<319 - A Special Promise>
Ferguson couldn’t just leave Oknodie behind saying, “Well, that’s that.”
“I can’t let that happen. You, not truly understanding the nature of Oknodie, sent them to the Academy, but now you think they won’t see that you plan to raise that child within the Foundation’s grasp?”
“I believe the child needs time to heal from the emotional scars left by the attack from the Imperial Professor. If this fact comes to light, there will be parents worried about their children with the Foundation too.”
“Are you threatening the Academy right now?”
“Don’t forget that the justification lies with the Foundation.”
Arguing verbally wouldn’t win the battle. But using force would jeopardize not only the other kids but also one’s own safety.
At the very least, there needed to be a willingness to find solutions through dialogue.
“Then I’ll directly speak with that child. Whether they intend to remain here of their own will, and how they plan to establish a return schedule. As a professor of the Academy, I can understand the worry for students, correct? If they refuse even this, the Academy won’t let it slide.”
Relying on violence may seem like a quick and simple solution, but truly dangerous and troublesome blades can emerge from the tongue rather than the hand.
It appeared that even the Foundation didn’t necessarily refuse an all-out war with the Academy, as Jonnas could not reject that outright.
“Follow me.”
Tower of Training.
As Ferguson stepped inside the facility, he felt the massive mana radiating throughout the entire place.
It was a presence that rivaled the vast mana field commanded by the Dragon Principal, overwhelming anyone entering the Academy grounds.
[Continental-Level Mana Barrier]
[Do not oppose the intent, non obedite voluntati Domini]
The Dragon Principal, capable of becoming a sage and violating the world’s laws, erected a private island in the middle of the sea, inscribing their own rules on their territory.
Thus, the Academy evolved into a realm not easily challenged, even by the twelve benevolent deities, twelve evil gods, or the one true god, Sofemia.
The pressure felt in this tower was no less.
‘Could the rumors about the Director’s identity be true?’
The place held significant meaning.
The Tower of Training, born for warrior parties.
A training facility created by the one true god Sofemia for the true warrior they selected.
A secretive occupation brought upon by the Director and the Foundation.
Perhaps the Director wasn’t a mere trespasser but a being fully entitled to utilize the facility.
Whoosh.
From ancient facilities, technology spread across humanity.
An elevator.
As the doors opened wide, Oknodie and the Director emerged.
It felt like watching a delicate and small gem rolling around amidst the clutches of a giant demon, a scene that left one anxious.
If they couldn’t have it, wouldn’t it be better to smash it instead?
Seeing Ferguson convey such anxiety, Oknodie showed a blatant dislike on their face.
“Ugggh. It’s real.”
“Real?”
“An evil chain-enhancer. The cause of the upperclassmen’s ruin!”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. The upperclassmen’s exclusive enhancement service is operated by Professor Ferguson!”
It seems some loose-tongued upperclassman just spilled the beans to the first-year Oknodie.
Ferguson grimaced at the thought that they had just wrecked their first impression.
Do you even know the kind of being that’s currently clinging to your legs?
He felt an intense urge to yell right away.
Understanding Ferguson’s inner thoughts, the Director lightly shrugged their shoulders and chuckled.
“I heard you have something to say to my child. I can’t keep someone so busy for long, so let’s make this brief.”
“…Oknodie. If you miss the cruise ship heading back, there’s no telling when you’ll return to the Academy. It’s not too late; let’s return together.”
“No way!”
“Is it because of the silly rumors your seniors spread about me? If there’s a misunderstanding, let’s iron it out with words.”
“I thought it was suspicious that Titosso shared the 5-star Light Stand with me. You probably plan to show off the power of enhancement with early access and then scam all of us once we become upperclassmen, right?”
“Why do you say such terrible things? I swear before the gods I have no such evil plan!”
“Hmph. I won’t be fooled! You must think I can be easily deceived like Titosso!”
So, this difficult child is already rumored to be groomed by Professor Bronze and Professor Destroyer?
The whiny behavior of a kid who had just started to show potential for a graduate path beyond the fourth year was amusing for a professor, but much more bothersome when speaking as a student leader.
This distrust ran deep.
At least it wasn’t something he could resolve himself.
The Director made a sneering face, almost mocking Ferguson.
‘It seems further attempts would be in vain?’
‘…To lack credibility compared to the Director of the Foundation, damnit. Did I lower the high probability of the enhancement slot machine too much?’
Convincing Oknodie was proving to be a mistake.
While giving in, his gaze fell on a student who looked incredibly uncomfortable standing behind the two.
A male student, sharp-edged like a sword, was clearly terrified of the Director and unable to stretch his aura properly.
It was Sing, a first-year student in Class 981.
