Chapter 38 : Finding Traces (2)
by AfuhfuihgsThe reception hall of the Faculty of Swordsmanship was located near the administrative office of Building 1, and it was quite spacious.
This was likely because the Faculty of Swordsmanship was the largest department in Tristan Military Academy, often attracting high-profile visitors.
Regular visitors included prominent knight orders within the kingdom, noble families of renown, military academies and important figures from other nations, and even, on occasion, members of the royal family.
To confirm this, the administrative director, Densk, was already waiting in front of the building before I even entered the reception hall.
“Greetings, Director.”
As I greeted him, Densk opened his mouth wide in delight and grabbed my hand.
“You’ve arrived, Instructor Edgar. Haha, I expected you to come. Of course, you would. After all, the royal family has sent someone, and even your father, Brandon Mulick., is here…”
“…My father is here?”
“Director! Why would you say that?”
Akina, who was guiding me, frowned as she spoke.
It seemed she wanted to surprise me a little, but Densk’s blunder had ruined her plans.
Realizing his mistake, Densk smacked his forehead.
“Oh, oh no. I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Brandon Mulick.
…”
“Ugh. You’ve ruined everything, Director. We’ll be going in now.”
“Ah, ah, yes. Please, go ahead.”
Akina usually maintained a cold demeanor in front of cadets and some instructors.
She was the type to teach lessons seriously and handle tasks with a cool head.
However, just as she had shown when dealing with her father, Duke Crowflin, she revealed a bold and lively side when among familiar people.
Flustered by Akina’s confidence, Densk belatedly called out.
“Instructor Edgar! You’ll give that special lecture as promised, right?! You must do it! The honor of the Faculty of Swordsmanship is at stake with this academy-wide special lecture!”
— So, that’s why he was waiting for me.
I had already heard about the special lecture from Ray.
While I was thinking positively about it as long as it didn’t conflict with my schedule, I hadn’t confirmed my participation yet, leaving it undecided.
Akina sighed at the director’s excessive enthusiasm and spoke.
“Don’t feel pressured, Instructor Edgar. You don’t have to do it.”
“Do I really not have to?”
“It’s an annual lecture held at the beginning of the year for cadets, rotated between departments. But this year, the scale is a bit larger. Selected cadets from military academies of various nations will also attend, and key figures from the kingdom, supported by the royal family, are expected to be present. I heard Princess Bellaria will also be attending…”
“…Princess Bellaria?”
“Yes. She recently awakened as a hero. I heard His Majesty the King plans to enroll her in the academy soon.”
Princess Bellaria Kleffe.
I had heard during my studies with Ray that she would soon come of age, but I hadn’t known she would awaken and enroll as a hero cadet.
Hearing this, I tilted my head in curiosity.
“But at that level, shouldn’t a special lecture be mandatory? It sounds like there’s no room for choice.”
“Not necessarily. For events like this, special lectures are usually led by someone of the dean or senior instructor rank. However, the royal family requested Instructor Edgar specifically, and that’s why the proposal was made. If Instructor Edgar declines, it will revert to the dean as originally planned.”
“Oh…”
“The royal family and the academy are strictly independent institutions. You don’t need to feel obligated by the royal request. An instructor’s duty is, above all else, to teach cadets properly.”
An academy instructor shines brightest in their role as an instructor.
True to her strong sense of professionalism, Akina adhered firmly to her principles.
When the Crowflin Duke tried to take me away before, she had fiercely opposed him. Seeing her reaction now made her perspective all the more understandable.
‘Still… there’s really no reason not to do it.’
Though I appreciated Akina’s advice, I didn’t have any particular reservations about giving a special lecture.
If anything, I leaned more towards being in favor.
The common knowledge and techniques for dealing with monsters and magical beasts.
Or the mindset one should have when engaging in such battles.
These topics for a special lecture were areas I could handle comfortably, and I was curious about teaching other heroes who weren’t from the swordsmanship department.
So, as long as the schedule aligned, I intended to honor Administrative Director Densk’s request.
“We’re here.”
Thus, while exchanging such conversations, we arrived at the reception room for the swordsmanship department.
“Comrade! It’s been a while!”
“I greet the noble hero of the kingdom, Brandon Mulick.
.”
“Haha! You were like a little rascal to your father, yet you’re still so stiff with me.”
Inside was my father, exchanging warm greetings with Akina.
He was none other than Brandon Mulick, the Marquis and the kingdom’s Central Magic Director.
Soon, his bright, boisterous gaze turned to me.
“It’s been a while, Edgar.”
“Yes, Father.”
However, my eyes widened slightly as I looked toward him.
More accurately, at the figures behind him.
‘Those two…’
There they were.
Two individuals who felt both familiar and remarkably unfamiliar at the same time.
We didn’t stay long in the reception room.
Instructor Akina gave a brief farewell and left, and we exited the academy and headed to a nearby restaurant.
It was slightly early for lunch, but it was my father’s suggestion to talk over a meal.
As my lecture had just concluded, I joined them along with Ray.
When we stepped outside, a few knight-heroes were guarding us from a distance.
They were likely heroes hired as escorts by the Mulick family.
It had been so long since I’d been under such protection that it felt slightly awkward, but my father and siblings moved naturally, as if it was second nature to them.
