Chapter 90
Royal Academy Yggdrasil Luminous Hall.
A long corridor that led to the main faculty building.
Since the walls were made of glass, bright sunlight shone dazzlingly inside.
Click, click.
The sound of heels echoed.
I walked down the empty corridor alongside Hilda.
The first to speak was Hilda.
“You must have heard about it. In this school, there is a system called ‘Scholar.’”
Of course I knew.
‘It was a policy where a professor raised their own direct disciple.’
I had once received such a proposal from Professor Ruber.
For the sake of the story’s progression, I had refused, though.
“I never intended to take on a Scholar. But the Academy says it’s mandatory. If I absolutely have to choose a Scholar—”
I kept walking silently after hearing those words.
Click. Hilda stopped walking and looked at .
“I will choose Student Villed as my Scholar.”
At those words, I turned back to face Hilda.
“……You’re not even going to ask for my opinion?”
In the radiant sunlight, Hilda gave a gentle smile.
“Yes, refusal is not possible.”
Just what.
What kind of intention was hidden behind this?
Out of all the students, she deliberately singled out.
I couldn’t figure out the reason at all.
‘Just curiosity? Wondering about the bloodline of the Four Great Families? Don’t tell , did she notice that I’m the Black Knight? No. There’s no way she could have found out.’
As my head grew tangled with thoughts, Hilda tilted her head slightly.
“That’s strange. From what I heard from the other professors, all the students want to beco a Scholar. Student Villed, you don’t seem very happy about becoming mine?”
I simply looked at Hilda without answering.
“Aren’t you curious why I chose you, Student Villed?”
Yes.
I was curious.
Since Hilda and I had no real connection.
“Hm……”
Hilda let out a thoughtful hum before finally replying.
“Do I really need to create a reason? I just like you. That’s all there is to it.”
“Is that truly all?”
Hearing my response, Hilda closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest.
Then she smiled faintly.
“I swear to Great Sage Gilley, every word I speak is true.”
“……”
Hearing that oath, I was convinced.
There was no falsehood in Hilda.
Because I knew exactly what kind of existence ‘Gilley’ was, I had no doubts.
I bowed my head lightly.
“……Understood. If you entrust , I’ll do it.”
“You made the right choice! Then……”
“But.”
I raised my head again and spoke.
“There is one condition.”
Hilda blinked, then smiled as if finding it amusing.
“Go ahead and say it.”
“Please keep it a secret for now that I am your Scholar.”
“……For now? If you say ‘for now,’ then how long exactly?”
“I don’t need a long ti. Three months will be enough.”
“……Hmm.”
Hilda thought for a mont, then finally spoke.
“That’s not such a difficult condition. But why such a request?”
“Last sester, I committed a wrong and received punishnt from the school. I don’t want others saying I’m receiving favoritism in such a situation.”
“Ah, right. That’s true. You were that child of the Dedenkman family.”
Her gaze carried a faint aning, but after thinking a little, Hilda smiled softly.
“Very well, I accept.”
Even from this short conversation, I had gained a hint.
‘She wasn’t interested in because I belonged to the Dedenkman family.’
Hilda only recalled afterward that I was of the Dedenkman line.
My origin hadn’t even crossed her mind.
“Thank you for granting such a precious opportunity. I’ll be in your care.”
I gave another polite bow.
I quickly judged that accepting was better than refusing.
Even in the ga’s storyline, Hilda’s Scholar didn’t hold much significance.
Because of that, becoming Hilda’s Scholar would not have a major effect on the main storyline.
‘Besides, even if I refused, Hilda would still keep her eyes on .’
If I beca Hilda’s Scholar, the number of tis we interacted would naturally increase.
I actually aid for that.
‘Rather than being left in the dark about why Hilda is interested in , it’s better to find out.’
She wasn’t a minor character, but a main figure of the second sester.
Through conversations, I would eventually learn why she chose .
“Alright then, I’ll be counting on you. My Scholar.”
Since I had more to gain than to lose, I shook hands with Hilda.
The very next day, classes began.
The main episode would happen two to three months later.
Until then, there was plenty of ti to rest.
So I thought I could spend my Academy life smoothly, without interference from anyone.
……But a leech had attached itself to .
“……”
I stopped walking and looked at the person in front of .
A woman with golden hair flowing beneath a nun’s habit.
“Brother, it’s a pleasure to see you.”
Angela.
She looked at intently with a faint smile.
I walked past her without reacting, making her smile aningless.
……Of course, that wasn’t the end.
“Brother, your class is finished, isn’t it? As far as I know, you have so ti before your next one. Would you like to go to the monastery with ?”
Even in the hallway.
“This cafeteria’s food is good, but the wine and bread of Briarflower Monastery are true delicacies. Won’t you co have so with ?”
Even in the cafeteria.
“Brother, what a coincidence, eting you here. Have you given any thought to touring the monastery?”
“Why are you even in the n’s restroom.”
No matter where I went, I ran into Angela.
And it wasn’t just for a single day.
As the days passed, Angela clung to even more.
“Today only, we’re holding a special monastery event, and you’ll even receive a commorative necklace from Briarflower Monastery! Though the chain is sold separately. Can you really pass up such an incredible opportunity?”
‘Completely unnecessary.’
The way she offered it as if doing a favor was ridiculous.
Even when I was heading back to the livestock shed after class, it was the sa.
“How long are you going to keep following .”
