In the academy's vice principal's office.

Cromwell sighed while going through documents.

The last image of Astina he had seen flickered before his eyes.

"Was it right to leave her like that"

Astina was mature.

She had been sensible since she first entered the academy.

She never showed a childlike side to anyone, taking on everything alone, whether it was student council work or other matters.

Certainly, she must be carrying some burden now.

After some contemplation, she must have thought the best way to counter the rebels was to form an Royal army.

As a mentor, he had failed to notice any of his student's concerns.

Even though Astina trained alone at the academy and occasionally visited him, he hadn't noticed even the slightest hint.

Astina was undoubtedly strong.

Whether considering physical or mental strength, this conclusion wouldn't change.

However, that didn't mean Astina was invincible.

She too could feel stress and sometimes fear like any human.

Her decision to confront the nobles of the empire and stand against the rebels must have been influenced by some incident.

She must have believed that facing and opposing the rebels was the best response to the situation.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason for Astina to confront the rebels directly.

It was too dangerous, both politically and for Astina as an individual.

Cromwell didn't think the Royal army would lose, but what might happen to Astina was uncertain.

Having fought Aryandor himself, Cromwell was even more worried.

Astina's speech in the capital had a significant impact.

It gave the commoners, who were receiving aid from the rebels, another chance to rethink, and it raised awareness among others.

The rebels wouldn't just leave Astina alone after she made such a statement.

They could attack her in revenge for killing Jefrin in public or for political reasons.

Since Astina had united the empire again, killing her, the focal point, would boost the rebels' morale.

She was too attractive a target for the rebels.

In this situation, what pained Cromwell the most was that there was nothing he could do.

As the vice principal of the academy, he had influence in the political sphere, but he had to act too passively.

He was always part of the academy and one of its representatives.

He couldn't show his political inclinations or move freely.

Especially in such a significant event as opposing the rebels.

"How pathetic"

Cromwell lamented his own powerlessness.

Knock, knock.

Just then, there was a knock on his office door.

"Come in..."

Cromwell started to say, but before he could finish, the door opened.

He could have called it rude, but there was only one person who would enter his office like that.

"It's been a while, Cromwell."

The person who entered the room was Robert, dressed in casual clothes, his hair carelessly combed.

Cromwell stood up abruptly upon seeing him.

"Robert...! You're back?"

At Cromwell's words, Robert smiled.

"Yes, I've finished up what I needed to do. Thinking about my vacation time ticking away made it unbearable to stay out any longer."

"Good, you're back. Come, sit down and let's talk."

Cromwell gestured kindly towards a sofa in the front.

Robert flopped onto the sofa Cromwell had pointed to.

"Ah, yes. I'm terribly exhausted."

He looked at Cromwell while lying back half-way.

"Any problems at the academy?"

"There's more work outside than here."

"You know more about outside matters than I do."

Cromwell had his own network of informants and was not short of information, but he didn't have the same experience as Robert, who had spent about half a year outside.

Robert, called a legend in the mercenary world, had more acquaintances outside the academy than within.

And there was a big difference between seeing and feeling things firsthand and just hearing about them.

Information could become unclear as it was passed along, and the content could be distorted.

"Did Rudy get into any trouble?"

Cromwell gave a wry smile at Robert's question.

"Like accidentally coming second in the joint assessment, or suddenly drawing in and capturing the rebels? Nothing much other than that."

"That's quite a lot for the short time I was away."

It would have been big news for any ordinary student, but for Rudy, it felt insignificant.

"At least there hasn't been any sword fighting."

"...Sword fighting?"

"With all those strong women around him. I thought there might be some sword fighting in my absence with his indecisive attitude."

"Women issues..."

"Ah, that indecisive boy. I wonder how he's doing."

Robert said this with a smile, clearly showing his fondness for Rudy.

"But Robert, have you heard about the Astria family lately?"

"Rudy entering the heir competition?"

"You know about it."

"Of course, I know. Someone had to work to make that happen."

Cromwell's eyes widened at that.

"I said I was going to investigate the Astria family. What did you think I meant?"

"Wasn't that related to necromancy?"

"I did other things too. I came across various matters while investigating necromancy."

"Ha ha..."

