To you who survived (3)
“I will sneak into the Trix building and read the Sage’s Seal.”
The Book of the Wise, written by the Great Sage Sylvania, is said to have not even been half deciphered yet.
It is an unknown book full of all kinds of words about Aspect magic, as well as magic engravings engraved with runes and strange contents that you cannot even tell what country it is from.
In fact, the book, a treasure of the Sylvanian Academy, was often at the center of all kinds of thinking.
First of all, there is a record of senior professor Glast stealing and running away, and due to chronic management difficulties, actual ownership was transferred to Elte Trading Company.
During the last battle to recapture the Elte Company, Lortel returned the Sage’s Seal to the bachelor as a condition of negotiation, so he was able to return to the Trix Building’s treasure trove, but… “
I want to go through the contents. But no matter how many times I submitted a request, Principal Obel would not meet me. Well… of course. There is no way that a single student would be allowed to view the treasures of a school that already has a history of theft…”
“So you are going to steal it again?”
“I’m not stealing, I’m just borrowing for a moment.”
I even felt a sense of discomfort when I saw Ayla’s so proud face.
The location is the student square where the imperial band is performing. The sun is high in the sky, so it feels like the heat hasn’t risen yet, but today is definitely the last day of the festival.
It is the day when the most grand festival is held and the closing ceremony is held at the central square.
On the last day, I decided to take a break and sat on a bench near the student plaza, enjoying the warm weather of late spring.
At best, I was just having a drink and getting some fresh air, but I’ve been so busy lately that even this little bit of leisure was precious to me.
“If I had come a month earlier, I would have asked Lortel to allow me to view it.”
“That’s right… Until then, the seal belonged to senior Lortel… But at that time, I didn’t know the seriousness of the situation, so it was inevitable.”
The wise man’s seal has already been handed over to the bachelor. Lortel used it as negotiation material in order to regain control of the Sanghoe power.
“So… Tonight, when the excitement of the festival was at its peak, I went to the Trix Hall… But senior Ed. “What is all this…”
Ayla, who was in the midst of a rather serious conversation, could not contain her curiosity and asked when she saw the gift boxes piled up on the bench table.
“This… has the imperial emblem engraved on it…”
“Oh, this… it’s nothing special. Princess Selaha gave me various items to use when I was living as a bachelor.”
“Princess Selaha…? Senior Ed, besides Princess Fenia, do you also have a relationship with Princess Selaha?”
“I had a relationship this time… but I’m not sure if it’s such a good relationship.”
Ayla opened her mouth in astonishment when she saw the table piled full of gifts sent by the imperial family to win Ed’s favor.
I knew that Ed Rosstaylor had a wide network of connections, but I never thought that he would also have contact with the icy Princess of Frost.
“Then why is senior Yenika…”
“Don’t worry too much about her.”
Yenika, who was supposed to be walking around the festival stalls with her, was lying down with her face on the table among the gift boxes.
As for me, I just need to get some rest after a long time, so there is no need to move around too much. It’s just a matter of being next to a depressed Yenika.
I spoke in a low voice so that Yenika could not hear.
“I was recently betrayed by my parents.”
“Yes yes…? “Senior Yenika had such a gloomy family history?!”
“Hmm… Actually, it’s not that dark of a story…”
Yenica’s parents, Ortega and Sayla, were thoroughly brainwashed by Lortel for the remainder of the festival.
In fact, it would be a bit hard to describe it as brainwashing, but it would be correct to say that he fell for Lortel’s natural speech and behavior and became a passionate supporter of Elte Company.
Watching them applaud while sharing stories about Elte Trading Company’s business plans, the development of the Pulan region, and improving the lives of their neighbors whenever they have time, it is inevitable that Jenika’s mental strength will be diminished as time goes on.
Yenika seems like the nicest girl in the world, but she tends to be especially proud in front of Lortel.
Although he is a man of great power who would easily give up his position as chief, he does not seem to want to lose even a single word to Lortel.
Still, he wasn’t a great person who could get angry at his parents, so he was crying alone and repeating Lortel’s name.
It’s true that I’ve been saying it over and over again, but for Lortel, who can control even senior merchants like the serpent, it’s not a task to control a rural couple who just moved up from the countryside.
However, watching him fight a war of nerves by dragging the other person’s family into his arms is quite scary to watch from the side.
“Ugh… Ed… My mom and dad suddenly started talking about wool distribution and the future trends of the livestock product market… People who were only worried about the cows on the ranch…” “
. …”
His appearance reminds me of a child whose father is immersed in some kind of pyramid scheme. It almost brought tears to my eyes, but it was much better than that. At least Ortega Sayla is making sound plans for the future.