I turned my head back and spoke toward a nearby tree.
“……You noticed, I see.”
Angela stepped out from behind the tree with a sheepish grin.
“Brother. Please, I earnestly beg you to accompany to the monastery. ……And besides, there isn’t much ti left.”
It was just a short mont, but those last words she let slip felt awfully urgent.
“Not much ti left for what?”
“Ah, that…… the monastery’s public visiting hours are about to end.”
“……”
I fell silent at the sight of Angela looking slightly flustered.
Given her nature, once she latched onto soone, she never let go.
Perhaps it was better to go along with her, so at least she wouldn’t keep pestering with monastery invitations.
I changed my steps, no longer heading toward the livestock shed.
“Brother, where are you going?”
“You said to go. The monastery.”
“……What?”
Angela’s blinking eyes widened, and her face flushed red with delight.
“……Ah! You’ve made the right choice. To think you’d open your heart—God must have answered my prayers!”
“I’m only going because you’ve been annoying . Just for today.”
“Yes!”
……And so I arrived at the white building, Briarflower Monastery.
I looked up at the building and thought to myself.
I had been here once before. I recalled the events of just a few months ago.
‘It was inside Verdi’s barrier.’
It was here that Verdi resurrected Clara and fought desperately against the protagonist’s party.
‘But the feeling is completely different now.’
Of course, back then it was within the barrier, and the crimson sky gave the place a dreadful atmosphere.
Now, the bright sunlight blended with the surroundings, creating a sacred aura.
“Co, co! There are so many places I want to show you!”
Angela grabbed my wrist and guided around the monastery.
“Now, we must pray for repentance, so let’s head to the chapel on the second floor.”
Again, Angela clutched my arm tightly as she led the way.
“I won’t run, so let go of this.”
“No, I can’t. Guiding sinners is my calling.”
It was too botherso to argue, so I simply sighed lightly.
As I followed Angela, I looked around.
There was sothing that kept catching my eye.
「Saintess Succession Ceremony」
Parchnts with those words were plastered all over the monastery.
Just then, I overheard the voices of nuns lingering nearby.
“Who do you think will beco this year’s Saintess?”
“What do you an, it’s already decided.”
“Right, none other than Angela.”
“If it’s Angela, she’ll make a fine Saintess.”
Surpassing even the senior third-years, Angela, only a second-year, was receiving great trust and recognition.
‘In the ga’s storyline, Angela was also chosen as the Saintess.’
Yes.
It was already known that Angela would beco the main figure of the ‘Saintess Succession Ceremony’ a week later.
“Look at that tall guy. Isn’t he the rumored noble?”
“Just look at Angela, she doesn’t seem scared at all. She even brought him here to the monastery……”
On the way to the chapel, I heard the whispers of passing nuns.
It seed my reputation had spread all the way here.
“Don’t listen to them.”
Angela walked ahead without even glancing at as she answered.
“Do not mind what others say. If you truly repent your sins and are reborn as a new person, that is enough.”
Her voice was quiet enough for only to hear, yet it carried firmness.
‘Not that I cared in the first place.’
I didn’t respond and simply walked on, and soon we arrived at the chapel.
“Now, Brother, this is our Briarflower Monastery’s……”
Angela continued her explanation, but none of it reached my ears.
It overlapped with the mories of the fierce battle I had once fought here.
The stained glass glowed with sanctity.
Where Clara’s coffin had once rested, a podium for sermons now stood.
As I looked around, at so point Angela had sat down before the organ.
“Brother, this song is for you.”
Her graceful hands pressed the keys of the organ.
A gentle lody spread through the air, making even the atmosphere solemn.
I didn’t know much about instrunts.
But the sound felt warm.
Before long, the performance ended, and Angela lifted her hands from the organ.
“Brother, how was it? Do you now feel like repenting?”
“Well.”
The reason Angela had brought here was to offer prayers to God.
But I did not believe in God.
I believed only in myself.
……Therefore.
“I don’t want to repent.”
“……”
Angela smiled silently, but there was sothing lonely in her expression.
She remained quiet for a while before finally speaking.
“Yes. That is unfortunate. But it is fine.”
She rose from her seat and once again looked at with sparkling eyes.
As I instinctively sensed Angela’s determination to make repent, unease welled within .
She began walking toward .
“I know that guiding a sinner with a closed heart to repentance is not easy. So, to lead you on the path of repentance……”
Angela clasped her hands together as if in prayer and continued.
“I will visit your residence every day to provide counseling!”
“Don’t.”
Even when I answered sternly, Angela was unfazed.
“Great Sage Gilley, the prophet of the Goddess, also walked steadfastly despite every opposition and hardship.”
Angela suddenly grabbed my hand and leaned forward on her tiptoes, bringing her face uncomfortably close.
“I wish to follow that sa will.”
“……”
I didn’t say another word.
Yes.
She wouldn’t listen no matter what I said.
There was no point in wasting my breath refusing.
“Brother Villed needs a guide to lead him on the righteous path. I will take on that role, so I look forward to it.”
Angela extended her hand.
It was a gesture for a handshake.
“Let warn you in advance, that won’t an anything.”
I sighed lightly instead of shaking her hand.
“Whether it ans sothing or not—we’ll have to wait and see.”
Angela forcibly grasped my hand and shook it.
She gazed at with a benevolent smile, while I looked back at her with a blank expression.
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