Published at 14th of November 2020 08:02:27 PM
Chapter 222
Chapter 222 – The Student Alliance’s Current Status
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
The Student Alliance’s Current Status
In the end, Paula found herself a place to stay . When Hikaru and Lavia returned home, she told them about it and quickly left . They couldn’t even stop her .
The next day, Hikaru and Lavia headed to the academy, which was just around the corner from their apartment . Lavia wore the winter clothes that they ordered to be made last summer; a skirt as blue as her eyes with a belt around her waist . The fabric itself was of high-quality, the kind nobles used, but overall it looked simple and subdued .
「Aren’t you glad you get to wear that?」
「I sure am! Unfortunately, the coat covers it . 」
The cold weather required one to wear a coat, therefore concealing her attire . Still, Lavia was excited to wear her new clothes .
「I guess Paula’s working . 」
「Yeah…」
Paula said she’d get a job to pay for the place she’d be staying at . She probably didn’t want to completely rely on Hikaru . 2 . 5 million gilans had already been deposited to Hikaru’s account as payment for delivering Princess Kudyastoria’s letter to Bios . While it was a designated request for Hikaru, to him the money was for the whole team .
「Paula’s quite stubborn, huh?」
「You didn’t know that? We’re actually similar . 」Lavia said .
Now that she mentioned it, she can be stubborn too, Hikaru thought . He was a little worried leaving Paula alone, so he left Drake with her . It could be seen as being overprotective, but better safe than sorry .
Drake needed to absorb mana to regain his powers, but Paula’s six points on Mana was plenty enough, so it shouldn’t be a problem . In fact, Lavia’s fifteen was just too much .
Somehow feels nostalgic…
The gate to the academy was open, though only very few students entered . Hikaru looked up at the buildings, wondering if there were professors around . Beyond the falling snow, he spotted a few windows with lights on .
It was quiet . There was no one in the training grounds . Just a blanket of white snow . Only Hikaru and Lavia’s footsteps echoed in the dimly-lit halls . Rooms where light spilled from seemed awfully warm to the eyes .
They arrived at Katy’s laboratory and knocked at the door .
「It’s open . 」Katy’s voice came from inside .
There used to be a lot of researchers here, but Hikaru could only detect one person . He opened the door to find Katy alone . Her lab coat was creased . Her dashing look was nowhere to be seen . The lab had always been messy, but it was worse this time . Reports and materials were strewn about .
Katy didn’t look in their direction . She was too focused on the material on her hand .
「You can keep on coming back, but my answer will always be the same . I’ll be here all throughout winter working . I don’t mind if there’s fewer people in the admin building . Heck, I don’t care if it’s empty . Now you say you can’t do that cause rules and whatnot and complain that you can’t go home . But in the first place, this is a research institution—」
「It’s me, Professor . Not an admin staff . 」
「Hmm?」Katy raised her head, her face blank . 「H-Hikaru…? Oh…」
She got up, staggering towards Hikaru . Kicking the piles of books aside, she slipped on some papers and fell flat on the floor .
「Professor?!」
Hikaru approached Katy and grabbed her hand to help her up .
「Hikaru! What was that huge dragon stone?!」
Sponsored Content
「I knew you’d ask that . 」
「It keeps on popping in my head! What are you gonna do about it?! I’ve been doing my studies to distract myself, and I’m making so much progress!」
「That sounds like a good thing, though . 」Hikaru said, looking around the room . 「Where are the others anyway?」
「They’re either home, or at the capital . Winter in Forestia is the political season, after all…」There was sadness in her voice .
Hikaru had this impression that the researchers didn’t come here because they respected Katy . They wanted to get close to her for personal reasons . If they liked her as a woman, they’d be here even during winter . In fact, it would be an opportunity to spend time with her . It would then make sense that perhaps they were after her status .
「You sure have it rough . 」Hikaru said .
