NOVEL NEXT chapter 124
124. Emergency (1)
From the café of the splendid Adel Tower, I gazed out the window.
Once again, the penniless were toiling away.
They dragged carts filled with shovels and bricks, hard at work on the parade ground repairs.
Those who had gone to mend the fortress climbed the stairs, each burdened with their own sacks.
What a sight it was, and I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
“But, young master. Why are you here? The repairs aren’t even finished yet.”
Selly spoke as she placed a plate on the table.
I took a bite of the pastry, surveying the café’s interior.
Had the undead swept through here as well? A broken plate lay amidst a toppled flowerpot, and shattered furniture cluttered the space.
Aside from the table I sat at, it was fair to say that nearly everything else was in ruins.
Given the state of things, it was technically closed, yet thanks to connections, I could still enjoy it in peace.
“There’s no other place to quietly sip tea and think.”
I replied in a nonchalant tone, and Selly half-opened her eyes.
She seemed displeased at being made to work on her day off.
However, she quickly brushed it off, saying,
“Well, it’s a good thing. I was just about to check if there were any usable materials left. So, feel free to stay until you’re ready to leave.”
Selly approached the chaotic heap of debris.
I closed my eyes, savoring the fragrant tea.
It had already been three days since the first act boss battle ended.
The professors, with fire in their eyes, had been tracking the movements of Luon and Pheldira, but as expected, their efforts had yielded nothing.
By now, they had likely left the academy grounds far behind.
—
No one knows this place as well as Peldira does.
In any case, it’s a matter that only brings a sigh.
It seems there’s no way to recover the grimoire of the red jewel.
I’m already half resigned to it.
Yet, it feels as if there are still puzzle pieces left unfit, making my head itch with unease.
…How on earth did Peldira survive?
To lay out the process and the outcome, her original fate was this:
Before the gnarled tree, eyes closed, she met her end, her throat severed by Belen’s ambush.
But according to what I heard from Belen, as he cautiously approached to strike, Peldira opened her eyes, and a chase ensued.
Afterward, Belen, having expended much aura from the attack of the Bondragon, dragged his weary body to kill Peldira, who possessed the grimoire of the red jewel, but he failed.
It was then that Luon fell twelve floors down to aid Peldira, and using something hidden in the fountain, he managed to escape.
“Hmm.”
Now that I grasp the flow, it’s time to discern the cause.
Originally, Peldira and Luon must have shared a business-like relationship.
Yet their actions were anything but that.
There was a hint in what Peldira had said at the restaurant.
– To Luon, weren’t you like a mentor to me?
I’m not sure if Luon truly thinks of Hessel that way.
However, through Peldira’s gaze, it seems she felt Luon resembled herself.
This was likely spurred by the events in the magical realm.
– Now it’s my turn to ask. What did Luon whisper in your ear back then?
Her question carried the implication that she too was present in that moment.
When Luon spat out harsh words emotionally into my ear, Peldira must have witnessed that scene from afar.
Through that sight, perhaps she projected her past jealousy onto Luon, reflecting her younger self.
Then, a sudden thought struck me, and my mouth fell open.
“Ah.”
…Could it be that the source of the discomfort I felt in the restaurant was that?
No, it might be an excessive conjecture.
I turned to Selly, seeking a definitive answer.
The reason was not just that Peldira shared the same gender, but above all, they were both psychopaths, weren’t they?
“Celi, let me ask you one thing. If you were to feel a kinship with some man, how do you think that would feel?”
Celi carefully set down the plate she had been sorting through and replied.
“Kinship? Are you talking about a sense of empathy? I suppose it would weigh on your mind quite a bit?”
“Then, eventually, you might start seeing him as a potential romantic interest, perhaps?”
Celi rested her finger on her chin, her gaze drifting as she let out a thoughtful hum.
She seemed to be deep in contemplation.
“Hmm. What does this man look like?”
The descriptor attached to Luon is ‘the Mad Prince.’
Though his mind may be a bit unhinged, the title ‘Prince’ carries with it a wealth of implications.
Notably, it suggests elegance and a handsome face.
“He is indeed a handsome one.”
Celi chuckled softly in response.
“Then you’d surely fall for him.”
“Really?”
“Of course. If a man is good-looking, just a brush of his hand can make a woman’s heart race.”
No wonder she seemed so animated every time she talked about Luon in the tavern…
“…So, it really is all about the looks, then.”
“To be honest, whether it’s a man or a woman, when faced with a dazzling appearance, we tend to overlook the stages of romance, skipping ahead with generous abandon, don’t we?”
