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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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Chapter 114 - Kingdom (1)
With the grand spectacle of the final exams concluded, the academy finally entered its long-awaited break.
Of course, “break” didn’t mean much in practice—life went on almost the same as usual.
The only real change was that students now had a bit more freedom to leave campus.
They still lived in the dormitories, attended advanced or supplementary classes during the day, and spent their free time studying in the library.
In truth, it felt less like a vacation and more like an extended semester—1.5 semesters, if you will.
The only notable difference was that there were no exams during this period.
While the schedule was undoubtedly lighter than during the academic term, part of me couldn’t help but think:
Isn’t this a bit much for the only break we get all year?
But then again, it made sense.
It was this relentless rigor that earned the academy its reputation as the continent’s finest institution of learning.
Once again, the name Galimard lived up to its weight.
‘Well… I guess it’s not all bad.’
In any case, daily life remained largely unchanged.
Aside from a bit of extra free time, there wasn’t much difference.
But in this world, even the smallest shifts could be put to good use.
Especially by someone like me.
With the restrictions on leaving campus lifted, I could move around more freely.
Sure, I’d never had much trouble leaving the academy even before—carrying the title of Senior Assistant Instructor came with certain privileges.
But since I technically operated under the authority of a supervising professor, it always felt like there were eyes on me.
Maybe it was the recent increase in my absences that had me feeling a little self-conscious.
So yes—this break was a welcome relief.
‘Besides, I needed to visit headquarters anyway.’
The main storyline was finally starting to pick up.
The Businessman was beginning to show his true, filthy ambitions, and the cultists were stirring with suspicious movements.
I couldn’t afford to let my guard down—not even for a moment.
Maybe the Dean’s prophecy had been gnawing at me more than I’d realized.
So I made it a habit to visit headquarters regularly, tightening the framework of our operations.
Preparing for the dangers yet to come.
"Master."
Another day, another routine.
I arrived at Astro’s headquarters as usual, working alongside the Vice-Commander.
Neria handed me a stack of prepared documents, flipping through them one by one.
"This is the report on the mana stone disease you instructed us to investigate."
"I heard there was new information?"
"Yes. We found related materials among the research notes we seized from black mages in the border branch."
"Looks like our efforts paid off."
"However, it may take some time. The texts are written in ancient script, and deciphering them has proven difficult. Even with linguistics specialists on the task, the materials have been exposed to dark energies for so long that there’s a risk of mental contamination during analysis. It’s slowed down the process."
"Hmm."
"Fortunately, things have been progressing faster since last week. With the help of the priests we recruited, we’ve made considerable headway. Having been part of Licit in the past, they’re well-versed in handling curses. The team is currently alternating between translation and purification. If all goes well, we should have the full report within two weeks."
"So those priests we picked up are finally proving useful."
"It’s all thanks to your foresight, Master."
"Fufu… I wasn’t exactly expecting this kind of return on investment, but I’ll take it."
"Shall I proceed with the next report?"
"Please do."
The work continued without pause.
I kept my pen moving, signing off on documents and reviewing files.
For the record, I hadn’t brought Irene with me today.
She’d asked to stay back at the dorms of her own volition.
Lately, she’d been paying more attention to domestic matters.
Just the other day, she even asked me to teach her how to cook.
Since then, she’d been practicing diligently.
Today, she’d cleared her schedule entirely to prepare dinner for me when I returned.
‘It’s been a while… since someone’s cooked for me.’
Usually, I prepared my own meals.
The thought felt strangely nostalgic.
Almost like… the feeling of a couple waiting for each other to come home.
A ridiculous thought—but it made me chuckle softly.
Shaking off the distraction, I returned to my work.
Time seemed to fly faster than usual.
"I believe that’s all for today, Master. I’ll report again once the remaining issues are resolved."
"Good work."
The endless stream of tasks was finally wrapping up.
I stretched, shaking off the stiffness in my body.
As I glanced around, my eyes fell on the calendar sitting on the corner of my desk.
November.
Already nearing the end of autumn.
Winter was just around the corner.
