72 – Vacation and Before the Storm
North.
The 『Rock Wall』 That exists in the northernmost part of the empire is the territory of the Marquis de Gramberge.
A barrier that prevents the invasion of barbarians.
Liam, the Marquis of Gramberge, climbed the wall again today and was looking through the telescope.
Wheee!!
The snowstorm has been severe recently. So much so that it is difficult to go out on patrol.
Liam adjusted the focus of the telescope.
Klik, kkirik.
A long snowy field.
The harsh snow keeps covering the lens, making it difficult to see.
“I’m getting older too.”
Liam clicked the telescope. I shook it off.
The head of the family of Gramberge has been managing the wall since our ancestors, so Liam is doing it.
Liam had absolutely no motivation.
‘Now is it difficult to unfold the 7 Swords of the Winter Queen?’
Liam often felt that his body was not what it used to be.
It seems like only yesterday that she was chasing the Winter Queen’s Sword 8 Castle.
I’m getting older.
“…… “Sean.”
Liam called Sean, the guard commander.
Sean, the guard captain of the Wall, follows him every time he climbs the Wall.
Sean was a village friend and subordinate who had known Liam since childhood.
Sean bows and answers.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“…… “It’s cold.”
“Certainly, the recent snowstorm has become more severe.”
Bitter strong winds and snow that freeze your body.
Liam and Sean seemed familiar with an environment where it was difficult to even open their eyes.
“I can’t use this.”
Liam handed Sean a telescope.
I can’t use it on days like now.
Liam sighed and brought up her magic.
Tsutsutsu…… !
Liam’s sensory area expands.
To maximize her hearing and smell to detect signs of presence in the snowy field.
Liam’s breathing became heavy.
“Huh, huh… “Big!”
I grit my teeth.
Liam was angry. Why did she become so weak?
Perhaps, the main reason is that she has not exercised for the past 5 years.
Liam just felt resentful about his age and body.
Chaaa!
Still, with his accomplishments, his senses went to the distant snowy fields.
And like an echo… Liam felt very popular.
Many barbarians are coming down to the wall.
“……… ?”
There are barbarians moving south in this blizzard?
Liam had doubts.
I wonder if they evacuated from the snowstorm.
If they fight in this weather, the barbarians will definitely be defeated.
“They are barbarians. “Get the archers ready.”
“Old, Your Excellency!”
Liam spoke as he always did, without any tension.
Because the barbarians in refuge are not scary at all.
But what Liam didn’t discover was that the barbarians were all armed.
More troops were coming down behind them.
After a while, several emergency bells on the wall rang loudly.
Ding ding ding ding ding ding!!!
All of these were signals given when a large army of barbarians arrived.
※
Vice Dean’s Office.
Asher shouted in an angry voice.
“Professor Mika! I didn’t know I would make such a mistake on the first day of vacation. “A disciplinary committee will be held against you, so please know!”
“…… Yes.”
Mika lowered her head and heard Asher yelling.
Cynthia told Meyer about Mika’s atrocities, and Meyer reported them to Asher.
During the grading match, Mika gave her student her all.
Needed to test her student on level, Mika hurt her Selene.
On purpose.
Because of this, Asher summoned her Mika.
“Whoa…” “Even if I really try not to say something, I can’t help it.”
Asher touched his eyes as if he was tired.
Asher didn’t want to get angry.
Who would want to blush with others?
You only make enemies for no reason.
However, it was difficult for her to overlook the fact that Mika intentionally hurt her student.
Because grading is not a time for professors to vent their anger.
“Let’s go out!”
Asher waved his hands wildly.
“…… Sorry.”
Mika bowed her waist again and again, and then she stormed out of the vice dean’s office.
Employees passing by her vice dean’s office noticed her mika and covered her mouth.
“Professor Mika?”
“Shh, she attacked Evan and Selene excessively during this rating match. Why, after hearing it from the Ministry of Magic staff…….”
Notoriety has already spread among employees.
Mika felt miserable.
I feel stung and embarrassed.
Mika went outside at a fast pace.
The disciplinary outcome will most likely be honesty.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like rumors have spread to the students yet… The worst thing is that rumors spread among employees.
Will I be able to carry my face from now on?
‘Ugh.’
The bruise still hurts every time I move.
The place where Evan hit me.
Mika placed her hand on her bruise and disappeared with her head down.
※
Vacation.
With the grading competition completely over, the academy became quiet.
The professor’s research group was operated even during vacation, and members were sitting together in a small conference room and writing papers.
“Quaaah!”
Logan, the male assistant teacher, straightens his back.
This is almost the final step, as all you have to do is organize the verified details in writing.
Because of this, most members rushed in and were working on their papers.
“But it will be over soon. “Everyone, please cheer up a little more.”
Mayer encouraged the members in a soft voice.
Once the thesis is completed, all you have to do is submit it to the swordsmanship academic conference.
The rest is waiting for the screening results.
