Chapter 102

[Translator – Night][Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 102: Winds of Change (4)

As the sun sets, the moon rises.

It’s an unchanging law of nature.

When the moon appears, I head to the bar.

This has been my routine without fail for the past two years.

But today, I feel unusually down.

I know why.

It’s probably because of what happened during the day.

Unlike most people, I’ve seen more twisted and disgusted faces than smiling ones.

I’m talking about the faces of people on the brink of death, consumed by despair.

But the face of the princess I saw during the day was different.

It wasn’t despair; it was sadness.

It was a face filled with sorrow for her own helplessness.

A face I’m not familiar with.

[Looks like someone’s feeling down. But then again, no man is more trash than the one who makes a woman cry!]

“But she didn’t cry.”

I have to admit, I was close to making her cry, but I didn’t.

[That’s even worse! If you’re going to make her cry, do it properly instead of keeping it bottled up inside and causing her pain. Why does she have to suffer silently? Oh, but I can’t even scold my master!]

As usual, I should listen with one ear and let it out the other, but oddly enough, I couldn’t do it this time.

Is it my fault?

I haven’t done anything wrong, but it feels like I’ve committed a grave mistake.

Normally, I wouldn’t even bat an eye, but for some reason, the image of the sad princess keeps haunting me.

[So, is that skinny guy you saw during the day your archenemy?]

“Seems like it. But honestly, he’s even more inscrutable than that devil’s spawn.”

Why can’t we solve difficult math problems?

It’s simple.

Because we don’t know the answer.

People are the same way.

Those who are easy to read are easy to deal with.

But those who are hard to decipher are the ones we struggle with.

Boris falls into the latter category.

I know he’s shady and smells fishy, but I can’t figure out exactly what he is—a mystery within a mystery.

Honestly, if I were to kill him now, there’s nothing stopping me.

But I won’t.

Killing him would be too easy.

Instead, like savoring unfamiliar meat until it reaches its peak flavor, I’ll wait until the right moment to strike.

To do that, I need to find out why he came to the academy in the first place.

That’s definitely something I should do, but why am I here now?

“Haap!”

The sound of a determined battle cry pierces the night sky.

It’s the training ground, where Brian, dedicated to his training, punches in his time card every day.

And there’s another person here who stands on par with him.

Muscles bulging on her arms and legs, with disciplined posture and precise movements.

It’s safe to say she’s made a remarkable leap compared to just two years ago.

As they say, when people have a goal, their latent potential shines through.

Now that she has the ultimate goal of being the guardian of Princess Arin, she’ll continue to train relentlessly to achieve it.

I’m willing to bet she’ll surpass even the greatest swordsman of the previous continent.

“…!”

When Ressimus noticed me, she stopped moving.

“Don’t mind me. Keep doing what you were doing.”

Apparently unable to ignore it, she hurried over to me and respectfully bowed her head.

“I’ll apologize for my rudeness to Lord Cyan.”

“No, it’s my mistake. Why should you apologize?”

Touching the princess was something even I couldn’t justify right there. It was the best course of action for her.

“Do you always come out at this time?”

“Yes. After Lady Arin falls asleep, I always come out to continue my personal training.”

I already knew that, so it didn’t matter.

But I didn’t come here to see Ressimus.

I came to ask something of her.

“Do you have something to say?”

As if she had read my mind, she asked first.

Without hesitation, I asked right away.

“Princess Arin, what happened at the palace?”

Her eyes widened for a moment.

“Um, may I ask why you think that?”

“No, it’s just that she seemed a bit off today compared to usual. She looked a bit gloomy…”

I’m really asking about anything and everything.

But if I’m feeling uneasy, it’s better to ask outright than to let it linger.

After a moment of hesitation, Ressimus cautiously spoke up.

“Why did Lord Cyan come to the palace banquet?”

It was a rather unexpected question.

“Well, Princess Arin sent an invitation, so…”

“But why didn’t you meet Lady Arin?”

I was momentarily speechless.

It’s been a while since I felt this way.

“I owe Lady Arin and Lord Cyan a debt of gratitude that I can never fully repay. If it weren’t for you two, I wouldn’t be alive and well at this academy.”

Her eyes changed into strong eyes full of determination.

