Chapter 112: Extracurricular Activities (11)

When I was telling Rachel, Yuria and Kimi about what had happened in the lab, it wasn’t long before the professors and students who had gone to the mine returned to the mayor’s mansion, and I found myself enveloped in another round of boisterous greetings.

Bang.

Karina was the first to enter.

She flung open the parlor door with irritation, but upon seeing me, she froze in place.

“Y-You….”

“Gerard!”

Karina’s expression was obscured as Instructors Chaser and Ronica followed her in.

Right after, Vice-Dean Baron, Professor Ilai, and Ivan entered, making the mansion even noisier than before—louder than ever.

“…Phew. Papamus, you say?”

“That’s definitely the name he introduced himself with.”

Before I knew it, the setting had shifted, and I was sitting across from Department Head Allen and Vice-Dean Baron.

They demanded an explanation of what had happened inside the mine, and I recounted the events with some careful embellishment.

“And what else? The Beltus Cult?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else? Nothing?”

I shook my head.

“I searched everywhere, but it seemed like all the evidence had already been burned. All he had on him was a [Spatial Transfer] scroll, and when I used it, I ended up in a forest in the southern mountains.”

Of course, I left out everything about the advanced vision ‘Stealth’ that I’d obtained.

Papamus’s research journal, the reason he started his experiments—all of it was omitted.

Perhaps because of that, Department Head Allen’s brow furrowed deeply.

His expression showed clear dissatisfaction.

Well, Allen’s default look was that sour grimace, but this time, it didn’t seem directed at me.

He whispered something to Vice-Dean Baron beside him.

Then he spoke to me.

“We have things to discuss, so get out. And don’t pull stunts like this again. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?”

“….”

“What are you standing there for? I said, “Get out.”

“Uh, right. Yes.”

I gave a quick bow and left the room.

It was quite unexpected.

Given that thug’s personality, I thought he’d seize this chance to lecture me about fixing my attitude or something, clinging to my throat like a leech.

‘It’s because of the Beltus Cult.’

He was preoccupied with something more important.

It made sense—ever since the beginning, Allen had been the one most curious about the forces sabotaging the Academy.

Once he returned to Icata, he’d likely piece together everything that had happened at the Academy and come to a conclusion.

About who was behind it all.

This would bring the existence of the Beltus Cult, lurking behind Shadow, to the surface.

“So, are we leaving tomorrow?”

I mumbled to myself, gazing at the fireworks adorning the pitch-black night sky.

“The kids will be disappointed.”

The third day of the festival.

Despite the chaos—the city guard office collapsing, a magical beast appearing in the middle of the mayor’s square—the Roenberg festival went on as planned.

I hadn’t been able to enjoy the first or second days because I was trapped in the mine.

Before Allen summoned me, the others had said they were going to check out the festival, so they were probably downtown now, enjoying the final night.

“Did Yuria go with them?”

Thinking of Yuria made me chuckle again.

God.

I’m not kidding—it was a struggle to peel her off me.

Like a piece of gum, she refused to leave my side for even a moment after we reunited.

If Chaser and Ronica hadn’t convinced her to go with them, she’d probably still be glued to me right now.

“Why is that girl so intense, seriously?”

I grumbled, but my lips couldn’t hide a fond smile.

Honestly, it wasn’t bad.

No, it was actually nice.

The time I’d invested in Yuria felt rewarding, like it was paying off.

Beyond that, there was a warmth filling a corner of my heart—a sense of trust, like I’d gained a steadfast ally who’d never waver, no matter what happened…?

It was a feeling similar to what I felt with Luis, Dayle and Clatter.

That same sentiment was now tied to Yuria and it made me feel good.

They say a tiger appears when you speak of it, and sure enough, as I was sorting my thoughts in the mansion’s backyard, there was Yuria.

She wasn’t alone.

She was with Ronica Jasmine, the magic instructor.

The two were in the middle of a lesson, even here.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah.”

Before I knew it, Chaser was standing beside me.

He said,“They’re in the middle of a lesson. Right now, it’s Ronica’s turn, as you can see. I’m up next. About thirty minutes left.”

“Wow, they’re working hard, huh?”

“I don’t want to do this.”

“Huh?”

“I said I don’t want to. I spent all day digging to rescue a stranded cadet, and just when I thought

I could rest, Yuria’s got her eyes all red, begging me to teach her quickly. Says she needs to get stronger fast. What is this? Is this fair?”

There wasn’t much I could do about him complaining to me.

I looked at Chaser with pity.

“Phew. Already done, huh?”

I turned my head toward where Chaser was looking.

Yuria was running toward us.

“Huff. Hff. Senior.”

But instead of stopping in front of Chaser, she stood before me.

She completely ignored Chaser, who stood there like a borrowed sack of grain.

Looking up at me, she asked,“Have you eaten? You haven’t, right?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah. I haven’t. Just came out of the parlor.”

“Then you must be hungry?”

‘A little?’ I replied, glancing at Chaser beside me.

I could see amusement in his expression, taking in the whole scene.

“Here.”

I looked back at Yuria.

In her hand was a small, neatly wrapped box.

