Ch.41I Give Up Acadamy

Amelia sat at her desk looking haggard.

Her usually moist skin was dry and flaky, with dark circles under her eyes.

It was because of some “incident” that Irene had warned her about. Because of this, she hadn’t been able to sleep properly or go home for nearly five days.

‘Maybe I should get some sleep.’

At least things had settled down somewhat. All that remained was to wait, so Amelia was about to take a much-needed nap.

“Captain! Something terrible has happened!”

But before she could close her eyes, she straightened her posture at the sound.

Gilbert burst through the door, panting heavily.

“Young Master Ruide! Your brother!”

Amelia’s eyes, which had been drooping, shot wide open. She jumped to her feet.

“What happened to Ruide? Did he break something else in his sleep this time?”

Gilbert quickly pulled out something he had been hiding in his hand.

Prrrrrt.

With a loud noise, colorful papers landed on Amelia’s head.

It was an artifact called the “Surprise Popper.” Being inexpensive, it was commonly used for commoners’ birthdays.

“…”

Amelia’s brow furrowed sharply.

Gilbert flinched and quickly explained.

“Con-congratulations. Your brother has achieved something remarkable. Would you believe it, he caught a Black Mage.”

“A Black Mage?”

“To be precise, their minion. The investigation revealed it had been dormant within the Academy for a long time. You can see the Black Mage’s minion that Ruide sealed at the plaza near Every Library. Haha!”

Gilbert laughed brightly, but Amelia didn’t join in.

“…Haha.”

Gilbert became serious and said in a stiff posture.

“I apologize.”

“…Sir Gilbert. You should feel ashamed that someone five years younger than us beat us to it.”

Amelia sighed as she flipped through the documents.

“Ruide is not a fairy who magically erases our mistakes. Please don’t bother him. Close Every Library immediately and keep this matter confidential.”

Ruide was already feeling disillusioned with the Academy.

Amelia knew Ruide well. That child would run away if people kept bothering him.

Besides, this was already a case they were pursuing—the suspected Black Mage committing crimes on the island.

While she was proud of Ruide’s impressive achievement, Amelia felt more embarrassed. And she worried about Irene finding out.

If it were Irene, she would surely say…

“Why don’t you quit the Academy and come shovel snow instead? There seems to be no reason for you to be there.”

That was predictable.

“Um… I think that might be difficult,” Gilbert said, wiping his cold sweat with a handkerchief.

“The rumors have already spread throughout the Academy. Moreover, it’s too… public to hide.”

“Public?”

“Yes. The existing Every Library has been destroyed, and there’s a spear stuck in midair as part of the seal. Everyone can see it just by passing by.”

Amelia’s eyes trembled anxiously.

“Then… what’s the Academy’s response?”

“They’re planning to issue an official statement. The magical academic community is in an uproar, demanding an explanation…”

“Wh-what?”

“It’s a magnificent spell. From what I hear, it’s on a completely different level from conventional magic.”

Gilbert paused mid-sentence. Amelia’s expression had become extremely unpleasant.

“Isn’t this… good news?”

Amelia messed up her hair. Cold sweat trickled down her face.

**

Dellin’s Lake was like Ruide’s private room.

It was somewhat isolated from the outside world, and only relatives could enter.

But that personal space was being invaded.

Clifford stood with his hands behind his back, lecturing Ruide.

“You good-for-nothing. This incident cannot be dismissed as a mere prank. Reveal the truth properly. Black Mages are an evil that should not exist.”

Ruide was already stressed by Clifford’s presence at Dellin’s Lake, but he maintained minimal courtesy.

“I was just sleeping in a place I liked when someone attacked me, so I responded instinctively.”

“Are you saying you cast that spell while suddenly waking up? Don’t talk nonsense. It would take at least a week to perform such a perfect spell. No matter how much of a genius you are, you cannot violate the laws of magic.”

Clifford spoke sternly.

“In other words, you, you good-for-nothing, must have known in advance that the Black Mage’s minion would appear.”

“I didn’t know.”

Ruide was getting a headache.

It had been like this for a while. Even when he told the truth, they wouldn’t believe him.

He could guess the situation. It seemed that his magic had triggered a response from “The Chalice of Mana,” creating an infinite power source that maintained the spear.

He wondered if he should explain this too, but…

From how they discovered the holy relic to accusations of concealment and demands for proof—it was obvious they would just become more annoying.

And he didn’t understand why he had to explain his reasoning. He wished they would figure it out through their own investigation. If they couldn’t, that was their lack of ability.

“…I’m not trying to reprimand you, Ruide.”

Clifford crouched down to meet the sullen Ruide’s gaze.

“This incident is that significant. If you find it difficult to answer about the magic, just tell me this one thing. Where is the Black Mage?”

Ruide stared blankly at the sky.

The sun. And two satellites. One of them was still visible. He could tell the date from it.

It was about half-covered.

That meant the time wasn’t right yet, and there was nothing Ruide could tell him.

“I really don’t know. Please leave now.”

“…Then at least tell me what you do know.”

Ruide kept his mouth shut. It had been the same conversation repeating. When he told the truth, they accused him: “You actually know, don’t you?”

‘I really hate this.’

His chest felt tight, and his head throbbed.

Ruide wanted to rest. Without thinking about anything.

But they kept making him think.

The whole situation was stressful for Ruide. He wanted to escape quickly.

