Chapter 75

When the door to the Dean's office was knocked, there were three others in the room besides the Dean.

They were instructors and the chief researcher, each from Kiriharu, Ludansha, and Yuraba.

"Oh, does the Dean have an appointment today?"

Kilnenko, the Ludansha short spear instructor, said this with a proprietorial air and opened the door—

"!? This is..."

The unexpected presence of the person there changed his expression to a serious one.

"I was called by the Dean, so I have come."

Riig = Green Demon = Rumania entered the Dean's office.

The people from Kiriharu and Yuraba also seemed surprised.

The Dean was from Tsuvra—one of the "weakest" among the seven nations of the Union.

Of course, it was entirely possible to call a student, but this time the person was different.

It was common knowledge among those who knew the politics of the Union that the Green Demon clan was one of the top clans in Rumania.

Even if the Dean, the highest authority in the school, could not easily summon someone.

"Thank you, Lord Riig. Thank you for coming all the way."

"Dean, I am a student here. Please don't use honorifics."

"...Understood. Riig."

The three people, including Kilnenko, were even more surprised by this exchange.

It was enough to make them speculate that Tsuvra and Rumania had grown closer, and there was even a sense of ease.

"Would the instructors please step out?"

"Ah, no, but—"

"This is not a 'request' but an 'order' as the Dean."

"...Yes."

The three people, with a look of "I don't agree" on their faces, left the room.

After seeing them off, Riig said,

"Is it all right? They don't know yet that the Dean's nephew has recovered."

The Dean's nephew had already been freed from the symptoms of poisoning, thanks to the leaves of the Dragon Kidney Flower.

The Dean was mentally weak, and the three people had been trying to take advantage of that. No, not just the three, but quite a number of people had been approaching the Dean.

Some were whispering irresponsible words like "I will help you" or "Let's take revenge on Ponsania." Some even said, "Why don't you step down from the Dean's position and take care of him?"

"Anyway, it will be known soon. ——I was surprised, Riig, that you even obtained the leaves of the Dragon Kidney Flower."

"Lord Silvester already had them. My efforts were in vain."

"You don't need to be so modest. I heard that you sent adventurers, and thanks to that, Lord Silvester was saved."

"If Lord Silvester says so, then it might be true. I didn't see it myself, though."

In fact, Riig had only heard from Hikaru what had happened in the Lesser Wyvern battle. No matter how skilled Hikaru was as an adventurer, he couldn't do much against a dragon.

That's why it was surprising that Silvester had honestly said he was saved. It was like exposing his own weakness.

"Riig. Lord Silvester is... a person with a great capacity, who can carry the future of Tsuvra. He doesn't lie."

"Is that so?"

"I am truly grateful for this. I want to thank you, but... to be honest, I don't know what you want. If it's the Dean's position, it would be better not to help Lord Silvester, right? Lord Silvester said it was 'the kindness of the Green Demon clan'—"

"Such a convenient story is hard to believe, isn't it?"

"...Unfortunately. Our history has been too hostile to accept it as kindness."

"No, I don't expect our relationship to improve overnight. I didn't send him to save Lord Silvester. If you want to thank someone, it would be better to thank him."

"Him? The adventurer who saved Lord Silvester? ...Do I know him?"

"Yes. A student of the academy."

"Oh!"

The Dean, who had been sitting, exclaimed with delight.

"Such a talented student! What is his name?"

"Hikaru."

"———Huh?"

"Probably you know. He recently enrolled. Hikaru."

Suddenly, the Dean, as if he had a dizzy spell, sat back down in his chair.

"Black hair, black eyes...?"

"Yes."

"Quite young...?"

"Yes."

"...I see... No wonder Professor Mikhail likes him. The professor doesn't care about personality as long as the student has talent."

The comment about personality made Riig's lips curl unexpectedly.

"As you say, Hikaru's personality is twisted."

"You seem to be quite close to that student?"

"Not at all. I can't let my guard down when talking to him. I never know when he might stab me."

"Why did you ask such a person for help...?"

"He is skilled."

The Dean straightened his back, and the chair creaked.

"Understood. I will thank Hikaru at some point. But since you made the request, I want to repay you. Money? I can't give you the Dean's position, though."

"No, this is just a gesture of goodwill. ——But I don't expect you to believe me. How about this: when I am in a difficult position, please help me. Within your means, of course."

"..."

The Dean looked at Riig with suspicion.

"...Do you have something troubling you?"

"Unfortunately, it's hard to have a normal conversation when you start with suspicion."

"I told you. Our history is not simple. Do you want to talk about it? About how Rumania deceived Tsuvra and took their territory 260 years ago? Or more recently, how Rumania made a Tsuvra official fall from power four years ago—"

"Yes, yes, I know. What I'm trying to say is that this is a 'negative vortex.'"

"...A 'negative vortex'?"

Riig nodded.

"The vortex rotates, and its speed increases year by year. Our relationship keeps getting worse. But someone has to stop this vortex. I want to be the one to drive the first stake."

The Dean thought it was a naive and idealistic statement.

But the young man from the Green Demon clan of Rumania who said it conveyed a sense of resolve.

"I want to believe, but..."

"I understand. My words have no persuasive power."

"Do your family members know your thoughts?"

"...No."

For the first time, a bitter expression crossed Riig's face.

"I have supporters, but most are no different from the Rumania you know."

"I see—"

After a few more words, Riig left.

In the end, he did not accept any visible form of "thanks."

"'A stake in the negative vortex...'"

The Dean murmured Riig's words again.

Riig left the Dean's office and went outside. Passing by the field, he noticed them.

"?"

Professor Mikhail was laughing with his arms crossed, saying things like "lame" and "put more effort in."

Behind him, Professor Mirei was napping in the shade.

The problem was the students lying at Professor Mikhail's feet.

Their practice swords were scattered, and they were lying flat, breathing heavily.

Among them were Riig's friend Roye and a student known for his great skill in the great sword class.

And,

"...Hikaru?"

The black-haired, black-eyed boy, Hikaru, was struggling to stand up, putting strength into his legs.

"What, what, only Hikaru stood up!? Besides, Hikaru, you lack stamina too much!"

"Shut up... I was the only one fighting continuously..."

"Yet you didn't take a single hit!"

"That's my strategy... Besides, these guys are too tough... How many times do you think I kicked them?"

"Want to fight me last!?"

"No. I'm going home... I'm at my limit."

Hikaru, looking exhausted, started to walk.

"What happened?"

Riig chased after Hikaru and called out to him.

"...Don't talk to me now. I feel like I'm going to vomit."

"Even Hikaru has moments like this?"

"..."

"Looks like you had fun?"

"Where? Drenched in sweat and covered in mud... I feel terrible."

"You look refreshed."

"Shut up."

"Even Hikaru has a sense of camaraderie?"

"No."

"Roye seemed happy, didn't he? To get attention from Hikaru?"

"...Riig, is this some kind of revenge?"

"Just a coincidence. Anyway—"

In the end, Riig followed Hikaru all the way home.

It seemed like he was teasing him, but in reality, he was worried. Riig couldn't fully gauge Hikaru's true abilities, but his physical strength seemed age-appropriate. That's why he decided to see him home.

He was a bit disappointed when he realized how close Hikaru's house was.

"...Riig, I didn't ask you to see me home..."

Hikaru seemed to understand his concern.

"Yes. This is my pure goodwill."

"...Ah, right. Then I won't think anything of it."

Hikaru said this and went into his house.

"'I won't think anything of it'—the difficulty of making someone think that way."

Riig turned around and left.

The conflicts between the seven nations run deep. It's good when there's a common enemy, though.