episode_0037

Lana’s grandfather, Latral Heitald, looked haggard overnight. Dark circles were deeply etched under his eyes, and he seemed drained of energy.

“…….”

He didn’t say anything, so I ignored him and walked past.

I usually thought well of him. Just from the way he treated me as the caretaker, I could see that his dignity in his words and actions was different from others, going beyond mere kindness.

But the sight of an 8th-circle mage, a figure who would soon be placed among the transcendent ranks akin to gods, bowing his head was displeasing.

Of course, he was not yet a transcendent and remained a mortal, so he was not at the stage where he could rashly break the contract, but he was a skilled person who could at least attempt it.

Nevertheless, Latral stopped me without a moment’s hesitation. Even after seeing his granddaughter on his back.

“Lana, is she alright….”

I didn’t even want to have a simple conversation, but I stopped for a moment to answer his question. He was entitled to know about his granddaughter’s condition.

“She’s in good enough condition to be running around tomorrow.”

“That’s a relief….”

I don’t know what he did to be so listless. I’m the one who suffered.

Latral was silent for a while. Then, after a long time, he opened his mouth.

“What… should I have done?”

Hearing those words, I was rather taken aback. It wasn’t even worth answering, but I answered him. If left unchecked, his heart could be consumed by darkness.

“Professor, you’ve lived longer than me and your skills are above mine. Shouldn’t you be able to make that kind of judgment?”

The action to take in that situation was very obvious.

Latral spoke in a slightly trembling, self-reproaching voice.

“Are you saying I should have saved Lana even if it meant giving up everything?”

“I don’t expect that much. But you shouldn’t have stopped me.”

I thought that he would be willing to take a loss for his granddaughter and pave the way. So, instead of blindly breaking through, I tried to have a conversation first. Of course, it wasn’t as expected.

I continued in a cold voice.

“Moreover, at least here, you should have done your best as a professor to help your student.”

Leading and caring for students as an educator. That is the oath taken when appointed as a Tianis professor. Latral broke that oath.

A dark shadow fell over his face. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

A small word of apology. I retorted sarcastically.

“Apologize to Lana directly.”

Even so, Lana will probably comfort her grandfather. She needs to know how to get angry sometimes, but sometimes I worry about her.

“As a professor who should protect students, I have committed a great sin against you.”

“It’s okay. What’s done is done.”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“This is my fault. I wish I could kneel down right now. If you’re willing to accept it, I want to grant you a wish. Would that be alright?”

Huh? That was quite unexpected.

“I’m not saying this to ask for forgiveness. As a professor, I want to highly commend your courage and sacrifice and give a reward to the student named Kyle Arden.”

At least it wouldn’t be a loss for me. I needed something anyway, so this is good.

“Hmm… How far can you go?”

“Right below the authority of the president, so I can do most things.”

“Is it possible to restore the academy’s usage rights?”

“There’s no reason why not. It’s impossible to skip several steps, but it’s possible to raise it by one level.”

That’s perfect. I’m satisfied with that much.

“Then please allow me to use the facilities.”

“That’s a very modest wish. With my authority, I could open the academy’s storage and give you anything you want.”

“Do I look like I’m greedy for elixirs or magical tools?”

“Well, probably. It wouldn’t be useful with your skills anyway.”

Still, Latral didn’t seem willing to end it with just that.

“But I can’t end it with just this. Twice. I’ll grant you what you want up to twice.”

“I won’t need it, but I understand for now.”

“And I’ll talk to the professors, so take a break this week.”

“There’s no need for that….”

“No, I heard from the World Tree. You strained yourself when saving Lana.”

Tsk, that old woman just keeps saying unnecessary things. Well, if I can legally skip classes, I welcome it.

“I’ll go in now.”

After the story was roughly over, I went into the dormitory. Latral whispered softly behind me.

“…Please take care of Lana.”

“I will anyway.”

I answered roughly and went inside. Then Lana greeted me.

“Kyle! I’m hungry!”

“That’s why I bought you food.”

The three of us spent the day in the dormitory.

***

My request, which I thought would take at least two days, was fulfilled in one day.

