79 – New Year’s Greeting Ceremony –
“hehehehe. Is it about time?”
A month had passed like a lightning bolt.
Yet, it seemed like I hadn’t learned anything at all.
In a time that could be considered long or short, I had managed to learn the Soul Swordsmanship within five weeks.
“hehehehe. If you don’t create your true body within a year and bring it here… Are you saying we’ll have a power struggle? hehehehe.”
“Yes. Well, it’s reasonable, isn’t it?”
“hehehehe. Very refreshing. It’s been a while since I had an enjoyable experience.”
“It will become more interesting from now on. And if I manage to obtain the elixir as promised, you must follow my orders for the time being.”
“I know. hehehe. The Divine Sword is still alive, huh? It must have become even stronger since it was still alive. So, as I am now, I can’t defeat it. hehehe.
If I were to kill several exceptional long-lived people and acquire their skills, maybe. hehehehe.”
The remarkable thing about this technique is none other than its growth limit.
No matter how exceptional a knight is, they cannot develop hundreds or thousands of Awakening Techniques.
But this technique makes it possible.
Of course, once it reaches a certain level, it will not be a meaningful upgrade, but just an upgrade.
But just that is somewhere.
There is nothing as fearsome as growth coming to a stop.
If it is a normal place, the newcomers will continue to follow from below.
If no one from below climbs up, then that society has collapsed.
“It would be good to come next time. Heh.”
“Thank you. So… Until next time. Mr. Yggdrasil.”
“hehehehe. No one swindled me and got away with it. So, do your best. My disciple.”
“Huh.”
We are not tied by a strong bond like a normal master and disciple.
It is more like a strict teacher-student relationship.
And so, the day for me to leave this land has come closer.
The memories of the mysterious lumps and flesh I consumed for a month float up.
The blood I drank, claiming it was rich in nutrients even though there was no water, also comes to mind.
I didn’t particularly want to think about such memories.
‘Are these guys not hostile towards me? Is it because we’ve become acquainted?’
Of course, good things are always good.
‘Now, history can no longer be reversed.’
Catching the dragon was part of the main story, although it didn’t matter if I didn’t catch it.
It was more like a hidden story.
Becoming a saint of the Evil Sect?
As long as it is helpful, it doesn’t matter if it becomes harmful.
Just remove the main story, then.
However, the Ghuihong Swordsmanship is different.
This is a character that should have become familiar in the story.
That’s why the moment I learned this, I started walking on a completely different path from the main story.
“Well, I’ve been thinking that way from the beginning.”
According to the original history, even if just one leader of the Human Union, whose power has been enhanced, hears about the Ghuihong Swordsmanship from the Confucianists, they come here with the Union to find it.
And the Union meets various individuals of the Igdrasil. And gives them a new body.
Moreover, Igdrasil didn’t want to lose the hard-earned physical body in the war with the Union.
So, the Ghuihong Swordsmanship was taught to him.
That’s how the story ends.
“I wonder if the leader is here by now. No, maybe not at all. After all, I’ve changed history.”
It’s uncertain whether the leader of the Union will appear or not.
Because the main story itself has been distorted.
It’s good if he doesn’t appear.
It doesn’t matter if he does.
Because I am on the side of justice.
From his perspective.
“Now. It begins.”
I didn’t know if I would spend it at the Academy.
But in the end, the second semester will be spent there.
The second semester is approaching.
—-
Vroom.
The engine of the automatic carriage spins as it heads towards the Academy.
Since the holiday ended a week ago, I was able to rent the automatic carriage at a cheaper price than expected.
The only people coming besides the admission period are either important figures or dispatched agents.
There was no one to rob from such people.
“Yes, this is the Academy.”
I say as I get off the carriage along with the driver’s words.
I check my appearance once through the side mirror.
Confirming that I look presentable, I proceed through the main gate of the Academy.
Knock, knock…
“I’m here.”
