Rudger led the way through the corridor of Theon's main building, with Yekaterina by his side.
Behind them, the royal guards of the Yuta Kingdom slowly followed.
Students watched the passing group with curious eyes, especially Yekaterina, with her snow-white hair, which was enough to capture the students' attention and minds.
"Who is that? She's incredibly beautiful."
"Look at those guards. They all look like knights. Must be royalty, right?"
"I've heard about her. Isn't she the Queen of Yuta Kingdom? Her appearance lives up to the rumors."
"That's Professor Rudger next to her, do they know each other?"
Students watching from afar whispered among themselves but most of them showed an 'oh, well' kind of reaction.
If soone else had been tasked with guiding a queen of another country, they would have let their imagination run wild about what was going on but this was Rudger Chelici.
"Well, if it's Professor Rudger, that makes sense."
Everyone just left similar impressions like this.
The image he had shown until now was more than enough to fulfill that role.
Moreover, the sight of Rudger walking with Yekaterina seed to fit very well.
The usually blunt and cold Rudger Chelici and Yekaterina, who wore a similar mask, were in so sense a very well-matched pair.
Finally reaching the President’s office, Rudger lightly knocked on the door.
"This is Rudger Chelici. I've brought a guest."
"Co in."
With the permission granted the door opened by itself.
Rudger led Yekaterina into the President's office while the guards waited outside.
The conversation they were about to have wasn't sothing that needed many ears listening.
President Elisa Willow smiled gently at Yekaterina and greeted her according to proper etiquette.
"Pleased to et you, Queen Yekaterina. I am Elisa Willow, President of Theon."
"I'm pleased to et you too. I am Yekaterina Volsbaya, Queen of the Yuta Kingdom."
Yekaterina also exchanged greetings according to the royal etiquette she had learned many tis.
Rudger quietly observed the two.
To an outsider, this might look like a breathtaking eting between people at the pinnacle, but from the perspective of soone who knew the truth, it looked a bit different.
'No matter how I look at it, that foolish queen is going to be overwheld.'
While Yekaterina was just wearing a mask, President Elisa was different.
She also wore a mask, but it was completely different from Yekaterina who desperately pretended to be strong to hide her weakness.
She was closer to trying to reassure the other party so they wouldn't be too scared.
The saying a wolf in sheep's clothing and a sheep in wolf's clothing fit perfectly when thinking about their relationship.
'But I can't help her.'
Rudger was officially a teacher at Theon, and naturally, if he had to take soone's side, it would be President Elisa's.
Moreover, this was a place where Yekaterina needed to demonstrate her competence as queen.
It was an important position that she had to go through as a leader who needed to lead the Yuta Kingdom.
Handling it for her would rather be an insult to Yekaterina.
'Honestly, it's funny that I'm even remaining in this place.'
Elisa hadn't told Rudger to leave.
Rather, it seed she wanted the invited Rudger to stay here.
'Is she curious about how I sohow ended up having such a connection with the Queen of Yuta Kingdom?'
If it weren't for Rudger, Yekaterina wouldn't have visited Theon to et with the President like this.
No, there would have been such an occasion, but it would have been much later.
In so sense, Rudger deserved the most credit for making this eting happen.
Being able to stay and listen to their conversation was probably an extension of that.
"I heard you wanted to talk with about natural resource extraction, Queen Yekaterina?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Huhuhu. That's good."
Elisa let out a low laugh and Yekaterina tensed up at that sight.
This was a place to discuss business.
She instinctively knew that the mont she let her guard down, she would get her nose cut off while her eyes were open.
"We're also reviewing that very positively, but as you know, with these kinds of talks, it's always easier to proceed when we set the 'extent' first."
"Yes. I agree."
"So shall we start 'adjusting' where we'll start and end from now on?"
The breathtaking exploration battle was about to begin.
* * *
Three hours after Yekaterina entered the President's office Elisa Willow wore a satisfied smile on her face.
"Hmm. Good. I think we've found a mutually acceptable agreent."
"...That's fortunate."
Yekaterina answered with a sowhat tired voice.
Of course, since she hadn't removed the mask on her face, her outward appearance wasn't much different from the beginning.
