Chapter 225
“Are you saying I shouldn’t participate in the hunt?”
“I heard it from Heigel. The remaining months of the Unique Spell trial… apparently there’s much worse adversity waiting than initially thought.”
That was something only Heigel, who could provide tips about the Unique Spell, was supposed to know.
Heigel… that loose-lipped guy must have spilled the beans to Helion.
“But Master Helion, aren’t the students who participated in the tournament required to join?”
“There are always exceptions. This time, Vargan is one of those exceptions.”
“So, you’re saying you’ve deemed my strength to be unhelpful?”
“Thinking negatively isn’t good. It’s because there’s a risk that Vargan might not show his usual skills and could die.”
Usual skills, huh…
That’s definitely a completely accurate statement.
In this current blindness, the outline of the trial for the next two months is becoming clearer than before.
It’s because the struggle is so intense that even daily life becomes a challenge.
It might seem strange that touch is more difficult than sight, but you can grip a knife with your eyes closed, but if all your fingers are cut off, you can’t grip anything, can you?
It’s a similar level of difference.
Losing the sense of touch means you can’t even calculate the strength needed to lift objects.
“Hmmm…”
“I’m glad to see that Vargan seems to be aware of the risks. Please also consider the feelings of a teacher who doesn’t want to lose his one and only student in such a ridiculous manner.”
“As for the follow-up, I’m not sure, but I also agree with Master Helion’s opinion.”
There’s no need to stubbornly argue and rush to the battlefield.
In fact, if Helion hadn’t brought it up, I would have spoken up first.
Touch isn’t the only problem; what’s even worse is that in the last month, one becomes limited by all five senses.
Now that I think about it, back when I first took on the trials, it didn’t seem this intense…
What’s going on? The danger seems to be increasing as the days go by.
The more the methods and forms become clear, the more cautious one must be.
It’s quite ironic.
“Oh, but don’t get me wrong. You’re not completely excluded; you need to join once the Unique Spell is complete.”
“Somehow… your insight suggests to me that you’re changing your words.”
“Not at all. It was predetermined from the start; I just reordered the conversation.”
So in the end.
He purposely delayed it to gauge my reaction, didn’t he?
The teacher’s mindset is really something else.
I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders.
“Anyway, does that mean I have to fulfill my military duty? Well, I’m somewhat used to it.”
Adding to my experiences outside of the novel, it feels like I’ll end up enlisting twice.
It looks a bit rough.
The background and the accompanying benefits are different.
After all, Academia or Rikeion is a military academy that trains soldiers.
It doesn’t make sense to be completely absent from such a huge episode.
Besides, if you think about it, the search period shouldn’t be that short, right? Won’t it be heavily skipped or overlooked?
“Vargan, you seem to be in a good mood for some reason.”
“Not at all. I’m just lamenting that I can’t dig the first shovel with my comrades due to personal reasons.”
Yeah, right.
“Well, if that’s the case, it’s fine.”
…Later on, I discussed the schedule with Helion and got a preliminary insight into the general search methods.
Since we hadn’t even divided the battalion into specifics yet, I couldn’t say it was definitely like this—but it was useful information for when we would join later.
As time passed, he suddenly asked.
“So, what exactly will the last month of trials look like?”
“Are you trying to refer to your disciple’s experience?”
“You’re more senior in terms of trials than I am, Vargan.”
“That’s true.”
I’m receiving quite a bit of help from Helion.
I should give this much information; that way, he won’t have a different opinion later.
I finished calculating reflexively and deemed it beneficial enough to speak up.
“The last month of trials. It won’t just be that you can’t feel your senses, but you will likely experience a chaotic kind of confusion.”
Losing all senses and falling into an uncontrollable dream.
That will be the final trial I face.
*
“What do you mean, Schugenharz? Confusion… are you saying I’ll be trapped in a hallucination for a whole month? I never heard anything like that…!”
After Helion’s session ended.
Erica, who came out with me into the hallway, spoke up.
