Chapter 71 : A New Wave (7)

Chapter 71: A New Wave (7)

“It may be strange to bring this up now, but I am my father’s… in other words, Count Amiel’s illegitimate son.”

Making sure no one was nearby, Allen cautiously began his story.

It seemed he had finally sorted out his thoughts to some extent.

“An illegitimate son, huh. Similar to me, but also different.”

At that, Allen looked surprised, as though hearing something unexpected.

“Is that so?”

“Well.”

I gave a small nod and replied as if it were nothing special.

“My mother was a concubine. It wasn’t exactly something worth spreading around, so I kept it quiet… in fact, it’s only been a few years since I was officially entered into the family register.”

“Ah…”

Strictly speaking, calling her a concubine wasn’t entirely accurate.

I gave a bitter smile as I spoke to Allen.

“Sorry for interrupting. Come to think of it, I mentioned it once to Miss Everglenn, but I don’t think I ever told you, Allen.”

“Above all, I thought it might make it a little easier for you to talk if I shared this. …Or was I being insensitive?”

“…No.”

Allen shook his head and replied once more.

“No, you weren’t.”

After taking a short breath, Allen opened his mouth again.

Unlike before, some of the tension seemed to have left his voice.

“To return to the main point, for many reasons I am regarded as a thorn in the side of the family. Since you have seen how the young master and I interact, I’m sure you already understand without much explanation. If not for the Count protecting me, I would likely have lost my life long ago, or at least been crippled.”

At Allen’s words, I quietly nodded in silence.

It was a gesture that slipped out from the heart without me realizing.

Of course, thanks to my experiences and knowledge from my previous life, I already understood well enough the circumstances and position he was in…

But hearing it directly from the person himself at my side like this made it resonate all the more deeply.

‘Right, this guy wasn’t exactly in an ordinary situation either.’

Whether he intended it or not, Allen had become the very person who made Count Amiel—a Sword Saint, one of the living legends—embroiled in endless gossip.

Because Count Amiel had always been considered a paragon of knighthood, the shock was all the greater.

And that wasn’t the only thing.

Allen’s hair was an even darker, more vivid red than the legitimate heirs of the family, the very symbol of the Amiel bloodline.

On top of that, the Count had given Allen the Amiel name, and even went so far as to have him enrolled here at Arpentia Academy.

In truth, even that much was enough to make it stranger if Kyren didn’t see Allen as a thorn in his side.

From his perspective, Allen was nothing more than a stain on the honor of both his revered father and his family’s name—an illegitimate child daring to covet the seat of head of the family.

Even if Allen had no such thought in the slightest, it didn’t matter.

Even if Allen had no ability or talent to threaten that position right now, it still didn’t matter.

Public opinion and rumor made it so, and as always, there were plenty of people eager to exploit such situations.

‘…Anyway, that’s not what matters right now.’

I brushed aside those stray thoughts and focused again on Allen’s words.

Normally sitting with a straight posture, he was now uncharacteristically hunched forward.

“In the midst of all that, the Count sent me here. At first, I refused his proposal. For someone like me, it was far too generous an offer. And within the family, the opposition and resentment were not small, either.”

Allen let out a short sigh.

“I am not a fool. More than anyone, I was well aware that I was receiving extraordinary treatment. The Count not only gave me the Amiel name, but also ensured I wasn’t discriminated against for being illegitimate within the family. He even held a proper funeral for my late mother. And on top of that…”

Allen trailed off, lowering his gaze to the sword hanging at his side.

“Sometimes, he even gave me guidance in swordsmanship. Do you know what kind of significance that holds, Lian?”

“…Not in detail, but I do know that if one were careless, you could be spoken of as his successor.”

“That is exactly it.”

With a bitter smile, he nodded.

And then he spat the words out like they were foul-tasting.

“It’s nonsense not even worth bringing up.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

I paused briefly, then added.

“But still, it seems to me that this ‘nonsense not worth bringing up’ influenced your decision quite a bit.”

Allen fell silent for a while, as though I had hit the mark.

At last, he let out a small sigh and nodded.

“…True enough. There’s no way I could tell this story while keeping it a secret.”

And then he said something that truly shocked me.

“Professor Deiare offered to take me on as his disciple.”

“…Wait, Professor Deiare did?”

“Yes.”

Allen nodded.

I was so genuinely shocked by his words that I couldn’t say anything.

