Chapter 31

On Thursday, there was an advanced magic lecture that I took with Lerwon.

It was the second day I had been carrying Albedo in my pocket, wondering if I would run into him by chance.

《How do you listen to such a boring class?》

This was Albedo’s reaction after unintentionally attending the Imperial History lecture with me.

To be honest, the Imperial History class was practically a lullaby.

I took it because it was one of the five required classes you had to take at least three of, but it was an ordeal to attend the class.

I had no choice but to follow along as much as possible, even if it meant pinching my thighs.

“Even Laurel-senior, who was suspended, said that if there’s one thing she doesn't miss, it's the Imperial History class.”

As soon as I entered the lecture hall, I quickly looked for Lerwon.

Achieve the goal as quickly as possible!

Or so I had set a goal.

《The human you speak of does not seem to be here.》

That’s what I’m saying. I sat near the entrance and checked every time a student came in, but Lerwon was nowhere to be seen.

In the end, by the time the lecture started and my father came in, Lerwon had not arrived.

Could he be late… but the front of the door was surprisingly quiet.

From the middle of the lecture, I didn't even have the luxury to check if Lerwon was coming or not.

The lecture was so difficult that I was struggling just to keep up.

“This is crazy.”

I underlined the parts I didn't understand to look them up in the library later, and half of the book was underlined.

Should I call it a miracle that I followed half of a 3rd-year class?

“Sigh.”

I’ll leave the hideout cleaning to the two of them tonight and go to the library to do some supplementary studying.

As I got up from my seat, trudging, the TA with dark circles under his eyes, who was cleaning up, called me.

“Student Theo.”

“Yes.”

“Professor Lisitoel called for you, so please go to his research lab.”

…My father? Remembering his serious look on Monday, my stomach seemed to clench.

Well, I have to go. I’m a student, and my father is a professor.

Holding back tears, I headed for my father’s research lab.

I had to knock, but my hand wouldn't move, as if it had a sandbag attached to it.

This is uncomfortable! Very uncomfortable!

The face of my father, filled with worry on Monday, flickered before my eyes.

《If you’ve come, go in!》

“Don’t talk so easily just because it’s not your business!”

I whispered to Albedo.

If it were as easy as you say, I wouldn't be worrying like this right now!

It would be better to run away. I was about to make a quick escape when the door burst open.

“Come in.”

“Yes, sir.”

At my father’s monotonous single word, I ended up answering ‘yes’ right away. Damn it.

《The escape has failed.》

Be quiet, you damn lizard.

Grumbling at him inwardly, I entered the research lab.

The research lab was quite a mess. My father’s office at the county residence seemed quite clean….

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

After hesitating, I finally sat on the sofa, and my father brought me tea.

After giving a brief thank you, my throat felt dry for no reason, and I took a sip of the tea.

“Is there a reason you called me?”

“I thought you were having a hard time keeping up with the class, so I was thinking of giving you some reference materials.”

“If it’s a privilege only I receive, I’ll have to decline.”

I didn’t need any special treatment for being my father’s son.

“It’s material given to all students who skip grades like you, so take it when it’s given.”

“Then I will gratefully accept it.”

If it’s not a privilege, there’s no reason to refuse.

At the sight of me quickly taking the material, my father nodded as if satisfied.

I’ll have to read everything he gave me tonight before I sleep.

“Is your body alright since then?”

“Yes, no problems.”

“You haven’t vomited blood? You know you shouldn’t hide it, right?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I don’t want to be in the infirmary twice.

But, I can’t worry my father.

“You were sickly from birth, so please take care of your body.”

“Yes, I will.”

I slowly nodded my head.

So the poor durability of this body wasn't just because of a long life in a sickbed.

It seemed giving me the material wasn't the only reason he called me, as my father cleared his throat and got to the main point.

“Your nanny is making a fuss about wanting to see you, so how about going home on Friday this week?”

“I’m attending a party hosted by Golden on Friday, so I think it will be a little difficult.”

“Golden? Are you talking about the Golden I know?”

“Yes.”

In the empire, the word ‘Golden’ meant two things.

One was literally gold, and the other was Golden, the merchant guild founded by Iris Viden.

I could feel my father’s expression turning serious for a moment.

“If you’re worried, I won’t attend.”

I didn’t want to attend to the point of worrying my father.

My father seemed to be thinking, resting his chin on his hand and closing his eyes.

It was to the point where if I took a picture with a camera now, it could be used as the cover of a photo book.

“No, it’s fine. She’s not a person who easily crosses the line, so it should be fine.”

“Are you close to that person?”

I suddenly got curious and asked my father.

It might be a sensitive question, but I was curious.

My father seemed to be at a loss as to how to answer the unexpected question.

After a moment of thought, my father spoke calmly.

“The master of Golden also attended the Academy once. She was my classmate at that time.”

“Really?!”

I knew that Iris Viden was an Academy graduate.

But, to think she was from the same period as my father, and even a classmate, even I, a veteran user, didn't know that.

“However, I would like to oppose you hanging out with her. She is not a trustworthy person.”

I kept my mouth shut at my father’s serious advice.

Should I tell him I’ve already met her once and even made a contract?

I’ll tell him later, when I have a little more leeway.

Well, I won’t hide it forever.

