Chapter 117
Salt is God and Invincible – Part 2
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The justification for withdrawing from the rock salt mine was perfect.
Originally, with the Headmistress personally digging the vertical shaft, the reconstruction would have been much faster, and I could have squeezed out more compensation, but…
“So, the considerable deposit in the rock salt mine…”
“…Is likely due to the fragment of the sacred relic. It created that much salt with the power of the sacred relic.”
“Then now that the fragment of the sacred relic has disappeared into my heart…”
“There might be some salt left, but whether it’s enough to be called a mine…”
The pure salt ‘created’ by the fragment of the sacred relic was still in the tunnel. But that wasn’t nearly enough.
Why was a mine called a mine? It was because you could continuously extract resources for years, decades, even if you kept digging. If it was just something you picked up and that was it, it was just a salt storage. The salt that came crashing like waves was indeed a lot, but it would probably be all scooped up in less than a month.
In that sense, the remaining deposit was decent, but…
“In the end, the estimated deposit was based on the amount of salt mined so far and the rock salt vein. If the fragment of the sacred relic was continuously creating rock salt…”
Naturally, the estimated deposit would be inflated.
Of course, the remaining amount was still significant enough to function as a rock salt mine, but it wasn’t enough to return ten times the investment and greatly revive the declining count family.
You might ask if it was my fault. What are you talking about?
‘They should be grateful that I didn’t demand thorough compensation after nearly dying.’
If I ‘asked’ with the Headmistress by my side, I could probably squeeze out anything except the ownership of the rock salt mine. But I didn’t do that.
It wasn’t out of some misplaced guilt or mercy for taking the fragment of the sacred relic. If I squeezed them, they would speed up the reconstruction and mining to compensate… and then the fact that the deposit was smaller than expected would be revealed quickly.
It was better not to take anything for now, for the sake of the perfect crime. I had already gained an absurd amount of profit.
‘Honestly, after all those hints I gave them, they’ll send something to the academy.’
I did refuse, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t accept anything. That cunning noble would know that much. I didn’t know how much it would be, but a considerable amount of salt would be coming.
What if it didn’t come? Then, Headmistress, do you want a taste of my fist?
Anyway, I had withdrawn from the rock salt mine investment with a clear justification, so even if the mine was depleted later, they would just think it was bad luck and wouldn’t suspect anything.
It felt liberating to leave the lord’s castle.
However, since I had returned with the help of the Headmistress and Ruth and immediately headed to the lord’s castle after our conversation,
“F-Finance Director! Are you alright!?”
“Ah, Auditor Marcus. As you can see, I’m fine.”
“…Finance Director.”
“Student… Chloe? Oh, have you been crying?”
“………”
“Student?”
Upon arriving at the inn, there were some incidents, like Auditor Marcus sitting with a worried expression and being surprised to see me, or Chloe silently approaching and hugging me without a word, but…
After explaining the situation, except for the part about the sacred relic, I went up to my room.
It was because I had something to discuss with someone.
“Self-proclaimed Goddess, are you there?”
—……
“You didn’t answer even when I called you several times in the mine. It should be fine here since I’m near Student Chloe, right?”
—…You’re safe.
“Of course I am.”
If I had fallen alone, I would have been killed instantly, but I was with the protagonist, no, she’s Rank 7 now, so should I call her the protagonist-protagonist? Anyway, since I was with Ruth, it was only natural that I was safe.
The title of <Dark Kingdom>’s protagonist brought a sense of stability. She had Dark Sword again this time, and she even reached Rank 7.
Anyway, there was no need to worry about whether I should tell this self-proclaimed Goddess about the sacred relic and the scabbard.
—And you even have the light in your heart.
“As expected, you noticed.”
This self-proclaimed Goddess was either magic left by the Archmage to monitor and protect Chloe, or another mental entity… or, in a very unlikely scenario, a Goddess.