At my reaction, Allen gave a small laugh as if he understood.

“You seem quite surprised. Honestly, I myself have no idea what he saw in me to say such a thing.”

In summary, his explanation went like this.

The ones who appeared before Allen and Cecilia, who had been waiting for me to return, were not me, but Professors Deiare and Yul Runberg.

It was well known that teachers often patrolled dangerous areas, including the Forest of Secrets, in pairs, so there was nothing strange about it.

It was simply a matter of bad luck for Allen and Cecilia.

In any case, after hearing the circumstances, the two professors told them it was late and they should return to the dormitory. With no excuse to offer, the two had no choice but to go back.

And since both Allen and Cecilia were in Hilts, they naturally returned with Deiare, their professor. Upon arrival, she suddenly asked to speak with Allen alone.

“And without any explanation, she asked if you’d like to become her disciple?”

“Yes.”

Allen nodded.

“Of course, before that she did say a few things, but they were nothing more than meaningless small talk—like how the weather was, or if I was getting along in academy life. Ah, and now and then, she muttered words I couldn’t understand.”

“Words you couldn’t understand…”

“Yes. It wasn’t Imperial language. Nor was it from the surrounding nations. It sounded like a song, words I was hearing for the first time…”

“Do you remember any of those words or phrases?”

“Hmm…”

Allen furrowed his brow, muttering uncertainly.

“Da… Daskalo? Sinandisi? And Inadika… no, maybe Inadita? That’s about all I can remember.”

I tilted my head slightly at his words.

“That’s the language of the fairies. The language elves use.”

“What? Really?”

“At the very least, ‘Sinandisi’—I’m sure of that one. It probably means ‘meeting’.”

“Heh…”

Allen let out an impressed sound.

Then, with eyes sparkling, he looked at me and said:

“You really are amazing, Lian. To think you’d even know the language of fairies.”

“As if.”

I let out a dry laugh and replied.

“Wasn’t Professor Deiare a disciple of Sage Arpentia? They say the Great Sage often used the language of fairies, so I just guessed. It was coincidence that I happened to know one of the words.”

“Even so. Truly amazing.”

“Well, thanks. Even if it’s just flattery.”

Letting his admiration wash over me, I mulled over what Allen had just said.

‘I think I see what’s going on now…’

Becoming Professor Deiare’s disciple was no small matter—it was a monumental event.

It felt a bit strange for me to say that, given that I had somehow ended up as Professor Windy May’s disciple myself.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Up to this point, Deiare had been relatively unknown in the Empire—only those in the know recognized her, much like a hidden master.

Which meant that those who did know her name also knew just how extraordinary it was, and the Amiel family surely understood the weight it carried.

Already there were rumors swirling, and Kyren, the heir, was beginning to feel threatened by Allen.

If word spread that Allen had even been offered to become Deiare’s disciple, things would become far more complicated.

So before matters spiraled completely out of control, he was probably planning to leave the academy of his own accord.

“Haa.”

Having grasped the situation, I came to one unavoidable conclusion.

‘…This is ruined, isn’t it?’

It was ruined.

No matter how I looked at it, that was the only thought that came to mind.

Utterly ruined.

Maybe because things had somehow worked out with Cecilia earlier, I had been too quick to assume this situation would resolve just as easily.

I couldn’t even begin to figure out where things had started to twist and tangle like this.

‘The incident that should have happened already isn’t even showing signs of occurring.’

Perhaps the problem was that I had decided to put Allen’s situation on hold, intending to watch and wait calmly.

What I thought of as prudence had turned out to be negligence—and that negligence had bred this troublesome situation.

Dwelling on my belated regret, I could only rack my brain again.

‘In truth, Allen was originally expelled from the academy before the year even ended…’

As it stood, the only thing that would remain the same was the outcome: “Allen Amiel left the academy before even finishing his first year.”

But the outline, the flow, and every detail would differ entirely from what I knew.

Expecting this Allen to grow into the same “Allen Amiel of my previous life” was far too much of a gamble.

‘Most likely, at the upcoming Departure Festival, he plans to bring it up with Count Amiel.’

Knowing Allen’s character, he would want to bring up something so important face-to-face, not through a letter.

And since the Departure Festival always invited outstanding warriors and renowned figures, Count Amiel would surely attend.

Which meant this had to be resolved before then.

Either make Allen give up his intention.