Without the need to go anywhere else, I headed straight to the faculty office.
There was no resistance to speak of.
“What’s up, AbraXas Yeong-sik?”
“Were you kidnapped?”
“Why did you just show up now?”
People passing by looked at me with surprise.
After disappearing for a week and suddenly reappearing, it was only natural for them to react this way.
I had nothing to say, so I simply stood there.
Knock, knock…
I knocked on the faculty office door, and as soon as I received permission, I opened the door.
The faculty office looked quite different from before.
Professor Cosmos had disappeared.
The other professors looked about three or four years older, perhaps due to the events they had experienced.
It might have been quite the ordeal.
The holiday couldn’t have been a holiday.
“Ahem?”
Professor Maximilian, who had noticed my arrival, spoke to me.
“Yes, I heard from the headmaster. I don’t know where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to, but… have you arrived?”
“Yes.”
“Then, for now, let’s work on your schedule. There’s still time to make changes to it.”
The academy allows students to freely change their schedules during the first week of the semester.
Of course, there’s usually no reason to change it.
“Keep it as it is.”
“Well, there’s probably no need to change it. After all, there are many people who will want to take you away after you graduate.”
“It doesn’t matter. Even if nobody wants to take me away.”
From Noble mtl dot com
In the first place, if I make a mistake now, Alice might take me away by force.
It’s not Alice’s temperament that’s the issue; it’s the fact that she has the power to do so.
The possibility that it might be a serious option in the future is why I think this way.
I wasn’t considering it right now, so I just left it there.
As I was writing the documents like that,
Maximilian suddenly informed me of something in a hurry.
“Oh, right. Because you didn’t participate in the promotion test, you’re in the B class.”
What on earth is he talking about?
There are probably fewer than 20 knights who have awakened their Aura Reinforcement.
Even considering the existence of mages, alchemists, and dark mages, something seems strange.
“Huh? No one objected to me being in Class A, did they? Of course, I’m not against it, but what did the Class B guys say?
They have to compete with the ones who can survive in Class A, don’t they?”
“Some newcomers have awakened their Aura Reinforcement, and you’ve been away for a long time.
So, in the eyes of some of them, your skills may be considered relatively high in the B class.”
“I guess that could be the case.”
It certainly seems that way.
The fact that I awakened Aura Reinforcement is known only to Elijah, Silvia, Theseus, Lucas, and Alice.
Of course, I no longer need to hide my power.
When it’s time to reveal it, I will.
I’m just holding back for now because there’s still too much attention on me.
The cult that paralyzes human reason as a form of poison has now disappeared.
What’s left are the Lion Corps, vampires, and a few other demons, and the incarnations of sin.
While considering various possibilities and making plans for the future,
“And… are you really dating the Second Princess?”
Professor Maximilian Wilhelm’s nonsensical words.
I looked at him in disbelief.
“The social scene didn’t stop during the holiday season. The Second Princess also attended social events.
The love life of the royal family is always a hot topic, as it is politically important. Since you didn’t make an appearance and only the Princess did, it’s natural for people to find it strange.”
“Is it really such a big deal that I, the supposed subject of the rumor, wasn’t there for it? Is this a topic for discussion for five weeks?”
“There hasn’t been any official announcement from the palace this time.”
“What?”
“There was no official announcement that they are not dating this time.”
What nonsense is this?
“You announced that you’re dating?”
“I didn’t give an official statement.”
How did this happen?
You clearly said before that you’re not dating, right?
“Are they thinking that we might actually be dating even in the royal palace?”
Let’s calculate for a moment.
When rumors spread in social circles, it means two things.
Either it’s true or false.
That’s only natural.
But in social circles, whether it’s true or false, it spins as if it’s the truth.
And naturally, the only one who can correct that is the person themselves.
But the royal palace didn’t say anything…
“Seems like it’s a mess.”
The royal palace didn’t make an official announcement.
This changes things a bit.
