Chapter 78: Opportunity (5)
Slurp.
Between Yuran and I, who sat across from each other, only the sound of sipping tea echoed for a while.
I silently tilted my teacup, while Yuran, whose face still held a reddish flush, covered her eyes with one hand as if terribly embarrassed.
“It’s delicious.”
When I carefully opened my mouth, she let out a small sigh.
“It seems Lian Gwendil, only to her benefactor, shows such clumsy appearances.”
And then, in a weak voice, she muttered,
“I earnestly wish you would forget……”
“In truth, I don’t think there’s any need to feel that embarrassed.”
I met her gaze as she glanced at me.
“You’re from Garusol, aren’t you, Yuran. Since it hasn’t been long since you learned the Imperial language, it’s only natural that your native tongue slips out unless you’re conscious of it.”
“You speak true. Yet this is undeniably discourteous.”
Yuran still wore an expression that seemed full of shame.
“This is an unmistakable rudeness and discourtesy. I apologize.”
It was then that I once again became convinced that she must be of noble birth.
The way she brewed the tea earlier, and now how she fussed over etiquette down to the smallest detail—such behavior didn’t arise without having received strict upbringing.
‘The fact that she even calls it rude to speak her homeland’s language—that alone proves she’s not an ordinary person.’
Holding the teacup in my hand, I asked,
“What did that word you used earlier, yeonbuho, mean?”
“Mm?”
Yuran looked at me as if wondering what I was talking about.
I showed a faint smile.
“Since it’s come to this, I’d like to take this as an opportunity to learn some Garusol words.”
If I left her be, she would only keep brooding gloomily like that.
So I figured it was better to shift the topic this way, and when I slyly asked, Yuran hesitated for a moment before replying in a small voice.
“Yeonbuho, it means to press down. Like thump, thump.”
Yuran added while lightly striking her palm with her fist.
“And ragi-reum?”
“For a short while. To catch one’s breath.”
“Then mani-e yu, yunira……? What about that one?”
“Mani means result. Yuniragi means to wait.”
“Ah, so it must mean to pause for a bit.”
“Pause?”
“To give it time.”
“Ah, yes. That is right. Pause.”
Yuran nodded.
Watching her mutter “pause, pause,” I asked about another word that had stuck in my ear.
“Then what about yul? Does it mean to mix?”
“Yes. Yul means to mix, or to have been mixed.”
“And poke?”
“…Completion. It means end.”
Yuran gave a small nod.
So yul meant to mix.
Perhaps because there was someone nearby whose name used the word yul, it lingered in my ears all the more clearly.
“Then how do you say delicious?”
“Rodia.”
I too gave a small nod and lightly lifted my teacup.
“It’s delicious, Yuran. Rodia.”
“…Then that is fortunate.”
Only then did Yuran’s expression ease a little as she murmured that.
Indeed, the tea she had brewed wasn’t only delicious, but it strangely seemed to ease the tension and fatigue from my body.
“By any chance, is this tea good for recovering from fatigue?”
“It is. You looked worn out, so I brewed a good tea.”
“No wonder… Thank you for the consideration.”
“There is no need for thanks.”
Yuran gave a small, awkward cough.
“Benefactor, have you ever properly looked at your own face? It is quite… not good. Like that of a teacher.”
“Well, yes… I’ve had many things to worry about lately.”
She was right.
There had always been plenty to do, but on top of that, matters regarding Cecilia and Allen had piled up recently, so I’d been short on sleep—and even when I did sleep, it was restless.
So it seemed the accumulated fatigue had shown on my face without any filter.
“Hoo……”
I let out a sigh steeped in weariness.
If only I had several bodies at times like this.
Yes, like Professor Windy May……
“If I could use duplication magic, it would be so convenient.”
Oops. In my daze, I must have let my thoughts slip out aloud.
Instead of brushing off my words as a joke, Yuran nodded with a serious expression.
“Mm, then it certainly would be convenient.”
“…So in Garusol, you must have a spell for creating duplicates?”
“There is something similar. But it is only an illusion.”
Yuran answered openly, as if there were nothing to hide.
“It exists as a curse, and also as an ordinary spell.”
“A curse using a duplicate… that wouldn’t be an ordinary thing.”
“Indeed. If it goes wrong, not only the caster but even those around may all die.”
It was a simple expression, yet a chilling one.
To say that many deaths would follow.
“It may not happen, but if you were ever cursed by a duplicate, the priority is not to act rashly but to first understand the situation. Just maintaining such a curse shaves away the caster’s lifespan.”
“…That’s a terrifying thing to say. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Keep it in mind?”
“It means I’ll remember it.”
