester (1)
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That way, I was able to attend the major classes at Thorn Crown House in a sort of sponsorship capacity under Theodore.
Sir Reynolds initially reacted with extreme discomfort to my proposal, but whether it was because Dillon accompanied me or because he simply wanted nothing more to do with me, he surprisingly granted permission without much fuss.
“Dark and dreary.”
“…”
I had already notified Theodore about the exchange research. Once formal approval came through, there was no longer any reason to hesitate, so I arrived at the Thorn Crown Class main building the very next day—today.
Theodore, who had been waiting for me there, approached silently and fell into step beside me.
The Thorn Crown Class main building, with its sharp angles, flat planes, and overwhelming scale exaggerated two or three times over in both height and width, was the perfect picture of a black mage’s lair.
‘It’s a maze-like structure. Hard to memorize.’
I had noticed it while following Theodore around before, but unless you had an exceptional memory, committing the layout of Thorn Crown House to mind after one look seemed impossible.
The plaster statues of mythical figures on black marble pedestals lining both sides all looked identical in angle and expression from below, while the staircases leading to different destinations at each of the four corners only added to the confusion.
“-That’s the Executor of Aegis?”
“What’s going on?”
Murmurs rose from all directions, but my presence here didn’t seem to carry as much weight as I’d thought. Most cadets just reacted with a casual ‘Huh, that’s something you don’t see every day.’
‘Good in a way, but…’
It wasn’t a very appropriate thought given the situation I’d created, but I didn’t want to draw attention either.
I entered the lecture hall far more smoothly than expected and took a seat amid the rowdy atmosphere of cadets still shaking off their holiday mindset.
The first lecture in Thorn Crown Class—which I’d half-expected to erupt into chaos—turned out to be surprisingly ordinary.
That said, since I was attending under the guise of exchange research and project collaboration without any foundational knowledge in double-major subjects, jotting down notes on completely incomprehensible material was pure torture.
“…”
Theodore focused on the lecture but kept glancing my way, clearly displeased.
I responded each time with a smile, but got nothing in return.
‘Yeah, sulk all you want.’
What’s done was done, and Theodore had no choice but to stick with me as the nominal project lead.
“Let’s go eat, Theodore.”
“Sigh.”
“The ground’s caving in. Get up already.”
After that, I basically kept Theodore glued to my side.
I’d planned to chat with him over lunch, but he fiercely refused to go to the cafeteria, so I had a servant bring us two simple sandwiches.
My desperate close-marking to eliminate any alone time gradually turned Theodore’s gaze into that of a small, rebellious animal brimming with defiance.
‘Ooh, scary.’
I’d known for a while that Theodore wasn’t entirely emotionless, but seeing him openly show his discomfort felt refreshingly new.
To be honest, if he got truly angry, I wouldn’t stand a chance… but surely he wouldn’t snap to that point.
To lighten the mood, I asked Theodore, who was just glaring at his sandwich.
“By the way, where’s Arthur? Haven’t seen him all day.”
“He gets called to Sir Wheaton during every free period lately. Something about preparing for an exam.”
“I see. Hey, Theodore, that was the longest sentence you’ve said all day.”
“…”
That might’ve been a slip-up.
Theodore shut his mouth with a sullen expression.
Anyway, knowing full well how he felt, I decided to yield a bit more.
‘It wounds his pride.’
Asking for help—or receiving unwanted help—could bruise someone’s ego, depending on the person.
Of course, Theodore’s situation was mostly tangled up because of my involvement.
Throughout the classes, I kept watch around Theodore, trying to gauge who might be out to get him.
I had three suspects in mind, all cadets who’d looked at me not like some ‘sudden tree-cross senior’ but with expressions of ‘Oh, how are you here…?’
“This won’t solve anything.”
As I tried to recall their faces, Theodore stated flatly.
“Not here to solve anything.”
“Then why spend that fortune on all this?”
“My little brother’s getting beat up at school? Breaks my heart.”
Theodore ignored my words.
Would there ever come a day when he could escape this intangible anxiety?
Things felt like they were turning into a total mess, and there was nothing I could do.
It was like sinking into the creeping terror of death, like the tide rolling in.
“To be honest, I don’t really have a plan. I figured if I stuck around, the ones who revere me as the Executor would hold back, so here I am.”
“It’s burdensome.”
“Uh, sorry.”
That apology was genuine.
Theodore let out a small sigh and pulled out a bundle of documents tied with a strap from between his books.
“Oh, the project proposal I submitted. You don’t need to look at that. It’s just fancy words.”
“Doesn’t it have to lead to some kind of result anyway?”
“…You’re really going to do it?”
“It ties into something I’ve been curious about too, so now that the opportunity’s here, let’s get started on the research.”
“You’re so diligent.”
Exchange research was just an excuse, yet here he was being so earnest.
*Flutter, flutter, flutter.*
Theodore quickly skimmed through the project proposal I’d scribbled out verbosely in hopes Sir Reynolds would balk, then set the stack back down.
