Chapter 290

Chapter 290 – Time is Too Short…… The investigation into the institution concluded in a relatively satisfactory manner.

The initial findings were completely thrown out.

The faculty members who had been removed gradually made their return, yet this did not signify an absolute end to the turmoil.

What was the reason?

‘……The educators who had allied themselves with the Second Prince.’

That included the junior faculty as well.

A substantial portion of the teaching staff had been taken into custody by the authorities.

The Third Princess noted that those apprehended would face a grim fate—and the student body wasn’t faring much better.

“The examination period remains unchanged. Ensure your studies are not neglected.”

It came as an absolute shock.

The pupils, who had viewed the entire investigation as a distant crisis, suddenly found themselves staring down their final tests.

The student body split into two distinct camps.

Those who had maintained their academic focus despite the upheaval were pleased, whereas the remaining majority voiced their intense dissatisfaction.

“Professor, we haven’t even covered the material!”

“Aren’t we supposed to have lectures before being tested?”

A handful of defiant students attempted to push back, but their efforts backfired terribly.

As it happened, academic instruction had proceeded without interruption throughout the entire inquiry.

Granted, the primary professors hadn’t provided much direct instruction themselves.

Even so……

‘……Junior faculty members and instructional materials.’

Or perhaps the professors filling in for one another.

A few undergraduates argued that “relying on substitute instructors diminishes the educational standard,” but that line of reasoning was swiftly dismantled by Parun’s declaration: “No scholar of history ever stumbles over basic calculations.”

Naturally, such an argument was only applicable to introductory and intermediate coursework.

‘……Which is why the advanced seminars substituted personal research papers for conventional testing.’

Regardless, the institution was being pushed back into its regular routine.

I crossed paths with the elderly chief administrator once more shortly after that tumultuous testing period drew to a close.

“Your physical appearance seems far healthier.”

“The medical care provided was exceptional.”

He chuckled softly at my attempt at humor, though by any metric, he still appeared quite frail.

Even so, the mere fact that he could offer a smile meant…… yes, he had managed to return unharmed, which was what mattered.

‘Had a truly catastrophic outcome occurred, he wouldn’t be engaging in this sort of playful banter.’

Consequently, it was meant as a lighthearted welcome back, but the one throwing a tantrum wasn’t the elderly chief administrator.

Chirp! Tweet tweet! Chirp—!

Observe this insolent creature.

I provided its meals while its master was away, yet it displays zero gratitude—merely glaring and crying out shrilly…… Bah, whatever.

I suppose that is precisely why people advise against dealing with unintelligent beasts.

At any rate, the elderly chief administrator and I proceeded to share updates on our respective situations, though there wasn’t a great deal to discuss.

He surely possessed information regarding my doings via Bellrose, and as for his own state…… well, his exhausted countenance made it plain enough.

Once our brief yet lingering exchange concluded, a momentary hush fell between us.

An inexplicable sense of discomfort filled the room.

It likely stemmed from the fact that…… neither of us excel at emotional openness.

We simply aren’t the sort of individuals who can comfortably utter phrases like, “It is good to have you back,” or “I appreciate it, likewise.”

Even the elderly chief administrator, who typically managed such interactions adequately, appeared clumsy when addressing the vulnerabilities of his own predicament.

How long did that quiet span endure?

“Well…….”

“So…….”

Our words clashed simultaneously, and each of us stepped back, granting the other priority.

“Speak first.”

“No, after you.”

“I was raised to show deference to my elders. Therefore, please proceed, senior.”

“Are you certain you were taught ‘deference’ and not merely ‘social hierarchy’? Regardless, you speak first.”

What I had been instructed in was indeed ‘social hierarchy.’ Yet I understood ‘deference’ as well……

Sigh.

Such is the burden of an exemplary junior.

I rubbed the back of my neck and finally initiated the conversation.

Why did a straightforward phrase prove so challenging? What caused both of us to waver in this manner?

“Uh…….”

“Just say it.”

