Chapter 123 - Spirit of the Guardian Tree (2)

Professor Candinella dismissed Hubert and Sion first. They both gave a slight bow and left the classroom.

"Damian, follow me."

I quietly followed behind her. Silence continued as we left the classroom and walked along a small path through the campus garden. Though it felt somewhat awkward, she didn't seem to mind.

Given that we weren't heading to the dormitory, she must have something private to discuss.

Then Candinella asked an unexpected question, "Do you know about the Duchess of Gainax?"

Though it had been a while since I'd heard that name, I remembered she was a VIP who attended this year's Eternia entrance ceremony.

"I've heard of her."

"She's showing interest in you."

"...Pardon?"

"Probably because of your master. Just keep it in mind. We'll need to watch how things develop for a while."

After that, she fell silent again.

She led me to her office after heading to the professors' building.

One wall of the office was filled with bookshelves containing ancient texts whose titles I couldn't even read, and near the window were reception sofas and a table.

"Sit."

She pointed to the sofa and rummaged through a basket on her desk.

"Do you like cookies?"

"...I'll eat them if there are any."

"Candy too?"

"Yes."

"Dried apricots?"

"All good."

She filled a bowl with snacks and didn't stop there, even bringing a bunch of green grapes.

Afterward, she placed them on the table and pushed them toward me. It was enough to skip dinner if I ate it all.

She sat across from me, crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and stared at me uncomfortably.

"Eat, eat."

Isn't this just supposed to be a quick talk before sending me back? Is there a need to go this far? Does she want something from me?

"Don't you like them? Wait, let me get some Ponturois goat cheese and bread..."

"It's fine. This is plenty."

I hurriedly put a cookie in my mouth.

"Don't feel burdened. This is thanks for taking the initiative to help with professor duties during practice."

"In that case..."

"Yes, I know all about your identity. Quiet young master by day, masked man by night. Right?"

There was something odd about that expression, but well, maintaining two identities is what matters.

"Did you call me here because of... the Duchess of Gainax?"

"Ah, I called you to give a reward, but I suppose I should tell you about that first."

She placed a black letter on the table. It bore the principality's gold-embossed seal.

"This came to Eternia. The Duchess of Gainax wants to take you on as a guard."

I'd heard that the Combat Department sometimes dispatched students for external missions. That seemed to be what she meant.

"...Why?"

Does she have a reason to choose me? I should be recorded as middle-ranked.

"The frozen earth is thawing and winter's ending. Nobles who came to Rigbed to escape the cold return home around this time."

"..."

"With such an impressive guard detail already, what difference would one student make? They probably took notice because you're Silveryn's disciple. Seems they want to establish connections—it's common at Eternia. External missions can even count as completed coursework."

A duchess would already have high-ranking knights and mages. Yet calling for someone they've never met surely meant they have another purpose.

"Do I have to?"

"Making connections with high nobility is certainly honorable. We usually encourage it, but... your case is different."

"..."

"Eternia will refuse. What you lack isn't connections."

Perhaps Eternia judged it too early for me.

I thought similarly. I hadn't even properly learned noble etiquette. Getting involved with the principality's heir was beyond my current capabilities. Who knew what might happen?

If they were solely interested in Silveryn's reputation rather than my abilities, all the more reason to be cautious.

"I understand."

Candinella narrowed her eyes and watched my expression carefully before speaking, "You don't complain at all, do you? Well then, shall we discuss your circulatory system practice reward?"

She took out a potion bottle the size of a middle finger from her chest.

It was that love potion Professor Rakam had shown at the podium before.

Candinella smiled at me.

"I don't know who taught you, but you completed the mission excellently. You're one of the very few students to gain the fantastical beast's favor."

"...Thank you, but I didn't directly encounter the fantastical beast."

"I know. Just entering that territory means receiving recognition. You must have had your own ambitions?"

I did have ambitions. I wanted to see the fantastical beast, something close to the circulatory system's crystallization, with my own eyes.

"Yes, I'm disappointed I couldn't achieve my expected results."

"Seeing the fantastical beast isn't always good. Adapting to the circulatory system means coming under the fantastical beast's influence. Soderton may be fine, but don't expect fantastical beasts in other regions to always be friendly to humans."

"Is contact potentially dangerous?"

"Even setting foot in their territory is dangerous. Phantasmal beasts with pure, clear energy like Soderton's are rare. Other phantasmal beasts view humans as mana-rich prey or sometimes try to rule as local gods."

This was about the indigenous gods Zverev mentioned. Candinella seemed to view them negatively.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good, anyway, well done."

She held out the potion.

As I reached to take it, she seemed to have another thought and pulled her arm back.

"...?"

Candinella, her cold noble appearance contrasting with sparkling eyes, said, "It's not too late to join the Drama Club. If you join now, I can give you an even better gift..."

"..."

