Ch.114Kingdom (1)

The final exam ended with a spectacular display.

At last, the academy welcomed its vacation period.

Of course, vacation didn’t mean any special changes to daily life.

The only difference was that leaving campus became a bit more unrestricted.

Students still lived in the dormitory buildings, attended advanced or supplementary classes during the day, and spent the rest of their time continuing self-study in the library.

It was called a vacation in name only, but in reality, it was no different from attending a 1.5 semester.

The only real difference was that there were no exams during vacation.

The overall schedule definitely felt more relaxed than during the regular semester… but on the other hand, it seemed a bit harsh for the only vacation period in the entire year.

At the same time, I understood.

It’s this intensity that allows it to be called the continent’s finest educational institution.

I was newly impressed by the name Gallimar.

‘Well… I suppose it’s fine as it is.’

Anyway.

Daily life hadn’t changed much in the grand scheme of things.

Except for having a bit more free time, nothing had really changed, but there are always people who know how to make good use of even such subtle changes.

I was especially one of those people.

With the restrictions on leaving campus lifted, I could move around much more freely.

Even normally, as someone with the title of Head Professor, going out wasn’t particularly difficult, but since I had to borrow authority from the supervising professor, I felt somewhat self-conscious about it.

Perhaps I was concerned because I’d been absent quite frequently lately.

The vacation that came amid all this was welcome.

‘I had many matters to attend to at headquarters anyway.’

It was around the time when the original story’s plot was getting on track.

The businessman was gradually revealing his dirty desires, and the cultists were also showing suspicious movements, so I couldn’t afford to lower my guard even slightly.

Deep down, the Chancellor’s prophecy had been bothering me.

I was visiting headquarters regularly to refine our systems.

To prepare for the approaching danger.

“Master.”

Another day was flowing by.

As usual, I had arrived at Astro’s headquarters and was handling work with the Deputy Commander.

Neria handed over prepared documents one by one.

“Here are the materials about the mana stone disease that you ordered investigated last time.”

“You mentioned there was new information, correct?”

“We found relevant content in research materials from dark mages that had been stored in our frontier branch.”

“Your efforts have paid off.”

“However, it will take some time. The books are written in ancient language, so we’re struggling with the translation. Members skilled in linguistics are working hard, but since these items have been exposed to malicious energy for a long time, there’s a risk of mental erosion upon contact, which is slowing down the work.”

“Hmm.”

“Fortunately, we’ve been making progress since last week with the help of priests. Perhaps because they used to be part of Liszt, they’ve shown skillful handling of curses. Currently, they’re focused on alternating between translation and purification. It seems we’ll be able to complete the work in about two weeks.”

“Those priests we took in are proving quite helpful.”

“I can only admire your foresight, Master.”

“Hehe… not that I expected this kind of return.”

“I’ll continue with the next report.”

“Please do.”

The work continued without pause.

I moved my pen.

By the way, I didn’t bring Irene with me today.

It was because of her voluntary request to stay in the dormitory.

The girl had recently started paying attention to household chores.

Last time, she even asked me to teach her cooking, and since then, she seemed to have become absorbed in it, repeatedly practicing.

Today, she even cleared her schedule, saying she would prepare dinner to be ready when I returned.

‘It’s been a while… having a meal prepared by someone else.’

I usually prepared meals myself most days.

It felt like a fresh experience.

Perhaps it was close to the feeling of a married couple waiting for each other.

I smiled at the silly thought.

I pushed away the idle thoughts and continued handling the remaining work.

Time seemed to pass particularly quickly.

“I think we can wrap up here for today. I’ll report back on the remaining matters as they’re resolved.”

“Good work.”

The tedious tasks were finally coming to an end.

I rose from my seat with a stiff body.

As I was stretching briefly, my eyes fell on the calendar placed on one side of the desk.

The date was already pointing to November, the end of autumn.

Winter was approaching before I knew it.

Perhaps it was because of the sentimental mood washing over me. My lightened lips threw a comment toward the Deputy Commander.

The silver-haired girl was looking this way.

I murmured.

“Looking at this… it’s already been almost three years since I met you, Neria.”

A single photograph imprinted in the depths of memory.

As I fingered the texture at my fingertips, I recalled a season when snow was particularly heavy.

It was a winter that was like a painful scar for someone.

“When I first met you, Neria… how should I put it. It was like seeing an injured wild animal.”

The girl back then was quite different.

She was filled only with hatred.

Perhaps it was because of the scar covering half her face.

Eyes that were dead, without even a hint of vitality.

Her fragile hands were on the verge of letting go of the world.

That’s when we met.

-So this is where you were.

The hand I extended.

I remember the temperature when I embraced her blood-soaked body.

I don’t know how it was for her.

But for me, it was one of the few good memories in this world.

I recite with a bit of sentimentality.

“I miss it sometimes.”

“……”

“How are you these days? No more episodes like before?”

“It’s all thanks to you taking me in, Master.”

“I don’t think I did much, though.”

“If you hadn’t taken me in on that cold winter day, I would certainly have died within a year.”

“Hmm hmm.”

“You are the one who saved my life, Master.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

“It’s a precious fact to me.”

The girl answered stiffly.

Her tone was rigid, as if dealing with an uncomfortable person, but in reality, she was blushing and didn’t know what to do.

It seemed she still had some awkwardness in dealing with others.

Having spent time together, I could tell the difference.

“Hehe… there was a time when you spoke casually to me, Neria.”

Swish-

With a pleased heart, I stroked her silver hair.

The girl froze with a small breath.

As I repeatedly brushed my fingertips gently, suddenly a scene from the past flashed before my eyes.

It was a time when both of us reeked of blood.

I recalled.

-One last request.

-Kill me.

-So I don’t become a monster… kill me with your hands.

-I feel like I won’t regret it if it’s you.

A flower pitifully broken.

It feels like just yesterday that I embraced the crying girl.

When did so much time pass?

“You must tell me if the symptoms return. I took measures back then, but you never know.”

“I understand, Master.”

“Let’s head back for today.”

“I’ll call for Lena.”

I quietly rise from my seat.

The girl sees me off accordingly.

We cross the corridor without a word, but we were surely sharing similar recollections.

The winter filled with tears and blood was colored like a memory.

“……”

“……”

Snow fell in the silence.

***

Meanwhile.

In the shopping district near the academy dormitory.

Irene was shopping alone.

Judging by the time, she seemed to be preparing dinner ingredients.

Her fierce eyes carefully examined the food items. She appeared to be paying attention to meal preparation.

She pondered briefly.

“I can’t do anything too difficult… what would be good?”

Her hands repeatedly picked up and put down items.

She never realized preparing a meal for someone else could be this difficult.

When she tried to choose fancy and impressive dishes, her lack of skill held her back, but on the other hand, choosing simple dishes somehow hurt her pride.

The fox fell into serious contemplation.

“Sigh… maybe I shouldn’t have offered.”

She let out a faint sigh.

A moment of regret.

Perhaps she had been hasty.

She couldn’t help but blame herself from yesterday for offering to prepare dinner when she couldn’t even cut properly yet; her heart had simply raced ahead.

The girl put some vegetables into her shopping basket with a sulky expression.

At the same time, she muttered.

“This really is difficult.”

Irene had a new goal.

She wanted to be like that person.

She wanted to resemble someone who was a bit annoying and consistently ominous, but also kind in their own way.

Her sudden interest in cooking was along similar lines.

Affection or admiration.

These complex, mixed emotions made her body feel hot.

The girl recalled the warm stew.