Aftermath of breakup (1)
The black mage subjugation mission ended early yesterday.
At the time, Jeniel was in a state of distress, so he did not know the exact situation. I thought the reason the mission ended early was simply because there were so many victims.
But the truth was different. What I heard from a fellow researcher was shocking itself.
-What?? Did Leonar and Karios really not get along?
– He is also true. What did you do when you went all the way there? It is said that the victims were caused by Professor Karios’ misjudgment. That’s why Professor Leonard was furious.
– Misjudgment…?
Somehow, the rescue team arrived late.
Leonard came back and asked why he was in a bad mood.
He didn’t say anything to me, so he didn’t know because he was carrying the feeling of betrayal and disappointment on his shoulders alone. Karios chose to search for Luca Delos instead of rescue him.
And that too, leaving a friend I had known for 20 years.
Abandoning the fiancée who swore eternal love.
Come to think of it, Karios was always like this.
Even during the temporary professor’s celebration, during the Mage Tower Seminar, and during this mission to subdue the black magician, he always put himself first. For his own future, he didn’t care about the people around him.
So, Jeniel made up his mind.
After taking a short breath, he got to the point.
“It’s about our marriage. Let’s think again.”
A chilling notice to your fiancé.
However, in a way, it was a natural result. Jeniel’s heart has slowly cooled down over a long period of time.
There was only cold silence in the office.
Like any breakup, it was a heavy and hard moment.
“·······”
Karios didn’t say anything.
As if I hadn’t expected it at all, I was blankly frozen as if my thoughts had stopped. Then I just spat out a word.
“Go, why suddenly…”
suddenly
It was a very difficult time for me.
They were patched up wounds before they even healed.
You really didn’t know anything.
I didn’t even care about you when you shed bloody tears next to me, writhing in pain.
Yeah… I’m sick of it now.
Let’s end here.
Jeniel looked at Karios with cold eyes. All the hatred, hatred, and jealousy that had been there were empty eyes.
“I can’t live with being treated like this any longer. I don’t like that you always take a backseat, and I hate that you focus only on work in everything.”
It reminded me of the moments when I secretly felt pain.
“I hate not being by your side when I’m having a hard time.”
The days of rotting alone passed by.
“I hate taking care of others more than myself. I don’t like to skip over it whenever I feel sad.”
The worn-out feelings eventually dulled, and made Jeniel calm at the moment of parting. Jeniel didn’t even feel the slightest bit of sadness.
Because those feelings are already worn out.
“Because I hate you one by one, I hate you now.” “·······”
“That is all.”
Jeniel calmly put an end to it.
The eyes of Karios, who was sitting across from him, turned red. I watched it silently.
······Nothing was wrong.
Just like Jeniel’s heart right now.
“I’ll just go. Let’s talk to each other’s parents well.”
After saying that, Jeniel got up from the sofa. I left the office with the same mind as when I entered.
that cold back.
Karios couldn’t bear to hold on.
＊＊＊
two days later.
I sat in my office and read the newspaper. On the front page of the Empire’s greatest newspaper, the “Imperial Newspaper”, the black magician’s arrest two days ago made headlines.
[A large amount of caphotropin-B was found in the pharmaceutical company ‘Palarium’…]
[As a result of a detailed investigation by the Ministry of Magic, 38 black magicians were discovered…]
[It turns out that the one who planned all these operations was the Imperial Academy’s deputy professor, Leonard Adonis…]
I skimmed through it and folded it. Early in the morning, a teaching assistant started talking about me appearing in the newspaper, so I was curious and looked it up, but there was nothing much to say about it. There were only obvious compliments.
Well… I was proud to know.
Slowly-
The newspaper was folded up and stored in the safe. After that, I opened the student evaluation sheet brought by the teaching assistant.
No matter how much it is a textbook lecture, basic evaluation is done. It was a simple P/F- (pass or fail) evaluation, and I gave all students a P.
The lectures were shit, but I should give them generous grades.
After completing the grade entry, it was attached to the teaching assistant.
“Ha… it’s over.”
It’s finally over. It was the end of my first semester as a professor.
Yesterday, all the integrated exams were taken at once, and I also finished the evaluation corresponding to them, so it is safe to say that it was liberation.
I leaned back in my chair and looked out the window. Cumulus clouds were flying over the blue sky.
The first semester was as eventful as the sky in early summer.
There were variables, and a lot of incidents and accidents occurred, but in the end, they all worked out well.
It was a three-month period with more good news than bad news.
If there’s anything that bothers you, just one thing.
That he had a falling out with Karios at the last minute.
To be precise, I was unilaterally angry.
“······What are you going to do now?”
