Chapter 123: At the Academy (5)
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, a tickling sensation brushed past my ear, and I instinctively raised my hand and scratched it away as if to shake it off.
But I quickly straightened my posture and sat quietly in the chair, waiting.
Since I was about to make a rather regretful request, I didn’t want to leave a bad impression for no reason.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Soon enough, a familiar presence made itself known.
When I turned my head, there was Windy May as usual, with her disheveled hair.
However, she looked a bit different from usual today.
She, who always floated in the air, was walking with her feet on the ground this time.
The reason was simple.
It was because she was currently split into a duplicate.
Unlike the duplication magic we had encountered in the Forest of Secrets before—something akin to a sorcery—this was a duplicate created entirely of her own will, one of the techniques she prided herself on.
According to her, the stronger half was off carrying out a mission, while the weaker one remained at the Academy.
It had been a sudden whim of hers, but thanks to that whim, I had been able to survive, so I could only feel grateful.
Moreover, since she was already at the Academy, she said she would take care of various tasks while she was here, and thus hadn’t dispelled the duplicate yet.
“No, Professor… ahem, Master.”
Seeing her eyes narrow sharply, I quickly corrected my form of address.
She gave a pleased smile with her eyes and flopped down onto the sofa across from me.
“So, what’s this about?”
“Well…”
I carefully took out the box I had been holding in my arms and placed it on the table.
When I opened the box, it contained a bladeless hilt and the shattered remnants of a handle.
“…I want to repair this. Is there any way to do that?”
“What the—”
Windy May raised her eyebrows in bewilderment.
“It’s a sword?”
“Yes. A sword.”
“And a completely shattered one, at that.”
“Yes. Completely shattered.”
“What kind of sword is it?”
“It’s the one I borrowed from Cecilia.”
I added in a trembling voice.
“…She said it’s an heirloom of the Everglenn family.”
Cecilia had clearly told me not to worry since the blade was intact, and the handle had always been replaced over and over anyway, so it was no big deal.
But how could I possibly be okay with that?
Originally, when you borrow something, you return it in good condition. And if you break it, it’s only right to make amends. That’s common sense.
And this was an heirloom.
It might be a symbol of her family or an item steeped in long-standing tradition.
How could I possibly smash something like that and pretend it didn’t happen?
Even if she really was okay with it, I was not.
That’s why I was here now, desperately seeking help from Professor Windy May.
And Professor Windy May…
“…Gasp.”
…looked down at the shattered sword, holding her breath in shock.
She blinked at the contents of the box, then looked up at me and asked,
“So you want me to fix this?”
“…If you happen to know a way, I humbly ask for your help.”
“Lian, just to clarify, your teacher, Windy May Maddown—that is, I—am not a magical blacksmith.”
As she said that, she struck a pose with her right arm, as if to show off her muscles.
Her slender arm looked like it belonged to a young girl, not a hint of muscle or even a visible vein.
If anything, it looked like it would snap with a light tap.
“With arms this thin and delicate, do you really think I can swing a hammer?”
“That’s not what I meant, Master.”
I wet my dry lips with saliva and continued.
“It’s an heirloom, and one of the Everglenn family’s, no less, so I thought there might be some magical elements to it. I came to you because if that’s the case, taking it to someone careless might lead to irreversible damage.”
“Hmm… That does make sense. Still…”
Muttering to herself, Windy May suddenly snapped her head up and looked at me.
And then, before I knew it, her face was so close that we nearly collided.
“Master…?”
As I subtly leaned back to avoid her, she muttered in a genuinely concerned tone,
“Where on earth do you keep picking things like this up?”
“…Pardon?”
“…You’re not a kid. Please stop picking up strange things. What would you do if something serious happened?”
Just as I was about to ask what she meant, I closed my mouth.
“…”
Her gaze bore into me with a detached stare.
There wasn’t a trace of playfulness in those eyes.
So, I had no choice but to slowly turn my head away.
“…I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Not from now on… ugh.”
She thumped her chest with her fist in frustration.
“I just pretend I don’t see anything and my students all end up hanging out only with each other and totally leaving their master out like I don’t exist…”
Grumbling to herself, Windy May began to carefully examine the broken sword.
She gently placed her hand on the blade and the fragments of the handle, and soon nodded.
“There are definitely several spells on it. And, hmm… judging by the blade and the handle, it’s not the work of any ordinary craftsman.”
“You can tell that just by looking at it?”
At my surprised question, she sighed deeply and glared at me.
“…If you weren’t going to believe me, why did you even bring it to me?”
