Chapter 161
The hero Charlotte’s team encountered Archbishop Salecius.
News about them quickly spread to the Academia, and Alicia learned the subsequent story through Emily.
As a result, everyone except Charlotte on the team died.
Only the team leader, Charlotte, remained, but she was gravely injured, in a coma, and her life hung by a thread.
“……”
Alicia’s hands were tightly clasped in front of her. Her lips were pressed together as if to hold back tears, desperately trying to stop her eyes from becoming wet with sorrow.
Today, just like her usual routine, Alicia had reviewed her progress and completed all the checks.
Her eyes were red.
She was clearly trying hard not to cry in front of me, but she must have cried non-stop when she heard the news from Emily.
I leaned back in a plush chair and looked at Alicia.
She stood there, seemingly lost in thought or perhaps hesitating to say what was on her mind.
“Alicia, how long do you plan to stay like that?”
I spoke with a somewhat reproachful tone.
Alicia lifted her head, but she looked as though it was too hard for her to speak.
Charlotte, the hero with curly hair, who was her mentor and sister-like figure.
And the teammates she had spent summer vacation with.
This was Alicia’s matter. She had undoubtedly built a bond that couldn’t easily be severed, and the shock must have been immense.
While I understood that a storm of emotions had arisen due to the sudden turn of events, standing still wouldn’t change anything.
I had clearly told Alicia in advance.
To clear her mind by today.
“Charlotte held on well. She endured for about two hours against the archbishop who had unleashed his powers.”
Even after all the team members were killed, Charlotte had bravely held on, waiting for reinforcements.
According to the testimony of the hero who arrived at the scene, Salecius quickly fled when the reinforcements arrived.
The only one left standing was Charlotte, holding her sword, and her condition was so severe that it was hard to believe she was still alive.
Her eyes were unfocused.
Her bones were twisted, and deep wounds revealed the very fibers of her muscles.
One of her severed arms lay nearby, bleeding.
Her breathing was faint, like a flickering candle that was barely holding on to life.
As the reinforcements reached her and hastily cast healing magic, only then did Charlotte move her eyes.
When she recognized familiar faces, it was only then that she finally let go of the thread of consciousness she had been grasping.
“Charlotte never forgot that she was a hero until the very end and fought against an unbeatable foe… Are you intending to insult her?”
Charlotte was currently in a coma, and the magic couldn’t even restore her lost arm.
Her body was already beyond repair, and even if healing were completed, she wouldn’t be able to continue her duties as a hero.
Her body was already broken beyond repair; even if healing were to finish, she could no longer continue the work of a Hero.
Furthermore, her mana circuits had been overloaded and abused, making it impossible for her to recover enough to handle mana through rehabilitation.
In other words, Charlotte had ended the life of the Hero she had been shouldering.
At just under thirty, she was a promising talent in charge of a team.
However, this outcome was not a rare case at all.
Even at this moment, somewhere in the world, the lives of Heroes were flickering out like candles, claimed by Altife.
“…I’m sorry for showing my weak side, Young Master.”
Alicia spoke, her lips trembling as she held back tears.
Her blue eyes were still glistening, but they were neither pooling nor streaming.
“Your words are correct. My mentor, Charlotte, did her utmost, refusing to give up until the very end. …If I, her mentee, cannot overcome my sorrow and do nothing, it would be an insult.”
“Ah. It seems you’ve finally understood.”
So, what was the reason for her remaining here?
I asked Alicia about her intentions, and she furrowed her brows, emphasizing her words.
“…I want to become stronger, Young Master.”
“You are growing at a sufficiently fast pace. Weren’t you the one who even called me a mad genius?”
Alicia slowly shook her head.
It was almost unheard of for her to contradict me, but this time she seemed quite resolute.
“Thank you for your words, but through various experiences this time, I’ve realized… I am weak. As I am now, I cannot save anyone, let alone protect my own life.”
“Oh, really.”
I raised an eyebrow as I heard her words.
