EP.68 Afterword (4)
The streets of the royal capital are noisy.
Everyone is busy talking about the unprecedented incident that happened recently.
Something worthy of that happened.
A black barrier covering the Harmain Forest.
Magi addiction among Aplia students.
A demonic terror attack occurred once again in Aplia.
These are all incidents worthy of special reports.
Things like that happened one after another.
That too, at Aplia Academy in the royal capital.
As the incident occurred in Aplia, where children of various noble families gathered, the aftermath was significant.
The royal family would have wanted to end the incident as quietly as possible, but things don’t go as planned. This is because there are too many people who witnessed the incident to conceal the truth.
To be more precise, there are many people who witnessed the barrier.
The black barrier that unfolded that day also symbolized a certain wizard.
‘A barrier like black waves.’
At first, I couldn’t recognize it because it came in the form of a wave… but if you think about it calmly, the answer will come quickly.
A barrier whose dismantling method has only recently become known.
The barrier of the ancient lich Skebal.
In other words, the dark side of this incident is Skebal. A big man called a disaster has appeared in the royal capital. Newspapers pour out. The rumor grows through word of mouth.
At that point, I have one question.
‘why.’
If you think about it, it’s strange.
Even though such a large figure appeared in the royal capital, no casualties occurred.
then.
‘Who on earth dealt with Skebal?’
Who solved this case?
In response to that question, Aplia’s academic staff spoke in unison.
A hero has appeared.
The hero blocked the barrier.
It is reported that way in the public. It is said that Skebal was defeated through cooperative operations between warriors, knights, and the special unit Hound.
However, the reality is different.
Only a very small number of Hounds who participated in the operation know the inside story.
There was a gray wizard there.
* * *
Immediately after the incident, the Hounds searched the Harmain Forest wearing mana-blocking robes.
Normally, it would be enough work in one day… but Harmain’s saturated mana cannot be properly blocked even with the blocking robe.
Because of this, work is slow.
The hunting dogs, who slowly searched the forest, finally found it deep in the forest.
“Senior, this is…”
“···okay. watching.”
A place believed to be the site of the battle with Skebal.
What gathered there were a few hounds. The hound representing them approaches the scene.
“·····.”
Hound, Kalt thinks as he looks at the scene.
‘You made quite a mess…’
Kalt sighed inwardly.
What you see before your eyes is a forest scene reminiscent of ruins.
Trees are being uprooted here and there.
The ground is cracked and full of traces of something being hit and dragged around.
And, it is different from sword marks.
It is not a mark of being cut with a knife.
Traces of a collision between spells.
Traces left behind by hitting-type spells.
and.
‘Ash.’
Kalt laughed bitterly.
The scene of an incident contains more information than you might think. Hounds are those who have been thoroughly trained to dig up that information.
“Senior, this is…”
There are people who have found the answer on the spot.
Finding the answer wasn’t that difficult. Because there was only one person who left such a unique mark.
“okay.”
Kalt said calmly.
“There are traces of the intervention of the gray wizard, Raniel.”
There is no hesitation in revealing the truth of the incident.
This is because it was something that was discussed in advance.
-Anyway, it will be hard to hide that I did it.
-I don’t know if it’s a decent guy… but if it’s Skebal, it’ll be hard to hide and fight.
Kalt strides into the center of the scene.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Hounds walk behind them.
-So, well, I left a letter.
-I left it under the tree that looked the best, so I’ll just have to take it and report it.
I reach out for the letter lying under the tree.
There is a seal used by the gray wizard, Raniel. Kalt opened the letter and checked its contents.
“hmm.”
Kalt nodded slightly and looked back at the hounds. Their eyes are focused on the letter that Kalt is holding.
Recognizing that gaze, Kalt opened his mouth.
“Raniel’s involvement has been confirmed. “I will take care of delivering the letter to the royal family.”
“···Um, senior Kalt?”
Several Hounds ask questions.
“What was the letter about?”
There is a strange sense of anticipation in those eyes. Kalt thought for a moment and answered as written on his letterhead.
“···I’m leaving because I have important work to do, so I’ll leave it to you to take care of the rest.”
“Are you talking about something important?”
“It says so. “I don’t know the details.”
Of course it’s a lie.
Kalt remembered Raniel walking away, saying he had to grade the test paper.
‘···Because I can’t tell it like it is.’
Kalt sighed as he looked at the Hounds who were starting to guess about this and that.
“Go ahead and start working. “I have to finish it within today.”
