Chapter 120: At the Academy (2)
“Mediation. Mediation with a Dragon.”
Amaruah muttered those words, then maintained her silence without any notable reaction.
It wasn't out of disregard but stemmed from deep contemplation and a flow of thought.
During that moment, her gaze flicked over to my side.
“Seems quite a lot has happened in such a short time.”
Hanging at my side was the sword I had received from Airos.
A sword he had personally forged using his own teeth and scales.
She began to gaze steadily at the sword.
As if she was calmly and thoroughly examining the aura and internal force dwelling within it.
“Do you know the meaning of that sword?”
“Not really.”
I shook my head.
“He said he was giving it to me as an apology, but…”
“That’s a kind of… hmm, yes. It's like a guarantee check.”
Amaruah pointed lightly at the sword and continued her explanation.
To Dragons, a “guarantee” was not something as simple as honor or authority.
It was, so to speak, a token of trust and a symbol of protection.
In other words, the fact that Airos had handed me a sword imbued with his energy meant that I was someone under his protection.
“So to put it another way… if you ever come into conflict with other Dragons, it's essentially a public declaration that any such matters must be resolved through him. In short, you’ve gained a spare life against Dragons.”
“……”
At her explanation, I glanced down at the sword.
…It held an even heavier meaning than I had expected.
“And it seems this is going to be a rather long conversation.”
Amaruah murmured as she looked at me, as if expecting a more detailed explanation.
As expected, simply saying “mediate” wasn’t enough.
Her words implied that I had to clearly express what I truly wanted and how I planned to resolve the issue with the Dragons.
Thus, I began explaining everything I knew, in as much detail as I could.
“I don’t know all the details, but…”
I told her everything I knew without holding anything back.
She listened silently, occasionally scribbling something down.
“…And Airos told me this: If I want to stop the Dragons, I should ask another Dragon to mediate. That would be the most effective and likely method.”
“So that’s why you came to me.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
Based on Airos’ advice, I pondered the most realistic solution, and eventually concluded that mediation through another Dragon was the best option.
‘Most of all, I almost died just dealing with Airos alone…’
Everyone, including myself, had faced death multiple times just from that brief clash with Airos.
What was even more chilling was the fact that Airos hadn’t been serious back then.
And now, this wasn’t about a single Dragon, but a whole group.
It was all too clear that this wasn’t something that could be resolved with brute force alone.
When I finished speaking, Amaruah responded in a tone of idle curiosity.
“Then, are you using the brooch as the price?”
“……”
I hesitated at her words.
The brooch.
It was something the Countess—my stepmother—had given me, and its value was immeasurable.
‘But still…’
Considering the gravity of this matter, using it was likely the best option.
In the end, I slowly nodded.
Only then did Amaruah speak with a faint smile.
“Very well. I accept your request. With this, the vow shall be fulfilled.”
She nodded slowly.
“Then first, I’ll need to look into the current situation. I’ll inform you as soon as I’ve assessed the details.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I’m doing this for a price… But let me ask just one more thing. Is there anything else I should be particularly mindful of?”
“Well…”
It was then.
It felt like I heard a click echo in my mind.
No, it wasn’t just a feeling.
A hazy memory was beginning to surface clearly.
“……”
Amaruah looked at me with a slight furrow of one brow as I stood there blankly.
But she didn’t speak or press me further.
She merely scribbled something down.
After a brief moment passed, I opened my mouth again.
“…I think they have a definite purpose.”
And they had vanished in an instant.
That meant their purpose had been in the capital—and that they had achieved it.
In other words, if we could just figure out what that purpose was, we’d be much closer to resolving the issue.
‘And once I handle this…’
There wouldn’t be anything major left to worry about.
I nodded and looked at Amaruah.
“…I’d appreciate it if you could act as soon as possible.”
When I added that, she gave a faint smile.
Then, instead of answering, she casually held something out to me—as if to say I should take a look.
At the very top of the document I received, bold letters caught my eye.
“Leave Application”
She shrugged slightly.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m not heartless enough to turn away the earnest request of the son of a dear junior.”
To the point that I’d burn through all the leave I had carefully saved up.
She added that with a cheeky voice.
Now that I had made my request to Amaruah, there was nothing else I needed to worry about.
Leaving her with another word of request, I exited the library.
“Whew.”
It felt like a massive wedge had been pulled out of me.
And it wasn't just a metaphor.
I gently placed my hand on my forehead.
“……”
That click—clearly echoing inside my head.
It wasn’t a misunderstanding.
‘Talia Poas… So that’s what she meant.’