According to the original story, he would have left Mirbadiam yesterday. Like the main character of any web novel, he will devote himself to training during vacation. There, he will also deal with the black magician, and he will make his own contributions and come back.
On the other hand, Leonard plans to play tangja tangja during vacation. Just like any genius supporting actor who only believes in talent and is lazy.
In terms of traditional fairy tales, the rabbit and the tortoise.
The working ant and the playing grasshopper.
But there is no such thing as laziness in my vacation.
As much as the Adonis Hall was completed at the cost of his own money, he plans to do his best to polish his offensive magic.
It’s still a little far off, but it’s to prepare for the “Second Attack of Lucar Delos” that will come someday.
To prevent Frederick’s death there, I must become stronger than anything else.
“·······”
I checked the calendar with the schedule written on it.
The following week, there was an Imperial Hero Medal awarding ceremony, and an Imperial conference was scheduled for the following week. Leonard’s magical ability was highly praised and he was invited as a special judge. Also with quests.
belt ring-
[ Sub Quest – Empire Conference ]
Classification: Non-essential
Clear condition: Participate in the Imperial Conference.
Reward: 500 points
Status: Incomplete
Leonard of the original work flatly refused, but I readily accepted. Because it was a good opportunity to stop Narsha’s handshake.
There is still time left, so you should prepare step by step.
The next week…
It was the time when I was looking at the calendar and making vacation plans.
Jiing-
A purple light hovered around the crystal ball, and a text appeared.
[ Selina: Group text message / We have prepared a small after-party for all of you in the Safe Return Club who worked hard throughout the semester! You can come to the ‘Gu Village Restaurant’ near the main gate by 4 pm today, and I hope everyone will join us as it is the last time! thank you!]
Come to think of it, yesterday was the last day of the safe return club. It was originally a service for students, and since the academy ended yesterday, there was no reason to continue the service.
Members also had to return to their respective homes.
I looked at my watch. The current time is 1:00 PM. It seemed like we could just set off after making a plan.
But thanks to this club, my relationship with Narsha has improved a lot, so I guess I should attend the after-party.
Just like the saying ‘Close your mouth and open your wallet’, I plan to come after paying the bills.
By the way, don’t the after-party usually start in the evening? People are invited from 4 o’clock to have fun.
＊＊＊
Gumaeul Sikdang, a restaurant specializing in charcoal-grilled meat, is located near the main gate.
At the seat of three round tables connected together, nine members of the Safe Return Club are sitting in order. The appointment time of 4 o’clock passed, but the last one did not show up at all.
Siarun, who was biting on chopsticks, pursed his lips and said.
“Professor Leonard won’t come?”
“You too, how busy the professor is.
Selina, who was sitting next to her, patted Siarun on the shoulder.
Professor Leonard, the last member to join.
I sent an invitation letter, but I didn’t think you would respond. This is because he is a very busy person, and Gumaeul Restaurant is a brand with a strong image of being exclusively for commoners.
No matter how much the walls of the caste system have been demolished, Leonard is the lord of the prestigious Adonis family. For him to dine in a place like this would be disrespectful.
To be honest, I thought a lot about whether to send a text message or not.
It might be rude to invite someone to a shabby place.
After some time, Selina got up and took a glass of water.
“Come on everyone! You worked hard during the semester. Even though we haven’t been asked to do much, let’s enjoy today and work hard!”
“Wow! I will enjoy this food!”
The back-and-forth has finally begun.
There wasn’t much I did as Selina said. Five servings of pork and a few side menus were all.
It was a club that did not receive support from the academy, so Selina prepared it with her own money. The reason I called at 4:00 PM was to save money on food as much as possible.
A modest meal for an after party.
Nevertheless, the members enjoyed the dinner in harmony. They showed warmth by conceding food to each other.
That time when I was enjoying the back party like that.
belt ring-
The door to the old village restaurant opened.
It’s an ambiguous time slot that’s neither lunch nor dinner, so we’re the only ones there, but who else is coming…?
Members of the staff gazed at the entrance in unison.
The host also glanced toward the door while wiping the tray. greeted unkindly.
“welcome······”
However, the owner’s back words did not follow. Instead, there was a loud sound as the tray fell to the floor.
Tedeng–!!
The owner, who was absent-mindedly stiff, greeted the guests without even picking up the tray. He ran to his tabi and bowed his head. In disbelief, he looked at him with wide eyes.
“Oh, welcome! Why are you in such a shabby place…”
“There is an after party.”
He nodded lightly and headed to the table inside. The closer he gets, the more the pork smell disappears, and the refined aroma rushes in.
It was a unique “fragrant body odor”.
jerk- jerk-
The members looked at him with bewildered eyes.