When I looked at her questioningly, she averted her gaze and answered,“It’s nothing special. Just some cake. I went to eat earlier and had some left over. Eat it. I’m full. I’ll go now.”

…I thought she was a rapper.

Spitting out words like a machine gun, Yuria turned and headed back to Ronica.

“….”

I stared blankly at her retreating figure and said,

“Looks like the lesson isn’t over.”

There was no response.

When I turned, Chaser was still looking at me with a strange smile.

‘What are these guys on about?’

His expression seemed to say just that.

“What’s with you two? Why’s Yuria giving you that?”

“She can give it to me, can’t she?”

“Cake? Yuria?”

Chaser patted my shoulder, chuckling.

“No way. Yuria saving her share—especially strawberry cake—for someone else? That’s unimaginable.”

Yuria did love baked goods.

Especially cake.

‘But it’s not like she’s some glutton or anything…’

I’d eaten with Yuria dozens of times, and I’d never seen that side of her.

“She said she was full and had leftovers.”

“Sorry, Gerard, but I’ve never once seen Yuria leave food behind.”

Chaser leaned in closer.

Then he whispered conspiratorially,

“Gerard. Did you know? The mentor-mentee relationship produces the most knight couples.”

…What’s he on about?

On closer inspection, this guy wasn’t normal either.

No wonder he was Vice-Dean Baron’s junior—their thought processes were similar.

* * *

It was time to leave.

In front of the airship.

People from the Roenberg mayor’s office, along with Bedrock and Kimi, gathered to see us off.

“Thank you, Gerard.”

Bedrock’s eyes were red as he clasped my hand.

“How can I ever repay this kindness….”

“I just did what needed to be done. Stop drinking and live happily with Kimi. That’s enough for me.”

I smiled and continued,

“And make sure you follow the precautions I mentioned.”

The precautions were to avoid using Stealth.

I hadn’t found a cure, but Papamus’s journal detailed a treatment method.

“If you don’t use the power, the beast’s aura will slowly fade. Be patient and wait, and it’ll resolve naturally. The Roenberg mayor said he’d help, so don’t worry too much.”

“Of course. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you!”

“Good.”

I nodded and crouched down.

Clear eyes, holding my reflection, looked up at me, clutching Bedrock’s hand tightly.

In truth, the patient’s willpower was the most critical part of the treatment.

Since prolonged contact with others was to be avoided.

The sudden magical beast incident could be handled by the Roenberg mayor, but the emotional scars Kimi might carry were another matter.

‘He could develop depression or even social phobia.’

He was still just a fragile child.

If he used Stealth out of fear of meeting people and couldn’t control it, he’d eventually be consumed by the beast within. At that point, it would be irreversible.

That’s why the strength of his heart and will was crucial.

“Kimi.”

I placed my hand on Kimi’s head.

The rough texture of his hair brushed against my palm.

Kimi let out a pleased growl.

“You remember what I told you?”

Nod.

“Good. I’ll be waiting. Let’s meet again when you’re healthy.”

I lifted my hand from Kimi’s head and stepped onto the airship’s ramp.

“Safe travels!”

“Bye!”

Kimi’s bright eyes, waving enthusiastically, grew smaller in the distance.

At the same time, I recalled the conversation I’d had with Kimi alone the previous night.

‘I have a dream—to become a kind person like you, big brother!’

Looking at the words scratched into the dirt, I gave a wry smile.

“Me, a kind person?”

‘If you’re not kind, who is? You helped me and Dad. That makes you a kind person! I’m going to get strong like you and do lots of good things.’

“Yeah. Make sure you do. Hold onto that resolve for a long time.”

‘Yes!’

A kind person, huh.

Was I kind?

I wasn’t sure.

As a thief, I’d inevitably do bad things to someone… Honestly, I hadn’t really cared about that.

In this damned world, surviving didn’t leave room to worry about such things.

It was more profitable to steal one more thing than to mind others’ feelings.

A thief struggling to survive had no choice but to prioritize gain and profit over static values.

But—

Becoming someone’s idol wasn’t something I’d ever imagined, but it didn’t feel bad.

‘I want to go to the Academy like you, big brother.’

Did a thief always have to take from others?

Maybe sometimes, giving meaning to someone wasn’t such a bad idea.

If that meaning was a ‘dream,’ a vital driving force in life, then all the better.

I’d planted a dream in a child.

That was enough.

I’d chosen this path because of Gaius’s Insight, and it was a journey to obtain ‘Stealth,’ but this extracurricular activity had given me meaning and value beyond that.

I’d gained a lot.

I took in the now-tiny view of Roenberg.

I didn’t know if I’d ever return, but it felt like something I’d never forget.

…And yet, humans are creatures of forgetfulness.

‘Damn it. When are we getting there? Huh? Huh?’

I checked the clock, tapping my foot.

It had only been an hour since we left Roenberg.

The flight to Icata would take five hours.

In the end, I sprang up and paced the deck restlessly.

“Sit still! You’re driving me crazy!”

Karina’s exasperated shout rang out, but I just tuned it out. Nothing reached my ears.

My mind was consumed by a single thought.

‘God, I want to get there and check it out already.’

Stealth.

As soon as I got to Icata, I’d lock myself in my dorm and start mastering Stealth.

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