Chapter 32
When Karin returned to the dormitory, there was not a single light in the building.
Perhaps it was only natural since it was late at night.
It was a night when the dawn stars shone, so the dormitory’s front gate must have been firmly closed.
She had even braced herself for sleeping outdoors, but fortunately, the window was open.
She slipped quietly into the room through the window, and her roommate was already asleep.
She would probably hear a word or two in the morning.
Karin carefully headed toward her bed and collapsed onto it.
As soon as she laid her body on the bed, her strength drained away.
It was the silent hour when everyone was asleep.
Normally, Karin herself would have already been sleeping.
Even as she lay comfortably on the bed, even as ti passed, her eyes remained wide awake.
…She was not sleepy at all.
After tossing and turning several tis, she pulled out the Branch of Life.
As she looked at the faint light emanating from the branch, she rembered what had just happened.
‘Villed.’
Since the beginning of the sester, he was a frightening man with whom she had not even wanted to exchange words.
He mingled with the worst kinds of noble students, playing the role of their leader.
Their misdeeds had grown worse by the day.
If the Princess had not appeared… who knew what might have happened.
Yes, an irredeemable thug—that was Villed.
‘And yet, in just a single month.’
Talking to him while looking into his eyes, she had been able to confirm it.
Villed was reflecting on himself.
Even the look in his eyes had changed.
He had beco a completely different person.
She could not help but be surprised.
A person’s nature could not change as easily as flipping one’s hand.
‘I thought it was just an elaborate act to deceive .’
At first, she had distrusted him.
She had always prepared herself to escape from his grasp, but such precautions had proven unnecessary.
The more she conversed with him, the more she felt there was no deception.
Of course, that did not an all of his past wrongs were erased.
‘All his support had been cut off.’
Perhaps being pushed to the edge had changed his heart.
Villed was a scion of the Dedenkman family, one of the Four Great Houses.
He was not soone who should be idling about in a livestock shed.
‘And yet, seeing how well he adapted…’
Perhaps even a villain like Villed had needed so sort of turning point.
‘Ever since that incident, he hadn’t caused trouble and had kept to himself quietly.’
At the very least, his desire to better himself had felt sincere.
And just as surprising as his mindset was the ability he possessed.
‘Villed the Incompetent. It was curious that he used two attributes during the sparring match, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary.’
Any student at Yggdrasil could do at least that much.
Karin herself could use two attributes as well.
But what stood out even more was—
‘His ability to handle Spirits…’
She had read many books, but she had never co across accounts of handling Spirits.
It was an obscure and little-known ability.
It hid considerable potential.
‘Perhaps… he really might accomplish sothing great.’
At Villed’s suggestion, she had joined him in writing a thesis on the relationship between Spirits and Totems.
It might turn out to be a breakthrough, in a good way.
The experints had also been successful.
The flas emitted by the Spirit t the Totem and brought about a great transformation.
It was a scene Villed himself likely had not seen.
Yet Karin had.
Though it lasted only a mont, she had been unable to conceal her excitent.
‘The Spirit had been smiling.’
It was the image of the Spirit that had erged from the Rotating Totem, dancing atop the flas.
The Totem had been enjoying its union with the Spirit.
Confirming that had only strengthened Karin’s conviction.
‘…Not many days left now.’
The school trip.
Rumor had it they would be staying in so grand mansion.
It also had a heavy impact on their test scores.
Because of that, she had faintly heard that the top-ranking students had already ford groups.
‘Will I be able to do well too?’
For Karin, whose scores were low, the school trip was just as important.
Teaming up with Villed, she wondered what results they would see in real practice.
Truly…
She looked forward to it…
Imagining that, Karin slowly closed her eyes.
Early on a weekend morning.
On days without classes, she would have liked to sleep until the sun was high in the sky.
But there was too much work to do for that.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I raised myself up from the hammock.
While about to wash my face to chase away the drowsiness, I spotted soone.
“Awake? Good morning.”
Against the dazzling backdrop of dawn, Lapin holding a lamb ca into view.
“You’re diligent too, huh.”
Lapin unfailingly ca to the livestock shed every weekend.
Her sudden appearances in the morning had only been surprising at first; by now, I was used to it.
Sotis she took naps, sotis she looked around at things, and by evening, she usually left.
‘Since Lapin can entertain herself, I’ll just leave her be.’
I quickly washed my face and then went into the storage room.
I lifted up the horn placed on a wooden crate in the corner.
Part of the Ice Dragon’s horn that Keirin had left behind on commission.
It felt weighty in my hand.
The exterior bore no scratches, and it was in rather good condition.
But the cut end was dirty with blood and flesh stuck to it.
It would need to be thoroughly washed before processing.
‘So this is how it’s done.’
Ssshhhh—!
I filled a bucket with water and put the horn inside.
I placed straw over the firewood and struck flint to light it.
Since the horn must not burn, I used less firewood to control the heat.
‘It should be left for about three hours.’
In the anti, I could spend ti taking care of the livestock.
‘Truly convenient.’
I had no knowledge of horn crafting whatsoever.
Goddess of the Animal Kingdom’s Accessory Crafting Set
Horn Type – Crafting Instructions
Boil the horn over low fire for 3 hours to remove residue.
Take out the boiled horn and…
Since the system explained the tips, I only had to follow what was written.
I pulled a frying pan out of a box in the corner.
“Did you eat before coming?”
I abruptly asked Lapin, who was playing with the lamb.
Lapin looked at and shook her head.
“…I knew it.”
I would have to prepare food for Lapin as well.
I cracked eggs into the pan and laid the prepared bacon on top.