She had made quite a bold statement in front of me, the one who had trained her and facilitated her growth.
However, amusingly enough, I didn’t feel offended at all.
In fact, I felt a sense of joy.
It was satisfying to see her objectively recognize reality.
I directly brought up the fact that Alicia couldn’t voice.
“Yes, you’re saying that there’s nothing more for you to learn from me, the Magician.”
Alicia was walking the path of a Swordmage, not a Magician.
While magic was important, the foundation was swordsmanship.
Halfway through the first semester, when she had become adept at wielding a sword as if it were part of her body, I had stopped giving her any advice or attention regarding swordsmanship and focused solely on magic.
Because my guidance could have held her back.
“Young Master, please don’t say such things… I’ve received your grace, like the sky, and thanks to you, I’ve been able to grow.”
“But now that you’ve grown somewhat, it means the teachings you get from me no longer have the same effectiveness as before. I know. Don’t worry about it; I was just reminding you.”
“…”
Alicia shut her mouth with a pitiful look in her eyes.
I wouldn’t say it to her, but I too was waiting for the right moment.
As she had talent in Curse Magic, I felt there was still an endless amount for me to teach her.
However, swordsmanship was an area I couldn’t touch.
Her fundamental magical foundation was already established.
…It was crucial not to lose sight of the main thing while using it as a supplementary means.
I spoke to Alicia.
“It seems I’ve found someone who can help elevate your swordsmanship.”
“…To be honest, yes.”
Alicia added some trivial remarks to avoid misunderstandings. Being cautious not to offend either Arterion or me, she summarized it roughly like this.
He added. As if it were not Alicia, I cautiously speak to Arterion and myself to avoid any offense, but to summarize roughly, this is it.
Compared to what I learned, it’s just a trickle, but there is definitely something to gain from Arterion, and I want to confirm that.
Why is it so difficult to say this simple thing?
“The Prince of the Ocel Kingdom seems to hold you in high regard. He wishes to come personally to impart his teachings.”
“…I can’t say for sure why, but I dare to speculate that rather than having a fondness for me, he believes it would be beneficial for both of our growth.”
“…Well, are you lacking in insight or just uninterested?”
“Excuse me?”
“Just talking to myself, ignore it.”
…Anyway.
The Golden Knight, the future Sword Master, is offering special tutoring, and there’s no reason to decline.
Especially at a time like this.
When the plot is jumbled up, causing chaos even more so.
The development where Salecius first appears in the Tragedy of the Academia, which originally took place in the first semester of the second year, has long flown away.
Salecius is actively involved while still not fully formed, and the one pulling the strings is Cardinal Jephar.
A mad scientist who loves to explore, with a voracious curiosity.
He treats the world as his laboratory.
He is the one who created the Chimera, Archbishop Glashalabolas, by consuming other beings to grow.
He may not have many followers, but he is quite a, extremely annoying cardinal.
While other cardinals are observing the changes I’m bringing about, this guy can’t sit still and introduces huge variables.
Because of that, even if it was by chance, an incident occurred where Salecius put Charlotte into a coma.
It’s fortunate that Alicia does not yet know Salecius’s identity; if she did, she could have been incapacitated for quite some time due to the shock.
Moreover, Alicia currently holds strong animosity towards Salecius.
Things are a bit… no, quite complicated.
Alicia discovering Salecius’s identity needs to be postponed; it must be pushed to a later time so that she can grow without a defined path.
…If Cardinal Jephar actively employs new tactics.
I too must establish new countermeasures and act.
As I momentarily drifted into thought, Alicia opened her mouth.
I had been pondering something a bit out of the conversation, but she seems to have thought I was deeply considering her situation.
“…If you don’t approve, I will refuse without a moment’s hesitation.”
I was about to immediately respond that there’s no need for that, but paused to confirm and asked.
“Alicia, what do you think?”
“Me… my thoughts?”
“Yes, I mean do you believe that with Arterion’s help, you could acquire the red aura more swiftly?”
