Chapter 75 (1/2)

Vortex of Negativity and a Stake

Besides the princ.i.p.al, there were three more people in her office. Professors and the head researcher, hailing from Kirihal, Ludancia, and Euroba.

A knock came at the door.

「Hmm? Do you have an appointment with someone today, Ma'am?」Professor Kilnenko asked.

A short spear instructor, he was from Ludancia. Acting like he owned the place, he opened the door.

「Oh, my!」

His expression turned serious, clearly not expecting the guest.

「The princ.i.p.al requested to see me.」

League ”Green Ogre” Rumania entered the office. The men from Kirihal and Euroba looked surprised as well.

The academy princ.i.p.al was from Zubura, the weakest nation in Forestia. Being the head of the academy, calling students to her office was possible. But this time it was a bit different. The one she summoned was no ordinary student. It was widely known to those who dabbled in politics that the Green Ogre was the most powerful clan in Rumania. Even with her authority as the princ.i.p.al, she couldn't possibly call for him that easily.

「Thank you for coming, Mr. League.」

「In this academy, I'm only a student. Please drop the honorifics.」

「Very well, League.」

Watching the exchange, the three men looked even more surprised now. The relaxed atmosphere almost made them question when Zubura and Rumania became close.

「Can you please leave us?」the princ.i.p.al asked.

「Ah, but…」

「This is not a request, but an order.」

「Yes, Ma'am.」

The three men begrudgingly left the room.

「Are you sure about this? They probably don't know that your nephew has recovered.」League spoke as soon as the men were gone.

The princ.i.p.al's nephew had recovered from the poisoning thanks to the leaves of the Drakon Kidney Flower.

The three men just now were among the many people who tried to take advantage of the mentally exhausted princ.i.p.al, whispering words like ”I can help” or ”Take revenge against Ponsonia”. Even worse, some shamelessly suggested she stepped down from her position so she could take care of her nephew.

「They'll find out soon. Anyway, I'm surprised you helped in gathering what we needed as well.」

「Lord Silvester already had some so what I did was pointless.」

「You don't have to be modest. I heard the adventurer you hired saved Lord Silvester's life.」

「If he said so, then it must be true. I wasn't there at the scene.」

League only knew what Hikaru told him. The boy might be a skilled adventurer, but he couldn't possibly take on a dragon alone. Or at least that was what he thought. He was taken aback when he heard Silvester admit to Hikaru saving his life. The Zuburan Lord basically showed weakness with that statement.

「Lord Silvester wouldn't lie. He's a great man who could carry the future of Zubura on his shoulders.」the princ.i.p.al said.

「I see.」

「I am truly grateful for what you did. I want to show you my grat.i.tude, but I don't really know what it is you desire. If you hoped to claim my seat, you wouldn't help Lord Silvester. He said that the Green Ogre did so out of goodwill.」

「And you don't believe that?」

「Unfortunately, I can't. Our nations have quite the history.」

「I know our relations can't be improved overnight. And I didn't send the adventurer specifically to save Lord Silvester. If you wish to thank someone, you should thank him.」

「Him? You mean the adventurer you hired? Do I know him?」

「Yes. He's a student here.」

「My!」

She sounded delighted, half-rising from her seat.

「I didn't know we had such a gifted student! What's his name?」

「It's Hikaru.」

「…What?」

「He recently enrolled to the academy.」

The princ.i.p.al suddenly sank back down to her seat, as though feeling dizzy.

「Does he have black hair and eyes?」

「Yes.」

「And young?」

「Yes.」

「I see now why Professor Mikhail took a liking to him. That man doesn't care about personality as long as someone has talent.」

League couldn't help but smile after hearing the last part.

「True, Hikaru has a bit of a twisted personality.」

「You sound like you two are close.」

「Not at all. I can't even let my guard down when talking to him. He might just stab me out of nowhere.」

「Why did you ask him to do a job, then?」

「His skills are the real deal.」