Chapter 87
“…What? A donation?”
“Yes. If doing so allows Your Majesty’s grace to be known, that’s enough for me.”
In effect, Jack’s answer was the same as giving up his prize money.
Garrid and Kanasis both turned their heads at Jack’s unexpected request. Garrid sneered at Jack, who had practically forfeited his reward.
But to the emperor’s eyes, it looked different. Almost as if Jack were trying to leave no room for bargaining.
Hiding his suspicious expression at Jack’s unusual words, the emperor asked,
“Still, you’re the champion. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to go home empty-handed?”
“I’ve already been rewarded.”
“You’ve already been rewarded? And what might that be?”
At the emperor’s question, Jack lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing at his lips.
—“You’ve worked so hard. You really gave it your all. The director is so proud of you, Jack.”
“I’ve participated in such a great competition, and I’ve received praise from my teacher, the director, and Your Majesty. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Jack smiled as he said this. His answer—that praise alone satisfied him—seemed sincere.
‘So it wasn’t about leaving no room for negotiation… He really thinks praise matters more than money. This child wants acknowledgment, not wealth.’
The emperor forced himself to shake off the sense of strangeness at Jack’s innocent, childlike demeanor and replied,
“Hm. Very well. The prize money you would have received shall be donated in the name of the House of Kreiman and the Imperial Family.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Jack bowed deeply. The emperor, leaning back lazily as he watched, said,
“Yes. Meeting such a talented young man has been worthwhile. I hope you’ll continue to devote yourself to your studies and serve the empire.”
“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”
All three children spoke at once to the emperor’s words.
When the audience ended, the winners all left together. Once outside the audience chamber, Jack hurried off to get back to Ciela as quickly as possible.
But at that moment Garrid let out a loud laugh at Jack’s back.
“A donation? Figures a penniless orphan would ask for something so pathetic!”
It was a blatant insult. But Jack paid no attention at all to Garrid’s provocation.
Feeling humiliated, Garrid reached to grab Jack’s shoulder—but Kanasis caught his hand first.
“Ka–Kanasis?”
“Enough of this disgrace, Garrid.”
“What? Disgrace? How am I disgracing myself?”
“You challenged him first and lost. Now you’re acting out of embarrassment.”
“What are you talking about! Don’t jump to conclusions…!”
Garrid tried to argue, but Kanasis was no longer looking at him.
“You’re Jack Freet, right?”
At Kanasis’s words, Jack shot him a cold glance.
“I’ve never seen a commoner like you. Next time, why not compete with me?”
Kanasis extended his hand to Jack. Jack’s eyes flicked toward it.
Kanasis was sure Jack would take it. Until now, no one had ever refused his offered hand.
But then—
“We won’t be seeing each other again.”
Jack’s cold retort came as he ignored Kanasis’s hand and turned away.
Beside him, Garrid leapt up in outrage.
“See? Look at that attitude! And you’re saying I’m in the wrong? A mere commoner daring to slight the House of Hagent and the House of Jadeboro…”
“Garrid. Quiet.”
Kanasis’s frosty voice made Garrid falter. He stared at Kanasis with a stiff face.
“Huh?”
“I said quiet. Be silent.”
“Uh… okay…”
Even though they were both students at the Imperial Academy, Kanasis was in a class of his own.
He was not only the eldest son of the prestigious Jadeboro family, but since enrolling he had never lost the top rank and had even secured the student council presidency with overwhelming support.
He was, in short, considered the academy’s brightest star.
Garrid, who himself had to enter government service after graduation, couldn’t afford to offend him.
Once Garrid fell silent, Kanasis looked once more in the direction Jack had disappeared. A strange light flickered in his pale-green eyes, his lips curling into a faint smile.
‘This will be interesting.’
Jack Freet.
Kanasis turned, remembering the name of the boy who had refused his hand. Garrid, sensing the shift, hurried after him.
Two peaceful weeks passed after the tournament ended. Leonard and Jack returned to their usual class schedule, and Hoyeon and the children continued their calm daily life.
And I…
A flicker of flame sparked from my outstretched palm—then fizzled out at once.
“Ah, failed again!”
I’d lost count of how many times this had happened.
Exhausted from repeated failures, I slumped to the ground and stared at my hand with a troubled expression.
‘Why do I keep failing?’
I’d memorized the incantation perfectly. I’d even copied it onto paper and compared it with the original—there wasn’t a single mistake.
‘It’s not the environment either…’
I lifted my head.
The view before me wasn’t the cozy director’s office but a sheer cliff face at some rocky outcrop.
Practicing at the orphanage had been too dangerous, so I’d asked Vincente to craft a magic item imbued with teleportation.
He’d grumbled about not being a “magic-item factory,” but he’d made it anyway.
If he was going to make it, why complain…
Anyway, with a portable practice site now available, I teleported to train whenever I had time.
But instead of a proper burst, all I could produce was a dying spark.
“What’s wrong with me…”
“Yeah. What is wrong with you?”
Startled by the voice behind me, I jumped to my feet.
“Vincente!”
“I came to check if you were making progress, but judging by your face, you’re not, huh?”
He grinned teasingly, but I nodded with a gloomy expression.
“I memorized the incantation perfectly, but it just won’t trigger.”
“Hm. That’s odd. Give me your hand.”
At his request, I obediently held out my hand.
He took it firmly, scrutinizing it with sharp eyes.
“Doesn’t look like anything’s wrong physically.”
“Of course not! My hands are perfectly fine.”
I snapped back, but Vincente chuckled, then grew slightly serious.
“Maybe you’re just not desperate enough.”
“What?”
He was saying I lacked desperation?
That couldn’t be. I’d wanted to learn magic more than anyone—enough to put it into our contract.
But before I could deny it, Vincente went on,
“Otherwise there’s no reason it wouldn’t work. Your mana’s gathered, the incantation’s perfect, even sparks show it’s partially activating. If the spell’s failing anyway, that’s psychological.”
“But…”
His reasoning was airtight. And he was the expert, so if he said the cause wasn’t technical, it probably wasn’t.
‘Still, saying I’m not desperate enough…’
Thinking about it, he might have a point. Life at the orphanage was peaceful now.
And as long as Jack didn’t die and the children stayed together, I wouldn’t die either. If things stayed as they were, we’d all be safe.
With Hoyeon around, there was even less need for me to step forward.
My desire to learn magic had only ever been for emergencies.
“You look like I hit a nerve.”
“Ugh…”
Unable to immediately deny it, I felt embarrassed. I’d even struck a deal to get magic lessons, yet here I was failing because I wasn’t driven enough.
From Vincente’s point of view, it must seem ridiculous.
“Well, whatever.”
…At least he didn’t seem too bothered.
“I actually came today for something else.”
As Vincente twirled a finger, the cliffside vanished, replaced by the director’s office. He sat down casually on the sofa.
“That thing we talked about last time…”
But he never finished the sentence.
Bang.
“Master…!”
Without warning, Hoyeon burst through the door.
‘What’s going on? Vincente should’ve hidden his presence.’
Hoyeon and Vincente’s gazes met in the air. Unlike the flustered Hoyeon, Vincente sat at ease, legs crossed, waving a hand.
“A beastkin of the Myoin tribe. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“You…”
Recognizing Vincente instantly, murderous intent flared off Hoyeon’s body. Vincente just smiled, as if he were enjoying himself.
Meanwhile, I lowered my head and rubbed my forehead.
Ah, really.
‘Nothing ever goes smoothly, does it.’
I wanted to cry.
