MLWP 6

Chapter 6

“This is why I hate being interrogated.”

Sitting in the empty student cafeteria, Sillia grumbled. She had spent several days fending off an endless barrage of questions from the Defense Knights.

The Diaman mother and son had left in quite a hurry. Almost immediately afterward, the knights’ questioning began—so relentless that she wondered if they had anticipated this outcome and escaped before it started.

“It’d have been nice if they’d stayed a bit longer to share some of that questioning.”

She knew why they were being so relentless. The academy was close to the capital; news spread fast there. Sillia had answered their questions as earnestly as she could, but when it came to how the monster’s head was severed, she glossed over the details.

“It seems the young master of Diaman accomplished it.”

She threw all the credit to Fleure. He’d probably deny it, but since he fainted halfway through and remembered nothing anyway—well, he could hardly complain.

“If only I could just sleep for days…”

“Without eating? You need to eat something.”

Sillia turned to find Jullin Sarga standing behind her, wearing a slightly prim expression.

“You haven’t eaten properly while being dragged around, right? Here.”

Jullin sat down beside her, pulling out a small pouch filled with violet candies and held it out.

“How was it?” he asked.

“What was?”

“The monster. My guess is you’re the one who actually killed it.”

He was almost disturbingly perceptive for someone with such a pretty face.

“Don’t worry,” he added with a sly grin. “I’ll keep your secret.”

Sillia stared at him for a moment, then lifted the pouch.

“These wouldn’t be from the cafeteria, would they?”

“Nope. Imported.”

“Smuggled, then?”

Jullin raised an eyebrow, as if surprised she caught on so quickly. But of course she would—she’d seen soldiers pull the same stunts before.

“In a place this lax, smuggling isn’t exactly hard,” Sillia said evenly.

“Right? My customers are mostly fallen nobles or commoners from poor families—not big money, but better than nothing.”

For someone who looked like a delicate young noble, he spoke like a seasoned merchant—emphasizing his point with a circle made by thumb and forefinger.

“You’ve definitely sniffed around money before,” Sillia said sharply.

“Sharp as ever. Want to hear one of my secrets in return?” He leaned closer. “I told you I’m illegitimate, right? Sarga is my mother’s name. My father’s surname is Tarnia.”

“…‘That’ Tarnia?”

“You know it?”

Of course she did.

Andolf Tarnia, a commoner-turned-tycoon, had built the Tarnia Trading Company into a continental powerhouse with branches across nations. They had expanded into banking, becoming one of the continent’s most influential financial groups.

It left a bitter taste in her mouth—her own father had borrowed money from them once.

‘Meaning the Tarnian Company is on the long list of creditors our family still owes.’

Seeing her sour expression, Jullin replied casually,

“But really, I’m nothing to them. They don’t even acknowledge me as family. So you knowing my secret puts us on even ground, right?”

Now that he mentioned it, he had said something before—

“This shabby academy’s perfect for dumping an unwanted kid. My father stuck me here for exactly that reason.”

Unwanted, huh.

‘With that face?’

That seemed like a stretch. Hardly “unpleasant to look at.” Still, she had to be clear on one thing.

“That’s not the same. If people found out you were Tarnia’s bastard, you wouldn’t be the one hurt—they would. And if you’re telling me, someone you just met, then it’s not much of a secret, is it?”

She fixed him with a steady stare.

“Don’t dodge the question. Why are you really keeping my secret?”

Jullin let out a wry smile, as if she’d hit the mark.

“Sharp, as always. Fine, I’ll be practical. What’s the most important thing in business?”

“Money?”

“That’s basic. You can’t even start a company without capital.”

“Then credit.”

“That’s important later—after you’ve built a foundation. To expand, you need something else.”

“And that is?”

“Information. Whoever knows first controls the board. To lead a great trading house, you must be faster, sharper, and better informed than everyone else.”

“You’re saying you’re that kind of person, huh?”

“Not quite. But even an outcast like me knows the value of information. And right now…”

He paused, leaning in to whisper.

“…you’re my most valuable piece of information.”

“Me?”

Sillia replied flatly, pretending disinterest. His violet eyes sparkled.