“How would you know that, you little brat?”
When I chided her, Celi muttered softly as she wiped a cup with a cloth.
It seems that the obsession of Pheldira, who sought to erase her memories and be reborn anew, has shifted to Luon.
So perhaps, in the midst of forming a new body, she had awakened?
She wouldn’t want to erase Luon along with her memories, after all.
…This is the most plausible flow of events.
“But aren’t you going out to see the sights tonight, young master?”
“See the sights?”
When I asked back, Celi turned her gaze to the window.
“I heard that today marks the beginning of the season of verdant vistas. It’s said you can only catch a glimpse of it for a brief moment after early summer.”
Verdant vistas? So that’s starting today.
In Frost Heart, every summer, a spectacle unfolds.
In the season when the snow melts, fireflies the size of rabbit bodies come to mate, and it is said that their light is more beautiful than the luster of emeralds, leaving memories that one can never forget.
Yet, it is not exactly a festival.
Gathered atop the walls to fend off the invasion of monsters, we merely observe briefly.
I do wish to see it with my own eyes, though. Should I go?
* * *
On a suitably cool night, the walls were bustling with crowds.
Among them was a cooking club that had set up a makeshift stall, selling simple snacks, which had surprisingly gained popularity, drawing long lines of eager customers.
It felt like a night market.
“Is it because there have been many requests lately? Everyone seems to have heavy pockets.”
As I said this, Asley sniffed the air, showing interest.
“Skewers.”
“If you want to eat, you’d better get in line quickly.”
After Asley left, Limberton grumbled as he watched a couple.
“I might have been like that today too, if it weren’t for that banquet…”
“Oh, the woman who came to talk to you? Forget her. She was clearly just trying to get some coins from you.”
“Come on, no way.”
Limberton shook his head, then shot me a suspicious glance.
“But was it really not a Bondragon?”
Ah, here we go again.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been asked this question.
Not just Limberton, but even Rix and the others, and those from the Adel clan keep pestering me about it. I’m nearly at my wit’s end.
“How many times must I say it? That was an illusion conjured by magic. You’ve heard the rumors, right? There was an unidentified mastermind behind it.”
The professors, unaware of Pheldira’s existence, have tentatively concluded that there was an intruder from outside.
Of course, they haven’t made it public, as it could only lead to more chaos, but everyone seems to have an inkling.
Given the scale of the incident, it would be unreasonable to say it was orchestrated by the students who entered through donations.
Thanks to that, various speculations have been circulating among the students.
“Then what about Lord Velen? I saw him bleeding from the mouth as he flew off when the flames spread.”
“That’s just because he drank too much as usual. He didn’t realize it was an illusion and fell victim to a surprise attack from the hidden mastermind.”
As I spat out the lie with the smoothness of a flowing river, Limberton seemed to accept it, his suspicious gaze softening.
Then he began to pat his belly.
“Hmm. I’m feeling a bit peckish too. Should I get something for you as well?”
“No, that’s alright.”
Limberton left to join the queue.
I cast a sidelong glance at the professors mingling among the students.
Though they claimed it was for control, it was clear that Rockefeller had stationed them for any unforeseen crisis.
As I stood there, waiting for the two to return, Professor Gomon approached.
“Who do we have here? Hursel, have you come out to gawk as well?”
“Yes, well…”
He flashed a friendly smile and brought up the tale of the Easter egg I had once shared with him.
“Honestly, when the clock struck twelve, that girl with the long hair and the necklace was staring at me, giving me chills.”
I replied in a tone that suggested genuine surprise.
“How fascinating. To think a story I heard would align so perfectly.”
“Oh come on. I thought you were more in the know, but it seems you’ve only heard the rumors too. There’s just so much strangeness around here, you know? Even when I was a student, I poked around all sorts of places, and I still stumble upon new things.”
Professor Gomon’s hobby was to unearth the secrets of Frost Heart.
I silently wished he would cease such pursuits.
One wrong move could lead to disaster.
“Recently, I’ve been digging into some suspicious land with Stone Bear—”
Just then, a couple passing by interrupted Professor Gomon’s words.
“That special kid, was it Luon? They say he still hasn’t been found. I wonder if he’s come back to stir up trouble again.”
“Shh, Professor Gomon is right there.”
Suddenly, Professor Gomon glanced around, then leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“I’ve heard that Luon was your friend, right? It’s awkward to say this to a student, but I’m sorry. We’ve failed to manage things properly…”
“Have you given up on the search entirely?”