She was at least Rank 6, maybe even Rank 7. I could make a fairly accurate guess since I was with the Headmistress and knew the level of a Rank 8. Of course, as a mere Rank 1, my guess could be wrong.
Anyway, I thought that a being like that would be able to notice that I had absorbed the fragment of the sacred relic. And my prediction was correct.
‘It’s better to share it than for her to be the only one who knows.’
In the end, the self-proclaimed Goddess’s goal of protecting Chloe Piste wasn’t bad for me either, so it was fine to maintain a somewhat close relationship with her.
It was better to reveal it first than for her to be the only one who knew. If it was a secret I couldn’t hide, it was better to share it.
“Can you tell what kind of light it is?”
—…No, that can’t be. This is…?
“Honestly, even I can’t believe it, but it’s true.”
—The sacred relic…? No, why is that in this mine? I didn’t know about it before?
Before?
It was better to pretend I didn’t hear that than to point it out. But I made sure to remember it and continued speaking.
“For some reason, the sacred relic fragment was in the rock salt mine. And I absorbed it.”
—How?
“How would I know? What would a Rank 1 know? I’m telling you this because I thought it would be good to share.”
Should I also tell her about the Scabbard of Dark Sword?
I was hesitant because she didn’t seem to know about that part. It was already risky enough mentioning the sacred relic, and revealing the scabbard as well was too much of a risk.
But if I revealed it first, it would build trust with her. What should I choose…
—…No, no.
“Hmm?”
—I’m just glad you’re safe. That’s… enough.
“………”
What? What’s with this wistful tone?
Was she really the Goddess who transported me here? The request to get close to Chloe, the way she seemed to know me strangely well…
This self-proclaimed Goddess’s identity was truly suspicious… but…
“…There’s the Scabbard of Dark Sword in my heart.”
—What?
“I’m telling you because it seems like we’ll keep seeing each other.”
Why? It was something I would never normally do, but with this self-proclaimed Goddess, it felt like I could tell her.
It was like something was tickling my heart. It felt like something had changed within me, like that strange slip of the tongue earlier.
What happened during those few days when I passed out after coming into contact with the scabbard, after the Headmistress left for the dwarven city?
Rationally, it was a foolish thought, but I had a vague feeling that I could trust her.
‘I must be crazy.’
What would the self-proclaimed Goddess say now? Wouldn’t she question if it was true or try to confirm if I was lying?
Then what should I say—
—More importantly…
“Hmm?”
—Do you remember what I said before?
What I said before?
Huh? What did I say?
—You said you received a confession, didn’t you?
“…Ah.”
—Can I hear more about it? We’re ‘going to keep seeing each other,’ after all.
That’s right.
Come to think of it, what should I say to the Headmistress…?
***
While Adam Keynes was deep in thought in his room, the rest of the group gathered on the first floor of the inn.
Ruth Spero, Chloe Piste, and the Headmistress.
Auditor Marcus had wisely excused himself, saying he had business to attend to at the lord’s castle.
The other investors, including the head of the Gartua Trading Company, had already left the inn after the collusion ended. Only the three women remained.
“…Congratulations on reaching Rank 7.”
“Thank you, Headmistress.”
“You’re now the youngest Rank 7. I’m so proud that such a student has emerged from Grandis Academy.”
The Headmistress started the conversation. While Chloe was glancing upstairs for some reason and Ruth had an unreadable expression, the Headmistress, as the eldest, spoke first.
Chloe’s eyes widened in shock at the unbelievable news of Ruth Spero reaching Rank 7.
Ruth smiled faintly.
“It’s still far from your level, Headmistress, as a Rank 8, but if I gain experience like you, I might reach even higher someday.”
“…That’s… right.”
Was it just her imagination that there was a particular emphasis on the word “experience”? The Headmistress secretly gripped one of the table legs, causing it to crack.
It was a very discreet move, befitting a Rank 8. But as expected of someone with her experience, she wasn’t just going to take it.
“Now that Student Ruth has become Rank 7, we need to have a serious discussion.”