Perhaps it was the sudden rush of sentimentality, but I found myself speaking to the Vice-Commander without thinking.
The silver-haired girl happened to be looking at me as well.
I murmured,
"Hard to believe… it’s been almost three years since we first met, Neria."
A memory tucked away in the back of my mind surfaced—like an old photograph, faint yet vivid in its details.
The feel of winter’s chill, snowflakes falling like fragile scars.
For someone, it had been the most painful season of their life.
"When I first met you… you were like a wounded beast. That’s the impression I got."
She was different back then.
Her heart was consumed by nothing but hatred.
Perhaps it was because of the scar that covered half her face.
Her lifeless eyes held no spark—only the emptiness of someone who’d long given up on the world.
Fragile hands, on the verge of letting go.
That’s when we met.
—So this is where you’ve been hiding.
I still remember the warmth of her blood-soaked body when I pulled her into my arms.
I don’t know what it meant to her.
But to me, it was one of the few good memories I had in this world.
"Sometimes… I miss those days."
"……"
"How are you feeling now? No more outbursts like before?"
"It’s all thanks to you, Master."
"I don’t think I did much, though."
"If you hadn’t taken me in that cold winter, I doubt I would’ve lasted even a year."
"Ahem."
"You saved my life, Master."
"That’s embarrassing to hear."
"But it’s the truth—and it’s precious to me."
Her words were stiff, almost mechanical, like someone speaking out of obligation.
But the faint blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her emotions.
She simply didn’t know how to express herself comfortably.
After all the time we’d spent together, it was easy to tell.
"Fufu… There was a time when you used to speak to me informally, you know."
Rustle—
I reached out, gently ruffling her silver hair.
She froze, holding her breath, her body stiff with tension.
As I repeated the soft motion, a memory flickered across my mind—a fragment from the past, sharp and vivid.
A time when both of us were drenched in the stench of blood.
I recalled it clearly.
—I have one last request.
—Kill me.
—So I don’t become a monster… end it with your own hands.
—If it’s you, I won’t regret it.
A fragile flower, broken beyond repair.
The day I held her as she sobbed in my arms felt like it had just happened yesterday.
When did so much time pass?
"If you ever feel the symptoms returning, let me know. I did what I could back then, but you never know."
"Understood, Master."
"Alright, let’s head back for today."
"I’ll summon Lena."
I quietly rose from my seat, and Neria followed suit.
We walked down the corridor in silence.
But deep down, I knew we were both lost in the same memories.
A winter stained with tears and blood, now softened into nostalgia.
"……"
"……"
In the silence, it felt like snow was falling again.
* * *
Meanwhile—
Near the academy dormitories, in the bustling marketplace.
Irene was out shopping alone.
Judging by the time, she was gathering ingredients for dinner.
Her sharp eyes scanned the produce carefully, thoroughly inspecting every item.
She was taking meal prep surprisingly seriously.
After a brief pause, she muttered to herself,
"Ugh… I’m not good at complicated dishes. What should I make?"
She picked things up, then put them back down repeatedly.
She hadn’t realized how difficult it was to prepare a meal for someone else.
Every time she considered a fancy, impressive dish, her lack of skills held her back.
But going for something too simple felt like a blow to her pride.
The little fox was deep in thought, facing a serious culinary dilemma.
"…Maybe I shouldn’t have said I’d do this."
A small sigh escaped her lips.
A fleeting moment of regret.
Maybe she’d been too hasty.
She couldn’t even chop vegetables properly, yet here she was, determined to make dinner.
She couldn’t help but curse her overconfidence from the day before.
With a slightly sulky expression, she tossed a few vegetables into her basket.
Mumbling under her breath,
"This is harder than I thought."
Irene had recently set a new goal for herself—to become more like him.
A little annoying, constantly ominous, but somehow kind in his own way.
Her sudden interest in cooking wasn’t all that sudden, really.
It was an extension of her admiration—whether it was affection, longing, or something in between.
Those tangled emotions made her heart feel warm.
She thought of the stew he’d made for her—how comforting it had been.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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