“Mm.”
Yuran nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Before I realized it, she saw that my teacup was empty and poured a fresh serving.
I rose slightly and received it politely as I spoke.
“Professor Shagas seems to be very busy these days as well.”
“Yes. Teacher is greatly exhausted.”
Yuran muttered with a worried voice.
“Teacher, like Benefactor, has many tasks overlapping.”
“Ah, come to think of it, he took on the supplementary Dungeon Field Class.”
“That too. But many other things as well.”
At that moment, a scene I had witnessed days ago with Allen flashed across my mind.
Professor Shagas.
Dots.
Protesters.
“Is it because the students are holding protests?”
“Surprising. Benefactor too can divine the future?”
Yuran widened her eyes slightly and murmured so.
I waved my hand as if it was nothing.
“I heard from my elder brother once. Around this time of year, protests often occur, and most of them come from the Dots dormitory. Since Professor Shagas is in charge of Dots’ classes, I just wondered.”
“Mm, as Benefactor says. It is a troubling matter.”
The reasons protests occurred were many.
There had been constructive cases, such as demanding a reform of the education system, saying there was no longer any need for outdated classes like Dungeon Field Class…
But in reality, most were demands for improvement regarding the discrimination rampant within the Academy, especially the unfair treatment aimed at Dots.
Indeed, it was understandable.
Five dormitories.
Crowns, Hilts, Wands, Crooks, and finally Dots.
Though they all sometimes cooperated and sometimes clashed, the first four were really the only ones included. Dots was almost always treated as an exception.
In other words, they weren’t even regarded as proper rivals standing on the same starting line.
Even among the professors, some secretly discriminated against or disregarded Dots, so one didn’t even need to imagine how much worse it must have been among the students.
‘They think it’s a place to train future laborers, at best lower-level officials.’
I knew how many remarkable people would emerge from Dots in succession, and how great their accomplishments would be.
But that only meant that before experiencing the future, I too had been one of those who dismissed Dots.
That was why, only now, I could clearly see how strangely Dots was being treated.
‘It’s bizarre how the Dots dormitory has no strength or influence.’
Looking at history, it was when the Dots dormitory was newly established that the Academy rapidly expanded in scale, securing its position as the foremost educational institution.
And above all, since the majority of the Academy’s students currently belonged to Dots, it didn’t make sense for them to be not the strongest, but the weakest.
…Of course, this was none of my concern.
I wasn’t in charge of running the Academy, and frankly, I wasn’t from Dots.
‘The problem is that someone would use this brilliantly…’
Yes, naturally, Princess Velita.
There was no way that woman would leave such a situation alone.
Among her subordinates were many from Dots dormitory, and I could clearly remember one man in particular, who excelled at agitation and propaganda.
Through him, she later intervened in the student council president election and reshaped the Academy’s structure to her liking. Just thinking of it still gave me chills.
‘So it’s only Professor Shagas who’s ended up with a headache.’
Given his upright character, he was surely racking his brain over how to resolve the injustices the Dots dormitory students suffered.
The problem was, his opponent was Princess Velita—someone unmatched in schemes and politics, at least from what I knew.
On the battlefield, perhaps he’d stand a chance, but in such matters, no matter how much of a war hero he was, he’d be powerless.
“Please tell him not to worry too much. According to my elder brother, it’s like a tradition passed down. Since it’s something that’s piled up over a long time, it won’t be solved overnight.”
In the end, this was the only sort of empty advice I could offer.
Yuran nodded faintly as if she understood.
“Teacher’s will is firm. I can only watch by his side. While brewing tea for him.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of help.”
“How could that possibly be Benefactor’s fault.”
The two of us quietly sipped our tea for a while.
After a few more sips, I opened my mouth to lighten the heavy mood.
“I was hoping Professor Shagas would take on the supplementary classes for us… but since he’s deeply troubled, I guess I can’t bring it up lightly.”
“There is no need to worry. Teacher is someone who fulfills all duties entrusted. He is a fine person.”
Yet even as Yuran said so, she still looked worried.
“…But too much worry is not good for health. The things we spoke of before. And in addition, to, tong…? Tonghae? Tonghaeban?”
“The Integrated Class?”
“Yes, Integrated Class. That too is a deep concern.”
Right, the Integrated Class.
That existed too.
In my previous life, it had never even been mentioned, so I had no idea why such a thing had now come up.
Perhaps realizing she had complained too much, Yuran gave a small shake of her head, as if trying to clear it.
“Anyway, do not worry too much. Teacher is indeed an excellent teacher, but I have heard the other two are outstanding as well.”
“That’s true.”
