Chapter 73
The Troa Empire shines with vast territories and infinite glory.
In the capital of this splendid empire, Brutenberg, home to a population officially exceeding 280,000, merchants from all corners of the world, clergy dispatched by the Yggdrasil Church, and hunters capturing monsters while exploring dungeons all gather for their own reasons, creating a constant buzz of activity.
There was a street here bustling with hunters aiming to visit their guild, which they could call their workplace and home.
On this street stood the headquarters of top-notch guilds known worldwide, but recently, one hunter guild had been igniting the area with excitement.
This guild, rapidly expanding its force and discovering rising stars from all over, was led by Vargan’s loyal minister, Bram, who was currently having a meeting with Vargan through a crystal ball, momentarily pausing his tasks.
Since his master, Vargan, was attending the Academia, it was nearly impossible to meet face-to-face.
A slightly distorted voice came from the crystal ball.
“Then, it seems that 20% of the monsters in that dungeon have perished. It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.”
“My lack of ability resulted in this incident.”
“No, Bram. You are performing your duties without any issues. It’s natural for monsters not to follow commands. Instead, you should feel congratulated that the loss is only 20%.”
Bram kneeled, expressing his loyalty to Vargan. Watching him, one could almost believe his master was standing before him.
“Now that our fame has risen well, we won’t need Schugenharz’s support anymore. Moreover, there’s no worry about Carlos, who isn’t the kind to betray us.”
Vargan was in the process of forming a guild, recruiting hidden talents beyond the Academia.
Among them, Carlos was the first talent recruited, responsible for the guild’s operations with an exceptional knack for calculating profits and identifying opportunities.
As Vargan tapped his abacus in his mind, there was no doubt his guild would soon stand tall at the very top of that ecosystem.
This was undoubtedly thanks to Vargan’s ability to memorize and utilize the entire plot of the novel, but Bram’s charisma, which could lead others while handling various weapons expertly, played a significant role as well.
“Among the relics obtained from this outcome, there’s a spear classified as a first-class item. Use it.”
Vargan’s image reflecting in the crystal ball smiled.
“That’s a delicate item, so you’re the perfect fit for this.”
Bram didn’t show any signs of embarrassment or rejection like Alicia. He simply lowered his head further and expressed his gratitude.
“I shall regard this relic given by my master as my own limbs.”
Bram was the only person Vargan could say he trusted completely. Supporting this, he always treated Vargan with utmost respect and never let a word slip by unnoticed.
“Your power development… No, it’s rude of me to say that to you. It seems I’ve confirmed everything there is to confirm.”
Even the overly noble and power-hungry Vargan showed a hint of rudeness. He showed signs of ending the communication and stood up.
“I’ll be waiting for the next contact.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Master.”
Even after the communication with Vargan ended, Bram remained kneeling for a while before finally rising.
As if timed perfectly, a knock sounded, and a man entered.
“Oh, you were communicating with Vargan.”
“What is it?”
Bram could see a man wearing round glasses in his peaceful gaze.
He was the only one who knew that Vargan was behind the artisan Bram and had just mentioned that Vargan understood the flow of money.
Carlos absentmindedly adjusted his glasses.
“Thanks to this expedition, our guild’s status has risen not only in Brutenberg but also in the nearby satellite cities. I came to tell you while the iron is hot.”
“I suppose I should step in.”
“Rather than having many rush in, if one person, especially a known leader, stands up for justice, it will create a more significant propaganda effect.”
Bram paused as he looked at the nearby sword. It was a good opportunity to use the first-class relic stored in the warehouse.
Carlos added an explanation.
“It’s about a newly established Hunter Guild, but it turns out the guild was just a name and was actually involved in smuggling. Items included drugs, humans, and monsters. It’s located here.”
Receiving the map, Bram quickly scanned it and confirmed the location. He nodded lightly and said he would be back soon.
While they weren’t the city’s defense force, they occasionally chose to resolve issues deemed detrimental to society.
“The guild’s image is essential. We can’t have brutal killings in public places, right?”
“I understand.”
Bram began gathering his aura and warmed up lightly.
His trained legs, solid from years of practice, headed toward the door.
Recently, the name Bram had earned in the world was “God of War of Brutenberg.” He was a master of almost all weapons.
*
After ending the communication with Bram, I continued my personal training for two hours before stepping outside the dormitory.
The outside world had already turned dark with the day changed, and the moon was hiding behind clouds, peeking out just a bit.
As I began my path, I spotted a familiar red-haired figure raising their voice in anger by the castle.
Curiously, in the late night, I noticed they were having an argument with a man resembling a wolf, surrounded by Liam and his group members.
“Ugh… What should I do with this beast-smelling guy? I can’t pluck all his fur.”
“Liam, can I just smack that girl you call your childhood friend? I might accidentally kill her, though.”
Now that’s an interesting scene.
The werewolf fighting with Emily is a guy named Lucaiel. In the original story, he was Vargan’s group member and often clashed with Emily. He occasionally had opposing relations with Liam too.
This time, they were in the same group, and I thought everything would be fine… but seeing him bickering with Emily, it seems the nature of their personalities is a bigger issue than just being in the same team.
“St-stop it… don’t fight…”
“Get out of the way, Nikela. I’m going to pull out every single one of that red-haired witch’s hairs today.”
