Chapter 138 : Chapter 138
Chapter 138
The Star Child nodded with a childlike expression.
“Not here to interrogate, just curious.”
I explained about Adela, Luri, and Savo.
I’d shared treasures from ruins and Time Chaos Dungeons with them.
“…That’s how it happened.”
“The Desert Hierophant found its master, so that’s fine… but how did you get Luri contracted with the Fire Spirit King? And that boy Savo’s already wielding sword aura.”
“I don’t know.”
I hadn’t witnessed their awakenings, so I had little to say.
“And about Gilbert.”
“Hm. That young man wielded Stellar Force.”
With stories from the Cadet Duel Assessment… I had to speak.
“He’s Gilbert Offer Cosmos. The last bloodline of the fallen Cosmos Empire’s Imperial Family.”
“….”
The Star Child gazed at the white rose tea with a profound look.
“Star Child?”
“Roughly.”
“….”
“I had a hunch. But hearing it from you feels strange. I searched the world for ages, and he was right in the Empire’s capital, of all places.”
He fell silent.
Gauging his mood, I continued.
“And about Nerjin.”
“Ah… that old kid.”
Of course he’d know.
Nerjin mentioned touching the Star Child’s gun once.
“You know him?”
Asked out of courtesy, despite the new knowledge and his consideration.
“Of course. Knew him when he was a young man in his thirties. By now, he’s probably 150. His back’s bent thrice over.”
My eyes shook.
‘That old?’
Didn’t realize he was that ancient.
“No idea how you met, but… is he doing well?”
“Yes. He’s enjoying his later years with his granddaughter Bianca, while preparing to fulfill his destiny.”
Nerjin’s destiny: conquering the first Time Chaos Dungeon from the Cosmos Empire’s deepest dimensional research institute.
“He was scared of me.”
“You knew?”
“Felt his gaze.”
His gaze… probably from the Brahmus incident.
It’d be stranger if he didn’t see the Star Child then.
“Did he say anything to you?”
“I heard bits before, but nothing specific since Brahmus.”
“Just an old man with a thick head. As a kid, he’d ask questions eagerly.”
“….”
“He’s probably anxious and worried. Help him out.”
“But why does Nerjin fear you?”
It didn’t add up.
Nerjin feared the Peacemaker, the Star Child.
Yet the Nameless Revolutionary and the Star Child from the ecological park were friendly to him.
“When he escaped, the Peacemaker saw some blood.”
There was a story there.
“In his escape abroad, seven of forty members died, including…”
A suffocating tale…
The Star Child cut off with a hollow laugh.
“Enough. That’s for Nerjin to carry. He’ll come when he’s ready. Don’t push him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hearing my reply, the Star Child downed his tea and stood.
“Leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Stretching, he scratched his head.
“You’re doing well, Martin.”
“….”
He encouraged me.
“I recognize you as a comrade, so no need to watch my every move. Act boldly. Your choices are mine. We’re bound by fate. …Though sometimes, like today, I can’t resist satisfying my curiosity, so bear with me.”
“….”
He was a good person.
“I’ll be off…”
“Wait, Star Child. Um…”
Not to tease him, but.
“Well, this time…”
He wouldn’t scold me too harshly after all that!
I showed him the Rosary.
Seeing the dim, weakened Rosary, his eyes widened.
“That’s…”
Before he could speak, it was snatched faster than my eyes could follow.
“….”
“….”
Staring at the Rosary with wide eyes, I had no words.
“Star Child, this…”
“Shall we start with a beating?”
“W-What?”
Thanks to rapid-fire excuses, I was spared under the guise of training.
But the Star Child still gazed at the Rosary with a complex expression.
“World Tree… World Tree, of course… Ugh. Yeah, World Tree… Hah. It’s great, but…”
“….”
No words.
The Rosary’s Stellar Force was supposed to stay full, as he’d told me.
I’d spectacularly broken that.
“Well… good job. The Rosary will recover anyway.”
Scratching his head, he pulled a diamond chalice from his robes—the Chalice, one of the Cosmos’ Three Sacred Relics.
The two relics began resonating.
He dropped the Rosary into the Chalice and tucked it away.
“I’ll hold onto it for now. Relics recover faster together.”
“Okay.”
With a tired look, the Star Child vanished in a flash.
‘Phew.’
Didn’t expect him to get that mad.
Was reviving the World Tree not enough to calm him?
I’d hoped for praise, though I didn’t think I did great.
‘Is there something about the Rosary I don’t know?’
Whatever.
Time to rest.
I’d finished everything for now.
Telling the Star Child about Gilbert and Nerjin felt relieving.
I trudged upstairs to my room.
Closed the door and collapsed on the bed.
