Chapter 117
The first time I possessed someone.
All of Vargan’s memories and emotions were shared.
The sensation of the boundary between mine and others crumbling was strangely natural, yet alien.
However, this does not mean that the two beings have completely merged into one.
Two souls.
In the original story, Liam, who gradually felt confused about his past.
Later on, he discovers that his soul entered during the possession and the existing Liam’s soul were both present.
Sharing every sense while having two souls.
One might think that since they are essentially identical, having two won’t cause any harm.
But there was a problem.
The existing Liam’s soul slowly started to taint the newly entered soul.
This doesn’t mean that the newly entered Liam’s soul from this world disappears, but the important point is that he loses control.
When control is lost, the concept of ‘self’ changes.
The original Liam’s soul along with its memories and emotions take the lead, while the current Liam’s aspects are merely supportive.
This battle for dominance completely alters thoughts.
The rigid boundaries he maintained between this world and the world of the novel were severely affected by this influence.
…Hmmm.
Should I call this a twist of fate?
Or should I say I was lucky?
I possessed ‘Vargan,’ who was suffering from a disease causing his soul to fade.
Thus, the existing Vargan’s soul was not tainting ‘my’ soul but rather gradually extinguishing.
An endlessly losing and plunging soul.
It was clear that the influence of the existing Vargan on Erica, who held certain complex emotions, was diminishing.
To verify this relatively accurately, I stepped into this matter by helping for free. Though the ‘existing’ Vargan’s will may not align with mine, we share senses.
….
One thing, for sure.
This feeling toward Erica is…….
⎯Young Master Vargan… I miss you.
The emergency crystal I had given to Alicia sparkled and her voice flowed out.
While communicating with her, other thoughts were simultaneously present, yet I was drawn to her sudden statement.
The moment the crystal given to Alicia first shone.
I could speculate that the incident concerning her stepmother had an impact.
I wondered what urgent matter she connected for, given I handed it to her for emergencies.
Having experienced her stepmother’s death, Alicia conveyed her emotions vividly through her words.
The basic framework was gratitude toward me, with the events being the flesh added to it.
How I had sent a servant to protect and care for her stepmother.
How I had ensured that she could stay for a few days to conduct the funeral, and so on.
“Things like guaranteed, etc.
Honestly, as I listened to an overly long thank-you speech, I was even considering just turning off the communicator—until the last moment.
The sentence I wanted to hear the most caught my attention.
‘I want to see you…’
“……”
⎯…Ah.
A small gasp escaped from the communicator.
This was soon followed by some stuttering words.
⎯No, it’s not… that kind of thing…
The surprise in her voice was evident.
Even though we weren’t face-to-face, I could tell her eyes were darting around.
Her previously shaky voice had settled down.
She sounded calmer than usual, but still didn’t know how to react.
I decided to just observe her continuing response.
⎯Th-that is… I want to serve you, Young Master, and I want to see you, but… it’s definitely not in a strange way… absolutely… absolutely not….
As I continued my silent observation, Alicia called out to me in a hurry.
It seems that her current fear was the lack of my reaction.
“Alicia.”
⎯Yes, Young Master….
I spoke to the tense Alicia.
It was now time to deliver my message to her.
“Since you haven’t misunderstood and have spent all your emotional energy, let’s get on with the reports you’ve piled up.”
⎯……Huh?
The stormy sea of my mind regarding the situation with Erica calmed down quickly due to this brief communication with Alicia.
No matter the circumstances, since we were given this opportunity, I thought it was time to restart the engine that had been idling after calming down a bit.
After having to deal with the unexpected funeral of the foster mother, it was time for me to receive something in return.
“I understand that your last statement was a slip of the tongue caused by an emotional chain reaction.”
⎯Ah, yes….
“In just a few days, summer vacation will come to an end. Before we head into a new beginning, I need to know your current state to plan accurately.”
I need to know if I met my expectations over the vacation and what additional utilities have arisen.
