Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Professor Ruber moved the interview forward from the afternoon to the morning.
I didn’t bother asking Lahan, but it was probably because of Lapin’s interrogation that he adjusted the schedule a little.
From here on out was a story I had never seen before, not even after clearing every ending of the game—the story after Lapin was saved.
There was no answer key, so I had to create one myself.
A way for the canon and Lapin to coexist.
……While being locked up in the detention cell, I kept thinking about it.
The interrogation of Lapin was just ahead.
Under normal circumstances, Lapin probably wouldn’t be executed or imprisoned, but I couldn’t feel at ease. I always had to assume the worst-case scenario.
Because of that, I had even thought that I might have to reveal to Ruber alone that I was the Black Knight, accept the conditions he wanted, and reach a compromise.
‘……Fortunately, there’s no need for that.’
Because I had been given an opportunity.
I let out a light breath and faced the man before me alone.
Black hair, average build.
Sharp eyes, a blunt-looking impression—a man in his forties.
A genius who had entered Yggdrasil at the age of eleven, and upon graduating at twelve, became a full professor.
This man was one of the greatest magicians of this century.
The imperial mage and professor of Yggdrasil—Ruber.
He had clearly noticed that I wasn’t incompetent.
He probably didn’t know that it was an ability related to handling spiritual beings, but he seemed to recognize it as a ‘special ability.’
‘An experiment, huh…….’
I knew what kind of ability Ruber possessed.
It was probably true that he had recreated a situation similar to when Kunking went berserk and conducted an experiment.
According to Ruber, during the experiment, he had tried using water infused with Spirit Grass, but it hadn’t worked at all on the test subject.
In other words, it meant he had realized that I had used a healing ability.
‘At this point, lying and saying I have no ability…… won’t work at all.’
Right.
He hadn’t even interrogated me about whether I had an ability.
Ruber had already reached a conclusion as naturally as water flowing.
Now, deceiving him was impossible.
If I denied having an ability, it would only make me seem even more suspicious and draw further doubt.
In the worst case, I might even end up hostile toward him.
‘Honestly, I’d already expected a day like this to come sooner or later.’
I steadied my breathing and organized my thoughts.
The reason why Ruber, an imperial mage, bothered to hold the position of professor at Yggdrasil…….
It was to create a ‘blade to stand against calamity.’
And the proposal he had made to me this time was probably meant to turn me into that ‘blade.’
……It seemed Ruber was determined to recruit me.
“As you know, Finders is a department every student wants to enter. Just enrolling grants you a certificate that allows you to freely enter even the restricted areas designated by the Empire. On top of that, there will be extraordinary benefits.”
“I know.”
“And yet you refuse, despite knowing that. It seems you don’t like me.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. I just don’t like being bothered.”
“That makes no sense. I’ve already heard that you’re Professor Hilda’s Scholar.”
Ruber narrowed his eyes and looked at me.
“I’m jealous. Why is it that you won’t accept my offer?”
At Ruber’s words, I casually glanced at the clock placed on the table beside me.
……Just as expected.
The hour hand wasn’t moving.
‘Dimensional transfer spell.’
The entire room had been moved to ‘another space.’
If Lahan were to open the door to Professor Ruber’s office, what he’d find there wouldn’t be us, but an empty room.
Because of that, there was no chance of Lahan eavesdropping on our conversation from outside the door.
With a slightly more relaxed expression, I opened my mouth.
“I accepted Professor Hilda’s Scholar offer because it looked easy. There haven’t been any particularly difficult classes so far. I do appreciate that Professor Ruber has evaluated me highly for some time now. But honestly, it feels burdensome. I merely happened to use some kind of ability by chance.”
Ruber had noticed that I possessed an ability.
I couldn’t pretend to be incompetent.
……Then all I had to do was make thorough use of that fact.
“Still, if you truly want it, then if you accept three conditions, I’ll follow your proposal as you said.”
Ruber closed his mouth for a long while after hearing my words.
“……Listen here, Mister Dedencman.”
Ruber looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Are you proposing a deal with me right now?”
“You could say that.”
I said it with an easy smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
“Well, it’s not like I particularly want to go to Finders anyway, so I have nothing to regret.”
Villed shrugged his shoulders and acted relaxed.
“If anything, it’s the professor who’d regret it, wouldn’t you say?”
“…….”
Ruber was left speechless.
Regret? Him, Ruber?
If he were to lose a talent like Villed, it would be Ruber who suffered the loss.
And Villed himself was saying that straight to his face.
……What kind of arrogance was this?
Ruber was a dream-like existence to all students. Everyone enrolled in this academy to become a great magician like Ruber.
And yet, this guy called Villed…….
He had never seen a student like this before.
It had been a long time since Ruber felt such a fresh stimulation.
If it had been another professor, they wouldn’t have tolerated such impudence—they would have scolded him or stood up and ordered him out.
But Ruber didn’t do that.
Rather than feeling angry…… it was the opposite.
In the end, Ruber couldn’t hold back and raised the corner of his lips just like Villed.
Smiling, he opened his mouth.
“……Has your liver popped out of your body, Mister Dedencman.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so genuinely.
“You’re audacious beyond measure.”
Ruber didn’t think Villed was merely bluffing.
It was one of two things.
Either his mind was completely gone.
Or he possessed the conviction and confidence that he could succeed anywhere.
Ruber judged it to be the latter.
“You’re probably the only student who would refuse special admission and instead propose a deal to a professor.”
Ruber clasped his hands together again and replied in succession.
“State the first condition.”
“Please transfer the operating rights of the livestock shed and the surrounding land to me, up until graduation.”
“I am aware of the evaluation that you have managed the livestock shed well. But why would someone like you insist on doing such a menial task.”