“Th-that’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
It seemed she had built up quite a bit of resentment toward me.
As I awkwardly fumbled, Windy May gently set the blade down.
“Anyway, it’s certainly worthy of being called an heirloom. It’s an object of considerable value.”
At her verdict, I found myself blurting out,
“Then… how much do you think it’s worth?”
Windy May gave me a sideways glance, clearly unwilling to dignify that with an answer.
“…Do you really need to know? I think it’s better if you don’t hear it.”
“Aigo…”
In the end, I could only let out a deep sigh.
Repairing an artifact wasn’t exactly an easy task—I knew that much very well.
All the more so if it was something that even made Windy May react like that...
“Ahem.”
As I sat there sighing helplessly, she suddenly let out a meaningful cough.
“Well, I mean… there might be a way…”
“Please.”
I immediately bowed my head deeply.
Then, I started pouring out every flattering phrase and compliment I could remember in her direction.
“The reason I brought it to you and no one else, Master, is because among all my acquaintances, you’re the most reliable, competent, and—most of all—versatile person I know…”
“Hm, hmm. Hm-hmm.”
Windy May began listening to my praise, clearly satisfied.
Her ears even twitched up and down with delight.
“Then let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
“To fix the sword, of course.”
With that, Windy May casually closed and sealed the box.
I looked at her, bewildered, and asked again.
“Right now?”
“Yes, we’ll be quick. I remember the location now.”
“What are you talking ab—”
Before I could finish, she grabbed my wrist and yanked hard.
With her forceful tug, I couldn’t help but stumble forward.
Or so I thought.
“…Oof!”
By the time I came to my senses, I was already sitting in the middle of a forest.
It was none other than the Forest of Secrets.
“What now…”
Standing before me was Airos, wearing an utterly baffled expression.
He looked like he had come out in a rush, startled by the sudden arrival of uninvited guests.
“Hello, Gravekeeper.”
“I am not having a good day, Dragon Slayer.”
Airos glared disapprovingly at Windy May as she waved at him nonchalantly, then glanced sideways at me.
“And you… Lian Gwendil. You’re here too, I see.”
“Ah, yes. Hello, Airos.”
“Well, I suppose.”
He scratched his chin as he spoke.
“I figured we’d meet again someday, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.”
“Ha ha…”
That made two of us.
As I gave a sheepish laugh, Airos turned his attention back to Windy May.
“So what brings you flying here with high-level magic?”
“I was hoping you could fix this.”
As she spoke, Windy May offered the box containing the shattered sword.
Airos looked at her as if to say, What are you talking about?
“…What?”
“I’d really appreciate it if you could repair this.”
With that, Windy May began giving him a rough explanation.
She also added her reasoning for picking Airos as the one to repair the destroyed sword.
“The sword you gave Lian last time—you forged that yourself, right?”
“…I did, technically.”
“Judging from your craftsmanship, it was impressive. Honestly, it’d be hard to find someone better than you.”
With a shrug of her shoulders, Windy May added,
“A blacksmith with magical aptitude and exceptional skill. Found one right here.”
“…”
Airos looked so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even find the words to respond.
Soon, his pupils began to narrow vertically, and a faint, simmering energy began to emanate from him.
“If you’re going to repay a favor, shouldn’t you do it properly?”
“…Hoo.”
At that, Airos exhaled a long sigh and suppressed the energy that had started to rise.
He picked up the box and spoke, as if he had no choice.
“I’ll finish it quickly, so just wait. And just a warning…”
“We won’t go near the mausoleum, don’t worry.”
“…See that you don’t.”
With those final words, Airos turned away.
As he strode off with heavy steps, Windy May called out, almost like an afterthought.
“Wait a second.”
“What now?”
“It’s rude to come empty-handed. So I brought a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yeah, nothing special. Just something I like to drink.”
At her words, Airos looked at her with a hint of expectation.
Come to think of it…
From what I remembered from when I came here with Yeriel, he did seem to enjoy a drink.
Windy May then reached into the empty air and pulled something out, offering it to him.
“Here.”
“…I’ll drink it with gratitude.”
With a soft clink, Airos tilted his head at the dark green liquid swirling inside the glass bottle.
“What is this, anyway? What kind of regional drink has such a… peculiar color?”
“Oh, that? I made it myself.”
“You brewed it yourself?”
Airos’ eyes widened in surprise, and Windy May nodded.
“Yup. It’s eggplant-mint-cucumber juice, freshly blended by yours truly.”
Airos’ expression contorted to a degree that could only be described as monstrous.
So grotesque, it made me flinch without even realizing it.