Next to them, a hooded girl tried to intervene, trembling, but ultimately failed.
She’s Nikela, who, just like in the original plot, was grouped with Liam.
As she got shoved by Lucaiel, Liam and the two other women stepped in, but they didn’t catch my attention.
Spirit Summoner Nikela.
The last heroine for Liam after Alicia, Emily, and Francesca. …Seriously, this guy sure attracts a lot of women.
Though she has a timid personality, she surprisingly acts more proactively than expected. Whether it’s helping Liam or expressing her feelings, she often put herself out there.
Because of this trait, Emily viewed her as the strongest threat in romantic relationships.
Alicia is, well… definitely a strong ally who helps the protagonist, but she’s often overshadowed by the other women, even if the title only declares her as the main heroine…
“Both of you, calm down…! Emily, can we step aside for a chat? It’s been a while since we talked.”
Thanks to Liam’s desperate mediation, their dispute started to fade. A now-calm Emily glanced past Nikela and looked at Liam.
“…Fine. I still haven’t finished today’s training.”
Oh, that’s quite a surprising statement.
Emily, who would jump out of bed to groom herself at just the thought of Liam, is now passing on a chance to talk privately with him.
Could it be the pressure from her rival, Finn, or the burden of being in charge of the ‘branch’? Lately, the intensity and amount of Emily’s training have increased dramatically.
“…Really? Well, then there’s not much I can do about it…”
Liam wore a somewhat dazed expression.
That was all I managed to catch.
It wasn’t like I was secretly hiding and watching; I just happened to glance as I passed by, so the information is limited.
It was quite fascinating, but since it didn’t benefit me, I didn’t waste any more time on it.
…I remembered the proposal Liam suddenly brought up recently but quickly forgot it. He’s still as clueless about the world as ever.
I hurried my steps toward a tomb located in a corner of the Academia. As I neared my destination, the surroundings grew darker, drawing me into a secluded area.
Upon reaching the tomb, a massive mound of soil had an old iron door. It was possible to go inside the tomb through this door.
Creeeak.
As I opened the door, which should have been closed, a woman with shimmering golden hair appeared from the darkness.
“You’re here faster than I expected.”
“I finished what I had to do sooner than I thought.”
The owner of those somewhat chilling eyes facing me was Francesca.
She was the necromancer who would stir up chaos during the second semester festival.
*
“Phew??! This is it, this is the taste of life!”
“Delicious!”
At the same time, in the exclusive pub for staff members located in Academia.
Paula and Louisa had settled at one side, drinking. Their table was filled with huge glasses that could fit three fists, and no other food was in sight. The only snack was a small bowl of nuts that the store owner had offered them for health reasons.
With a hearty slurp, Paula downed her beer and slammed her glass on the table with gusto. Then, she wiped her mouth with a pleased expression.
“I really don’t know how people survive without alcohol in this world. I used to hate even the smell of it when I was younger. Life really takes unexpected turns.”
Paula’s tone subtly indicated that she was seeking a reaction.
Louisa smirked and replied, “Come on. You often got wasted in my room during freshman year and couldn’t even attend class more than once.”
“Huh? Did I do that?”
“You did, you idiot.”
“Oh, right, right. I’m just remembering now…! Hohoho, look at my mental state. It must’ve been when I was not just young, but a kid. Ah… or maybe not? Who cares!”
With just the right amount of tipsiness, Paula was more lively than usual. Louisa, used to this side of her, quietly gulped down her own drink.
“Hey, why are you drinking alone? Drink with me!”
So, the two enjoyed their drinking, laughing and chatting for a while.
After the commotion settled and a brief moment of silence ensued, Paula, gazing at her beer glass with slightly droopy eyes, threw out a topic.
“…I hope this final exam passes without any incidents.”
That was more of a lament than anything else.
Her words, uttered in a drunken haze, made Louisa feel the heavy weight of reality. To shake it off, she took another sip.
“Ugh?”
It was still tasty, but for some reason, it felt a bit bitter today.
“Honestly… I don’t understand this dangerous final exam policy.”
“I know. You’ve always been on the ‘let’s abolish it’ side.”
“Seriously… what’s up with that tradition? Is it more important than the students’ lives? The injuries too! Should I just cause a ruckus and demand abolition?”
“Stop it, you’ll just get suspended again. If you come back after another suspension, it won’t end with just a simple pay cut.”
At that realistic response, Paula thought, ‘Ugh… that’s true,’ and reluctantly dropped her stance. Even if she pushed for it, nothing would change anyway.
Paula sighed deeply, and Louisa quietly reflected on that sound.
“They’re just kids. They’re still young and need protection.”
While Paula was holding her drink, Louisa continued.
“But what can we do? Even if they are young, they’re aspiring heroes.”
Their duty as professors was to help them grow while providing some protection, but if they only clung to their safety, they wouldn’t become true heroes.
Just like how you only learn about heat when you touch scorching iron, even if it means getting hurt, that pain can push you to move forward.
Among them, some couldn’t withstand the pain and fell away, but it couldn’t be helped. If a leaf were to fall from such a shock, it wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.
“Ugh….”
Louisa emptied her glass, and just in time, Paula finished her drink as well. Paula called out, “Excuse me?! Two more beers, please!”
The two professors swallowed down the bitter realities along with their drinks.
