Episode 65
“Finally done… Now I can go back…”
“Good job, Emily. It must have been tough with the assignment, right?”
“No… forget the assignment…”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. Never mind.”
Emily shot a glance at me and Erica, then awkwardly smiled at Alicia. She looked like she was showing off just how exhausted she was, her shoulders drooping.
What’s with that?
“Schugenharz.”
After the surprise inspection was over, I thought Erica would go back to the Student Council Room without saying a word, but she called out to me. Her eyes seemed less sharp than usual.
“I want to formally apologize to you on behalf of the Portlet Family for what happened.”
She was referring to the day she caught Caliculea.
Actually, we had already received a considerable amount of compensation from her family, but it seems she feels it wasn’t sincere since she brought it up herself.
Is she trying to express gratitude for saving Erica?
I shook my head.
“I’ve already received more than enough. I have no intention of contributing to the Portlet family’s downfall.”
“…That’s surprising.”
Erica crossed her arms while half-closing her eyes.
It seems she thought I would take this opportunity to wring some cash out of her family.
“You’re not really taking what was said on the airship at face value, are you?”
That I would blackmail the Portlet Family for a reward? And you’re still alive and well?
“…Not exactly, but I thought you might do something similar.”
“Wow, your faith in your fiancé is really solid.”
Though it means the exact opposite.
*Cough.* Erica lightly cleared her throat.
“I think you should come to the Portlet Family during Summer Vacation. My parents want to apologize to you directly… It’s been exhausting getting flooded with letters from my mother every day.”
“Must be even worse since you’re grounded.”
Academia completely bans outsiders from entering, except during festival season, to protect the students and professors.
Therefore, even if the Portlet family wants to come and apologize to me, since Erica and I are grounded for the first semester, meeting in person is impossible.
Since that incident, Erica hasn’t been able to see her family either.
“Summer Vacation… Yeah, I should go after a long time. Of course, you’ll want to schedule it after the Mentoring ends, right?”
“We can’t change the church’s schedule.”
After finishing the incident with Helion’s team, I’ll have time to stop by the Portlet Family. It’ll be around the end of the vacation, but still, considering our family’s position, I must go.
Time will be arranged. It will be around the end of the vacation, but even so, considering the family’s position, I should stop by.
“Well then, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ending the conversation, Erica swiftly turned and walked down the hallway. She didn’t say any other goodbyes.
The sound of her heels gradually faded away. With every step, her long hair swayed.
“…….”
Hmm.
A visit to the Portlet Family Home.
Since entering the Academia, Vargan has never set foot in Erica’s mansion even once.
Things are changing.
“…….”
“What are you staring at, Emily?”
“Nothing, just… I thought you were quite the romantic.”
As I looked down at Emily with a baffled expression, she made a reaction, letting out an “Ah!” of realization.
“Why not be a little kind to others too?”
“No reason to.”
“…Does that mean they’re not worth it?”
“You got it exactly.”
“Oh, this is really…!!”
Emily gets riled up again today.
*
Deep night.
An owl hoots sorrowfully.
As the chilly night wind shakes the branches.
A blonde woman continues her steps, concealing her prominent hair.
Ocel Victoria Francesca.
Currently a second-year student, a former student council member.
She holds the unwavering second rank in the second-year Academia’s standings. In practical terms, she was the only true rival to the first place.
Rustle.
She penetrated the darkness with familiarity. It had been months since she walked this path, starting from her first year. Even shrouded in shadows, nothing could hinder her.
There was no light, no trace of presence; everything was eerily still.
*Clink.*
Arriving at a certain iron door, she inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it. The magic constructs inside exchanged signals to unlock it.
Typically, a current student like her wouldn’t be allowed entry here. Only staff members or professors could access this place, but she had acquired the key through her “assistant” and gained entrance to this secret space.
*Screech.*
A somewhat grimacing sound of rusty iron.
Francesca closed the door and removed her hood.
Her vibrant blonde hair flowed down long.
Her eyes, shimmering in the same hue as her hair, gazed intently at one thing. Captivated by the enormous product of history right before her.
「Bones of the Ancient Dragon」
Thousands of years ago.
This evidence of history, once alive and reigning supreme over all things in this land, was this very being.
Even after enduring countless storms over the years, its majestic form still stood grand and imposing.
Having seen it several times, awe surged up her spine every time, enveloping her completely. This is it. As long as I have this… as long as I have this, it is possible.
Francesca immediately pulls out the Pure Mana Water and books she had prepared. Although she wanted to admire it for a while in her reverence, it got pushed down her priority list.
She had something else to do.
She unrolls several sheets of parchment and starts tracing them with the quill dipped in Pure Mana Water. The basic tasks were prepared through her research over time. Swiftly, without pause, she continues her work.
“Done.”
“Then.”
“…This is where the problem begins.”
Her busy hands came to a sudden halt.
With her deeply shaded eyes, she alternated between the incomplete spell and the dragon’s bones.
Francesca raised her body and caressed the massive skeleton that was dozens of times her height, not wanting to damage her hands with foreign substances, so she wore thin gloves.
