29. Too Harsh for Her (5)
“Will you be going after class ends?”
“I don’t want you to follow.”
Though Karla had boldly declared her intention to head to the library, she found herself unable to do so.
The commotion occurred during lunch, and with afternoon classes still to come, she had no choice but to return to the lecture room.
Skipping a class was something that could perhaps be justified, but having come all the way to the Academy of Magic, shouldn’t she at least attend the lessons? At least when it came to magic, Karla was quite sincere. Weighing the option of going to the library after class versus the necessity of the current lessons, the latter seemed more pressing.
“Isn’t it faster if I help you look rather than you struggling on your own?”
“It’s you.”
Karla, who had been walking silently, stopped in her tracks and turned to face Ivan.
Since their distance had grown close enough—though not as close as in the past, which was inevitable—Ivan had thought that this was good enough. But upon seeing Karla’s sharp gaze, he was startled.
“Are you feeling sorry for me?”
“Huh? Feeling sorry? No, that’s not it.”
“Then what? What are you planning to do by following me to the library? What can you possibly do for me? If you’re just here out of pity, stop here. Just until here—it’s good enough. The distance between you and me should remain like this. To me, you…”
Saying this, Karla suddenly closed her mouth.
Fleeting memories crossed her mind.
Ivan who had saved her when she was lying there with her arm severed, waiting for death.
Ivan who had tended to her when she had been unconscious for two days.
Even today, Ivan who had grabbed Lucas by the collar and got angry as if it were his own fight.
“…Maintain this distance. Don’t come any closer. You… to me, you’re nothing more than someone I need to overcome, just a rival I need to surpass.”
Ivan could only look at Karla silently.
Having little refinement in things like propriety or eloquence, Ivan had no idea how to respond to Karla’s words.
“So…”
“Excuse me, Karla della Cascata. Karla student?”
Hearing the sudden voice, Karla turned around.
Ivan also turned his gaze and was astonished at the sight of the elderly man standing there. Without hesitation, both of them bowed respectfully.
“Hello, Principal.”
“Indeed, Ivan student. It’s almost time for your afternoon class, so it’s best to head back to the lecture room.”
The elderly principal, with white streaks in his hair, smiled kindly as he spoke. However, Karla’s demeanor betrayed her underlying tension.
The principal had appeared behind them without any warning or sound.
It was as though he had been there all along, and his sudden appearance was a testament to his considerable skills.
“Principal, about Karla—”
“Karla student, I need to speak with you briefly. I’ve already informed Acting Instructor Lorenzo. Would you accompany me for a moment, Karla?”
The invitation to walk with the principal was not something Karla could refuse, although she was reluctant about missing her class. She nodded obediently.
“Ivan student, you’ll soon meet the person you’re looking forward to, so don’t worry too much. Please proceed.”
With those words, Ivan reluctantly nodded. He didn’t have much of a choice.
*
“This will do nicely. Please, sit.”
Karla quietly sat on the bench as the principal suggested.
A cool breeze passed over the bench situated atop a hill, offering a broad view of the sprawling Academy below.
“Isn’t the view splendid?”
“Yes, it is.”
“You still retain your male speech pattern, even though you’ve returned to your true form. It seems language habits aren’t easily discarded, are they?”
“…Yes.”
At the principal’s comment, Karla nodded. She was well aware that her speech carried some problems.
But what could she do?
She had originally been male, and the current situation felt like wearing someone else’s disguise.
Not that she could reveal the truth either, so she decided to let it be.
“Still, it would be good if you adjusted your speech style soon. Lady-like conversation would be more appropriate.”
“…Understood.”
“The reason why I’ve asked you to meet here, do you have any guesses?”
Karla shook her head. She really had no idea… If there were any clues, at least she could speculate.
They had already discussed everything, and during the meeting with her uncle, Lord Cascata, the principal hadn’t shown much interest in her.
“Instructor Lorenzo seems a bit too casual, don’t you think?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m referring to Acting Instructor Lorenzo.”
Karla found it hard to understand why his name had come up so suddenly.
Lorenzo was merely an acting instructor, and he wasn’t important enough for the principal to remember both his name and disposition.