It’s just a painful fact for Yenika that Elte Trading Company is in the background.
“It’s too much to do! “It’s crossing the line to even touch your parents!”
“To say you crossed the line… Your parents didn’t suffer any harm. If I had received help, I would have received it….”
“Do you think everything in this world can be done with money?! “Why is Lortel always like that?”
“Unfortunately, money is almost everything… Are you feeling it now too…?”
“…If I’m really like this, I might run away from home.”
In fact, hasn’t he already run away from home? You haven’t even been home recently.
…I didn’t fall over until that part. In the first place, Jenica was not a person by nature who could get along with her parents.
“I think I’ve reached puberty, Ed.”
“Usually people who have reached puberty don’t say things like that out of their own mouth…”
“No, I’m in puberty. Even if I go home now, I won’t help you with the ranch work. Hmm… Still, I’ll do it because harvesting herbs from the garden is fun… but I’ll never do the hard, arduous work. But I guess I’ll have to bring the cows back into the fence after letting them out at sunset. That’s because the efficiency itself changes if there are a lot of people… But I won’t clean up the manure or milk the milk. is not it. I need some help with milking so I can meet the delivery date. Then, should I try to stay up late in the morning and not sweep the front yard… That’s right, I won’t fold the laundry or make the bed sheets… I’ll give it a try….” Anyway, he’s nice
. Even when those who fall into a period of rebellion face it ambiguously.
“Then I need to make a list of things to do and things not to do from now on.”
“What is that again?”
“I plan to think about the ranch schedule during vacation, think about the boundaries of how much I should help and where I can be lazy, and make sure to rebel. “Mom and Dad will regret going over to Lortel…”
You will be the only person who spends such a healthy and constructive period of rebellion.
And considering Ortega and Sayla’s tendencies, it is obvious that they would just ignore it, thinking that their daughter was a bit lazy at home after returning from vacation.
With the future so clearly visible, I couldn’t even give encouragement.
When I graduate, I will have to assume the title of baron and take charge of the outskirts of Ross Taylor’s estate on my own… I’m just uneasy because it seems like I’m still only thinking about working on the ranch. If it’s like Yenika, it’s like Yenika, so I’ve gotten to the point where I feel reassured.
I sighed and turned my head towards Ayla, leaving Yenika muttering something as if she was casting a spell.
“Well, there is no need to risk stealing the wise man’s seal. If you talk to Lortel or Princess Fenia and negotiate well with the bachelor’s side, you might be able to view it. “It was a wise decision to consult with me.”
“But that would take too long.”
“That’s true, but the risk is much lower than getting caught while browsing secretly.”
“Senior Ed. I don’t want to leave uncertainty for a long time in a situation where I don’t know when my senior’s prophecy will come true. Above all, it is a matter that directly affects Tailly’s life. “I… I don’t want to do anything that could put Tailley in danger.”
There is no need to be in such a hurry… I am not in a situation where I can take my time either. Ayla was right about this.
“You don’t know if it will take a week, a month, or a semester to go through the formal process.”
“That’s… you’re definitely right. Ayla.”
“I’m going to sneak into the Trix building tonight while I’m preoccupied with the festival. I hope it catches your attention in the meantime. “If possible, near the Trix building.”
“You seem to be more serious about your work than I thought.”
“It was Ed himself who convinced me of the seriousness of the situation.”
Looking at Ayla, who was sitting quietly with a heavy and serious expression, I glanced at her chin and nodded.
“No, I thought it would be okay to let you know at this level.”
“yes…? What? “Are you still hiding something?”
I took out an old book from my leather pouch. Then, I took off the cover I had put on it to keep it from being seen by others and placed it on the table.
Ayla glanced at the title of the book with a puzzled look on her face, then suddenly took a deep breath against her will. There was a slight time lag in the response.
『Introduction to Astrology』 – Author Glokt Eldervane.
―Kwadangtang!
Ayla stood up in an instant, flicked the cover of the book and looked around.
As a girl who has some knowledge of theology, she knows the value of this book. That’s why I was so embarrassed that I wondered if this was okay.
“Why does something like this… so casually… pop out of your leather bag?”
“I just… I had it.”
“It’s not something worth having! This… this…!”
It is a book by Archmage Glokt that has not yet been revealed to the world.
Whether or not this is genuine can be determined by the age of the book, the handwriting, and the perceived magic power of the Aspect.
An outsider might not have noticed it, but Ayla noticed it right away.
“I’ll lend it to you.”
“This… isn’t something you can get for lending!”
“It is a record of Archmage Glokt’s research, and there are also some records about Great Sage Sylvania… so there will be some progress in your research.”
“….”
“And if you come to the camp whenever you have time, I will let you talk to Merilda. Come find your own time. “It would be good if you brought Tailley too.”
