More Than the Result, the Process

The moment Aria put the crystal ball back in its place, I heard someone approaching from behind.

,It’s the first time we’ve met in person like this. Nice to meet you, Messiah Club.”

The club members’ faces all froze at Nelson’s sudden appearance. I also hurriedly turned around and bowed to Nelson.

,H-hello!”

,,Hello!””

The club members, snapping out of it at my greeting, all greeted him together, and Nelson gave them a warm smile as if he were looking at his cute grandchildren.

,So, you’ve found the passage to the principal’s office.”

Nelson said, looking at the open door attached to the wall.

,Ah, yes…. We didn’t even know this was the principal’s office….”

,Were you surprised? I hope you had fun solving the secrets of the club room.”

Nelson smiled and headed to his desk, sitting down.

,I-it was fun! It was so amazing….”

Aria stuttered more than usual, seemingly nervous about talking to the Nelson she admired.

,Excuse me, is the club room perhaps a secret room left by the first principal?”

,W-what?!”

Surprised by my words, and seeing Aria making a fuss right next to me, I explained why I thought so.

,Being able to enter the club room using the passage on the 5th floor…. And moving to places like islands or snowy mountains isn’t something you’d usually find in a club room. Like Kane said, it’s not just that the closet is special, because the closet only plays the role of opening the door depending on its location…. I thought it was the club room that was special, not the closet.”

Nelson, who had been listening to my explanation, nodded with a pleasant smile.

,That’s right. The true identity of the Messiah Club room is a secret room created by the first principal, Floyd-nim.”

At Nelson’s words, Aria covered both her cheeks with her hands and shouted.

,N-no way…! Then there’s no treasure in the secret room?!”

,Huh? That’s just a rumor. The secret room was literally a room hidden in secret from others, not a place where treasures were hidden.”

At Nelson’s words, Aria asked with a dejected face.

,Then why did he make the secret room…? He could have just made it a storage room….”

I sympathized with Aria’s question and looked at Nelson.

,Well, it’s a prank. A secret room known only to the architect who built the academy. How charming is that? The secret room simply contained antiques that Floyd-nim collected as a hobby. That’s why there was a passage connected to the principal’s office.”

At the disappointing truth, Aria leaned back as if losing strength and leaned on Kane.

,Perhaps the person called Captain….”

I trailed off and looked at Nelson, who gave me a mischievous smile.

,It’s been a while since I’ve heard that nickname. That’s right, I’m the Captain.”

Everyone was amazed that the Captain, who left clues about the secret room, was Nelson. Aria, who had been leaning on Kane, suddenly stood up.

,As expected, Captain…! It’s an incredibly fitting nickname!”

As if she had never cursed the Captain, Aria shouted, “Captain is the best!” Kane, who was behind her, sighed and shook his head.

,The first time I found the secret room was when I accidentally discovered it while creating a secret passage to escape the academy. I often used it as a secret hideout with my friends, but eventually, Floyd-nim caught me. Well, thanks to that, I became his disciple.”

,Disciple?”

I hadn’t set that up, so I looked at him with surprised eyes. Nelson explained with a cheerful expression at the reaction of the club members, who were as surprised as I was.

,That’s right, he recognized my talent, which was being pointed at as a troublemaker.”

Nelson winked at me as he said that, and I nodded, remembering our previous conversation.

,Does everyone like chocolate?”

Nelson took out a container of fancy chocolates from his desk drawer.

Gathering around the desk, we shared the chocolates and continued to listen to Nelson’s story.

,My teacher created space expansion magic. People’s lives have changed a lot with just one simple magic. More people came to live in the capital, and it became rare for people to be homeless. He even used space expansion magic to build a mental world (心想世係). Based on that, he created a training dungeon.”

Even I, the author, didn’t know about this, and it wasn’t even in the setting book. We listened to Nelson’s story with interest.

,I graduated and stayed at the school as my teacher’s disciple. As time passed, I used space expansion magic in reverse. I invented a magic that builds a training dungeon inside a small object called a snow globe.”

Nelson got up from his seat and gestured proudly towards the snow globe.

,What I found in the secret room was more precious than treasure. Making deep friendships with friends by creating a secret hideout and meeting my teacher. It was something good that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

At Nelson’s words, Aria clasped her hands in front of her chest, seemingly moved.

,As expected… the principal is amazing!”

At Aria’s words, Nelson stroked his well-groomed beard as if showing it off.

,But our club room was properly marked on the blueprint, wasn’t it?”

Kane, who had checked the blueprint with Lacar, asked, curious.

,That’s because when I was the vice-principal, rumors about the secret room suddenly spread, and students were rummaging through all sorts of places trying to find the secret room, which was a headache. So I put a door on the secret room and revised the blueprint.”

,Ah….”

Kane made a hollow expression, as if his question had been answered.

,Since there was a door on the secret room, no one thought it would be a secret room.”

Nelson smiled and said in a deep voice.

,Sometimes the simplest method is the answer.”

I don’t know how Kane took Nelson’s words, but Kane nodded with a relieved expression, like someone who had pulled out a thorn that had been stuck for a long time.

,Do you have any other questions?”

Looking at the club members at Nelson’s question, asked in a warm voice as if not to burden them. Everyone except Luna shook their heads.

,Then… why was there a closet that led to an island and a mountain in a warehouse that simply stored antiques…?”

