Chapter 133
Six heroes arrived at the Academia.
They were each mentoring their own mentees, visiting to develop their relationships and assist in training after the vacation ended.
Charlotte, Alicia’s mentor, felt immense joy in witnessing her precious mentee’s growth as if it were her own.
Alicia, who learns over ten things from a single lesson.
Teaching something and feeling a sense of accomplishment along with how cute and impressive Alicia is to Charlotte.
Alicia was officially chosen as Charlotte’s mentee.
It was unfortunate for Liam and Emily, who had been temporary mentees for a while, but Charlotte chose Alicia.
While this decision was made without personal feelings and based on how ‘necessary’ someone was, if you asked if there was any selfishness involved, she couldn’t honestly say there wasn’t.
Watching the pure and eager-to-learn Alicia made Charlotte feel as if she had gained a little sister, and the desire to help her surged.
“Indeed, my sister is so cute and impressive!”
“Ugh, Charlotte-nim…”
On the outskirts of the main building of the Academia.
Two people sat on a white bench surrounded by lush green leaves.
Charlotte hugged Alicia and rubbed her face against hers.
Alicia smelled wonderful. The faint scent of a flower garden filled the air every time their faces brushed together.
Like hugging a warm blanket soaked in sunshine, Charlotte wore an expression of sheer comfort and happiness.
Alicia felt shy and flustered by Charlotte’s reactions, but a smile crept onto her face deep down.
After a bit of healing (?), Charlotte detached herself and extended her fist.
What Charlotte presented was a bottle filled with some kind of liquid.
“A gift from the church. You know what it is, right? It’s a versatile item, so use it wherever you want.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“And… this is a gift from me.”
“A gift from Charlotte-nim?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing grand, but I just wanted to give you something to commemorate becoming my official mentee.”
Charlotte smiled brightly and encouraged her to unwrap it, while Alicia carefully untied the ribbon.
As she peeled away the carefully hidden wrapping paper, a necklace emerged.
The blue gem in the center looked to be a very high-quality mana stone. Judging by the magical spells and devices attached to it, it was an “accessory” used by magicians.
And it was undoubtedly a precious item.
If she wasn’t mistaken, it could probably buy a few luxury wagons.
Alicia’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her hands.
“I can’t accept such a precious item…!”
“It’s not that precious, so you don’t need to refuse.”
“It’s not precious? Even a blind person like me can tell… Charlotte-nim, I truly appreciate your heart, but this is just….”
“Charlotte, I truly appreciate your heart, but this is just….”
“Just accept it without thinking too much. I always wanted to give this when I got a mentee.”
Charlotte briefly explained her reason for handing over the item.
In her past at Academia, she received it from the hero who was her mentor, but unfortunately, since she was just a regular swordsman and not a swordmage, she hardly had any use for it.
Now, that mentor lies buried in the Central Church’s common grave after perishing at the hands of Altife.
Charlotte wanted to share those memories with Alicia as well.
“Rather than leaving it to rot like this, it’s better for both my mentor and this accessory to be put to good use.”
“But… it’s such a precious item….”
“Because it’s a precious item, I wanted to give it to a precious person.”
Charlotte gently touched Alicia’s cheeks as she spoke.
“I’m glad it’s my sister receiving this.”
“Charlotte….”
Alicia’s eyes glistened with gratitude, but she smiled nonetheless.
Charlotte’s will was unmistakably conveyed to Alicia.
Alicia grasped the necklace with both hands.
“I will cherish it dearly. I’ll always wear it….”
“Then I’m grateful for that.”
“I won’t take it off even while sleeping. I’ll definitely make sure not to lose it.”
“I didn’t expect such a reaction. It feels good to have given it. …Originally, I meant to wait a bit longer to give it, but with all the church matters lately, I figured I wouldn’t be able to see you for a while, so I gave it to you early.”
Recently, Altife’s rapid movements have made the church quite busy, making it difficult for the heroes who should have visited Academia with Charlotte to find time.
Alicia clearly showed her disappointment at the thought of not being able to see her for a while.
