"Rudy, what do you want to do?"

"Heh, since we've also received help from the guy, we should do as he says."

McDowell said, looking at Cromwell, who was frowning.

"That's true, but... It would have been fine if Rudy had asked for help in inheriting the family, but he's asking us to help Ian."

"He must have his reasons for asking for help. He must be unable to speak because there's a special circumstance."

Originally, the academy did not interfere in politics at all.

Whether it was the principal or an ordinary professor, they never got involved in political matters.

Yet, McDowell was now exerting influence in politics.

The Royal army's inspection and search of goods and people.

McDowell had actively supported this.

Even though it was Ian's opinion, everyone around Rudy had also shown their active support.

"It looks like he's planning something, asking others for help as well."

"Hmm... Alright. I'll be heading back for now. Please take care of Rudy Astria."

"Understood."

Neither the vice-principal nor the principal of the academy could afford to be away for a long time.

Cromwell was preparing to return to the academy.

After packing some of his belongings, Cromwell stepped outside and looked around.

"Spring is about to come."

Flower buds were starting to form on the trees, and green leaves were present.

Winter was passing, and spring was approaching.

The academy had a lot to do when spring came.

They had to prepare for the admission of new students, and before that, there was the graduation ceremony for the third-year students.

"It's going to be busy."

With that, Cromwell sighed and was about to depart for the academy.

"Cromwell."

Then, a voice was heard from behind.

"...Robert?"

As Cromwell turned around, he saw Robert wearing a hood.

"Why are you here... No, what about the necromancers?"

Robert approached with a smile.

"The necromancers have been dealt with."

"Then you should have contacted us. Or, does anyone else know?"

"No one knows. If it got out to too many, Perrian Astria might find out, so we're keeping it hidden for now."

"I see... But, why are you here... No, what have you been doing all this time?"

It had been more than a fortnight since Robert had gone to deal with the necromancers.

It shouldn't have taken that long to deal with the necromancers.

"I went to see my wife and son."

His wife and son.

That meant he had visited their graves.

"Ah..."

Cromwell did not ask further.

The fact that Robert's son had died due to necromancy was well known to Cromwell, a close friend of his.

Since the Astria territory was also near the cemetery, he accepted it and moved on.

"Will you return with me? I'm about to head to the academy."

"No, I came here because I have things to do."

"Things to do, you say?"

"More importantly, do you have a cigarette?"

Cromwell gave Robert a puzzled look upon hearing his question.

In the past, Robert was a smoker but had quit smoking after his son's death.

"I do have some."

"Then give me one."

Cromwell, tilting his head, took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Robert.

"Why are you stingily giving me just one?"

Grumbling, Robert snatched the pack of cigarettes Cromwell was holding in his other hand.

"I'll borrow these."

"...What are you, some delinquent borrowing stuff?"

Cromwell clicked his tongue and put a cigarette in his mouth.

"I'm leaving now."

"What...?"

Cromwell thought Robert wanted to smoke together by asking for the cigarette, but Robert had already started walking away.

"See you at the academy. Buy me a drink if you do."

Cromwell watched Robert walking away with a look of disbelief.

"Tsk. Heartless."

Cromwell muttered to himself and lit the cigarette, then just watched the rising smoke.

"Why isn't this working?"

I had been continuously using magic, considering the theory of spatial magic that Ian had mentioned.

Yet, it wasn't working properly.

Theory is theory, and practice is practice.

Even if I had grasped the theory to some extent, it was not easy to use it successfully.

"Still, it's better than when I first learned dark magic."

I don't even want to think about when I first learned dark magic.

Back then, I suffered from all kinds of curses.

Compared to that, spatial magic was relatively better.

Even if I failed, I wasn't cursed or in pain.

The problem was the time constraint.

I was given a week.

Now, only four days are left.

Three days have passed, but there has been no significant progress.

I've never felt this stuck before.

In reality, I've been studying spatial magic for over two months, not just the three days since I learned from Ian.

Though many things have happened in the meantime, that's just an excuse.

Most of the events only lasted a day or two while I was studying.

So, it wasn't like I didn't have time.

I spent most of my time learning spatial magic and put in the effort.

Feeling this powerless made me think of one thing.

'Talent.'

I had never thought about talent before.

I overcame everything with effort.

That doesn't mean I thought I had no talent.

I must have had talent to have come this far.

But now, I'm facing a huge wall.

I don't deny the existence of talent.

