Chapter 102: Growing Pains (1)

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“The organization’s expansion, huh. Aren’t you already working hard in the capital?”

“That’s just consolidating as we advance into the capital. What I’m talking about is expansion through an alliance.”

“Hm.”

Ex rubbed his lips and sank into thought.

“It’s worth trying. Things with Leipzig and the provinces have already reached a stalemate.”

They had eliminated every organization that could become a threat, completed the infrastructure that would serve as their foundation, and accumulated enough resources to rise again multiple times even if they collapsed in the capital.

In truth, if he wasn’t greedy about pushing into the capital, he could have lived like a king ruling over his provincial domain.

But a person was born with a vessel that had to be filled.

He himself had creaked and broken under the burden of even a small vessel like the Knights, but his Master’s depth was not something that could be measured on this side.

“I never thought advancing into the capital would be an easy matter. We tried for years without success, after all.”

“But back then, you weren’t there. I think that difference is what made the results now.”

Carl agreed with that.

Depending on whether he was present or not, NOX’s operational success rate varied drastically.

A good organization was one where every member pulled their weight even in the absence of the leader.

But since all of NOX’s infrastructure and power centered around himself, he couldn’t help but accept that reality.

“That’s why forming an alliance will serve as a substitute. Even if I’m not there, external forces won’t falter or lose their function.”

Looking back, the timing for fully pushing into the capital was good.

Coinciding with academy admission, they crushed two places in the Western Third Commercial District, and thanks to the terrorism that broke out during the entrance exam, they managed to avoid retaliation from other organizations.

In the meantime, they gradually gnawed away at the remaining territories and even succeeded in devouring half of Lahan.

‘Of course, it wasn’t perfect.’

There had been noises along the way.

Some figures couldn’t be identified, and suspicious forces and organizations with unclear meaning had also been spotted.

Once they started getting entangled with such groups, even the slightest carelessness could drive sharp blades into their very core.

“That’s why I’m trying to weave together an alliance, to cushion the shock.”

“Alliance sounds nice, but in the end it’s just a meat shield army.”

“It’s a win-win structure. They can’t survive on their own, so they’ll cling around us to live.”

“Well, I think that’s fine. As long as the breakwater does its job.”

“The first case is Lahan.”

“He’s perfect for acting as the front man of the Western Third Commercial District.”

They were arranging the structure as if NOX had gone under Lahan.

In reality, the image shown to the outside was himself bowing to Dirsen.

Even Turgar, who stood directly across from them, hadn’t noticed that fact, which meant it was working to a decent degree.

“Good. Even if Dirsen and Turgar fought and perished together, you could just bring out a third successor to continue Lahan’s legacy.”

“For NOX, there’s no loss in that.”

“All good. But let’s make one thing clear.”

“What is it?”

“A cushion is just a cushion. When the stuffing goes flat, you replace or throw it away. If you get attached after its role is finished, you’ll end up like me.”

He was warning against reversing means and ends.

If Carl neglected NOX and instead grew more attached to the toys he acquired, both NOX and the toys would fail to serve their true roles.

All of it was nothing more than driving force and stepping stones for NOX’s growth.

“Your words have weight.”

“I’m saying it to myself. You know how I fell, don’t you?”

Carl nodded.

NOX inflated its scale by putting a front man on the surface and weaving alliances while hiding beneath.

Forces whose interests aligned, those forced into submission, or those persuaded by a compelling vision—they needed to be drawn in.

As long as NOX’s foundation remained solid, Carl wouldn’t collapse.

All they needed was time.

‘If NOX grows steadily and four years at the academy pass…’

Ex imagined the sight for a moment.

Perhaps by then, they really would be a giant hand with enough influence to manipulate the empire’s hidden side.

“So, have you organized your thoughts?”

“Thanks to you.”

Carl nodded in gratitude.

He wasn’t the type to decide organizational policy based on someone’s advice or guidance.

But the reason he had shared everything with Ex was to ask himself whether it was right and at the same time seek if there was a better direction.

To Carl, the Black Label members were like another version of himself.

“Then, I’ll see you next in the capital.”

“I’m not going. Not to that damned place. Only call me if it’s life-threatening. Otherwise, I’ll just quietly stay here raising new recruits.”

At Ex’s still vehement refusal of the imperial capital, Carl chuckled softly and left.

* * *

Monday, the first day of the new week.

Carl’s party of cadets returned to the academy full of confidence.

They had successfully cleared the Temple of the Fallen Heretic, collected numerous samples of undead-type monsters, and even achieved the great merit of defeating the boss monster, the Death Knight, proudly claiming the top ranks.

For Laysis, who aimed for the top spot by overturning the results at the final exam, it was a score worth its weight in gold.

“……”

Yet despite receiving the highest score, she didn’t feel very happy.

Perhaps because she had seen Carl’s true nature inside the Temple of the Fallen Heretic.

She felt childish and immature for caring about such scores.

