Chapter 257

Chapter 257

# 31

Other People’s Stories (4)

#6 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of Number 1000

Unlike Number 1 and Number 17, Number 1000 had nowhere to go back to.

This meant returning to a daily life where they couldn’t afford to eat every day.

Realizing this fact, Number 1000 felt discouraged.

“Kugung!”

“You don’t have to shout.”

“It’s serious.”

“I-is it?”

As Number 17 began discussing the matter seriously, questioning whether Number 1000 would consider coming to her place, Iris, still unable to recover from the shock, paled.

“Hey, you. The princess took you with her. You can’t refuse.”

“What?”

“Others may be taken because of their families, but you were specifically told to come. Here.”

From a pouch specially ordered at the Royal Palace, she took out a small box. When she opened it, there was a succulent steak exuding a mouthwatering aroma.

“Ca-can I eat this?”

“Go ahead.”

As Number 1000, who had already swallowed a chip, put a piece of the well-cut steak into their mouth:

“...!!!!!!!!!”

In an instant, Number 1000’s face turned red, and their eyes widened.

Their hands fluttered in the air as if unsure of what to do.

“If only I could have this kind of meal every day...”

“I’ll go! I’ll go!”

And just like that, Number 1000 willingly became the princess’s servant.

#7 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of Number 17

“You did it!”

“Good job.”

Looking at my family with warmth in my eyes, my heart should feel warm... What should I say? Why do I sense this tingling sensation?

-Give up, master. Master has already adapted to that place.

-Oh, no! There’s no way that’s true!

-Master, don’t deny it. Master has already been recognized by the Great Demon Surt, acknowledged as the possessor of a soul more wicked and cruel than a demon.

-No! I am pure...

My words got stuck in my throat for a moment, a feeling blocking them

But

-Now, master, about purity... how should I put it?

-I am still pur... ugh... Th-that’s not it. But!

What does this mean? Is it the will of the world? Or is it my remaining conscience? Something is preventing me from saying what I want.

-Ugh... I am... pure... but I can’t say it.

I’ve been tainted.

I’ve been corrupted!

There was a time before going to Howling when I learned magic with pure joy!

This is all because of the evil organization!

“I trusted you. Among my daughters, you demonstrated the most talent for adaptation, even in Howling.”

“Sister also trusted you. Believing that you, who were more like a wild beast than a noble lady’s life, would adapt well and live freely... not chaotically. I mean, adapt well there.”

-Master, your family seemed to recognize the master’s talent well.

-No! Th-that’s a lie! My sister is lying! She’s undermining me out of jealousy because I successfully completed a major mission!

-Seeing it like that, master seems to have very pure eyes...

– No, no... It’s a lie...

But the more I heard my family’s praises, the more it reinforced their belief that I would adapt well to the evil organization.

Moreover, the only one among my family who didn’t say such things was my mother.

“Now, all you need to do is get married.”

What kind of nonsense is this? Wasn’t the reason for me going to a place like Howling to avoid arranged marriages and such?

But right after coming back, she talks about getting married!

“Mother, I still lack knowledge.”

“It’s okay. I can quickly teach you about being a bride.”

“No, not that kind of learning. I want to learn more about magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Lady Iris? Hey, Lady Iris? Calm down. Right now, Lady Iris is having very impulsive and dangerous thoughts!”

“Yeah, it’s impulsive. But... the Lord did some crazy things to catch her this time... and failed. No, I was wrong.”

Ah, I was wrong. My vision is spinning. Am I going to die here?

-Thud.

It was then that a considerable noise emanated from a large crystal ball in the corner.

-Thud, thud. Creak... Ah, thud. Creak, creak... Ah, ah. Hmm. Is it done?

“My lord?!”

In that crystal ball, a beautiful woman with silvery hair and an eye-catching silver eye smiled gently, reminiscent of Sia.

-Oh, Iris. The vice-commander of my trusted 3rd Order.

“Yes, yes!”

Unlike the princess, who smiled pleasantly, Lady Iris moved as stiffly as a statue, as if under the petrifying spell of a legendary witch.

-Yes, Iris. My trusted Iris. Did the Iris I believed in step on my foot?

“Eek?!”

While the Princess continued to smile brightly, her laughter was, yes, as merciless as the smile of Yama, the King of Hell, when he declared the journey to Hell.

-Our Iris got the person she wanted, Rain. Meanwhile, I didn’t get Ast, who I’ve been waiting for for ten years? Well, it doesn’t matter. To be honest, I missed Ast even though I tried to catch him.

Lady Iris, who was trembling like a rabbit in front of a lion, gradually started to laugh brightly, but in contrast, the chill running through my body only increased.

“..... By the way, if it’s the Iris I know, she might suggest that we should die together to find comfort with this rain. It’s just my imagination, right?

Shudder, shudder, shudder, shudder.

At that moment, my leash began to vibrate as if it had a vibrating function. Of course, it was Lady Iris’ trembling that was transmitted through the leash in her hands!

“Ah, ah, no... not at all.”

-Yes, that’s right. Not at all. Comfort through disappearance and death. I won’t allow it!

Shudder, shudder, shudder, shudder.

With my leash, my whole body began to tremble.

Ah, of course, this was partly due to Lady Iris’ trembling reaching its peak, but I also began to tremble! What’s this, even if I die, it feels like I’ll be resurrected with dark magic!

-You belong to me. Allowing death is also something I do. You can’t choose that.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”

-Good, then let’s start the meeting. Bring out the rain quickly.

“Ah, understood!”

I hurriedly pulled my leash, and where Lady Iris had gone, there were hundreds, no, thousands of people gathered. All eyes were on me, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

I’m not going to be publicly executed, am I?

“W-What is that?!”

“No way!”

And as I walked towards Lady Iris’ seat, everyone’s attention began to focus on one spot. Specifically, on my side...

“That Iron Bat... Ast, no, Naran gave it to me!”

Yes, the Iron Bat.

Oh. By the way, Iron Bat seems to be quite famous. It’s even known in the Imperial Army.

“Is that so?”

As soon as I finished speaking, dozens of people nearby simultaneously knelt down, bowed their heads, and shouted.

“Greet the successor of Iron Bat!”

And

“Greet the successor of Iron Bat!”

Except for a few people, including Lady Iris, who were gathered on the wide plain, thousands of people simultaneously knelt, bowed their heads, and shouted.

“Rain? What is this Iron Bat thing?”

I couldn’t say anything to Lady Iris, who looked at me in confusion.

I thought I knew, but I don’t... What on earth was Professor doing with Iron Bat in the Empire?

#10 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Academy.

“...Is it really true that this person is coming to our academy?”

“The conditions, on the other hand, are quite extreme.”

Once ranked among the top two prestigious academies in the Empire, Eugrasia, the summoner’s academy, had declined to the extent that some suggested its exclusion from the top four, proposing a change to the top three with Eugrasia excluded.

And the current headmaster of Eugrasia, Old Man, pondered over a document.

“Accept him.”

“Understood.”

Nevertheless, the hesitation was short-lived.

The current situation of Eugrasia was not favorable, and the reputation of the other party had the imposing presence to overcome the current situation.

“I’ll trust Niserviin, the legendary summoner and researcher.”

And so, a new chapter in Eugrasia’s history began.