-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Lingering Past (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
I got up from my seat.
In front of the locked door stood a blonde girl with a familiar bird perched on her shoulder.
Green cape. First-year.
Nine out of ten freshmen carried staffs or orbs, but she was empty-handed.
Instead, she must use that extreme colorful bird.
A familiar born with the spiritual energy of Raviere—the largest mountain range bordering the demon realm on the continent—was more than sufficient as a medium for magic.
That meant she was Erzebet Brunhart. Her radiant appearance suited her golden hair perfectly.
"Sorry, but the canteen is closed for the day."
"I'm here to see you. What's your name?"
"Louis."
"Louis... That's not on the academy staff roster. And your family name?"
"Commoners like me don't have such things. Just Louis."
Tap tap.
The little bird pecked at the glass.
"Louis, open this door."
"As I said, business is over. Come back another time."
"Forcing my way in wouldn't be difficult."
"If you can, then go ahead, Your Highness."
Hand on my heart, I had nothing to feel guilty about toward the royal family.
If anything, the princess trying to barge into my small, precious home uninvited deserved condemnation.
I'd paid my taxes diligently all these years... Erzebet crossed her arms and pressed on boldly, clearly displeased.
"If you know I'm the princess, there's no need for further explanation. Strictly speaking, this is the 'Royal Pharenchia Academy of Magic.' Do you now understand whose land you're standing on?"
My brow furrowed sharply at her words.
I had no idea why those land-rich royals had planted their flag on Pharenchia grounds that already had a lord, but there was one fact she didn't know.
"Sorry, but this isn't academy property."
"What?"
"It's my land. I bought it fair and square from the previous lord of the Luhillen Viscount Family with every coin in my pocket and put it in my name!"
"Piy piy piy piy!!"
The extreme colorful bird screeched noisily, while the princess looked like she'd been smacked on the back of the head.
The pentagonal plot's center wasn't royal property.
It wasn't some premeditated loophole on my part, but either way, she had no way to evict me under kingdom administrative law, not academy rules.
"If you doubt it, go to the lord's castle and pull the land registry. This is mine."
"H-How...?"
"How? Because they didn't sell it, that's why! If you don't leave, I'll call the guards."
I shooed her away with a wave, and Erzebet finally couldn't push further.
Her eerie golden eyes remained far from friendly to the end.
"People say we've entered an era of peace since the Demon King fell, but his remnants haven't been fully eradicated yet."
"..."
"And many black mages who sided with the demons during the Great War remain unaccounted for."
"You're suspecting me over something like that?"
"Piy—!!"
...I'll catch that bird someday and turn it into chicken.
"I'll withdraw for today. But remember this."
"What?"
Erzebet stepped back and said,
"As Terra Ernisten foretold during the collapse of Merak Magic Tower, danger truly looms over the kingdom. As princess of Penheim, I won't sit idly by."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the garden where white moonlight hid behind clouds, amid the wrappers from professors' snacks and scattered leaves behind the canteen, Liv swallowed hard.
The princess who had shown up out of nowhere treated Louis with hostility and explained why.
Danger to the kingdom. Demon remnants. Black mages.
And the Litvice Test Paper that had turned black in her mind, refusing to fade.
Her hand gripping the staff trembled. Her feet moved on their own.
When she came to, she stood before Louis, who had relit the lights after Erzebet left and was tidying the canteen.
"Baroness Liv Greenwood?"
His puzzled gaze held not a speck of threat.
On the waist-high shelf sat newly stocked staffs, neatly arranged.
One identical to hers—made of yagum wood.
Louis noticed the item in her hand too.
"Here to exchange your staff? Yours does seem a bit short."
"..."
"Business is closed, but for you, Baroness, I should make an exception..."
"...Uncle."
If he was a black mage, a demon follower, or any war criminal who had sided against humanity in the Great War, Liv could never forgive him.
Her father had died at demon hands during that war.
The staff he left her rose slowly.
"What kind of person are you, Uncle?"
"What are you so curious about? Lower that first—it's dangerous."
"Like the princess said, are you a black mage?"
"...Sigh. Why believe someone so unquestioningly? I'm not that kind of person."
It wasn't mere words from the princess.
Liv knew her suspicions were a leap even now. Still, she wanted confirmation.
If he was a black mage or demon follower, clear evidence of dark magic would emerge.
Conveniently, the basement used as storage—perhaps to restock—was open.
"What's down there?"
"Just storage for goods."
"Then no problem if I look?"
"No."
For the first time, Liv sensed something suspicious in Louis's movements.
He was clearly trying to hide something.
Should she report to the guards and leave?
But even Princess Erzebet couldn't enter. Liv didn't want to leave her father's killers to others.
"Step aside. I need to see for myself."
"I said no."
"Whatever you're hiding, move! Or else...!"
"Lady Liv."
Whoosh!
Louis snatched the staff from her hand.
In that instant, Liv froze in suffocating terror.
The hollow sensation in her chest.
It didn't take long to realize her mana had vanished.
"Lady Liv, I have no ties to demons. And those rotten black mages? We don't even exchange family pleasantries. Sure, I swung a sword in my youth, but who didn't do what they had to survive the Great War?"
"B-Black... hngh...!"
"It's late. Best rest now. This staff seems precious, so I'll store it safely inside."
She couldn't refuse as he gently rummaged through her clothes.
Trembling and on the verge of tears, Liv was slowly pushed out of the canteen.
"Pretend today didn't happen. You're welcome anytime for bread as usual. Good night, Baroness."
In the end, Liv learned nothing and was chased away.
Staring blankly at the darkened canteen, she clenched her fist as if resolving something and headed to the dorms.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Phew, finally gone."
This semester was definitely off.
Not only was there a dumb rich freshman stealing canteen bread, but a princess trying to muscle into my home like it was hers.
And even Baroness Liv Greenwood, who used to greet me fine last year, interrogating if I was a black mage with a staff pointed at me.
All this in just one month of March?
'Gotta add a clause for a canteen blacklist to the academy rules...'
Discriminating on campus facilities wasn't fair, but blackmailing the chairman might work.
First priority: Adella and Erzebet. Include Ansen too, still unconscious in the infirmary.
Liv Greenwood... Think on that a bit more.
'Should've cleaned this place up back then.'
Truth be told, I wanted to sell everything and leave.
King Baor had made offers through non-royal channels multiple times, intentions unknown.
Considering Pharenchia had boomed from rural backwater to mid-sized city thanks to the academy, the sums weren't small.
But there was a reason I rejected all offers and endured this hassle without leaving the canteen.
Clank!
The basement storing spare tools and inventory.
Confirming Baroness Liv gone, I grabbed cleaning tools and entered.
Under the blue magic stone lamp illuminating the ceiling sat various boxes and stock for storage.
And at the end of the passage bending right—a small door.
"Oops, forgot to lock this."
I passed through and stood before a grayish-white gravestone reaching my waist.
Then I began wiping it carefully with a cleaning cloth.
Thoughts of the two women doubting me swirled endlessly.
But with this here, I couldn't leave the academy—no, this home.
Kneeling before the stone, I closed my eyes and prayed.
That no one would invade my precious space again.
***