Episode 35. winter’s end (1)

Wolves live in packs, so the common human expression ‘lone wolf’ may sound strange to them.

Wolves roam the world alone only when they are sick and old and abandoned from the pack or wander to form a force to lead, so the term solitude is generally not appropriate for them.

but.

Only wolves living in the human world are more lonely than anything else.

Unlike dogs, wolves can never be tamed, so wolves have no choice but to live alone forever among humans who fear the wild.

For the same reason, Saeparang, a pure-blood Rang who was one step away from human society, did not live in a dormitory.

She had been living alone in a small forest near Kiruna Magic School for two years, and now she has come to a situation where she has everything she needs in a small hut she built herself.

Sein couldn’t understand the humans who lived with the maids’ disgusting touches.

‘Will I continue to live with someone’s help?’

Eventually, there comes a moment when you have to shoulder everything by yourself.

Most of the people who attended this school seemed to have forgotten that fact, and it was the same with Ina Yeonparang, her eternal nemesis.

domesticated feral.

From the beginning, Sein hated Ina more than weak humans.

“Whoa… !”

In order to get rid of distracting thoughts, Sein started the day by focusing on training today.

He borrowed the spirit of a wolf to strengthen his body and broke a tree with one hand. I blew the spirit’s breath on the sword that seemed to have chipped teeth, and once again cut the smashed tree into pieces with a single knife.

Humans would use this for firewood, but her slightly bluish hair and tail were enough to keep her warm.

Sain left the pieces of wood behind, and this time challenged the rock and gnashed his teeth.

‘Ina light blue… . The shame of the Rang people who forgot their wildness.’

The spirit of hunting boiled just by thinking of her, but Sein was more angry with himself than with Ina.

In the third year of this year, Sain, who is the same age as Ina, was second in command department and third in the combined special warfare department.

In other words, right behind Ina. Even if Ina was ranked second in the Command Department and the special combat unit members were combined, Sein could not surpass her by a narrow margin.

This was the same the year before last, and in Kiruna, Sein was called by the other humans with the derogatory title of the second person of the Rang tribe.

nod-

I wanted to bite them to death right away, but the disappointment in myself was greater than the insult.

It was because there was a wall that I couldn’t cross between Ina and myself, even if I thought about it myself, to rationalize what the report card that evaluated me with the narrow vision of humans who couldn’t understand wolves had anything to do with it.

Four years ago, the inferiority complex that bloomed from the time Sain continued his struggle in the middle of the snowy field in ‘Ark’ was still vividly alive.

‘Are you three? I am Ina from Nodia. I heard you’re the strongest here?’

The first impression of Ina to Sein was that of a puppy.

On the subject of being a werewolf living in a cold place, he approached while blowing his nose, saying that this neighborhood was too cold.

A smiling face, completely oblivious to the unspoken threats made by other colleagues, even revealing their fangs.

I had heard that there were people living peacefully on the outskirts of the snowfields, but seeing them in person was just astonishing.

The funniest thing of all was that she challenged Sain, the leader of the group, without even smelling blood.

‘Would you like to fight with me? I have to show my parents that I’ve grown up to get out of the snowfield.’

‘… Did you come to see me just because of that?’

‘I risked my life here! I want to go to the human world so much that I want to die!’

Her subordinates enjoyed the situation and giggled, and Ina liked it, saying that the stiff atmosphere had finally eased.

Not wanting to waste any more time on an idiot who kept clinging to him, Sein quickly drew his sword.

‘… I’ll show you what blood is.’

‘… ?’

In the ensuing battle… .

Sein, who was forced to overdo it by Ina’s overwhelming force and coughed up blood, was able to show her the blood as promised.

Ina kindly put Se-in, who had suffered a disastrous defeat, to her bed, thanked her and left, but Se-in, who suffered from the shock of that moment, was able to regain her composure after suffering for two days.

‘… Did you say you wanted to go outside?’

Sein set foot in the world of humans only to meet Ina.

To prove that the wild nature of wolves is stronger than anything else, to defeat Inna, who has been tamed by humans.

Sain entered this school even after abandoning the group he led.

