episode_0098

2nd floor of the Academy’s administrative building.

The frowning woman stared at the red-haired girl.

“You must have paid attention to the same content last time. Lucia student.”

“Sorry.”

“…Is it true that you are truly sorry?”

[Part-time instructor Echidna] sighed and looked troubled. This was already the fifth time that I encountered a student who was clearly identified as a problem child.

Following assaults on fellow students, assaults on upperclassmen, destruction of property, and assaults on multiple upperclassmen, today was also an assault on multiple upperclassmen. Even though only two months had passed since the semester started, it was natural that Echidna’s stress level was rising.

But this too is an incident that will pass someday. It’s foolish to think too deeply and get overly stressed.

Moreover, the unproductive task of guiding problematic students is always the youngest’s responsibility. So, in the back of Echidna’s mind, a manual for guiding problematic students came to mind.

The academy, which has existed for hundreds of years, has created a time-honored manual to teach students who are not only proud but also powerful, and it has always been a source of strength for powerless faculty members like Echidna.

Echidna crossed her legs alternately and pretended to be relaxed.

“Student Lucia.”

“Yes.”

” Surprisingly, things in the world are rarely resolved by saying sorry.”

“…”

“If the student is truly sorry and is reflecting on that, shouldn’t we be careful to prevent this from happening again?”

“…There is no shame in causing concern. But,”

“But?”

“I… I don’t know where the problem is with my behavior.”

Lucia lifted her lowered head and stared at Echidna. Anger flickered in his golden eyes.

“If you start a fight… isn’t it natural that you have to be prepared to get hit? This is especially true if they come in droves to seek revenge.”

“……Well, this is a regrettable answer.”

Sipping the cooled coffee, Echidna tried to drive away her fatigue. This girl’s aggressiveness did not discriminate against her opponents. However, Echidna did not see this as an infringement on the authority of the church, but rather as a trait commonly found in children in the midst of a stormy and turbulent period.

but,

There was no way to help the negative feelings building up toward Lucia.

‘Immature and emotional. Although she is a first year student, it is natural to be compared to Siriel, who is said to be a model for other students.’

Echidna adjusted her glasses and spoke to Lucia.

“Couldn’t there have been a more moderate way?”

“Moderate?”

“Why is it there? You can scold the other person moderately… or if you don’t like that, you can ask your guardian for help.”

“Do you mean to tell your parents like a child?”

“…The expression is a little rough, but it’s not much different from that.”

Echidna said with a smile.

“As far as I know, Miss Lucia is Hugo Prien’s adopted daughter.”

Hugo Prien, when that name was mentioned, Lucia lowered her head.

“Hugo Prien is a mountain-like figure that no one in the empire knows about. In that case, wouldn’t borrowing Hugo’s famous name be the quickest and most moderate solution? Although the Imperial Academy does not allow intervention by external forces and pursues equality without status discrimination, it is an educational institution within the empire.”

“…”

“Stupid kids who attack Lucia every day… If it’s his name, things will be resolved in an instant.”

“But…”

Lucia pursed her lips as if choosing her words. However, Lucia could not bear to utter the next words. How can I say that I can’t do something because of my pride and I’m not a brat.

“Of course, there will be parts you don’t like.”

Echidna glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It’s already late and night. The time has come to put an end to it.

“But this academy is not just for academic achievement. It is also a social gathering place where you can rehearse before going out into society.”

“…”

“As you probably know, it is more common than you think to tell your peers when a fight breaks out in society. Ultimately, it is one of the ways to solve the problem.”

Echidna slowly stood up. She continued as she gathered her belongings.

“If this continues, Miss Lucia will not be able to avoid suspension, even if she acted in self-defense by responding to the opponent’s argument. Think carefully before making your choice.”

“…Okay.”

Lucia bowed to Echidna and went out of the building.

It was dusk when the interview began, but it was already night and the sky was full of stars.

“Are you finished?”

And then, a girl as beautiful as the stars in the night sky approached Lucia. Siriel was waiting for Lucia on the bench in front of the main gate.

“Sorry…”

Lucia repeated quietly.

While maintaining an honorable stance that she had done nothing wrong, Lucia always felt sorry for Siriel. Siriel always refused to watch Lucia come home alone.

Lucia walked a few steps toward Siriel and lowered her head.

“Sorry Siriel, you were late coming home because of me.”

“Why is this because of you?”

Siriel covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. But the words that came out of her mouth were not laced with laughter.

“It’s all because of idiots who don’t even know the topic.”

“Sorry.”

Lucia repeated her apology.

The fact that Siriel, an exemplary noblewoman, used foul language means that she is very uncomfortable. Although Siriel did not blame Lucia, Lucia had no choice but to apologize to her repeatedly.

“Why do you keep apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…Do you think so too?”

