Chapter 23: Intermediate Magic (4)

Chapter 23: Intermediate Magic (4)

"Good morning."

The next morning, I briefly stopped by the student council room.

I didn't have any particular business there, but it was my habit to visit once every morning.

"Ah... Rudy Astria..."

Astina greeted me. However, she wasn't the only one in the student council room. A silver-haired girl stood before Astina.

"Hello."

The girl slightly bowed her head in greeting to me.

"Ah, yes."

I returned the gesture with a slight nod of my own, and Astina began to speak.

"This is Yeniel, who transferred to the Swordsmanship Department today."

Yeniel... It seems the midterm camp is about to begin.

The story starts with the arrival of transfer student Yeniel.

The Rebels.

The Rebels were a group of individuals united against the corrupt nobles.

They sought to overthrow the emperor and his nobles to create a new world.

They were already moving outside the academy, though their actions had not yet caught the public's attention.

However, that did not mean they were idle. The first event that would bring their existence to light would occur during the midterm camp.

They planned something within the midterm campa declaration of war against the nobles' leader and the emperor.

This involved the assassination of the Astria family's second son, me, and Rie Von Ristonia, the first in line for the imperial throne.

This event would mark the beginning of the main story, where Evan would become involved with Rie and Yeniel, and the world's greater currents would start to shift.

"The class will start soon. You know where the classroom is, right?"

"Yes, I'll be on my way now."

Yeniel bid Astina farewell and left the room. Astina then turned her gaze to me.

"You should go too. There's nothing for you to do here."

She said there was nothing to do, but there was a massive stack of documents piled on her desk.

It was probably work I couldn't do, so she said there was nothing. I looked at Astina with sympathy and opened my mouth.

"Take it easy. Don't overwork yourself."

"Hehe... I'd love to rest, but I have to finish my work first."

Astina laughed, but her words held a hint of bitterness. I glanced at her for a moment, then realized it was time to head to the classroom.

"Rudy Astria."

Astina called out to me as I was about to leave.

"And by the way, are you going to continue?"

"Pardon me?"

Continue?

"The student council."

"?"

"What's with that clueless expression?"

"Wasn't our agreement until the end of the midterm camp?"

Isn't that obvious?

Even though I know Astina is currently swamped with paperwork, there's no particular reason for me to continue being on the student council.

Once the midterm camp is over, the proper storyline will progress, and I won't have the time to devote to the student council.

I need to focus on my studies and improving my magic skills.

"We've already formed an alliance, so is there really a need for me to be on the student council?"

"You need to work. On student council matters."

"Aren't there plenty of others who would love to do it?"

There are countless students who would jump at the chance to be on the student council, shedding tears of joy. DiisCoover updated novels on n(o)v./e/lbin(.)com

So, why do I have to do it?

"Those kids are difficult for me to manage. And among those who want to do this kind of work, are there any normal ones? It's the ones who don't want to do it that do it well."

I glared at Astina as she spoke.

"Then, what about Locke? You can just boss him around."

"He's no fun."

So, am I fun?

Astina casually crossed her legs as she leaned back in her chair.

"Well, if you're going to be like that, I have no choice but to force you."

"Force me?"

Force me to continue being on the student council?

"I helped you out in the library, remember? You can repay that debt by extending our agreement."

"So that's how you're going to play it."

Of course, I knew I owed Astina a debt.

I had thought I would be able to repay it later, but I didn't expect her to bring it up like this.

"Trust is important in an alliance, you know?"

Astina said with a sinister smile.

"Can't you accept something else as repayment?"

"Nope."

"I'm really busy."

"So am I. Cut back on sleep."

Astina grinned, acting like a wicked supervisor. What should I do?

I contemplated for a moment.

The best solution would be for me to help Astina in return.

Then Astina would owe me, and there would be no need for me to repay my debt.

However, the problem was whether such an opportunity would arise.

Many things happen during the midterm camp, but it wouldn't mean anything if I were the one to resolve them.

After all, it's Evan who needs to handle those situations and grow from them.

I glanced at the clock.

