Chapter 69
The next morning, I changed into my activity clothes and left my dorm room. On the dormitory outing log, I wrote “Temple volunteer work.”
The dorm manager commented:
“Lady Schlaeger, you’ve been volunteering at the temple quite often these days.”
“I learned a lot from Lady Tillen.”
“That’s a wonderful thing. Above all, it’s so heartening that young people like you appreciate the value of the temple!”
…My conscience aches. Sorry, I’m not much help. Just yesterday, I nearly broke a silver spoon.
“But you should still visit home from time to time. Hasn’t it only been a few weeks since you last filed an overnight leave request?”
“…Yes.”
“Heh heh, do show your face to your parents occasionally. It may sound like nagging from an old man, but it’s essential etiquette. The more you make them worry, the stronger their hold over you becomes.”
That makes sense but also sounds ominous!
“I was planning to go home next week anyway. If I don’t, my father might even send someone after me.”
“What if he decides to come himself out of concern?”
“No way, would His Grace the Duke really come himself with his busy schedule?”
“Hahaha, I suppose not!”
Since the academy is inside the Grand Temple, he’d need to pass through multiple levels of clearance just to get in. There’s no way the busy Duke would come all this way.
…Probably.
Just in case a messenger did show up, I asked the manager to tell them, “She went to volunteer work and will return late,” then ran to the north gate.
Eugene oppa was also dressed casually, in a shirt and long trousers. In the bundle on his back, I could see the outlines of a small spade and hand hoe.
With that big build carrying those tools, he looked like he was off to play house.
And right after finishing the mountain entry paperwork, he suddenly hoisted me onto his back.
“Kyaa!”
“Alright, straight to the top in one go!”
“Wait—your pickaxe is poking me! It’s digging into my stomach!”
“….”
In the end, he carried me in a princess hold instead.
Being carried was nothing new. As a child, the Duke used to lift me around all the time, and not long ago, Elber carried me out of the water.
But oppa clearly wasn’t used to it—his hands were awkwardly positioned, and he turned his head away.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve carried a girl like a princess…”
“It’s no different from carrying a sack of rice. If I’m heavy, say so, I’ll walk.”
“It’s fine, Lady Schlaeger.”
He was even starting to say “Lady” with the proper noble intonation now.
As oppa climbed the mountain path, I raised the special lens to my eye.
First, I checked Eugene oppa himself—no Mana Pearl light.
Next, the path where saints were once said to have ascended, tangled vines, and untouched piles of stone.
…Beautiful scenery, though.
“See anything useful?”
“Not yet. Maybe from the summit.”
“Couldn’t you just sell that thing? It must be valuable.”
“Oh, this?”
The lens-slash-Mana Pearl detector. Definitely worth more than a Mana Pearl.
But I stole it from House Godel. If it turned up on the black market, they’d know right away it was stolen—and then it’d turn into a feud between House Godel and House Schlaeger. My life would be ruined too.
Too long to explain, so I gave the short version:
“It was a gift. Can’t sell it. I’ll return it when I leave.”
Oppa chuckled.
“You’re right. You shouldn’t treat gifts carelessly.”
“Exactly. Even if they’re from a bad person.”
If I leave the capital, maybe I’ll send it back to the Duke’s mansion in an envelope.
The higher we climbed, the less the lens picked up.
Finally, we reached the summit.
“Find anything?” he asked.
“…The greatest treasure is this peaceful view, apparently.”
“So, nothing. Fine, let’s eat kimbap.”
“…Kimbap?”
I thought I misheard.
But oppa spread a picnic mat and took out what really looked like kimbap and kimchi.
“Are you a genius?”
He handed me chopsticks carved from wood.
“Oppa, I love you. Completely.”
“You only say that at times like this. You might end up hating me once you taste it.”
“Either way, thank you for the food!”
My mouth watered instantly.
I topped a piece of kimbap with some kimchi. Oh, cabbage kimchi—crispy.
“How is it?”
“Good! Tastes like mild kimchi for kids.”
“I couldn’t get chili peppers, so I used paprika instead. Peperoncino is too expensive to use for kimchi-making.”
Then I realized something else was off about the kimbap. The wrapping wasn’t seaweed, it had the texture of dried greens.
“The people here don’t eat seaweed,” he explained sheepishly. “When I asked, they said, ‘Why would you eat the armpit hair of the sea?’”
“Cough!”
“…Sorry. The temple knights have rough tongues.”
“You don’t need to copy them! Now I won’t be able to eat seaweed back in Korea either!”
He laughed, then grew serious.
“But… do you want to go back?”
“What? Of course. That’s our home.”
“People say everyone has somewhere to return to, but that’s an illusion. You know that.”
“….”
I understood.
For most, “home” means the place you were born and raised.