Surely, factors like the environment one grows up in create differences between people.

In my previous life, I gave up on many things because of this.

I was someone without talent.

I was someone who couldn't make it work.

However, coming to this world changed that mindset.

Effort can overcome the lack of talent.

Once you start blaming talent, there's no more growth.

That's what I thought.

Looking back now, I wonder if I said such things because I had talent.

I made an effort because I had talent, and I could say such things because I had talent.

And now, it seemed like I had hit a wall of talent.

There seemed to be a limit to my talent, and I wondered if this was it.

Of course, in the future I saw, I was using spatial magic.

If you ask whether the future me is completely the same as the current me, I couldn't answer.

There were similarities, but the me from that world and the current me are clearly different people.

I had no idea what environments the future me had gone through or how I had lived.

"Young master Rudy Astria."

As I was sighing, a maid came down to the study.

"A man named Robert is looking for you, Lord Rudy."

"...Professor Robert?"

My eyes widened.

There was no reason for Robert to be in the capital.

I quickly ran to the front of the mansion.

"Professor?"

"It's been a while, Rudy."

Indeed, Robert was in front of the mansion.

"What brings you here... At this time?"

It was already almost dusk.

Dinner time had passed, and it was the time when early sleepers would have already gone to bed.

Robert pointed towards the mansion and smiled as he spoke.

"If you're not going to keep standing here, shall we go inside?"

With a bewildered expression, I nodded.

"Ah, yes... Please come in."

I led Robert into the mansion and guided him to the study.

"Doesn't this mansion have a reception room? Why lead me through such a mess?"

"I thought you usually don't care about such things... I led you here because my father is in the mansion."

I checked to make sure no one was around and quietly said to Robert.

"You and the necromancers have a bad history, don't you?"

I had led him to the study because it wouldn't be good if the professor and my father faced each other.

"More importantly, did 'that matter' go well?"

'That matter' referred to the necromancers in the Astria territory.

I had written a letter to Professor Robert.

Even if I hadn't written it, Professor Robert would have known it was the best opportunity to catch the necromancers.

Robert touched his ear as if my question was bothersome.

"Never mind that. How's your magic study going these days?"

Never mind that...

Though I was very curious about it, I answered the question he asked.

"Just so-so. I'm in a slump... or maybe I've hit a wall of talent..."

"A wall of talent? Pfft."

Robert burst out laughing after saying that.

"Why are you laughing..."

"What wall of talent. What nonsensical talk."

"Have you never felt such a wall, Professor Robert?"

"Of course, I have. No, many times. I've lived many more years than you, so naturally, I've felt it."

"Then why laugh?"

"Because it's not a wall of talent."

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Robert.

"Then what is it?"

"It's just a process. The process of everything. Haven't you experienced such things often? Before you learned dark magic from me and even after that."

Before learning dark magic from Robert...

Certainly, it was a grinding experience.

I had kept trying dark magic to pass the tests Robert set.

Back then, it was essential for survival, so I really did it as if it was a matter of life and death.

"But isn't it different now compared to then?"

"How so?"

"That was when learning basic dark magic, and now it's..."

Spatial magic.

Spatial magic, which is really used by only a few people.

I might not have the talent for it.

"Do you know how much talent you have?"

"...I don't know."

"Then what's the problem?"

"...What?"

"Just do it. If you're not going to quit, just do it."

"But..."

"You don't know how much talent you have. No one does, really. So are you going to quit? Give up? No, you're not. If you're going to continue, then stop digging yourself into a hole and just do it. If you still fail, then think about why. Was it because of lack of time, lack of effort, or really a lack of talent?"

Robert said that and then tapped my forehead.

"Think later. Now is the time to focus on what you have to do."

With that, Robert stood up.

"...Professor?"

"You have an appointment, right?"

My eyes widened at his words.

Looking at the time, it was nearly time to go to the cabin to meet Ian.

"How did you know?"

"I can roughly tell. Now, I'm off."

"There's still time. How about a cup of tea..."

"What tea? When have I ever been one to sit and drink tea."

Robert snorted and walked out.

"Huh..."

I wore a baffled expression at his sudden visit and just as sudden departure.

He had always been like that, but seeing him after a long time brought a fresh sense of nostalgia.

Still, a smile formed on my lips.

It felt like I had found the direction I had lost.

"Take care, Master."

I bid farewell to Robert's departing figure.

Robert walked out, only raising his hand without turning back.