He knew.

He didn’t want to think about technical skills. Even just considering that, it wasn’t certain if he could beat him or not.

But thinking of his composure and response ability, the current me couldn’t beat him no matter how many spars. Actual combat sense and mental strength were as important as skills. Despite holding such pride, in the end, we were beings who couldn’t even think of fleeing from the dregs created by Pleroma, and we were protected by that Pleroma Askanian and even owed our lives.

Gramont lowered his eyes without answering and endured the sense of indebtedness and defeat. Askanian scanned his face for a while, then said quietly.

“I already know that you are an outstanding mage.”

“…?”

Gramont raised his eyes while furrowing his brows.

“You are the top of the high school division at Academy Puissance. There’s no need to be impatient, no need to be jealous, no need to self-reproach or feel ashamed for not responding immediately to today’s incident. Anyway, you are a prepared mage, and in the field where you feel defeat now, you will someday reach the highest position.”

Gramont blinked while moving his lips.

‘…What?’

What was he saying now? He couldn’t understand if he was mistaken or what.

Why was the person who had been sarcastic until just now praising him?

‘Flattery?’

No way. He could tell it wasn’t from the very next words. Askanian tapped his shoulder and said.

“However, even with outstanding qualities, if you are immersed in self-destructive emotions and reveal malice not only to yourself but as you did to me today….”

“…….”

“You need to know that such a future won’t come.”

It wasn’t flattery but admonition.

It was extremely bewildering to be admonished by a peer.

However, he inwardly knew it wasn’t wrong. He was accurate.

It was correct, but he didn’t want to meekly agree and bow, so Gramont couldn’t answer and just rolled his eyes.

Was the reason for saying this to him that he wouldn’t tease or blame him anymore? So, he would forgive the initial rudeness, so snap out of it and let’s pass peacefully?

With all intention for sparring or anything gone now, it was a grateful treatment, but accepting another’s goodwill hurt pride. Above all, if the opponent he had provoked came out like this first, he couldn’t stand himself.

Gramont, who had lost words in various senses, frowned and swallowed.

Askanian observed that and opened his mouth.

“As we are affiliated with the imperial families of our countries, someday I will have to meet you again. You will have to see me too.”

“…….”

“At that time, let’s meet while smiling at each other.”

Askanian squeezed the hand holding Gramont’s shoulder, then smiled upon seeing his eyes clearly showing confusion, and rose from his seat.

*    *    *

Probably only I would be smiling. Even if we met those guys again someday later.

Still, I had to say it.

I came out of the room where Gramont was and gestured to Heike standing by the door.

‘That Gramont guy isn’t the high school division top for nothing.’

Though his mindset was very similar to Philip’s, his skills were probably on par with mine, and his unique ability was likely quite excellent. Since unique ability was in the realm of talent, it was hard to count as skill, but to reach the top spot in any group, unique ability couldn’t be ignored.

In other words, even if not me, Luca would have to see him for decades ahead. Unless he committed a crime, there was no way he’d be fired by the imperial family, and only advancement awaited him.

‘But I didn’t expect him to look like he was about to cry just from giving back the same.’

A kid was a kid. Honestly, I was a bit surprised that his face changed like it was about to burst just from anger.

Still, for ‘that personality,’ it was commendable that he didn’t attack me or smash objects despite being that angry. If he had been a guy with such yellow potential, I would have had to firmly fix his head now, but since he didn’t, it was fortunate. I couldn’t do anything about lacking personality, and I had to establish hierarchy. Because there would often be diplomatic meetings until one of us retired from politics.

Heike said indifferently.

“That friend is handled.”

“Handled?”

“He kept looking down on our country. And on you too.”

She knew this?

It felt wondrous that Heike knew this fact.

I nodded and said.

“You were paying attention.”

“Of course. He kept saying stuff to you.”

Heike said with a still blunt face. It was truly surprising to hear such words from Heike. But separately from that, I didn’t know how to react.

“…Hm, yeah. You knew. But now you don’t have to worry. Actually, most will be like that. If they’re from neighboring countries, most won’t have good thoughts about the empire and me.”

Gramont stood out alone because he blatantly showed his inner thoughts, but inwardly, they all wanted to pick fights like that. Honestly, if I were a high school mage from a neighboring country, I’d be curious about my skills too.

‘Since the Pleroma rumor isn’t from a day or two.’

“I can’t show it directly every time like today.”

Heike said exactly what I was thinking. Unusually, she smiled and said something unrealistic.

“If you entered the international friendship tournament on opening day, it would be settled in one go. Actually, I want to enter there. I’m curious about other countries’ mages’ skills.”

‘Want to enter there?’

