Chapter 192 — A Moment’s Rest

1

Report cards!

Who wouldn’t be nervous at such a moment?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every academy student studied for this very moment.

The middle of the semester.

This was the stage where one’s knowledge, taught by professors, peers, and oneself, would be tested.

Everyone gathered in the lobby.

The report cards were posted prominently, impossible to miss.

The large bulletin board, resembling an oversized letter, clearly showed who achieved what grades.

Manus and Nia also arrived at the lobby to check their grades.

“How do you think you did?”

“Well, you know me.”

“You’re really something else. But your grades will be counted as second year, right?”

Manus nodded.

There hadn’t been any talk of skipping grades yet.

Only the level of classes had been raised.

“That’s right.”

“That’s a relief at least. Let’s see…”

Nia stood on her tiptoes to check the grades.

She nodded while making agreeable sounds.

“As expected! First place among third-year mages!”

“Congratulations.”

“What about you? You should check too.”

Manus nodded and checked his grades.

Top of second year.

His name was proudly displayed there.

It was an expected result.

What he knew and what he could do far surpassed other characters.

Even if expected, good results still felt good.

A faint smile appeared on Manus’s lips.

Seeing this, Nia spoke to him.

“Looks like you’re first as expected. Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“If I skip to third year, will I still be first?”

“You… you’re really mean, aren’t you?”

“I learned from my senior.”

Nia made an expression of disbelief.

Then she frowned deeply.

“Someone might think I’m actually a bad person.”

“You were at first. Surely you didn’t think I wouldn’t know?”

“…”

Nia’s expression hardened.

Family.

And the anomaly.

Nia recalled what happened recently.

The night of the banquet after midterms.

[I know you’re hiding something, daughter. Don’t you want to tell me?]

[I’m not hiding anything. Oh, well, there is one thing. My friendship with the young lord of Caesar?]

[…I see. Very well.]

Could it be that Manus had noticed her family’s attempts to interfere?

Nia’s heart sank.

That’s why she couldn’t say anything.

She wanted to say something, but no words came out.

“The Abrel family intervened a bit in this territory battle. Did you know about that?”

“Ah? Y-yes… I knew.”

Should she apologize for not being able to tell him?

Nia’s thoughts were in complete disarray.

Manus didn’t probe any further.

Even though Nia had delayed being ‘forgotten’ through her awakening, potential dangers still remained.

‘I bear some responsibility too.’

After all, he was the one who drew her in.

While preventing troublesome things bit by bit, he’d have to make sure she wasn’t forgotten by the world.

That thought hadn’t changed.

“As I said before, it’s better if families remain unaware. There are more people who know than you might think.”

“…”

“Do you think others wouldn’t know what the Abrel family discovered?”

“I know that too.”

She stuck out her lower lip.

Manus looked at Nia’s face, which seemed to have something to say.

She spoke to him deliberately.

Though her voice trembled, still.

“At first, I thought so too. That someone would intervene.”

She continued with a deep sigh.

“But now I know that’s not true. That’s why I’ve been trying my best to delay it as much as possible…”

“One year will be enough. Our family is moving too, so it won’t be easy for the Abrel family to learn the truth.”

“Sigh… Alright for now. And sorry… for moving behind the scenes…”

Nia turned her head and apologized in a small voice.

Manus swallowed a small sigh and lightly hit her arm.

“It’s fine. It won’t have much impact on the bigger picture. Right now, you should think about your own situation.”

“My situation? Ah…”

“Always be careful.”

Nia carefully nodded.

There was no more conversation.

She turned and quickly left for the classroom.

Manus felt puzzled as he watched her leave.

Usually, wouldn’t interference start at times like this?

The fact that it just passed by this time… did that mean this was how Nia’s heart naturally flowed?

‘She’s changed a lot.’

He felt unexpectedly proud that his efforts hadn’t been in vain.

It seemed she was now acting with a sense of belonging.

Manus checked the other students’ grades with both eyes.

Second place in second year was Alano.

First year’s top student was Kael, followed by Anais.

Below them, Melanie, Emerson, and Pearson were ranked in order.

‘Now everyone will be in one class.’

Finally, the picture he wanted was coming together.

Meeting in the same classroom every morning, they could share various stories.

Of course, classes would be their individual responsibility.

‘Should I go now too?’

He planned to absorb all magic stones until it was time to climb the tower again.

Somehow, he felt that after this break ended, a final battle with Andrea awaited.

2

Kael, Anais, and Pearson met in the club room.

These were the regular members, except for Melanie who had to handle merchant business, and Emerson who was too busy doing who-knows-what to show up.

