Chapter 138
The Star Child nodded with a childlike expression.
“Not here to interrogate, just curious.”
I explained about Adela, Luri, and Savo.
I’d shared treasures from ruins and Ti Chaos Dungeons with them.
“…That’s how it happened.”
“The Desert Hierophant found its master, so that’s fine… but how did you get Luri contracted with the Fire Spirit King? And that boy Savo’s already wielding sword aura.”
“I don’t know.”
I hadn’t witnessed their awakenings, so I had little to say.
“And about Gilbert.”
“Hm. That young man wielded Stellar Force.”
With stories from the Cadet Duel Assessnt… I had to speak.
“He’s Gilbert Offer Cosmos. The last bloodline of the fallen Cosmos Empire’s Imperial Family.”
“….”
The Star Child gazed at the white rose tea with a profound look.
“Star Child?”
“Roughly.”
“….”
“I had a hunch. But hearing it from you feels strange. I searched the world for ages, and he was right in the Empire’s capital, of all places.”
He fell silent.
Gauging his mood, I continued.
“And about Nerjin.”
“Ah… that old kid.”
Of course he’d know.
Nerjin ntioned touching the Star Child’s gun once.
“You know him?”
Asked out of courtesy, despite the new knowledge and his consideration.
“Of course. Knew him when he was a young man in his thirties. By now, he’s probably 150. His back’s bent thrice over.”
My eyes shook.
‘That old?’
Didn’t realize he was that ancient.
“No idea how you t, but… is he doing well?”
“Yes. He’s enjoying his later years with his granddaughter Bianca, while preparing to fulfill his destiny.”
Nerjin’s destiny: conquering the first Ti Chaos Dungeon from the Cosmos Empire’s deepest dinsional research institute.
“He was scared of .”
“You knew?”
“Felt his gaze.”
His gaze… probably from the Brahmus incident.
It’d be stranger if he didn’t see the Star Child then.
“Did he say anything to you?”
“I heard bits before, but nothing specific since Brahmus.”
“Just an old man with a thick head. As a kid, he’d ask questions eagerly.”
“….”
“He’s probably anxious and worried. Help him out.”
“But why does Nerjin fear you?”
It didn’t add up.
Nerjin feared the Peacemaker, the Star Child.
Yet the Naless Revolutionary and the Star Child from the ecological park were friendly to him.
“When he escaped, the Peacemaker saw so blood.”
There was a story there.
“In his escape abroad, seven of forty mbers died, including…”
A suffocating tale…
The Star Child cut off with a hollow laugh.
“Enough. That’s for Nerjin to carry. He’ll co when he’s ready. Don’t push him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hearing my reply, the Star Child downed his tea and stood.
“Leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Stretching, he scratched his head.
“You’re doing well, Martin.”
“….”
He encouraged .
“I recognize you as a comrade, so no need to watch my every move. Act boldly. Your choices are mine. We’re bound by fate. …Though sotis, like today, I can’t resist satisfying my curiosity, so bear with .”
“….”
He was a good person.
“I’ll be off…”
“Wait, Star Child. Um…”
Not to tease him, but.
“Well, this ti…”
He wouldn’t scold too harshly after all that!
I showed him the Rosary.
Seeing the dim, weakened Rosary, his eyes widened.
“That’s…”
Before he could speak, it was snatched faster than my eyes could follow.
“….”
“….”
Staring at the Rosary with wide eyes, I had no words.
“Star Child, this…”
“Shall we start with a beating?”
“W-What?”
Thanks to rapid-fire excuses, I was spared under the guise of training.
But the Star Child still gazed at the Rosary with a complex expression.
“World Tree… World Tree, of course… Ugh. Yeah, World Tree… Hah. It’s great, but…”
“….”
No words.
The Rosary’s Stellar Force was supposed to stay full, as he’d told .
I’d spectacularly broken that.
“Well… good job. The Rosary will recover anyway.”
Scratching his head, he pulled a diamond chalice from his robes—the Chalice, one of the Cosmos’ Three Sacred Relics.
The two relics began resonating.
He dropped the Rosary into the Chalice and tucked it away.
“I’ll hold onto it for now. Relics recover faster together.”
“Okay.”
With a tired look, the Star Child vanished in a flash.
‘Phew.’
Didn’t expect him to get that mad.
Was reviving the World Tree not enough to calm him?
I’d hoped for praise, though I didn’t think I did great.
‘Is there sothing about the Rosary I don’t know?’
Whatever.
Ti to rest.
I’d finished everything for now.
Telling the Star Child about Gilbert and Nerjin felt relieving.
I trudged upstairs to my room.
Closed the door and collapsed on the bed.
