Chapter 279

Chapter 279 – Justice… is alive?

The following day.

Once our academy lessons concluded, I made my way toward the hidden base of the principal senior, responding to his message.

‘Well, there is no use stressing over it.’

A barrage of chaotic events had thrown me off recently, causing me to temporarily forget, but ultimately, the world is governed by absolute unpredictability.

The situation regarding Cheonbi followed the exact same rule.

Despite the mountain of anxieties I had built up, the issue with Cheonbi resolved itself without a hitch.

I lacked any logical justification for disappearing like that, but in truth, convincing arguments weren’t required.

A single action sufficed.

A sincere, head-on apology.

Putting that aside.

‘Why does everyone stare at me like I’ve lost my mind whenever I open my mouth?’

Shine reacted that way, and Evelyn did the exact same thing.

It is entirely normal for living people to express gratitude or regret with honesty, so why do they look at me as if I am staring death in the face tomorrow? Unbelievable.

Mulling over these thoughts, I eventually reached the principal senior’s sanctuary, which looked completely unrecognizable compared to my last visit.

“What in the world…”

“Ah, you arrived?”

“Yes, but…”

Scanning the transformed space, I voiced my immediate suspicion.

“Have you been dipping into the organization’s funds recently?”

“What?”

“I mean, look at this…”

The modifications to the hideout were staggering.

Brand-new couches, unfamiliar desks, and even the tea sets and decorative items had been entirely swapped out.

Had they been standard high-end merchandise, I wouldn’t have blinked, but these pieces carried an undeniable aura of extreme rarity.

“Sigh, drop the ridiculous jokes. Take a seat.”

Observing the principal senior looking remarkably drained, I dropped onto the couch.

Right at that moment, our voices clashed.

“To begin…”

“By the way…”

We both fell silent instantly.

An awkward lull hung in the air.

“Speak first.”

“No, you go ahead.”

“I insist, you first.”

“Hmph.”

Letting out a brief, troubled groan, the principal senior rubbed the back of his neck before finally speaking up.

“To start with, I owe you an apology. Please accept this on behalf of Her Highness the Third Imperial Princess.”

“Hmm.”

“Her Highness concedes that her personal guard acted entirely out of line. She actually wanted to convey her appreciation to you for showing restraint.”

“Hmm.”

“Once more, I am truly… deeply sorry.”

“Hmm.”

I kept all my acknowledgments strictly limited to “hmm.”

To be fair, the principal senior’s expression of regret was flawless. He offered no justifications, choosing instead to take full accountability.

Yet, as I sat there listening, I began to comprehend that the underlying reality was far more twisted than it appeared on the surface.

“The internal state of the imperial family is incredibly volatile right now. As you are aware, Riheim… rather, Grand Duke Muspellun has officially announced his return. This development has thrown the factions supporting the First and Second Princes into absolute chaos.”

Why on earth would the unrelated First and Second Princes find themselves panicking over Grand Duke Muspellun making a comeback?

Stripped down to the basics, it meant this:

‘So… Grand Duke Muspellun possesses the leverage to completely disrupt the line of succession?’

Though he was widely presumed dead for ages, his shadow remained massive. The individuals who had served on the battlefields alongside him in the past now occupied supreme seats of power.

Furthermore, following his supposed passing, the Empire had elevated his history to mythical status, meaning countless youths among the newer generations practically idolized Grand Duke Muspellun.

“Currently, every faction is lying low to decipher what his next move will be, but a single misstep could ignite a bloody civil war. The guard from yesterday only overreacted because…”

“Because of that massive political tension?”

“Precisely.”

“Hmm…”

I locked eyes with the principal senior.

‘It definitely feels like he’s hiding a deeper layer of the story…’

He was clearly keeping certain details to himself.

‘Hold on a second.’

Could I share some of the blame for this chaos?

When looking at the grand scheme of things, I was the one who provided Riheim senior with the spark to launch his return… No, definitely not.

‘I merely tossed a pebble.’

The frog just happened to be sitting in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

Dismissing the irrelevant thoughts with a shake of my head, I looked up as the principal senior spoke again.

