Chapter 35

“Ah ah, a familiar ceiling.”

When I opened my eyes, I saw the ceiling of the infirmary, which I was getting tired of counting how many times I had seen.

“Stop talking nonsense and just explain what happened.”

Zephyros’s ringing voice was heard.

When I turned my head, I saw Zephyros, who had brought a chair and sat down.

He then lightly gestured with his chin.

“You have to explain about Lerwon too. Everyone is waiting.”

That ‘everyone’ probably includes my father.

Thinking that, my mouth naturally closed.

I… will I be okay?

A silver lining in the midst of misfortune was that it didn't seem like much time had passed since I collapsed.

Because Zephyros’s clothes were the same as the ones he wore at the Golden banquet. The only difference was that they were quite dirty with dust.

“Cian?”

“He’s with the professors.”

“That’s a relief.”

As I got up, a pain that hadn't completely disappeared echoed deep inside my body.

Even if my level had gone up, was it too much to use healing and movement at the same time?

As I stumbled while sitting up on the bed, Zephyros frowned slightly and asked.

“Want to postpone it for later? I’ll talk to Professor Lisitoel.”

“It’s fine. I have to sort out this hopeless situation quickly.”

There is nothing more important than information in this world.

Now that Lerwon and I have escaped, and they have also lost Zephyros and Lucian, who they were going to hold as hostages, I didn't know how that woman would react.

At least we made a bet, but I don't know if that woman will really come out so meekly.

“Help me up.”

“If you insist.”

As if he had no intention of suggesting I rest any further, Zephyros held out his hand to me.

I took his hand and barely got up from my seat, and for a moment, my vision went dizzy.

It was hard to breathe, and it felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest with a knife.

Just from moving a little, my nose started bleeding again.

Drip, drip, at the sight of the blood from my nose dirtying Zephyros’s clothes, I quickly wiped it with my sleeve.

“S-sorry about that?”

“Just how petty do you think I am?”

Zephyros let out a sigh that could have made the ground sink.

“Even if we’re friends, isn’t it a bit much to get your clothes dirty?”

“If you weren’t sick, I would have hit you.”

“Should I be glad that I’m sick?”

As I gave an awkward laugh, Zephyros glared at me with an expression that said he wanted to hit me so badly he could die.

“It’s clothes I was going to throw away anyway, so I don’t care if it gets dirty or not.

In the first place, do you think I’d wear clothes that have gotten this messy again?”

“Waste of money.”

“This b*stard?”

At Zephyros’s menacing gaze, I decided to shut up quietly.

Right, as they say, if you stay quiet, you’ll at least go halfway.

Without any conversation, I quietly received his support and arrived at a meeting room near the infirmary.

In the meeting room, my father, Professor Artemia, a person with their face covered by a robe, were sitting with Lucian.

…Father, Professor Artemia, I get Lucian, but who is that person?

I was curious, but it wasn't the atmosphere to ask.

“Theo, is your body a little better?”

“Yeah, uh….”

While answering Lucian’s question, I glanced at my father.

It’s okay to answer to the extent that I’m fine, right?

For now, I sat in the seat next to my father that Lucian had left empty.

The heavy atmosphere hanging over the meeting room felt suffocating.

“Can you tell us what happened?”

Professor Artemia started the question.

“So….”

Where should I start explaining?

“I was trying to make a deal with Iris Viden through a contract.”

On my outstretched wrist, a line that looked like a snake’s scales was clear.

My father, who had shot up from his seat, carefully examined my wrist.

“The contents of the contract?”

“That’s─”

I opened my mouth, but no voice came out.

It seems some measure has been taken so that I can’t speak.

“It seems the master of Golden has taken matters into her own hands. In that case, could you please tell us the reason for her sudden change of heart?”

The person with their face covered by a robe spoke.

The voice was androgynous, making it impossible to gauge whether it was a woman or a man.

“I was trying to rescue Lerwon-senior from the underground prison when she stopped me.”

“And so?”

The attitude of the person who asked back felt even a little unpleasant.

What should I say, after opening and closing my mouth for a moment, I slowly continued.

“To take senior, she told me to discard the name of Lisitoel and come under her, so I ignored her and ran away.”

“From the master of Golden? Is that really possible for you, a mere student?”

It was polite language, but it was an attitude that strangely looked down on the other person.

But, strangely, I didn’t feel any resistance.

As if it was a gut feeling, or a premonition, that ‘it’s okay’, I offered up my own excuse.

“I learned movement magic from my father.”

“Is that possible?”

The gaze of the person in the robe turned to my father.

My father, calmly, without batting an eye, readily played along with my lie.

“I judged that he should be able to protect his own body.”

I didn’t expect my father to use honorifics himself, so it seems the person in the robe is a more amazing person than I thought.

“There are not more than a double-digit number of people on the continent who can use movement magic, and you want me to believe that a student who has just entered the Academy used it?”

“What will you do if you don’t believe me?”

My father declared confidently. At the same time, hostility was clearly revealed in his eyes.

“Do you intend to call a heretic inquisitor?”

At my father’s question, Professor Artemia looked very flustered. Even astonishment was present in those usually indifferent eyes.

Who on earth is the person in front of me… surely, it’s not that person, right?

