episode_0413

“He’s quite timid.”

He wasn’t the type to stay alone in a contaminated area for training, considering how large-hearted he was. When his mist ability grew stronger and he realized what he could do, he must have felt ambitious due to that omnipotence, but he didn’t even look back.

If he had been more ambitious, he would have continued to be held captive in the contamination zone, causing even more havoc with the abnormal phenomena.

His timid nature prevented a potentially serious situation from escalating.

“Just return as if nothing happened and continue with your usual life.”

“What about Prince Il?”

The timid man seemed to want reassurance that he wouldn’t be punished.

“Don’t worry about it. But if someone comes looking for you because of this incident, please come to me. I’ll gladly help.”

Even though these words were spoken, no one would come looking for this man. If there were nobles who sided with Prince Il, they would likely try to cut ties now that Princess Mona has been betrothed to another, and even if it were Prince Il himself, he wouldn’t come looking for the man.

“It’s not worth spending time venting on a mere man when there are many urgent matters to attend to.”

Moreover, the princess, who harbors resentment towards Prince Il, wouldn’t just sit still. She would probably assign someone to keep an eye on the man while trying to find Prince Il’s whereabouts.

However, he chose not to disclose this information as the man in question might feel uncomfortable being watched.

“Just think of it as stepping on dung.”

“What about my collaboration with Prince Il? Will that be overlooked?”

“It can be. Why not? You were employed by me as a guide there.”

It had already been decided to handle it this way, with all paperwork completed perfectly. Princess Mona had been informed and had given her approval.

It was true that the man had committed a crime by collaborating with Prince Il. However, since he had also contributed to the safe return of the punitive force to the empire, his efforts were acknowledged to cover up his offense.

“Thank you!”

Upon hearing the man’s gratitude, a sense of relief washed over him, brightening his expression.

“I won’t forget this favor. Thank you so much! You don’t know my name, do you?”

Despite having gone through life and death together, he didn’t even know the man’s name.

“That’s right. I didn’t introduce myself.”

“Haha, you may or may not remember, but my name is Minoff.”

“Suhan.”

“I will remember and be grateful for the rest of my life!”

…Is that so?

Feeling slightly burdened by the gratitude expressed, he accepted it graciously.

After parting ways with the man, he met Yul at the waterway to quickly return to the academy.

Furthermore, he had promised to accompany Yul back to the academy after finishing the battle with the boss monster and meeting him.

※ ※ ※

“Sponsor!”

Yul ran towards me with a visibly relaxed expression.

“I’m sorry. I’m very late, aren’t I?”

“You could have taken a day off before returning. Aren’t you tired?”

The academy understood the unique circumstances of the students who had joined the punitive force, so there was no need for me to rush back to the academy like before.

At least taking a day or two off and then returning to the academy would not be a problem.

Yet, Yul had made a promise to return with me to the academy city.

Dealing with the boss monster must have been exhausting, and on top of that, minimizing rest time and moving to the empire would have accumulated a lot of fatigue.

“It’s okay. Shall we go together, Sponsor?”

“Don’t you have any friends you’ve become close to within the punitive force?”

Knowing that students had started showing interest in her due to her striking blow against the boss monster, she asked.

“If I’m going to spend time with friends and build relationships, it seems like it would be helpful for Yul in the future, so I asked, but his reaction seems bitter.

‘Sponsor…’

‘Oh my.’

It feels like I stepped on a mine.

‘There are actually people who show interest. Quite a lot, in fact. But it’s a bit burdensome.’

‘In what way?’

‘People come too close.’

‘Hmm… They come too close and it’s burdensome?’

‘Yes.’

It seemed like this was a problem that would take some time to resolve.

I was planning to introduce Princess Haehwa to Yul, but if she approaches students as aggressively as they do, I worry about what will happen if they don’t get along.

‘So you want to get closer slowly.’

‘Actually, it seems like there’s too much physical contact. People keep clinging to me.’

‘Guys?!’

‘Oh, no! It’s the girls.’

‘Ah, I see – that surprised me.’

Setting aside the momentary shock, we headed towards the Academy City in a carriage.

If I were alone, I would have flown there, but I couldn’t do that while traveling with Yul.

‘So you felt burdened by too much physical contact. It doesn’t mean you dislike it completely, right?’

‘At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Just out of curiosity? Since I’m an alchemist, they ask if I have good potions, how non-combatants receive training, things like that.’