“If it’s Merilda… is it the wolf spirit?”
I nodded and talked.
“This is the spirit that met Great Sage Sylvania in person. “At this point, I am the only one who remembers that great man and can communicate with him.”
“…omg.”
Ayla must have felt like her breathing had stopped, so she nodded her head with difficulty.
“As expected, consulting with a senior was the right answer.”
“Nothing has been resolved about the fundamental problem. The most important thing is what was the true intention of Great Sage Sylvania. “Belbbroke’s seal must also be clearly revealed.”
“For now, I will find out everything I can. However…”
Ayla made a clear point.
“I would never put Tailley in danger.”
“That… unfortunately, we cannot guarantee it. “He is destined to live through trials.”
“….”
“Rather than tricking you with lies, it would be better from your perspective to tell you clearly. is not it?”
“…That’s right.”
Ayla agreed to what I said and made a sad expression. It was something that could not be helped.
“So are you going to move tonight? “Tell me your specific plan.”
* * *
As the sun set, preparations began to grandly decorate the last night of the festival.
The academic assistants were busy preparing for the stage, and students from the student council also began checking the number of people.
Lastly, they gather at the central square, listen to the speeches of the distinguished guests one by one, view the large stage, and then set off fireworks that decorate the night sky, concluding the Krestol Grand Festival.
It was a performance that could be said to be the highlight of the festival, so all the students were looking forward to it. Famous musical groups come, many celebrities from the empire attend, and you can even see the faces of the saint and the princess in one place.
It is so grand that it seems excessive in scale to be considered a festival for just one academy. All students wanted to attend an event that they would only see once in their lifetime.
I picked up various equipment and tools from the camp before going to the bachelor’s camp. Since the school and camp are a bit far away, I came early and had some time left.
Yenica is busy with the Spirit Society, and Lortel is busy because this is the peak season for the Society. There was no way to know where Lucy had gone, so the camp was now empty. Even if you say
“Whoa…”,
it’s already dark and there are stars in the sky.
The road to the camp was quiet, perhaps because most students were gathered around the central square.
The camp also has a quiet atmosphere with no one around. When I first settled here and started to survive, this quiet state was the norm, but recently, as more people live in a shabby place and the number of visitors increases, this quiet state feels unusual.
When I think about it that way, the emotions are endless. This camp had already become my home.
I would be leaving this camp when I graduated, and that fact felt very heavy. For me, this place is like my hometown.
I put those sentimental thoughts aside for now and packed the dagger and magic engineering supplies.
And when I left the cabin, there was someone sitting by the campfire. I hadn’t been in the cabin for that long, but I wondered what was going on.
“Oh Master Ed. “Have you just arrived?”
The rugged muscles and bulky-looking body are familiar. It was Yenika’s father, Orte Palover.
“The final event is going to be held on the central stage. Why did you come to the camp?”
“Kahaha. Of course, I have to go see the event. But when I heard that it was the last event, I felt strange. The festival is now over, and Seila and I are going back to our hometown early tomorrow morning… In a way, isn’t today the last day?”
Orte had also just arrived and was probably sitting by the bonfire, and there were leaves all over his body that he must have gotten while walking through the forest.
While brushing himself off, Orte poured the alcohol he had brought with him into a mug.
“I felt like having one last drink at Cheeky Master Ed’s camp. Meanwhile, it would be nice to meet Master Ed one last time.”
“What about your wife?”
“Saila took center stage with Yenika. “I will be going soon too.”
What is the reason to separate from there and come to the camp?
Eventually, I could understand the reason from Orte’s subsequent actions.
“Would you like a drink?”
“I don’t drink alcohol.”
“Oh, I’m sure Sayla will like it. “I don’t know why she married me because she said she likes men who don’t drink.”
Indeed, Orte came to see my face for the last time.
Just alone, without family. To meet one-on-one.
I sat across from the campfire, thought for a moment, and then accepted the mug that Ortega handed me.
“You don’t need to guess. I drink well on my own. Kahaha.”
“no. Is this the last time I will see your face?…”
“Is that so? Hahaha, you are truly merciful because you are considerate of uneducated people like us.”
Eventually, Orte took a swig of his drink and exhaled heavily with a screeching sound. He wiped his mouth with his bulging forearm and laughed.
“I stopped by to say thank you one last time. “I just want to see it as a man-to-man relationship, not as the head of the family in charge of the Failover family.”
“I haven’t done anything big enough to be appreciated. “Everything I did for Yenika was more out of necessity.”
“Still, I got what I got. Ugh ugh. excuse.”
While talking, a burp came up and Orte apologized with a mischievous look on his face.