Cromwell laughed, but he couldn't laugh wholeheartedly.

He felt the contrast between himself and Robert.

Robert had actively worked for Rudy's sake, while he could do little for Astina.

He felt keenly that he was an inadequate mentor.

"What have you been doing?"

"Me? Just the usual. Taking care of academy affairs..."

"Astina seems to be in a difficult situation."

Robert hit the nail on the head.

He always did.

Seemingly casual, he was more perceptive than anyone else.

"Do you plan to just leave her be?"

"...There's nothing I can do right now."

"If you say so, I won't argue."

Robert stood up.

"Don't regret it later. I'm speaking from experience."

"...Thanks, I appreciate it."

"Anyway, I didn't come here to talk about that."

Robert approached Cromwell and pulled out a small bead from his pocket.

"Look at this with the principal."

"...What is this?"

"It's a secret about the Astria family."

More precisely, it was about necromancy, though Cromwell didn't elaborate.

"Weren't you finished with your work?"

"It doesn't seem like the right time to attack. I value my life too."

Robert had found where the necromancers were gathering.

But he couldn't attack right away.

The rebel leadership and Daemon, a necromancer, were nearby, as was Perrian Astria, Rudy's father and the current head of the Astria family.

He couldn't face both the master of spatial magic and the necromancers.

"But why give this to me?"

Cromwell knew whom Robert was cooperating with.

Jason Ophillius, the empire's chancellor.

Handing it over to him would practically end it all.

The aftermath would be handled by the empire.

"Something feels off."

"Off?"

"It stinks. Really stinks."

It was odd to distrust Robert, but to say that the empire's chancellor smelled fishy was strange.

Jason Ophillius had supported McDowell and served the emperor's faction for decades.

There was no reason to distrust him.

If the chancellor had ulterior motives, the empire's balance would have been shattered.

His power was maintaining the balance between the emperor's and the nobles' factions.

It was puzzling to hear such doubts about someone so pivotal.

"Anyway, I'm not certain or basing this on any evidence, so don't worry about it."

"Okay. But what now with this?"

Robert shrugged.

"We'll attack when an opportunity arises."

"You mean us?"

"Who else would handle this?"

"Why not leave it to the empire? They'll take care of it."

"To cause division between the emperor's and nobles' factions in this situation? Planning a three-way battle?"

There was no need to create division in the midst of the conflict between the rebels and the empire.

"Just keep it between you and the principal for now. Just in case."

"...Understood."

After hearing Cromwell's response, Robert walked towards the door.

"Then I'm off to rest."

Robert waved his hand and left the vice principal's office.

Cromwell watched him go and then stared intently at the bead Robert had handed him.

On the day of the final exam.

I warmed up my body.

I wasn't thinking about anything else.

For now, I set aside my usual worries and focused only on preparing for the exam.

"In the magic circle... the formula is..."

I went over what I had memorized one more time.

Although the final exams after the joint assessment were said to be easy, I couldn't be complacent.

I needed to score high here.

I had lost to Yeniel in the joint assessment, so I had to outdo her score somehow.

Luckily, Yeniel didn't do well in the midterms.

As I walked to the exam hall, reciting from the book.

"Hey, you'll trip if you keep going like that."

A familiar voice called out.

I looked up and to the side, where a man with a spotty beard stood.

"Professor Robert?"

"Studying a bit now won't make much of a difference. Don't trip and ruin your condition. Just head to the exam hall quickly."

Robert chuckled and advised me.

I hurried over to him.

"When did you arrive? Why didn't you let me know?"

"Why would I contact you about coming here? Just greet me when you see my face."

I laughed at Robert's casual response.

"I wanted to learn more dark magic before heading back to the capital, but it was a shame you weren't around."

"What would you learn from me now? You're just studying on your own."

"Ha ha..."

"Anyway, I have something to tell you, so come to my office after your exam."

"Something to tell me?"

"Don't be curious now. Just do well in your exam."

Robert patted my back and walked away.

'...Something to tell me?'

I pondered briefly, then shook my head.

As Robert said, I could hear it later; there was no need to be curious now.

The exam came first.

I walked quickly to the exam hall and entered.

Then I opened my book and murmured to myself.

"I'm aiming for the top rank."

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