That small framed girl had her big eyes trembling with anxiety.
She looked like an abandoned kitten by the roadside.
Hearing Erica’s whiny voice after a long time evoked a faint nostalgia in me.
Maybe that’s why a natural smile spread across my face.
“Don’t worry.”
“How can I not worry…. I have no idea what you’ll see for a month, what pain you’ll endure, or what humiliation you’ll face.”
“I can’t know either. It’s possible I could meet death several times in there.”
“That’s…! But how can I not worry about that!”
Erica, who had come close enough to touch, grabbed my clothes.
With our height difference, her small face was level with my chest.
On her white skin, her eyes, nose, and mouth were delicately placed.
The curves between them evoked her sadness.
I patted her head. It wasn’t conscious; it felt like my hand moved instinctively.
“Yeah, Erica. As you said, this trial is dangerous.”
It might be more perilous than any moment I’ve faced so far.
Erica opened her mouth as if to respond, but I shook my head, denying whatever she was about to say.
I knew well what her concerns were, but my determination was firm.
“Maybe I’ll go mad and not be able to distinguish anything even after the trial ends. But, Erica. That’s just a general viewpoint.”
“……”
“Do you think I’m weak enough to be defeated by just a unique spell trial?”
“It’s not that, but…. still….”
“If you’ve been watching me all this time, you should know. I always come up with countless schemes and prepare countermeasures before I act.”
“Are you saying that’s the case this time too…?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
I raised my mouth corners confidently.
She raised it.
It was a haughty smile that could easily be perceived as arrogant, looking down on everything but herself.
A face that might provoke discomfort or anger in others.
However, for Erica at this moment, it was quite effective in the opposite sense.
“Okay… I will trust you.”
Her slender eyebrows, which had been held up, slowly relaxed.
Seeing the faint smile on her lips, it seemed she hadn’t completely shaken off her unease, but this much was probably okay for now.
I gently patted Erica’s head one last time before starting down the hallway.
Erica followed me, her demeanor much softer now.
We were heading to Alicia’s guest room.
For some reason, Alicia had asked me to come to her room instead of having dinner at the usual time.
It may not be appropriate for a servant to dictate to the master, but since her request was rather unusual and she kept apologizing while saying it, I decided to accommodate her.
‘Since she asked me not to eat, it seems she wants to prepare something for us… but is it really that significant?’
After lunch, I had a six-hour lesson with Helion, and now it was already dinner time.
It was a schedule that could leave one feeling a bit bloated.
If I went there without washing off the sweat, I’d certainly let them know if it was just a meaningless meal.
With that thought in mind, I opened the door.
“Welcome, Young Master and Erica.”
Alicia greeted us with a bright smile as if she had known exactly when we would arrive, bowing her head.
In the center of the room stood a table with two seats.
On it was a set of dishes covered with a food cover.
‘So, there are two kinds of food prepared, huh?’
There were also two plates set out, one for me and one for Erica.
Alicia, as if she were a waitress at a store, pulled out the chairs and guided us to sit down.
The outfit she wore was one of the servant uniforms from the Schugenhartz Family.
I had seen it before, but it really seemed to be her favorite for cooking.
‘Hmm? What’s that smell…?’
A unique aroma wafted through the air.
After my olfactory ordeal, my nose had developed to an extent where it could help me guess the type of food.
It wasn’t so much that I wanted to know, but rather that I coincidentally discovered this as I inhaled deeply…
It’s curious.
If the smell is right, then it must be ‘that food.’ How did Alicia know the recipe?
“Um… Young Master, and Miss Erica. Thank you for taking the time to join me. I… it’s only my humble skill, but I tried to prepare something whenever I could. I hope it suits your taste.”
The mention of her limited time must have been to soften her presentation in case I had something to say.
Honestly. As I’ve mentioned before, as long as she does her tasks, I won’t criticize her for pursuing a hobby. What does she think of her master?
…Wait a moment.
Now that I think about it, I’ve tasted Alicia’s cooking a few times since I hired her as a servant, but in the original work, Alicia never cooked for the protagonist, did she?