「Can’t say I expected sympathy from you . The moment I got this tattoo, I was destined to only get men from Kotobi . 」
Katy had a flame tattoo on her face, just like her brother in Pond’s Thieves Guild, Kelbeck . It was a symbol of her family and anyone who recognized it would know that she came from a notable family of Magic Item Specialists .
「I think you’re pretty even with your tattoo . 」Hikaru said . 「It’s just a shame you’re too focused on research to actually have the time to look around you . 」
「I’ll take the compliment, but that second part was unnecessary . Now, how about some tea? Come in, Lavia . 」
「O-Okay . 」
Lavia casually skimmed through the reports—showing just how much of a bookworm she was—as she closed the door behind her .
It was warm inside . Seeing Katy dump a bunch of tea leaves into the teapot, Lavia opted instead to make the tea herself . In the meantime, Hikaru and the professor cleared some space for them so sit .
「Can you tell me what’s going on with the rest of the Student Alliance members?」Hikaru asked as he removed his coat .
「Hmm, let’s see . To put it simply, Claude and Luka are living under the same roof in Jarazack . 」
Sponsored Content
Claude and Luka, hailing from Kirihal and Ludancia, respectively, were the main stars of the mass wedding . They stayed in Jarazack for the time being in fear of being killed if they remained in their homelands .
「How are they?」
「From what I heard, Jarazack’s king, Alexei von Jarzard Jarazack, has taken a liking to Claude and asks him to spar every single day . The king is overjoyed since he couldn’t find someone who could match him before . 」
「I-I see . 」
It was all because Hikaru configured Claude’s Soul Board to improve his swordsmanship . What happened afterwards, he couldn’t be bothered . Claude had to take care of himself .
「Apparently, he’s called the Master Swordsman of the North now . 」
「Ohh… A Master Swordsman, eh?」
Hikaru let out a groan . Claude had just gotten a little stronger, but compared to Ponsonia’s Lawrence D . Falcon, he was just above average . He had nothing on the captain who had raised his Great Sword level to 6 through sheer hard work and even had a point on Heaven Sword .
「You’re not happy about your friend getting famous?」Katy asked .
「That’s not it . 」
Unhappy? No . Worried? Yes . Becoming famous meant more people would pick fights with him . Claude would have a hard time with just his mediocre skills .
Overall, Forestia’s weak as it is . I might have to show him some time that there would always be someone better than him .
There were many skilled fighters in Ponsonia as a result of continuous clashes with Quinbland . Forestia, on the other hand, had not seen war in a long time . That could explain the power struggle within the Allied Nations .
Because of this, adventurers in Forestia were also weaker overall . They considered Claude, who only had four points on Sword, to be one of the strongest . Yet in among Ponsonia’s knights, he would only be on the same level as the commanding officers .
Sponsored Content
「How’s Luka?」Hikaru asked .
「She’s looking ahead and making personal connections in Jarazack . 」
Impressive . I guess I didn’t have to worry about a thing .
「As for Ivan… I’m sure he’s fine . 」Hikaru said .
「That’s just mean . 」
He’s probably sparring alongside Claude, Alexei, and Professor Mikhail anyway .
「What about Catherine?」Lavia cut in . She was worried about her reading companion .
「She’s back in Euroba . It’s the same as when the Student Alliance was brought up . They’re just waiting to see how things would turn out . I think she’s trying her best not to stand out . 」
「Silvester is also back in Zubura, right?」Hikaru asked .
Katy nodded .
「It’s been proclaimed that Silvester will take over as head of the family after graduation . He makes his official debut into the world of politics and high society this winter . Oh, and League was also named as successor to the Green Ogre clan . He already made his debut too . 」
「I see…」
League seemed to be aimlessly wandering about, his mind unreadable, but deep inside he had a vision of Forestia a hundred years from now .
He would have to fight Silvester on the surface, but this is League we’re talking about . I’m sure they’ll work together behind the scenes and achieve something grand .
「Now it’s my turn to ask questions . 」Katy said .