Ch.191Chapter 191: New Connections (3).

# Chapter 191: New Connections (3)

As the door to Professor Riemann’s office closed, an invisible weight seemed to settle on Valt’s shoulders.

‘Five Elements Fusion Authority.’ The chilling warning of ‘existence annihilation’ that loomed behind the glory of destroying the Death Knight refused to leave his mind.

That sensation of every cell screaming, a fundamental sense of depletion that was on a completely different level from simple magical or energy exhaustion.

His master’s desperate warning was not something to be taken lightly.

‘…It uses my very existence as fuel?’

A bitter laugh escaped him. The irony of greater restrictions or dangers accompanying greater power.

Having to seal away one of his most powerful secret techniques while facing a massive enemy like Dark Ash was frustrating, but remembering Professor Riemann’s confident gaze, he couldn’t simply ignore the warning.

‘Hah… at times like this, I actually miss having limitations.’

Lost in complex thoughts, he crossed the academy’s wide campus alone.

Perhaps because it was lunchtime, the surroundings were filled with the cheerful laughter and footsteps of students.

Yet even amid that noise, the whispers and gazes directed at Valt never ceased.

‘Death Knight Slayer,’ ‘Hero of the East.’

Valt had always drawn attention, but since the Eastern Battle, he had become the most prominent figure in the academy.

Normally he would have ignored it and moved on, but perhaps because his mind was troubled.

He slightly furrowed his brow at the blatant stares directed at him and quickened his pace.

He needed time to quietly organize his thoughts back in the dormitory.

Just then, a shadow deliberately blocked his path.

“Hey. Barbarian.”

Along with the smell of cheap perfume came an insufferably arrogant voice.

Three or four noble youths, excessively adorned with flashy accessories and deliberately wearing their expensive uniforms sloppily, stood before Valt like street thugs.

The one in the center, with eyes as narrow as a snake’s, spat on the ground at Valt’s feet with a sneering smile.

“Are you that southern half-breed everyone’s talking about? Just because you got lucky playing hero on a pile of orc corpses, you think you can strut around like you own the place?”

A short, stocky one next to him cackled with a disgusting laugh.

“Hahaha! Hey, they say this guy’s a mage! A mage who doesn’t use magic but fights with his fists like a beast! Have you ever heard of such a thing? It’s a complete comedy!”

“Tsk, tsk, this is why they call southerners barbarians. Relying only on brute strength. No class at all. This guy killed a Death Knight? Then I’ve killed a demon.”

Every word they spoke dripped with contempt, treating Valt like an insect, and naked jealousy of his reputation.

Valt silently looked at them. His golden eyes were cold and emotionless.

“Judging by your badges, you seem to be fourth-years… Do you have nothing better to do than harass a first-year? If you have no business with me, step aside.”

His voice was low and calm.

But within it lay an icy coldness.

The nobles hesitated momentarily at Valt’s aura but soon regained their arrogance, realizing they had numerical superiority.

“What’s with this bastard? Are you giving us orders? A first-year daring to! We’re your seniors! You barbaric piece of trash!!”

“Hey, savage. Do you think this is the South? Know your place and—”

That’s when it happened.

A clear, dignified voice cut through their marketplace-like shouting.

“What exactly are you doing?”

A solemn voice, neither too high nor too low.

Strangely, everyone’s attention turned to the owner of the voice.

A female student had quietly appeared near them.

She wore a yellow badge, marking her as a first-year.

Her eyes, reminiscent of gentle waves, shone elegantly with her gaze, and her transparent skin revealed between strands of pitch-black long hair created an otherworldly beauty.

She exuded noble dignity along with an aura of unapproachable majesty.

“I never expected to see such low-class troublemaking among students. Surely you must be from prestigious noble families, so where did you learn such vulgar speech?”

One of the group that had been harassing Valt bristled at this.

“What did you say? Who are you to interfere, you wretched girl?”

The one who appeared to be their leader pushed aside the one who had just spoken and stepped forward.

“W-who are you… to interfere?”

The black-haired woman, without changing her expression despite the nobles’ rudeness, looked directly at them and spoke calmly.

“My name is Siloin de Duron. I don’t know which houses you belong to, but it seems you haven’t even learned basic courtesy. Is this how your families taught you to treat a hero who risked his life to protect the East?”