Or bring out his true nature—the real Allen, hidden or unrecognized.

…Or else let things follow the original history, with the attack occurring and Allen being framed as the culprit, leading to his expulsion.

‘Whatever the case, I need to buy time first.’

Having reached that rough conclusion, I extended a hand toward him.

“…Anyway, for now let me just say this: I respect your choice, Allen.”

At my words, Allen silently looked at me.

I was glad I had said earlier that he and I were in similar situations, and slowly continued.

“In truth, I had no thought of coming to the academy. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t have come.”

“I have two elder brothers. Both are sons of the main wife, the Countess, and both are exceptionally capable. My eldest brother inherited the family business and runs the merchant group successfully, while my second brother serves in the Imperial Knights.”

Allen still said nothing.

“My father never intended to send me to the academy. In fact, I doubt he intended to send me anywhere at all. With an eldest son excelling as heir to the business, and a second son glorifying the family in the Imperial Knights—what more could he want? Why would he invest in a third son, and a bastard at that?”

And so, within the family, I lived as though I were half a nonentity.

I wasn’t mistreated to the point of hard labor or starvation, but that was about it.

I was never given the opportunity to learn or to hone any skill.

And there were limits to what one could teach oneself without a teacher or proper guidance.

Beyond that…

I paused for a moment to steady my breath.

“Anyway… somehow, the head of the family came into contact with someone from the Holy Sun Church and decided to be initiated. In the process, he also decided to turn me, who had been idling at home, into a cleric, and, well…”

I shrugged my shoulders and trailed off.

“Before I knew it, I found myself here. Honestly, I still can’t believe it. I thought I had no connection at all to this place.”

Come to think of it, didn’t Allen believe I was someone high up in the Holy Sun Church?

“…Later, I learned that the one who strongly insisted on sending me here was none other than the Countess.”

At those words, Allen looked at me in surprise.

No wonder.

I too had been quite shocked when I first learned of this.

“When I was little… no, in fact, until not long ago, I was very intimidated by her. But looking back, she was the one who taught me letters and speech, and she quietly took care of me in many other ways too.”

So I resolved to work hard, at least to repay her expectations and kindness.

“Ah…”

At my words, Allen let out a sound of realization.

With that single word, I knew my intention—to make him calmly reflect again—had worked to some extent.

“To be blunt, as an outsider, it would be laughable for me to meddle in your decision. But as your friend… and as someone in a similar situation, allow me to add this: wouldn’t it be right to first have a serious conversation with the Count before making up your mind?”

Even at those words, Allen remained silent.

But it was a silence with a different meaning than before.

Sensing it was about time to wrap things up, I slowly reached my hand toward him.

“…You said you were having nightmares and hearing strange voices. Deep down, you already know why. You’re a thoughtful person, Allen. So you must also know well that the cause lies not outside, but within yourself. It’s just that… you lack confidence in yourself.”

At my words, Allen started to speak but closed his mouth again.

All the while, I was merely polishing up words I had picked up here and there during my days as a wandering mercenary, pretending they were profound.

“…Right. The journey is not through wilderness or desert, yet countless things will surround you along the way. The road is not nonexistent, only unseen. It is not for lack of water or compass that you cannot move forward, but for lack of certainty. What you need, then, is not water or compass, but only a small decision—the courage to take that first step…”

Finishing my words, I lightly made the sign of the cross.

It was a simple gesture not only followers of the Holy Sun Church made, but also those who didn’t believe—something commonly done as a sign of good luck.

“May you make a choice without regret.”

It was at that moment.

The instant I finished speaking, as though waiting for it, white flames flared into the air.

And, as if with a will of its own, it immediately wrapped around Allen’s body.

“Ugh?!”

Startled, Allen recoiled, then looked in surprise at the flames enveloping him.

His face showed no trace of pain.

On the contrary, he seemed to feel calm and at peace.

“This is…”

Muttering that, he then bowed deeply to me with utmost respect.

“…I can only thank you for bestowing a blessing upon my path ahead. And I am also grateful for your sincere concern and precious advice regarding my worries.”

I gave no reply.

I only stared at Allen, wrapped in white flames.

Watching the fire blaze as though stoked by endless bellows, I could only think one thing.

‘…What is that?’

I don’t know. It’s terrifying…

Just like him, I barely managed to suppress the scream that almost escaped.

I had to struggle desperately just to sit there and appear calm.