If the royal palace thinks we’re dating but doesn’t approve of the relationship, they wouldn’t make an official statement saying we’re not dating.
But the fact that they didn’t say anything…
“It’s okay if we’re dating, and if we’re not, it’s not a problem since they didn’t make a public statement about the relationship… is that how it is?”
The royal palace?
The place where not even the sect of evil, the Lion Corps, and various demons have ever challenged?
If the Seonghwangcheong Palace didn’t allow a single disturbance for thousands of years.
And the royal palace, in the past 2000 years, never allowed anyone to step down from the strongest position.
From such a powerful place… just for me?
Is it real?
Oh my goodness.
“Even some citizens think that the princess kidnapped you because they can’t see you.”
Kidnapping.
Why would they go to that extent?
They could have just set up a fake marriage.
If they were really into romantic comics, it seems that their thinking has deviated from normal.
When you read romance novels, all sorts of things like rape, seduction, and pregnancy attacks come up, so it might be normal.
“Could it be that the students were kidnapped… instead of some evil force, did the princess think they were kidnapped?”
Insane.
How do I clear up this misunderstanding?
“Princess, how did you handle this?”
But doubts remained.
What kind of reaction did the princess show?
We’re not in an official romantic relationship.
The princess is rational, for now.
There’s a possibility I might reject her, so at least it’s certain that
“Can I… say it?”
“What did you say for her to react that way?”
“Don’t tell anyone. Only the headmaster, me, and a very few others know.”
“Yes.”
It’s not strange to tell a very few people.
The opinions of someone of the princess’s caliber must not be distorted.
But what did he say to make her react so dramatically?
“Princess…”
He created a sound barrier around them to make a silent space.
For a moment, the soundless wall heard no noise.
And the words that popped out from there were…
“She said it’s a one-sided love.”
Ah.
Damn.
Should I drop that kind of bomb?
“What if I confess?”
Seems like the best revenge plan.
An inverse confession attack, right?
Let’s seriously consider this too.
If she gets mad later, let’s refuse the confession.
“So what are we going to do? About the abduction of Abraxas?”
“Maybe… The princess won’t actually abduct me…?”
Even if it were someone else, I know that I have the power to make Alice Tantalota truly love me.
The aura of dominance. Because this power can even bind my thoughts a little.
It’ll be harder now that I’ve grown much stronger.
But if it’s the princess, she’ll find a way to weaken and dominate me to make me fall in love.
It’s horrifying to think that it might actually be possible.
‘Could it be that I’ve already been dominated without realizing it?’
If I just didn’t realize it…
I should just love her.
That’s better.
From the beginning, she’s pretty and has a great figure, and her status is high, so there’s no problem in marrying her.
I just didn’t like the idea of having a huge responsibility if I were to become the husband of a princess.
A beautiful wife.
Something I didn’t even have in my previous life, so there’s no need to refuse it.
“Anyway, let’s finish the paperwork.”
That’s right.
There’s no need to worry about a future that hasn’t come yet.
It’s also possible that I’ve already considered it.
If the princess isn’t a yandere, she’ll wish for me to genuinely love her, not because of her power.
With her own charm.
Because that’s human nature.
As the princess isn’t objectively unattractive, she would aim for that.
“Ah, that’s right. The princess asked if you could be her partner during the New Year’s ceremony.
She said she doesn’t know where you are but if you happen to meet her, let her know.”
Hmm.
That’s right, isn’t it?
I guess she’s the type of person who wants to fight with her charm that I’m picturing?
Suppressing my anxiety, I answered Maximilian.
There was something I wanted to say.
“I can’t go then.”
I’ll be very busy during the New Year’s greetings ceremony.
“After that incident, I didn’t go to my family, so my father must be very angry right now.”
Alice could understand.
Parents couldn’t.
During the festival, my parents temporarily moved to Korea.
I am still a filial son who cannot understand his parents.