To you who survived (3)
“I’m going to sneak into the Tricks building and read the Sage’s Seal.”
The Great Sage Sylvania’s writings, the Sage’s Seal, which are 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 chest… .
“I want to go through the contents. However, no matter how many times I submitted a request, Principal Obel would not meet me. That’s right… Of course it is. 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, are you going to steal again?”
“It’s not stealing, it’s 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, so I sat on a bench near the student square and enjoyed 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.”
“Iknow, right… . Until then, the seal belonged to Senior Lortel… . However, since I did not know the seriousness of the situation at the time, 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, we went to the Trix Hall… But, Senior Ed. What is this all about… .”
They were having a rather serious conversation, but Ayla, unable to contain her curiosity, looked at the gift boxes piled up on the bench table and asked.
“This… There is an imperial emblem engraved on it… .”
“Oh, this is…” It’s not a big deal, Princess Selaha gave me various items to use when I needed them while I was living as a bachelor.”
“Princess Selaha… ? “Senior Ed, besides Princess Fenia, do you also have a relationship with Princess Selaha?”
“I made a connection this time… . Well, I’m not sure if he’s such a good lover.”
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, senior Yenika, why…?” .”
“He… “Don’t worry too much.”
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.
“Recently, I was betrayed by my parents.”
“Yes, yes…” ? “Senior Yenika had such a dark family history?!”
“Hmm… Actually, it’s not such a gloomy story… .”
Yenica’s parents, Orte and Sayla, were thoroughly brainwashed by Lortel for the remainder of the festival.
In fact, it would be a bit unfair to call it brainwashing, but it would be correct to say that he fell for Lortel’s natural eloquence and manners and became an ardent supporter of the 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 Yenica’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.
He is a man of great character who would easily give up his position as chief, but 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 is a fact that has been said over and over again, but for Lortel, who can control even senior merchants like the serpent, it is not a task to control even 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 only worried about the cows on the ranch… .”
“… … .”
In some way, his appearance reminds me of a child whose father is immersed in a multi-level business. 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.
However, it is only a painful fact for Yenika that Elte Company is involved in the background.
“It’s too much to do! “It’s crossing the line to even touch your parents!”
“To say I crossed the line… Your parents suffered no harm. If anything, I would have received help… .”
“Do you know that everything in this world can be done with money?! “Why is Lortel always like that?”
“Unfortunately, money is almost everything… . You are feeling it too right now… ?”
“… “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.
… It didn’t fall to that point. In the first place, Jenica was not by nature the kind of person who could quarrel 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, harvesting herbs from the garden is fun, so I’ll do it… I will never do anything difficult or arduous. 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… . Still, 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. Well then, should I try to sleep in in the morning and not sweep the front yard… . Yeah, I’m not going to fold the laundry, I’m not going to make the bed sheets… . Let’s see if it happens… .”
Anyway, even when good people face a rebellious period, they greet 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, consider the boundaries of how much I can help and where I can be lazy, and make sure to rebel. Mom and Dad fell for Lortel… You will regret it… .”
You are probably the only person who has such a healthy and constructive period of rebellion.
And considering Orte and Sayla’s tendencies, it’s 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 be given the title of Baron and will have to take charge of the outskirts of Rosstaylor’s territory on my own… . I’m just uneasy because I feel 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 left Yenika mumbling something as if she was reciting a spell, sighed deeply, and turned my head towards Ayla.
“Well, there is no need to take the risk of 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 then it would take too long.”
“That’s true, but the risk is much lower than getting caught while browsing secretly.”
“Senior Ed. In a situation where I don’t know when my senior’s prophecy will come true, I don’t want to leave uncertainty for a long time. Above all, it is a matter that directly affects Tailly’s life. I am… “The last thing he wants to do is do anything that could put Taily in danger.”
There’s no need to be so hasty… . I, too, am not in a situation where I can afford to take my time. 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… You are 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 Elderbane.
―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 even possible.
“Why is this… Casually… “Senior, is it sticking out of your leather pocket?”
“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 know it, but Ayla noticed it right away.
“I’ll lend it to you.”
