Chapter 510

Episode 510. A… cademy? (2)

Approximately one week after finishing the talks with his companions.

—The preparations are ready.

Contanias had concluded the work much more efficiently than Alon Palatio expected.

—Faster than I thought.

—It was not a difficult task.

Responding to Alon‘s compliment, Contanias pulled a paper from inside his desk and handed it to him. It was the name he was to use during his stay at the academy.

—Alon Telia?

—Yes. It is the name of the third son of a baron who lives peacefully on the extreme northern periphery. It will not raise any suspicion.

—… I am a bit worried that the name is so similar.

However, Contanias let out a small exclamation and, observing Alon‘s reaction cautiously, spoke:

—T-this… I do not think it will be a problem.

—Why?

—Because the name “Alon” is quite common.

—Hum…

Certainly, it was not a special name; it was seen from time to time. “It’s like being named ‘Kim Gyu-sik’ in Korea,” Alon thought while Contanias continued:

—And as I told you, it is not a name made up at random, but that of a noble family and a third son who actually exist.

—So there is a real Alon?

—That is right.

Alon nodded slightly and turned the page. It was the personal information of Alon Telia. After reading it calmly, he murmured:

—There is nothing special.

Perhaps because he was the third son of a very quiet baron, no particular background appeared in Alon Telia’s history. After finishing reading the documents, Alon tucked them into his chest.

—Are the other disguises ready?

—Eh? Did you perhaps not hear…?

—Mmm?

—Well, it’s just… your companions already came to collect all the information, saying that you had ordered it.

Contanias scratched his head with a bewildered gesture. “They already did?” Alon thought before nodding.

—It seems we crossed paths.

—There is one month left until the entrance ceremony, so by then they must be at the Imperial Academy of the Eastern Empire to participate —Contanias said with a sigh of relief.

Alon left the room. The first thing he did was go to say goodbye to Ar.

—Well, I am leaving.

—Uuuh! —Ar puffed out her cheeks to the maximum as soon as she heard that Alon was leaving, expressing her discontent with her whole body. Her tail, out of habit, coiled around Alon‘s waist. —Master, can’t you just stay here?

—If it were up to my desires, I would, but I have things to fulfill.

Ar puffed her cheeks a bit more, but after a moment, she nodded slightly as if she had reached a determination.

—Understood. If the husband says that, I understand it is not right to prevent it, so I will let you go.

Alon thought for a moment if he should try to correct the appellative once more, but soon desisted. He had been trying for a week without any success. Therefore, instead of correcting her:

—… Thank you.

He tried to get up from his seat, but… squeeze.

He tried to get up… stronger squeeze.

—… Ar?

—What’s wrong, Master?

—If you have me tied with your tail, I can’t move.

At those words, the three loops of the tail were reduced to two. Alon tried to stand up again…

—Ar…?

—What is it, Master…?

—… It doesn’t matter if it’s two loops, I still can’t move.

Ar released her tail with a resigned gesture after monitoring his reaction. The two loops became one. Seeing Ar looking at him with a face full of melancholy that screamed “are you really leaving?”, Alon felt his resolution waver.

—… When I return, I will grant you a wish.

—A wish…?

—Yes.

—Really? Anything?

—Yes. As long as it is within my possibilities.

Ar seemed to reflect for a moment at the proposal and then exclaimed:

—All right, Master!

She became strangely triumphant and released her tail completely. Although, of course, her face still reflected regret.

—Then, I’m going.

—Master! You must keep your promise without fail!

—Understood.

Seeing Ar a bit more cheered up, Alon felt relieved and went outside, where his group was waiting for him.

—Are you finished? —Penia asked upon receiving him.

—Are the preparations ready?

—Yes, we only need to depart. Actually, if we used Basiliora we would arrive in a month, but this time we can only use her until halfway.

—Mmm…

Penia was right. They could use Basiliora to reach the Northern Empire, but not to go all the way to the academy. To do so, hiding their identity would make no sense.

“Even when leaving the Empire, we pretended to head towards the Allied United Kingdoms.”

Alon remembered that they even wore special artifacts to artificially limit their abilities and thus maintain anonymity. He organized his thoughts calmly.