Since Heike had eyes lost in fantasy, I gave an ambiguous smile and reminded her of reality.

“It’s definitely a good opportunity. But, Heike. We can’t enter because we’re not athletes.”

“That’s true. Too bad.”

The international friendship tournament was an opening ceremony event where representatives from each country sparred. Naturally, representatives were selected from the athlete delegations participating in games during Pentalon.

Wanting to enter there. She didn’t look like it at all on the outside, but as Helene Ainsidel said, she seemed passionate about magic.

‘To be in the top ranks at Imperial Second Academy, you need at least that much competitive spirit.’

I lightly smiled in response and fell silent while walking to find a place to rest in this mansion.

At least when I squeezed in time to talk with friends, it felt like living everyday life, but actually, it wasn’t a situation to relax.

How could it be, when I had discovered the Pentalon terror plan.

Besides the fact that berserkers occurred, the news that we discovered the terror plan was still unknown to the French delegation and the media. Perhaps worried that Pentalon would be ruined, a gag order was placed on this case from the moment I reported the terror plan to the emperor.

Thus, everyone was still peacefully smiling for now, but knowing the truth, I couldn’t be leisurely.

Pleroma wouldn’t have prepared only that. Was the commercial building in Brandenburg their only material storage? I didn’t think so.

In 30 minutes, another countermeasures meeting including the crown prince would be held. Since it was a terror plan targeting the Pentalon opening day, the crown prince needed to come out to discuss countermeasures.

The problem was that she was also a madman, but anyway, to prevent Pleroma from doing more nonsense, I had to set the board in the upcoming meeting.

Depending on how the same resources were used, even known incidents could fail to be prevented.

I worried about that worst case.

Tok—

At that time, something small fell in through the large window on the side of the building.

It was a blue note folded in a familiar shape.

“…Uh.”

Heike inhaled and stopped walking. I confirmed no one was around, then approached the window, picked up the note, and unfolded it.

[Look now.]

“…….”

I tried to smile but suppressed my mouth corners.

It was obvious who sent it.

The Freiburg archbishop was looking for me. It had been only two days.

“…Can’t go out from here.”

I couldn’t just barge onto someone else’s roof.

When I said that and stood still waiting, a new note fell from outside the window.

[I’ll send a pigeon, so come just to that spot.]

Send a pigeon? What was the reason for going this far?

‘Hm.’

It was a situation worth going to meet.

I had to go see to match the rhythm anyway.

But calling me urgently at this timing must have a clear reason.

“Lucas. There it comes.”

Heike pointed outside the window. A pure white pigeon was circling outside the window. It probably meant to follow that.

When I gestured to Heike, she turned back and disappeared without any reaction. The Eszett team members had decided not to react at all to stalkers when it was certain they were watching.

Still, now that Heike knew the stalker had called me out, if a problem arose, handling would be easy.

‘No.’

The approach was wrong.

Seeing that he sent the note knowing a colleague was beside me, he must intend to return me on time without causing issues.

I checked the clock and went down to the garden outside the mansion.

The pigeon didn’t even look back to see if I was following and headed toward the art gallery within the association chairman’s residence grounds. Then, it soon disappeared from sight.

I remembered the pigeon’s path and went to the back of the art gallery where the pigeon was last seen.

‘Here huh.’

It was a place where the mansion’s windows were all blocked by the art gallery building. Also….

“…!”

I felt the ground sink in. It was a situation I had felt before in the dormitory. My vision turned completely black, then light entered again.

I almost lost balance.

Since someone supported my back, the mishap of my head breaking didn’t occur.

“Ah, sorry.”

A familiar Old Human voice.

I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes.

Like when we went to see the opera before, the stalker’s face with a mask on and hair twisted up and tied was behind me, no, above my face, and this place….

It seemed to be his mansion. The scenery I had seen before was unfolding the same, and the shape of the moon visible beyond the window was different from our world’s.

The stalker, who had been blocking my nose and mouth with gloved hands, asked quickly with a stiff face.

“How much time left until your next schedule?”

“…….”

“I was too hasty. I’ll say, so just nod. More than 6 hours, 5 hours, 4 hours, 3 hours, 2 hours. Not that, I see. 1 hour, 50 minutes, 40 minutes, 30 minutes… Ah, 30 minutes huh.”

Kwaang—!

I swung my arm and repelled him with mana, then sat down on the floor. No matter what I did, he muttered with a half-dazed face.

“Good. 30 minutes there is half a day here. Soon it’ll be Thursday there, so I was a bit urgent. I have something to ask you.”

He frantically looked around, then sat to match eye level with me.

I had never thought he was a sane human, but his eyes were more out of focus than usual.

“Have you seen any strange phrases or letters?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep