“Still the same! That ridiculous popularity!”
Milo grumbled.
It was understandable because the female colleague he had been interested in was sending hot glances at Ian instead of him.
Ian lightly patted his friend’s back.
“Cheer up. The sun will shine on you someday.”
“Is that supposed to be comforting? Huh? It used to feel genuine, but now it doesn’t.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve changed.”
“People change.”
“You two are like a couple. A couple having a lovers’ spat!”
“Ugh!”
“Shouldn’t I be the one nauseous?”
Thanks to Edel, Milo’s fighting spirit plummeted.
Inwardly, Ian appreciated his friends.
He was in a situation where he returned to the academy after failing a mission and getting caught up in an unexpected incident.
To treat him as usual in such circumstances was challenging, as things could easily go awry.
Nevertheless, Milo and Edel managed to handle it smoothly.
‘Seems like I won’t be abandoned by my core group after all, which is a relief.’
Ian memorized his peers’ expressions.
There was no odd sign.
Everyone looked at him with pity.
Normally, such attention would be burdensome, but now it made him feel better.
One by one, his classmates approached him to offer words of comfort.
In the process, Ian was able to define a feeling he had never recognized before.
‘Is this what solidarity feels like?’
The Royal Academy.
Within its Mage Department, the first-year students.
Despite different family backgrounds and upbringings, they were deeply immersed in this incident, possibly overly so within this space.
For Ian, who had mostly spent time alone at the estate, it was an alien sensation.
It was different from the camaraderie he felt with Milo and Edel.
Thirty mages were sympathizing with his issues.
For someone else, it might be insignificant, but for Ian, it was a precious experience.
‘If I had given up on entering the academy back then, I wouldn’t have had this experience.’
The mage of the night who came late.
‘Mist.’
Ian had appraised the high spell book Mist brought without asking for anything in return.
It was the greatest motivator for Ian to decide to enroll.
His whereabouts were still unknown.
It could have been a chance encounter without special intent, yet Ian did not think so.
‘There must be a reason behind every phenomenon.’
The feather left by Mist was still kept at his estate.
Ian yearns to find him someday.
“Soon, it will be the exchange competition. Let’s smash them then!”
“Fighting! Ian! We trust you!”
“If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word, or maybe we could have a quiet meal together… Ahh!”
“What cheekiness is this, flirting around?”
“Wha-what did I even do! Let go of my hair! Talk with your hands off!”
“Why is a meal invitation coming up? Look in a mirror before you say such things!”
“Kyaa!”
There was a little commotion among the female students.
Ian decided to ignore it and turned his head.
The only man responding lethargically to this chaos was Zickhardt.
In one corner, he stood with arms crossed, alone.
‘Does it mean you have no involvement?’
As if their thoughts were aligned, Zickhardt’s indifferent eyes met Ian’s gaze.
Their eyes collided simultaneously.
He smirked.
Within that smile was a clear mockery.
‘Go ahead and laugh to your heart’s content. There won’t be many days left when you can laugh at me.’
Just then, a confident voice echoed in Ian’s ears.
“Our student council supports your innocence! Ian Oracle, we express our deep regret over this incident!”
It was Sebastian.
Behind him were the student council members, all hailing from prestigious families.
“It’s not something to be regretful about.”
“What do you mean? It’s only natural. I’m planning to announce a statement on behalf of the student council. As the legitimate representative of the Department of magic freshmen.”
“A statement? Oh.”
Sebastian awkwardly laughed at Ian’s late realization that he was indeed the student council president.
“Am I still not trusted enough?”
“No. Well, it’s not that. It’s just that I haven’t been interested in that side. Try to understand.”
“I’ll take that as advice to do better.”
Even as he said so, inwardly, he felt displeased.
However, he was the heir to Marquis Kent.
He consoled himself that much worse things would await him once he entered politics post-graduation.
Most students were interested in the student council as all events were planned by them.
‘I’ve been somewhat indifferent.’
There were hardly any students like Ian who spent all their time on magical training.
Moreover, even excellent students often considered the academy as an extension of social gatherings.
‘Milo has been singing about the upcoming summer festival.’
The summer festival was the highlight of the academy.
It was a stage where one could display their talents to the fullest and a fateful space where ideal couples meet.
Ian knew its significance well.
But he wasn’t interested in it.
By that time, he would be in a cool dungeon or ruins, finding ways to grow stronger.
‘I feel sorry for Milo, but it can’t be helped for now.’
He wasn’t sure if he could persuade him with a simple statement like ‘The festival will happen next year too’, but he decided to give it a try.
“I’d like you to focus on what I’m saying.”
“Ah, sorry. Go ahead.”
“Once the mana measurement is over, everyone from the professors to the dean will gather for a meeting. Even the atmosphere among the Department of Martial Arts professors isn’t ordinary. It’ll be quite tense.”
“It should be, considering one almost died.”
“So, if we don’t swiftly prepare a countermeasure—”
“Why should I?”
Sebastian was at a loss for words with such a straightforward response.
It was a completely unexpected reply.
“Sebastian. You’re talking as if I made some mistake, but the ones who made a mistake are on the other side. There’s no need to come forward and do anything. If they investigate, the truth will come out, so what’s the point in doing so?”
“Still, the student council is meant to protect the students’ interests—”
“Protecting interests is good. But before that, have you listened to what your peers think?”
