Ch.353353. Two Years of Time (1)

If it was obvious, it was obvious. After that day, following the subjugation of Ashpern and Feltiburgs, things were absolutely chaotic.

With the sweltering summer came a flood of major events, leaving no time to breathe. Junon was pulled in every direction.

However, if one were to identify the most significant event among them… it would probably be that time.

After the date of meeting Rohinithe, Renias’s grandmother, had long passed.

Just as other professors had unanimously mentioned, the Emperor of the Artena Empire personally visited the Principality.

The Emperor arrived in person with his ministers to assess the current state of the Principality, investigated the territories of nobles who had already been purged, and returned them to society.

Then reconstruction work began immediately.

With the full support of the Artena Empire continuing, the citizens of the Principality who had welcomed peace also took initiative, and with the joining of Seiren and Lakan, Levrant Academy was filled not with the smell of blood and rotting corpses, but with the scent of construction sites.

However, a completely unexpected event occurred.

“I commend your outstanding achievements. In that spirit…”

Nominally, it was praise for a commander who had successfully navigated the Principality through an unprecedented crisis, but the actual meaning was quite different.

“Junon. The middle name ‘Alcaide’ would suit you well.”

What kind of figure was Lord Alcaide known as in the Empire? He was a man who had saved humanity early on, a legendary figure who stopped the war between elves and dwarves and integrated them into human society.

To be given the middle name Alcaide, equal to such a person… thanks to this, he apparently had quite a difficult time for several days.

As the professors had said, there was no shortage of people who clung to him. Starting with journalists, all sorts of people flocked around him for interviews and recruitment attempts… If he hadn’t been affiliated with the Academy, he would have been constantly disturbed whether asleep or awake, thanks to the crowds of people swarming around him.

But this too had its own problems…

“Early graduation?”

“Yes. I thought we should give it some consideration.”

Shortly after, Professor Muniher said with deep sighs. The conditions for early graduation at Levrant Academy are quite strict. Just looking for comparison, they were people who consistently ranked at the top. If one had to name a representative figure, Aris of Tembris was an early graduation candidate.

But how could early graduation be mentioned when he had barely been enrolled? This ironic judgment, contrary to Professor Muniher’s statement that he should remain protected while maintaining his affiliation with the Academy, left Junon questioning.

“Isn’t it too early? I’ll just lose my Academy affiliation.”

Professor Muniher sighed again.

“To maintain your Academy affiliation, you need to remain a student, but as you can see.”

Professor Muniher pushed forward a stack of documents. With Junon’s name clearly written on them, there was no question whose they were.

“I hate to say this to the other students, but even without the Alcaide title, you were originally one of the top-tier powerhouses in this Academy. You were completely unmatched not only by your peers and juniors but even by those a year or two ahead of you.”

“Hmm. I think that’s a misunderstanding. There were quite a few times I was pushed back during practice matches, not just in metrics.”

“My, sometimes modesty can be poisonous, you know.”

“It’s not modesty, it’s the truth…”

“Since you keep denying it, I’ll have to be extreme. I heard you continued sparring with Ronelion. The same with Goden. Originally, almost no ordinary student could handle those two. Did you know that?”

“…”

Naturally, this was news to Junon.

“Jake probably didn’t tell you directly. If there was anyone who could properly match those two, even if they couldn’t defeat them, it would only be Renias. And now there’s one more person.”

“Are you saying… that’s me?”

Seeing Junon pointing at himself in disbelief, Muniher let out another heavy sigh.

“Yes. Denis was the same. He said you were the only one who made him fight seriously, not just instructional sparring. Your combat sense is that exceptional. How do you think it feels to face you? Do you think Jake and I, who wouldn’t bat an eye even if dozens of youngsters rushed us at once, take it easy on you?”

Though he was completely unaware of it himself, facing him was hell for his opponents.

He was the only ordinary person who could stand as an equal against the two cores of the Principality’s forces, the members of the Tembris and Arcab parties.

When some new students, hearing he was the former commander, boldly challenged Junon, thinking he might be overrated, the results were devastating.

His tactical use of various tools, combined with his accumulated battlefield experience, exuded a suffocating pressure on opponents. Thanks to his extraordinary mind that keenly identified and exploited weaknesses, conventional formulas didn’t apply in hand-to-hand or chaotic combat. Moreover, with his unmatched mana control, opponents couldn’t even figure out how to approach him.

Without understanding the nature of these techniques, there was no way to gain an advantage. In such situations, he would methodically push forward, dig out his opponent’s weaknesses, and exploit them, leaving no answer to be found. Even in group battles where they had numerical superiority!

As a result, Junon had achieved an astonishing record of consecutive victories, even going undefeated.

“Currently, the only ones in Levrant Academy who could match you are barely Ronelion, Renias, and Tembris. But even they couldn’t hold a candle to you in group battles no matter how many they bring. At most, they can only face you in one-on-one combat, which broadly means no one can keep up with you.”

This was no exaggeration, but the truth. When it came to tactics, he would wear down his opponents even more solidly on the path to victory.

Besides, was he the former commander for nothing? Those who savored that shocking and exhilarating victory at the Ripol River say they never forget that moment.

For Muniher, as a teacher, such results should be pleasing. But that’s as a mentor, not as the current deputy headmaster and professor, for whom it wasn’t quite a pleasant outcome.

Growing sprouts should see no limits to continue growing endlessly, but when they see an insurmountable wall, won’t their spirits be broken?