The very next day, I received a call to visit the student center to renew my rights. So, I went straight there and got it renewed.

“That’s unexpected.”

I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.

Excluding the dormitory, facility usage rights can be renewed at any time during the semester with a professor’s recommendation.

However, I was demoted due to the trial. Even with Latral’s influence, it’s not an easy renewal to allow. He probably put in a lot of effort.

Well, it also means that he has a lot of faith in Latral to allow that. He had been a professor dedicated to the academy for decades. Moreover, he was incorruptible. If it were another professor, I would have been accused of taking money and been rejected.

Now that I can use the department facilities and have time off from classes, I decided to go to the library with Lana for the exam.

“Hehe, Kyle and the library….”

“Are you happy?”

“Yeah, I’m happy!”

Lana smiled brightly on the way to the library.

That being said, the road there was far from peaceful. Just one day. Lana had only disappeared and reappeared, but the academy was noisy and boisterous.

As soon as we arrived at the center, hundreds of students stuck to us. Dozens of students tried to separate Lana and me. The momentum was so strong that I, the summoned beast, and Ellaim joined forces to push back the crowd.

It seems like a strange rumor spread again even after the princess explained. What did they say? That I brainwashed Lana? Something like that was floating around.

Lana tried hard to clear up the misunderstanding. Thanks to that, we were stuck in the department grounds for almost an hour.

“Hoo…. What is this commotion on the way to the library.”

“It’s harder than during the opening ceremony….”

Both Lana and I were very exhausted. It was something I was determined to do, but the scale of the work is larger than I thought.

I advised her.

“Never disappear without saying anything. I can’t stand to see this again.”

“I don’t think this is right either….”

Lana, who likes people, agreed for once. As she said, it’s definitely not a situation to welcome again.

Then Ellaim chimed in.

“Young master, you’re exaggerating. There were far more people when you were in the family.”

“…Was there?”

“Yes, Lana. When you were young, almost all the territory residents rushed to see you during the territory event. Not now, though.”

“Sister, was Kyle like that?”

“Yes, Lana. Back then, the young master’s eyes were not sharp and he was rather cute.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

I stopped the conversation that was going in a strange direction and moved to the library.

The first time visiting the library since possessing the body. The Tianis Library was vast in size as it housed a huge collection of books.

Roughly 1.5 times the size of the stadium where the entrance ceremony is held. It is the largest building in Tianis Academy.

“Kyle, have you ever been to the library?”

“Probably… not.”

The delinquent is far from studying, so there’s no way he would have been here. Maybe he came once after entering the school? I don’t even know.

“You don’t even know how to enter? Okay, just follow me.”

Lana put her wristwatch on the magic device on the right side of the entrance, as if teaching a child, no, a freshman. And she passed through the mana barrier as it was and entered.

“Like this.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

This method is very familiar to me. Tianis had many modern aspects. Just looking at the wristwatch reminds me of a smart watch. This is also a method devised by the founding emperor.

I entered in the same way as Lana. Ellaim just came in without having to do that. She has a separate magic engraved on her.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t know?”

“What do you take me for?”

“A student who doesn’t study and has never been to the library?”

“That’s true, but….”

I couldn’t think of anything to refute.

Anyway, department facilities are used in this way.

Perhaps because the exam was not far away, there were many students in the library. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors were already full, and the 4th floor was about 90% full. We headed to the 5th floor.

“Let’s go there!”

Lana led me. Since it was a library, she also minimized her words and footsteps as much as possible. And the moment she sat in an empty seat.

“Oh? Kyle hyung? Did you come to study?”

Evan and his group popped out next to us. I thought he would appear when I was about to forget him, but it’s good timing.

After roughly greeting them, I said to Evan.

“Evan, come straight to my dormitory after class tomorrow.”

“Yes? I don’t mind, but don’t you have a class then, hyung?”

“I’m taking a break this week, so it’s okay. So, come no matter what.”

“Yes, well.”

Evan didn’t ask any further questions. Sometimes it was convenient to have unlimited trust in someone.

“And Chloe. Can I see you for a moment?”