“That being said, junior. Would you be willing to do me a minor favor?”

“…A favor?”

“Correct, a favor. Nothing overly demanding…”

His voice trailed off as the principal senior looked at me expectantly. I narrowed my eyes, staring right back at him.

Did my skeptical expression hit a nerve? He snapped.

“Junior, what is with that look in your eyes?”

“How could you treat me like that yesterday?”

“Treat you how…?”

“You hurled insults at me. You commanded me to shut my mouth.”

“…”

To be perfectly honest… fine. Setting the Third Imperial Princess aside, the bodyguard was completely out of line, though I never truly anticipated a royal figure to offer a formal apology anyway.

But receiving that treatment from the principal senior? That actually stung a bit.

Shut up?

It felt as though my fragile emotions were torn to shreds. It was the classic betrayal of having your foot chopped by a trusted axe—only in this case, it was an axe I didn’t even trust to begin with, slamming straight into my skull. The pain was real.

And now he expects a favor?

“You feel guilty, don’t you?”

“I am… truly sorry.”

Naturally. He absolute should be.

“Make it a proper, heartfelt apology.”

“From the bottom of my heart… I apologize.”

Displaying a rare flash of genuine penitence, the principal senior bowed his head slightly before raising it to meet my gaze once more.

“So, will you grant me this single favor?”

“What kind of favor?”

“Just name your price. To show my remorse and appreciation, I will compensate you incredibly well.”

“Hmm…”

Leaning back, I crossed my legs and arms, letting my foot tap rhythmically while lifting my chin to look down on the principal senior. A prominent vein throbbed on his forehead, but his hands were tied. I held all the cards in this negotiation.

“Shall we hear what it is, then?”

“So… you’ll listen?”

Relief washed over the principal senior’s face, bringing back his usual complexion.

Watching his mood lift brought a smirk to my face as well.

However, it was time to pivot.

“I happen to be quite occupied.”

“…”

“It’s nearly time for my lectures, so I must depart.”

“Lectures? What on earth are you…”

Before he could even complete his sentence, I sprang out of my seat. There is no greater satisfaction than shattering someone’s expectations right when they think they’ve won.

Besides, what did he say?

‘To show his remorse and appreciation, he’ll compensate me?’

Who do they think I am?

‘The Tower Master.’

On top of that, I share a casual senior-junior bond with the ultimate powerhouse Grand Duke Muspellun—a man capable of reshaping the imperial hierarchy—and I am incredibly close with his top disciple as well.

My desires regarding this academy experience were remarkably basic.

Utilize Parun to establish our student club, direct Evelyn to generate massive revenue, and complete my time at the academy with as little drama as possible.

Riches and renown?

‘Ha, I have more than enough.’

I am completely fulfilled.

Moreover, the favor he wanted didn’t even sound critically important.

That aside.

‘I should probably steer clear of Rapiter for the foreseeable future.’

The tranquility of campus life was calling my name.

Life at the academy settled into a serene rhythm, and everything proceeded perfectly.

Evelyn journeyed out to the Second Black-White Slums every single weekend, yet she executed her responsibilities without a single error, while Parun dedicated his energy toward securing our club registration after giving his word to keep tabs on the professor’s retirement schedule.

Thanks to their hard work, I was able to coast through my days on pure autopilot like a completely average student, and I finally understood why Wyvern utilized such a bizarre manner of speaking.

“Aster, sustenance…”

“Consume, nourishment.”

“How much longer are you going to keep talking in that ridiculous style?”

“Unsure, me.”

When put on the spot, if you merely voice whatever random terms pop into your head without filtering them, that is the exact result.

What does that imply?

Wyvern essentially cruised through life with his brain completely disengaged.

But hold on.

‘Could Damian be doing the same?’

While it wasn’t quite as extreme as Wyvern, Damian’s speech patterns shared a very similar vibe.

Regardless, our routine was wonderfully calm.

He had even managed to hit a bit of a growth spurt.

“Companion, taller.”