“His Majesty the Emperor often attended the Golden banquets in disguise.”

“Is it okay for the emperor to do that?”

If something goes wrong, won't the country be ruined?

My father let out a deep sigh.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

The way he looked seemed like he was dealing with a troublesome disciple, which was somehow funny.

“Anyway, it would be better to attend than to refuse, so go and have a good time.”

My father gently stroked my head.

For a moment, what caught my eye was the flow of mana I had also seen in Professor Beatrice’s lecture.

Did he use magic on me?

“Let’s go to the county residence on Saturday.”

“Yes, Father.”

I was also kind of missing the county residence.

After bowing my head and leaving the research lab, I immediately asked Albedo, who was hiding in my pocket.

“What kind of magic was it?”

《A very powerful protection magic. A decent demon wouldn’t even be able to break through it and would be annihilated upon contact.》

“As expected of my father.”

Protection magic. I’ll have to learn it from my father later.

Then tonight is supplementary study time.

“Ha, to think I’d be studying again. What a life….”

I never studied hard once in my past life, how did it come to this?

I felt a little, no, very sad.

* * *

Damn it, I swallowed a curse and banged my head against the carriage window on the way to the party venue several times.

Since then, I had gone to his dorm room to find Lerwon and wandered around here and there, but I couldn't find him anywhere.

Just in case, I also asked Alex, Lerwon’s lackey, but he didn’t know either. Rather, he pestered me, asking if I knew where Lerwon was.

“Are you okay?”

Perhaps thanks to the maids sent by Golden who had polished him up, Lucian looked like a respectable young master from a noble family.

By any chance, isn't he the lost young master from a noble family that often appears in novels? Even if he was, I would believe it.

“This looks like a very expensive outfit, what if I get it dirty?”

“How would I know.”

When it came to a sense of money, I could proudly say that I was worse than Lucian!

All I knew was how much gold was sucked up to get a full set of equipment, and that kind of thing.

“What if I accidentally ruin it?”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“I don’t want to make you a debtor.”

“I’m the one taking you, so I should take responsibility.”

Honestly, how expensive could that outfit be?

With the money the master of Golden earns in a day, you could buy a hundred of these high-end clothes and still have some left over.

Rather, if it gets ruined and you become indebted to Golden, Golden would welcome it.

“I’ll be as careful as possible.”

“Just enjoy it.”

It's your first party, wouldn't it be a waste if you couldn't even enjoy it because you were worried about your clothes?

The carriage, which had been running for a while, slowly slowed down and came to a complete stop.

When the carriage door opened, my eyes were naturally dazzled by the splendid mansion before me.

I couldn't even guess how much money was being spent to illuminate the mansion so brightly right now.

“May I have your invitation?”

A person who looked like a butler approached and asked politely.

When I took out the nameless invitation from my inner pocket and handed it to him, the other person bowed his head deeply.

“Welcome, Young Master Lisitoel, successor to the hero.”

Successor to the hero. At those words, I could feel Lucian let out a faint sigh.

I slapped Lucian’s back, telling him there was no need to be nervous, but my hand hurt as if I had high-fived a wall.

Damn it, I was careless. I grabbed my throbbing hand and glared at the innocent Lucian for no reason.

“You enviable bastard.”

“Huh?”

“No, let’s go in.”

As we went inside, a long corridor appeared.

Probably, if we go straight like this, the party venue will appear.

“Is it uncomfortable to be called the successor to the hero?”

“A little, yes.”

The words he swallowed without being able to say them, only I knew.

「It's selfish. The fact that I could come to the Academy, and everything I enjoy now, are privileges I could only obtain because I am the successor to the hero. And yet, I'm whining that I feel like I'm going to be crushed to death by the weight of the name.」

“It can be uncomfortable.”

“Huh?”

I fiddled with my well-groomed hair and continued speaking calmly.

“It’s your feelings, so there’s no need to hold back while being conscious of others. Just do as you please.”

Anyway, since he’s a naturally kind fellow, no matter how wicked his thoughts are, he won’t deviate from the big picture.

Rather, Lucian needed to be a little more brazen.

Only then could he avoid even a little of the various sweet potato landmines he would eat while progressing through the main story.

“There’s no need to have guilt you don’t have to have.”

When we reached the end of the corridor and opened the door, a splendid party venue appeared.

The goal is to find Lerwon.

When I find Lerwon, I’ll wake up Albedo, who is sleeping out of boredom, and approach him.

I quickly scanned the people at the party venue, but Lerwon was nowhere to be found.

“Hmm?”

Is this even possible?

Although Lerwon didn't use the surname ‘Viden’, it was famous that he was a student sponsored by Golden.

But Lerwon isn't attending a party hosted by Golden?

This is a bungeoppang without the red bean paste, a hero without the holy sword!

“Why?”

Could it be that he knew my plan and is deliberately avoiding me?

“No, that’s not it.”

If he knew about the contract with the demon, he would have used it as a weakness long ago. It’s definitely not this.

“Theo, is something wrong?”

I came to my senses at Lucian’s voice calling me.

“It’s nothing.”

I must be crazy.

To have lost my focus even for a moment after coming here.

Right, anyway, we’ll run into each other eventually.

What’s important now is not to be eaten by this dazzlingly splendid golden party venue.