Chapter 165

Wolf’s Melancholy (1)

– ‘There are bound to be many spirits who find it difficult to communicate with humans. Because the time allowed to humans is short, spirits always appear impatient.’

– ‘You talk as if you are not human. In my eyes, so are you.’

This is a story before the Academy was even established on the vast Aken Island.

A wide plain located to the southeast of the North Forest, which spreads widely around the towering Mt. Oun Mountain, and a coastal area to the west. And the grassland area due south.

In the opposite direction, when walking among the broad-leaved trees spread out around the cliff area at the northern end, climbing along the halfway side of the mountain, or playing along the river in the forest, various spirits would come into sight.

This heartwarming sight was quite impressive for Merilda, who had just become a high-ranking spirit.

Because of that, I used to stay on Aken Island for a long time, but when I came to my senses, I suddenly found myself stuck on the island and not going out.

Even on Aken Island, located at the southwestern tip of the continent, it is not without natives.

Slash-and-cut farmers who escaped from Margrave Zahoor’s territory and found a new home, and explorers who came in looking for natural resources such as magic stones in the coastal caves of Aken Island, often came here.

A few settlers with stories came in and formed small villages with about six or seven households.

The human race was an unpredictable being that sometimes seemed to be in harmony with nature, but also threatened nature when necessary. They were also difficult for Merilda, who had suddenly fallen in love with the northern forest, on how to treat them.

Although I cannot explain it in detail, there were many conflicts and times of harmony. There have been times when they have come together to respond to disasters that hit the island, and there have been times when they have become angry at humans who engage in excessive hunting and logging.

– ‘I’m going to build a school.’

Among those people, if I were to choose the most impressive eccentric person, it would be that girl.

The girl, with her shiny silver hair tied back and dressed in a leather tunic and a gold semi-robe worn by wizards, was always full of life. Even the simple rings of various colors on her hands, the dragon’s molar-shaped necklace around her neck, and the jewels on the hem of her clothes were all filled with magical energy.

She was praised as a great sage in the far northern lands, but was caught using the imperial research facilities to manipulate taboo magic and was kicked out... There were rumors that she was the eccentric of eccentrics.

The achievements she had made so far were so great that she was not particularly accused of any crimes, but for this girl with a strong curiosity and passion for learning, being kicked out to an island with nothing must have been enough to shake her head.

However, the underdeveloped environment alone cannot stop the passion of the famous magic researcher—Sylvania Robester.

When he had just arrived on Aken Island, he cut down trees in the northern forest to make a magic wand and researched material transformation magic, which caused a big conflict with Merilda. Most of the time was spent hitting and fighting.

An attempt was made to suddenly create a riverbank and convert the energy of falling water into magical energy. They captured spirits, studied sealing methods, and attempted to engrave ‘magic of grinding’, one of the representative taboos, on a huge tombstone.

Merilda’s inexplicable behavior was a headache, but Sylvania continued to research all kinds of magical powers while smiling to the end.

Sylvania is a place where there is not even a common research cylinder, and many research books that will go down in history have been written.

Even if Merilda tried to stop her, there was no way her enthusiasm for learning would cool down.

She always does unpredictable things, so she was always mentally prepared, but this time, I never thought she would decide to build a school.

– ‘Well, it’s small in size, so it’s more like an academy than a school.’

– ‘What kind of nonsense are you talking about again?’

Due to Sylvania’s tendency to get into trouble whenever she gets the chance, there hasn’t been a single day of quiet since she came to Aken Island.

It was a difficult time for Merilda, who always enjoyed the wind leisurely at the edge of a lake in the northern forest or halfway up a mountain.

– ‘To teach magic and basic combat skills by building a small wooden building in the plains to the east. If possible, alchemy as well.’

– ‘It looks like you really have a lot of time.’

– ‘no. I always said it. Unlike spirits, humans are always busy because they have no time allowed.’

Sylvania’s expression is already unsettling as she puts both arms on her waist and grins.

– ‘Some abandoned children from the imperial family or lawless areas come to Aken Island. They are all great kids, but I think the imperial family is threatening them to take responsibility and take good care of these kids instead of doing unnecessary things. It seemed like each of them had their own story.’

– ‘Well, even after you were exiled to Aken Island, you got into all kinds of accidents. It looks like the imperial family also had a headache, so they gave it something to do.’

– ‘I felt a little bad because I thought they were asking me to look after their child... but surprisingly, they are all good and sincere, right? Plus, they all come from incredible backgrounds, so I thought there must be a reason why they were entrusted to me, who is called the great sage.’