Only Rudger, who knew Yekaterina well, could notice it.
'She has definitely grown.'
Even from the standpoint of quietly observing from the side, it was an exhausting forced march.
He couldn't even imagine how tired Yekaterina must be, having experienced it directly.
Nevertheless, she was still maintaining her steadfast image that she showed to the outside world.
Her insides might be dying, but it was admirable just not showing it.
'Moreover, she drew out a compromise that could benefit both sides in a situation where neither side would give an inch. If we had to determine a winner, it would be the President's victory, but only by a narrow margin. In the end, it's a win-win.'
Theon would provide technology, information, and know-how related to natural resource extraction and receive a portion of the extracted resources.
Without Theon's help, natural resources would be nothing more than a pie in the sky even if they existed.
Nevertheless, they found a compromise ratio that wasn't a loss, so it was a satisfactory deal for Yekaterina as well.
"So from here on, this is a personal question unrelated to work."
President Elisa looked alternately at Yekaterina and Rudger with eyes curved like crescent moons.
"How did you two end up getting to know each other?"
"Ah, well, that's..."
Yekaterina's mask cracked montarily at the sudden question.
Of all things, who would have thought she would ask about her relationship with Rudger in this kind of place.
Rudger inwardly clicked his tongue at that sight.
If she gets flustered like that, anyone would think there must be sothing going on.
Given how sharp the President was, she must have noticed sothing just from that behavior.
"We t at the Night of Mystery. We joined hands there to restore the collapsed ley lines."
"Hmm. Is that so? For that kind of relationship, I didn't expect you to co visit Theon in person like this."
"I believe I already explained about that matter to you last ti, President."
"You did. However, I feel I need an explanation about so more detailed aspects."
"The detailed aspects and everything else, what I told you then was everything."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
At so point, the flow of conversation had shifted to between Rudger and Elisa.
Yekaterina was just listening tensely to their exchange.
'Th-they're not giving an inch to each other.'
It felt like sparks were flying between Rudger and Elisa.
Rudger was understandable since he had that kind of personality originally, but Theon's President whom she t for the first ti today was truly an impossibly scary person.
'No wonder she's this man's superficial workplace superior!'
Yekaterina evaluated Elisa Willow as Rudger's superficial workplace superior.
It was a natural title considering Rudger's position as a teacher at Theon.
Of course, his real workplace superior was First Princess Eileen.
While Yekaterina was making strange misunderstandings on her own, Rudger and Elisa continued their fierce battle.
In the end, Elisa was the one who raised the white flag first.
"Really. How can you not give even a single step?"
"I would if there was anything to give up."
Even when she launched one last attack, it was imdiately countered, making Elisa puff her cheeks slightly as if annoyed.
‘Wow.’
Yekaterina quietly marveled inside at how Rudger so easily handled the opponent who had made her sweat and struggle.
'He doesn't yield even to his workplace superior. What a good attitude!'
Yekaterina resolved to try using that soday, then belatedly realized she was the highest person in her country and despaired.
"Hmph. If you don't want to talk about it, fine."
Elisa issued an order of expulsion to Rudger.
Since they had finished all their talk anyway, Rudger and Yekaterina exchanged light greetings and left the President's office.
After joining up with the guards waiting outside, Yekaterina asked Rudger.
"Could you guide us around Theon?"
"What are you curious about?"
"Everything. It's also my dream to build an educational facility like this in our Yuta Kingdom soday."
"An educational facility, huh."
Rudger respected Yekaterina's thoughts.
Educational facilities are necessary for the country's future.
If all people with magical talent from their country go to Theon, the percentage of those who return to their holand isn't that high.
For nobles, their family becos a constraint that forces them to return, but commoners aren't bound by such things.
In so sense, it was no different from brain drain.
That's why many countries build universities, magic academies, and knight academies to attract talent.
Theon was the most famous and excellent among such magic academies, but it wasn't the only magic academy.
However, the Yuta Kingdom had almost no such educational facilities.
There weren't many to begin with, and even those were burned down during the civil war.
Though they're working hard on reconstruction now, Yekaterina decided to go one step further from there.
"I want to expand beyond reconstruction. For that, I think we need to see and learn from role models."