Seeing my troubled expression, she smiled mischievously again.

"Just kidding, here."

Finally, the potion was placed in my hand. My whole body tingled like electricity from the sense of achievement. Though I had no plans to use it myself, knowing its value made me feel assured.

"Thank you."

She continued talking as if reluctant to let me go, "So, um, any difficulties with academy life?"

"...Nothing particular worth mentioning."

"Any disappointments living with Silveryn?"

"...None."

She gave me a suspicious look.

"Hmm... That can't be right. She's not exactly the warm type."

"..."

She waved her arms and changed the subject.

"Never mind that. Anyway, come to me for counseling if you have troubles or hardships. I'll help you well."

"Thank you."

"Now go check your dormitory."

I stood up and gave a slight bow.

"Then, I'll be going."

Suddenly she grabbed my collar and sat me back down.

"Ah, wait, take these snacks. I'll pack them separately."

Why does this professor try so hard to take care of me? I'm grateful, but I still have no intention of joining the Drama Club.

Finally reaching the Northern Village dormitories in the afternoon, the atmosphere was generally chaotic. As I walked carrying a box of cookies that could last a week in one arm, someone bumped my shoulder and ran past.

The passing woman seemed very busy, her hair wet with sweat and carrying water buckets in both arms. She seemed too rushed even to apologize.

Marigold Hall, the dormitory for high-ranking students, looked different than usual.

"..."

Several windows were broken, and some were smeared with green slime. From some rooms came sounds like wailing.

Only then could I truly grasp how terrible this welcome ceremony was.

Damn, Hubert, Sion, and I were called out by name—meaning ours must be worse than this.

This is getting a bit nerve-wracking.

I hurried toward Witdruff Hall, my dormitory.

Entering Witdruff Hall's entrance, I felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, unlike other places, the atmosphere here was calm.

As always, Sion sat leisurely drinking tea in front of the hall fireplace.

I climbed the stairs to the third floor. Walking toward the left corridor, I met eyes with two girls coming from the opposite direction.

"...?"

Faces I hadn't seen in the dormitory before. Originally no one but me lived at the end of the third-floor corridor.

What's going on?

The girls flinched seeing me, then hurried past with heads bowed low.

The door to my room at the corridor's end was wide open. 

I have a bad feeling about this.

Something white hung from the doorknob. Looking closer, it was someone's underwear.

There was an indescribable strange smell in the corridor. 

Surely it isn’t coming from my room?

I rushed to stand before my room. Finally seeing inside, I dropped the cookie box.

"This..."

I never knew there were so many types of underwear. Not just the floor, but even the windows were wallpapered with underwear. The bed was spectacular. Underwear was packed so densely that it completely covered the white bedding.

And on the walls, intruders had left a guestbook in green slime.

I slowly examined the messily written messages.

[Come to the Dance Club if you need compensation.]

[No, come to the Literary Club!!]

[Forget that and become my family's servant. I'll let you live in leisure forever.]

[I’m not coming back for my underwear. Keep it safe.]

[Stop acting so proud, it's annoying.]

[I know your secret.]

[Elope with big sis.]

[Why are you Silveryn's disciple, makes me so mad I'll stuff panties in your mouth.]

[There's someone under the bed.]

I immediately checked under the bed. Fortunately, no person was there, just several neatly placed pieces of underwear.

The guestbook was truly a festival of unconsciousness. Similar in texture to the graffiti I saw at the orphanage.

I'd heard noble young ladies valued dignity and etiquette, receiving strict education from childhood and treating modest behavior as precious as life itself—today that fantasy completely crumbled.

Perhaps like Trisha, they were under excessive control and unleashing their suppressed desires at Eternia.

I weakly sat in the chair after brushing away the underwear hanging on it.

When will this all be cleaned up? It looks like it'll fill several baskets.

***

A maid approached Sion resting in the first-floor hall.

"The door's fixed now, so you can go in."

Sion rose and spoke in a calm voice, "Thank you."

Sion moved toward the stairs. Someone had broken in and done something to her room's doorknob, making it inoperable. Because of that, she couldn't properly change clothes for a day.

Having no friends, no one would lend her clothes, so she had to wear the basic training uniform provided by the maid.

Reaching the third floor, she stood before her room. When she turned the doorknob, it opened with a click.

Her sensitive nose was immediately hit by a foul stench.

The room was covered in green slime. The bedding, curtains, and wardrobe were all in chaos, and contemptuous messages were written on the floor in black ink.

[Think seniors are that easy?]

[You look down on everyone]

[Don't live like that]

[Dress modestly, need attention?]

But having been through everything, it left no particular impression on her.

Sion briefly glanced at the nearly insulting messages with an insensitive gaze and went straight to the dresser.

Then, she opened the drawer and froze.

"...Gone."

Every single piece of underwear had disappeared without a trace.