NOVEL WEB Chapter 109
Chapter 109
28. I Have a Lover (4)
T h i s was c o p i e d f r o m k in g m t l. o r g
First Main Tower, Vice Principal’s Office.
Vice Principal Aki Haydn smiled warmly at the cadets sitting opposite him.
Aiselle, Selien, and Flame.
T h i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k i n gm t l . o rg
Promising stars who proudly listed their names among the ‘Twelve Rising Stars.’
Even in Stella Academy, having two members selected annually, excluding fixed attendees, was rare. This year, there were three.
An extraordinary occurrence, to say the least. Only up to two students from a single school could participate, and historically, the Twelve Rising Stars had always been fixed at twelve.
Flame’s thesis had to be impressive enough to sway the rigid and principle-abiding Council of Elders, the Mage Council, and the Mage Tower Union.
“Flame. I am proud of you.”
“…Thank you.”
Flame hid her discomfort and bowed her head.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually participating…
While the Aslan Seminar was a main episode and important, Aiselle was supposed to handle the incident on her own.
Well, it’s not bad.
Th i s wa s c o p ie d f r om k i n g m t l . o r g
Given her past experiences, she didn’t know how the future might change, so it was reassuring to see the episode unfold with her own eyes.
“Show your best at the seminar and make Stella shine even brighter.”
“…Yes.”
It was hard not to laugh at Aki Haydn’s brazen words.
Vice Principal Aki Haydn was a key figure in controlling Dark Mages within Stella.
Although he was quiet now, Flame knew of the atrocious acts he would commit in the future, making her uneasy just being near him.
In contrast, Aiselle looked at Aki Haydn with eyes full of admiration.
A great mage who rose to the position of vice principal at Stella through sheer hard work, despite being a street orphan. Such was Aki Haydn’s ‘background story.’
Of course, most of it was fabricated, and she felt sorry for the deceived Aiselle.
“There are other cadets from our school with ‘fixed attendance rights.’ Do you know?”
Quite a few students, including Hong Bi-yeon of the Adolevit family and Jeremie of the Scalven Empire, had fixed attendance rights and would attend the Aslan Seminar. Baek Yu-seol, who received attendance rights from Duke Atalek’s family, was one of them.
“There are unusually many attendees this year. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. I am very proud of you all.”
Aki Haydn spoke kindly but felt uneasy inside.
Having an unexpected first-year cadet like Baek Yu-seol attend the Aslan Seminar was uncomfortable.
He gave Selien a subtle glance, and she nodded quietly.
Although Selien was still a second-year, her theories and knowledge were almost at the level of a professional professor.
‘A genius of theories.’
It was a title that could only be attributed to her.
Though her maximum mana capacity was significantly low, making it nearly impossible to live as a proper mage.
Her task was simple.
At the Aslan Seminar, thoroughly refute Baek Yu-seol’s thesis and revoke his attendance rights for the next year.
It would be even better if Aiselle was thoroughly crushed, ensuring she couldn’t rise again.
T h i s wa s c o p i ed f r o m ki ng m t l . or g
The Aslan Seminar was a field of opportunities for mages, and if Aiselle shone there, it could lead to troublesome situations.
‘These little brats…
Th is w a s co pi e d f ro m k in g m t l. o r g
Selien smiled confidently. She had read Aiselle and Flame’s theses multiple times. Their theses were undeniably groundbreaking, achievements that could leave a significant mark on the academic world.
‘The more groundbreaking, the more satisfying it is to destroy them.’
Groundbreaking discoveries.
Selien, the genius of theories, was literal in her title.
She excelled at absorbing existing knowledge and making it her own.
However, creating something new and inventing new magic was beyond her.
Thus, she deeply desired to crush the magic of these two girls thoroughly.
Magic, mana, creativity.
Those girls, who had everything and even sought to possess theories, seemed so selfish to her.
Selien thought so.
“These are the seminar schedules. Take one and review it.”
“Thank you.”
“All right. You may leave now. Strive to show your best at the Aslan Seminar and keep working hard until then.”
“…Yes!”
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k in g mt l .o r g
Aiselle answered energetically.
With that, the three girls left the vice principal’s office.
“I am honored to be with our famous juniors~ I heard high praise from the professors about your theses… Should I look forward to it?”
T hi s w a s cop i ed f r o m k i n g m t l .o r g
“Ah, yes… of course.”
Having had a previous clash with Selien, Aiselle answered curtly, while Flame ignored her entirely.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g m tl . or g
‘…What arrogant girls.’
Selien turned her head sharply and quickly disappeared down the hallway.
Left alone walking with Flame, Aiselle kept glancing at her.
Aiselle had gradually made some friends and had become quite attuned to rumors.
‘Baek Yu-seol and Flame are dating.’
A rumor circulating for a few days.
It wasn’t just a baseless rumor; Flame herself had confirmed it.
“…Haa, what is it? Why, what.”
“W-what?”
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
Flame noticed Aiselle’s constant side glances.
“…T-the rumor. Is it true?”
“Yes. It’s true. I’m on my way to a date now.”
“…I see.”
Aiselle quietly closed her mouth at Flame’s firm answer. Her expression didn’t change much, making it hard to read her thoughts.
“Is something bothering you?”
“N-no? Not really.”