“This is… “It’s not 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… “Your research will also make some progress.”
“… … .”
“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… “That wolf spirit?”
I nodded and talked.
“This is the spirit that met Great Sage Sylvania in person. “At this point, he is the only one who can communicate with the great man while still remembering him.”
“… omg.”
Ayla must have felt like her breathing had stopped, so she nodded her head with difficulty.
“As expected, consulting with my 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? “Belbrock’s seal must also be clearly revealed.”
“For now, I will find out everything I can. but… .”
Ayla made a clear point.
“I would never put Tailley in danger.”
“that… Unfortunately, there is no guarantee. “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.
Finally, they gather in the central square to listen to the speeches of the distinguished guests, see the large stage, and then set off fireworks that decorate the night sky to conclude the Crestor 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 even the faces of the saint and the princess can be seen 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 so I had some time to spare.
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.
“Whoa… .”
The sun has set, and now it is time for stars to appear in the sky.
Perhaps because it was the time when most students were gathered toward the central square, the road to the camp was quiet.
The camp also has a quiet atmosphere with no one around. When I first settled down here and started to survive, this quiet state was the norm, but recently, as more people live in luxury 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.
Putting those sentimental thoughts aside for now, I 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.
“I heard that the final event will be held at the center stage now. Why did you come to the camp?”
“Kahaha. Of course, I have to go see the event. However, when I heard that it was the last event, I got a strange feeling. Now that the festival is over, Seila and I will return to our hometown early tomorrow morning… “In some ways, isn’t today the last day?”
Orte must have just arrived and sat by the bonfire, and there were leaves all over his body that he must have gotten while walking through the forest.
Shaking things 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 was able to understand the reason from Orte’s subsequent actions.
“Would you like a drink?”
“I don’t drink alcohol.”
“Oh my, Sayla will love it. “The woman said she likes men who don’t drink, but she doesn’t know why she married me.”
Indeed, Orte came to see my face for the last time.
No family involved, just alone. To meet one-on-one.
I sat down 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 see your face… .”
“Is that so. Haha, 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 gurgle sound. Wiping her mouth with her muscled forearm, she chuckled.
“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 Palover 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 she was young, she loved working hard, and as she got older, she loved raising cows, and before she knew it, her 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? “Her wife is Seil, and her daughter is Yenika.”
“If you do that, you will have a successful life.”
“Yes. “As they are the greatest achievements of my life, I cherish them quite a bit.”
Orte spoke with a very satisfied expression while twirling his glass.
“And I, Orte, have a good grasp of the topic. He is from a humble commoner background, he 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~”
Then he takes a sip of his drink and adds:
“However, I will never leave the guy 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 a small merchant who is dozens of years younger than me… “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 punch her 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 my head. what… I have to make a living, so bowing my head like that is not even a task. However, 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, Lortel, whom Yenica hates so much, seems to really like it… .”
“Well, when you’re enjoying your youth, one or two romantic partners like that can actually be a good stimulus.”
“… “You are 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… “Suddenly a thought 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 by dragging me and Sayla around. She must have had a lot of secrets while living away. There are a lot of things I don’t want people to know and things I want to handle on my own… .”
“… … .”
“You’re all grown up.”
Ortega Sayla knew from the beginning. Yenica, who lives a bachelor’s life, realizes that there are a lot of secrets in her house that she has not shared.
“It seems like only 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 got up from his seat, then suddenly got down on his knees, placed his hands on the floor, and lowered 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 walking through the northern forest alone.
“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.”
* * *
Jenica’s family affairs 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 people like Jenica’s parents.
Now that that work is roughly finished, it’s time to get into the serious work. The immediate goal is to help Ayla read the wise man’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 towards the teaching building. After attending the event in the central plaza, I planned to head to the Trix building where Ayla was.
However, although the reason is unknown, plans do not 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 attendant, stopped me as I was heading to the central square and spoke with his head down.
“I guess… “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. He seemed to have eyes as if he were looking at a treasure.
“that… Master Ed has been summoned to the throne room. This… “This is Hwang Myeong.”
