Chapter 61

<060. Industry Award>

The hall is filled with applause.

All of it is for this Wolfram von Loeningen.

Ah, it’s so easy, Jefrin. I really like it.

The professor is crying, and the students are clapping.

Most of the children here have that kind of inclination.

They like things like reform or rebellion.

Ayla, who always stands out with her rebellious sense, even in areas that professors can't understand, messed up her grades this year and didn't take any classes, but on the other hand, it means that I, who Ayla calls a normal person and a partner in rebellion, can earn points just by pretending to rebel.

I love you. Thank you. I'll do well on the test. I won't forget you even after I graduate.

Dreams are a joke. My dream is to be a convenience store owner and run it for a thousand years.

But I can't reveal all of that.

I returned to my seat, maintaining a blank expression, and finally crossed my legs, grinning.

I did it. I pulled it off. I really did it!

I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't.

Out of the corner of my eye, there was pink. No, it was more black than pink, maybe it should be called black-pink. Really, it was an incredibly terrifying, strange mix of black and pink.

Who could have such dangerous thoughts?

“Prince Wolfram von Loeningen.”

Please.

Don't look at me like that.

Don't come near me with that crazy pink color...

“Get lost.”

“Yes. However, before I leave, may I ask a question? Can you answer it?”

“I will allow it.”

“...Yes. I dare to ask. Exactly when did you start... and how far have you planned?”

Hmm.

It's a bit of a lofty question.

But if I were to guess, it's probably about when you started preparing this thing and how far you've prepared it.

“...It’s a time you can’t even imagine.”

“...Is that so.”

So, it was probably since then?

Honestly, when a boy grabs clay, he first makes a knife, then a robot, and next a car. I just tried making a train once as a handy worker, and there were no trains in Jefrin, so I just tried to stir things up a bit.

“Yes. So, step back.”

“Yes. Since there is no place for me beside Prince Wolfram now, I will step back.”

“...”

“But someday, I hope there will be a place for me on the path of your great cause.”

“...”

***

Regina Siella watched Wolfram's back as he moved away, without saying a word.

Then she turned around, covered her face with both hands, and bowed her head.

No one must see her face.

This smile, no one can see it.

“...A time you can’t even imagine. When was it? Really, when was it?”

When he entered Jefrin? No, that’s ‘imaginable.’

So, it must have been from an earlier time, when he was called the ‘garbage prince’ in the royal family.

“Just how far are you dreaming?”

Regina Siella’s specialty is deduction and inference.

The most important quality required of the eldest daughter of the Siella family, which surpasses the Tristara family, is the ability to map out fragments.

That is, to piece together the whole from a single fragment and deduce the details. It boasts a work intensity similar to making a precise clock from fragments of garbage information.

But she could do it. Even though a metallic taste of blood came from her nose, Regina Siella could understand, even if only a part, of Wolfram von Loeningen’s plan.

“...You’re trying to turn the clock of the world, which has stopped for three hundred years, right, Prince?”

Beyond the eastern forest, deeper places. Beyond the western mountains, more rugged areas. The place where heaven and earth meet, at the end of the ice castle and beyond the desert.

Now, expeditions cost a lot, but if all these paths were connected by rail and steel horses ran on them?

Supply lines would become smoother, troops would move, and expeditions would begin.

If the first emperor united the kingdom and tribes to form an empire, he would connect and expand the empire even further.

“The man with the greatest dream since the first emperor.”

Grinding her teeth, she felt a deep frustration.

Not out of hatred for someone else, but self-reproach.

Why did she reject and underestimate him at first?

“Prince’s fiancée is the noble lady of the Tristara family... there’s no place for me as a lover.”

Not with a castle built on the weakest financial power, neither magic nor sword, can I stand beside Wolfram von Loeningen.

After all, he can easily get rid of annoying merchants by just slightly circulating the things he created.

And Wolfram von Loeningen trusts Ayla Tristara. As proof, he has already given the Tristara family, and specifically Ayla, the authority to handle ‘Magical Suite.’

“Moreover, he must be thinking of becoming the scale itself.”

This is certain.

Wolfram von Loeningen judges and keeps people by his own eyes.

