Chapter 111
The tournament ended amid fervent cheers.
The snake who had shown shocking performances.
The boy who ultimately won unanimously after faculty deliberations became the hottest topic at the academy for a short week.
Stories about that time were on every student's lips.
It was natural.
He had achieved a feat considered impossible throughout the academy's long history.
Children who directly saw the match knew.
The miracle they witnessed then transcended the realm of mere talent, and was a [power] with the potential to reach the stars.
It was also a point implying the future that would lead the continent forward.
The hero who reached the highest star.
The Red Sword Star.
He was material for a [star] appearing 3 years after that hero's death.
As such, the pouring interest was reasonable.
"I just can't forget the scene from that time."
"I knew he was beyond student level, but... who would have thought he'd achieve victory against a professor?"
"Especially the scene of parting the tsunami at the end gave me chills."
"Is this what they call talent that will remain in history?"
"I heard all kinds of institutions are in an uproar now. Not just the Imperial Family, but the Magic Tower, Knight Orders, noble families... they say letters are pouring into the academy trying to secure him first."
"I heard the teaching assistants have been processing them all week without sleep."
Overflowing talent naturally invites admiration.
Students speaking with shining eyes each.
Even the envy and jealousy that had poured until now had now turned to aspiration.
Proof as a measure draws out others' recognition.
"Doesn't he seem quite good?"
"He doesn't feel arrogant compared to how excellent he is... seeing how he rejected all the recruitment offers, isn't he likable in his own way?"
"He firmly said he wants to focus on his studies for now."
"I heard he gets along well with the commoner girl too."
"Though his impression is strangely ominous, when you look closely he has many decent aspects."
"I should try talking to him sometime later."
Public opinion flowing positively.
Of course, it wasn't everyone.
On the other hand, there were also those who had doubts.
"I have no objection to him having the talent to reach the stars, but... honestly it feels sudden."
"Isn't that family more famous for alchemy than magic?"
"Though talent doesn't necessarily follow bloodlines, for a family that inherited alchemy for generations to suddenly produce a magician..."
"I heard they were originally people with a long history of scholarship."
"Besides, for such outstanding talent, it should have been known outside the family already... why was there no talk at all until now?"
"It seems they're hiding something."
It was a reasonable doubt.
Why did the [star] that had been quiet for years past reveal itself to the world only now?
Questions about this arose.
But even that gradually subsided.
Because there was no one to give a proper answer.
It was just buried under continuing topics.
Like that, questions about the snake's family scattered beyond the surface that no one knew.
Forgetting even all the answers.
***
A week after the noisy event ended.
I spent my days leisurely.
Now that the busy schedule including the practical exam was over, some relaxed time was allowed until the vacation.
Of course, the academy's attention was focused due to the aftermath of the match.
Aside from such minor aspects, it was a relatively peaceful few days.
I spent time with people around me.
"Congratulations on your victory!"
"Miss Regia."
"Young Master is amazing! I-I believed you would win from the start...!"
"My shoulders feel heavy from such excessive trust."
I stroked the head of the protagonist who was jumping up and down with joy.
"It's not particularly surprising... but still, good job."
"I'm glad you said so."
I responded with a smile to the villainess coolly offering congratulations.
"Was it hard?"
"It wasn't particularly difficult."
"Mm... Yuda is really amazing."
I conversed with the Little Prince nodding alone.
"It was more impressive than I thought."
"Huhu... I'm in a position to assist by Your Highness's side after all. If I panted at just this much, I wouldn't have the face to see you."
"The problem is you always talk well."
"So, do you dislike it?"
"...That's not it."
I even played pranks on the prickly rose.
Though the sentences they pronounced were different, they were the same in that they all contained worry and congratulations.
They were inwardly grateful words.
The academy's daily life continued calmly.
Additionally.
There was also an occasion to talk with Professor Cardel, who had been my opponent.
This event had a tradition where the loser grants one request of the winner, so I who won this time was also given the qualification to request something from him.
What I demanded was as follows:
"Withdraw from next year's chief professor selection."
"I intend to put my master up there."
"In exchange, I'd like you to lend your strength so our side can take office."
It was a somewhat unreasonable request.
The price to pay was too big for a simple event.
I thought the other side might refuse, but unexpectedly, Professor Cardel signed the contract without much fuss.
As he had already suffered a miserable defeat in front of the whole school.
It seemed he couldn't refuse even for the sake of his own pride.