“Edgar, I’ve been hearing about you consistently. Without me even realizing it, you’ve become someone who astonishes this old man.”
“Astonishes… sir? I wouldn’t say I’ve reached that level.”
“Haha! There’s no need to be modest here. These days, your name pops up in the papers every time I open one. Hunting a second-tier magical beast? That’s certainly impressive.”
Father looked at me as if I were a marvel.
“When on earth did you hone your swordsmanship so much? Back when you were home, you did nothing but fool around like a good-for-nothing—”
“Head of the family.”
“Oh, I apologize. My words were a bit harsh there for a moment.”
“…”
True to someone seasoned by years of war, Father tended to lapse into colorful language if given a chance.
It was almost surprising how effectively Ray’s disapproving gaze kept him in check.
Regardless, my answer to this was as mundane as ever.
With the emergence of my destiny as a Swordmaster, I had buckled down, and thanks to my exceptional talent, I had been able to grow quickly.
After all, heroes are typically made up of “70% talent and 30% effort.” Even an answer that seemed half-hearted on the surface carried weight in this context.
One only needed to look at how newspapers that constantly churned out articles about me never seemed to question the sudden growth I’d achieved.
“Go ahead and chat for a bit. Ray and I will discuss family affairs and then join you.”
The restaurant we arrived at was completely empty.
It had clearly been reserved in advance, the entire space rented for privacy.
Father entered the first private room to issue instructions to Ray about family matters, while my siblings and I headed into the second room and sat down.
The surrounding area was guarded by knights who served as the Mulick family’s escorts.
“…”
“…”
Inside the room, the three Mulick siblings sat together.
The silence in the room was almost deafening.
Scratching my head, I glanced at the other two.
Todd Mulick and Jane Mulick.
The eldest son and eldest daughter of the family, and to me, an older brother and sister.
But to be honest, they were people I found difficult to deal with.
‘…Should I try to talk to them?’
The reason was simple.
I couldn’t get a read on them.
Though we were family, my reckless lifestyle before my return made it unlikely that our relationship was ever normal.
My hazy memories suggested that both of them had disliked me. At least, that’s what I thought.
As I wrestled with confusion, wondering how to approach them, it was surprisingly Todd Mulick who broke the silence first.
“I’ve heard the news. About you hunting magical beasts and working hard as an instructor.”
Repeating almost word-for-word what Father had said earlier, Todd opened the conversation.
Without waiting for a reply, he continued.
“So… I suppose you’re a proper working man now. Earning a decent income and all.”
“Uh? Oh, yes, I suppose so.”
His words were unexpectedly ordinary, and I blinked as I responded.
It was surprising.
I had anticipated sharp questions about my transformation, or reproach for tarnishing the family name in the past—predictable accusations, really.
But before I could fully process the relief, Todd spoke again.
“To be honest, as a member of the Mulick family, there are countless ways you’ve disappointed me, Edgar. You’ve achieved nothing as a mage, spread nothing but vicious rumors, and brought stain after stain to the family name.”
“…”
Of course.
There was no way he wouldn’t bring this up.
Unlike Father, who had spent years on the battlefield, my siblings were nobles who placed immense value on the family’s honor.
Since everything Todd said was true, I stayed silent and simply listened.
“But I won’t press you about it anymore. You’ve completely changed from who you once were, and as a Swordmaster, you’ve brought great renown to the kingdom. In fact, the recent resurgence of our family’s reputation owes no small part to your contributions, Edgar.”
Yet, it seemed he didn’t intend to just reprimand me.
In that short moment, he acknowledged the achievements I had earned and even praised me.
“CHAI…”
Trailing off hesitantly, he finally met my eyes.
“Still, I’d appreciate it if you could pay back the money you borrowed, Edgar.”
“…What?”
“Regardless of the family’s wealth, I want to start saving the money I earn. But every time I manage to save a bit, you keep borrowing, and my expenses always outweigh my income. The salary for a magical beast-hunting unit isn’t even that high, you know.”
Blinking in confusion, I struggled to grasp the situation.
I had borrowed money from Todd?
Before my gaze could even focus on his quivering eyes, Jane Mulick, seated beside him, asked incredulously.
“What’s this? Todd, you lent him money too?”
“Jane, you did as well…?”
A peculiar sense of solidarity seemed to form between them.
Watching this unfold, I held my head in my hands.
Edgar, you absolute madman.
You never fail to live up to your terrible reputation.
“What’s going on in here?”
Father, returning to the room, looked puzzled by the somber atmosphere.
It was only natural for the mood to darken.
I would now have to work like a dog to repay my debts.
I never lived my life in debt.
And if it was debt owed to my siblings, even more so.
“It’s nothing, Father.”
“Hmm… Very well. In any case, let’s get to the main topic and then enjoy some time together as a family.”
“Yes.”
Father retrieved a document from his coat and handed it to me.
“The royal family has sent an official request for cooperation in a magical beast search. Edgar, it’s a continuation of the exploration in the Red Thicket area you participated in before. The mission is scheduled for approximately two weeks, and the location is near the border of the Kespa Kingdom. Take a look.”
A request for assistance with a magical beast search.
The “prey” Ray and I had once sought to track for our Mana Stone Absorption had now come to me in the form of an official cooperation document.
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