She infused mana and examined the information.
It maintained a complex and diverse geometric shape. There were also partially destroyed patterns and even distorted forms.
Of course, it was natural since all the body parts, except the bones, had been dismantled. Fortunately, it was possible to preserve the original form because it was the bones of a dragon, vast in mana.
However, what she was currently pondering was somewhat different from the basic interpretation of the bones.
‘…I really need that man’s help.’
Francesca continued her exploration, recalling someone.
A few weeks ago, as a second-year student, she had watched the class battle of this year’s new students at the Academia. She wasn’t particularly interested, but she thought it wouldn’t hurt to check the overall condition of the new students at least once.
And then, she spotted him.
That guy who engulfed an entire class with his abilities alone.
He cast a curse on over fifty monsters, controlling them as if they were his familiars, using his curse magic freely.
An unbelievable amount of mana.
The moment she saw him, she understood. That man is essential for what she wanted to achieve.
It would be problematic if others found out what she was trying to do, but Francesca felt that Vargan could overlook ethics for his own gain.
…However, that was only a vague feeling without any solid proof.
Thus, Francesca intentionally approached him.
She had heard he was leading the Research Society called Arbol Frutal. By joining the Society and interacting with him, there would be an opportunity for a proper transaction.
‘This curse imprint won’t work. I need magic of a different form, a different structure.’
She recalled the black magic he displayed, particularly the curse magic. Vargan was proficient in handling familiars as well. If she could gain his assistance, it would help her with the currently stalled spell.
For now, she was in the stage of collecting information about him, carefully maintaining distance as she observed without acting rashly.
He seemed to be the person she expected, but she still had no certainty. She decided to observe a little longer, and if it didn’t feel right, she would quietly withdraw.
Rustle?
She refocused on the patterns before her.
Referring to a book that someone had painstakingly written letter by letter, she improved her spell.
*
“…This is troublesome. The saint, who should be pure and chaste, keeps calling an outsider at this late hour. If anyone finds out, it would be quite embarrassing for me.”
“…You’ve arrived.”
She could see the lids of her tired eyes moving. Diphelia turned her wheelchair towards the sound.
“Yes, I came just as you wished. It seems you’ve obtained all the information you could from Erica, judging by your summons, right?”
“……”
The moonlight was obscured by clouds, casting no light on the ground, allowing the plants in the botanical garden to sleep peacefully without disturbance.
In the tranquil botanical garden, free from interruption,
On one side, Vargan and Diphelia met.
“Last time, someone else came here, right?”
“Oh, yes. I was out then.”
“Did you receive the item I handed over?” Vargan teased, steering the conversation.
As he suspected, Diphelia’s reason for calling him was related to it.
“Yes, I received it well. It was a beautiful music box. I almost got lost in the sweet melody it contained.”
“I’m relieved that you liked my gift.”
Vargan shrugged, a smile creeping on his face.
The more relaxed he got, the more rigid Diphelia’s expression became.
“Let’s keep metaphors to a minimum, shall we?”
Her voice grew serious.
It was a sharp tone, contrasting with her innocent appearance.
“Why did you show me such false illusions?” Diphelia asked.
“I saw all the illusions contained in the music box. You’re trying to lure me out with your dark machinations. What is your intention?”
Vargan scoffed, seemingly in disbelief.
“I didn’t harbor any lies. It’s ridiculous to claim that gold is a mere stone just because one’s eyes have gone blind. It’s incomprehensible to someone with clear sight and deserving of contempt.”
“Are you dismissing the oracle of Yggdrasil as just a stone?”
“Because it actually is.”
“…!”
Diphelia’s anger flickered in response to Vargan’s words against the Church.
“How can someone who aspires to defend the Church and humanity speak like that?! You have no faith! Are you here in the Academia just to satisfy your selfish desires?”
“That’s not even worth a chuckle, Saint.”
Vargan cut through Diphelia’s momentum.
He slowly circled her, continuing, with the crunch of soil and small leaves underfoot echoing with each step.
“Maternal love, familial love, patriotism, humanity. Ultimately, even these radiant and positively perceived terms originate from selfish emotions.”
He didn’t give Diphelia a chance to speak.
“Did I come to the Academia to fulfill my selfish desires? How obvious! I don’t know how high and noble your beliefs are, but to belittle the very emotions that birthed those concepts as ‘just’ selfishness is ludicrous.”
Thud.
Vargan stopped walking.
His hand rested on Diphelia’s shoulder.
Simultaneously, the small bird looking at him vanished.
Diphelia’s vision darkened.
“However, it’s fine… Our eyes see different things, and our senses feel differently. This debate is pointless.”
Perhaps they would never understand each other in their lifetimes.
“……”
“Even if night is long, it’s not eternal. Let’s get to the point. Saint, what do you wish to ask me?”
Now, hurry and give me your answer about the music box, Diphelia.
“…I—”
In the absolute darkness, the Saint remained steadfast. In that place, easy to wander, she sparked a small match.
“I do not believe in the other possibility you showed me.”
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