I’d slept plenty on the rescue ship, but the fatigue lingered.
‘…Need to shower.’
My eyes slid shut.
***
“Master.”
“….”
Someone woke me.
No need to guess who—only one person wouldn’t trigger Wild Instinct’s alarms.
“Master, wake up.”
“Five more minutes…”
Rolling over, I pulled the blanket around me.
“No, you can’t… There’s a guest…”
“Guest…?”
I sat up reflexively.
Blinking groggily, I looked beside me.
Come to think of it… it’d been a while.
“Lilac…”
“Yes, Master. Lilac’s right here.”
“Okay…”
That’s enough.
“Ah! Master! Don’t lie back down!”
Lilac hugged and pulled me up as I tried to collapse again.
“There’s a guest…”
“Who…?”
“They said they’re from the Academy, but I don’t know…”
Academy?
I perked up a bit.
Putting strength into my body, Lilac relaxed and stepped back.
“Lilac.”
“Yes.”
I almost asked what they looked like, but…
“I’m back.”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Welcome back, Master. I’m so happy you returned safely.”
Right.
Had to say I was back.
“So, what do they look like?”
“They wore a robe and had a long white beard.”
“Hmm.”
An Academy teacher?
I’d seen a few like that.
Professor Villemon from Herbology came to mind, but he had no reason to visit.
“Alright, I’ll go see.”
Getting out of bed, I was still in my cadet uniform and robe.
If not for the guest, Lilac might’ve scolded me.
“Um, Master. If it’s not rude, one moment.”
“Hm?”
Lilac stopped me, reaching for my face.
She gently smoothed my hair.
“Just a moment…”
Muttering, she adjusted my clothes, fixing the collar and smoothing wrinkles.
Her touch was dizzying, waking me fully.
“All done!”
She looked up with a pure smile.
“Master?”
“…Oh, thanks.”
How could I not love her…
Downstairs, someone sat on the living room sofa.
Nerjin was hosting a robed old man.
“Heh, I see.”
Nerjin smiled with rare interest, like chatting with a peer.
“Oh, welcome, President Martin.”
Spotting me, Nerjin stood and bowed.
“Sorry to disturb you after a tiring conquest.”
“No, if you deemed them worth it, I’ve no complaints.”
Meanwhile, Lilac had set tea and pastries on the table.
As Nerjin and Lilac went upstairs, only I and the unknown old man remained.
Wild Instinct (Lv 4) sounds the alarm. The old man exudes overwhelming power.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) suggests checking the directory to identify them first.
If both skills were this insistent, I’d better be cautious.
“Pleased to meet you.”
Just as I was about to open Know-It-All’s directory.
“Cadet Martin.”
He spoke first.
His voice was familiar… recently heard…
Raising his wrinkled hands, he removed his hood.
“We’ve met before.”
The old man’s appearance was revealed.
White hair and beard flowed endlessly.
He wore a mage’s robe.
‘My goodness.’
Him, here… with me…
“…How could I not know?”
First, I greeted with utmost respect.
“Principal Lukfels.”
The principal of Imperium Academy.
The researcher who created the Dive Tunnel.
Perhaps the busiest man in the world.
Great Sage Lukfels.
‘No wonder the voice was familiar.’
It matched the AI from the Dive Tunnel.
“Congratulations on the World Tree’s revival.”
Straight to the point.
“Well… it happened.”
“But I’ve taken a hit.”
“A hit?”
Know-It-All (Lv 4) deduces: Sending key Academy cadets to a Grade 5 Time Chaos Dungeon, under reconsideration warning, requiring multiple Platinum Knights, must’ve drawn criticism and pressure from all sides.
Fair enough.
I’d wondered too.
Why was it approved?
“The Star Child of the Peacemaker.”
“…!”
That name, here?
“He asked me to look after you.”
“…I see.”
So that’s the backing I had.
Was the Star Child acquainted with the Great Sage…?
“That’s why I’m demanding some compensation.”
Compensation.
His visit and this topic were unexpected.
Great Sage Lukfels felt… emotionless, like a machine.
Not entirely, but talking to him didn’t feel like talking to a normal person.
“From you.”
“Me?”
“This.”
Great Sage Lukfels pulled a newly designed Cadet Handbook from his robes and handed it to me.
Taking it, I was dumbfounded.
It felt like waking to find someone had taken a loan in my name and sent a bill.
“What’s this…”
Before I could finish, Lukfels was gone.
“…Haa.”
Sighing deeply, I stood.
You’ve contracted with Great Sage Lukfels. The alliance between the Peacemaker and Imperium Academy will play a major role in preventing future Academy disasters!
Acquired 3,000 achievement points.