Translator: Nox

Chapter 30

Chapter 030.

With my vision obscured, my other senses became even more heightened.

I received the scene before me more vividly than ever through the man's screams, the acrid smell of burning and blood, and the light seeping through my fingers.

'Maybe it would be better not to cover them at all.'

Jen's consideration was always a little clumsy.

I gently took Jen's hand covering my eyes.

I felt his hand twitch momentarily in response.

"Let go. I'm okay."

After blinking a few times at the light that entered my previously obscured vision, I could finally see clearly.

The person I had been talking to just moments ago was sprawled out powerlessly, foaming at the mouth.

I saw the scorched marks on his ruined shirt and chided,

"What are you doing, torturing him?"

"He wouldn't open his mouth."

"Still, you shouldn't injure him."

I seriously rebuked Jen.

We had already snuck him out; shouldn't we return him without raising suspicion?

"He's supposed to go back to prison, and we can't have problems before that."

"It's okay. We can have Vertein come and heal him."

And if Vertein gets dismissed from the temple someday, will you take responsibility for his life?

I felt heavy-hearted at his words, that he would slowly extract information by giving poison on one hand and medicine on the other.

The man before me couldn't even wipe the foam from his lips as he desperately moved his mouth toward me.

I didn't know what magic he had been subjected to, but he was trembling, so it must have been quite painful.

"It's a lie. Everything I said about knowing about the incident was a lie. As I said before, the one who ordered it covered up was a noble related to the Magic Tower, that's all I know!"

"Really, I don't know anything. I was just filling the position like a scarecrow!"

As soon as he finished speaking, I stood up, hiding my disappointment.

I had poked around just in case, but as expected.

The harvest was too meager.

The only consolation was that I probably didn't need to approach the Academy professors anymore.

If the Dean didn't know anything, there was no way the other professors who had been replaced afterward would know.

If they had known something, they wouldn't have just lightly dismissed them in preparation for them opening their mouths.

'I'm losing steam.'

The Dean must have felt Jen's gaze fixed on him because he desperately shouted at me.

"Even so, this is a serious overreach of authority! If it becomes known that you have privately dragged a prisoner away, detained, and tortured him, do you think the young lady will be safe?"

'Hmm, it might be a little dangerous to return him to prison like this.'

The moment Jen, who was next to me, quietly raised his hand, the Dean shut his mouth with a frightened expression.

He must instinctively know that Jen, who abruptly unleashes magic, is not someone you can reason with.

I glanced at him, who still seemed to be in a bad mood.

The reason was obvious.

He was angry that I hadn't called him even in a dangerous situation.

'I wanted to clear my name fairly, not get revenge.'

His deep green eyes looked at me instead of the Dean.

As usual when he was angry, the difference in color between his eyes became even more pronounced.

I pretended not to notice that Jen was angry and fixed my gaze on the Dean.

He was once the head of the Academy, standing on a high platform, spouting platitudes about becoming 'great talents' to the students.

He had honor, authority, power, wealth, and people.

"Have you forgotten?"

"Your 'teacher' also fabricated crimes for innocent people, judged them, and then covered up the records."

Now, I also possess the power and honor he once had.

Moreover, I also have 'justification.'

Why would he think I couldn't do what he could do?

His face turned as white as a sheet.

Standing before him as he trembled, I felt like I had become him.

Jen, who had been silently protesting, stood in front of me without a word.

Then, he grabbed the man who was sitting down by the collar and began to chant a spell for transportation.

"Je..."

Before I could even finish calling his name, the two of them completely disappeared.

"He's very angry."

I stared at the empty air where nothing remained, then lowered my hand and headed toward the exit with a sigh.

The missing man would probably return in a few days, or perhaps tomorrow if it was early.

Since there was no more information to be gained, he would return him when his anger subsided.

As I slowly walked and opened the door, Lord Rune, who had been waiting, pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against.

Judging by the fact that he hadn't opened the door and come in despite the Dean's noisy voice, Jen must have been blocking the sound.

"He, Jen, took him."

"I know. I could feel the magic."

I looked up at him and asked.

"Wouldn't Orion be in trouble if he doesn't come back?"

I asked, looking at his carefree face, and he smiled.

He was relaxed, as if I was worrying about something that didn't need to be worried about at all.

