Chapter : 150

Fortunately, the three seniors still staying in the Loren fief accepted the invitation.

The villa was a secluded place on a beach in the Lisitoel fief.

A private beach attached to the mansion, is this the taste of a golden spoon?

After changing into the swimsuits the servants had prepared, I came out to the beach to find everyone had already changed.

“Wow.”

I could really feel that it was summer vacation.

If this were a game, I would have had to spend hundreds of thousands of won to get that swimsuit.

A strangely sad look crossed my face, and Cian approached and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

“I was thinking about the greatness of swimsuits.”

To give such an impression despite being just a swimsuit, it’s truly amazing.

It wasn’t for nothing that they had swimsuit events every summer vacation.

“Cian, ignore him. It’s not the first or second time Theo’s talking nonsense.”

“Oh? You wanna fight?”

“Got a problem?”

“Of course I have a lot.”

I quickly made a circle of water and threw it at Zephyros.

I’m already in my swimsuit, so there’s no reason not to retaliate like this, right?

Lucian’s lips quirked into a smile at the sight of Zephyros, who had instantly become a drowned rat in the swirling circle of water.

Zephyros’s eyes flipped at Lucian’s laugh, and a gust of wind swirled around him, lifting me into the air and tossing me into the sea.

“Alright, so that’s how you want to play, huh?”

Having also become a drowned rat, I immediately began my retaliation.

Now that it’s come to this, I have to make everyone share the same fate.

“His eyes seem to have rolled back in his head.”

“Haha, it must be your imagination.”

It’s not like I’m the kind of person to get angry and retaliate just because I got wet. Where would you find such a petty person… right, here!

“I can’t be the only one getting wet!!”

With my eyes flipped, I officially declared the start of a full-blown water fight.

* * *

To be so passionate about a mere water fight, they’re so young, probably because they’re kids.

Lilia, lying in a pre-prepared cabana, let out a laugh.

In a way, Laurel unni’s social skills in playing with juniors several years younger were amazing, but at the same time, astounding.

Can someone who’s graduating in two years really have fun playing with kids that young…?

“Lilia.”

“What is it, Lerwon.”

At the sight of Lerwon approaching her, Lilia tilted her head and looked at him with wary eyes.

Not many people at the Academy knew Lerwon’s true nature, but Lilia was one of the few who did.

Perhaps she was an acquaintance who knew more than Zephyros, who had only glimpsed a fragment.

That was why Lerwon kept his distance from her. It wasn’t like he was a good person to hang out with.

“Connect me with that mercenary group that’s related to the Gold.”

“For free?”

Were we close enough for you to give me something for free? Lilia let out a smirk and gazed at Lerwon.

Her dark blue-black eyes were filled with Lerwon’s image. His gaze, not as empty as before, was decent enough.

Lilia disliked dull and uninteresting things, and the past Lerwon was like a bundle of the two things Lilia hated.

“Contact this number, and they’ll connect you.”

“Didn’t you say it would be difficult for free?”

“…Consider it paying off an old debt.”

“Didn’t you once insist it wasn’t a debt?”

“Even if I paid off the debt, the one who would benefit was the Master of Gold.”

Ugh, Lilia stretched and came out of the cabana.

She didn’t like getting her face tanned, but it was obvious that if she stayed here any longer, Laurel unni would throw a fit, demanding she play with them.

“Thanks.”

“Just watch your back, the Master of Gold is a persistent one.”

Lilia waved her hand and left towards Laurel, who was beckoning her to come over.

Lerwon, left alone near the cabana, stood there, deep in thought.

He really should watch his back.

He couldn’t let his juniors get caught up in his affairs forever.

The incident with the Church was enough to put them in danger.

“Should I take a leave of absence?”

If he had to take responsibility for running away from his mother, it should be a matter for Lerwon ‘Viden’ alone.

Lerwon’s gaze darkened slightly.

However, Lerwon did not know. The fact that there was someone watching him persistently, very persistently—

* * *

Floating on the waves using a circle of wind as a tube felt very summery and nice.

“Peeeeeee….”

<Kuaaaah….>

Lou, who had enthusiastically joined the water fun, and Albedo, who had fiercely protested, “What’s with the water play at my age?”, were now lying on the special circle of wind tube, enjoying a fantastic summer.

I didn’t learn magic for this, but the circle of wind was really amazing. It wouldn’t flip over like a tube, and the feeling of the water was fully conveyed, which was also excellent.

And if I started to feel cold, I could just warm the water with a circle of earth, and that couldn’t be better.

I never thought I’d be glad I learned magic because of things like this.

“Theo! Let’s have lunch!”

Lucian’s shout came from the shore.

With Albedo on one shoulder and the dazed Lou on my head, I used movement magic to instantly appear next to Lucian.

