Chapter 41
Enrico Meitner.
The academy's senior instructor.
Although he does not come from one of the top ten Absolute Families, he is known for combining overwhelming ability with widespread recognition.
Jaden Gettyford.
The current head of America's second-ranked family.
It is famous that he once wiped out a B-rank Gate with a single explosive spell. I had no idea he also chaired the 'Royal Nobles' Society.'
Aiden Cavendish.
......Needless to say.
They're all major figures.
Why are these names written on the invitation sent to me?
"What exactly is a 'Gate Academic Conference'...? Just from the name, it sounds like something I shouldn't have to attend."
I asked with a sliver of hope. Han Jihye shook her head with a troubled expression.
"It's very different from the one that existed before the Gates. It's a gathering attended by the most renowned nobles from across the country."
She added that it wasn't a place just anyone could casually attend.
Judging by the names written inside, the academic conference was a world far beyond the ordinary.
Receiving an invitation was difficult enough, but refusing one was even harder. In effect, it was a summons from the British royal family.
"As for the ‘Royal Nobles’ Society,’ the public isn't even aware that it exists. Even if they are, speaking of it is forbidden."
"Why?"
"To prevent confusion."
That was because it alone decided how much information to disclose when new Gates, magical beasts, or Gates capable of destroying an entire country appeared.
It was effectively a 'World Security Council.'
'They invite a ten-year-old kid to a place like that...!'
Where on earth had things gone wrong?
Why was everyone from Aiden to the teachers so eager to get rid of me?
All I wanted was to obtain my Hunter license and devote myself to Gates and a life as an artisan, but if I wasn't careful, I might end up socializing 365 days a year like Iroha Shimizu.
I complained to Han Jihye.
"Did I really do something attention-grabbing enough...?"
"You did."
"Waaah—."
'Speaking of which, what a shock. So the World Security Council was just a figurehead... The whole thing about listening to commoner Hunters' opinions was a load of crap."
They were a bunch of lying noble bastards.
An unexpected extra mission had appeared, so I spent the entire day feeling depressed.
"Hellooo...."
-Heh heh, listen to that dying voice. That's what you get for overdoing it.
"Sigh... Don't tease me, this is serious over here. But why did you call?"
-Ah, it's nothing much. I agreed to be your bodyguard at the academic conference. Jihye already told you, right?
......She had told me as much.
Just how far ahead was that elite Han Jihye thinking?
"Got it. Oh, right! But there's something I want to ask."
-Ooh, at last.
"Yes?"
-It's nothing. Go ahead, ask.
"......Why do you keep sending potted plants to my room? Matthew does too. Are you trying to open a botanical garden?"
-It's just a little gift for my beloved little sister. Just put them there, put them there.
"But...!"
Click.
'......'
Whatever. I'd rather die than keep fretting.
The academic conference was still a long way off. They had sent the invitation in advance to make sure I absolutely didn't skip it, so there was no need to worry yet.
I trusted Kim Sooyoung, who was still in the room, to deal with the potted plants. She had seemed disappointed that there was nothing for her to do anyway, so this worked out nicely.
Putting the various bothersome issues aside, I resumed focusing on my studies.
Since Item Crafting had only just begun its first lessons, my schedule grew busy again.
Apparently, related fields were normally taught by one person, who would teach two or three subjects in succession.
"All right~ Nice to see you all! Fortunately, I don't see any failing students this year!"
"......It seems like a few people are missing, Teacher?"
"I mean, none of them came rudely arguing with me."
……Ah.
Honestly, that tone that had once made me want to hit him sounded almost charming by now.
I had always known he was impressive, but learning that he was a man with recommendation authority in the world of 'insiders' made me see him in a somewhat different light.
That's how sly the human heart could be.
"Anyway, I see plenty of familiar faces from the previous classes, and interestingly, there are also students who didn't take Materials Science. It may be a little difficult, but let's do our best~!"