“Welcome…… back? I am pleased you are? Unharmed? You have returned? I feel truly? Relieved?”

I had been striving to exhibit greater sincerity following the events of the Aevyron matter, but this was the absolute limit of my capabilities at present.

Expressions of this nature were entirely foreign to me, both to speak and to hear.

Even so, did my genuine intent come through?

A subtle grin manifested on the elderly chief administrator’s face.

“Junior, that delivery sounded remarkably like ‘I am deeply displeased by your safe return.’ Surely I misheard?”

“What on earth…….”

I was on the verge of letting slip an oath out of pure exasperation.

When the elderly chief administrator interjected immediately.

“I jest.”

“…….”

“And…… thank you.”

The ambient mood grew perceptibly more cordial.

I rubbed the space beneath my nose and cast my gaze out toward the window aimlessly. The vibrant blue sky visible past the thriving foliage caught my attention, and an idea took hold of me.

“……Merely verbal thanks?”

tyranny.

The elderly chief administrator went silent.

As did I.

……Ah, that was supposed to remain an unspoken thought.

Nonetheless, my encounter with the elderly chief administrator concluded on a positive note.

‘Miserly old man. Truly ungenerous.’

He grumbled about what I anticipated from an offhand remark—acting as though I were demanding a vital organ.

Subsequently, he even muttered about delivering a property deed from his personal estate……

Did he genuinely believe I had assisted him solely for material gain? He appeared authentically irritated.

On this occasion, I tolerated his complaints without rebuttal.

‘Consider this an act of benevolence.’

In all honesty, the elderly chief administrator was merely an incidental matter.

At any rate, following our meeting, the countenances of a few individuals I had neglected during the frantic period surfaced in my thoughts.

Who might they be?

……Professor Pelina and Parun.

“I ought to visit them shortly……”

Truthfully, I lacked the inclination to do so.

Was it due to a sense of remorse?

‘……Not in the slightest.’

Even if a shred of guilt existed, it would pertain to Professor Pelina—and frankly, even that wasn’t worth feeling remorseful over.

Why?

For three distinct reasons.

First.

‘The relic belonged to me from the start.’

Retrieving it without prior notice might have caused astonishment, but under those conditions, no other choice existed.

Second.

‘I preserved her life.’

Even if reclaiming the relic was a misstep, it was entirely redeemed by resolving the entire catastrophe.

And the third reason placed some of the accountability on her……

‘……No, Professor Pelina was absent. That was the issue.’

Wasn’t the fundamental issue that Professor Pelina had left her laboratory unattended? I had arrived specifically to converse about the matter.

Therefore, I was entirely blameless.

Completely.

I had conducted my life with an upright conscience beneath the heavens, but on this matter, I was entirely without fault.

Then why did the prospect of facing those two feel so unappealing?

To clarify, I must recall the dialogue I shared with Bellrose on the day of the investiture.

Specifically…… when I encountered Bellrose under the escort of Sir Altex.

The singular proposition she extended to me.

• Aster, would you object if I utilized your reputation slightly?

Not my literal ‘identity.’

Rather…… yes, could she utilize the reputation of the ‘concealed figure’ who appeared at the investiture, dominated the Magic Tower, and brought the aristocracy to heel?

This indicated that the Third Princess was preparing for decisive maneuvers following the incident, harboring such intentions.

• It does not concern ascending the throne. Rather……

……To claim ownership of her existence.

An existence out of nowhere.

Bellrose was evaluating potential outcomes where the First Prince might grant clemency to the Second Prince.

Per the initial understanding, the Second Prince ought to have been entirely dismantled beyond any hope of resurgence, yet based on the environment, the First Prince might choose to sustain him.

And how did that connect to utilizing my reputation?

It concerned potential retribution from the Second Prince.

‘And it involves more than just utilizing a reputation.’

She intended to circulate misinformation.

• An enigmatic archmage and their covert alliance are safeguarding the Third Princess.

