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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Any news on the person I asked you about?”
“I’ve made inquiries and heard rumors of a last sighting in the northern mountain range.”
The northern mountains?
Why there?
At least I had a lead after a week of searching. If I left immediately, I should arrive in time.
“I’ll need to prepare for departure.”
“Right away?”
“Hesitation leads to stagnation.”
Especially when dealing with that individual, speed was crucial. This meeting was taking place a year earlier than in the original story, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
But if I didn’t secure this alliance now, I wouldn’t be ready in time.
“I’ll arrange a carriage for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you traveling alone?”
“Everyone else is…busy.”
This wasn’t a pleasure trip. The students I was mentoring couldn’t leave the academy, and Sif had to handle my affairs in my absence. I would be traveling alone.
It couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t force them to accompany me.
Besides, after ten years of solitude, I was more accustomed to being alone.
“Traveling alone to the northern mountains is no easy feat. Are you certain?”
“I’ll find a local guide.”
I wasn’t sure if they would be available a year earlier than in the original story, but I had someone in mind. I might even try to recruit them.
“Here. Take this.”
I accepted the token Principal Merlin offered. A palm-sized, emerald green token.
He was giving me this?
“Use it if you encounter any difficulties. It should prevent the Mages’ Guild in the north from turning you away.”
“…Thank you.”
I had acquired the Archmage’s Token, an item normally obtained after completing a complex chain of quests, with surprising ease. I tucked it away safely.
“Don’t lose it. It’s a nuisance to replace.”
“I’ll return it in pristine condition.”
“I expect nothing less. Be careful on your journey.”
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“Johann, where are you going?”
“To the north.”
“The north?”
Milia looked towards the north. But all she could see was a wall. The windows faced east and west.
“Where in the north?”
“Mont Blanc.”
“Mont Blanc?”
“A snow-covered mountain range in the north. I hear it’s so cold that water freezes instantly.”
“Really? I want to go…”
Milia had never seen snow, so it was understandable she wanted to visit. I hadn’t seen snow in ten years either.
I would finally see a landscape covered in white…garbage… I mean, pristine white snow.
[Contractor, when are we going? When are we going? Let’s go now! I want to see snow~]
Rue, who had expressed a desire to see the world, had been ecstatic since I mentioned Mont Blanc.
She would probably try to brainwash me into taking her if I refused, so I held her firmly in my hand to prevent her from bouncing around.
“I’ll take you after you graduate.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I even planned to take them on a world tour after reaching the ending.
Once the game was completed, I wouldn’t be bound by the original story.
Of course, since I was aiming for the true ending, there was no guarantee of a perfectly happy ending, but at least the world wouldn’t be destroyed.
“Promise! You’ll take me to the snowy mountains after I graduate!”
I stared at the outstretched hand.
Did they make pinky promises here too?
Or was it because the game developers were Japanese? I chuckled and linked my pinky finger with Milia’s tiny one.
“I promise.”
“M-me too…”
When did you get here?
I looked at Elisa, who was timidly tugging on my sleeve. Her flushed face and hesitant request suggested she was also interested in visiting the snowy mountains.
I readily agreed.
“Alright. I’ll take you too.”
“Th-thank you…”
“You can be more assertive with your requests. It’s not like you’re asking for anything unreasonable.”
While she probably couldn’t match Milia’s confidence due to her personality, I hoped she wouldn’t be so timid around me now that we were closer. Being timid in this harsh world was a disadvantage.
“Johann?”
“What are you doing?”
Why were they gathering here? I scratched my head, looking at the group of girls assembled in the hallway.
This felt like the beginning of something troublesome.
“We were talking about our trip to the snowy mountains with Johann! He promised to take us after we graduate!”
“The snowy mountains?”
Karina’s eyes widened as she looked at me. Her golden and pink eyes were…adorable. She looked much better without the veil.
“She wanted to see snow. I promised to take them after graduation.”
“Snowy mountains…”
Did Karina want to go too?
By then, she would have recovered, so there wouldn’t be any problems.
“Do you want to go too?”
“W-what? I, uh… Y-yes…”
“In that case, a graduation trip with everyone wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“That sounds fun!”
“A graduation trip… It’ll be cold.”
Renny had probably been to the snowy mountains during her mercenary days.
I looked away from the excited group and gazed out the window. All I could see were trees with brown, autumn leaves.
I hoped everyone would be healthy and able to join the graduation trip.
It was a new wish.
A wish that was still just a hope.
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“So, you’re going to be gone for a couple of months, and you want me to handle your affairs?”
“Yes.”
“What if I get bullied? Or cheated?”
“No one in their right mind would do that.”
No merchant, especially the head of a large trading company, would be foolish enough to antagonize the principal of Kalon Academy.
I was leaving in a week, but I wanted to finalize the arrangements beforehand. I watched Sif sipping her juice and took a sip of my own.
Sour.
“Well…fine. I already agreed, so I’ll do my best.”
“I’ve asked the Bern merchant to find you a suitable house. You’ll be living there from now on.”
“What?”
Sif’s eyes widened, her tail bristling. She was clearly surprised. I continued,
“You can’t live in the slums forever.”
“Well, that’s true, but…a house? You’re not…reducing my pay, are you?!”
“Your pay remains the same. This is…a necessary precaution for my assistant’s safety.”
“Oh, I see.”
If Sif was kidnapped, it would be a problem for me.
I couldn’t leave my assistant, now under my protection, in a dangerous environment.
Considering the amount of money she had received from me, she was a prime target for kidnappers and robbers.
“Here’s the key.”
I placed a silver key on the table and slid it towards her. Sif carefully picked it up, turning it over and examining it intently.
She looked like a cat fascinated by a shiny object. I used her distraction as an opportunity to finish my juice. It was nice to have something to take my mind off my worries.
“You’re really giving this to me?”
“Do I look like I make jokes?”
“No, but…”
“It’s not a mansion, so don’t get your hopes up.”
It was a modest house, suitable for her and her siblings. Around 660 square feet.
Come to think of it, my room at Yeomyeong-gwan was quite spacious. Around 500 square feet.
“It’s a brick house on the west side of Kalon. Turn right at Fred’s Jewelry store.”
“That’s a wealthy district!”
“It’s safer there.”
I had also spoken with the Bern merchant, so she wouldn’t be kidnapped while I was gone.
I remembered Sif’s dilapidated shack in the original story, a structure that looked like it was about to collapse, and added,
“This house is a reward for your hard work. Understood?”
“Of course! I’ll work like a dog!”
I chuckled, watching Sif wag her tail excitedly.
“I’ll be going now. Go check out your new house with your siblings.”
“See you later!”
She was quick. I watched her run off, then turned and headed in the opposite direction.
The preparations were almost complete.
All that remained was to finalize my travel arrangements. I mentally reviewed my packing list as I walked back to Yeomyeong-gwan.
I had one last thing to do before I left.
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