Item Crafting consisted of half theory and half practical work, ranging from basic combinations to precise craftsmanship.
It was known as the subject most heavily influenced by talent, and the one with the widest disparity in grades across the academy.
'......Hmm.'
I wore a subtle expression throughout the class.
Perhaps because we were starting with basic crafting, it was far too easy for me.
Methods for making and reinforcing clothes with Gorgon leather, ways to refine tools made from existing magical beasts, and so on. They were all things that would have been strange not to manage.
The skill-assist accessories I had crafted so far had all been classified as the highest difficulty, so I concluded that there was nothing more for me to learn at the academy's level.
The moment class ended, I raised my hand.
"Yes, Student Raebi."
"I.......!"
"Hmm...?"
"Uh......"
But I hesitated for a moment and began to think.
I suddenly started worrying.
Even though I had already attracted attention, was it really all right to stand out any more?
My item-crafting skill was objectively among the best.
They said that skilled item crafters were in high demand and frequently received offers from prospective employers, but if someone higher in the rankings took an interest in me, there was a high chance it would become troublesome.
Moreover, Douglas had explicitly ordered me to restrain my abilities as much as possible.
I slowly lowered my hand and giggled.
"Thank you for today's class. It was really worthwhile, Teacher."
"Oh-ho. Is that so? Then you'll get a private extra lesson, Student Raebi. Follow me."
'Huh?'
Enrico came over and began dragging me away by the wrist without permission.
Annari looked startled and tried to draw her sword, but I quickly waved my hand to stop her.
"Uh... Wh-what are you doing, Teacher!!"
"You said you liked my class? I'm touched. As a reward, I'll make your stomach burst with a feast of knowledge! Haha!"
"Huh? No, what exactly are you trying to do...! I don't need a feast...!"
"Don't be shy~."
And so I was dragged along by Enrico's hand, struggling all the while.
For some reason, we were heading toward the examination room rather than the research lab. When we were almost at the entrance, he let go and gave me a silly grin.
"Student Raebi. I'm not stupid. You were planning to take the test today, weren't you?"
"I wasn't!"
"I like your straightforwardness. I'll measure your skill right away."
"Whoa!"
I was naturally ushered inside.
Unlike an ordinary examination room, it looked like a small workshop. Everything was prepared, from leather costing tens of thousands of won to runestones and mana stones worth hundreds of millions of won or more.
Enrico made it clear that I would receive a zero unless I produced something of at least A+ grade, then instructed me to create whatever I wanted.
"Teacheeer..."
"You have time~."
Sigh.
Where on earth had I gone wrong?
Since that man had recommended me to the academic conference, I had clearly bitten some kind of bait... but I didn't remember laying any bait.
And it wasn't as though there had never been students with good grades before, so it couldn't simply be because of that.
'What should I make?'
I decided to worry about the rest later and start crafting first.
Fortunately, the requirement for bladed claws applied only to shop items, so I was able to choose suitable materials.
I combined a 'Superior Mana Stone Infused with the Power of Flame' with 'Voxlium', a material unique to Gates, and made an appropriate ring.
I chose a blazing flame for the design, though there was no particular reason for it.
I subtly shaped it to look like a tiny Ppakyu.
"Are you finished~?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"......Already~?"
Oops.
"I was practicing. Especially this flame design here, I..."
"What a touching excuse~. Hand it over, then."
He snatched the ring away and began examining it from every angle with a magnifying glass. He even put it on and cast a simple flame spell, then abruptly stopped and began pondering.
"……"
Perhaps because everything had been so hectic.
Seeing him like that, all sorts of random thoughts crossed my mind.
I wondered whether he might give me a terrible score, or whether he had accepted a commission from the Haiyan family to toy with me.
After a while, he stared intently into my eyes and spoke.
"You pass for now~. A perfect score... no, 99 points~."
"Huh? Why take off one point?"