2.
Fourth princess, Ayla.
She widened her eyes and asked back.
The place his gaze was directed at was his guard knight, Havel, standing in front of the door.
“Havel? “What did you say just now?”
“···Well, it is said that Mr. Raniel was involved in this incident. Contrary to what is known to the public.”
Havel answers and places the documents on the table.
Ayla flicked through the documents Havel handed over and quickly checked the contents.
“So, the subjugation of Skebal was not done by the hero alone…”
Ayla raised her head.
“It’s closer to what Raniel did on his own?”
“Yes, that’s what the hounds think. “It was difficult to find any traces of the holy sword being swung there.”
The traces passed by the holy sword are unique.
A halo of light remains above the slash. That halo of light does not disappear easily and drives away demonic energy.
‘There are no such traces…’
He didn’t even swing the holy sword.
Ayla frowned.
“···Why didn’t you announce that fact to the public? “I thought most of it was done by heroes.”
She gave Havel a disgruntled look.
‘Isn’t this a complete steal of the achievement?’
It’s not that I hate heroes.
However, from the perspective of Ayla, who admired Raniel more, this was very unpleasant.
“···That’s why Raniel made it a point not to make his involvement known.”
“yes?”
Ayla tilts her head in response.
Havel added an afterword, as if he misinterpreted the meaning.
“It is said that the royal family paid the subjugation reward and compensation to Sir Rossel’s address.”
“No, wait a minute. Don’t announce your intervention? “What do you mean?”
“Ah, I heard that Raniel left a letter at the scene. “This is the contents of that letter.”
You will find out when you check the report.
Ayla turned her gaze away from Havel who said that and looked at the documents again.
After flipping through a few pages, I found a page with a transcription of a letter found at the scene. Ayla glanced at it. It was a letter written in simple sentences.
To summarize, it was as follows.
Do not disclose your involvement.
Refuse all important positions that are offered to you.
He has no intention of returning to the Knights Templar or any similar group for the time being.
Just say what you want to convey plainly.
As I continue reading, I reach the last sentence. That sentence is different from the sentences written above.
These are the people who will be the first to check this letter.
This was something to leave to the Hounds.
-I have important work to do, so I leave first.
-I’ll leave it to you to handle the rest.
Ayla narrowed her eyes.
‘···much?’
What is that?
Ayla summarizes the current situation.
The gray wizard, whose identity had not even been properly identified for several months after retirement, suddenly appeared. And, he has a good reason for his appearance.
‘Ancient Lich, Skebal’s Royal Capital Attack.’
The attack was prevented in advance, but if the action had been delayed even slightly… the damage would have grown out of control.
Indeed, this is an event worthy of the Gray Wizard appearing.
What’s disappointing is the story behind it.
‘Even after handling such a serious incident…’
Without saying a word or revealing his identity, the gray wizard disappeared. I just left a letter saying I had something important to do.
“Uhm…”
Ayla rests her chin and blinks.
‘What on earth are you doing?’
It’s unknown.
Since he has always been a bit of a mysterious person, he must have his reasons. Ayla muttered, recalling the gray wizard in her memory.
“···That’s too bad.”
Stella, a child loved by the stars.
Is this talent not all-purpose? Ayla felt regretful about missing the meeting she had been looking forward to.
“I wanted to meet you.”
There was something I really wanted to say.
Ayla opens the drawer. There were dozens of sealed letters there.
The gray wizard, Raniel.
These are letters I have written since I was a child, saying I would deliver them to the wizard. I was debating whether to send it or not, but ended up putting it away instead of sending it.
Ayla takes out the most recent one among them. It’s a letter that I finally decided to send, but now I can’t.
Because the Gray Wizard retired.
There is no way to deliver the letter to him. Although there is a way to pass it on through his teacher…
‘Lord Rossell also said that he could not determine Mr. Raniel’s identity.’
Even that is not certain.
As Ayla carelessly skims the outside of the letter, she feels belated regret.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have sent at least one page before I retired.’
Ayla sighed deeply.
“There is something I must tell you.”
3.
Three days after the incident.
The restoration work of the buildings and the disposal of the remaining magic waste within Aplia Academy are nearing their end.
Dean Aaron is happy about that fact.
Basically, cleaning up demonic energy is a very cumbersome and time-consuming task. Because not even a small residue should be left behind.
Because of that, I once again planned a long holiday…
Fortunately, despite the misfortune, the saint who came with the hero took away all of Dean Aaron’s worries.
match.