Already, only famous people gather around him. ‘The Light Student Council President’ Yve von Loeningen. ‘Black Crystal’ Ayla Tristara. [Dagger of the Abyss] Rudyka Hotsan Shadow.

My talent as a magical merchant is sufficient, but... my current value is not that important.

When Wolfram chooses, the path to success opens.

For example, Milady von Sabre, the eldest daughter of the Sabre family, who is set to receive a title in her first year, defeated the top student in her year under his guidance.

“First, it’s time to lower my profile.”

There’s no way. The Wolfram faction is already complete. There’s still no place for Regina Siella in it.

“I need to plan to become the most shining supporting actor on the stage he’s preparing, from the shadows.”

After finishing her thoughts, Regina Siella lifted her head. Her face was once again composed with a neat smile.

“Oh. Wolfram von Loeningen. You’ve knocked me down three times. In the competition. And just now in the practical exam. And... right now, in the size of dreams and ambition. A complete defeat.”

Regina Siella chuckled. Her eyes sparkled.

Her eyes, deeper than those of a girl in love, were filled with incomprehensible emotions.

“Even if you don’t like it, I’ve fallen for you.”

With a pure laugh, Regina walked lightly to the street where artists mainly reside.

“First, I should order a portrait of Lord Wolfram to decorate my room. A life-size one would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

***

After that day.

I had to feel someone watching me from somewhere.

But the truly scary thing is that when I look, there’s no one there.

...I remember this story.

Where was it? When you open the Regina route, a message pops up while walking around the campus saying, ‘I feel someone watching me from somewhere.’

That means you’ve been chosen by Regina, and the Regina fans say it’s a good thing and talk about industry awards... that’s your industry, not mine.

“Why are you like that? Master.”

When I stopped, Partaush tilted his head.

“...No, no. It’s just that I feel something really ominous and troublesome... but I don’t know what.”

“Are you tired? That makes sense. Master’s physical strength is quite low.”

“...Hmm. Maybe.”

I tried to erase the image of that guy dyed in an unimaginable pinkish-black color from my mind.

He said I had to knock him down three times to open the route.

But I only knocked him down twice, so it shouldn’t open. If it did, it would be a bug. No matter how I count, it’s only twice.

“Let’s head back quickly. If Master collapses from exhaustion, it will be troublesome for me.”

“...Hmm.”

Following Yve’s advice, I decided to bring Partaush with me whenever I go out.

It seems to add a bit of royal dignity, and it’s not bad.

“By the way, didn’t the exam results come out?”

“...Hmm. They did.”

“How did it go? I’m curious.”

I smiled.

Do I need to explain?

***

When I returned to the convenience store, Ayla was waiting.

“Wolfram, how did the exam results go?”

“...Hmm.”

How should I explain it? If I don’t, it’ll be troublesome.

To avoid more trouble, I summarized it.

“It was rebellious.”

“...As expected. I knew it!”

She smiled broadly, grabbed my hand, and shook it vigorously.

Hey, hey. My arm is going to fall off. I’m not joking, my joints are in danger.

“...Let go. Ayla.”

“Oh, yes! ...Um.”

Ayla let go of my hand, her face turning red as she brushed her palms.

Her face is strangely red, maybe the vigorous shaking improved her blood circulation.

“How about you?”

“...Huh.”

At my words, Ayla spread her fingers in a V.

“For the first time, I won!”

“What?”

“The written test was a tie with a perfect score, but I strangely made a mistake in the practical. So, first place! From this midterm to the final exam...”

Ayla placed her hands on her chest, took a couple of deep breaths, and then answered with a broad smile.

“Ayla Tristara is... the top student in the magic department!”

Her smile was so pure and clear that I was momentarily stunned.

“...Good job.”

“Yes!”

“Rebellious.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Hmm. Really good job. Really rebellious. And... hmm.”

As I was trying to think of more compliments, I felt a hand grab mine.

“It wasn’t just me who succeeded in rebellion! Wolfram succeeded too!”

“...That’s true.”

Social development and magic subjects.

Highest scorer.

Wolfram von Loeningen.

“It’s a real rebellion we did together!”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Rebellion, rebellion!”

“Yeah.”

“Rebellion, I say!”

“...Yeah. That’s right.”

Well.

If you’re happy, that’s fine.