Chapter 41
The Duke continued speaking.
“Sarah of Saint Pola, but she was an artificial beast created based on the traits of a corrupted beast. There’s someone within the Order who made it. We haven’t identified them yet, but we will soon. If you had infiltrated the Order, you might have found out quickly—but that’s no longer possible.”
To explain, it was an artificial beast modeled after Pola’s bird. That beast got corrupted by a corrupted-type beast, which caused all the chaos.
“That much, I had predicted. But what I didn’t expect was… the moment the Gatra arrived, all those beasts disappeared at once. Why on earth did that happen?”
“Seems even the corrupted beasts were unlucky,” Irix said.
The Duke fell silent for a moment. It was a warning silence, but Irix didn’t care.
“I suspect you and your senior.”
“You’re saying… we solved the whole problem ourselves?”
“Yes.”
“No, sir.” Irix raised a hand.
“I’m just a regular student. I don’t know magic, swordsmanship, or any hidden powers.”
“Instead, you have the divine trait, Aether.”
“Even if I have the trait, I don’t know how to use it.”
For a moment, the Duke’s eyes fixed intently on Irix. But Irix ignored him.
“Your senior doesn’t have it either?”
“No. My senior is also just a regular student.”
Irix decided to lie down. What would he find out? Father wouldn’t be able to figure it out. It was true that the senior had Aether, but judging by how completely the Order was unaware, it seemed even Raugina had hidden it well. How exactly they managed that, I didn’t know.
“Are you really unrelated to your senior?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you by their side?”
“Because I saw them in a dream.”
“You want me to believe that nonsense?”
“What choice do I have? It’s the truth. Whether you believe it or not is your decision, Father.”
“Then, are you still by their side because of that dream?”
“No, because we’re friends.”
“So, you’re by their side because you like them?”
“Yes.”
What can he even do? As expected, Father can’t figure it out.
“Alright, Irix.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to investigate your senior. Thoroughly, down to the smallest detail.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You might uncover things you didn’t know. They may not be pleasant things. You might even find some disappointing truths.”
The Duke’s eyes bore into Irix, like a predatory bird of prey. But Irix met them calmly. Father, my heart isn’t your prey. It’s pretty tough.
“Answer me honestly, Irix.”
“I am.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“You don’t believe me, Father.”
The Duke spoke gently.
“Don’t make me laugh anymore, Irix. Until last semester, you didn’t have any close friends at school. Just two months ago, at most.”
“I did. You just didn’t find out.”
“I’ve watched over everything about you.”
“Not everything, I suppose.”
The Duke was still smiling, but his eyes were icy.
“Where are you from?”
“We don’t ask each other about private matters.”
“Not even curious?”
“No.”
“But I am. Very much so.”
“Ah, I see.” Irix didn’t waver. He could handle it—for now. He had faced this situation many times.
“Do as you please, find out whatever you want, but if you plan to harm, threaten, or coerce my senior, tell me first.”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“I’ll protect them.”
“What?” The Duke gave a dry laugh.
“Even if your senior is dangerous? Even if they’re a traitor or a spy like those who died before?”
“How should I know? We’re friends.”
“Your senior may not think the same way.”
“No, they do.”
Surprisingly, the Duke’s eyes softened at that. Irix had to pay close attention—it was unexpected.
“You really are close, huh.”
“Yes.”
“If you’re so close, why didn’t I know?”
“You must accept that you don’t know everything about me, Father. What can I do if you’re lacking?”
Eventually, the Duke could no longer hold back and stood. Irix asked from his seat.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
The Duke took a breath and said,
“Right now, I don’t think I can go any further. I don’t know anything about your friend. So we’ll talk later. I hope there will be something to discuss, for either of us.”
“Understood. But before that, there’s something I need from you, Father.”
“Alright, speak.”
Irix extended a hand.
“Just 5 Kalan.”
“Why so little?”
It was a trivial amount. Both the Duke and Irix could earn hundreds of times that amount just by breathing for five seconds.
“I borrowed it from my senior. I need to repay them.”
“Why did you borrow it?”
“To buy clothes.”
The Duke’s eyes went to Irix’s shabby outfit. It looked like it had passed through five different owners, some of them rough.
“Those?”
“Yes.”
“You borrowed money just to buy that?”
“Even these clothes aren’t free.”
Another silence. The Duke’s glare could turn any rebellious subject docile in a second—but not Irix. Like hitting a diamond with a hammer, it just made things worse. Eventually, the Duke gave up.
“Fine. I’ll give it to you.”
The Duke knocked on the door, and one of his aides appeared.
“What is it?”
After a brief exchange, the aide handed over the money. The Duke gave it to Irix.
“Here’s 1,000 Kalan. Repay your debt first, and use the rest for dinner. Make sure it’s extremely delicious and ridiculously expensive.”
“Yes, I will.”
Irix folded the bills and tucked them in his front pocket.
“I cleared the house you stayed at last time. I didn’t want you living in a place soaked in blood.”
Finally, it was Irix’s turn to feel tense.
“Are you saying I should move into the mansion?”
“Of course not. I’m uncomfortable living in the same house as you, no matter how big it is.”
The tension eased. Ah, then it didn’t matter what else was said.
“I just got a new place. Zephyr has the address, so follow him. I’ll contact you through Zephyr for a while.”
“Until when?”
“As long as necessary.”
“Can I change it?”
“You dislike Zephyr?”
“He’ll probably dislike me too.”
“Alright, whatever. Next, I’ll assign Maimon as your guard. Not as a retainer—he doesn’t know how. I’ll send a shortlist of candidates for you to choose someone you like.”
Irix looked at his father, meeting his gaze up and down for a while.
“You dislike Maimon too?”
“Yes.”
“Even so, stay with him. He was supposed to help you after you joined the Order. Zephyr too. Since you didn’t go, both have been idle for months, so take them.”
Zephyr would get upset if he didn’t work, and Maimon was lucky to avoid hardship.
“I’ll accept that.”
The Duke patted Irix’s shoulder and left. Moments later, the door closed behind him. Thud.
“Is the talk over?” Deputy Headmaster Foras asked, entering. Irix rose from the couch.
“Thank you for arranging a seat, Deputy Headmaster.”
He smiled gently.
“You are one of this school’s patrons. You’ve sent many excellent students here and supported them. His visits are always welcome.”
Irix bowed and left the room. Passing through the administrative office and going outside, he saw his senior standing by the window, looking out. Fortunately, their Aether had calmed.
The viper noticed Irix first, flicked its head, raised its wings, and flicked its tongue quickly. Forgetting the venom, it was a really pretty snake.
The senior turned.
“Finished?”
“Just finished.”
Irix held up the paper he’d received from the administrative office.
“What’s that?”
“The student record we saw earlier.”
“Why bring it?”
“Not particularly impressive—rather poor. Still, I take the copy they give every semester.”
Irix looked through the record. Very diligent, but nothing remarkable. Average grades, no special skills or extracurricular activities. Just attended school, taking only the required courses.
Then his eyes stopped at Elpini’s date of birth.
“We’re only one year apart.”