Charlotte found her adorable and almost reached out to pinch her cheeks when—
“Hmm? That person is….”
She spotted a uniquely sharp-eyed man passing by. He also noticed Charlotte and Alicia and gave them a glance.
Charlotte waved her hand in greeting, while Alicia, catching sight of the man a moment later, hurriedly bowed her head in politeness.
Charlotte called to the man, gesturing him to come over with the hand she had been waving. The man, who looked like he might ignore them, surprisingly walked over.
Charlotte rummaged through her pockets and said, “Perfect timing! I had some things to pass on from Helion.”
She produced an item identical to the one she had given Alicia.
She was delivering gifts from the church on behalf of Helion, who couldn’t accompany them.
“This is the first time we’re seeing each other like this, right? I’ve only heard rumors about the Young Master.”
The tall man was Vargan, the third son of the Schugenhartz family. Rumor has it that he is a formal mentee of Helion and a hero who helped save Dortmund alongside him.
“Nice to meet you, Charlotte.”
His tone appeared friendly at first glance, but his voice carried a sharpness that stood in stark contrast to Alicia’s demeanor.
Vargan briefly greeted them and mentioned the nature of the item Charlotte was intending to hand over, moving to take it.
However, “Ah, wait a minute.”
Before he could grab it, Charlotte held the item tightly.
Seeing Alicia’s face clearly change when Vargan approached, her playful side kicked in.
Given Alicia’s personality, she definitely wouldn’t do anything. If this continued, it would surely end without her being seen properly.
As her self-appointed big sister, it was time to step up.
Charlotte scanned Vargan from head to toe.
She intended to engrave in her memory the person Alicia held in high regard, someone she considered her very own sister.
I aimed to etch the face of the person I had been talking about tirelessly into my memory this time.
She glanced over, marveling.
“He really is handsome.”
“……”
“I have a favor to ask before you give this.”
“Aren’t you here to pass this on for Master Helion, who is absent today?”
Vargan spoke in a somewhat accusatory tone, but Charlotte didn’t back down.
In fact, she replied while hiding her hands in her sleeves.
“It’s true I was asked, but whether I deliver it properly is up to me, isn’t it?”
Vargan stared into Charlotte’s eyes for a moment, then let out a laugh, incredulous.
“Go ahead, say it.”
“I’m glad you’re a Young Master I can communicate with. It’s nothing serious….”
Charlotte shot a glance at Alicia.
Alicia, caught off guard from an unexpected gaze, blinked rapidly and tilted her head.
“There’s a festival at the Academia soon, right?”
“Yes.”
“During the festival, I want you to spend a day just wandering around with Alicia.”
“Charlotte…?!”
Alicia’s blinking eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
But Charlotte didn’t stop there.
“To put it simply, you should go on a date with Alicia for a day—?!”
This time, Charlotte’s eyes turned round.
Her mouth was sealed tight by Alicia’s hands.
Alicia hastily started stammering.
“Y-Young Master?! No way. That’s absolutely not—Charlotte is just joking, so you don’t need to worry! Just decline if you—!”
Vargan watched as Alicia’s face turned crimson.
He had seen Alicia flustered or taken aback many times, but this version of her was something new.
It was certain that she felt various emotions, even though she had basically assumed Vargan would refuse.
“…….”
Vargan pondered for a moment, recalling his plans.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“Yes. The Young Master is making such a proposal… Huh? What?! Young Master?!”
Alicia’s hands dropped away from Charlotte’s mouth, and she quickly covered her own gaping mouth.
Vargan calmly met Alicia’s gaze and interrupted her.
“I have enough time for a day.”
*
After parting with Charlotte and Alicia, I headed alone to the laboratory.
There was nobody in the lab.
I hadn’t scheduled anything for today, and the timing was so awkward that almost no one would drop by.
I quietly waited for a person while shaking the gift from the Church that Charlotte had given me.
A sticky silver liquid swirled around in the bottle.