The demonic energy subsides with just one clap and a flap of the sleeve of the priest’s robe. In front of the brilliant light, small darkness disappears without a trace.
“It was like a miracle.”
Aaron nods his head in sincere praise.
“Thanks to that, I think a short-term break will be enough. That’s really good. “The worst has been prevented.”
“·····.”
“Furthermore, the students who were addicted to demonic energy were all cured thanks to the saint. “It’s a gracious thing.”
Aaron smiled and sipped his teacup.
“Isn’t that right, Roselle?”
“···Well, I guess so.”
“Why is your expression like that? “It was as if I had chewed a bug.”
Aaron glances at his friend sitting across from him.
‘···Has something happened that bothers you?’
The already sharp eyes seem even sharper today.
“It’s no big deal. “I’m just a little tired.”
“···What does that mean?”
“There is such a thing.”
Roselle slammed down her coffee cup.
“So, why did I call you?”
“Nothing much, is Ms. Rania okay? “I heard she was addicted to demonic energy.”
Aaron trailed off.
I heard the news a day after the incident.
I was wondering if Professor Rania had been seen, and I heard that he was addicted to demonic energy and was recuperating at home. Did you say he was near the barrier?
‘Well, it would be difficult for that frail body to withstand the magical energy emitted by the barrier.’
In addition to beating the traitor with his bare hands.
Although she possesses more magical knowledge than meets the eye, she is still a delicate girl with no battlefield experience.
‘···Is it a bit unfair to call her soft?’
Anyway, thinking about that girl suffering from demonic energy doesn’t make Aaron feel very comfortable.
‘You even went to work today?’
Leading that painful body.
The enthusiasm is high, but I also feel like I should have taken care of my body first.
‘Now that I think about it, is the saint still staying?’
Well then, wouldn’t it be okay to ask him?
“That’s it.”
Aaron claps his hands and says, “Clap.”
“Roselle.”
“Something, Aaron.”
“Or, if you ask the saintess to become your disciple…”
“No way.”
“···huh?”
Roselle widened her eyes.
“No way, no way.”
“Well, why would you react so much? “Wouldn’t this be good for Miss Rania?”
Good thing, good thing.
When Rossell heard that a saint was staying in the academy, he imprisoned his disciple in the mansion.
No, he was going to be imprisoned.
‘He’s not the kind of guy who can be imprisoned just because you’ve locked him up…’
In the end, despite Roselle’s dissuasion, the student went to work at Aplia.
“Whoa…”
Thinking of Raniel, who would be stuck in the professor’s office right now, Roselle touched his forehead. Today, Roselle had to work hard to prevent Raniel and the saint from meeting.
The saint is wandering around Aplia.
If you leave Raniel alone, you will definitely run into him.
‘Especially the cafe. ‘They should never be allowed to go there.’
How many times did I grab the back of Raniel’s neck and make him sit down when he wanted to go get coffee? After being on high alert all day, I feel very tired physically and mentally.
There is a good reason why Rossel does this.
The saint and Raniel.
That’s because I can’t even imagine what would happen if those two met. However, one thing is certain: it will never end well.
-Oh, that crazy bitch?
-What are you going to do when you meet?
-Uhm…
What did the disciple answer to that question?
-well. I don’t think I’ll do anything special.
-Wouldn’t you just tear up all the clothes first? I think I’ll at least rip her hair out.
-yes? Isn’t violence against people okay?
The disciple smiled and answered.
-That’s right, Master.
-That bitch is not human?
The voice of my student smiling brightly lingers in my ear.
The image of my student smiling brightly and cracking his fingers flashes before my eyes.
‘If the two meet…’
Roselle has a hunch.
‘One of them will die.’
And, there is a high probability that the one who dies will become a saint. Roselle didn’t have the confidence to handle it.
‘Please, please stay in the teacher’s office…’
* * *
smart.
“Come on in.”
I stuck my head out and looked at the front door.
There is a student standing in front of the door.
“Lesti?”
“Hello, Professor Rania.”
She bows her head.
“What happened?”
“I think I should return this. And, I have some questions to ask…”
I looked at the clock for a moment. I was already thinking about going for a cup of coffee.
“Wait a moment.”
I put on the cape I had placed on the chair and stood up.
“Do you like coffee?”
“yes?”
“Let’s have some coffee and talk. let’s go.”
A word from the author (author review)
I uploaded it a little quickly today!
It was written a little quickly 😀