“Pretty much.”
Professor Gomon wore a troubled expression.
“Ah, can I even say this? I don’t know. Hursel, I trust you, but you must not tell anyone. Luon Albanas. He’s become the first to successfully escape. Because of that, they’ve established a list of fugitives and new punishment regulations. If he’s found, it won’t end with just the punishment block. He’ll face a truly harsh example.”
The first escapee…
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Just… if you have any means of contacting him, sever it immediately. Oh, of course, I’m not suspecting you. It’s just a precaution; you never know where the sparks might fly.”
From the tone of his voice, it seemed Professor Gomon was genuinely worried about me.
Still, could it be that something is amiss?
The abundance of watchful eyes means constraints on his actions; he would spend the rest of his days hiding in some quiet corner.
“Ah? It’s time.”
Professor Gomon pointed toward the forest.
It was so dark that nothing was visible, but that was only for a moment.
As if the Milky Way itself descended from the heavens, luminous insects began to seep into the foliage.
These tiny glowing beings melded with the stillness of the night, casting a soft green hue over the entire mountain range like a gentle nightlight.
I felt the texture of the fabric against my skin, shivering in the cool breeze, and murmured softly.
“…The term ‘green vista’ suits it well.”
Perhaps everyone shared the same sentiment.
They gasped in awe, their eyes reflecting the spectacle before them.
After all, it was likely the first time since entering Frost Heart that I thought there might be some merit in coming here.
When you can enjoy it, savor it to the fullest.
For leisure, too, is but a fleeting moment…
* * *
Below lies an abyssal cliff.
The reason we had come this far was because Peldira insisted that this was a sight she must see.
“What do you think? This is my secret spot. Isn’t it splendid?”
Henderson smiled, seemingly satisfied, as he expressed his admiration.
“It was worth the grueling trek. No wonder the old man boasted about it.”
Luoan stood with his mouth half-open, unable to tear his gaze from the breathtaking view.
Perhaps that man was watching too.
He had wished to see it together.
‘In the end, he gets to see it.’
At that moment, Peldira suddenly popped up, blocking my line of sight, and asked,
“Are you thinking about that man right now?”
Luoan stared at Peldira, his gaze steady.
Her expression seemed to know everything, as if she had learned some mind-reading trick lately; it felt as though she could read my thoughts.
“I was merely entranced by the spectacle for a moment.”
“Lies. In those eyes, it only looks like a forest swarming with insects.”
“······.”
As silence fell, Peldira smiled brightly and took his hand.
“Shall we go then?”
At her words, Henderson stretched his limbs.
“Ah! First, let’s head to the nearest village. Once we arrive, the rest will be easy. Our kind is scattered even in the most remote corners.”
Luo tore his gaze from the verdant scenery and followed Henderson, Peldira at his side.
“But what does the Warden of the Shadows do?”
When Luo asked, Henderson opened his eyes wide and replied.
“What else but mischief?”
“Just the sort of things a gang would do, I suppose.”
Their deeds included contract killings, drug trafficking, prostitution, and running illegal gambling dens.
Yet Henderson scoffed as if in disbelief.
“Such things are for the lowly. You’d likely be playing in deeper waters.”
“Deeper waters?”
Henderson halted abruptly, a serious look crossing his face as he inquired.
“Are you interested in treasure hunting?”
The one who hunts for treasures, a treasure hunter.
Pathfinders do it too, as do adventurers, but if they belong to the Warden of the Shadows, it would surely be different.
It would be closer to a band of thieves.
“Now that piques my interest.”
Luo replied, leaving behind the white fortress of Frost Heart.
* * *
In a certain part of the Empire, fog thickened to the point of obscuring the horizon.
In a somewhat isolated village, the elders warned that it was a region where monsters roamed, advising not to venture near. Yet among the more seasoned middle-aged folk, tales of a secret base hidden by the Empire had long been whispered.
And indeed, the middle-aged folk’s speculations were correct.
In an office at the Pathfinder headquarters, a woman adjusted her glasses and reviewed documents.
As her eyes darted across the pages, she suddenly froze, causing her glasses to slip down her nose once more.
She readjusted them and even mouthed the words aloud, but the content remained unchanged.
“The scar by the mouth matches the features of the face. The sword he possesses is the same, and venom from a Viper Silus has been detected in the blood…”
The woman felt a chill.
It was no wonder; the one known as the Blood Serpent had made a name for himself by hunting countless Pathfinders.
To think such a man had fallen to the hands of a mere student?