「Sap of Yggdrasil」
A sap from the sacred tree Yggdrasil, which can only be harvested from the Church.
Basically, it’s a relic that is forbidden from being sold.
It’s a rare liquid awarded to students selected for mentoring or to heroes who have accomplished great feats.
It can be used for various purposes, such as magical spells and weapons, but is mainly utilized as a material for enhancement or connection.
I also planned to use this sap for weapon crafting.
‘So far, I have three materials prepared for weapon making.’
My mana was already set from the beginning.
The mana stone that Erica had given me as a birthday gift in the past.
And this newly acquired sap from Yggdrasil.
The mana stone given to me by young Erica is of exceptionally high quality among special products and reacts well with Yggdrasil’s materials.
The previous Vargan knew this, but he had only stored it without using it, as the timing and opportunity weren’t right. However, I had no intention of letting it sit.
Materials are meant to be used.
They’re not for decoration or anything else.
Just in time, I have the time and the plan to get ready.
“There are two remaining materials for the weapon.”
One is the ‘Branch of Yggdrasil’ that you get for graduating as the top first-year student.
The last one is the Judgment Weapon.
If everything goes smoothly, I should be able to obtain the Branch of Yggdrasil, but the problem lies with the Judgment Weapon.
Since I couldn’t get Ami’s Judgment Weapon, I’ll need to find it elsewhere. I have to time it just right.
I want to get it before the end of the first year at the latest….
Creak⎯.
A sound pulls my gaze from my thoughts.
The figure that emerges is our protagonist, Liam.
He has set up the venue for the conversation he mentioned earlier.
As a possessor, he seeks a discussion with me, who is also a possessor, and he has made it happen.
What a generous and kind noble he is!
I placed a bottle in the white handkerchief Familiar, White, and pointed to a suitable spot with my chin.
“Sit down.”
“…….”
Liam silently pulled out a chair and sat down in front of me.
His expression seemed a bit tense, but he maintained silence before finally speaking.
“I’ll skip the thanks for setting up this place.”
“For me, it’s a good thing as it saves time.”
“…….”
“If we keep silent, there’s no meaning in skipping it.”
“Oh, right. I have so many questions that I was pondering…. But I think it’s better to say this first.”
I know Liam has a ton of questions like who I am, whether we really come from the same world, how I got here, and what my ultimate goal is.
But surprisingly,
Liam pushed aside his personal curiosity and asked about what was essential in the current situation.
After all that nonsense he was doing, it seems he’s finally wised up a bit.
“Vargan. The movements of the Goddess Church seem unusual.”
Assuming I’m already aware of it, Liam started to speak. For some reason, his gaze is unusually composed.
“I predict that the timing for selecting the Archbishop has been moved up.”
At his guess, the corners of my mouth turned up.
It’s a mystical feeling to be having a conversation with someone who read the same novel.
I nodded and replied.
“Yeah, two Archbishops have already lost their heads, so it makes sense.”
Zagan, Ami.
Among the forces of the Goddess Church, two of their legs have already crumbled.
It’s strange for there to be no changes.
Liam continued to list recent big incidents that have been trending. All of them involved Bishop-level Altifes kidnapping people or turning them into Altifes.
He opened his mouth with conviction.
“In the story I know, four Bishops were competing fiercely. They are the strongest among the Bishops.”
“Go on.”
“Even if the timing has been moved up, there won’t be any significant changes in that force.”
The recent activity of the Goddess Church is deeply connected to this.
Bishop-level individuals with skills are rampaging to stand out in front of the Archbishop or Cardinal.
While the chaotic period I read about and the original novel’s timeline was the same,
my activities as Vargan accelerated it.
Liam swallowed hard.
The reason for his tension was due to the answers he derived from speculation and inference.
“There should still be time before they start rampaging seriously. But… that’s why I think it’s a problem.”
“A problem….”
“Don’t pretend not to know. Just answer me. It’s an urgent matter.”
“…….”
Liam mentions a development that could very well happen.
He’s trying to borrow my hand to stop it.
“They will target the Academia’s festival.”
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