“Then why the long face?”
Aiselle stared blankly into space and seemed to want to say something, but eventually closed her mouth.
“…Hmm, I’m not sure. It’s nothing.”
Without saying much, Aiselle quickly walked down the hallway first.
Watching her from behind, Flame had a peculiar thought.
If things had gone according to the original story, Aiselle would have ended up with Ma Yuseong.
But since Baek Yu-seol, who defied the flow of time, appeared and interfered, many things changed.
Aiselle, who was supposed to have an unhappy school life, now enjoyed a happy life and even had the luxury of harboring feelings for a boy.
Yet.
Despite Baek Yu-seol’s dedication, why did he claim not to like anyone?
Though she couldn’t discern truth from lies just by facial expressions, Baek Yu-seol didn’t seem to be lying when he said that bluntly.
‘Sigh, I don’t get it…’
Worrying about something that shouldn’t be her concern would only stress her out.
Flame tried to stop thinking about Baek Yu-seol.
…It wasn’t as easy as she thought.
* * *
After the World Tree’s birth celebration, Flowerseorin returned to the ancient castle and went into seclusion, finishing all additional work.
She might not leave again for a long time, possibly years. It was dangerous to leave her presence in the outside world for too long.
Therefore, Oranha would lead and manage the core personnel moving the White Castle, the Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree.
“Investigate Stella Academy’s first-year cadet, Baek Yu-seol.”
“Yes, sir.”
Oranha assigned the investigation of Baek Yu-seol to Flowerseorin’s direct information unit. Although it was her direct unit, all information passed through Oranha, so nothing would reach her ears.
It was possible because Flowerseorin trusted him completely.
He felt sorry for slightly betraying her trust, but to gain her heart, it was necessary.
T hi s w as c o p i ed f r om k i n g mt l .o r g
He had to make a plan.
It was certain that Baek Yu-seol was the spirit slayer who stole Leafanel’s heart. But it was difficult to confirm his corrupted soul.
‘Difficult, but not impossible.’
He didn’t know how the Dark Mages hid their mana. But… surely, their concealment only hid the mana, not completely hiding the corrupted soul.
‘Orb of the Soul’
Oranha placed a small white jade on his palm. This sacred item of the World Tree had the special ability to discern the soul of the bearer.
If the soul was pure, it would glow brightly white; if it was impure, it would turn gray and dim.
However, the condition was quite stringent. The bearer had to carry it for at least a month.
If he had taken it during the medal ceremony, he could have managed somehow, but he didn’t foresee the situation back then.
It would be odd for Oranha to gift Baek Yu-seol the white jade now.
So he decided to use someone else.
Knock knock!
Hearing a knock on the reception room door, Oranha placed the white jade in a wooden box and spoke.
“Come in.”
Th i s wa s c op i e d f r o m k i n g mtl . o r g
The door opened, and a girl with pointed ears walked in.
She appeared to be in her late teens, but she was a significant figure both in elf society and globally.
‘Daughter of the President of Star Cloud Trading Company, Zeliel.’
The only daughter of the continent’s largest trading company, recognized as a High Elf at a young age, and enrolled in the World Tree’s best magic school, Starflower Tree Academy, even Oranha couldn’t freely command her.
“It is an honor to be summoned, Assistant Oranha.”
“The honor is mine, having the famous daughter of Star Cloud Trading Company here. Please, have a seat.”
Zeliel gracefully sat opposite Oranha. Hot tea and snacks were already prepared on the table.
“May I ask why you called me today?”
“I heard your father was disappointed about not securing the mining rights of the Danadon Mine.”
The Danadon Mine contained the ‘Dana Crystal,’ a very special stone that, while not possessing extraordinary effects, could fetch a high price when made into accessories.
However, securing the mining rights was a merchants’ issue.
There was a reason for the king’s representative to bring it up.
“Yes, he was quite disappointed.”
“If you secure those mining rights, your father would be delighted, wouldn’t he?”
Zeliel started to relax her expression.
Oranha knew she worked desperately for her father.
So, as long as he handled the key term ‘father’ well, he could easily get her to do simple tasks.
‘Naturally…
She knew Oranha mentioned her father because he wanted something from her.
But it didn’t matter much, did it? If it made her father happy, she was willing to fulfill a request from the king’s representative.
“Are you offering to sell us the mining rights?”
“Yes. If you do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
Oranha placed the white jade on the table.
“I heard you are scheduled to meet Baek Yu-seol of Stella soon.”
Baek Yu-seol planned to hold an ‘investor briefing’ for Melian, the president of Star Cloud. It was supposedly to ‘upgrade the items’ quality,’ and Zeliel was also scheduled to attend.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“By any means, make sure he carries this white jade for over a month. That’s the condition.”
“That’s simple.”
It was a non-sensical deal. Trading the mining rights of Danadon Mine for such an easy task.
She would do this task a hundred times over if she could.
So, she was curious.
‘This is… an Orb of the Soul?’
Why would someone of Oranha’s stature want Baek Yu-seol to carry this jade?
Zeliel was also deeply interested in Baek Yu-seol. He was a peculiar boy whose value couldn’t be ascertained even with the [Value of All Things].
“Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
Somehow, Zeliel felt this ‘task’ would be quite enjoyable and interesting for her as well.
End of Chapter