Luna asked, as if that was still a question for her, and we also suddenly became curious and looked at Nelson.

,That’s what my teacher made to use when he was resting. I made the rest myself.”

Everyone nodded at Nelson’s answer. Certainly, the island was a good island to play on, without monsters or magical beasts.

,Are all your questions answered now?”

Everyone nodded diligently at Nelson’s warm smile.

,The results of your efforts may be futile. But the memories you make in the process will remain in your memory for a long time.”

As Nelson said, the result was futile, but we purely enjoyed the process of discovering the secret of the club room itself.

,It’s a bit much to call it a reward, but you’re welcome to come to the principal’s office anytime you cross that door. Feel free to come if you need my advice or help. It’s okay if you just want to eat chocolate.”

With Nelson’s warm words. The second activity of the Messiah Club came to an end.

***

The long-awaited weekend arrived. I had explained it sufficiently to the club members, so they all understood that I was anxiously pacing back and forth in the club room.

Knock knock-

I hurriedly ran to the door at the sudden knock and opened it.

,Welcome….”

,Oh my, Ross. I didn’t expect you to be so welcoming-“

When I opened the door. It wasn’t Rotten, but Flavia, who I hadn’t expected.

I erased my bright smile and closed the door with a straight face, and Flavia knocked on the door violently.

,Hey! Why are you closing the door! I have something to say!!!”

,Come back next time. I’m busy.”

I answered with an annoyed voice and went back to the sofa.

,He’ll be here soon…. Don’t worry too much.”

Luna said, comforting me, as if she knew I was anxious. I was embarrassed for no reason and stroked my chin. The club members smiled slyly.

,The club leader takes great care of Luna~”

Lacar nodded next to Kane.

,They look good together.”

I pretended not to hear and avoided their gaze. Aria, who came up to me, whispered in a cautious voice.

,Luna is a no-go, Ross….”

Is she worried about losing Luna after all? I glanced at Luna at Aria’s words, and I couldn’t help but scratch my head at her pretty smile.

The choice is Luna’s.

Knock knock-

As I was thinking that, I ran to the door as if bouncing off the sofa at the knock that came again.

,Welcome….”

,Ah, Ross! I’m going out, so I’ll pack some delicious food-” ,I said no!”

This time it wasn’t Rotten, but Roel. It was Roel, who I hadn’t seen in a while because of club activities, but I wanted to see Rotten’s face more right now.

I sighed and apologized at Roel’s slightly hurt expression at my annoyed shout.

,No, I’m waiting for someone right now. Sorry, hyung.”

,No, it’s okay…. I’ll go out with Flavia then. Is, is chocolate okay…?”

,Uh, uh…. I’ll eat it if you give it to me.”

I turned Roel away in a slightly awkward atmosphere, perhaps because I was annoyed for no reason, and turned around. Aria and Kane crossed their arms and glared at me.

,Treating your hyung who came to take care of you like that! Ross, you’re bad!”

,That’s right! You should have told him to buy ours too!”

I sighed at Aria and Kane’s words and was about to sit back on the sofa. Then another knock came.

I sighed and opened the door with slow steps. There was Rotten, who I had been waiting for so long.

,Why does this bastard have that expression? Aren’t you happy to see your teacher!”

At Rotten’s grumbling voice, I hugged Rotten without realizing it.

,You’ve come, teacher-nim!”

,Ew, you crazy bastard, get off!”

I hurriedly let go at Rotten’s disgusted voice. I was a little disappointed, so I welcomed him a little too much, but it was counterproductive.

Rotten’s appearance, wearing neat clothes instead of his usual shabby clothes, and holding a leather bag in his left hand with an outsider badge on his chest, felt a little unfamiliar.

,Come in.”

I quickly brought Rotten into the club room, afraid that he would run away. The waiting club members came up and greeted him.

,Hello! I’m Aria! I’ve heard a lot about you.”

,Nice to meet you. I’m Lacar, a member of the Messiah Club.”

,Hello. Senior-nim! I’m Kane from the Alchemy Department!”

Rotten, who received the greetings from the club members, accepted the greetings and went straight to Luna.

,H-hello.”

,Yes, nice to meet you. Well, let’s start with the treatment right away, so let’s talk later.”

The club members nodded at Rotten’s words.

,Then, shall we wait outside?”

I shook my head at Lacar’s words.

,I’ll be next to you. I don’t know how long it will take, so let’s all go out.”

Aria nodded at my words and said to Kane and Lacar.

,Then shall we go eat shaved ice? I heard a new cafe opened in the food alley in front of the Imperial Palace!”

,Sure, why not.”

,I like it too.”

Leaving the club members who were going out to eat shaved ice behind, I approached Luna, who was lying on the bed. I gently stroked Luna’s left hand, which she was clenching tightly, as if she was nervous.

,It’ll be okay. Don’t worry.”

,Yeah, thank you….”

As I was looking at Luna, Rotten, who had taken out the items from the bag he had brought, approached with a cane.

,Okay, let’s start right away. It’ll be over when you fall asleep, so don’t worry too much.”

Luna nodded at Rotten’s words and closed her eyes.

Like an orchestra conductor, Rotten gently waved his cane in the air, and green light flowed out like mist and entered Luna’s head.

After a while, I could hear Luna’s even breathing, as if she had fallen asleep.

,I’ll show you what kind of teacher I am on this opportunity.”

Rotten smiled confidently and rolled up his sleeves.