Chapter 204
Trisha hung onto me, dangling while biting my collarbone.
What on earth is she?
Was she abandoned in the wild as a baby and raised by wild beasts like leopards or bears?
Or could she be a descendant of a high-ranking vampire?
Seeing her bite me while telling me to serve her, it seemed quite possible.
I feel like I had heard legends about vampires using humans as servants somewhere...
Another mark would probably form next to where she bit me before.
How should I explain this to Teacher?
"Are you... a vampire?"
"Grrrmmmmph"
"..."
After putting in effort until a mark was left, she finally removed her mouth and wiped her saliva with her sleeve. Then she said in a satisfied voice, "Now you'll be welcomed enough at my home!"
"I think you said something similar before."
"Well... anyway, they'll welcome you more now."
"I'm not excited because I don't know where your home is or who lives there."
"You didn't tell me either! I don't know where you're from, why you live with the professor, or where you got that weird firefly sword!"
"Firefly sword?"
"You know, that thing!"
"...You don't need to know the details since you're not coming to my home anyway. I need to know where I'm going to set foot and what kind of group it is. I'm suspicious that you might be a vampire."
"The academy already vouched for me!"
"No, I don't like vague things."
"And I'm going to greet your family at your home too?"
I shook my head.
"I don't have a family. I don't have a home to return to either."
Trisha's eyes widened like a goldfish. Though I was nonchalant, she seemed to be pondering what to say to this sudden confession.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"That's great. Since you have nowhere to return to, serve me for a lifetime!"
"..."
"If you come with me, you can get anything you want."
Adults didn’t easily use the word “lifetime”. They know well that human will easily crumbled in the face of time and boredom.
Only those who have lived for a short time could easily say such things.
And Trisha needed care, not servitude.
"Are you proposing a contract?"
"Yes!"
"I won't contract unless you clarify the work environment and detailed contract conditions."
"I don't know about those things!"
"Then let's pretend this didn't happen."
Now I'm really curious. Who on earth are the people who raised Trisha? And what exactly is the identity of this girl called Azelis? What kind of background does she have to confidently tell someone to serve her?
Trisha grumbled as if displeased.
"I'm also contracting with a man whose identity I don't know."
"By the way, when will this bite mark disappear?"
"I won't tell you!"
Trisha released her hold and ran off somewhere as if escaping. Despite it being the middle of the night and having consumed enough mana to crumple a mansion, she seemed full of energy.
And so our ball ended safely.
***
An old man with white hair wearing a wooden mask was sitting on a tree stump. He had five swords leaning slightly beside him and was carefully polishing them one by one, pulling them out.
The entire area was stained with blood, and a headless corpse was lying face down on the ground.
In that scene of carnage, only the white-haired old man was clean without a single stain.
Candinella frowned at the sudden smell of blood and waved her hand fan.
There was still residual magical pressure crushing all life forms in the area.
"I didn't expect you to still be in a place like this."
The old man held up the sword he was working on to the morning sunlight and said, "It was said to be a festival day, but if I return without cooling my killing intent, wouldn't it frighten the young students?"
"You must not have recovered from your travel fatigue. I've prepared separate accommodations, so don't worry."
"Don't mind me. It's because I wanted to do this."
The highest level of martial prowess that even the leadership of the Imperial Knights would have to bow their heads to. The only outsider who could freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace where even the Empress' relatives couldn't set foot. The Hero of the Northern Conflict.
Although he could have enjoyed luxury in the Empire for his entire life, he came to Eternia of his own volition.
The appearance of the White Lion, seen after a long time, was utterly unpretentious.
"...How were the intruders?"
"Their temperament was quite nasty."
"Did they come targeting Damian?"
"Yes. They muttered his name as if under hypnosis. However, this one was different from magic sword hunters."
"Hmm. This is different from what I heard."
"They weren't trying to covet a higher-level magic sword. These were in a state where their bodies were controlled by the magic sword."
"Then why did they come?"
"They were like insects whose brains were infested by parasites. They came looking for a better host under the magic sword's orders."
"That's strange."
"I agree."
"Did you find out anything else?"
The old man shook his head. Then he swung the sword in his hand through the air.
"I need to have a conversation with this magic sword. According to the natural order, this one should have gone to Damian. Haha, even now it's struggling to devour me."
Candinella's face hardened slightly.
Damian was only seventeen. While he was quite extraordinary for his age, there was no reason for the magic sword to be so fixated on Damian as a host that it would travel such a long distance. There were plenty of hosts stronger than Damian in the world.
"It's impossible for a magic sword to recognize and seek out Damian on the opposite side of the continent on its own. Then this incident..."
"Someone guided it towards Eternia."
"Do you have any suspicions about who it might be?"
The old man shook his head.
"I can't be certain whether they want to kill the boy or test him."
Candinella could sense it. The magic sword's host, the magic sword hunters, their visit would not end here. It was unknown through which channel they learned about it, but once exposed, it couldn't be avoided now.
"Damian became famous too early."
"It was quite predictable. That's something the child must handle. If he can't withstand the influence of the magic sword, he's not qualified to possess it anyway."
The threats would become stronger and more frequent in the future. To handle them, Damian needed to become stronger.
"He'll adapt quickly under Lord Callios' guidance."
He shook his head.
"Actually, I have no intention of becoming that child's master."
A faint smile spread across Candinella's face. Many desire the teachings of a Sword Master. But it wasn’t something just anyone could receive. Damian also couldn't receive his teachings for free.
