Chapter 139

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 139

Originally, I had planned to spend more time with Selena.

After all, the poor, pitiful graduate student would have to return to school in a few days.

Unfortunately, Selena had her own matters to attend to. Family matters, to be precise.

“Sorry, Karl. My father asked me to come to the family estate urgently.”

“Is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to go and see.”

I hope it’s nothing serious. I saw Selena off, wishing her a safe trip.

“Hmm.”

I heard that Eloise went on a trip with the elven exchange students. Something about strengthening their bond?

But no matter how I think about it, the bonding seems like an excuse. It looks more like the academy dragged them somewhere else to legally exploit them.

Normally, the exchange students from prominent families would have protested.

Their families would have every right to say, ‘Hey! What are you doing with our kids?!’

The problem is that the current situation within Hyzens is one of conflict between the old establishment and the new forces that have risen since the war.

To be precise, it’s a confrontation between those who did nothing in the war with Luzernes and those who fought and bled. The latter group is mainly composed of lower-ranking warriors.

In that situation, they wouldn’t have the time to worry about the exchange students.

Besides, didn’t the Kanfras try to cause trouble within the academy a year ago?

Even if it was Luzernes and not Hyzens, they’re still elves.

Therefore, it’s politically burdensome for the elves to intervene in the academy any further.

The Empire overlooked the incident, saying, ‘Ah, this was done by the bad Luzernes, and the good Hyzens were victims, so it’s okay.’ But no one knows if there will be another chance like that.

‘Poor elven exchange students. I wonder if Eloise is putting them through some kind of guerrilla training.’

Well, it might be a good thing. They’ll probably come back closer as a group.

As a bonus, they might even work harder in their remaining time at the academy to avoid falling back into that hell.

So that’s Eloise taken care of. Next up, our Princess Lefia. Or rather, my junior—

“Princess Lefia? No, Junior Lefia? I think she joined some club after the semester started and is doing well. I heard she’s going to the Empire’s summer resort with them during the break.”

Marcus, who seemed to still be trapped in grad school, filled me in on the situation.

That’s a relief. It seems Lefia is doing better than expected. I was worried she’d be alone at the academy during the break, but it was just a needless worry.

‘Then all that’s left is Lav...’

Just like with the other two girls, I had asked Lav if she wanted to come with me to the Holy See.

At the time, she had looked genuinely disappointed as she explained why she couldn’t go.

She had signed up for summer classes, just in case. It was a precaution in case she lacked scores, wasn’t satisfied with her grades, or felt she needed more knowledge.

It wasn’t a bad choice. In fact, students from commoner backgrounds to noble families often took summer classes when they felt they lacked knowledge or didn’t achieve the grades they expected.

So, naturally, I thought I’d find Lav attending lectures when I came to the academy...

‘She’s not here?’

“...Huh?”

Startled, Lavrenti turned her head. Standing there was none other than Karl.

While Lavrenti was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Karl approached and took the bottle of alcohol.

He then filled the glass in front of him, almost to the brim.

“M-Master.”

“I come here sometimes too. I come to chat with these damn bastards. I don’t know if they’re listening or not, but I still talk to them. Hoping they’ll hear me.”

Karl put the bottle down, gave a light bow, and looked at Lavrenti.

“What kind of people were they?”

“...They were all good people.”

“I see. That’s good. Well, they must have been good people for the Goddess to take them so soon.”

Hearing those words, Lavrenti let out an involuntary sigh.

She was worried that she might be causing Karl pain again.

“Lav.”

Fortunately, Karl was smiling. Not a bright smile, but a smile nonetheless.

“As your senior. As your mentor. Ah, damn it. I hate being your senior and mentor in this situation, but... I won’t tell you to forget. I can’t forget either.”

“...”

“Overcoming it... Yeah, it sounds strange. Overcome what? You can’t overcome this. If you could, neither of us would be here visiting these people.”

Lavrenti wondered if Karl was talking to her or to himself.

“It’s just about being able to face it. So that when we meet them again someday, we can tell them, honestly and without a shred of falsehood, that we did our best in their place.”

He was right. No matter how much you cry or regret, the departed remain silent. They don’t answer.

Only the living can answer. They can either drink themselves to death or live their lives to the fullest, carrying the burden of those who are gone.

What can I do for them? What can I leave behind?

That’s why I survived. To live, to live my best. For myself. Because living for myself is ultimately living for them.

“...Did you have a good trip to the Holy See?”

“It was too good, that’s the problem.”

“I heard you received a miracle.”

“Ugh! Damn it! I don’t want to talk about that here!”

“But the Empire is already buzzing with the news, Master.”

Lavrenti smiled brightly at Karl, who was making exaggerated gestures.

They shared the same scars, the same pain. So, couldn’t they understand and comfort each other?

It was a bit disappointing that it wasn’t the first time... but what could she do? She couldn’t give up.

“But did you really receive a miracle?”

“Not at all! I just received some light!”

“Master, people call that a miracle.”

The two chatted, the sunlight pouring down on them a little brighter than usual.

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]