“I doubt it’s coincidence, but it’s a good idea. They say development started on a similar concept for medical magic tools in the Labyrinth Tower.”
“Like catching a rat with an ox’s hoof.”
“Most would call that keen insight. Anyway, since Arma Cruise has gone this far, I’ll accept it.”
Was this what it felt like to raise a child?
Somehow, it stirred something warm inside.
If I let my guard down a bit more, I might even pat his shoulder and call myself his dad.
But,
*Dong…*
Then, the main bell rang to signal the start of class.
“Whoops.”
I hurriedly shoved the lunch sandwich into my mouth and stood up.
Theodore had already finished his somehow and was empty-handed.
We quickly slipped out of the Thorn Crown House annex and dashed off to Professor Melbourne’s [Aegis Ancient Language] lecture.
*Murmur, murmur.*
“Huh, why’s the atmosphere so weird?”
Unlike Tree Cross, where it was seen as just a general education elective, Aegis Ancient Language held major prestige in Thorn Crown Class.
That was probably why the lecture wasn’t in a standard classroom like at Tree Cross but in a large hall doubling as a seminar room.
‘Something’s off.’
Yet the room, packed with so many students, was in considerable disarray.
Cadets in black robes were exchanging baffled looks, and the podium stood empty.
“Excuse me, sorry.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Has Professor Melbourne not arrived yet?”
We’d entered after the bell, so we were technically late.
But Professor Melbourne, who was always punctual, hadn’t shown up.
“…That’s weird.”
Theodore and I ended up sitting in the second row from the empty front as punishment for arriving late, waiting for class to start.
‘What’s this?’
There was a blank sheet of paper on each desk, pre-distributed it seemed.
We’d only know what it was once Professor Melbourne arrived.
But no matter how much time passed…
“He’s not coming.”
Professor Melbourne never showed.
A few cadets noticed the anomaly and started murmuring about whether someone should report it.
“We should call the Student Council.”
As I stood, Theodore followed behind me.
No matter what, I was probably the eldest here in this lecture hall.
So the duty to report the irregularity fell most heavily on me.
“This is the first time Professor Melbourne’s skipped a lecture without notice. It’s not some Thorn Crown House custom, is it?”
“No. Even if he’s late, he usually notifies in advance. Same as Tree Cross.”
Then this was definitely strange.
We hurried toward the first floor of the Thorn Crown Class main building.
“Hold it.”
Just as we were about to exit the entrance, two servants blocking the door called us back.
“What is it?”
“It’s still lecture time. Where are you going?”
“Professor Melbourne, who’s supposed to teach that class, didn’t show up, so we’re going to check what’s going on.”
“You can’t leave.”
“…What?”
The servant stood with hands clasped behind his back, blocking the entrance door.
‘What the hell is this?’
It was so absurd that I scanned the two servants blocking the door carefully, but reading their expressions under their veiled faces was difficult.
“Are you joking right now?”
“No, we’ve simply been instructed to ensure cadets don’t leave during class hours.”
“…”
Something was wrong.
A chill ran through my veins.
“Who gave that order?”
“Chancellor Sir William Reynolds himself.”
“So Sir Reynolds already knew Professor Melbourne wouldn’t show up for the lecture?”
“That’s correct.”
It was absurd.
Then why hadn’t the academy announced it in advance?
As if answering my question, the ‘alert’ bell began tolling from afar right then.
*Dong, dong, dong, dong, dong…*
Even the cadets who’d stubbornly stayed seated in the lecture hall amid the confusion couldn’t ignore this.
An alert bell during a lecture, and not even during training?
In an instant, the entrance we were at turned into pandemonium as cadets poured out.
“What’s going on?”
“The alert’s ringing, right?”
“Out of the way! What are you doing there?”
Every time startled cadets tried to leave amid the untimely alert, the servants stood even more rigidly, chin raised defiantly, holding firm.
“What the hell?”
“What do we do?”
As expected, complaints erupted here and there, and the atmosphere turned hostile in a flash.
‘Well, it was bound to come to this eventually.’
Thorn Crown House cadets were, each and every one, powerful black mages. They’d been restrained by academy rules until now, but with magic use restrictions lifted, they looked ready to resort to force.
It was a swift shift in posture you wouldn’t see among Tree Cross’s limited combat personnel.
The tension thickening the air made my stomach churn.
What was it? Like the people I’d just passed and chatted with casually suddenly turning into sharpened blades.
‘Killing intent?’
One thing I hadn’t realized, having spent most of my adolescence in an academy where magic was banned.
Every single cadet here was essentially a weapon of murder.
Cold sweat beaded on my palms in an instant.
It felt like even the air had turned razor-sharp, stabbing at me.
A truly hair-trigger situation.
*Snap.*
“Stand down. Underclassmen, back to the lecture halls. Upperclassmen, retreat behind the carpet.”
Just as one rash move could spark a massive brawl, someone snapped their fingers and barked the order.
“Izmel.”
“How embarrassing on all fronts. And you see this ugly side of Thorn Crown House the moment you arrive.”