“A discussion…?”
“It was fine until Rank 6. Student Cassandra is also Rank 6. But Rank 7 is unprecedented.”
Ruth flinched slightly at the mention of Cassandra, but…
The Headmistress tilted her head for a moment and continued.
With words that Ruth couldn’t ignore.
“I’m considering early graduation.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Of course. As a Rank 7, your rank is higher than many professors in the Martial Arts Department, so there’s no point in continuing your studies, and you’ve reached a level that Student Lisha Claudia and Student Kaern Deste won’t be able to reach even by the time they graduate, so there’s no point in competing either.”
“………”
“For the sake of Student Ruth’s future, I’ll proceed with early graduation as a special case and send recommendation letters to the royal family and the Empire. I especially recommend the Empire.”
“…So you can send me far away?”
“I’m also part of the kingdom, but the Empire is the hegemonic power. I’m only thinking of your future.”
Ruth’s eyes narrowed. That was all, but the Headmistress couldn’t easily ignore Ruth’s cold gaze, which had changed along with her rank.
There was still a difference of one rank between Ruth and the Headmistress, a difference as vast as the sky and the earth, but even so, a Rank 7 was a formidable force that couldn’t be underestimated.
Ruth was now stronger than the Paladin Captain of the Wish Cult, whom the Headmistress had crushed and killed while creating the basin a while ago.
As the two exchanged glares with killing intent, Chloe asked in a trembling voice,
“Ruth Spero, are you really…”
“I’ve reached Rank 7. Want to see my Sword Qi?”
“…No, it’s fine. I can tell even now.”
The difference between Rank 6 and Rank 7 was simply the ability to freely control Sword Qi or Aura, but that alone created a huge gap between the two ranks.
Chloe, who was still Rank 5, couldn’t help but grit her teeth at the fact that she wasn’t even at the starting line.
Objectively, it was strange for Ruth to be Rank 7 at her age, and it was extremely rare for Chloe to be Rank 5 at her age. But this wasn’t about the whole continent.
Just like a student who was at the top of their class in their regular school could become average when placed in an advanced class,
Chloe, who had to compete with the Headmistress, Ruth Spero, and Beatrice, couldn’t help but feel impatient.
‘I’m the only one falling behind.’
She was growing rapidly with the help of adult Chloe, but what good was that?
Even with the [Chain Binding] she trained so hard in, she couldn’t save Adam. She couldn’t even throw herself to save Adam like Ruth did. It was the best choice she could make considering the distance, but the result was the result.
‘I need to do something.’
The future was guaranteed. If she continued to receive help from adult Chloe, she would eventually reach the peak of Rank 7.
But sometimes, the present was more important than the future.
Considering that Ruth threw herself to save Adam, reached Rank 7, and clearly had something going on with Adam in the mine,
Chloe needed to make a decision.
“…I also think early graduation is the right choice.”
“You?”
“Honestly, I’m not that close with Ruth Spero, but I can’t deny that he’s Rank 7. I agree with the Headmistress that the Empire would be good.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page, Student Chloe.”
“…Yes.”
Even if it meant joining hands with the enemy she had to overcome.
Ruth Spero was that dangerous now. It was even more annoying that she was clearly exuding a strange charm despite being disguised as a male again.
However, the Headmistress was also an enemy she had to eliminate, as she was presumably the one who Adam confessed to. She couldn’t hold hands with her for long.
“………”
“………”
“…………”
As the three women, each with their own goals, cautiously observed each other and formed alliances with their enemies, a heavy silence filled the first floor of the inn.
Burst!
“Headmistress! I came as soon as I heard you were here! I even shook off Auditor Marcus, who was trying to stop me at the door, so that I, Alon, could greet the Headmistress…?”
Auditor Marcus, who had been lingering at the door, sprinted away with all his might, right behind Professor Alon, who had just flung open the inn’s door and entered.
He truly had remarkable awareness.