…She even found herself envying Carl, who lived his academy life free of score obsession.

‘Why am I so fixated on scores?’

Even while listening to lectures, Laysis seriously pondered.

Because she held the title of the Kingdom of Alforam’s princess?

It was only a title.

Inside the royal family, her treatment was worse than that of ordinary nobles.

That was why she had studied desperately and come abroad to the empire.

‘Because it’s my way to prove myself?’

The Kingdom of Alforam, princess, appearance…

If all those were stripped away, what would remain of her?

She was filled only with gifts bestowed at birth, with nothing she had achieved herself.

Someone who had never even been given such gifts might call it a spoiled complaint.

‘That’s true too.’

She had no intention of denying it.

If the situation had been harsher, she would not have been wasting time on such idle worries and reflections.

She wasn’t enough to aim for the top, but she was too good to fall to the bottom.

In the end, just like her test scores, her position was always ambiguous.

Then what should she live for?

A career leading to an arranged marriage she would someday be sold into?

Or the power to break her shackles herself and seize freedom?

She didn’t know at all.

Neither her parents nor her teachers had ever told her the answer.

Which milestone should she be heading toward?

“Why do you look like that? Do you have something on your mind?”

“……”

It must have shown on her face during the meal with Yuria, because she was caught.

Laysis slowly raised her head to look at her friend.

The successor of the Gray Magic Tower, a mage.

She had a clear goal, and her direction was well defined.

Just knowing what to do in order to achieve what she wanted was itself a blessing, Laysis thought.

“What’s going on, I asked.”

“…Yuria.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you study magic?”

“All of a sudden?”

Yuria’s face showed bewilderment at the out-of-the-blue question asked with sorrowful eyes.

‘What’s wrong with her? Did Carl dump her?’

She knew the rumors circulating beneath the surface.

That the atmosphere between Laysis and Carl was far from ordinary.

Even if one wasn’t interested in gossip, such things naturally drifted to one’s ears.

If even she, who had few social connections, knew about it, then the entire Bavarian Academy probably did as well.

‘Hm.’

Based on that information, Yuria tried to infer Laysis’s thoughts.

She barely touched the steak she usually loved, ignored anything Yuria said, and when she finally opened her mouth, the only thing she asked was why one studied magic?

‘Did Carl really dump her?’

Thinking about it, nothing else seemed likely to shake Laysis this much.

On the surface, Laysis gave off a soft, gentle image, but inside her lived the stubborn devil of iron will.

If such a devil was shaken to this degree, it could only be because of some misstep in her turbulent youth.

“…Well, that’s just something you can’t help, isn’t it?”

“……”

“In life, there are all kinds of things. And when you suddenly stumble over something, like you have, it gnaws at you until you feel like you might lose your mind.”

“…Yuria, you too.”

“Hm?”

“Have you ever felt like that?”

Laysis lifted her head.

Carl had said that he had revealed his power to Yuria while studying magic together.

Yuria, as the successor of the Gray Magic Tower, must also have held pride.

How had she felt when faced with the gap between herself and Carl?

“Me? Did I ever feel that way…?”

Yuria awkwardly poked at her pasta with her fork.

‘I’ve never liked anyone before.’

She had always been consumed by her studies, obsessed with one thing or another.

Looking back, her life had been rather dull.

She hadn’t even experienced a romance like everyone else.

So she couldn’t fully empathize with Laysis’s emotions.

…But if it was like the feeling of betrayal by something she had trusted, then she did understand.

“My chest felt blocked. I couldn’t feel anything. It just didn’t feel real, you know?”

“……”

“I didn’t know what I should be doing. I didn’t know why I was even here. And in the end…”

Yuria frowned.

The conversation had gotten too heavy.

This wasn’t what she had intended to say.

Laysis, who had been dazed, slowly raised her head.

With eyes that looked slightly haggard, she stared at Yuria.

“Yuria, you’ve felt something like that too.”

“…Well, mine was a bit different from yours, but I suppose the feeling was similar. Though it feels a little odd to claim empathy.”

Laysis let out a small laugh at Yuria’s rambling.

She began moving her hands again, cutting her steak, and replied in a low voice.

“No, it was a great comfort. In the end, I suppose it’s the growing pains everyone must go through.”

“Right. There are so many men in the world. If half the world is women, then half must be men, right?”

“…Huh?”

As she chewed her steak, Laysis raised her head at the strange turn of the conversation and looked at Yuria.

“What were we talking about again?”

“Uh…”

She hadn’t expected Laysis to ask so bluntly, and so Yuria hesitated for a moment.

But running away here wasn’t in her nature.

Rather, a straightforward shock therapy might leave fewer lingering effects.

“Don’t worry too much about being dumped by Carl. His eyes are just blind as knots. A better man will come along.”

Clink.

At the utterly unexpected words, Laysis dropped her knife and stammered.

“…Eh? I… got dumped by Carl?”

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