‘Impossible. What kind of creature was he…?’
When the head of that beast arrived at headquarters, most could only scoff.
The woman had dismissed it as mere exaggeration, thinking it was just a case of mistaken identity, but now the verified evidence lay stark before her.
No matter how many times she blinked to confirm, the words remained clear.
“Wow, in all my days, I never thought I’d see this.”
She grasped the seal resting on the desk.
The moment she pressed it onto the document, a medal would be bestowed upon him.
Just as she was about to make the thud! sound of the ink, a commotion erupted outside the door.
“Ah, what brings you here?”
Though tinged with tension and politeness, it was undoubtedly the voice of her superior.
Seeing that arrogant man appear like a sycophant, it seemed someone from a higher echelon had come.
“I heard the department responsible for the medals was here, so I thought I’d drop by. In truth, I came to deliver it personally.”
“Pardon? You mean personally? Ah, yes. Please, come in.”
Her superior opened the door with a voice full of surprise.
The woman, suddenly tense, rose from her seat and gasped at the sight of the black clerical robe.
Embroidered with blue lines.
And the golden compass badge hanging from his chest.
It was unmistakable.
That was the mark only the elders, the heart of the Pathfinders, could possess.
“W-Wise Elder, what brings you to this humble place? No, wait, I’ll fetch you some tea right away.”
Hastily approaching the kettle, the middle-aged man removed his hood, revealing a grin that showcased his white teeth.
“Tea is fine. More importantly, have the rewards been arranged?”
“I-I was just about to prepare them according to regulations.”
His smile vanished abruptly.
The woman felt a surge of panic, ready to prostrate herself in fear of having made a mistake.
The middle-aged man waved her off with a sly grin.
“No, I’ve come here to bother you for no reason. In truth, I have something to say to him, which is why I came to deliver the medal myself.”
As the woman cautiously lifted her gaze, scanning the surroundings, the middle-aged man continued speaking.
“So, according to the regulations, how many ranks are there?”
Even medals have their grades.
The highest is the dragon insignia, crafted from platinum.
Next come the lion, the wolf, the eagle, and so forth.
Among these, Hershel was to receive the eagle rank.
“Four badges. I was planning to bestow the eagle.”
Yet, the middle-aged man’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Hmm?”
“…but it wouldn’t be fitting for the elder to deliver it personally. I shall grant you three badges, the wolf.”
Even the four badges are an honor that seasoned Pathfinders might receive only once in their careers.
If a mere student were to hold the esteemed three badges, they would ascend to a high position upon graduation.
Perhaps, with just a bit more finesse, they would outrank even the anxious superior standing beside the elder.
Just a rookie, after all.
“Don’t think of it as a breach of regulations. It seems the royal family has taken an interest in the lad, so we ought to prepare ourselves first, don’t you think?”
Now that he mentioned it, there had been whispers of unusual movements from the royal family.
Not only had they hunted Vermi, but they had also retrieved artifacts, which must have left quite an impression.
In the end, it was a battle for talent between the royal knights and the Pathfinders…
“Ah, truly, the bloodline of Tenest is overflowing with talent, isn’t it?”
The woman swallowed the words, “Indeed, that family even has Mircel,” for the disparity in their statuses was far too grave to speak so freely.
“Anyway, I shall take the three badges with me.”
The middle-aged man donned his hood and approached the superior.
It seemed he intended to guide him.
But then, the middle-aged man turned his head and smiled bitterly.
“Ah, I hope my presence here hasn’t caused you any discomfort. I’d feel quite sorry if it did.”
The woman forced a polite smile and shook her head.
Then, words contrary to her true feelings spilled from her lips.
“No, it was an honor. How often do I get the chance to see the elder?”
She felt as if her heart might stop from the shock.
—
“Oh, is that so? How fortunate. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I’ve been avoiding you all, feeling like I was making you uncomfortable. I suppose I should come by more often?”
“…Yes, that would truly be delightful.”
No, don’t do that!
After a superior’s visit, it was customary for the higher-ups to berate the office, complaining about the state of things, the dust accumulating, and all manner of nonsense.
But this time, it wasn’t just any high-ranking official; it was an elder standing at the pinnacle of power.
It was only natural that the underlings would be swept away by such an unexpected visit.
“Surely, the professors would be overjoyed to have you visit, Elder.”
Even living in the same building was a torment for her; how much worse would it be for the professors?
The woman thought the truly unfortunate ones were the professors of Frost Heart, not herself.
Just the fact that that man was coming would turn the academy upside down.