“…….”
Alicia hesitated for a moment before providing an answer.
“I believe there is a considerable possibility.”
“A possibility, huh….”
Words that are closer to reason than emotion.
Could it be that Alicia is not passively following the original protagonist, Arterion, but instead trying to utilize him?
I smiled satisfactorily and said, “Alright, do as you wish.”
I am not an expert in swordsmanship.
Thus, it’s best for her, who can handle a sword, to make judgments herself rather than me holding her hand and leaving it to someone else.
Alicia bowed deeply in thanks. I added a comment.
“Also, the knight training we used to do daily will be adjusted significantly. From now on, it will be once a week and flexible.”
Although that time was meant for checking her status while teaching magic under the pretense of knight training, there’s no longer a need to do it daily. Considering efficiency, it’s better to invest that time in swordsmanship.
It was a time spent learning magic, but I no longer needed to do it every day. Considering efficiency, it makes more sense to invest that time into swordsmanship.
“I’ll continue to guide you in curse magic, but once a week should suffice, don’t you think?”
“Young Master….”
Alicia’s face showed a sad expression, hinting at some disappointment as she strung together a long-winded speech.
She went on and on about how grateful she was for my consideration, and how it must have been a hassle to carve out this time for me, blah blah blah…
I interrupted her mid-rant because I didn’t want to hear it. Alicia condensed her sentiments into one last statement.
Despite hearing about Charlotte’s situation, Alicia held firm.
Rather than wallow in sadness, she steeled herself.
“I will definitely show results that meet your expectations, Young Master.”
It’s about results over the process.
Alicia had a clear grasp of what I wanted.
*
Vargan was alone in the room after handing off Alicia.
He continuously checked the time while pondering the deviation caused by Cardinal Jephar and formulating a new plan.
On the table in front of him sat neatly sliced sour lemons, perfectly arranged on a plate.
The distinctive smell stimulated his nostrils and salivary glands. Vargan simply stared at them absentmindedly.
Then the clock struck, and the day changed.
As if waiting for the moment, Vargan picked up a lemon slice and popped it into his mouth.
For a month now, due to the restrictions of the unique spell, he had lived without both mana and taste, not even letting his close acquaintances, including Alicia, know about this.
He didn’t want to see their noisy reactions.
But there was another reason too.
Vargan felt the sourness of the lemon on his tongue.
As its flesh touched his taste buds, he experienced both the tanginess and a hint of sweetness.
Right now, Vargan was accurately tasting something.
After a month, the sensation felt oddly unfamiliar and heightened.
It felt like the cells on his tongue had come back to life.
“……”
With the lemon still in his mouth, Vargan took a moment to breathe.
The lemon’s aroma should enhance and amplify the sourness, but it didn’t.
If he hadn’t had such a sensitive tongue after so long, he might have failed to distinguish between the sour and sweet flavors.
Vargan was keenly aware of the reason.
Olfaction.
In the first month, the restriction was taste.
In the second month, it was smell.
For the next month, he would have to live without the ability to smell.
It wasn’t a huge issue.
Losing taste merely meant he couldn’t appreciate flavors.
And losing smell only required a little caution; not smelling wouldn’t cause any major trouble.
However… things would be different afterwards.
‘Hearing, sight, touch.’
And by the final month, all five senses.
These were sensations that directly influenced combat.
That’s why Vargan wanted to delay any signs of his restrictions for as long as possible.
If there were those looking to take his life or find openings, they would be ready to pounce at any moment.
Vargan swallowed the lemon pulp.
The sour taste filled his throat, but he couldn’t perceive the scent. It was truly a peculiar sensation.
‘I can’t read Cardinal Jephar’s moves, which is troublesome. But I can’t stop researching the unique spell either…’
Vargan fell back into deep thought.
The situation was getting urgent.
He couldn’t afford to halt his work on the unique spell during the next five months when it would bind him. It had to be completed so he could take the lead in future events.
The villain purchased the heroine.
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