Yul chattered away inside the carriage about what had happened with the students.

‘Why did you make and give them potions?’

‘Everyone didn’t want me involved in combat. If I rashly got involved and made a mistake, things could escalate. So, I wanted to help in some way because I know I’m lacking.’

‘The problem started from the beginning.’

‘What?’

‘Why do you think you’re lacking? You’re not lacking. If you were, they wouldn’t have sent you to the punitive force. Why send someone with inadequate skills to a dangerous place?’

‘!!’

‘You can confidently go around saying you’re from the combat department wherever you go. You have the skills. Moreover, you proved it properly in front of the students this time. With those skills and being from a non-combat background, you shouldn’t think you need to step back. It would be disrespectful to other combat students who have less skill than you.’

Yul subtly showed the students who doubted him that he was capable.

Not just casually, but he used his ultimate move to splendidly finish off the boss monster.

No one will question why Yul switched to the combat department from now on.

So, Yul’s attitude moving forward is crucial.

Rather than stepping back like now, he should actively engage with combat students.

‘Even if you give them good potions, they won’t acknowledge you. To gain their respect and become a colleague, you have to show your skills.’

‘…Since I showed my abilities, the way they treat me has changed.’

Having witnessed that scene myself, I nodded my head.

There’s no one who, after seeing that, wouldn’t change their attitude.

‘Until now, it was simply interest-driven attention. Now, it’s becoming more serious, isn’t it?’

Naturally, it can’t be helped.

The more talented colleagues, the better.

Especially for someone like Yul, a powerful Awakener, there is a great need for his abilities, as shown when facing the boss monster.

With a brilliant future as a genius alchemist and excellent combat skills, it’s normal for anyone to want to build friendships.

‘Get along with everyone. Most of the students who participate in the punitive force end up enlisting later, so the more classmates you know, the better.’

Especially if they are skilled classmates, even better.

‘Yes.’

‘And I have one request, there’s a student who, like you, came from elsewhere and is entering the same grade as you this time.’

‘From where?’

‘From the North. A minority.”

Since we were already talking about friends, I mentioned Princess Haehwa.”

“Someone from the northern region is entering the academy?!”

“The Empire and the North have started to interact more. It’s part of an effort to promote more active exchanges in the future. Trying this and that, you know.”

“Oh~ It sounds quite important.”

If a student from the North adapts well at the Empire’s academy, perhaps more students from the North will enroll in the academy in the future.

In the future, after some adjustments, could it be the day when they become full citizens of the Empire?

Or maybe even achieve complete independence from the Empire.

What I hope for is that if they do become independent, at least the relationship won’t deteriorate to the point of irreconcilable differences with the Empire.

“So, I hope you get along well with the student from the North. As you know, those people aren’t fond of the Empire. So, it would be great if the exchange student could adapt well here.”

“It’s inevitable that the North dislikes the Empire, isn’t it?”

Haven’t there been things the Empire has done in history?

And they haven’t even apologized for it.

“That’s been the case so far. But we can’t just keep ignoring each other. We’re preparing to make gradual changes starting with the exchange student at the academy. That’s why I want to introduce you.”

Isn’t it more comfortable for stones that have rolled in to get along rather than squeezing between stuck ones?

There was also a belief that Yul wouldn’t disappoint Princess Hwahwa.

“It seems like a pretty important matter, what if I end up causing trouble?”

“No need to overthink it. You can take it lightly. If you get along well, you’ll become friends and hang out. And if not, just exchanging greetings when you meet will suffice. There’s no pressure to force a friendship.”

Getting along with Princess Hwahwa wouldn’t be a bad thing for Yul.

Good tanks are hard to come by, after all.

Perhaps because I had worked hard to alleviate the burden through explanation, a positive response came from Yul’s lips.

“Then let’s meet once.”

“Really? It must have been a difficult decision for you. Thank you.”

“You’re not someone who forces others into bad situations. I think it would be nice to have a friend I can get along with too.”

It seems Yul may have some reservations about the concept of friendship.

So, he might not easily open up.

But meeting Princess Hwahwa would show him that she is quite different from the friend he used to date.

Parting heals with love, and making new friends can help heal wounds received from old friends.

‘They will get along well.’

Yul would kindly assist Princess Hwahwa in adapting to the Empire, and Princess Hwahwa would help Yul adjust to the class with enthusiasm.

I was confident that they would mutually benefit each other and develop a good relationship.