Clifford looked at Ruide and said in a low voice.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. This is a problem of a different dimension. Black Mages disrupt the world order. Do you not understand that concealing information when you know it could make you an accomplice?”

Clifford’s manner of speaking was coercive.

He had been in the position of Chancellor for a long time. This approach was effective when dealing with students.

“If you’re a noble, fulfill your noble duties. If you were born privileged and lived more easily than others, you should have a sense of responsibility.”

To Ruide, it felt like the Chancellor was saying, “If you’ve possessed the body of the strongest being in the world, act accordingly.”

Was it because he felt guilty, or was it because he was annoyed?

For the first time since possessing this body in this world, Ruide felt angry.

“What about commoners?”

“What did you say?”

“You say the Academy is equal, but you take away noble privileges while demanding we fulfill responsibilities?”

“It’s only four years. Can’t you endure that brief unfairness? Anyway, great nobles like you will live in luxury after graduation. If you put yourself in their position even briefly, it will become a valuable experience that becomes your flesh and blood later.”

Ruide was born in a democracy.

So he knew that the First Emperor’s opinion that “at least within the Academy, I hope for equality” was a very progressive concept.

Although people in a class-based society might dismiss it as nonsense, equality was one of the few correct answers humanity had found.

But the Chancellor’s logic was unbearable.

With great power comes great responsibility?

One must give to others?

Of course, that could be true.

Ruide himself wanted to prevent too great dangers.

Because he could, and it wasn’t difficult.

But it really annoyed him when someone else demanded it.

“And you brat! Aren’t you already living as you please? Not attending classes, having whatever you want. Just this once, be generous! Take charge of an investigation team. For uncovering the truth about the Black Mage, someone with your talent…”

At the mention of “investigation team,” Ruide felt something snap inside him.

“I don’t want to.”

“Wh-what, you brat!”

“Why should I do that?”

“Black Magic inevitably brings destruction! Surely a magician like you wouldn’t deny that value?”

World order, peace, or whatever?

He didn’t understand why he should care about such things.

Ruide valued inner peace more.

But now his inner peace was being threatened.

“Catching Black Mages isn’t my role. I’m just a student, and protecting students from Black Mages is the Academy’s responsibility. Do it yourself. You’re a great magician too, Chancellor.”

Besides, frankly speaking, although he didn’t know what it was, if it hadn’t been for him, a great calamity would have struck, just as the Chancellor said.

Hadn’t he prevented it anyway?

So he had helped. It wasn’t right to ask for more.

Ruide’s blue eyes stared at Clifford.

“Please don’t treat kindness as a right, Chancellor. And because of you, I’ve made up my mind.”

In his anger, Ruide said what he had been keeping in his heart for a long time.

“I’m quitting the Academy.”

**

Ruide thought he had been very patient.

Just seeing the commoners’ rude words and actions was stressful.

Various forms of hatred flew around.

Commoners always had many complaints. The Chancellor was the same. That old man, his shouting every time he spoke was irritating.

Ruide disliked loud noises. Whenever he saw such people, he was overwhelmed with the urge to cast a silence spell on them.

But he could endure it because the blade of hatred had never been directed at him.

He always observed from a step back. Even when aggression occasionally came his way, he would just frown and let it pass.

But the moment that hatred turned toward him—

“I’m sick of it now.”

He was fed up.

He understood why the “indolent Ruide” from the original story extremely disliked others entering Dellin’s Lake.

He knew it. That other people were hell.

Ruide told Hersy everything.

That he would leave the Academy.

That he had tried to endure as much as he could, but it seemed impossible.

Hersy’s eyes trembled subtly as she listened.

“Tell my sister too.”

Ruide wasn’t wearing his usual uniform.

It was a shabby robe.

“Ru-Ruide…”

Tears welled up in Hersy’s eyes.

“Do you really have to leave?”

“…Why are you talking like it’s the last time?”

Ruide wiped away Hersy’s tears.

“But, but… you’re going back to the North, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“…What?”

“I’ll stay on the island. I have a villa here.”

Hersy sniffled and stopped crying abruptly.

“You’re not returning to the North?”

Ruide nodded.

“Because Ame is here. She’d be sad if I left.”

Hersy was a good friend.

Amelia was family.

That’s why Ruide wanted to stay here for now.

He could go to the North anytime.

“But.”

He had no regrets about leaving the Academy.

However, he was concerned about Hersy. Amelia was strong so it didn’t matter, but Hersy was a character who became a villain in the original story and met a miserable ending.

Ruide held out the fox.

“I’ll lend her to you.”

[Me, me?]

Miho turned to Ruide in surprise. Ruide stared at her and said.

“You protect Hersy.”

[That’s not difficult, but…]

“Don’t you want to?”

[No, I like Hersy too.]

Let’s provide at least a minimal safety measure.

“Ruide…”

Hersy looked at him with touched eyes. She looked just like a deer.

“With this, it’ll be easier to find me. Because we’re connected. Tell my sister too.”

Hersy nodded as she received the fox. Then she carefully asked.

“…Can I visit you?”

“Yes. Anytime.”

Hersy’s expression brightened.

Ruide waved to Hersy.

“Goodbye. See you later.”

“Yes!”

His departing steps were light.

Before leaving the Academy, he looked back one last time.

‘Regret all you want, old man.’