—As you already know, I will explain it once more. We will head towards the Allied United Kingdoms and then enter the Eastern Empire. After that, we will cross the Kurn Mountains, an area infested with monsters where imperial citizens do not usually go.

—Yes.

—When crossing the border between the Northern Empire and the Eastern Empire, we will let a few hours to a day pass before each of us crosses, and we will meet near the capital.

—And upon arriving near the capital, we will disperse to then participate individually in the entrance ceremony… Is that correct? —Rine completed.

—Exactly.

Alon nodded at Rine‘s words and declared:

—Good, let’s get moving.

They set out on the path to enter the academy.

Three weeks later.

Unlike the fear that unforeseen events would arise, the trip to the academy was passing without major problems. They were only one day away from arriving at the capital of the Eastern Empire for the entrance ceremony.

—We have almost arrived.

—So it seems.

Alon called Evan, who was nodding at his side.

—By the way, Evan.

—Yes?

—Are you sure you will be okay?

—What do you mean?

—… The disguise.

Evan let out a short sigh.

—Alon-nim, do I not have a “youthful” face? If I put on the uniform, I will look like a student immediately!

Alon looked at Evan. Certainly, he had a young face. However, he still thought that the role of an escort knight suited him better than that of a student. Even so, Alon shrugged his shoulders. There was no point in dwelling on it now that the identities were created.

He turned his gaze toward Deus.

—Deus, you are…

—I am the eldest son of Viscount Tarvyan. They say I am skilled with the sword. Besides, it will not be strange for me to be close to Alon-nim, since our families are from the same region, as I mentioned to you.

After nodding his head, Alon looked at Penia and Rine. On the other side of the campfire, both were talking with serious faces next to Blackie, who was eating sweet potatoes.

“The family of Count Colina and that of Count Arsena… that’s how it was, right?”.

Alon stroked his chin thinking about the false identities of the two. Almost all members of the group had taken names from northern families, so there would be no problem in them walking together even within the capital. However, he thought that perhaps they were too concentrated in a single region.

“Well, it’s too late to change it.”

—Let’s sleep for today. From tomorrow we will have to move individually for a day, so make sure to memorize your respective backgrounds well.

They began preparations for sleep and, shortly after, the group fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Deus suddenly opened his eyes.

It was not because of an external disturbance. On the contrary, it was because of the excessive silence. Deus, who woke up instinctively at the unusual quietness of the environment, did not take long to find the reason.

‘… Magic?’

It was magic. A soundproofing spell surrounded the camp.

—… Mmm?

Logically, putting up a silence spell was not dangerous. Outside that range, there were several detection spells layered; as soon as someone touched one, the silence would deactivate by instinct. However, Deus found it strange that Penia, who never did it, had activated that spell now. Naturally, he turned his gaze to one side.

He realized that Penia and Rine were not in their places.

“Where could they have gone?”

Confused, Deus searched for the mana trace of both and looked toward the back of a gigantic tree. Although it was very faint, the mana of the two could be felt. Deus, consumed by doubt about what they were doing behind that tree, began to walk there.

Arriving at the back of the tree, Deus saw… a man in a black coat. No. He saw Rine hugging Alon Palatio.

The sound of Rine‘s breathing, which for some reason was heard somewhat loudly, reached Deus‘s ears.

“What on earth is this???”

A large question mark appeared over Deus‘s head. But then:

—What do you think? Isn’t it good?

Deus turned his gaze at the voice coming from behind and discovered Penia. She was watching with a look full of envy but, at the same time, of immense pride.

—… Yes… this… is very good. Just by stroking his head it feels like this…

—I told you, it’s incredible…

—If I now put my arm over his shoulder like this, naturally…

—Since today is the last day, let’s enjoy it as much as possible…

Deus involuntarily backed away at the content of the conversation. It wasn’t that the words were a shock, but that the atmosphere they emanated overwhelmed him completely. But…

Crack!

—Ah.

Due to the impact of the moment, Deus stepped on a dry branch by mistake. As soon as he looked up, he found two gazes fixed directly on him.

—Ah… —a small exclamation. And then:

—You.

—You saw it, didn’t you…?

At those words, Deus held his breath.