"The design is lacking. It's childish, like something a ten-year-old would make~."
"What...? It's absolutely beautiful! Why don't you go out and ask people?"
"Your intention is childish~. That's what happens when you sass someone in power. If you've seen what you came for, get out."
He used a crafting cutter to slice off the flame ornament set in the center of the ring.
He gave me an irritating smile that said 'tsk-tsk' and wagged his index finger from side to side.
-Uh, why.
"Big Brother, I have my first mission as your bodyguard."
-Huh...? What is it?
"Please scold Teacher Enrico."
-......Teacher Enrico? Enrico Meitner? The academy's senior instructor?
"Yep."
Vincent hung up, saying he didn't take bullshit.
Honestly, I hadn't expected anything from the start, so I chuckled and resigned myself to it.
Douglas summoned me because he wanted to hear the circumstances in greater detail, so I went to the main house and told him everything that had happened.
Since Han Jihye had been recording everything in real time, I was able to convey the facts accurately.
"Ha... What are these greedy dog-pigs after now?"
'.....He says things like that? What a lack of conscience.'
"Raebi, didn't I tell you to exercise restraint?"
"I'm sorry..."
"Hmm? No, I don't mean you should be discouraged. Come up here."
As usual, he sat me on his lap. Then he fed me Golden Riesling.
It was absurd, but the moment the delicious fruit entered my mouth, it felt as though all the worries in the world had vanished.
I quickly regained my bright smile.
"Raebi, you remember what I said before, right? What did I tell you to do if someone asked you to go with them?"
"Slap them. Don't worry, Head of Family, I have no intention of leaving here."
Honestly, it seemed difficult to find a noble family with as much freedom as this one.
Vincent seemed to have various troubles over the struggle for position, but I wouldn't know, since it wasn't my concern.
Since his way of speaking when we first met only slipped out during one-on-one calls, I could tell that he normally hid his true self.
'Douglas is kind of cute too.'
Wasn't he just like a greedy child collecting treasure bundles? Being robbed must have been agonizing, but that wasn't my problem.
Douglas seemed satisfied with my answer and escorted me to the entrance.
"Then don't cause trouble, and prepare well for your presentation."
'Presentation?'
What did he mean by presentation preparation? My theory classes were already over.
I reflexively turned to Han Jihye and saw her eyes waver slightly.
After we arrived at the Thebes room, I asked her what was going on.
Han Jihye reacted as if to say, 'The moment has come.'
"......Being invited to the academic conference means they have that much expectation placed on Lady Raebi."
"What? On their own whim...?"
"Yes. I was worried it might interfere with your studies, so I didn't tell you in advance. I'm sorry."
***
'......my lady.'
...bi, my lady.
Lady Raebi...!
Ah, what!!
The next day, I showed up for duty(?) to complete the required number of days for Crafting class. I had become unusually irritable and ended up shouting.
I already had plenty to think about, and invitations kept pouring in while people frequently stopped me to talk whenever I was walking around.
It was all too hectic.
'......But was there anyone who would talk to me during Crafting class?'
When I turned to the side, I saw a face that looked slightly flustered.
A beautiful woman with golden-blonde hair cascading down to her waist in a goddess-like style?
While exuding an air of refined nobility unlike that of the other nobles, she opened her mouth bashfully.
"I must have spoken to you too suddenly. I'm sorry for startling you."
"Oh, no."
......What?
She was definitely someone I didn't know.
But why did she feel so strangely familiar?
'Ha... I was told not to cause trouble, and then I shouted at someone.'
Surely she wasn't important. I tilted my head and asked,
"Who are you, anyway?"
"Pardon?"
An even deeper look of confusion settled over her face.
"You don't know who I am?"
"I-I don't think I do."
"......How interesting."
A bitter smile rose on her face.
She straightened her slightly bent posture, clasped her hands in front of herself, and quietly introduced herself.
"I am Bella Cecil. I'm the vice president of the student council."