Next is Chloe. I grabbed her hand and dragged her away.

“Senior, I’m embarrassed if you do this in a place like this~”

“Shut up and follow me. Lana, wait a moment. Ellaim, don’t follow me.”

“Okay!”

“…I understand.”

Ellaim didn’t like it, but she didn’t follow me.

I took Chloe to a quiet place. The arrangement of the bookshelves in the library is well-organized, but surprisingly, it is mixed with a trick that confuses the mind. If you use it well, you can prevent anyone from coming near.

I put up a barrier with mana just in case to block the sound.

“Why did you bring me to such a corner? Is it what I’m thinking?”

Chloe was acting coy. I could only see that as an act to hide the anxiety in her heart. Nothing happened at the academy, and Lana came back safe and sound.

“Oh, senior. It’s scary if you stare like that~”

Chloe reached out and unbuttoned my buttons one by one. Slowly, one by one, with slow movements. I called Chloe in a low voice.

“Chloe. Stop it.”

“Why? Isn’t that why you called me?”

She came close to my ear and whispered. Her breath tickled my ear. She’s openly seducing me. She’s acting nonchalant to the end.

I said to her.

“You don’t have to act nonchalantly about Lana’s incident, so stop it.”

“…….”

Chloe stepped back, pulling her upper body away. Her expression was somewhat sulky. I could also see a hint of anger.

“…How did you know?”

“That’s not important. What’s important is the fact that you tried to kill Lana.”

“Senior… Don’t you know you’ll be hated if you mention a woman’s secret?”

At that, I moved forward as much as she stepped back and got close. A close distance of about a hand span. Facing Chloe, I whispered quietly.

“So, do you hate me now?”

I know what kind of eyes Chloe looks at me with.

Desire. A huge possessiveness that she can’t dare to hide. Chloe wants to have the human named Kyle Arden.

Chloe smiled and grinned at my words. And she began to release the desire she had been hiding until now.

“Do you think I’ll disappear with just one word?”

“I thought so.”

I don’t know why she wants to have me. But one thing is certain: she won’t give up on me no matter what.

“Chloe.”

“Tell me~”

Chloe showed her true colors and unleashed her suppressed abilities. The power to seduce reason spreads around. I kept my mind focused and said.

“This is the first and last warning I’m giving you.”

She did things outside of the set time. She may have failed this time, but it’s obvious that she’ll touch me again someday. Then all I have to do is prevent her from looking in that direction.

“I’ll accept it all, whether you seduce me, brainwash me, or make me fall into hallucinations. If it’s only directed at me, I’ll accept any kind of antics. But don’t touch anyone else.”

I warned her and offered myself as bait.

“Do you want to have me? Then try to win me over with your own power.”

At the same time, I issued a challenge. If you want to make me yours, try to achieve it yourself. Focus only on me and try to take me away.

Then Chloe smiled and asked.

“What if I don’t keep it?”

“Then, I’ll bet everything I have and kill you. Absolutely.”

I glared at her with murderous intent. Chloe didn’t even flinch.

“Senior….”

Instead, joy dwelled in her smile, and longing dwelled in her eyes. The eeriness seemed to excite her.

Chloe reached out again and stroked my cheek, whispering in a voice full of desire.

“You’re making me want you even more. Are you seducing me now? This is troublesome~”

“Stop talking and go study.”

“What are you talking about! You have to go with me~”

She grabbed my arm and tried to lead me, so I made up an excuse that I was going to find a book and dropped her off. She looked disappointed, but she didn’t follow me and went back to her seat.

“Hoo, that’s it.”

I let out a sigh of relief as I watched Chloe walking away.

This roughly solved the problem with the main characters. It will be annoying for me, but the effect will be certain. I could make this kind of sacrifice for the safety of the main characters.

If she was just a character of that importance, I would have excluded her immediately, but I can’t do that. Chloe was just as important as the main character Evan.

After calming myself down, I chose a book and headed to Lana. Chloe was next to Lana, but she wasn’t doing anything special and was reading a book.

I was relieved and sat next to Lana and started studying, like them, by opening a book. Fortunately, that day passed without any problems.