“The lives saved by you two, I am prepared to dedicate mine to you at any time. Lord Cyan may not need it, but at least as long as Lady Arin is by my side, I want to protect her even if it means sacrificing myself. That’s why I’m here with Lady Arin.”

“Are you not already doing enough?”

“But no matter how much I’m by her side, I don’t think I can unravel all the burdens she carries. If I can’t unravel them, those burdens will only fester and become heavier. The pain from that will go straight to Lady Arin.”

“So, what do you want to say?”

She spoke without hesitation.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

“Can’t you unravel those burdens for her?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand and cocked my head.

“On the night of the banquet incident, Prince Louisnel visited Lady Arin’s room.”

“The First Prince?”

Ressimus recounted all the disrespectful behavior Prince Louisnel had shown towards Princess Arin.

It wasn’t particularly surprising.

He was very much like the First Prince, always finding a way out of trouble, never doing anything that would harm himself.

In the end, regardless of how Prince and Aschel’s plans unfolded, Princess Arin was bound to face unwanted unhappiness.

It’s too much for a fourteen-year-old girl to handle.

Now I understood why she looked so distressed.

“I’ve already heard about what happened between Lord Cyan and Lady Arin on the battlefield. Lady Arin is trying to grow herself to please Lord Cyan before pursuing her dream of becoming an empress. She continues to fight against herself, a fight no one else can help with.”

I understand.

Princess Arin’s growth over the past two years has surprised even me.

She’s been an outstanding student, never missing an S grade in any subject since enrolling.

In some circles, she was highly praised at the academy, almost comparable to Alice, who was called the Child of God.

The only difference is that her achievements were based entirely on hard work.

But Princess Arin is different.

She didn’t possess the overwhelming talent that Alice did.

To compensate for her lack of talent, she put in bone-deep effort.

That’s why, even if not in the palace, she’s earned recognition from many here at the academy.

So, what’s the point?

What more do I have to do?

Should I praise her, saying “You’re doing great”?

As I say repeatedly, I only show the path and do not guide you along that path.

Even if they trip over the rocks on that path, I won’t lend a hand.

Why?

Because I’m not a savior.

Regardless of what I do, the essence of who I am won’t change.

I looked at Ressimus and said.

“The position of a princess is as heavy as they say. No one can bear it. I’m the same…”

Princess Arin will continue to fight a lonelier battle in the future.

The burdens she’s accumulated so far will only get heavier.

She’ll have to carry them on her own, without relying on anyone else.

But still…

“I can at least help lighten it a bit. It’s just not the right time.”

That was the best I could say right now.

Ressimus cocked his head, seemingly not understanding, but soon, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Lord Cyan is truly an unfathomable person…”

A wry smile escaped me.

If even I don’t know myself, who will?

With that conversation over, I left the training ground.

* * *

The Research Institute, where the personal research labs of the faculty members, including Leader Silica, are located, also serves as the residence for all staff.

Despite the time being late into the night, or rather early into the morning, there are still several rooms with lights on.

If I want to infiltrate without drawing attention, I’ll probably have to wait for at least an hour or two.

[Are they owls or something? Don’t they ever sleep?]

Today, I couldn’t agree more with her words.

Perhaps there are rooms where the lights won’t go out until the morning sun rises.

The fact that there are so many rooms with lights on means that the probability of being caught by someone when infiltrating increases.

Now, in this situation where not all the faculty members have gathered yet, it’s the best time to infiltrate the Research Institute.

Yes, that should be the case…

“Hmm?”

What’s going on?

[A squirrel hiding somewhere?]

Just 10 meters away from the main entrance of the research lab, there was a girl standing closely behind a tree as if hiding from a predator.

Her hair swayed gently in the night breeze, reflecting the faint moonlight.

Even from her back, I could tell who she was.

It was Luna, the audacious little troublemaker who never seems to bring any joy whenever I encounter her.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I marched towards her.

Despite the shortening distance, she continued to stare intently at the entrance of the research lab.

“What are you doing?”

My casual question was met with an equally nonchalant response.

“You’ve come. Senior?” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Her reaction seemed as if she had known I would come.

It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Her demeanor was so carefree, almost to the point of being naive.

There was an optimism in her eyes that was almost unsettling, especially compared to the last time we met.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]