Her voice was quiet, but it carried a power that overwhelmed those who heard it. The nobles looked at each other in confusion.

“Duron? That Duron?”

“Shut up, you idiot!”

The troublemakers who had been harassing Valt suddenly became as meek as lambs.

“No, that’s not it… We were just… curious about his skills…”

“If you were curious, you could have approached with proper respect. This behavior, like common street thugs, only makes me question your breeding. Perhaps… while countless people were bleeding and fighting in the East, what were you doing in your safe havens?”

The nobles’ faces turned red at her sharp question.

Unable to find a rebuttal, they stammered as the woman coldly continued.

“As a royal of the Kingdom of Duron, I cannot overlook such behavior.”

‘Kingdom of Duron,’ ‘Siloin de Duron.’ At the unexpected appearance of these names, the nobles’ faces turned pale.

The Kingdom of Duron was among the most powerful allied nations of the Empire.

It was a power that even Imperial nobles could not afford to offend carelessly.

“Princess Siloin?”

“Indeed.”

The Imperial nobles immediately backed down at those words.

“P-Princess! We didn’t recognize you! We apologize!”

“We’ve been terribly rude…”

“Your apologies should be directed to Lord Valt, whom you insulted, not to me. Though I doubt he would find your apologies worthy of acceptance now.”

Siloin shot them a contemptuous look and continued.

“Leave at once. I hope not to witness such disgraceful behavior before me again. That is, if you don’t wish to bring shame upon your family names.”

Her voice carried a firmness that suggested no further tolerance.

The nobles, now almost in tears, bowed their heads repeatedly and scurried away as if looking for a mouse hole to hide in.

Students watching from around them snickered at their pathetic retreat.

As the commotion subsided, Siloin turned to Valt with a gentle smile as if nothing had happened.

“I apologize for the disturbance, Prince Valt Geruntu. I hope my intervention wasn’t unwelcome.”

Valt carefully observed this mysterious princess who had helped him.

Her actions were clearly well-intentioned, but something beyond simple righteousness could be sensed in her gaze.

“…No, thanks to you, I was spared some trouble. Princess Siloin. I appreciate your help.”

“Not at all. If our paths cross again…”

Siloin seemed pleased with Valt’s brief thanks, giving him a warm smile as she prepared to leave.

After briefly surveying his surroundings, Valt suddenly recalled her attire and manner of speech.

“The Kingdom of Duron… Isn’t that where the famous Lamrpo Trading Company is headquartered?”

At Valt’s question, Siloin’s green eyes widened with surprise and joy.

She turned back, taking a step toward Valt, and spoke with excitement.

“You know of the Lamrpo Trading Company, Prince Valt? Yes, indeed. It’s the pride and heart of Duron. Without them, Duron wouldn’t be what it is today. The continent’s finest logistics network, exclusive rights to various rare resources, and even support for magical engineering research! Truly…”

The sudden change in her demeanor took some getting used to, but Valt was pleased to see how proud she was of the Lamrpo Trading Company.

She began enthusiastically listing praises and accomplishments of the Lamrpo Trading Company as if she were its head.

Valt found this unaffected, passionate side of her somewhat unexpected.

‘…She really does have tremendous pride in the company. It’s more likely that her intervention just now was truly coincidental, rather than a calculated approach toward me.’

Lamrpo, Valt’s loyal supporter. At the mention of his name, Valt felt some of the tension in his heart ease.

He unconsciously raised the corner of his mouth slightly as he said:

“It seems to be as impressive a company as I’ve heard. Hmm… Did you help me because you knew that Lamrpo Trading Company’s main client is Geruntu?”

“How perceptive. I can’t deny it. Duron is experiencing unprecedented prosperity thanks to Geruntu, after all.”

“Haha, I see. Princess, do you have time? I’d like to buy you a cup of tea as thanks.”

At Valt’s unexpected offer, Siloin’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before she broke into a bright smile and happily replied:

“Are you serious?”

Valt smiled and said:

“Geruntu does not favor empty words.”

“I’m honored. Ah, I’ve heard there’s a very nice tea house nearby.”

“Excellent. Shall we go then?”

As Valt and Princess Siloin walked side by side…

A pair of eyes was watching them.