After saying that, Sylvania named the children who would soon arrive at Aken Island one by one.

Teslin MacLore, a descendant of the first swordsman Luden, Glokt Elderbane, a boy wizard blessed by the stars, and Filona Bloomriver, a witch alchemist who is said to have created the ‘reagent of death’ even before her coming-of-age ceremony.

It is still a long time in the future that the three children, who each excel in combat magic, will rule the continent as the first disciples of the great sage Sylvania.

– ‘Anyway, if we build something like a school in the eastern plains, it’s obvious that Merylda will cause an uproar again, so I came to talk to you in advance~. I will never touch the area around the North Forest and will keep it in its natural state, so I hope you can just pretend not to notice and move on.’

The scenery of Aken Island is still more like a land of nature than a place of study.

I sit quietly at the top of the mountain I climbed, without any interest in how human affairs progress, and watch the trees sway.

The great sage who is catching the wind in front of him is always humming a song, wondering why it feels so good. I didn’t really like that in the past, but I think I’ve gotten used to it recently.

Adaptation is truly scary.

Just like a drop of water falling through a rock, when you come to your senses, this girl seeps into you... and it becomes natural for her to be by your side.

Merilda went through such an experience and thought that it might not be such a big deal to be surprisingly close to a human.

Interacting with humans is not as bad as you might think. It’s just more annoying than you think.

For a while, the wolf just stared down at the scenery of Aken Island, leaving behind such a depressing impression.

Spirit time flows so quickly that it differs from that of humans.

The sun rises in the eastern sea and quietly sinks in the western sea. If this is repeated, the island’s scenery will also change significantly.

Cherry blossoms bloom, the vegetation grows thicker, the leaves fall, and snow begins to pile up. Although the sight of Aken Island is beautiful at every moment, it is not always the same.

Sylvania’s school, which was small and built on the eastern side of the island, is gradually growing in size. The number of students coming and going increased, and before you knew it, magnificent buildings were being built and spiers were piercing the sky. What started out as an academy eventually received a more plausible name, Sylvania Academy, to commemorate her achievements that are no longer in the world.

As time passed, the eastern academy became a ‘faculty building’.

The small human village of a few households in the west gradually grew in number as the size of the school grew... before we knew it, a commercial district of its own was formed, and many humans began to come in looking for opportunities.

In this way, the western village was given the name ‘Residence Building’ and even a dormitory managed by the academy began to be built.

As time has passed, the scenery of Aken Island has changed a lot.

The sight of Aken Island, where the only things roaming around were wild animals, is now a long time ago.

You can clearly feel the flow of the times when you look at the buildings that come up every now and then or the sight of students walking around the school.

As various weapons were developed and a lot of research was conducted on combat techniques and strategies, the combat department curriculum was divided into dozens of branches. Now, the Academy Combat Department not only produces combatants, but also famous generals and tacticians.

The same goes for the field of magic. Long ago, there was a time when elite wizards who could handle only mid-level magic were considered elite wizards, but recently, even wizards who can handle the highest level magic at the academy level have appeared. Although he was a strong human being at an unusually high level.

The field of alchemy has developed in a completely different direction and does not stop at reagent mixing or mineralogy, but deals with all aspects of magical power, from magical engineering, herbalism, craftsmanship, and magical biology. It feels like the pension field has taken over all the fields that couldn’t be achieved through magic.

The trends of the times and academic development are so rapid and expansive.

[Again, time goes by without me. ]

Merilda in human form was sitting astride a particularly large tree rising halfway up the mountain.

Merylda chanted in a low voice as she looked at the panoramic view of Sylvania Academy.

[It was always like that. ]

*[ I’m trying to run away from home. ]

If you hear random things often, you will develop immunity to them.

What I was most worried about was Tanya.

Tanya, who pushed me onto my back and told me to go back to Aken Island, was wearing a cape with an image of an eagle symbolizing the head of the family.

When I close my eyes, I picture Tanya’s back, with her hair tied up, looking at the collapsed Ross Taylor mansion.

I’m worried, but it’s hard to do anything with my mind in a dazed state and my body in a state of complete disrepair. It was more likely to be a burden than a help.

First of all, quick recovery is important.

Knowing that fact, I relaxed my body as much as I could... and forced the tasteless rice into my mouth.

*When Magnus Calamore, commander of the corps commanding the northern grasslands, arrived at Ross Taylor Mansion, the entire situation had come to an end.

He had originally been scheduled to visit at the end of the social event. The military meeting was suddenly scheduled, so I couldn’t arrive on time.

