Chapter 104: Spoiler (2) (2/2)
There were still many things she needed to learn about and strive for. However, the way Deculein looked at her and made her feel like he had accepted her for who she was made her determination grow stronger.
‘I need to become someone worthy of that heart and be of help to him.’
“Hey,” Yeriel said.
“…”
He stopped abruptly, his eyes glaring at her with so much intensity she thought he was about to kill her.
“Deculein, older brother.”
Hearing her call him in such a peculiar way, however, his intensity turned into surprise.
“… Did you get hit by lightning?” Flustered, he replied.
“Pwahaha.”
Deculein shook his head as she forced a laugh.
“Let’s just hurry up and find them.”
“…”
Their conversation stopped nearly as soon as it began, an awkward yet familiar silence embracing the two.
In fact, this much was only natural.
Though they were siblings, they weren’t even close and didn’t have much to talk about.
Stomp— Stomp—
Tap tap—
Different footsteps in the corridor. Shoes and loafers.
Deculein and Yeriel.
Walking while maintaining an appropriate distance, they were still the same as before.
*****
77th floor, Imperial University Tower.
“…?”
I found a [Transfer Paper] on the desk left by Epherene.
—Please inform us if you’re in the middle of research. Otherwise, if you don’t return within three days, we’ll request for reinforcements. Moreover, just in case you’re not familiar with this paper, make sure you keep it.
———[Transfer Paper] ———
◆ Description: A regular paper imbued with a special delivery function by [Midas’ Hand].
◆ Category: Paper
◆ Special Effect: Intermediate transfer paper function.
[Midas’ Hand Level: 3]
If this were connected to another paper using mana, it would transcribe what was written on it to the other paper, hence the term [Transfer Paper].
“Did she really have to leave this on top of my desk?” I shook my head as I recalled Epherene’s silly face.
I put the diary in my inner pocket on my desk and went out of the office.
Ding—!
Just in time, the hallway elevator arrived.
“Oh? You’re back?”
Inside it was Epherene, who was slurping on a smoothie, along with Drent and Allen. All of them had their hands filled with food.
“Welcome back, Professor!”
“…”
“It isn’t time yet, is it, Professor?”
Epherene gazed, looked at the clock in the hallway, then looked back at me.
“I was going to contact you after about 20 hours. I already told Knight Julie that you’re focusing on research.”
“…”
She did what I asked as best as she could.
When I nodded, she hesitantly offered me a smoothie.
“… Would you like some? It’s made of milk, and it has an interesting taste.”
“Forget it.”
“I see~ then I’ll be on my way. I also have a lot of research to do.”
Sipping on her beverage, Epherene sluggishly went back to the [Assistants’ Laboratory].
Slurp—
“Where have you been, though, Professor? The Course Opening Festival started today!”
“A lot of famous people came,” Drent added.
“Course Opening Festival?”
“Yes! There are so many things to see~”
I looked outside the window of the tower. Certainly, a festive event seemed to be in full swing. There was even a balloon hovering above the campus like an airship.
“Oh, I almost forgot!”
Allen took a document out of the folder in her arm while munching on a hotdog and handed it over to me.
“Hir shu zo.” (Here you go.)
A list of applicants for my class.
“There are so many students that want to join your Advanced lecture!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
I scanned through the special paper produced on the floating island. Like a tablet PC, this cutting-edge technology contained hundreds of sheets in one paper.
“… Hmm?”
Not long after, I frowned. I already knew Kreto, the Imperial Prince, would be participating, but…
“There’s a cat here.”
I wasn’t kidding. A photo of a red-haired munchkin was in the document I was holding, accompanied by its age and background.
… Quite literally a resume of a cat.
“Oh, I also thought it was a little strange, but the Imperial Family asked for it. Can cats learn magic too?”
“… Like, actual cats?”
“Yes. Isn’t it interesting?”
“Uh…”
“…”
Allen and Drent’s comical talk flowed through one of my ears and out the other while I flipped through the list. A wizard selected by the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth, an affiliate of the tower, a magic professor, etc…
I put the document in the briefcase for now.
“Where is Julie?”
I was away for three days, so I was sure she was worried.
The two grinned.
“She’s probably watching the Great Knights War~”
“It’s currently underway in the Gifrein Hall of the university~”
*****
Great Knights War.
As the name already suggested, it was literally a fierce battle between knights, making it one of the most famous, promising, and trending sports not only in the Empire but across the entire continent. Among them, the ‘Empire Loither League,’ which was being held today in the Imperial University, was currently known as the greatest.
Naturally, each participating knight for such a huge event was bound to be magnificent in their own right.
“Ohhh…”
Taking one of the seats reserved for knights, Julie waited patiently for it to start.
“Oh! Julie~ it has been a long time!”
“Ah, Goher. Nice to see you.”
Her fellow alumni arrived one by one. Warrior Goher, Knight Palaine, Archer Seymi, Senior Gwen… Most of them were still active as Imperial Knights or members of other Knight Orders in the Empire.
Gwen smiled slyly.
“You’re looking a lot healthier these days.”
“Really?”
“Is it because Deculein is focusing on research? I heard he hasn’t been coming home these days.”
“Well…”
As soon as Julie answered, a sharp voice reached their ears, causing them to follow it in surprise.
“You prefer my absence, is that it?”
Deculein.
Wearing a suit, he tilted his head and looked at the alumni. The knight next to Julie tactfully vacated his seat for him to take.
She quickly corrected what she just said.
“It’s not that I like you not being around. I just don’t have to focus on the escort mission during such times.”
“Forget it.”
“No—”
“Oho!”
A loud, majestic voice resonated throughout the hall. Not only the knights’ but also the common folk’s attention immediately turned toward its source.
“Deculein and Julie are sitting together?”
Zeit Von Brugang Freyden.
He was dressed in armor to participate in today’s event. Visit lightnovelpub.c​om for a better experience.
—It’s Duke Zeit!
At that moment, almost all the knights jumped up and showed respect in the form of a unique curtsy where they put their hands on their chest with their heads bowed.
Smiling, he beckoned them all to sit down, and only then did they return to their seats.
That was but a glimpse of his high status.
“I didn’t know you were interested in the Great Knights War, Deculein…”
Zeit spoke as he loosened up his muscles.
Shoulders as wide as the sea, neck as thick as mountains, and a core as powerful as storms. His body, standing at 2m and 10cm tall, was well worth three adult men.
“Kuhahaha. Enjoy the show since you’re here.”
Zeit laughed heartily, but his smile was different from usual.
His eyes had a certain intensity and sharpness to them, and the flow of his vigor was heavy enough to overwhelm the entire space around him, clearly depicting his excitement for the upcoming battle.
“Of course, you should pay more attention to me, your brother-in-law… And what kind of knight I am.”
A knight so powerful he was given the title of ‘King’ and whose name had already made its mark in the history of the Empire.
He who stood above everyone else.
The King of Winter, Zeit.
“… Alright.”
I just came to look for Julie, but…
“I’ll watch closely.”
“Hahaha! Good! Look forward to it!”