“A man who was uneducated and uneducated gained a truly undeserved wife and daughter. “When I was young, I lived with the taste of working hard, and as I got older, I lived with the taste of raising cows, and before I knew it, my life had reached a turning point.”
Unlike his usual chattering tone, the intonation of his voice was much deadened.
“Actually, I didn’t live with big intentions and high ideals like Master Ed or other high-ranking nobles. I was so stupid that even as an adult, I couldn’t write letters for a long time. It was truly a third-rate life, but hadn’t I achieved enough? “Your wife is Seil and your daughter is Yenika.”
“If you do that, you will have a successful life.”
“Yes. “Those two are the greatest accomplishments of my life, so I cherish them a lot.”
Orte spoke with a very satisfied expression as he twirled his glass.
“And I, Orte, have a good grasp of the topic. He comes from a humble commoner background, has learned nothing, and the only thing he knows how to do is work hard. So, I never have to rebel against someone higher than me, and I am always loyal to my superiors. What difference does it make if you say it’s Master Ed? Since I have received so much, it is loyalty and loyalty. haha.”
“If you take it too far, it becomes burdensome.”
“What kind of burden do you feel? You don’t have to. I have no pride or anything. “I just live with the flow~”
He then takes a sip of his drink and adds.
“But I will never leave a person who makes my daughter cry.”
However, Orte is also a strong-willed person in his own way.
I was vaguely aware of that fact.
“If I want to make a living, I am prepared to bow down in front of even a little merchant who is dozens of years younger than me… but if you say that my daughter made you cry, no matter if you are a noble or a member of the royal family, you will be punched in the face.”
“….”
“I have seen many arrogant noblemen in my life who trample on my head, split it in an unpleasant way and spit on it. Well… I have to make a living, so bowing my head like that is not even a task. “But if you mess with my family, I won’t tolerate it even for a second.”
I held the cup still and then spoke with a slight smile.
“For that matter, you really like Lortel, whom Yenica hates so much….”
“Well, when you’re enjoying your youth, one or two lovers like that can actually be a good stimulus.”
“…You’re a more open-minded person than I thought.”
“In the first place, you don’t have to look at Lortel to know that he is a person who follows the minimum line. Plus… a thought suddenly occurred to me.”
Orte spoke with a wistful expression, recalling the past few days.
“That thought occurred to me as I watched Yenika trying to hide the truth while dragging me and Sayla around. You must have created a lot of secrets while living apart. There are a lot of things I don’t want people to know and things I want to handle on my own…”
“…”
“You’ve grown up.”
Ortega Sayla knew from the beginning. Yenika, a bachelor, has many secrets that she has not shared at home.
“It seems like just yesterday that I fell and cried while running around the ranch. “What will you think when you see me dealing with a spirit the size of a house?”
“I can’t really imagine.”
“Actually, I don’t feel like it’s anything special. Why does it grow so fast? I’m just amazed and wonder if this is even possible. “I’m not a particularly sentimental person, so that’s just it.”
Orte chuckled and took another sip of his drink.
Then, he stands up, suddenly kneels down, places his hands on the floor, and lowers his head.
I couldn’t decide what to say due to the sudden action, so I stayed still and Ortega was the first to open his mouth.
“I am a poor daughter.”
I just wanted to say that. Orte came to this camp by himself through the northern forest.
“Please help me a lot. “There’s not much I can do for her anymore.”
To some extent, I understood the deep meaning behind those words, so I closed my eyes for a moment and then answered.
“I get more help. “Don’t bow your head.”
* * *
The affairs of Jenica’s family seemed to have been concluded with a one-on-one conversation with Orte.
Actually, nothing special happened, but meeting Yenika’s parents was a very special experience. Above all, they were definitely like Jenica’s parents.
Now that that work is roughly finished, it’s time to get to the real important work. The immediate goal is to help Ayla read the Sage’s seal, and ultimately, the goal is to subdue Belbroke after completing the competition for imperial power.
After carefully checking the equipment I had packed, I headed toward the teaching building. The plan was to attend the event near the central plaza and then head to the Trix building where Ayla was located.
However, I don’t know why, but plans don’t always go as planned.
“Emperor Cloel has called you.”
These days, our acquaintanceship has deepened to the point where we can recognize people from afar.
Deacon Dest, Selaha’s servant, stopped me as I was heading to the central square and spoke with his head bowed.
“Anyway… it seems that the contents of the letter that Princess Selaha has sent so far have reached the ears of Emperor Cloel.”
“…yes?”
After the sparring, I remembered Emperor Cloel looking at me with a satisfied face. It was as if his eyes were looking at a treasure.
“Well… you called Master Ed to the throne room. “This is… Hwangmyeong.”