“…”

At this point, Damian was nearly looking me straight in the eye, shooting up so rapidly that he spent every night tossing and turning from severe growing pains.

Our daytime hours were spent hitting the books at the academy alongside Damian, Cheonbi, and Evelyn, while my nights were dedicated to recuperating from internal trauma in solitude or utilizing weekend passes with the foolish trio to explore the city center.

We spent our time strolling through the lively avenues of Hazen, dropping by pastry shops or investigating food joints that were currently popular among the student body.

It was pure, unadulterated everyday happiness.

“Wow… this lifestyle isn’t half bad.”

Even the ultimate workaholic Evelyn confessed as much.

…But can circumstances truly remain perfect forever?

As the end-of-term examinations drew near.

Taking advantage of a rare weekend break coordinated by Evelyn, the four of us—Cheonbi, Damian, Evelyn, and myself—decided to visit an entertainment parlor located in Hazen.

It functioned as a gaming arcade where players competed for novelty tokens rather than actual currency, making it a major trend for academy students recently.

We all claimed our respective spots and dove into the different attractions, having an incredibly good time.

“Defenses… are quite formidable.”

Cheonbi muttered complaints regarding the anti-cheating enchantments woven into the establishment, though we had zero intention of using magic to hustle them for prizes anyway.

When it came to card tables, Damian reigned supreme.

“It’s impossible to decipher Master Damian’s expressions. What could he possibly be strategizing…”

“Empty thoughts!”

An absolute triumph of zero intellectual effort.

And as for the arcade’s property-snatching dice game…

“Territory, expand territory…”

Through some bizarre stroke of luck, Evelyn completely dominated the board.

Cheonbi and I took turns winning and losing against each other, thoroughly enjoying the break.

While making our way back toward the campus grounds.

“Delightful.”

Damian mumbled with a grin, chewing on treats purchased entirely with ‘my funds.’ Nearby, Evelyn was meticulously recording the day’s expenditures in her ledger.

…She was undoubtedly marking my private capital down as tower resources again.

“Listen, for the upcoming break, we should go on a journey.”

“A journey?”

“An excursion?”

Damian gave a firm nod as Cheonbi and Evelyn voiced their curiosity.

“Following term is packed. Final year is brutal. Opportunity is solely now.”

In short, let’s take a trip before our schedules become completely overwhelming.

“Where should we go, though?”

“Ocean. Grandfather escorted me prior. Ocean is magnificent.”

“The ocean, the vast waters…”

Cheonbi’s eyes lit up with excitement, having never gazed upon the sea before, while Evelyn appeared genuinely interested, shifting into deep thought.

Right then, Damian turned his attention toward me.

“Companion, your thoughts? Beheld the ocean? Abundant currents.”

The sea… yes, I have gazed upon it. I retained vivid recollections of it, too. Specifically, the adrenaline rush of running contraband alongside illegal travelers. It wasn’t a terrible experience.

As I immersed myself in those old memories, Damian prodded.

“Well? Shall we depart?”

“It sounds reasonable…”

That was as far as my response got.

“…Wait, what?”

Cheonbi’s voice cut through the air, her eyes locking onto a bizarre sight.

Our eyes instinctively shifted to follow her gaze, and within seconds, all of our jaws dropped in identical bewilderment.

Positioned right at the main entrance of the academy.

A platoon of soldiers clad in armor bearing the imperial emblem stood perfectly arrayed, flanked by knights who were currently flanking an elderly man. And that particular countenance was incredibly distinct.

‘Is that… the principal senior?’

I wasn’t the only one who picked up on his identity—the foolish trio immediately voiced their confusion.

“The head instructor, is he a lawbreaker?”

“…What is happening here.”

“Wow, I haven’t a clue, but the situation appears incredibly grim…”

I blinked in utter disbelief.

The imperial knights escorted the principal senior into an enclosed wagon and began to depart the grounds. As the carriage rolled past our position, a solitary realization flashed through my mind.

‘So… justice actually exists?’

Right at that exact instant.

Screeech! Tweet!

A sorrowful, high-pitched squawk resonated from the heavens above.

It was none other than Breakfast No. 1.