Chapter 65
“It’s finally over… I can go back now…”
“You’ve worked hard, Miss Emily. Must have been tough with the assignment, right?”
“No… the assignment is not the issue…”
“Yes?”
“Oh, no… nothing.”
Emily, who had been glancing at me and Erika, showed an awkward smile to Alicia again. As if to show how difficult it was, her shoulders slumped.
Why is she acting like that?
“Shugenharz.”
After the surprise inspection was over, I thought Erica would return to the student council room without saying anything. Her eyes, which seemed somewhat deflated, were unlike her usual sharp gaze when she looked at me.
“For this incident, I want to formally apologize to you on behalf of Portraits.”
She was referring to the day when she had caught Calicolea.
In fact, Erica had already received a considerable amount of compensation from her family, but seeing Erica take out the money herself seemed to suggest that she felt it was insufficient.
Was she trying to show gratitude for saving Erica?
I shook my head.
“I’ve received enough already. I have no intention of focusing on Portraits’ punishment.”
“…Surprising.”
Erica stood with her eyes half-closed, her arms crossed.
It seems like she expects me to take advantage of this opportunity and exploit the wealth of her household.
“Are you really going to take the unfair words at face value?”
Threatening to extort a reward from Portretgar? Especially when you live like this?
“…Not exactly, but I thought I’d do something similar.”
“Well, you certainly have a strong trust in your fiancé.”
Even though it means the complete opposite.
Hm. Erica lightly cleared her throat.
“It seems like you should visit Portretgar during the summer break. My parents want to apologize to you in person. …I’ve been receiving daily letters from my mother because of that.”
“Being on lockdown makes it even more so.”
For the purpose of protecting students and professors, Academia strictly prohibits outsiders from entering except during festival season.
Therefore, even if the people from Portretgar wanted to come and apologize, it would be impossible for her and me to meet since we are banned from leaving during the first semester.
Since that incident, Erica hasn’t been able to meet anyone from her family.
“Summer break… Yes, it’s been a while, so you should make a visit. Naturally, you’ll set a date after the mentoring is over, right?”
“We can’t change the church’s schedule.”
After returning with the Haleion team and wrapping up the case, there will be time to visit Portretgar. It will be towards the end of the vacation, but even considering the family’s position, we must make a stop.
“Then I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ending the conversation, Erica swiftly turned her small body and walked down the corridor without any further farewells.
The sound of her footsteps faded away. Her long hair swayed with each step.
“…”
Hmm.
A visit to the main house of Portretgar.
Since enrolling in Academia, I have never set foot in Erica’s mansion even once.
Things are definitely changing.
“…”
“Why are you staring like that, Emily?”
“Well, I… I just thought he’s more of a romantic than I thought.”
As Emily looked at her with eyes that showed complete incomprehension, she reacted. She expressed her surprise with an exclamation, “Oh!”
“Don’t you treat other people kindly like that?”
“There’s no reason to.”
“…Is it not worth doing so?”
“I know exactly why.”
“Oh, this is really…!!”
Emily was upset once again.
***
A deep night.
An owl cries sadly.
When the night wind rustles the tree branches.
A blonde woman, hiding her distinctive hair, continues to walk.
Osel Victoria Francesca.
Currently a second-year student, and a former executive of the student council.
A woman who firmly holds the 2nd place in the 2nd-year Academia ranking. The gap between her and the 3rd place in the current 2nd-year ranking was so substantial that she was practically the only rival to the 1st place.
Sasak.
She pierced through the darkness effortlessly. It had been a path she had tread for several months since her first year. Even though she was shrouded in shadows, there were no hindrances.
The surroundings were silent, devoid of any small lights or faint sounds.
*Clank.*
Arriving at an iron door, she inserted a key into the keyhole and turned it. The magical mechanism inside interacted, unlocking the door.
Originally, as a student, she was not supposed to enter this place. Only officials or professors could access it. However, through the “facilitator,” she obtained the key and could enter this secretive space.
*Screech.*
A somewhat displeasing sound of rusty iron.
Francesca closed the door and removed her hood.
Her vibrant golden hair cascaded down.
Her eyes, shining with a color resembling her hair, focused solely on one thing. Enthralled by the monumental product of history right in front of her.
“The Bones of an Ancient Dragon.”
Several thousand years ago.
A testament to history when it roamed this land, towering over all beings and uniting the world, in its essence.
Despite enduring the trials of time, its bones still exuded grandeur and dominance.
She had seen it several times, but each time, a sense of awe coupled with certainty sent shivers down her spine and enveloped her whole body. This. With this alone… with this alone, it’s possible.
Francesca took out the magical tools and books she had prepared. Although part of her wanted to observe in reverence for a while, it was not her top priority.
She had other tasks to attend to.
Taking out multiple sheets of parchment, she drew with a magical pen imbued with mana. The basic groundwork had been laid through her research. Swiftly, without pause, she continued her work.
And then.
“…This is where the problem lies.”
Her busy hands came to a halt.
Her deeply shadowed eyes roamed between the incomplete ritual and the dragon’s bones.
Francesca rose, enveloping a skeleton many times her height. Clad in thin gloves to avoid contamination by the substance on her hands.