Villed shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth.
“Well, is there really a reason? I just do it because I like it.”
“……You like it? Livestock shed activities?”
“Yes. Feeding the livestock grass and stroking them is the joy of my life.”
At first, Ruber couldn’t believe Villed’s words.
However, looking at his unwavering, clear eyes…… it didn’t feel like a lie at all.
“For the first time, I felt fulfillment in life, and when I work quietly at the livestock shed, my head feels calmer. That’s how much I like the livestock shed.”
Villed answered while narrowing his eyes slightly.
“To the point where I feel offended that you just referred to livestock shed work as ‘menial.’”
Ruber smiled and nodded.
“I apologize for my slip of the tongue just now. I will convey this matter properly to the dean. What is the second condition?”
“Please sell me the island where the comprehensive exam was conducted.”
“……The island?”
Ruber continued, wearing a puzzled expression.
“As you saw during the comprehensive exam, that island has no resources whatsoever. It is a worthless uninhabited island located so far away that it takes half a day by Grand Galfell to reach it. Even so?”
“Yes.”
“Your proposals are full of things I simply cannot understand.”
Ruber nodded once more.
“I will mention that to the dean as well. State the third condition.”
“Please allow the cadet I recommend to enter Finders through a special exception.”
“Who is it?”
“Lapin.”
Upon hearing that, Ruber stared silently at Villed, his fingers still interlaced.
It was because he was curious about Villed’s intentions.
“Do you believe she will be able to keep up with Finders’ classes?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
Villed shrugged.
Finders was an elite department that required high performance ability.
It was an environment that someone with merely average grades could never endure.
“But doesn’t that depend on how Lapin makes up her mind? If she thinks she wants to keep up with the classes, then she will.”
……It depends on her resolve.
If she wants to keep up, she can.
In other words, Villed clearly acknowledged Lapin’s potential and talent.
Ruber understood the implication of his words.
But that wasn’t enough.
“There is something you are overlooking. Lapin—she is what Miss Astrid mentioned…….”
One of the enemies within the academy.
……A witch.
“Lapin may be a subordinate of the Witch.”
“That’s precisely why I’m making this proposal.”
Ruber furrowed his brow as if surprised by those words.
“I will diligently monitor her by her side. If she plots anything suspicious, I will report it immediately to you alone, Professor Ruber.”
Villed extended his hand.
“I can even guarantee it right now through a Mana Contract.”
A Mana Contract was absolute.
It meant he had that much confidence.
Ruber shook his head.
“That won’t be necessary. I understand your resolve, and that is sufficient. I will proceed with the third proposal as well.”
“Thank you.”
Villed replied as such and withdrew his arm.
Ruber let out a breath and looked at Villed.
“A rumor will inevitably spread that you entered Finders through an autonomous major special exception. Not only your peers, but even assistants and seniors will not look upon you favorably. Can you handle that?”
“If I cared about things like that, I would’ve withdrawn on the very first day of disciplinary action.”
“A satisfactory answer. Take it.”
Ruber held out something golden.
It was a compass that signified one’s membership in Finders.
Villed accepted it.
“That concludes our business. You may leave now.”
Tick, tick…….
The hour hand inside the clock began moving again with sound.
“Thank you, then.”
I gave Ruber a polite nod and stepped outside the door.
‘……Why did this work?’
As I stepped out and followed Lahan’s guidance, that thought filled my head.
‘This actually worked, seriously?’
Honestly, it was surprising.
I hadn’t expected him to accept all three proposals, so I had just thrown out what I wanted.
If it worked, great. If it didn’t, well, it’d just be a bit disappointing, right?
I thought that if even one of my proposals was accepted, it would already be a considerable gain.
And yet, he accepted all of them.
‘……Does he want to recruit me that desperately?’
Objectively speaking, excluding the abilities of my animal friends, my own abilities were miserable—to the point where they couldn’t even be compared to first-year Scholars.
In the end, I must have been able to produce these results only by borrowing the power of my animal friends.
‘But Finders…… will I really be able to keep up with the classes?’
It wasn’t just the difficulty of the classes.
The students attending them together were also a problem.
A place filled with protagonists, whether villains or heroes.
Would I really fit in there?
‘……I don’t know. It’s already a decided outcome anyway.’
On the contrary, attending Finders’ classes might become an advantage.
I’d be able to closely observe the protagonists, and if they made mistakes or deviated greatly from the canon, I could subtly help them.
‘Just like during the comprehensive exam, it could change into a development completely different from the canon. I’ve gained a chance to notice that early.’
Good is good.
I decided to think positively.
Following Lahan’s guidance, I entered the detention cell again.
And then Lahan brought Lapin back out.
“Villed, I’ll be back.”
“Alright.”
Lapin didn’t take her eyes off me even as she followed Lahan. I waved to her until she completely disappeared.
Since Professor Ruber had allowed Lapin’s entry into Finders, she would only undergo a very simple interrogation and be released in the end.
After all, I had enough confidence in Lapin to even propose a Mana Contract for her.
‘Just like how Shurk’s corruption was stopped through <Animal Farm>, the connection between the Witch and Lapin must have been severed too.’
Lapin would no longer be corrupted.
But…… questions still remained.
‘I couldn’t put Lapin into <Animal Farm>.’
Last night, when everyone was asleep, I secretly conducted an experiment.
I tried, but only a system message stating that she was a special entity appeared, and it was impossible to place her inside <Animal Farm>.
‘Is it because she’s both an animal friend and a person at the same time?’
Lapin was an animal friend of a form I had never seen before.
If she was released here, there would be quite a lot I’d need to learn together with Lapin.
I looked at the sleeping Luga and Ren, then likewise leaned my back against the wall and drifted off to sleep.