Nah, it can’t be.

But, if my thoughts are correct, I could understand both my father’s honorifics and Professor Artemia’s astonishment.

In that moment, I felt my father’s hand grab mine under the desk.

Don’t be afraid, it felt like he was saying that, and I felt relieved.

“It’s not impossible. However, it’s that much unstable, so you could die, and a part of your body could be lost in the process of moving.”

Professor Artemia followed up and calmly began to report on my injuries.

“Stomach rupture, spleen rupture, pulmonary hemorrhage, and internal bleeding throughout the body, it was a wonder he was alive when we found him. In fact, we took a considerable risk by forcibly waking him up now.”

“Ah, so I was forcibly woken up.”

No wonder I was puzzled that it seemed like only a few hours had passed this time, whereas last time I had collapsed for several days.

Am I going to collapse again when this is over?

Even if I don’t collapse, I had a premonition that Professor Artemia would knock me out herself.

“Should I just think that he was lucky?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Professor Artemia bowed her head.

Tuk tuk, the person in the robe, who had been tapping the desk with their finger, looked at me.

I couldn’t see inside the robe, but I felt like our eyes had met.

“Theo Lisitoel, do you know why Iris Viden, who is just a mere merchant, is called the master of Golden?”

The reason why the master of Golden, Iris, is called that is simple.

“I know it’s because that woman has a direct or indirect influence on all the gold flowing in the empire.”

That’s why people bow their heads before her. The influence of Golden has permeated the entire continent.

That’s why I tried to make a contract with her too. Since there are no merchant guilds that are not under the influence of Golden, I thought Golden was the best if I was going to make a contract anyway.

I failed to consider that Iris Viden’s madness was worse than in the original story.

More than anything, I didn't expect her to try to take me under her.

“I’m glad you know well.”

The robe, which covered even his eyes, slid down with a sareureuk─ sound as they brushed against each other.

Golden hair that gleamed and contrasted with ordinary but calm brown eyes.

I had already expected it, but… I didn’t think it would really be him.

My father is the first to bow his head and greet him.

“May the glory of the empire be eternal. I greet His Majesty the Emperor, Leonald Lapileon.”

It was the appearance of His Majesty the Emperor.

* * *

Leonald A. Lapileon.

Public opinion of the emperor was split between extremes.

He was called a virtuous king who brought glory and peace to the empire, but he was also called a ‘patricide’ because he had killed his father, even if he was a tyrant.

“I apologize for hiding my identity. I simply dislike unnecessary procedures and wanted to hear an unhidden answer.”

Leonald continued to use honorifics even after revealing his identity. Since he was a person who used honorifics equally to everyone, I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.

“Iris Viden, whether you like it or not, is a person who must exist for the sake of the people of the empire.”

Iris Viden is a villain.

The reason she is not punished is simple.

Because she is a person who is ‘beneficial’ to the empire, allowing the blood called Golden to flow smoothly through the empire. She is a kind of necessary evil.

“As a disciple, I do not want to make an enemy of my teacher, Count Lisitoel, but that is the same for Iris Viden. Because she is still useful to the emperor.”

“Your Majesty!”

Lucian, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, shot up from his seat.

“Theo is a clear victim. But are you blaming Theo instead?”

“Lucian. Regarding this matter, not even Lucian will be able to change my mind.”

A firmness was present in his seemingly soft eyes.

And, the will that if he had to choose between the two, he would choose Iris Viden, was also very well conveyed.

“I will ensure that Your Majesty does not have to choose between the two.”

Thud, I bowed my head and tried to convey my will to the emperor as much as possible.

There was nothing I could feel in the gaze directed at me. Hostility, goodwill, or even curiosity.

“Theo Lisitoel, I will believe your words.”

The gaze that had been sticking to me for a while just turned to another place at some point.

“Teacher.”

“I will escort you to the Imperial Palace.”

My father got up from his seat, gently stroked my head once, and then disappeared with His Majesty the Emperor.

“Ugh, what a mess.”

As the two disappeared, Professor Artemia leaned back comfortably in her chair, then slowly got up and placed her hand on my forehead.

“Is your body alright?”

“Well, I’m a little dizzy, feel like I’m going to throw up, staggering, my vision is blurry, and it feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife, but other than that, I’m fine.”

Professor Artemia let out a sigh and used healing magic on me.

My body felt much better. Though fatigue rushed in.

“Is Lerwon-senior okay?”

I have to check this before I collapse.

“To be honest, that kid was more serious than you. Just before death. A living corpse with just a breath would be better than that.”

At those words, my stomach churned a little.

Perhaps because it showed on my face, the professor used healing magic on me once more.

“It was too reckless, you know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“But, you did well.”

Professor Artemia reached out her hand and stroked my head.

“Thank you for not turning away and saving him. So, it’s right to leave this matter to the professor.”

I wasn’t too surprised because I had already expected those words.

However, Lucian looked at Professor Artemia with strong eyes, as if in strong opposition.

Professor Artemia lightly ignored his gaze and poked my forehead with her finger.

At the same time, an unbearable drowsiness washed over me.

“Now, then, the patient should just get plenty of rest.”

That was the last thing I could hear.

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