Infusing mana, she examined the information.
Maintaining complex and diverse geometric shapes. Some sections were destroyed, and others were deformed.
It was natural that all parts of the body, except the bones, had disintegrated. It was possible to maintain the existing structure due to the vast mana contained in the dragon’s bones.
However, the aspect she was currently contemplating differed somewhat from the basic interpretation of the bones.
“…I do need that man’s help after all.”
Continuing her investigation, Francesca recalled a certain individual.
A few weeks ago, as a second-year student, she had observed the freshman class competition at Academia. It wasn’t of great interest to her, but checking on the overall status of the freshmen once wouldn’t hurt.
From Noble mtl dot com
And then, she spotted him.
The one who had swallowed an entire class with a single ability.
Cursing over fifty demons collectively, controlling them as if they were originally his minions, his cursed magic.
An unbelievably vast amount of mana.
At a glance, she knew. That man was the presence she needed for what she intended to do.
If others were to find out about her plans, it could lead to complications, but Francesca felt that the man named Bargan might overlook morals for his own gain.
…However, it was all just a feeling, with no concrete evidence to confirm it.
Therefore, Francesca deliberately approached him.
She heard the news that he was in charge of the Arbol Prutal research society. She knew that by entering the society and interacting with him, there would be an opportunity for a suitable deal.
“This curse seal won’t do. A different form, a different structure of magic is needed.”
Once again, she thought of the dark magic he had shown, especially the curse magic. Bargan is also adept at dealing with familiars. If she could get his help, she could also receive assistance in her current spellwork that was blocked.
She is still in the stage of collecting information about him, not acting hastily but keeping her distance and observing.
He seems to be the expected person, but there is still no certainty. Let’s continue observing a little longer, and if it doesn’t seem right, let’s quietly withdraw.
Palak?
She focuses again on the recipe in front of her.
Referring to a book where someone has painstakingly written down each letter, she improves her spellwork.
***
“…This is troublesome. A saint who should be modest. Keeps doing this, on ambitious nights. If anyone knew that she even calls upon a foreign man, I would be in a dilemma.”
“…You’ve come.”
There is a movement in her closed eyelids. Diphelia turns her wheelchair towards where the sound is coming from.
“Yes, you’ve come as you wished. Judging by you calling me here, I assume you’ve obtained all the information you can from Erika?”
“….”
Even the moon is hidden behind clouds, not illuminating the ground, allowing the plants in the botanical garden to sleep undisturbed.
Meanwhile, Bargan and Diphelia meet.
“Someone else came here last time.”
“Oh, yes. I was out at the time.”
“Did you receive the item he handed to you?” Bargan threw out the topic of their conversation.
As he suspected, Diphelia’s reason for calling him was related to this.
“Yes, I received it well. It was a beautiful music box. The sweet melody inside almost mesmerized me.”
“I’m relieved you liked my gift.”
Bargan shrugged, a smile playing on his lips.
The more at ease he became, the sterner Diphelia’s expression grew.
“Let’s not take metaphors too far.”
Her voice becomes more solemn.
It’s a voice that doesn’t match her innocent appearance.
“Why did you show me such false illusions?”
Diphelia asks.
I’ve examined all the fantasies contained in the music box. You are currently trying to deceive yourself with dark schemes. What is your intention?
Bargan let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn’t believe it.
“I did not contain falsehoods. It’s like claiming that gold is a pebble, or a pebble is gold because one’s eyes are blinded. As someone with clear vision, I cannot understand it; it is something to be scorned.”
“Are you dismissing Yggdrasil’s trust as a pebble?”
“Indeed, I am.”
“…!”
In response to Bargan’s rejection of the church, Diphelia showed a hint of anger.
“How can a warrior who should protect the church and humanity make such remarks?! It seems you lack faith! Are you… just here at Academia to fulfill your own desires?”
“Quite a petty statement, saint.”
Bargan quelled Diphelia’s momentum.
Slowly, he walks around her, continuing his speech. With each step he took, the sound of dirt or small leaves being crushed could be heard.
“Maternal love, familial love, patriotism, philanthropy. Ultimately, even these brilliant and positively perceived words, if we trace their origins, stem from raw emotions.”
He did not give Diphelia a chance to speak.
“Did you come to Academia to fulfill personal ambition? A rhetorical question! I may not know how lofty and pure your beliefs are, but to belittle the ancestral emotions that underpin those ideals as mere ‘selfishness’ is quite audacious.”
Thud.
Bargan halted his steps.
His hand rested on Diphelia’s shoulder.
Simultaneously, the small bird that had been watching them vanished.
Diphelia’s vision darkened.
“But, well… It’s fine. Our eyes see different things and feel different sensations. Such arguments are futile.”
Perhaps they would never truly understand each other.
“….”
“The night may be long, but it’s not eternal. Let’s get to the point. Saint, what is it that you wish to ask me?”
Now, quickly provide an answer regarding the organ, Diphelia.
“I… In the pitch-black where nothing is visible, the Saint remains unwavering. In that easily wandering place, she lights a single match in the darkness.
“I don’t believe in the alternative you’ve shown me.”