“Once a paper is completed, will there be a new discussion again?”
Evan asked a question.
Thesis writing is mainly done by professors and teaching assistants, and students take field trips.
Cynthia answered.
“That’s right. However, I don’t write papers unless I have a good discussion. “Let’s move on to the next discussion.”
A structure in which a single discussion takes up some time.
Evan lost some of her interest in her study group.
In that case, doesn’t she only have to participate in discussions?
She was guaranteed free entry and exit.
‘If the next discussion isn’t interesting, I shouldn’t participate.’
Discussing with Mayer is enough.
Cynthia, unaware of Evan’s thoughts, was relieved.
‘Still, Evan always comes to the research group.’
Even though Evan became the future fiancé of the Marquis of Ashur, this did not change.
He is still a student.
He said he was a professor.
In a way, for Cynthia, the professor’s research group was a point of contact with Evan.
After today’s professor study group, Cynthia spoke to Evan.
“Evan, I have taken care of Professor Mika’s work, so don’t worry.”
“You mean Professor Mika?”
Cynthia’s words sounded somewhat unfamiliar to Evan.
The name Mika itself is hard to remember.
From Noble mtl dot com
Definitely not a very important name.
“Why, there is an article that pitted you Evan against Selene in the rating match. That’s Professor Mika. “She appears to have been aggressive towards students, so she will be disciplined this time.”
‘Is she the girl from the grading competition? It certainly seemed like he had a grudge when he attacked me.’
Mika attacked her with his eyes red.
Evan remembered her and was convinced of her.
In fact, from Evan’s perspective, she was better off giving her all.
There was no great inspiration, so Evan thought about Mika and erased it.
He is not a person worth remembering.
Cynthia didn’t say anything more.
Because Evan didn’t seem to care much.
Also, Cynthia did not praise him for doing well in the evaluation match.
I think it would be rude to tell Evan, who has been confirmed to repeat a grade, about his pre-evaluation grades.
※
After the professor’s research group ended.
Cynthia returned home to her own mansion.
The quiet shopping street looks desolate.
The frozen floor is slippery.
It’s still snowing now.
‘If I just submit this paper, this year’s faculty research group will be over.’
Vacation feels real.
Now it’s time to return to Gramberge.
As Cynthia was gathering her thoughts, she felt a familiar presence.
It felt like something that was supposed to be secret approached Cynthia with heavy breathing.
“…… Hecate?”
Cynthia was puzzled.
Hecate, her own confidant and informant, does not show herself in such a conspicuous way.
At least they disguise themselves as ordinary people.
The current Hecate was in such a hurry that she appeared in an alley.
“Huh, huh… Miss.”
Hecate prostrates with difficulty and is out of breath.
Cynthia paused to check if anyone was around.
Luckily there was no one around.
“What’s going on? Hecate, what I entrusted to you was to protect Evan.”
“Huh, huh… Of course, that’s right. Miss.”
“I checked on Evan today. If it’s his business, you can tell him at the mansion, right?”
“Well, that’s not it… ….”
Hecate forced herself to ignore her body’s repeated calls for air and whispered in a shaky voice.
“A large army of barbarians is moving south toward Gramberge…… ! “You need to come home right now, miss!”
“…… !”
Cynthia felt like her breath was frozen.
A large army of barbarians.
The barbarians who rarely gather together formed a large army.
There is clearly a powerful barbarian ruler.
A ruler who is at least warchief or higher.
The people who often hang out near the wall are not barbarians.
Cynthia caught her breath and asked thoughtfully.
“Who is the ruler who leads the great army?”
“Oh, I haven’t confirmed it yet.”
“……….”
Cynthia felt anxious.
Perhaps the Barbarian Queen, the supreme ruler of the barbarians, has arrived.
Sapa, the barbarian queen.
One of the three major disasters.
If the barbarian queen appears, you must immediately request support from the imperial family.
Gramberge alone can never be stopped.
Cynthia bit her lip and nodded her head.
“Great… “Let’s go now!”
※
Well-maintained yard of a first-floor mansion.
This is a house that I recently signed a new contract with. Now Maya stays here rather than in a motel room.
Maya and I checked each other’s readiness in a yard with high stone walls.
I will be dealing with barbarians this vacation.
I prepared simple weapons, a dagger, and a bag.
Maya turned into a ball, wearing her big fur coat.
-Sabu…… ! It’s hot!
“…… Maya, you’re going to the cold North, but you don’t need to prepare that much. “Not only is there a way to warm up your body with magical power, but you will return to the academy when the time is right.”
-Really?
“Yes.”
Maya’s eyes widened and she whimpered as she took off her fur coat.
Maya gradually returns from a big fur ball to a little girl.
She whined and raked her fur clothes.
I declared.
“The academy does not rest just because of vacation. “Let’s go get some practical experience.”
Because it is winter, I want to practice in a cold environment.
-Yes!
Maya slightly lifted her arm that was holding her fur coat.
What a cute Big little fur ball