Chapter 53 - Smashing The Academy (1)

My master had become strange today. No, perhaps it started yesterday.

I couldn't even gauge exactly when I realized it, but at some point, my master stopped meeting my eyes. Her answers were always short as usual, but the emotions contained in them were far from short, rather seeming only complex.

"Ahem, ahem..."

For a child to survive in the slums, they must constantly strive to please adults. Only by noticing their moods and maintaining an appropriate attitude could one grow up with limbs intact.

In that sense, Acel was well-versed in perceiving others' emotions. It was no challenge at all to grasp what Ena's emotions were as she meaninglessly cleared her throat.

She's confused.

Why is she suddenly confused? 

It wasn't an emotion someone who had been sitting and reading all day would have. It seemed like some event must have stirred up her mind, but there was nothing to be done since she wouldn't answer if asked.

"Master."

"Eek!"

"...?"

"A-ahem! You call?"

"...It's nothing. I just called out."

"I see."

Conversations were always like this. When Acel called Ena, she would let out a strange scream and drop the book she was holding. Ena's high-pitched voice, who usually spoke calmly, was rare enough to make even Acel flinch. It couldn't help but make one think, “I didn't know Master could make such a voice.”

Sometimes she even didn't answer when called. Each time he looked at her, Ena was always blankly staring at the ceiling. It seemed like she was muttering something while moving her lips, but her voice was so quiet that Acel couldn't hear it clearly.

If he wanted to eavesdrop using magic, it wouldn't be impossible, but Acel deliberately didn't go that far.

They say a mage without curiosity was a corpse, but one shouldn't extend that curiosity into others' private lives.

"...Hmm."

Anyway.

There were many strange points like this about Ena. She couldn't meet his eyes or continue conversations for long. If he tried to forcibly make eye contact, she would turn her head away, and her pupils would tremble. Then she would blink as if even she didn't know why she was acting that way.

It seemed her mind was too complicated for normal communication to be possible.

That was the opportunity.

Acel planned to get a definite answer from Ena today about releasing him from confinement. It would be impossible with the usual Ena, but for her in this confused state, it shouldn't be such a difficult task.

The plan began from the moment he thought of it. Acel cleared his throat once to draw Ena's attention to himself, then carefully put down the book he was reading on the bed.

"..."

Though pretending not to, Acel noticed that all of Ena's attention was focused on him. Whether she lacked talent in peeking at others or not, her gaze glancing this way was clearly felt. But Acel deliberately pretended not to notice her gaze and stared out the window with a wistful expression.

While doing so, he muttered, "...I miss them."

"..."

"Ah, I want to see my friends. I wonder how long I have to stay here."

"..."

Will she bite? Or will she show no reaction at all?

Acel continued looking out the window with an inwardly anxious feeling.

At that moment, a sound like closing a book was heard from behind.

The moment he heard that, Acel inwardly smiled broadly.

It was a big catch.

"...Do you want to leave?" Ena said in a somewhat apologetic voice. 

Acel turned to look at her with a bitter smile.

"Ah, did you hear? I'm sorry. It was just talking to myself."

"No. It's understandable."

Though they were conversing, Ena still didn't meet Acel's eyes. Usually he would have felt disappointed, but now it was an extremely welcome reaction.

Acel's heart ached a little at having to deceive the woman who had cared for him all his life, but he couldn't stay stuck here forever. It was undoubtedly a time when a decisive move was needed.

But before Acel could open his mouth, Ena spoke first. 

She rummaged in her chest and took out a letter while continuing to speak, "Don't worry. You'll be able to return to the Academy soon."

"What?"

This was another unexpected answer. He thought she was definitely trying to keep him confined, immovably locked up in the cathedral, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

But if so, there was no reason to keep him confined here. Why had she been so wary of him going outside?

Acel desperately racked his brain to grasp Ena's intentions. But he couldn't accurately perceive Ena's intentions.

It was natural. The reason Ena had kept Acel in confinement that wasn't quite confinement here was simply because she wanted to spend time alone with her disciple who had been separated for a long time.

She might think it was to make it difficult to quickly escape if Virsia attacked, but the emotions and desires growing deep inside her subconscious gave a completely different answer from her reason.

She wanted to have personal conversations with Acel. She wanted to discuss magic with Acel close by. As fellow lightning mages, she wanted to share understanding about each other's formulas. Going further, she wanted to feel his body temperature, to communicate by touching each other's skin.

It was in the realm of the unconscious. Greed that even she didn't know, produced by instinct and desire. An obsession with her disciple, along with protective and possessive feelings, had been slowly growing inside her for who knows how long.

She just hadn't realized it yet.

But as always, sweet times pass quickly. Confused emotions and complex feelings had to be pushed aside for now.

Ena hardened her expression coldly while re-reading the letter she had taken out.

A letter with the seal of the Academy headmistress clearly stamped on it. It was sent directly by Fride.

[Two days later, you can come to the western mountain of the Academy. There we can minimize the damage.]

Unlike the large letterhead, the content was only brief. But that was enough. Ena put the letter away again and closed her eyes.

"The Academy will probably start a temporary break from two days later. It will end after about a week, so stay here until then."

"You mean a temporary break?"

"It's the period needed to publicize and clean up what you experienced this time. Don't worry too much. I'll take care of everything."