The start of class was drawing near.

This discussion won't end anytime soon, so I decided it was best to head to class.

"Let's discuss this matter later. We'll renegotiate after the midterm camp."

An illustrious family.

Aside from his social skills, there was nothing lacking.

Thus, there was no reason for him to endure the pain of learning dark magic.

That was why Robert had made the proposal.

In truth, Robert could have taught him Abyssal Flame in just one day.

He possessed the necessary techniques and tricks.

However, he deliberately refrained from doing so.

Rudy Astria must have felt it - the immense pain that accompanied learning dark magic.

Robert made this proposal to let him feel that.

For someone of Rudy Astria's caliber, learning basic dark magic was only a matter of time.

He would master it in the blink of an eye.

However, he would also realize there was no need to endure such pain to learn this magic.

Moreover, Robert had heard that lately, Rudy Astria had been getting close to Princess Rie.

"In that case, he's even less likely to come," he thought.

Most people at the academy were unaware of Robert's past.

Cromwell knew, having grown up with him, but apart from the headmaster and Cromwell, nobody knew.

Yet, Princess Rie might.

It was an incident that most people didn't care to dig into, but if she wanted to find out, she could easily do so.

-Ah... Dad?

Memories of the past suddenly surfaced, and Robert furrowed his brow.

"Ah~ the weather is bloody lovely," he muttered.

"Why would you say it's bloody when the weather is nice?" a voice asked.

"Damn! You startled me!" Robert looked in the direction of the voice.

"Hey, make some noise when you approach. You're not an assassin or anything..." he grumbled.

It was Rudy Astria, standing there with a book in hand.

"I simply walked up normally. I couldn't exactly sprint toward you while shouting your name, now could I, Professor Robert?" Rudy said calmly.

Robert glanced at Rudy for a moment, sighed, and got to the point. "Alright, enough of that. What do you want?"

"I've learned Abyssal Flame," Rudy announced confidently.

"Alright, and so what?" Robert retorted.

"What do you mean?"

Professor Robert was baffled by Rudy's statement.

He had assumed that Rudy would, of course, refuse to learn dark magic.

"Didn't you say you would teach me dark magic?"

"What?"

Robert looked at Rudy with a dumbfounded expression.

"Ah, do I need to show you?"

With that, Rudy Astria looked at his own hand.

"Abyssal Flame."

As Rudy's mana flowed, a black flame sprouted from his hand.

It was the basics of dark magic, the Abyssal Flame.

It had been cast precisely, with no backlash, and the size of the magic was just right.

"Is this sufficient?"

Robert stared at the magic.

It didn't feel like Rudy had succeeded only once or twice.

Amateur magic had a certain quality, but this spell seemed to have been honed and practiced numerous times.

"Did someone teach you about dark magic?"

"? Is there someone who could teach me dark magic?"

Rudy responded to Professor Robert's question with another question.

He had a point.

There were a few individuals at the Academy who knew how to use dark magic, but they were not ones Rudy Astria would know.

If Rudy had learned it alone and was using it so proficiently, then

"When did you first use it?"

"Perhaps two or three days ago. I could use it, but it seemed a bit clumsy, so I practiced a bit before coming."

"Ha!"

Professor Robert was astonished.

While he had expected Rudy to learn quickly, he hadn't imagined that he would practice on his own.

What kind of resolve drove this young man?

"Good grief."

Robert rose from his seat and walked forward.

As Rudy watched him with a puzzled expression, Professor Robert briefly turned his head.

"What are you doing? Let's go eat."

"What about the dark magic?"

"What do you mean, 'what about'? You asked to learn, so I'll teach you."

At Robert's words, a faint smile formed on Rudy's lips. He followed and spoke up.

"Shall we go to that restaurant we visited last time?"

Hearing that, Professor Robert looked at Rudy Astria and laughed incredulously.

He liked the food that other professors and students wouldn't even bring near their mouths.

And he wanted to learn dark magic from Robert.

"You're truly an enigma."

"I've been hearing that a lot lately. They say I'm an unpredictable guy."

***

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