Chapter : 132

“Outside duty, outside duty~”

Could I be this happy just from getting some fresh air?

I felt a joy like a prisoner who had escaped from jail.

I wanted to just head home for the day, but unfortunately, I couldn't, as there was work waiting for me.

I was pretty sure I came here for an internship, so why on earth was I doing manual labor?

Despite my bewilderment, I headed to the campsite.

The campsite where the mercenaries stayed was always noisy and chaotic.

Living in a world overrun with Gates and dungeons, they lived as if they could die tomorrow, so they enjoyed today to the fullest.

Death came without warning, and a mercenary’s life was always converted into gold coins.

That's why mercenaries drank, laughed, fought, and laughed again.

While not all freedoms and indulgences were guaranteed, I heard that turning a blind eye to most things was the way of this world.

In the game, there was a description that Lucian sometimes felt more at ease with mercenaries because of that aspect.

“Well, it’s just that they’re free to speak their minds.”

In reality, it was no different from saying it was five minutes from being a total mess.

A hollow laugh escaped me as I looked at the boisterous atmosphere where they seemed ready to grab each other by the collar and fight at any moment.

So I have to go in there now and sort out the situation?

That? No matter how I thought about it, their conscience must be dead.

If I were just an ordinary administrator, wouldn't I have already submitted my resignation, my spirit broken at the thought of having to break through that crowd?

At this point, I was starting to admire Yuno.

Yep, that's right.

I was about to look for the right timing to enter when I spotted someone who stood out.

Impeccably clean hair that created a sense of disharmony among the rugged mercenaries.

“Cecilia-sunbae?!”

Hup! Why is Sunbae here?

Swallowing my shock, I quickly squeezed my way through the mercenaries.

My nerves had certainly gotten stronger.

It felt like just yesterday that my hand bones were crushed by Lucian’s grip right after I transferred to the Academy.

Now, I was fearlessly pushing through this crowd of mercenaries.

“What brings you here, Sunbae?”

Sunbae stared at me intently.

Her gaze was a bit burdensome, but I smiled and strode toward her.

“Training. You?”

“Outside duty, I guess.”

It wasn't that I wanted to be on outside duty.

I just came out because I thought it was better than being stuck at a desk all day and night.

“I worked overtime late last night, so I couldn't make it to the training ground. I'm sorry, Sunbae.”

“Why are you working so much?”

“Because I’m told to, of course?”

“They usually don’t make interns work that much.”

Sunbae’s quiet mumble was like a revelation.

“What?”

“They don’t usually make interns work that much.

They’re still an outsider, after all.”

At Cecilia's words, my body momentarily staggered.

It's true, I was an intern, but I did have too much work.

I thought we were comrades suffering together! Turns out I was the one being exploited!!

I was on the verge of tears from the belated sense of betrayal that washed over me.

Cecilia, who had unintentionally revealed the harsh truth to me, averted her gaze slightly.

“Who is that?”

“A junior from school.”

When Cecilia introduced me as her junior, the mercenaries looked at me with interest.

Feeling awkward under the strange attention, I cleared my throat and introduced myself.

“My name is Theo Lisitoel. I’ll be doing my internship in the Viscounty of Loren for a month.”

Lisitoel? That Lisitoel?

A subtle commotion spread among the mercenaries.

“Then how did our lady’s junior end up all the way out here?”

“I’m here for cross-verification of documents.”

“Geh, so you’re doing exactly what Yuno does?”

It seemed Yuno had come out like this a few times before, as the mercenaries’ mood softened considerably.

“Yes, I’ve come in Yuno’s place.”

First, I had to sort out the situation.

Whether Yuno exploited me or overworked me, work was work.

Although, I felt a little heartbroken at how naturally I was about to start working.

“May I check for a moment?”

“Is there a need to ask! Ask away!”

The man who readily shouted with a thumbs-up frowned as soon as he took the documents.

“Ah, I had a feeling, and it’s just as I thought.”

Had he already anticipated that this kind of problem might arise?

The mercenary captain lightly slapped his forehead with his palm.

That mercenary casually called out the name of the person in question.

“Bell! Come here!”

“What? Was I the problem?!”

A figure called ‘Bell’ rushed out from the crowd, frowning for a moment before striding forward.

Upon confirming her face, Sunbae nodded her head lightly as if in understanding.

“According to the documents submitted by the mercenary captain, it says you use a sword, but our records indicate you’ve switched to a crossbow.”

“Ah, so that was the problem.”

Realizing it belatedly, ‘Bell’ also nodded slowly and then suddenly held out her arm.

It was covered in scars.

“I got into a bit of a big mess in a dungeon last time and somehow survived, but as you can see, I’m not in a state to handle a sword.”

“I couldn’t just kick out someone who only knows how to be a mercenary just because she can’t use a sword.

So she has to use a crossbow.”

Looking at the arm covered in scars, I somehow felt sorry.

It was a moment that made me resent Yuno even more.

“It’s no big deal. It’s not like it’s the first or second time a mercenary’s gotten hurt.”

Bell smiled brightly as if it was nothing.

That makes me feel even more sorry!

Pushing aside the nagging guilt, I quietly observed the boisterous mercenaries.

The fact that they truly seemed unfazed was a little surprising.

If it had been me, I wouldn't have been so calm.

“You seem bothered, but I’m telling you, it’s nothing! It was amazing that I even saved my life!”

“She bled so much, I really thought Bell was going to die right there!”

Voices from all around chattered as if to prove the fact.

My heart wasn't at ease, but anyway, they were mercenaries, and Bell was safe, so that was a relief.