“Sing. Are you also staying with Oknodie?”
“Yes.”
Why is this guy speaking so informally?
Ferguson’s temper boiled.
Without the Director around, he would’ve smashed this kid’s head with a hammer without a second thought.
“If the way back disappears, your safety will be no different from being held by the Foundation. If they don’t permit you, you might be trapped on this island for life.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. On the 60th floor of this tower, there’s a [Teleportation Magic Circle], and Oknodie has secured the right for both of us to head straight to the 60th floor through a deal with the Director.”
“So, you’re saying you can leave this tower anytime without needing a boat?”
Nod.
Now he wasn’t even responding, just nodding his head.
Veins bulged on Ferguson’s knuckles.
He needed to ensure this kid would be paying for a solid lecture later.
Suppressing such murderous thoughts, Ferguson finally decided he had done enough as a professor.
“Then I hope you return safely before the semester starts. As you know, if March through July constituted the first semester, then from September to December will be the second semester, so you need to return to the Academy by the end of August at the latest to fulfill your classes smoothly and avoid any penalties.”
Ferguson abandoned the idea of taking Oknodie and Sing with him.
—
Oknodie watched the departing cruise ship through the tower’s window.
The Director asked her.
“Are you not disappointed? Missing out on more vacation time with friends.”
“Not at all? We’ll see each other again once the semester starts anyway!”
“Hoho. But what will you do if I don’t grant you permission to return to the Academy? Now there’s no professor to take the students back.”
Oknodie stared at the Director, then laughed with an overly confident face, producing a high-pitched sound with glee.
“Someone as big as Papa wouldn’t do that.”
“Is there a correlation between me being a big shot and attending the Academy that I’m unaware of?”
“Of course there is! Minor villains don’t know how to keep their word, but big shots have dignity. Only those who can keep their promises deserve to be called big shots.”
Even if they are evil, they should be stylish.
That’s what great evil is!
Her bright assertion evoked a sense of admiration.
“Where did you learn such excellent words?”
“Hehe. I just stumbled upon them? They seemed right, you know?”
“Wonderful. Truly wonderful. Oknodie, you may have a talent for it.”
“What talent?”
“The talent to be called a great evil of the continent!”
Next to her, Sing, who had been crouching, jolted.
‘What is this crazy daughter-father duo talking about as soon as the professor leaves?’
“Remember this. Criminals tell endless lies throughout their lives. Promises they can’t keep. Hollow bravado. The world watches and remembers such words. They’ll say, ‘This person is a liar who can’t even keep their own word.'”
“Hehe. You sounded just like Papa!”
“Hoho. Not like Papa, it is Papa. Didn’t you also make an unspoken promise to me?”
“Hmm~ I suppose it could be viewed that way!”
“Lies are bad. In times when the world had no energy, the words of the strong held no truth, and they could change them without hesitation to deceive the weak.”
“Is it different now?”
“Of course! Those who don’t tell lies and keep their promises earn the world’s trust bit by bit. Inner strength, mana, divine power. Though different types, the magnitude of trust gradually increases.”
“!!”
Hearing their conversation, Sing felt his mind sharpen with the spirited topic.
As if to empathize with Sing’s anxiety, the Director smiled generously.
“Sing. It would be a good lesson for you too, so pay attention. How one keeps promises with the world isn’t just about keeping your own words. Running every morning at a set time and swinging your sword ten thousand times each day are also promises kept with your body.”
“Did that have meaning for my training…?”
“Ahn, those pants-wearing older sisters… Ah, no, it’s nothing!”
“Although keeping ordinary promises daily isn’t bad, to gain significant trust, one must fulfill major promises as well. For instance, fulfilling the promise of completing revenge or achieving the goal of tasting every type of food in a region.”
“!!”
Slurp…!
“So, don’t make promises easily. Don’t expect easily. If you’ve made a promise, keep it, and if you’ve expected something, you must achieve it. Otherwise, trust will depart from your side.”
The grade-A great evil, the Director of the Foundation, was seeing the world with such eyes.
Even if they were an evil being, there might be some respect to be found in their approach to living in this world.
Sing held onto such thoughts.
“In that context, how about we make a promise?”
“…What promise?”
“Promise to not leave the tower until you reach the 50th floor on your own feet. If you achieve this condition, I’ll also give you my own congratulatory present. However, if you fail to meet this condition, I will assist you with special training until you climb the tower.”
For Sing, who overcame the trials of the 39th floor with Oknodie’s help, it was quite an enticing proposal.
But it had a strangely flimsy aspect to it for a wager.
“What’s your gain from making such a move?”
“Simple. It extends the time you’ll spend in the Foundation, not the Academy.”
“…!”