Of course, he was gritting his teeth as if his jaw would break at any moment, but that was none of my business.
From my side, I had just returned the insult I received.
"I'll remember this."
The professor exited with somewhat flag-like words.
I struck back with a meaningful sneer.
I had no intention of losing even in the strangely approaching psychological warfare.
I can't help but smile remembering his rotting expression.
"Huhu."
"...I don't understand."
Selena looked at me like that as if I was strange.
Eyes containing deep questions.
Her characteristic fatigue could be glimpsed in her carelessly drooping purple hair.
The woman who had been silent soon threw out a few questions.
"May I ask the reason?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm talking about the last match. Didn't you respond to the other side's provocation on my behalf? I was wondering if there was any need for you to do so from Student Yuda's position."
"Did I perhaps overstep my bounds?"
"No. Rather, I'm grateful for it. I'm just asking out of pure curiosity."
"Huhu... The reason is as I told you before."
I smiled intently.
Warmth was contained in the gently curving corners of my mouth.
"I stood up for you, Master."
"......"
"Haven't you helped me many times? I was bothered by the insults pouring on you whom I've relied on, and I thought not letting that pass was the duty of a disciple."
"I thought it was a joke thrown to make me laugh."
"Those are disappointing words."
Words flowing glibly.
I moved a few steps just like that and stood by Selena's side.
A faint smell of alcohol brushed my nose.
"It was solely for you."
"As I pointed out before... we are just a teacher-student relationship based on contract. I don't think Student Yuda has any obligation to be loyal to me."
"It's alright. It wasn't an action swayed by obligation or anything."
"Then?"
"It's taming."
I lingered near the woman.
But I didn't reach out my hand.
If I did, it was obvious the drunkard would push me away. In taming, the distance to start with each other is important.
You have to gradually get them used to it from a gap that won't scare the other person.
I was maintaining a precarious boundary.
A distance too far to firmly push away, too close to ignore as if nonexistent, just enough to keep catching the eye.
Even if she didn't realize it, the relationship was gradually deepening.
"You don't need to feel any particular burden. I just wanted to repay the help I've received so far."
A brightly returned answer.
The woman who had been silent for a moment soon nodded.
"...I see. If that's the reason, I'll think of it gratefully."
Her lifeless gaze was shaking, if only slightly.
Ripples falling on a calm surface.
Cracks were forming even in the icy atmosphere of the drunkard.
I pulled back the steps I had approached with satisfaction.
'I shouldn't be hasty.'
It was the foundation for future developments.
To target an adult sick with sorrow, I needed to approach more carefully than usual.
I continued the taming while standing on a precarious boundary.
***
Two days later.
I visited the main building to receive the reward for the tournament.
Separate from the tradition of the loser granting the winner's request, there was a benefit given separately to the one who took the final victory.
It seemed they were paying attention in various ways as it was one of the top events at the academy.
'A reward.'
I would have passed it over if it was useless... but this time even I found it difficult to be confident.
It was a part I couldn't predict even knowing the original work.
So I needed to check.
"Excuse me."
Creak-.
I opened the antique door and entered.
The scene that came into view right after.
Between bookshelves stretching widely like a library was a desk, and beyond that an old man with white hair was sitting leaning back in a chair.
His pupils that had lost all color were intently gazing this way.
"I've been waiting."
The old man invited me to come in.
As if he knew in advance that I would visit, two cups of freshly brewed tea were on the table.
I greeted while putting the complex thoughts passing by behind me.
"This is the first time I'm seeing you up close."
Though he showed his face at every academy event, he was a figure with no actual interaction with students.
None other than the one taking on the role of the academy's head.
"Dean."
The Dean of Galimar Academy.
Gaston Galimar.
I had wanted to meet him all along since possessing this world.
Though there hadn't been a chance for our paths to cross until now, I was able to receive time for a private audience by winning this tournament.
I opened my mouth calmly.
"I'll ask straightforwardly first."
"Go ahead."
Information about the old man brushes past in my mind.
An old man with a warm impression.
Everyone in this world calls him Dean, but in the original work there was another name describing him.
A sinner who received the world's curse and came to see beyond that.
"Prophet."
Prophet of the apocalypse.
(prophète de l'apocalypse)
"How much do you know?"
"......"
A fastball thrown straight without dragging it out.
The white pupils were capturing the snake's afterimage without a trace of wavering.
The old man who had been silent soon parted his lips.
"...What answer do you seek from me, traitor?"
The prophet was seeing through this side.