⎯Yes, yes…! That’s right. But….
“What do you mean, but? Could it be that you still have emotions to express? If so, that’s unfortunate, but put a stop to it.”
⎯…….
“You seem a little empty-headed since you haven’t been around for a while.”
⎯I-I’ll report right away!
After that, I heard from the now calm Alicia about the achievements she gained over the summer vacation.
Thanks to her mentor Charlotte’s guidance, Alicia had reached the second requirement for the red aura: ‘Form Change.’
This means she could alter the shape of her aura as she desired.
If she can climb the last stage and refine it further, she’ll be able to use the red aura like Arterion.
Within just a year of seriously working with mana, she accomplished shape change.
Truly a genius—Alicia’s flying speed is of a different dimension.
As a side note, I also learned about Emily’s current situation in the same research society, where she is challenged at the elemental establishment stage.
Though it’s not fast, her progress is steady.
…Okay, that’s enough confirming.
Now, it’s time to subtly mention future plans to her.
“There’s some leeway before the second semester starts and the festival happens, so focus on earning Cattia through ranked battles and work on your development.”
There’s a surprise event organized by the student council before the festival, but there’s no point in letting Alicia know ahead of time.
The main arcs of the second semester are the festival and the final exam.
Let’s talk about the upcoming festival first.
“The festival at Academia lasts for five days. Being organized by an institution, it’s grander and more flamboyant than other festivals.”
“It’s not going to be as grand or extravagant as other festivals.”
The only season where outsiders can come and go freely.
Various stalls selling food and performers with talents like singing and dancing are invited to showcase their acts.
“But that’s all before the fourth day. On the final day, the exams at the Academia will begin.”
⎯Exams, you say…
“The second years will take on the role of villains trying to seize control of the Academia.”
On the last day of the festival, the third and fourth years will be out and about, leaving only the first and second years behind.
Among them, the second years will act as the villains attempting to invade the Academia, while the first years will play the role of heroes trying to thwart them.
In other words, we must protect the general public remaining at the festival while fending off surprise attacks from the second years.
In the original story, Francesca’s forces, which did not heed the control of the Ancient Dragon, caused chaos during this process.
“If we’re talking about noteworthy individuals….”
Among the second years… there aren’t many capable ones.
There’s Ocel Julio Clemens, the daughter of the Hero Ranking’s number one and the first place in her year.
And Ocel Victoria Francesca, who holds the second place.
And then there’s a certain carefree guy who clings to a mediocre rank, making him a standout in their midst.
These are the three individuals that need to be watched closely during the festival.
They’re talents that could replace dozens of others individually.
“I haven’t yet confirmed the accomplishments of the group members and research society during their vacation, so I can’t plan precisely, but Alicia, you’ll be thwarting one of them in pairs.”
⎯I’ll definitely see to it that we stop them.
“Good.”
I won’t say anything more to Alicia.
I’ll let it appear that we’re just preparing for the festival in a standard manner.
I must not reveal that I’m planning for this festival to be even more splendid than in the original through Francesca.
⎯I’ll do my best to assist you, Young Master.
Even though the sound is poor due to being far away, and it’s an emergency communication network.
Alicia swears again resolutely.
*
And so comes the last day of vacation.
Inside a luxury wagon heading from the Portlet Family to the Academia.
“Erica, why have you been avoiding me lately?”
“…….”
“Have you lost interest in your fiancé?”
“…….”
She briefly glances my way before promptly turning to stare out of the window with a sulky look.
Given the provocation, she should either jump up in a rage or at least shoot me a cold glare, but she barely shows any interest.
It’s been like this for the past three days.
She did thank me during the recovery of Lilian, but other than that, she’s been dry as a desert.
Whether at meals, during training, or even when we bump into each other in the hallway.
She avoids my gaze and walks away entirely.
This isn’t some shy, blush-inducing feeling. It’s more of a muted, indifferent vibe.