“Your magic power is absurd. And your swordsmanship—exceptional. You’re a gem, still unpolished. I don’t know why someone like you’s hiding away in this backwater academy…”

He winked knowingly, as if he’d figured it all out. She sighed internally—he still thought she was the Tower Master’s illegitimate child. Should she correct him? Before she could decide, he murmured—

“That’s why, for now, it’s best if only I know.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You have to reveal your true worth dramatically—at the perfect moment.”

“…So basically, you’ll expose my secret whenever you think it’s useful?”

“Hey, I’m not that bad. My brothers might, though.”

His sharp violet eyes glimmered.

“Someone like you won’t stay hidden long. The real question is whether I’ll be at your side when you rise. For now, I’m content knowing I’m the only one who’s discovered you. Let’s call it… a strategic alliance.”

“…Alliance, huh.”

“Still, it’s a waste. With your talent, you could easily aim for one of the capital academies—like the Royal or Ahaim Academy.”

“What’s the point?”

Academies weren’t what mattered. She needed to hunt down the one responsible for all this.

“You could even outshine some of the capital’s top heirs,” Jullin went on. “Like Illord Heinz, for instance.”

Thud.

“…Who did you just say?”

Sillia shot to her feet so suddenly that, had the cafeteria been full, everyone would’ve turned to stare. She grabbed Jullin by both shoulders—hard enough to lift him slightly off the ground.

“W-wait! I appreciate the enthusiasm, but—!”

“Say that name again.”

“Gently! You’ll dislocate my shoulders!”

“Quit whining.”

She eventually released him. Jullin rubbed his aching shoulders, grimacing.

“Illord Heinz. He’s the heir of the Grand Duke Heinz family—currently a student at the Royal Academy. One of the leading candidates for the next Grand Magus.”

“He’s in the capital?”

“Yeah.”

Images flashed through her mind—Illord’s face, pale and unrecognizable in that mirror when she’d awoken after near death. The puzzle of her fragmented memories remained incomplete, but one thing was certain:

The reflection had been younger—a student’s age.

“Then…”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to the capital. Now.”

“What? With no plan, no money—?”

Before he could finish, another voice cut in.

“Sillia Bronyu?”

A student who had just entered the cafeteria blinked at her.

“The headmaster wants to see you.”

“I’ll go.”

Sillia slammed her fist down on the headmaster’s desk. The heavy oak groaned and cracked under the blow, making Principal Paxton’s face turn pale.

“You said this was a recommendation letter from the House of Diaman—to the Royal Academy, correct?”

“Y-yes, that’s right…”

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter—this was perfect. The Royal Academy was exactly where Illord was.

She’d go.
She’d find him.
She’d end this.

That single thought consumed her.

Wait for me, you bastard.

A low, chilling laugh escaped her lips before she realized it, echoing through the headmaster’s office—out into the school grounds beyond.

“Hmm? What was that sound?”

Not far from the academy, on a hill overlooking it, a man astride a black horse tilted his head.

“It… didn’t sound human, sir.”

“Not a monster?”

“If it were, the Defense Knights would have noticed. But that’s not what’s important right now—”

The man beside him, mounted on a brown horse, sounded anxious. The first man only shrugged.

“It was just a short trip.”

“Even a short trip means leaving the capital! This is reckless, even for you—”

“I slipped past the escorts fine.”

“Please don’t say it’s fine! Just thinking of the consequences makes my chest tighten.”

“You’re my loyal aide. You’ll handle it, right?”

The brown-haired man puffed up his chest with pride—then immediately deflated with a groan. His companion burst out laughing.

“All right, all right. There’s nothing more to see here. We’ll head back. With a teleport scroll, we’ll be home in no time.”

“I told you, the monster corpse has already been sent to the capital. You could’ve just waited!”

“I couldn’t help it—I was curious.”

It had been at least a century since monsters last roamed freely. For them to suddenly reappear now could only mean—

“…Something’s about to happen.”

For a moment, the light beneath his hood dimmed.

“Or maybe you just find anything magical interesting,” his aide muttered.

The man gave a soft laugh.

“Sure, let’s say that.”

Beneath his robe, strands of golden hair glimmered—catching even the faint light of the night sky.

“I’ll need to brush up on my magic soon,” he murmured.

In case I have to face one myself.

He didn’t say the last part aloud.

“Please, sir, enough with the magic talk,” his aide groaned.

“Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

The man on the black horse cast one last glance at the academy where the strange laughter had come from.

Something was stirring there—he could feel it.

And for some reason,
his heart was pounding with excitement.