I sprinkled parsley powder on the bacon and added so neatly sliced onions on the side.
With the sizzling sound of oil splattering, it began to cook.
‘I thought I might end up eating only eggs for the rest of my life.’
Thanks to Keirin’s commission, my living expenses were covered.
At the very least, there would be no risk of malnutrition.
Using a box as a table, I set down two bowls.
Just as I was about to portion out the food and call Lapin, she was already standing behind .
Had she co following the sll?
“Perfect timing. Sit down.”
The two of us sat on the floor without chairs.
I speared bacon with my fork and put it into my mouth.
But Lapin just sat there, not even holding her utensils.
She simply kept staring at .
Feeling pressured by her gaze, I put down my fork for a mont and spoke.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“Ah.”
Lapin glanced back and forth between the bowl and , then belatedly nodded.
Perhaps she had only just realized the food had been prepared for her.
“Thank you.”
Lapin answered as she picked up her utensils.
After we finished eating, I stood first, holding the dishes.
“I’ll do the washing, so you fill up that water bucket and leave it in front of the stable.”
Lapin frowned.
“That thing’s heavy, I don’t want to carry it.”
“I didn’t give you the al for free. You’ve got to pay for it sohow.”
“Ugh…”
As if to say she understood, she picked up the bucket and headed toward the faucet.
Thanks to Lapin’s help, I was able to finish my assigned work earlier.
After so ti, I looked into the bucket.
The once clear water had turned cloudy.
That should be enough.
I took the horn out of the bucket and soaked it in cold water to cool.
The remaining gri inside the horn had all dissolved away, leaving only pure bone.
Its weight had decreased significantly, and the inside was hollow.
‘Now it’s finally getting clean.’
After rinsing it several more tis with clear water, the once dirty horn glead with a white sheen.
‘Now I can begin the real crafting.’
I picked up the craft saw and knife from the crafting kit and started working.
I cut the horn and etched in a rose design.
‘It doesn’t even feel like I’m the one doing this.’
As though following predetermined lines, I rely touched it and the detailed work proceeded.
In the midst of intense concentration, I belatedly noticed Lapin had approached.
She watched as though she were seeing sothing fascinating.
Since she neither spoke nor interrupted, I let her watch.
After a while—
‘…Done.’
With a deep exhale, I lifted the completed necklace.
Frozen Dragon’s Soul
A necklace crafted from the core of an Ice Dragon’s horn.
Allows use of the horn’s inherent mana.
Greatly increases efficiency of inherent mana use.
A necklace with a white base and a faint blue glow.
The crafting rank was again set at ‘Master.’
An item of a level difficult to produce with a re student’s hands.
While I was quietly impressed, the owner of the necklace arrived right on ti.
“Oh? Hello, Lapin! You’re here too. It’s cozy here, isn’t it?”
Keirin greeted Lapin warmly.
Lapin nodded in reply.
“Yeah. It feels familiar, like the countryside.”
“Exactly! That’s the feeling! You really get it, Lapin!”
Anyone watching would think they were close friends already.
Keirin chatted with Lapin for a mont before turning to .
“Hey, boss. The item I asked for is—whoa, wait, is that it? Incredible!”
Keirin leaned in with sparkling eyes, almost uncomfortably close.
“As expected, boss! How did you make it in just a day? Did you stay up all night? I’ve got to pay you extra for this!”
“Enough. Just take it and go.”
Even answering him was tiring.
After pouring all my focus into making the necklace, the fatigue was imnse.
Keirin accepted the necklace and smiled brightly.
“Thanks! Now get so good rest!”
He was tactful enough to leave quickly.
After taking a few steps, he turned back to .
“Oh, right, I almost forgot.”
Had he left sothing behind?
I thought little of it, but Keirin was still looking at .
“You—Professor Ruber is calling for you.”
“…?”
What.
Why would that man be calling for ?
Second floor of the Yggdrasil Academy faculty building.
Professor Ruber and his assistant Lahan were on duty.
It was Lahan who first broke the long silence.
Stretching, Lahan adjusted his glasses.
“The freshn will be heading to the Recorox Grand Mansion next week. Ti really flies.”
For fifteen years, the school trip destination had been the sa place.
That destination was the grand mansion of an old noble family.
“Still not a single student has managed to clear it, right? It was the sa during my year.”
“That was eight years ago. Weren’t you fuming because you couldn’t reach the end?”
“Haha, was I? Well, it was the only assignnt I failed at Yggdrasil.”
Lahan scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.
“Maybe that’s why I’m a little excited this ti. There are quite a few promising ones. This year might be different.”
“You always put your hopes in strange places.”
“Call it an old regret. I always wanted to know what lay at the end of that mansion. Many professors are looking forward to it. You don’t seem interested, Professor Ruber?”
“It is only one among many assignnts, nothing more.”
“Hmm, true. You’re cold as always.”
Lahan smiled faintly, glancing at the papers on Ruber’s desk.
In the corner lay a student’s personal file.
“But really, I didn’t expect it. That you would choose that student.”
“Do you have an objection to my decision?”
“No, of course not. I was just surprised.”
Lahan’s smile deepened slightly.
“If it’s you, Professor, I’m sure you found the right answer. That’s what makes it interesting. That student, just a month ago, was…”
Knock, knock.
Soone rapped on the door, and Lahan stopped speaking.
“Enter.”
At Ruber’s response, the door opened with a sound.
“You called for , Professor.”
Black hair.
Eyes glowing with a vivid yellow, like the midday sun.
The student known as the worst inferior at Yggdrasil Academy was walking in.
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