“That… Yes, he doesn’t exactly come off as a trustworthy instructor…”
“Sometimes, a person who seems too serious might appear too casual.”
“…I see.”
The principal gently smoothed out Karla’s left sleeve.
The arm that should have been filling that sleeve was missing, leaving an empty space that fluttered in the wind.
“Acting Instructor Lorenzo asked me for a favor.”
“A favor?”
“To pass on to you some information about Soft Alchemy.”
“Soft Alchemy…? Information…?”
“Yes.”
This was unexpected.
To be honest, Karla had only realized afterward that Lorenzo’s remarks about commercial value amounted to a grave insult to the nobility.
Yet, she hadn’t confronted him about it at the time, so she hadn’t made it an issue. Since then, she had viewed Lorenzo merely as a mediocre instructor who simply passed the time.
The fact that such an individual had approached the principal himself to request information about Soft Alchemy was surprising.
“Why would Instructor Lorenzo…?”
“…As for his past, I cannot tell you too much about it. There are personal matters involved. However, he loves this Academy dearly, cherishes the students, and, more than anyone, values peace. He also understands the horrors of war quite well.”
“…”
“Therefore, Acting Instructor Lorenzo was deeply troubled by your injury, Karla student. He believed that if there is any available lead, it would be right to share it with you, even if it’s forbidden knowledge.”
“…”
“The incidents that have occurred here are still under investigation, but progress has been slow. The mysterious man imprisoned in the underground jail remains taciturn, and it has also been proven that he was securely detained at the time of the incident. However, the accident you experienced is a separate matter. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…That’s true.”
The Academy that failed to prevent the attack and Karla’s arm injury were separate matters. The Academy had a responsibility to prevent the attack, but it also owed Karla compensation.
“Therefore, Acting Instructor Lorenzo requested materials on Soft Alchemy to help restore Karla student’s arm.”
“I see.”
“The logic is sound. If it helps, we have an obligation to provide it, even if full restoration isn’t possible.”
The principal chuckled.
Karla didn’t really know much about the principal or what kind of person he was. Her only contact had been during the welcome speech on enrollment day—aside from his brief interaction with Lord Cascata, they had never really spoken.
“Soft Alchemy has only one known user, Karla student.”
At this, Karla straightened her posture.
Maybe the principal knew something about Venere—though it was only her speculation, this might help with her pursuit.
“The name isn’t known either. Precisely speaking, there are seventy-two known names, but none have been confirmed. She has appeared in various places, leaving scattered traces behind. Even after examining parts of the corpse killed by Ivan student, we cannot confirm if she was the true Soft Alchemy master or not. Therefore, I want to give this to you, Karla student. The Academy will keep investigating officially.”
The principal pulled a small notebook from his robe.
Its brown leather cover was worn but well-preserved. It appeared readable without much issue.
Karla’s eyes were glued to the manuscript in his hands.
Perhaps the clue to retrieving her arm was right there. Her eyes sparkled with an unusual intensity.
“Someone once tracked the Soft Alchemy master. This is the diary kept until about twenty years ago. We need to backtrack from here. Ideally, it should be my role, but I have too many pressing matters to attend to.”
Karla extended her hand and took the notebook. Though it had seen much use, she carefully handled it like a treasured magic manuscript, placing it on her lap to open.
The journal was organized by date.
“Most records about Soft Alchemy are linked to forbidden alchemy. Human transmutation, indeed something that could fall into forbidden categories?”
“Yes.”
“Your concise replies are appreciated. Anyway, I hope this will be useful for you, Karla student.”
“Yes…Thank you. I’ll examine it further.”
“That’s why I asked you here specifically.”
“Is that so…”
Karla closed the diary and held it tightly. It was awkward to conceal it in her robes for now.
“I truly apologize to you, Karla student. Though it depends on your will, it might be possible to exempt you from the midterm exam rules—”
“No, no. That’s unnecessary. I’ll take the exam and pass it on my own.”
Considering whether Enrico would acknowledge her passing through an exception, she doubted it.
Someone as pedantic as him would not accept that and would likely argue that failing to take the exam equals failing.
“Your spirit is admirable. I will look forward to it, Karla student.”
“…Yes.”
—
“…”