“Why are you exaggerating so much?”

“You might have died if it weren't for the potion our benefactor gave you!”

“It wasn’t that bad, okay?”

The campsite became rowdy once again with shouts erupting from all over.

Perhaps because of that, no one seemed to notice that both Cecilia-sunbae’s and my expressions had stiffened.

A potion from a ‘benefactor’ sounded too suspicious.

It was practically shouting for someone to come and investigate.

It seemed Cecilia-sunbae was thinking something similar.

I wanted to ask about this ‘benefactor,’ but that would be openly revealing that we were suspicious.

What should we do?

I urgently exchanged glances with Sunbae.

“I have a promise with my father, so I should get going now.”

If there was one thing for sure, it was that Cecilia-sunbae had no talent for acting.

She was practically screaming ‘I’m suspicious of you’ with her entire body for anyone to see.

“I think I’ll get in trouble if I dawdle here any longer, too.”

“Alright, then let’s see each other again next time!”

The mercenaries, whether they noticed or simply decided to pretend not to know, smiled and said their goodbyes as if nothing was wrong.

Once we were a fair distance from the campsite, I asked Sunbae.

“Sunbae. I’m not the only one who finds this suspicious, am I?”

“An elixir that can save someone on the brink of death.

There’s no way something so incredible could be easily obtained.”

It was as if she was talking about a panacea—an Elixir.

Though if that mysterious person had really handed over a panacea, she would have been cured completely without any lingering aftereffects.

“In any case, a mercenary wouldn't usually say they ‘almost died’ over just anything.

So it's suspicious that someone ‘gave’ her a secret medicine that could heal a body so seriously injured.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m thinking of consulting my father.”

“Professor Evan?”

Cecilia tilted her head.

Her expression seemed to ask why that name was coming up here.

“He said he’s coming tonight.”

He missed two days because he was busy with one thing or another, but Father is a man who keeps his promises.

He will definitely come and teach me magic.

Father is coming! At the mention that a professor was coming, Cecilia’s face turned deathly pale.

I had never seen Cecilia look like that before.

I guess even her always-calm face could change that drastically.

I couldn't say I wasn't tempted to tease her a little, but I decided to hold back, fearing I'd be dragged to the training ground.

“Have you told my father?”

“Won't he take care of it himself?”

He didn't specifically tell me to inform the Viscount of this matter, after all.

“Hmm… okay, I understand.

Thanks for letting me know.”

For what? Before I could ask what she meant, Sunbae ran off somewhere without looking back.

Applause instinctively came out at her speed, which was difficult to follow with my eyes.

At the same time, a question arose.

‘Father’s reputation must really be ruined.’

I wondered how the ‘reputation’ part of his reputation had come to mean ‘ruined,’ and tears of pity streamed down my face.

“Ah, I guess I’m in a similar boat.”

The thought of my boisterous friends, along with my superior, made me feel somewhat sad.

* * *

“It’s been a while, Viscount Loren.”

Looking at the outstretched hand, Viscount Loren had to struggle immensely to maintain his composure.

Viscount Laurel, the knight of knights, a man always seen as maintaining his calm, would have rather screamed his head off.

At the same time, a list of buildings that Evan Lisitoel had set on fire during his time at the Academy flashed through his mind.

Surely, the Castle of Loren wouldn't be added to that list, right?

“Indeed, has it been five years?”

The last time was when Cecilia enrolled in the Academy.

Come to think of it, he really hadn't been to the Academy in a long time.

Looking at his extremely indifferent attitude for someone who had entrusted his daughter to the school, Evan spoke with a look of pity.

“Still, how about showing some interest in your child?”

I don’t want to hear that from you!!

Viscount Loren repeatedly wiped his face with his palm.

Since when was the Lisitoel Count Family so full of affection?

Was there anyone among his peers, seniors, or juniors who didn’t know that Evan himself didn't have a very warm relationship with his own father?

Above all, the entire reason Viscount Loren refrained from setting foot in the Academy was because of this train wreck of a mage right in front of him!!

“As I recall, the previous Count Lisitoel never once visited while you were enrolled at the Academy.”

“The predecessor’s business is the predecessor’s.”

Viscount Loren, who caught a fragment of madness in those gently smiling eyes, quickly shut his mouth.

A few more wrong words here, and he might commit the terrible act of awakening a madness that had been dormant for over a decade.

He had to avoid that. Yep, that's right.

“So, what brings you all the way here?”

“I was thinking of visiting from ten at night until midnight to teach my son magic.”

“An Academy professor personally teaching a student magic?”

“It’s a father teaching his son magic.”

That in itself was not such a rare occurrence.

Whether it be swordsmanship or magic, there was a high probability that talent was passed down through blood.

So who could blame a parent for teaching their child?

If Evan Lisitoel were an ordinary mage, that wouldn't have been wrong.

However, the problem was that it was Evan.

And because he knew it could be a problem, wasn't that why he was here now, to keep his mouth shut?

Perhaps if Theo had told Cecilia about this, it would also be his responsibility to keep his daughter's mouth shut.

It was a relief that his daughter wasn't the type to go around talking about such things so easily.

“…If it’s difficult, then I can’t help it.”

He wanted to demand what that preceding silence meant.

However, now that Evan Lisitoel had put it that way, he had no choice.

“Alright. I’ll let the person in charge know as well.”

So, please, just don’t burn down the viscounty’s castle…!

At the declaration, which was practically a surrender, Evan finally smiled.

Facing that smile, Viscount Loren shed a tear of sorrow.