A handsome man in a sloppy suit.
An aura that changes the atmosphere just by appearing.
The lord of an aristocratic family that no one expected to come.
Approaching with an elegant gait, he was Leonard Adonis, deputy professor at the Imperial Academy.
Members could not get up from their seats. I didn’t even recommend sitting down.
Just dazed, Selina finally spoke up.
“School, professor…? I thought you wouldn’t come, but how are you here…?”
“What is it? I’m here to pay.”
Leonard smiled lightly and checked the bilge on the table. Looking at the contents written on the bilge, he frowned.
“There are 10 people, but they are in poor spirits.”
Then he said to the dining room kitchen.
“Master. Add 15 servings of the finest sirloin here.”
······
Pork cutlet, king of learning, 4 ferr.
The most expensive sirloin in the old village restaurant costs 50 per person.
Members ate a total of 20 servings of ribeye. It was a whopping 1000 perna for one meal. It was a luxury that commoners could not even dream of, but Leonard calculated it coolly as if it was not much.
Moreover, he promised up to the second round.
And to the finest private bar, ‘Brunobel’.
“Are you here, Professor Leonard? I will take you to the VIP room you always used.”
A well-dressed waiter ushered us to the furthest room. The crew followed him hesitantly.
“Wow… awesome. It’s the first time I’ve been to such a luxurious place.”
“Hey, be quiet. Embarrassingly real.”
“why? Have you been?”
“No, it’s my first time too…”
“This is it. Come in.”
The waiter who opened the door nodded and pointed inward.
The VIP room was a whole new world.
The marble floor and the interior of the walls were luxurious enough to remind of the imperial palace, and there were sofas that could seat 20 people, and luxurious bottles of alcohol and fruit snacks were placed on the tables. The full set-up had already been done.
The members who came inside looked at them for nothing.
“Can I sit down?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yaya! Just don’t touch anything.”
Leonard, who came in last, looked at the members and smiled a little.
“Sit in a comfortable seat.”
At that, the members sat down on the sofa. Leonard, on the other hand, stood still.
“Since you’ve already finished the calculation, you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. Also, all additional expenses will be run under my name, so if you want more, you can order as much as you like. Have fun. Enough then.”
“Eh? Where are you going, Professor?”
“Where are you going like this!?”
“Weren’t you drinking together?”
Words similar to original voices were pouring out from all over the place, but Leonard didn’t mind and left the room. Because I wasn’t a person who was ignorant enough to have a drink.
Ki-Ik-
I closed the door and came out.
At the same time, the door to the VIP room opposite opened. The waiter brought out an empty bottle.
In that fleeting moment, Leonard found a familiar face lying on the table in the VIP room. Looking at it suspiciously, the waiter said cautiously.
“This is Professor Karios. You’ve been drinking for two days now.”
“yes?”
Leonard asked with a serious expression.
“Who are you?”
＊＊＊
same time.
Lab of the Mage Tower.
Putting on experimental goggles, Narsha dropped two drops of poison into the bubbling yellow solution with an eyedropper.
Talk tok-
After a while, the solution tried to remove the poison, but soon turned dark brown. Decryption failed.
“Ai-san… it’s like this again.”
The undetermined healing magic used to save Leonard. The effect was dramatic, but there was a side effect that the paralytic component spread throughout the body. To solve this, they were looking for a way to detoxify the paralysis component.
rumbling-
Narsha discarded the solution and proceeded with the next experiment. It was to prepare for the Imperial Conference next week.
Then, I glanced toward the crystal ball.
“·······”
A cold crystal ball.
No reply has come yet.
It’s been over 2 hours since I texted you.
“…Reply or not.”
Narsha pulled up her goggles with the back of her hand. After that, I went back to experimenting.
Put the detoxification solution in different proportions into the beaker, heat it up on a tripod, and apply the deadly poison again with an eyedropper…
“·······”
But, why is this bastard not replying?
No matter how much the follow-up service is over, can’t you give me a reply?
Or did you reply and I didn’t see it?
Narsha went to the crystal ball and turned on the reception list.
-yesterday-
[Selina: The safe return service has ended as of today. We’ll see you next semester with a better look! thank you!]
-today-
[no text]
Again, the text never arrived.
This time, I turned on the outgoing list.
-to Leonard-
[Narsha: I heard the tailing service is over, what are you going to do today?]
[Narsha: I don’t mind.]
[Narsha: That’s not why I’m asking you to take me.]
Did you read it or not?
Narsha scratched her head and stood in front of the experiment table again. I waited for the solution to heat up and then dripped the venom with a dropper.
Then, he glanced at the elongated crystal ball .