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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Chapter 3 Juist Academy (1)
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“This is Juist Academy.”
“……”
At Jeron’s words, Sei-an raised his head and gazed at the magnificent Juist Academy.
“It’s incredible.”
Sei-an couldn’t help but be slightly surprised by its scale, which rivaled that of the imperial palace.
From the outside, its immense size, stretching beyond sight, was enough to overwhelm anyone who saw it.
“You’re acting as if this is your first time here.”
Jeron chuckled softly at Sei-an’s reaction.
It was amusing that this academy student was behaving as if he had never been here before.
“I lost my memories, you see.”
“……! What?”
At Sei-an’s casual reply, Jeron’s expression immediately turned to one of surprise as he looked at him.
“Lost your memories?”
“Yes.”
“How did that happen…”
“They said I jumped off that building because I wanted to die.”
“……”
And as Sei-an continued his answer, Jeron’s expression became bewildered.
Jumped off? Did he try to kill himself?
“Though I don’t remember anything about it.”
“So you came back here?”
Jeron couldn’t understand why Sei-an had returned to a place that held such painful memories, enough to make him attempt suicide.
“I wanted to know.”
“Know what?”
“The reason I tried to die. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t recall.”
“……”
“But don’t worry.”
Sei-an offered a faint smile to Jeron, who was looking at him with concern, and pulled out a small vial from his pocket. It was the very poison Jeron had tried to use not long ago.
“Even if something makes me want to die again, I’ll keep this safe.”
“Hah, this kid…”
Jeron ended up chuckling softly at Sei-an’s playful words and lightly ruffled his hair.
“See you again.”
“Indeed.”
“If anything happens, come find the Black Mercenary Group. I’ll help you with anything I can.”
“Thank you. For bringing me all the way here…”
Sei-an also bowed his head slightly to Jeron, expressing his gratitude.
No matter what anyone said, if it hadn't been for him, Sei-an would undoubtedly still be wandering, unable to even leave the Chezaros Empire.
“……”
Though it had been a short time, Jeron seemed to have grown quite fond of Sei-an, as he lingered, unable to easily move.
Then, after lightly ruffling his hair one last time and giving him a faint smile, Jeron turned and quickly departed.
‘Thank you, truly.’
In his heart, he sincerely thanked Sei-an for stopping his terrible vengefulness.
“……”
Sei-an stood there, watching Jeron disappear for a long time, then turned his head to look at Juist Academy once more.
“Shall I go in?”
And with a small, instinctive anticipation for the unfamiliar place, he slowly walked towards the entrance of Juist Academy.
***
“He must have arrived by now.”
“Most likely, sir.”
“…Are you still uneasy?”
“……”
Count Shurayton sighed softly as he watched Lucian’s expression harden, still uneasy about Sei-an heading to Juist Academy.
He, too, was not without worry. Even though Sei-an had lost his memories, it still made him uneasy that he’d returned to the very place where he’d tried to end his own life.
“It’s the first choice that child made for himself.”
“Yes.”
But because it was the child’s own choice, he wanted to respect it.
Until now, Sei-an had always been forced into things by his words or tended to shrink back from any challenge, but this was the first time he had chosen to complete his studies on his own.
Because of this, Count Shurayton wanted to let the child do what he wanted and simply observe.
“The child he is now will do well, so don’t worry.”
“Yes…”
Lucian nodded lightly, agreeing with Count Shurayton’s words.
As he said, Lucian was certain that the vastly changed Sei-an would never make such a terrible choice again.
Recalling how calmly Sei-an had dealt with his stepmother, Crisna, recently, that conviction grew even stronger.
“But…”
Still, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
“Father, you know well what kind of place it is.”
“……”
Juist Academy.
It boasted the best facilities and top-tier professors, creating an ideal environment for learning.
However, its reality was very different from what appeared on the surface.
While its stated purpose was to open the path of education to commoners and nurture talent, most of those who gathered there were from the countless noble families, imperial families, and royal families across the continent.
The mere fact that such individuals gathered in one place made it a battlefield. A place where one had to kill or be killed to survive.
The power of influence dictated everything, and it was a place rife with conspiracies, betrayals, and where the weak were thoroughly trampled—that was Juist Academy.
In short, one could consider it a small political arena transplanted whole.
‘Haa.’
As a graduate of that place, Lucian knew it better than anyone.
In the past, his father, unable to bear seeing Sei-an achieve nothing, had almost forcibly tried to enroll him in the academy.
Lucian had strongly advised against his enrollment.
But in response to his actions, Sei-an had stubbornly headed to Juist Academy even more.
And not long after, he returned to the count’s estate like a corpse, along with the news that he had taken his own life.
“……”
Thinking of that sight, his heart still felt like it was turning to ice. The thought that the only being his mother had left behind, the one he had to protect, might disappear, made his vision go dark.
And now, that child was heading there again.
The only difference was that this time, it wasn't to defy him, but because he genuinely wanted to go there himself.
“You know that child has changed a lot, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Trust your brother.”
“……”
Count Shurayton spoke to Lucian again, as if to reassure him.
Lucian’s expression relaxed slightly, and he sighed softly to himself once more. He wished for Sei-an to adapt well there and return safely.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
At that moment, the door to Count Shurayton’s office opened, and his secretary, Huhen, entered.
He bowed lightly to Count Shurayton and Lucian, then carefully spoke as he held out the documents in his hand.
“Count, these are the documents you requested earlier.”
“Alright, well done. You may go.”
“Yes.”
As if he had been waiting, Count Shurayton immediately took the documents and began to examine them right there in front of Lucian.
“……”
His expression changed by the minute, hinting at something serious.
“What is it, sir?”
“Hmm.”
“……?”
A moment later, Lucian questioned Count Shurayton, whose expression had hardened, with a puzzled look.
He wondered what those documents were that could make his father look so serious.