She was sick and tired of breaking and destroying things, having done it so many times. It was the first time the location was within the empire's territory, but there was no need to hesitate since she had the headmistress’ approval. Of course, she would have to hold back, but there was no need to worry about the aftermath of destruction before using magic.

Ena thought this and opened her eyes.

At the same time, her gaze met Acel's, who was somehow already sitting in the chair opposite. 

Acel slightly bent his upper body towards her and asked, "You mean you, Master?"

"Uh, waaaah...!"

Ena's face reddened at the unexpected surprise and she stood up from her seat.

She still needed more time to regain her sense of distance with Acel.

***

There were things commonly called entrenched interests in the Academy. It mainly referred to professors and staff from high noble backgrounds. They not only harbored deeper affection for the Academy where they worked than one might expect, but also tended to think of it as their own honor.

Even in regular meetings, they always wanted to raise the status of the Academy itself more than the Academy students, and they were very annoyed with those who expressed opinions contrary to that. In severe cases, they would not hesitate to persistently harass people to make them leave the Academy or kill their right to speak.

Of course, they didn't resort to extreme methods like assassination. Not because of conscience or morality, but because they worried the Academy's status would fall the moment rumors spread that one of the Academy staff had been assassinated.

All of this was to fill their own rice bowls. Luminus Academy treats those belonging to it as highly as its reputation. This applied not only to students, but also to professors and staff. Because working at the most prestigious Academy on the continent itself was equivalent to having one's abilities recognized.

And money naturally fell to those whose abilities were recognized. Whether salary or bribes. The amount entering their pockets was at a level beyond imagination. That was the underlying reason why they regarded the Academy's honor as their own honor.

They spoke as if they cared about the Academy more than anyone else, but paradoxically, they cared about the Academy less than anyone else.

That was the entrenched interest of the Academy. It was all their doing to block the publicizing of this year's freshman incident.

"Let's bury it quietly. We just need to silence a few mouths, including student Saya. It's unfortunate that they died, but the living must go on living. There's no need to suffer losses by revealing the Academy's incompetence. Don't you agree, Headmistress? From our position with families to support, it's best if nothing happens to tarnish the Academy's honor. Please think of us as much as you think of the students."

When one of the entrenched interests said this, it was natural for the others' mouths to be shut.

Of course, a few people stood up angrily saying not to talk nonsense, but they were only a minority. And such public opinion battles always favored the majority.

Even Fride had no choice. It wasn’t an Academy shecwas building alone. Although her voice wasn't weak, she still lacked in some aspects to go against numerous high nobles.

So even if she ignored their opinions arbitrarily, if they became uncooperative in other events like the upcoming midterms, the situation would become quite tricky.

She wanted to uproot not only the entrenched interests but all their cronies too, but it was impossible now when it wasn't the time for personnel replacement. At minimum, the midterms needed to pass and an appropriate justification was needed to shake them off.

"...Haa."

The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became.

If not for the responsibility that came with the position, she would have danced with swords in both hands like in the old days, but it was just so vexing.

But where there was a downhill, there was also an uphill. There was no law saying one must suffer alone until death.

In that sense, receiving a letter from Acel reporting his survival, and not long after receiving a letter from Ena saying she would smash the Academy, was nothing but good fortune.

Usually she would have torn her hair out and struggled to stop Ena, but not this time.

Justification? Sufficient. Her disciple nearly died, but instead of compensation, they were only busy trying to bury the incident. Even a judge would side with Ena if she came and smashed everything.

Sense of crisis? This too was sufficient. What could be more dangerous than an archmage rampaging while randomly spraying lightning?

A situation perfectly fitting to both give the Academy staff a sense of crisis and provide justification for those actions. As soon as Fride grasped this, she made a deal with Ena.

You can smash the Academy. But please do it in a place that will minimize damage, and in the end, instead of retreating, demand publicizing, compensation, and apology for the incident involving your disciple. Then this side will play along accordingly. And as a reward for granting the request, I'll grant you one thing you want!

She delivered a letter to Ena with roughly that nuance, and surprisingly, Ena agreed.

Fride, who had inwardly thought Ena would refuse her request, jumped up from her seat and danced with Plum the moment Ena's agreement arrived. Plum thought Fride had finally gone senile and danced along with her with tears in his eyes.

A mage who was scarier than anyone as an enemy, but more reliable than anyone as an ally. With Ena, an army of thousands, on her back, Fride had nothing to fear anymore.

That was why her hysterics had decreased recently.

"Hehehe."

She chuckled lowly while stirring her teacup. She placed cookies and cake baked for refreshments on the table, opened the window with a clear view of the western mountain, then took a seat on the sofa.

Two days had already passed since she informed Ena of the place and time to destroy.

Today was the appointed day.

Since access to the western mountain had been strictly prohibited for days, there was no need to worry about victims. She even cast detection magic just in case, so there was no need to fret about Ena possibly killing someone.

Everything was perfect.

The first collaboration between an elf aged several hundred years and an archmage. Fride smiled broadly as soon as she saw the white flash crossing the sky.

Boom!!

A sudden white lightning struck as if to split the top of the Academy's western mountain. Everyone walking around the Academy fixed their gaze there for a moment, and Fride bit into a cookie with interested eyes.

I agreed to intervene about 30 minutes after Ena starts rampaging, so until then...

I should just enjoy the show.

"Hehehe."

To watch the Academy grounds she had cultivated all her life being destroyed.

The sense of blasphemy gushing out madly made her feel elated.

Eat shit, you entrenched bastards.