A spatial rift opened, and Lucian’s eyes widened in surprise at my sudden appearance.

“Is that movement magic?”

“Yeah, I learned it during this summer vacation.”

I answered vaguely, taking a large bite of the watermelon we had brought for hydration.

“Long distances are still difficult, but short distances are easy.”

How should I describe it?

“Just go ‘Zap!’ and you can tear through space.”

“Isn’t that super easy then?”

“How could it be that easy?”

It’s not like you’re tricking a kid who doesn’t know any better. Zephyros grumbled.

“It’s not that hard.”

Before we started lunch in earnest, I began the ‘Hey, you can do movement magic too’ class.

First, if you learn the basics of spatial segmentation theory, dimensional conjunction theory, and the Arcana Gate theory, which are the foundations of all movement magic, you’re ready to use movement magic.

Thinking I was really about to teach the theory of spatial movement magic, Zephyros declared in a firm voice.

“You know Lucian is a hero, so even if he knows the theory, he can’t use things like movement magic.”

“It’s just fun to know.”

“Not many people usually find that kind of thing fun.”

I became a little dejected at Zephyros’s firm refusal.

It’s surprisingly doable, but he’s just being a baby.

My grumbling was short-lived, as the mansion’s caretaker brought a cart full of barbecue.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. There’s more if you need it, so just let me know!”

It looks delicious! We played a bit at first, but even though I was just floating in the water afterwards, I was so hungry.

After a summer water fun, meat barbecue is the answer.

After eating my fill, I lay down in the cabana.

Playing, eating, and resting, this is truly the perfect vacation.

“It would have been nice if Father was here too.”

As if she heard my small mumble, Laurel-sunbae cringed.

“We’re having fun on our own, why is a professor suddenly butting in!”

“But this mansion belongs to my father, you know?”

“Wrong is wrong!”

At her shout, the others nodded in agreement.

Even if it was vacation, they couldn’t stand the sight of a professor, was that it?

“You’re being such a baby in front of me.”

Have they forgotten that the person in front of them has almost mastered short-distance movement magic thanks to my father’s kind and gentle teaching?

At my pointed remark, some of them looked at me with pitiful eyes, as if pressing X to pay respects.

“Don’t pity me, it just makes it more miserable.”

“Anyway! You don’t call a professor to a place where students are playing!”

“So you thought, Laurel Arens.”

She just had to get caught by my father.

“P-Professor!!”

Why is the professor here?!

Surprised, Laurel-sunbae looked back and forth between me and my father several times before looking at me with a despairing expression.

Her face screamed, ‘Did you just sell me out to the professor?’, but I had never told her to say that.

“Father, don’t tease Laurel-sunbae.”

“I’ll let this slide, so could you leave us for a moment?”

“Phew! I’ll leave you for a lifetime, not just a moment!”

With those words, Laurel-sunbae left without looking back. Tsk… well, that’s Laurel for you.

The other seniors, as well as Zephi and Cian, didn’t come near the cabana at all. What, am I a plague doctor or something?

“I didn’t expect you to come.”

“I have to check if you’re having fun, at least.”

The professor is so kind! At Laurel-sunbae’s vivid shout from behind, I let out an awkward laugh.

“Don’t mind Laurel-sunbae. She’s like this all the time.”

“I know.”

My father, who continued in a low voice, hesitated for a moment before stroking my still-wet hair.

“Did something else come up during the investigation?”

“Perhaps.”

It was a very vague statement.

Something else must have come up. And perhaps that investigation result threatens my safety?

I’m not good at reading people’s emotions, but when I meet my father’s worried gaze… I can’t help but know, even if I don’t want to.

As a troublemaking son who caused a lot of worry, I could clearly feel my father’s concern, if nothing else.

“If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to.”

“No, it’s right to tell you. It is, but… I’m worried you’ll get involved in a dangerous matter on your own again.”

My track record was so colorful that I couldn’t argue and just laughed awkwardly.

“I can’t promise that I’ll never get involved in dangerous things either.”

There were times when I got involved on my own, but there were also times when I had to because of the system.

I can’t let the world reset just because of me.

“Still, I’ll always do my best to survive.”

Because it was a promise I made with my father, who had given up his own life to save his son who couldn’t even move properly, even though he could have easily survived himself.

I want to keep that promise, at least.

“Hearing you say that makes me feel relieved, yet also anxious.”

“I’m sorry for being a troublemaking son.”

If the real Theo were here, would my father have had it a little easier?

I had that thought, but I’ll try my best not to dwell on it.

“I suppose I should tell you. It would be much better to be prepared than to be caught off guard.”

My father said in an extremely monotonous tone.

“The results of the mental magic investigation on the mercenaries revealed remnants of forgotten holy magic along with the mental magic.”

“What…?”

“It seems the runaway former Pope and Iris Viden have joined hands.”

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