Naturally, the Third Princess remained ignorant of my precise whereabouts. It functioned merely as a deceptive front.

Candidly, a solitary piece of misinformation scarcely seemed sufficient to halt the Second Prince’s vengeance, but according to Bellrose, given that his faction was diminished, he would not act rashly.

It represented a satisfactory arrangement for me.

‘……It amounts only to circulating misinformation, ultimately.’

And she would provide appropriate compensation.

However, a secondary thought occurred to me.

What if the number of adversaries continued to multiply?

‘Decullan, Salvatium, and potentially the Second Prince……’

Decullan by himself posed a significant challenge, and now Salvatium was added? Furthermore, the Second Prince?

Decullan counted Lortel as a partner, whereas Salvatium and the Second Prince could compel the Magic Tower to absorb the entirety of the burden.

Realistically, the circumstances were unfavorable.

Naturally, that presupposed the Second Prince and Salvatium discovered that the concealed figure from the event was myself…… the Tower Master. If that remained concealed, we might manage……

‘……How long can the truth remain buried?’

Indefinitely? No, that is excessively sanguine.

Just as Decullan exposed the secondary Black-White Slums, there was no assurance they would fail to do the same here.

In that scenario……

‘……It is preferable to enter discussions immediately.’

Actively forming an alliance with Bellrose might prove more prudent than a passive association.

The Third Princess had not yet amassed sufficient authority to become prominent, but as a member of the ‘imperial bloodline,’ she would provide dependable backing if required.

That explained my reluctance to encounter Parun and Professor Pelina.

“The situation has become…… excessively convoluted.”

Bellrose was aware of my true identity.

And should we align ourselves, she would inevitably discover the details concerning the Magic Tower as well.

What of Parun?

He possessed knowledge regarding the Magic Tower but remained ignorant of my true identity.

Professor Pelina represented the exact inverse.

In essence, these three individuals from the investiture each held separate fragments of information regarding me.

……In truth.

“…….”

I halted my advance and directed my gaze upward.

Without realizing it, I had wandered into the open air. Breakfast No. 1 beat its wings, gliding through the azure expanse.

It had abandoned its hostile demeanor but recovered its vitality. Observing its flight, I resumed my reflections.

So, in truth…… this was a dilemma I would never have labored over previously.

‘An identity? It matters little if they uncover it.’

Yet agonizing over it in this manner felt like an uneasy corner of my conscience.

Matters I once disregarded as inconsequential began to cause hesitation at some interval……

“Comrade!”

I perceived Damian gesturing from a distance and offered a brief hand gesture in return.

A sudden realization struck me.

‘The academy era…… minimal time remains, it seems.’

A mere year and a half completed.

A mere year and a half remaining.

The duration was far too brief……

The countenances drifting through my consciousness were far too numerous.

Even disregarding Bellrose, Parun, and Professor Pelina—there remained Damian, Chenbi, the elderly chief administrator, and others.

Regardless of preference, these associations were approaching their conclusion.

Whether it signified a genuine termination or marked a fresh inception, none could predict……

“Greetings, comrade.”

“Yes?”

I gathered my focus and acknowledged Damian.

“So, have you reached a decision?”

“……?”

“The coastal excursion. Chenbi is participating. Evelin is participating. Chenbi has never gazed upon the ocean, so she is quite enthusiastic. Evelin is delighted that it requires no expense. Though she is contemplating assessing individual fees later. However, for you, comrade, I shall provide a unique arrangement—entirely free of charge. What is your response?”

I silently observed Damian as he conversed with great enthusiasm.

He appeared entirely unaware…… though likely he was not. The expression he wore on the day of the investiture indicated otherwise.

The coastal excursion, regardless……

“It could represent our final journey together!”

Meaning perhaps the final occasion prior to our departure from the academy. Yet the concept of the ‘final’ lingered in my mind.

Perhaps that was the motivation.

“Yes, very well. Let us proceed.”

I consented without hesitation.

In truth, my recollections of the coast from my previous existence were not unpleasurable