"Yes, I'll leave it to you."
***
After the festival ended, the academic schedule was paused for two days and everyone took a rest.
Then daily life at the academy resumed. The bright decorations that boosted the festival atmosphere on campus were removed, and students returned to their busy routines.
Early in the morning, I came to campus with Trisha. Our relationship had completely recovered after the ball. No, it felt like it had become even closer than before.
"The Magic Department is super busy memorizing magic circles. There's an evaluation coming up soon."
Trisha was so focused on preparing for the Magic Department exam that she couldn't take her eyes off the note with things to memorize even while walking to class.
"The Magic Engineering Department and Alchemy Department are also busy with their project evaluations right around the corner."
"Right. I heard that too. What's the Combat Department doing?"
"Nothing much. Basic skills training."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. It's the same for both advanced and basic classes."
Although talents from across the continent were gathered, the Combat Department focused only on basic subjects like fundamental skills training, physical conditioning, and memorizing magic creature characteristics. Some students were dissatisfied, but I quickly accepted this process.
It was similar when I was an apprentice at the workshop a few years ago. At that time, I spent months doing menial tasks and learning the basics. It was hard to understand then, but as time passed, I realized that process was essential.
Just because the world's geniuses had gathered in one place didn’t mean that breakthroughs in swordsmanship and innovations in combat techniques would happen just a few months after enrollment.
A novice's excessive ambition always invited disaster, and first-years were just inexperienced youngsters no matter what they did.
Of course, it was quite a boring process for some top students, including myself.
After all, the intensity of this basic training was less than when I was training with Teacher.
"Time's up! I'm going. Don't get lonely without me!"
Trisha left first according to her first class schedule.
I also moved towards the Art Club greenhouse as usual.
***
Lilith arrived at the Art Club greenhouse earlier than others. As a new member of the Art Club, and the latest to join at that, she was in charge of most of the menial tasks.
She was quite taken aback at first, having to do chores like cleaning plant leaves, repotting, and spraying nutrient solutions, tasks that servants had taken care of all her life. But now she had adapted to all the work and felt a sense of fulfillment.
Today too, after almost finishing the chores, she filled a large iron kettle with water and headed towards the greenhouse.
And through the glass wall of the greenhouse, she saw the figure of a familiar man.
Lilith's heart sank, and she immediately hid behind a tree to take a deep breath.
Those actions on the night of the ball. Thinking about it now, her face burned wondering what courage had made her act that way.
If she entered the greenhouse now, would Damian welcome her differently from his previous coldness?
Her heart pounded.
Lilith moved forward again and opened the greenhouse door.
And seeing Damian's back as he stood still holding an easel, she spoke in a small voice, "...Hello."
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Damian stood still without turning around.
Her heart sank. She had opened the door and stood still, then stepped into the greenhouse.
Then she tripped on the threshold and fell forward.
"Ah, eek!"
Crash.
All the water from the kettle spilled, turning the greenhouse into a sea of water, and Lilith was drenched in the water she had spilled.
Lilith couldn't raise her head due to the shame that made her want to die.
Even without raising her head, she knew that Damian must have turned to look at her by then.
A terrifyingly long silence followed.
Footsteps approached. She could feel Damian's cold gaze looking down at her.
Why do I become so stupid and make so many mistakes in front of this man?
As she was feeling miserable, a warm touch suddenly came to her body.
Damian silently supported her and sat Lilith down on a chair. Then he bent down to match her eye level and wiped her face with a handkerchief.
She couldn't raise her head because she felt so foolish. Damian placed something on the back of her dejected hand.
"Ppiyak!"
It was a cute sparrow with red feathers.
As the little creature flapped its wings, warmth spread through her body.
It was a spirit.
There was no mockery, no asking if she was okay. He just silently took care of her through actions, as if dealing with a child.
It was Candy's way.
She could now feel that he was slowly opening his heart in his own way.
Soon after, Art Club PresidentHaley rushed into the greenhouse holding a rolled-up parchment.
"First-year! The Duchess' knight and the Magic Department's second seat are here together. This is perfect timing."
Lilith tidied her seaweed-like bangs with her wrist and bowed her head to Haley.
"Hello... Senior."
Haley was surprised to see these two.
"What's this? Why is the floor soaking wet... Did it rain?"
"I slipped while trying to water the plants..."
"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"No. I'm fine."
"Hmm... Then that's good. Listen up. This is very important information, especially for you two who are the core of the Art Club’s first-years. The announcement has finally come out."
Damian showed interest.
"What announcement?"
"The mission for the Special Club Competition. If the Art Club finishes the mission first this time, we'll receive a huge amount of special activity support funds. And with this money, we can go on a group field trip to the City of Magic Studies, which has been our long-cherished wish."
"..."
"..."
"How about it? Don't you feel like your hearts are burning with excitement?"
Damian and Lilith's reactions were lukewarm.
"Who is the Art Club competing against?"
"There are cooperative missions for first and second-years, and for third and fourth-years. You'll be competing against all other special club’s first and second-years."
Haley pointed at Damian and continued speaking separately, "You don't need to worry about other special clubs. Our main rivals are the Dance Club and the Drama Club. We especially won't let those Drama Club pigs beat us. Got it, First-year?"
"...I understand."
"Just in case, let me tell you this: this means you'll be enemies with your few friends from the Drama Club, T... whatever her name is, and the blonde spirit summoner. Remember that."
"..."