I’d slept plenty on the rescue ship, but the fatigue lingered.
‘…Need to shower.’
My eyes slid shut.
***
“Master.”
“….”
Soone woke .
No need to guess who—only one person wouldn’t trigger Wild Instinct’s alarms.
“Master, wake up.”
“Five more minutes…”
Rolling over, I pulled the blanket around .
“No, you can’t… There’s a guest…”
“Guest…?”
I sat up reflexively.
Blinking groggily, I looked beside .
Co to think of it… it’d been a while.
“Lilac…”
“Yes, Master. Lilac’s right here.”
“Okay…”
That’s enough.
“Ah! Master! Don’t lie back down!”
Lilac hugged and pulled up as I tried to collapse again.
“There’s a guest…”
“Who…?”
“They said they’re from the Academy, but I don’t know…”
Academy?
I perked up a bit.
Putting strength into my body, Lilac relaxed and stepped back.
“Lilac.”
“Yes.”
I almost asked what they looked like, but…
“I’m back.”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Welco back, Master. I’m so happy you returned safely.”
Right.
Had to say I was back.
“So, what do they look like?”
“They wore a robe and had a long white beard.”
“Hmm.”
An Academy teacher?
I’d seen a few like that.
Professor Villemon from Herbology ca to mind, but he had no reason to visit.
“Alright, I’ll go see.”
Getting out of bed, I was still in my cadet uniform and robe.
If not for the guest, Lilac might’ve scolded .
“Um, Master. If it’s not rude, one mont.”
“Hm?”
Lilac stopped , reaching for my face.
She gently smoothed my hair.
“Just a mont…”
Muttering, she adjusted my clothes, fixing the collar and smoothing wrinkles.
Her touch was dizzying, waking fully.
“All done!”
She looked up with a pure smile.
“Master?”
“…Oh, thanks.”
How could I not love her…
Downstairs, soone sat on the living room sofa.
Nerjin was hosting a robed old man.
“Heh, I see.”
Nerjin smiled with rare interest, like chatting with a peer.
“Oh, welco, President Martin.”
Spotting , Nerjin stood and bowed.
“Sorry to disturb you after a tiring conquest.”
“No, if you deed them worth it, I’ve no complaints.”
anwhile, Lilac had set tea and pastries on the table.
As Nerjin and Lilac went upstairs, only I and the unknown old man remained.
Wild Instinct (Lv 4) sounds the alarm. The old man exudes overwhelming power.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) suggests checking the directory to identify them first.
If both skills were this insistent, I’d better be cautious.
“Pleased to et you.”
Just as I was about to open Know-It-All’s directory.
“Cadet Martin.”
He spoke first.
His voice was familiar… recently heard…
Raising his wrinkled hands, he removed his hood.
“We’ve t before.”
The old man’s appearance was revealed.
White hair and beard flowed endlessly.
He wore a mage’s robe.
‘My goodness.’
Him, here… with …
“…How could I not know?”
First, I greeted with utmost respect.
“Principal Lukfels.”
The principal of Imperium Academy.
The researcher who created the Dive Tunnel.
Perhaps the busiest man in the world.
Great Sage Lukfels.
‘No wonder the voice was familiar.’
It matched the AI from the Dive Tunnel.
“Congratulations on the World Tree’s revival.”
Straight to the point.
“Well… it happened.”
“But I’ve taken a hit.”
“A hit?”
Know-It-All (Lv 4) deduces: Sending key Academy cadets to a Grade 5 Ti Chaos Dungeon, under reconsideration warning, requiring multiple Platinum Knights, must’ve drawn criticism and pressure from all sides.
Fair enough.
I’d wondered too.
Why was it approved?
“The Star Child of the Peacemaker.”
“…!”
That na, here?
“He asked to look after you.”
“…I see.”
So that’s the backing I had.
Was the Star Child acquainted with the Great Sage…?
“That’s why I’m demanding so compensation.”
Compensation.
His visit and this topic were unexpected.
Great Sage Lukfels felt… emotionless, like a machine.
Not entirely, but talking to him didn’t feel like talking to a normal person.
“From you.”
“?”
“This.”
Great Sage Lukfels pulled a newly designed Cadet Handbook from his robes and handed it to .
Taking it, I was dumbfounded.
It felt like waking to find soone had taken a loan in my na and sent a bill.
“What’s this…”
Before I could finish, Lukfels was gone.
“…Haa.”
Sighing deeply, I stood.
You’ve contracted with Great Sage Lukfels. The alliance between the Peacemaker and Imperium Academy will play a major role in preventing future Academy disasters!
Acquired 3,000 achievent points.
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