She had once told me that not seeking a special answer might be the answer in itself.
Only now did I understand what that meant.
With a clearer mind, I brushed off my thoughts.
‘So what now?’
There was still a lot of time before class.
I had eaten, and the urgent matters were taken care of.
‘…Maybe I should head to the training hall, no. No, that’s not it.’
I almost reflexively thought of heading to the training hall but immediately shook my head.
‘That’s not right.’
Whenever there were no classes, it was always the training hall or the library.
Living like that had left me without anyone I could casually strike up a conversation with—like now.
Once I reached that conclusion, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
― Giiing…
At some point, the spider that had climbed onto my shoulder lightly tapped it with its legs as if trying to console me.
I quietly let out a sigh and gently petted it.
“Right, then what should I do now? What do you think?”
I spoke to it like muttering to myself.
The thought of doing something social was good, but I had no idea where to even begin.
At this point, suddenly inserting myself here and there wouldn’t work, so then…
“Eh, forget it.”
I shook my head again.
When you get nervous and overthink, even things that should go well don’t.
In times like this, it’s best to lighten the mood and start somewhere close.
Somewhere close.
Close, huh.
‘Allen…’
Allen was clearly busy with all sorts of things lately.
Cleaning up after the incident, family matters.
And even his training to internalize his own realizations.
‘Honestly, I didn’t expect things to go this well.’
The issue with Allen could now be considered completely resolved.
To be frank… just a few days ago, I hadn’t expected Allen to awaken so completely.
Of course, he did say he could still hear that voice within.
But he was doing his best to overcome it, and I believed he eventually would.
That belief wasn’t blind or baseless.
In just a few days, I could sense that his energy had changed completely.
Since that day, we hadn’t crossed swords again.
But I could tell.
His presence had become so much more refined and sharp compared to before.
‘If it came down to pure swordsmanship now, I’d definitely lose.’
It seemed like things with the family were also resolved.
I didn’t know the full details, but…
Judging by how Kyren Amiel was almost openly siding with Allen and showing actions that acknowledged him as part of the family, I could make some guesses.
Mental issues.
Family matters.
The two biggest hurdles for him were now cleared.
There was now nothing left to hold him back.
‘And on top of that…’
There was still the proposal Professor Deiare had offered him.
Now, I truly had nothing left to worry about when it came to Allen.
“Yeah.”
It was probably best not to bother him now.
I nodded.
“In that case…”
― Kiiik! Giiiing…
“Hm?”
As I was deep in thought, the spider tapped my cheek.
It raised its leg and pointed in one direction.
“What?”
― Giiing!
“What are you telling me to do?”
― Eek! Kiik!!!
Looking frustrated, it suddenly jumped off my shoulder.
Then, out of nowhere, it shot a strand of web at me.
Slap.
The web stuck to the back of my hand, and the spider promptly started toddling off in the direction it had pointed earlier.
Then it stopped, looked back at me, and tugged at the web with its leg.
“You want me to follow?”
― Giing!
It jumped in place a couple of times, as if saying I got it right.
Then it kept moving forward in that same direction.
I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I obediently followed its lead.
‘What on earth is it doing…’
It kept toddling along.
While I followed without thinking, I suddenly realized I was sweating.
‘…It’s not the weather for this yet.’
Could I really be sweating just from walking this little?
I took off my outer garment.
Even then, I could still feel the lingering muggy heat around me.
‘Don’t tell me…’
As I sensed something, I silently followed behind it.
How long had we walked?
A quiet clearing.
In the middle of it, a Serpent of Flame sat coiled in silence, gazing in this direction.
“……”
The spirit in its natural form—just like the one Cecilia had contracted.
Though its contents must be entirely different.
As I approached, the serpent flicked its tongue with a hiss.
― We’ve met before, but this is the first time we speak like this.
Its mouth opened, and a deep, resounding voice poured out.
― I felt we both had much to discuss, so I arranged this meeting.
― Just as you have questions for me, I too have many for you.
It flicked its tongue again.
Then, as if to excuse itself, it slightly dipped its head.
― Ah, I should have introduced myself first.
― Nice to meet you, friend of the contractor.
― If I may name myself, I am the humble one who dares to call himself the King of the Spirits of Flame—Taranis.
The Serpent of Flame, Taranis, looked at me and said:
― Now, I would like to hear your name.
― The one who knew my name—the name of a Spirit King…
Undeniably, its eyes were aflame with something unfathomable.
Yes, like a blazing fire burning intensely.
― Tell me your name—the one marked with the Brand.