He couldn’t help but widen his eyes when he saw the completely collapsed Ross Taylor mansion and the temporarily erected tents in front of it.

“Commander Magnus. I am sorry that I am not in a position to treat you well.”

And at the center table of the largest tent, there was a girl who was currently taking care of the situation.

It was Tanya Rosstaylor, the student council president of Sylvania Academy and the current matriarch of the Rosstaylor family.

A slightly tired look remained on his youthful face. Nevertheless, Tanya spoke skillfully even to a corps commander who was several times older than her.

“As you can see, the current state of Ross Taylor Mansion is like this...”

“What happened?”

Magnus swept away the bushy leaves and spoke politely to Tanya. It was immediately apparent that her status had been elevated to a higher level.

Tanya lowered her eyes and laughed at the irony of the situation.

There were several VIPs left around Tanya discussing the situation at the mansion. Most of them returned to their territories, but some key nobles were still at the scene and trying to control the situation.

One of them was Senir Bloomriver, the head of the Bloomriver family.

Sinir, an elderly woman with a few wrinkles. She recognized Magnus and lowered her head slightly.

Magnus also greeted her with a nod and then sat down in front of Tanya.

Sinir and Magnus are people who have children of their own in Sylvania.

Magnus’ son, Wade Calamore, is the valedictorian of his freshman year. And Traceiana Bloomriver, the second of Sinir’s two twin daughters, is the valedictorian of the fourth year of the Ministry of Magic.

As the two parents of honor students, they also know well Tanya Rosstaylor, the student body president at Sylvania.

However, since I had no experience actually meeting her, I was only guessing what kind of girl she might be.

The position of student council president responsible for the students of the famous Sylvania. In addition, he has inherited the position of head of the family, who must take responsibility for the family in ruins.

The girl carrying this heavy load was smaller than expected, so the two people could not help but look at them with worried eyes.

However, Tanya casually spoke first.

“I’ll talk to Geodujeolmi. I’m cornered, so I don’t have time to weigh the seasoning here and there.”

To Magnus, who had not yet heard about the situation at Ross Taylor Mansion, it could not help but sound like nothing out of the blue.

Still, Tanya spoke without hesitation.

“I will bring down Princess Selaha.”

Selaha Persica Fenia.

In a three-way battle for imperial power, where can Tanya turn to survive?

“Are you willing to cooperate?”

Magnus, born with the blood of a warrior, rose to the rank of general in charge of the entire northern steppe.

Sinir, the head of the Bloomriver family, known as the witch’s house.

If you want to persuade two people to your side, you must have something, whether it be a cause or power.

However, Tanya is now the head of the family in charge of a family that is on the verge of extinction. There is no fool in the world who would follow someone who is cornered like this.

Although she didn’t know that, Tanya spoke confidently nonetheless. Stick to your side.

There was not even the slightest hesitation in the way he affirmed it as if it were the correct answer.

*

“Master Ed.”

“...Good morning Belle.”

“Sorry for the break, but... a letter has arrived.”

“...Letter?”

It was the next morning.

As I was convalescing and recuperating next to the bonfire, I looked at Belle, who had been visiting since early morning, with a puzzled look on my face.

“...To me?”

“Yes. It was flown to Master Ed’s address at Ofilis Hall, so I retrieved it and brought it to him.”

“...When was the last time I was kicked out of Ofilis Hall, and now my letters are being sent there?”

“I wonder too...”

I received the letter from Belle and immediately opened it.

It was in a shabby envelope, but the ink writing was neat, as if it had been written recently.

The content wasn’t very long, so I skimmed through it quickly.

– Notification to Ed Rosstaylor, the worst kidnapper in captivity.

“?”

Belle, who was reading along behind me, made eye contact with me and tilted her head.

– I know about the terrible evil you committed against the slender girl. I can never forgive you for freely trampling on the poor mute girl who could not even resist or utter a word.

– I would like to report all these evil deeds to the Academic Council, but seeing the last mercy of the kind-hearted victim who tried to stop this, I will postpone the condemnation if he comes forward and apologizes.

– As soon as you check the letter, it will pop out through the Glokt tube.

– Sent by Patriciana Bloomriver from the Ministry of Magic.

“....?”

“??”

Bell and I made eye contact again for a while and then continued to exchange glances as if we were puzzled.

“Have you ever kidnapped or imprisoned a girl recently?”

“...”

“....Excuse me.”

Indeed, just looking at the speed at which she picks up mistakes, she could be called a top-notch maid.