“Congratulations Kael. First place again.”

“Mm, thanks.”

“This time all the first years really came together. I guess climbing the tower really does improve your grades and abilities.”

Pearson nodded proudly.

It was true.

They gained lots of experience that couldn’t be obtained at the academy.

Plus, they could live another twelve hours each day.

The three were chatting when something suddenly occurred to them.

Anais started the questioning.

“Oh right, Kael. What are you doing for the anniversary?”

“I’m planning to go to the city.”

“The city? Ah… come to think of it, you’ve never been there before, right?”

“Yeah. A senior is going with me.”

Huh?

Senior?

What’s that about?

Pearson and Anais looked at each other.

There were only two, no, three people who could be called senior here.

It wouldn’t be Guillermo since he wasn’t close to Kael.

Alano or Nia were somewhat possible.

If not them… only Manus was left.

Ironically, Manus had the highest probability.

“Don’t tell me, Senior Manus?”

“Yeah. Do you want to come too?”

“Us too… together?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a date?”

Date?

Kael hesitated at the word ‘date’.

It’s not that she hadn’t thought about it.

Walking through the city just the two of them did sound quite romantic.

But would she be someone of value to Manus?

Although he always introduced her as his most cherished junior, she thought that was all it was.

That’s how she had always seen it, and she hadn’t thought to go further.

“I hadn’t really thought of it as a date…”

“What are you saying? Senior agreed to go with you. Isn’t that a date?”

“Um… is it?”

Kael scratched her cheek.

Anais and Pearson looked at Kael and let out a deep sigh.

They felt Kael definitely needed some serious education.

Anais moved to sit beside Kael.

Then she started explaining everything in detail.

“When a girl asks to go to the city together, what do you think it means? A date! She wants to spend time alone together!”

“Senior might not think that way…”

“Ah! How frustrating! Whether you think that way or not, it’s still an appointment for just the two of you. So you should keep it that way!”

Faced with Anais’s fiery words, Kael could only nod.

Such passionate intensity!

She strongly advocated for Manus and Kael’s date.

“So! You absolutely must go on a date with Senior Manus, just the two of you. Got it?!”

“Huh? Oh… okay.”

“We’ll support you all the way. Don’t worry.”

Pearson said with a grin.

But why?

A vague sense of unease passed by.

Strangely, it didn’t feel like it would be an ordinary day.

So she awkwardly smiled and declined.

Shouldn’t I handle my own business… myself?

“It’s okay. I’ll just take your advice. Okay?”

“No way. Just trust us. Me and Anais will definitely! Definitely support you!”

“Just stay still.”

In the end, Anais pushed Pearson aside and started giving various advice to Kael.

Clothes, and date courses.

Places to eat that they could visit while running errands, and so on.

Anais provided Kael with all sorts of information.

Kael listened to her words with sparkling eyes.

The Foundation Day was soon.

She needed to think about what to do until then.

Should they climb the tower together?

‘It’s worrying.’

For Kael, it was quite a serious concern.

3

Melanie hurriedly searched for Manus.

She had something she absolutely had to tell him.

After asking around about his whereabouts, she finally found him on the main building’s terrace.

They had agreed to take a period of rest after visiting the tower.

Something about too many visits affecting mental health?

Anyway, that was the case.

Manus’s back view as he peacefully sat reading a book reminded one of a crown prince.

Is this what a prince on a white horse would look like?

She cleared her throat to make her presence known.

“Um, Senior. Do you have a moment?”

“What is it?”

“Ah, for Foundation Day, I wanted to ask if you could go to the city together.”

Manus looked into her eyes as he answered.

He should decline since he had prior plans.

“About that, I’m going with Kael. The Chairman said she’d introduce us to a new business contact.”

“Ah, that works out well then. That new contact is the Harry family.”

“Is that so? Then we just need to handle business together. Did you tell Kael?”

Melanie shook her head.

Was there any need to?

The Chairman would have already informed her.

So she explained.

“Um… the Chairman would have already told Kael.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Yes, then I’ll assume the message is delivered… and take my leave.”

Manus nodded.

This made it clear.

Kael must have asked him as a guide simply because of business.

Watching Melanie hurry away, Manus also firmed his thoughts.

‘It’ll still be a while before Kael develops romantic feelings.’

It was a time when she would be busy just taking care of herself.

June was approaching.

It was also the time to realize that climbing one more floor of the tower would be better than spending time on romance.

And so, time passed with everyone having different purposes.

Mid-May.

Finally, the day to go to the city dawned.

–TL Notes–
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