…Well, honestly, it’s strange that she even thanked me. Erica only barely managed to squeak out a thank you when Kaliculea helped her.
Either way, it’s definitely a strange situation.
Let me poke it a little more.
Given her basic personality, she might just snap at me soon.
“You know, right now you resemble a wife who’s had a big fight with her husband after discovering his affair.”
As I say this humorously, Erica finally meets my eyes for the first time in a while and opens her mouth.
Her voice is sharp.
“…Are you doing this on purpose?”
“Doing what on purpose?”
“…Forget it.”
Erica turns her head away again.
It seems that even after arriving at the Academia, she won’t be speaking a single word to me for a while.
…Huh.
When I was leaving the mansion, her mother Lilian had said to me,
“Please take good care of Erica.” or “Since it’s Vargan’s matter, I won’t worry about the two of you.” But…
“Let’s take care of this.” she said, and I thought, “I won’t worry about the two of you since it’s a matter for Vargan.”
Let’s poke the bear one last time.
“Continuing to ignore me is just rude. Since you call me ‘Vargan,’ I assumed you’ve accepted me again.”
I vividly remember the moment Erica called me by my name, not my title, by the lakeside at night.
Though the sentiment back then was more tragic than affectionate, it’s a memory I hold.
“…Eep.”
Hearing that, Erica’s rosy lips quivered slightly, her facial muscles stiffening awkwardly for a moment. But after that…
“When did I…”
She pretended not to know.
Even though she clearly remembers, she acts oblivious.
“Ha.”
Her reaction made me chuckle involuntarily, and I took the hint to change the subject.
Is there any point in pushing when she clearly doesn’t want to talk?
If I pry further, she’ll explode, not just get flustered.
Natural, my gaze turned outside the window.
Before I knew it, the wagon had arrived near our destination, racing through shaded areas.
Shadows have their owners.
The enormous city floating in the sky, Academia.
The sacred place of learning, embedded with a large mana stone, boasts a perfect defense system while standing proudly.
…It’s been a year since I possessed this body.
I managed to get through the first semester of my first year and summer vacation unscathed.
By utilizing various variables and pre-existing developments, I’m gradually gathering what the original Vargan was unable to achieve.
Yet, there’s still plenty left to be harvested from Academia.
At least until a certain point in the second year, I need to show up diligently and steadily take what I can. With earnestness.
“….”
Now, if it becomes after that.
If the story progresses to the mid to late stage.
This brief moment of peace I’m enjoying won’t stick around.
Not even for a second.
Until then, it’s merely a preparatory phase, a stretch before the marathon.
No need to be hasty; let’s get ready.
There may not be a perfect plan in the world, but there exists one that’s close enough to perfection.
There’s no need to be perfect; it’s enough to get as close to it as possible.
*
“Well, it looks like we have enough members.”
“But… considering the balance among other group members…”
“Since someone is left out, it’s unavoidable.”
In a meeting room at Academia, the staff members and Professor Louisa were discussing.
The topic was ‘The New Group Formation.’
Due to the horrific incident during the first semester finals, three aspiring heroes died, and one left Academia.
As a result, Liam was left without any group members.
In the midst of that chaos, a vacancy came up in another group which aligned perfectly, so they decided to place Liam in that slot.
“If Professor Louisa has no objections, I’ll proceed as planned. What do you think?”
The decision ultimately rested with Professor Louisa, who felt significant responsibility for the events that transpired, wanting to assist Liam’s resurgence.
She paused, contemplating as she looked at the papers.
Considering Liam’s position, it seemed fitting.
Though the average level of the group would be boosted significantly compared to others, as they had said, it couldn’t be helped.
What Louisa was concerned about wasn’t the overwhelming balance of power compared to other groups.
It had more to do with the relationships among group members.
“Hmm…”
After much deliberation, Louisa made her decision.
“Alright. Let’s include Liam in Vargan’s group.”
