CHAPTER 55………..
I Hope to Be the Secret Sponsor of the Tyrant –
“……What?”
“If you use a magical device, a person can fly, right? But isn’t it possible to fly solely using human technology, without a magical device?”
“…….”
I was so taken aback that I couldn’t respond. Alfeo leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs.
“Well, it’s a rather far-fetched idea, but if you invent it, the course of the war would definitely tilt more in our favor.”
Gaining the upper hand in the air.
In my previous life, the final stage of war was always aerial combat.
‘He really is a genius.’
I couldn’t help but admit it once again.
I felt a shiver run through me for a moment but didn’t show it, answering instead:
“Indeed, the most frightening enemy in battle is the one you can’t see.”
As I nodded, Alfeo’s eyes widened.
“You’re the first person to figure out my intention this quickly.”
“Do you think I brought you here carelessly?”
“So you really mean to consider my research topic seriously?”
“Yes. Let’s start right away.”
It was Alfeo who looked more surprised at my bold decisiveness. He cautiously pointed at my head with his index finger.
“……Are you hurt?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Ren, who had been watching this, suddenly grabbed his finger. Alfeo stared at Ren, bewildered.
“What are you doing?”
Ignoring Alfeo, Ren asked me:
“Should I break it?”
Alfeo’s face turned pale.
“Y-you’re joking, right?”
But with Ren’s unrelenting grip, Alfeo’s face turned an even deeper shade of blue.
“P-please! Professor!”
“Enough joking around… everyone, get up now.”
I sighed and stood.
“Volunteer work starts this afternoon.”
Seeing Lennox’s puzzled gaze, I let out a small laugh.
“Oh, you haven’t heard? I’m the supervising teacher today. I told the other volunteer students to come this way…”
Knock, knock.
“Oh, they’re here already. Come in!”
At my words, someone opened the door and entered.
At that moment, a chilling sense ran down my spine.
“Is this the right place?”
“I think so?”
Murmurs and whispers filled the room.
I hesitated at the sheer number of students.
‘Is this a dream?’
I thought only three or four students volunteered every year.
‘Then why are there so many?’
The crowd was large enough to fill an entire class.
One of the students spotted where Alfeo was sitting and shouted:
“Hey, it’s Senior Alfeo and Senior Ren!”
“Really? Come quickly, everyone!”
“Can we just stay here and go volunteer together?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
I realized why so many had come.
‘Alfeo… Lennox…’
They were the most famous students at the academy, and both were participating in this volunteer activity.
‘I didn’t expect to witness the power of influencers like this.’
It was bad news for me.
‘Do I have to manage all these kids?’
For a moment, my head spun, but I couldn’t just send away the students who came to volunteer.
Most were girls, but there were some boys as well, likely from the swordsmanship department given their build.
‘This side must be Lennox’s fandom.’
And the girls… maybe half-and-half?
One shy girl spoke up.
“Um… is Professor Jacqueline the one supervising here?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The student sighed in relief and smiled.
Kids this age still didn’t fully understand certain things.
The volunteer location this time was the Asteria Temple in the Holy Kingdom.
Recently, there had been frequent exchanges with the Seriel royal family, so the faculty chose this temple as the site for the volunteer activity.
Like most temples, Asteria also served as an orphanage, but due to its size, it housed more children than most imperial orphanages.
Upon arrival, except for Lennox, the students looked like they regretted coming.
I wasn’t thrilled either.
‘But I didn’t come voluntarily!’
It felt unfair.
Then, a plump middle-aged man, presumably the head of the temple, appeared. With a kind expression, he greeted us warmly.
“Welcome. It must be chaotic with so many children, right?”
“No, it looks wonderful.”
I wasn’t lying.
The children here seemed much more cheerful and happy than at other orphanages.
His gaze toward the children was warm.
“I’m Daniel.”
“Clemens Jacqueline.”
After exchanging greetings lightly, I asked:
“Is there anything we should do?”
“Just have fun playing with the children. That would be very appreciated.”
“Chores are fine too, like laundry…”
“Haha, I can’t let you get your precious hands dirty.”
Daniel waved his hands.
“Here at the academy, social status doesn’t matter, so feel free to make use of us.”
I smiled innocently while hiding my mischievous intentions.
‘So fandom activities should stay inside the academy… don’t follow me here.’
I planned to teach that lesson firsthand.
But he shook his head.
“How could I let such delicate hands get dirty? The children just need to play, eat, and grow healthy.”
“Oh… right.”
Finally understanding his meaning, I smiled awkwardly.
Daniel just wanted the children to run and play healthily.
‘What a rare, kind person…’
I had intended to give students who came to fangirl a hard time, so it was a little disappointing.
I addressed the students.
“From now on, you’ll be playing with the children here.”
“Ugh…”
“Ah, I can’t play with them, they’re too advanced!”
I stepped closer to the student who said that.
“Why, why are you coming?”
“Just saying it’s cute. So cute I want to bite it, you know?”
“Eek!”
The student stepped back, genuinely frightened.
According to Alfeo, my nickname at the academy was “the witch.”
I was the only one who had forced the unstoppable Emily’s group to be expelled.
‘No wonder they listen to me so well.’
At first, I was annoyed because the nickname was similar to what Mion called me, but I realized it could be useful to reinforce obedience.
“Alright, no long talk. Each of you take three children. How you play with them is up to you.”
I gave a mischievous smile.
“If even one child says they’re bored, something very interesting will happen.”
“Yes, sir.”
Not wanting to know what this “interesting” thing was, they quickly dispersed.
“Would you like to take a look inside while you’re here?”
Daniel warmly invited me. I accepted without refusing.
‘Pretend to leave, sneak around, and catch anyone slacking off.’
I had already given Alfeo a heads-up.
‘If anyone even slightly slacks off, remember them all.’
I intended to use Alfeo’s mischief to my advantage.
Following Daniel’s guidance, I entered the temple’s annex.
“This is the dining hall. Here is the prayer room. This is the art room.”
“I see… the structure is unusual.”
A gallery inside a temple?
“It’s a few hundred years old and was converted from a castle. Occasionally, generous people donate paintings, and we use this space as a gallery for that reason.”
“I understand.”
I nodded. While admiring the gallery, I paused at a painting on the wall.
It was a rather old portrait.
“This person is…”
A young nobleman held a boy in his arms. He wasn’t wearing priestly robes, so likely a noble, but why is his portrait here?
“That is Duke Andreas.”
I recalled that the Duke Andreas family was the largest donor here.
‘So that’s why it’s here.’
Clearly, the temple had suggested it first.
With his portrait here, even a high-ranking noble couldn’t ignore the temple.
And other nobles could be encouraged to donate using this portrait as an example.
‘Maintaining patrons this way… not bad.’
I could use this method if I ever run a shop.
The boy in the portrait had the same hair color as the Duke but different eye color.
The Duke’s eyes were blue; the boy’s were purple.
Daniel noticed where I was looking and spoke first.
“The one in the Duke’s arms is Duke Andreas’ son.”
“I see…”
My gaze lingered on the son rather than the Duke.
‘Why does he look so familiar?’
For some reason, I couldn’t look away from the painting.