"Just copying won't guarantee success."
Other countries must have made such choices too.
Yet Theon still holds the top position because things don't work out just by copying.
"That's true. But if we only think about failure, we can't do anything."
"...That's also true."
So might say it's too unrealistic, too idealistic but Yekaterina led the civil war to victory with such a mindset.
She overturned an overwhelmingly disadvantageous war situation with a heart that doesn't give up and footsteps that move forward without wavering toward goals others think impossible.
Above all, what dwelled in that cold country was the most passionately burning heart.
"It will work out well."
So Rudger could only throw out such words of encouragent.
Yekaterina opened her eyes wide before softly smiling.
"When we do open it soday, I'll invite you in return."
"Looking forward to it."
* * *
Sedina went out to Leathervelk for work.
Though she should have been more cautious since she was tailed last ti, she still ca out because a reliable person was with her.
"Hwaaam."
The behavior of the brown-skinned man who yawned while interlocking his arms behind his head sowhat reminded one of a street vagrant, but he was Alex, one of U.N Owen' executives.
Just looking at his appearance, he was no different from a typical good-for-nothing but despite looking like that, Alex was an excellent knight and today, he was also Sedina's bodyguard.
"You didn't have to co like this..."
"I don't know about other things, but it's the leader's order. Besides, it won't take that long, right?"
"...But I heard you recently found a thread leading to the next level. Aren't you busy?"
"That's not for you to worry about."
After fighting with Luther, Alex was almost about to break through the wall but it was difficult to completely cross over, so now he was taking a bit of rest.
"More importantly, soone's following us."
Alex muttered in a voice only Sedina could hear.
Sedina unconsciously tried to look around but desperately suppressed it.
"Oh, good job not showing it."
"...Are they really following? I don't feel anything this ti."
"Yeah. I'm sure. Besides, didn't you say there were quite a few people tailing you last ti?"
"Yes. That's right."
"But now...I don't know if it's just my instinct being weird, but there's only one."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"But their skill is quite good. If I hadn't consciously tried to sense them, I would have missed them."
"...That skilled?"
"Looks like they called in a real expert since capturing wouldn't work with half-baked guys."
Alex pondered while Sedina watched Alex with anxious eyes.
"What are you going to do?"
"If I keep staying with you, they won't touch you. But leaving this uncomfortable tail as is doesn't feel right either."
"...Then how about catching them in reverse?"
"Catch them? How?"
"I'll separate from you. If I go sowhere without people like a park, they'll probably react."
"That's blatant. They'll notice it's obviously asking to be caught, won't they?"
"The opponent is a skilled expert. Even if they notice, they'll think this is their only chance and make a move."
"You're saying we'll make them take action even though they know?"
Alex smiled slightly.
"That's clever."
"Yes. So..."
"But no. My role is to keep you safe, and if I don't do that, the leader will scold ."
"Then..."
"Besides, you don't seem to know yet, but the opponent...they're using spirits."
"Spirits, you say?"
Sedina opened her eyes wide as if she hadn't known that much.
‘Still a rookie after all, huh.’
Alex thought that inwardly while nodding.
"I don't know what kind of person they are, but if soone who handles spirits is also tailing, it surely isn't with good intentions."
"Then..."
"Let's go to a nearby store for now."
Alex imdiately took Sedina to a nearby restaurant.
The three-story restaurant was one of the secret hideouts made up of capable agents despite its appearance.
"Wait here like you're waiting for food."
"What about you, Senior Alex..."
"I'll go catch them."
They intentionally sat by the window so the opponent could see.
Alex naturally got up from his seat and said he would go to the bathroom for a mont.
Sedina also played along and pretended to choose food while holding the nu.
No presence could be felt but since Alex said soone was there, there must certainly be soone, so for now the priority was to act like she hadn't noticed while assuming soone was there.
anwhile, Alex suppressed his presence and mixed with people while tracking the pursuer in reverse.
'It's subtle, but I can feel that flow.'
It was a trace so subtle he wouldn't have felt it before but Alex, whose senses had been sharpened further after fighting with Luther, could feel it.
Finally, Alex could spot soone wearing a robe between the alleyways.
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