He assumed they would naturally follow, as no one in their right mind would dare to speak against the heir of Kent’s house.
“A statement with the name of all the Department of Magic freshmen would be one thing, but if not, then it’s better to stop. A student council president should be able to represent everyone’s opinions. Just pushing through because you’re the president doesn’t look good.”
With that, Ian glanced at Zickhardt.
Sebastian, realizing his implicit meaning, flinched.
“You understand, right?”
“Well… I’ll do what I can. Don’t worry too much, Ian Oracle.”
Sebastian turned away, maintaining his elegance till the end.
However, someone from the student council remained behind.
It was Ophelia.
“Don’t hesitate to say anything. If there’s anything we can do.”
Her tone was uncharacteristically kind.
She was the daughter of Marquis Hunka and she had a debt to repay to Ian.
Having realized something personal from that, she became exceptionally warm toward Ian.
All those things mixed together, infusing a short sentence with significant emotion.
“I told you, there’s no need for that.”
“Isn’t it not the time for pride?”
It was if she was aware that her father insisted on executing the mission despite knowing it could be called off.
Ian looked at the stage with a relaxed smile.
“You’ll soon find out if it’s the time or not.”
“You’re really…”
At that moment, Dean Jessica ascended the podium.
Although she was briefed on all aspects of the incident, her expression was as usual.
Soon, her booming voice resounded.
― Measurement will commence shortly, similar to past instances. Whether you’ve grown or regressed will be revealed.
At her cold statement, all freshmen swallowed hard.
The mana measurement had begun.
* * *
Higgs, the leader of the Royal Mage Division, read the same report over and over.
He then asked the subordinate who brought it.
“This document must have also reached the Knight Commander, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hmm. How’s the atmosphere at the academy?”
“It’s chaotic at the moment. If left like this, the relation between the Department of Magic and the Department of Martial Arts might become irreparable.”
Higgs gestured for his subordinate to come closer.
As the subordinate approached, Higgs gave a terrifying glare.
“And if it becomes irreparable? Do we have to crawl between the legs of the swordsmen asking for forgiveness?”
“I-I apologize!”
“Get out of here!”
Higgs dismissed everyone in the room.
He cast another glance at the report once more.
Besides the report prepared by Ian and Isera, there was another one on his desk.
In the top section of the other report, Castro’s name was inscribed.
Though both reports detailed the same incident, their intention and content differed significantly.
‘Things have gotten complicated.’
From Higgs’ point of view, who preferred orderliness, this report was extremely displeasing.
Nothing good seemed like it was going to come out of it.
It was then.
“I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“Ah!”
Someone had entered without a sound.
Higgs welcomed him gladly.
A man whose presence couldn’t be detected, even by a master of the sixth-circle. Deus, the Royal Knight Commander.
The Kingdom’s foremost sword.
Swordmaster.
God of the sword.
There were countless titles praising him, and the consensus was that no one in the Kingdom of Sonokin equaled him.
Even Jessica, a seventh-circle grand mage, was often said to fall short—although one never knew without fighting.
“Ah, this is embarrassing! Hahaha. It seems our new students have made a blunder.”
“Isn’t it too detailed for a mistake?”
“They can’t help it! Mages, as you know, are buried in books, aren’t they? They can neatly forge documents. Very thoroughly.”
Higgs did his utmost to appease him.
The two sat facing each other across the table.
“The fourth-year student from the Department of Martial Arts was humiliated. Beaten up and dragged out of the dungeon like a dog. According to report from Sir Barth, he said it was quite miserable.”
“Ah… it’s difficult to express, honestly. It’s regrettable. Commander.”
“What’s Dean Jessica doing?”
“She’s holding department events, planning to convene a strategy meeting afterward.”
“Prioritizing department events over a crisis like this.”
Deus showed his displeasure but didn’t criticize further. Engaging her head-on implied Jessica would indeed be a tough opponent.
“The mana measurement ceremony is an important event. Though it proceeded somewhat abruptly……”
“I understand. What of His Majesty?”
“There has been no specific notice.”
“He must be very disappointed. It’s an incident involving Ian Oracle.”
“I’m ashamed, commander.”
“It’s not entirely your fault.”
“It is. Indeed, it is. It’s my mistake for not realizing Ian was concealing his true power.”
Deus refrained from further pursuit.
Not because Higgs was bowing to him, or out of favor, but because the target of this order had originally been predetermined.
The criticism of not recognizing Ian’s ability felt more like self-reproach than blame for Higgs.
“What measures have you taken?”
“Punishing the traitor comes first. I’ve dispatched someone with skill. Pallen Town is a considerable distance, though.”
“Traitor?”
“A brazen commoner. Betrayed a senior, they say?”
Deus nodded.
“I’ll report this to His Majesty. Ensure thorough control within the academy. While I’ll handle the professors from the Department of Martial Arts, remember that there are many oddballs in the Department of Magic.”
“Leave it to me.”
In reality, they were like cats and dogs.
Only temporarily aligning their interests toward a common goal.
“Furthermore, isn’t it time for trust? We’re allies on the same ship, after all.”
“Allies, eh? I hope there aren’t any holes in this seaworthy vessel.”
Whether referring to the floating ship or the human stomach was ambiguous.
Perhaps the perforated thing was his own stomach.
Nonetheless, Higgs laughed heartily.
“The treasure island is almost in sight. Commander. Hold on tight! Hahaha!”