“Yes.”

As Siriel slowly approached, Lucia smelled the scent emanating from Siriel. I could feel the warm spring in her body.

“We are ‘sisters’, right? This much is natural. And um… I’ve got some news to cheer you up.”

Siriel took out a piece of paper from a luxurious-looking hand bag and held it out to Lucia. Even though it was a dark night, Lucia could clearly read the words written on the paper.

The paper was a list of passengers on airships going in and out of the empire.

And then, Lucia found the letters written in highlighter: Siron Prien.

‘Chiron?’

At that moment, Lucia’s eyes opened wide.

It’s been 5 years since Siron left the mansion. He said he was busy and didn’t reply much, but the long-awaited poem came back.

But Lucia couldn’t be purely happy about that fact.

“Ciriel, where did you get this?”

“Lucia.”

Siriel grinned and put her index finger to her mouth.

“Be careful.”

“Uh…”

“Isn’t the important thing now is that you are in Lien?”

Siriel took the paper back from Lucia. The paper that was secretly taken from the immigration office was too dangerous for Lucia to hold it for a long time as it was not very shaky.

“We need to prepare a welcome party. I’m sure you must have been very lonely since you’ve been out of town for a long time. So… Lucia shouldn’t show gloom, right?”

“Okay.”

Lucia rubbed her face with both hands to capture her expression. But there was no need to try not to show it. At the thought of being able to meet Siron, the depressed mood I had felt a moment ago disappeared like a lie.

*

Meanwhile, in the red-light district that forms the night city, there was someone who was irritated by the lack of progress.

“Damn.”

Siron came out of the building with a frown on his face.

This was the fifth establishment, but only a weak demonic spirit was felt and no one who appeared to be an apostle could be found.

But digging in was not a wasted effort. No matter how much polymorph magic he used, he could not avoid Prien’s eyes as long as he had the identity of an apostle.

So, if I stopped by one store or another, I would be able to find Apostle someday.

However, after looking into it myself, I realized that this was not the case.

“Efficiency sucks.”

If things continued like this, not only would the day break, but there was a possibility that Camilla, who was currently working as a prostitute, would disappear somewhere.

“In the end, this store also had no income.”

Seira, sitting on a nearby bench, said. She crossed her legs and started kneading them as if she was in a bit of pain.

“What are you going to do? There are still a lot of stores left, and there may be rumors that some outsider is looking for people. If the person you are looking for has legs… considering the possibility of moving on his own… I think you need to change your method.”

“…right.”

Shiron also sat down next to Seira. He took some water out of his pocket and drank it to catch his breath. Perhaps because it is the water of Lucerne, it is imbued with divine power, and I felt as if my mind was becoming clearer.

Siron looked around with a slightly clearer head.

“…”

People were staring.

The reason he came here without taking off his priestly attire was to attract attention. Clothes that were so conspicuous were easy to identify, and there was a possibility that an apostle who sensed a threat would immediately show up to exclude Siron.

‘Camila Rhodes…’

Siron tilted his head back and recalled the information about the Reincarnated Sword God.

‘The troublemaker of Reincarnated Swordsman, who almost made the game unavailable to teenagers…’

Camila Rhodes was a disaster both in the game and in real life. Be honest. If I think about it now, it was a miracle that Reincarnated Swordsman didn’t receive a grade of approval or disapproval.

Provocative clothing.

The vulgar setting of dealing with dozens of people a day, regardless of whether they are men or women.

‘But the main setting would be that Sado hates Prien. Has it changed since the game became a reality?’

In the game, you could easily come across Camilla while wandering around the red-light district. And since action RPG is a genre, there will inevitably be bloody fights to the death.

however,

The game was just a game. An area that only took 5 minutes to walk around once became a reality, and with a strange sense of probability, it grew to the size of most villages.

‘It’s not that I didn’t think it would end up like this.’

Siron stretched and stood up from the bench.

“Let’s change the method.”

“How?”

“Let that guy come to you.”

After saying that, Siron walked to a certain place. There was a branch of the Imperial Central Bank and Night Rail there.

Seira followed Shiron’s side as if her interest was piqued. Siron started to put his hand in his arms.

“Why are you trying to rob a bank?”

“…Are you crazy?”

Siron glanced at Seira, who was talking nonsense, and quietly entered the bank.

And now, dozens of minutes later, there was a commotion on the street.

But although it was messy, it was never violent.

“Priest! Bless me too!”

“My, I come first!”

“Don’t push! Don’t push!”

“Please wait for your turn. The grace of the Lord comes to everyone.”

Sigh-

Siron, riding a palanquin, scattered gold coins in the air. His face, as he spreads his wealth without any regrets, was like that of Buddha.

People were clamoring to pick up gold coins that had fallen on the floor, and rumors of a priest showering golden blessings quickly spread.