If Junon were to go easy on them, it could lead to bigger problems like wounded pride or perceived disrespect, and if he gave his all, the disparity would become so extreme that the wall would seem even larger. Inferiority complexes tend to take hold when confidence drops significantly.

In a way, it was a dilemma, so Muniher had no choice but to offer Junon another option.

“That’s why I recommended early graduation, but there are still plenty of people clinging to you, right?”

“Yes. If my affiliation changes like this, it might really become troublesome.”

“Well then, I do have a solution, how about this?”

Muniher slightly raised the corner of his mouth. As if everything was going according to plan.

This was the wind of change that Junon unintentionally faced.

“Brother…?”

“I was planning it secretly, but since it’s all been revealed, what can I do?”

Shortly after, this would become the catalyst that beautifully shattered his plan.

***

“S-so how did it go?”

Renias asks Dalia, who has just finished the examination, with anxious eyes. Her anxiety is so palpable that even Dalia can feel it clearly.

She looks so visibly worried, as if something might be wrong, that it speaks for itself.

But unlike the worried Renias, Dalia smiles slightly.

“I told you there’s no need to worry so much. This is just a check-up to see if he’s been taking care of himself properly after discharge.”

“B-but still…”

“If Junon was seriously ill, I wouldn’t have discharged him. Or do you not trust me, Reni?”

“Ah, that’s not it! How could I doubt your medical skills, Aunt?”

“If that’s not it, then don’t worry too much and wait. Nothing will be wrong. Okay?”

Renias finally nods, relieving some of her anxiety.

As mentioned earlier, Dalia is confident that this examination won’t yield any concerning results. This check-up is simply to monitor recovery progress and trends, just a routine examination.

Although Junon did use Alcaide’s power, he fully recovered his vitality with the power of the constellation that manifested before him, so there’s no need for special concern.

In fact, all his vital signs had returned to normal, and despite his injuries, his well-trained body recovered quite quickly. Additionally, he had the benefit of attentive care and considerate visitors, so he didn’t even experience much stress. It could truly be called a complete recovery.

‘Yet Renias is so anxious…’

Presumably because it had accumulated several times.

This examination is merely to monitor recovery progress and check for any other symptoms, but for Renias, who had seen Junon lying in a hospital bed, it’s impossible not to worry about what might happen.

‘How many times must he have been injured…’

A sharp sense of guilt struck her. If only she had found out a little sooner, if only she had set foot in the Principality a little earlier to prevent him from using Alcaide’s power. Then Renias wouldn’t be trembling like this now. And Junon wouldn’t have had to sacrifice his own body.

That belated pain pricked her heart, allowing Dalia to understand Renias’s feelings somewhat.

Beep-

The signal indicating the examination was complete.

At the same time, Junon carefully gets up and walks over. His destination has been fixed from the start.

“Why are you looking at me like that again?”

“…I can’t help but worry.”

“Even though I told you I’d be fine, you’re still like this.”

Junon gently pats the back of Renias, who nestles into his arms like a child seeking comfort, still unable to feel at ease.

Seeing this, Dalia thought how fortunate it was.

‘Once she only forced herself to smile while suffering from nightmares, but now she’s even acting spoiled.’

In the past, she might have held it in and brushed it off, saying she was fine and not worried. But now Renias expresses her feelings honestly. Just watching them, one can guess how much her mindset has changed.

The dark side of Renias, who used to hold everything in, has been completely erased. By that boy who strokes her back and has opened wide her tightly closed heart.

If those two had seen this, wouldn’t they have been truly happy?

“Please tell us the results right away, Professor Dalia. If you don’t show her I’m fine, she’ll puff up her cheeks and keep looking for answers.”

“Is that so? Wait just a moment.”

“J-just a minute. When did I ever do that! Aunt, it’s a misunderstanding! I never…”

“No lying. The doctor at the hospital where you stayed before kindly informed me that you stole my medical records.”

“Eek! I asked them to keep it a secret…!”

While Renias made a pitiful face after being caught in her lie, Dalia showed them the examination results with a soft chuckle.

There were no sections indicating any problems.

However, Dalia had something to address.

“Reni. I’m sorry, but could you leave us for a moment? I have something to discuss with Junon privately.”

***

At Professor Dalia’s request, Renias left the room.

There was nothing wrong with my body. However, asking Renias to leave suggests this is quite an important conversation.

Something important to me at present. I wonder what it could be, though there is still one unresolved question.

“It seems Lord Alcaide didn’t recover like I did.”

“…”

That’s correct. Professor Dalia flinched, her shoulders trembling. Judging by her wavering eyes, I’ve guessed roughly what she wanted to discuss.

A deep sigh follows. Not mine.

“Using life force, drawing on one’s lifespan to use that power… outwardly, he would have appeared perfectly fine. But in reality, he was enduring with superhuman willpower. That’s how the decisive battle at Mirum Island concluded. And then…”

Renias’s father, Lord Alcaide, fell into a deep sleep afterward, she says.

Days? Weeks?

It wasn’t on that scale.

A period spanning months, even approaching years. He hovered between life and death for that long time, unable to wake up.

Then miraculously, a tool infused with divine power awakened him, and he finally opened his eyes. But,

“He may have looked fine on the surface, but in reality, he had used up all his remaining lifespan, and only by dividing the connected lifespans of two people in half was he barely able to wake up. The time they spent together after that was just two years.”

The time given to them was not very long.