"We have high-ranking Magic Users on our side who have connections. We can find him, whether it's a corpse or whatever."

"I'm just a little curious. What did you ask the Dean about?"

"He just took him to vent his anger. He didn't find out anything special."

"So, there was something you wanted to find out, right?"

I silently nodded.

If I denied even that, after requesting a private meeting, it would be treating Orion like an idiot.

As I quietly fell into silence, Lord Rune said comfortingly.

"It's okay. If nothing else, Orion Miller is reliable when it comes to one thing."

"What is it?"

"His eye for people."

His light brown eyes, looking at me, narrowed with a smile.

"He knows very well how much the young lady agonized over calling Orion to that position."

"And that the reason for pushing him away wasn't just because he was 'unfamiliar and uncomfortable.'"

I didn't know what to say and just fidgeted with my hair.

"He'll tell you when you need to know, at least not too late. He's probably thinking that way."

A carriage that had been running from somewhere slowly reduced its speed and stopped in front of us.

I looked up at the carriage, which was a little more 'cunning' than last time.

The door, which had been glossy, looked plain, and the wheels had also been replaced with ordinary lightweight wheels.

"The wheels were too noticeable because they used good materials. So, I replaced them with ordinary ones and cast enhancement magic."

"Is this what the influential Magic User you mentioned earlier does?"

"Orion doesn't do anything carelessly. He's a perfectionist."

Certainly, the carriage looked almost perfectly ordinary.

"Now, young lady."

He held out his hand to help me into the carriage.

As the door closed, the horses, eager to gallop, were restrained by the skilled coachman and began to glide toward the Duke's Residence.

"Is what you said you had to say at today's meal about that matter just now?"

"No."

I replied briefly.

The matter I had to convey to the Duke was something else.

"I'm thinking of going back to the old mansion again."

The maid, who was bringing out a dish, stopped pulling the tray.

The Duke finished cutting the steak he was cutting, put it in his mouth, and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Going back?"

"Yes."

Orion dropped the fork he was picking up food with.

He forgot his manners and picked up the fallen fork, looking at me in disbelief.

The first to come to her senses was the maid, who had an excellent sense of professionalism.

She quickly approached and tried to replace the new fork she was holding with the dropped fork held in Orion's fist.

The hand holding the fork was trembling.

She herself was not calm and earnestly urged Orion.

"You must be calm. You must be calm, especially at times like this...!"

At her whisper, Orion quietly released the strength in his hand and was able to exchange the forks safely.

I tried my best not to make eye contact with him.

He would surely be looking at me with moist, tearful eyes.

In fact, it was something I had been meaning to say for two days.

However, I hadn't brought it up to Orion, who was busy fulfilling my requests and being overwhelmed.

I had already anticipated that he would dissuade me, so I had prepared and practiced for the situation in advance.

However, it was an unexpected person who shook my firm resolve.

"Why don't you just stay at The Duke's Residence?"

It was Mom who said this, while savoring the prepared food.

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at me with an indifferent face, repeating,

"Anyway, the Academy is closed, so you won't be able to enter the dorms."

It was a valid point, but I was quite taken aback and couldn't say anything.

That was because Mom had never interfered with my residence after her remarriage.

Leaving the house and returning was always her responsibility, and waiting at home was mine.

"In my opinion, staying here seems like a good choice in many ways."

She tossed the words out casually and elegantly cut her steak.

Orion looked at Mom like an oasis he had found in a wide, sun-scorched desert.

There were not a few people who sent envious glances toward Mom, but Orion had never looked at Mom with those eyes before.

Orion, who sent a respectful gaze, showed favor toward her in a gentle tone.

"Madam, if you wish, there are new dishes prepared by the chef."

"Oh, how kind."

All the servants looked at the heartwarming conversation between the two unrelated mothers and sons with a pleased expression.

The chef also quickly brought out new dishes as soon as Orion finished speaking, nodding with a pleased expression.

Looking at the two, the Duke added as if to conclude the conversation.

"It's good to see the two of you getting along so well. This is what a family should be like."

The atmosphere of the three people at the table became very cozy.

'What is this atmosphere?'

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to adapt?

The maids, the cooks, and even the waiting guards were all looking at the three of them with warm eyes.

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the bond they have in this dining space?

I blinked, unable to find the words to say.

This atmosphere is unfamiliar.