“Deiare, I know well of that person. Even in Garusol, their name is widely known.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Here, she hesitated slightly.
“But Yul, of that person I do not know well. Embarrassing as it is, there is no one I can ask……”
“Yul Runberg. One of the Sword Saints of the Empire, also known by the title Guardian of the Imperial Family.”
I explained about Professor Yul Runberg just as she had hoped.
“In his thirties, he was already said to be unmatched in skill. He also serves as a direct knight to the Emperor, and what’s unusual is that he’s said to be of mixed blood between the Empire and another land.”
“A half-blood, yet a direct knight of the Emperor?”
“Yes.”
“That is strange. No, it is an incredible thing.”
Yuran nodded in admiration.
“Isn’t it usually the case that only one’s own people are chosen for such positions? That is how it is in our land. But the Empire does not discriminate, it seems truly an empire indeed.”
“Mm, I heard he achieved tremendous military merits, but… I don’t know the details either. Likely classified as confidential.”
“I see.”
Then, seeing the open notebook on the desk, she smiled faintly, quietly closed it, and began tidying up.
“It seems today’s study ends here.”
“Looks that way.”
I too began clearing the desk as she did.
Watching me for a moment, Yuran slowly nodded.
“Then since our study is done, I shall say this. Lian Gwendil, you have an excellent teacher.”
“You noticed?”
“To achieve so much in just a few days. There is no other explanation.”
I had been waiting for a chance to bring this up, but she mentioned it first.
That saved time, so I immediately spoke.
“You’re right. My teacher also told me to seek Yuran’s help. He said that if it’s about the Sky Guide, you would gladly assist.”
“That is true. Had you asked me to teach another secret art, it would have been to the death.”
Though slipping in such subtly frightening words again, she continued as if nothing.
“But the Sky Guide is different. The Sky Guide must be helped, even if the seeker is another’s disciple. In time, Benefactor will naturally come to understand this.”
“That sounds like you mean I don’t need to know now.”
“Just so. Even your teacher would not have told you yet. Teaching a newborn who has just taken its first steps to sprint—that is folly.”
“……”
I kept silent for a moment.
I debated whether to say it, but in the end, thought it best to.
“…Yuran. ‘Newborn’ or ‘child’ would be better words. The term you used is a curse word here.”
“Eh?!”
She leapt up from her seat, not as a joke but in genuine shock.
Her face flushed bright red in an instant, and she fumbled in panic.
The mask hanging above her head bobbed along with her frantic movements.
“Un, unforgivable! Truly, I was ignorant. Please know it was never my intent!”
“I understand. I won’t misunderstand, so please don’t apologize so much. It only embarrasses me more.”
“Even so…!”
Yuran fidgeted, at a loss for a while.
It took her even longer than when she had accidentally spoken her homeland’s tongue before she finally regained composure, coughing repeatedly.
Meanwhile, I only sat in silence, pretending not to notice.
“Mm, ahem. Hrrm!”
“……”
“…Forgive me. Let us begin again.”
“Please do.”
“Phew.”
Letting out a deep breath, Yuran’s demeanor changed completely from earlier.
So solemn was she that I unconsciously straightened my posture.
With a quiet but resonant voice, she continued her explanation.
“…The Sky Guide. By now you should know somewhat. It is the use of two as one. For that, the path must be wide and firm.”
“The energy meridians. You mean the gi-hyeol, don’t you?”
“The energy… yes, so it is. And I see your teacher has already solved that part for you.”
I nodded in affirmation.
“What comes next, then?”
“You must awaken your senses. Specifically, to be able to see, hear, and speak differently.”
Yuran raised her index finger and pointed in turn to her eyes, ears, and mouth.
“To see, to hear, to speak. That is the next step.”
“But this can only be solved by time and effort. That is why your teacher told you to seek my help.”
“Perseverance is the only answer.”
At her words, I nodded firmly.
She then pointed to my eyes and tongue.
“The body must be clean if the heart is to stand upright. From today, wash your eyes and tongue carefully every single day without fail. If you ask your teacher, he will surely show you the method.”
“I understand. And the ears?”
“That is the problem.”
Saying this, Yuran began rummaging inside her robes.
“Unlike the eyes and tongue, the ears are difficult to do by oneself. Nor is it easy to grasp the knack.”
“…That makes sense.”
“Therefore, it is best to first receive help from another and gain the feel.”
When her hand emerged, she was holding something slender.
‘Hm?’
What is that.
Before I could voice my question, Yuran tapped the chair beside her with her hand.
“Come lie here. I shall help you.”
“…Excuse me?”
Only then did I realize what she was holding.
It was none other than an ear pick.