In that sense, this is indeed a rare occurrence.
In a long story exceeding 600 chapters, she never once cooked for Liam.
Well, anyway, since she went through the trouble to prepare something, I should focus on that dish.
“Alicia. I knew you were cooking in your spare time lately, but I never expected you to serve us. Alright, if you’ve gone that far, let’s see what you’ve made.”
“…”
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and lift the cover.”
“Oh, ah! Yes! I need to open it… Yes, I will open it. Really, I will, Young Master?”
“Hurry up and open it.”
As the moment of revealing the food approached, Alicia hesitated, as if she’d grown concerned.
Once I started urging her, she reluctantly lifted the cover, and the food made its appearance.
Puffs of warm steam rose alongside a rich aroma.
A strong smell wafted up.
It was the unfamiliar scent of gochujang to those who lived here.
‘As expected, tteokbokki and fried foods then.’
The food I had eaten with Alicia at the festival.
Although I couldn’t enjoy the taste back then due to losing my sense of taste, it had returned to me once again.
“……”
“Young Master…? Are you not pleased with the food?”
“No, I was just thinking for a moment.”
“Is that so…”
Alicia’s elegantly clasped hands began to fidget.
It was a clear sign that she was quite nervous.
Before she could grow more anxious, I transferred the tteokbokki and fried food onto my plate.
It goes without saying, but looking at it again, it truly was tteokbokki and fried food.
Alicia, who had probably only eaten bread or soup her whole life, was making Korean food… especially street food.
Where on earth did she learn the recipe? I couldn’t even imagine.
I slowly put it in my mouth and began to chew.
The soft texture of the rice cakes combined with the thick gochujang sauce. The sweetness from the sugar mixed well with the spiciness.
‘This is the taste of the tteokbokki I know.’
Not some altered version like rosé noodles, but the original flavor.
It was the delicious taste of the tteokbokki you’d find at food stalls.
Naturally, my fork gravitated towards the fried food, and I savored it just as much.
Each time I bit down, the crispy shell touched the roof of my mouth, and the hidden sweet potato within gently caressed my tongue.
It was surprisingly identical.
The flavors of my hometown that I thought I would never taste again in this novel world.
‘Street food was the only kind of food I showed interest in during the festival.’
There certainly wouldn’t be a recipe for tteokbokki or fried food at the Academia.
Was that why she poured so much of her free time into trying to recreate the taste she once had?
To replicate a flavor she had experienced only once.
Especially for Alicia, who was a perfectionist. It must have taken considerable effort to present it like this.
In other words, she had been sacrificing sleep and working hard to make this food for me.
Even her sword training would be enough to exhaust anyone.
“……”
“I’m glad it seems to suit your taste, Young Master.”
Alicia said.
Though my eyes were hidden by the blindfold, I knew.
Right now, I could picture Alicia’s face beaming with happiness.
I understood why she was smiling like that.
“……You did quite well.”
I casually expressed my thoughts.
I couldn’t help but let a slight smile appear at the corners of my mouth as if I was feeling some joy.
Alicia humbly bowed her head in thanks.
Then, like a sunflower following the sun, she slowly straightened her back and said,
“Before joining the search party… I’m glad I could treat you, Young Master.”
I could feel her sincerity.
So I intentionally shifted the topic further away from food.
“Gamigin’s search party, huh? You said you’d be joining Helion’s unit.”
“Yes, I regret that I won’t be able to attend to you once again due to my personal circumstances.”
“What can we do about the reputation of the Central Church? You just need to do your job well there.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
She seemed lonely. Dissatisfied, perhaps.
Alicia smiled wistfully.
“I hope you stay safe during this time, Young Master.”
She promised that we would meet again on the battlefield.
…Meanwhile.
Sitting across the table was Erica.
As she speared a piece of tteokbokki with her fork and put it in her mouth, the daughter of the Portlet family whispered just loud enough for herself to hear.
“……It’s spicy.”
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