But for us, our first home—the orphanage—was always meant to be temporary, a place you left behind. For oppa, even Korea was like that.
“…Se-yul, I don’t hate this world. There are plenty of jobs, and most bad guys are just the type you can handle with fists.”
“That’s… good?”
“Easier to deal with than swindlers.”
“….”
“I can provide for you just fine. So I want to know, in detail, what you want to do from here.”
He popped the last piece of kimbap into my mouth and asked:
“What worries you the most?”
“….”
“You said you know what happens later. Something bad’s coming, right? Like the Demon King returning?”
“…There’s no Demon King.”
I looked at oppa’s face—and at the face of Ignatz Schlaeger, overlaid.
This world would face a crisis in two years, brought about by Duke Schlaeger himself.
Oppa seemed to catch my meaning.
“So this is something Ignatz shouldn’t hear?”
“Kind of.”
“Hmm… Ignatz is saying, ‘So basically my dad’s gonna destroy the world? Not surprising, he’s the type who would.’”
“….”
“He says it’d be scarier if it were someone else. At least it makes sense for a lunatic like him.”
…Accurate.
I finally told him about the original story’s climax.
While nobles obsessed over extracting Mana Pearls from people, the Duke never even tried human experimentation. Not out of ethics—he could find Mana Pearls with his own eyes, so why bother.
Normally, businessmen like that eventually collapse.
As science advanced, the pure Mana Pearl industry declined. So did the Duke’s business.
Worse, Elber left him, for love of the heroine.
In desperation, the Duke made the worst choice—he awakened the fabled Ancient Dragon, the strongest in history, and tried to fuse it with himself.
Oppa grimaced.
“Ignatz is swearing. Says that’s like erupting a volcano just because you’re cold. So what happens?”
“Well… the heroine and hero block it with the power of love…”
…Except, this time, that love isn’t happening!
“A-ah, but it won’t happen now. I already changed the Duke’s personality! So it won’t come to that!”
Oppa frowned even more. It looked like Ignatz’s feelings were mixed into his expression.
“Do people really change?”
“….”
“You don’t believe it yourself. That’s why you’re planning to run away.”
He was right. Even after the Duke promised to protect me, I still imagined the worst and distrusted him.
Seeing I had no reply, oppa didn’t press further. He just patted my head.
“I’ll look for another park.”
“…Yeah. Let’s head down for today.”
Back at the lodge, when asked, “What were you doing up there?” oppa held up the kimbap wrappers and said, “Cleaning up trash.” He got praised.
Then came the time to part.
“Se-yul, then I’ll—”
“From now on, call me ‘Sol.’”
“….”
“At least while we’re in Albion.”
Will we ever call each other by our real names again—outside of Albion?
Oppa gave a bitter smile.
“…Alright, Sol.”
“Thank you for today, Ignatz.”
“Anytime, day or night—if anything happens, come to me! I’ll help!”
With his kind voice behind me, I returned toward the dorm.
But just before turning down the path, near the dorm manager’s office, I heard a familiar voice.
“Would you kindly deliver this to Sol?”
Gasp—it was Duke Schlaeger!
He’d gotten both temple grounds access and dorm visitation approval, and came in person?!
Did he come to drag me home? What’s he delivering? Surely not a snake or something poisonous?!
I plastered myself against the wall. Thankfully, with so many gifted students around, he wouldn’t sense my Mana Pearl right away.
The manager asked,
“Your Grace, may I know the contents of the envelope?”
“Is that necessary procedure?”
“Yes, things like perishables or weapons cannot be allowed in.”
“That’s reasonable.”
Rustle, rustle. The sound of the envelope opening.
“No problem,” the manager declared.
…Really? Check again! What if it’s full of poisoned tacks?!
But my silent pleas went unheard.
“Please deliver it, then. Have a pleasant evening.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. Safe travels!”
The Duke’s footsteps receded. Ugh, terrifying—like a great wolf stalking away.
When he was gone from sight, I rushed to the manager.
“Sir!”
“Oh, Lady Schlaeger. Your father just left! If you hurry—”
“Let me open that envelope. Now!”
“Hm? You could do it inside.”
Inside?! Where I might get ambushed by a venomous spider?!
Ignoring his cheerful smile, I took the envelope with trembling hands and opened it.
Inside was—
“Ah…”
“Beautiful, isn’t it? What’s it called again? I knew it earlier.”
“…A dreamcatcher.”
“Ah, that’s right. Even the name is beautiful!”
The Duke’s first gift to me—a dreamcatcher, resting softly inside the envelope like a little nest.
On top lay a message card:
Even if your first school life is difficult, may your sleep at least be as comfortable as at home. – Lattiger Schlaeger
…People don’t change.
Maybe.
But.
“W-wait, Your Grace!”
Before I knew it, I was shouting—
“Daaad!”