‘Even so, I haven’t been able to defeat Ina for two years… !’

“wait… !”

Sein, who smashed the rock, recalled what had happened a month ago.

A declaration of war sent to Ina, who can’t remember her own grades.

‘Next year, I’ll be there!’

‘The seat? where? Public Relations Manager!? Can I join the student council?’

cringe

By now, Ina would be spending her time peacefully with the student council, and in the meantime, she would become stronger and stronger.

‘Someday… !’

Like that, it was a time when Sein was burning his fighting spirit while facing the cold wind.

“It’s nice to see them working hard in training even in this weather.”

The brown-haired middle-aged man stood at a distance from her and said.

Sein, finally realizing that someone was watching him, greeted him briefly.

“Hello, Professor Telvin.”

“Think of it as your own courtesy.”

Telvin, who understands the Rang people well, was satisfied with the fact that Sein did not show any hostility.

Telvin stepped into his territory without warning, but Sein didn’t notice it.

He was a professor who managed the entire special combat unit, who was not aware of the werewolf, who was always sensitive.

Wolves do not obey authority, but they bow their heads to the strong from whom they can learn.

The smell of blood vibrating under the neat robe was enough to make Sein’s wildness dampen.

“Telvin, you are not the kind of person who will come here without warning.”

“I’m sorry. It is such urgent news.”

It wasn’t even a department, but the professor who managed the entire department, a group of departments, came to Sein directly.

Sein had a bad feeling and asked him with the sword in his hand.

“What is going on?”

“Because it’s something to celebrate… . There’s nothing to be so nervous about. Sain, your grades have fluctuated. Now you are the chief of the command department, and the second chief of the Special Warfare Department.”

“What!?”

It was completely unexpected, and Sein, who always kept his cool in front of humans, was shaken in front of someone for the first time.

“What are you talking about. Were there any errors in the way the test was scored?”

“no.”

“Then why!? Whatever happens to Ina-”

“I’ve done it before.”

“… uh?”

Come to think of it, Telvin looked very depressed today.

“I personally went to dry it three times, but… . That meaning was very clear. I didn’t tell you the proper reason, but did you say that you have something new you want to learn… ? Anyway, now you are the future of Command Department. Congratulations.”

“lie… . don’t. Where are the Langs going if not the command department? Where did Ina run away!?”

“Mado went to the Department of Linguistics.”

“What… ?”

From the Special Warfare Department to the Magic Department, the entire faculty was moved.

Telvin felt apologetic for Sein, whose expression darkened. Knowing Sein’s circumstances, he tried to hold on to Ina all the more… .

Even the professor did not have the ability to forcibly hold a student who decided to leave.

“You don’t even give me a chance to challenge… .”

“I’m sorry.”

Maybe the last snow to fall this winter is slowly falling and starting to pile up.

The sword Sein was holding also fell to the floor.

* * *

The night when the last snow of winter piles up without a sound.

“Asane.”

As the frills chanted, a smaller ice flower bloomed on her small palm.

The emperor behind the videophone, remembering that beautiful purple color, shone like a boy.

“that’s… !?”

“I remember? At the botanical garden I went to with my dad when I was 10.”

Frill, who has been interested in beautiful things since childhood, liked flowers.

Knowing this, Jer somehow found time to take Frill to a famous botanical garden.

‘How I loved it… .’

The memories that Frill and Zer-sama had accumulated together would not last for a few days, but Zer-sama’s sincerity, who somehow wanted to leave something worth looking back on in Fril’s heart, eventually bore fruit.

Was it really his sacrifice for Frill that he overdid for a week to empty the three hours he would spend with young Frill?

It wasn’t what Jer thought.

Hearing the happy memories that Frill remembers, he recalls his own memories and was able to smile with them.

“Right, it was summer, so the marigold scent was very strong. Do you remember the purple flower dad? It was said to be a flower that only blooms in dragon nests.”

“It was beautiful… . It was the only botanical garden where you could see those flowers.”

“At that time, I was scolded for asking if I could break it. Look Dad, do I know how to do something like this?”

Id this time.

Frill speaks the magic language of light… . Blue waves filled the dark room of Frill, where only the soft lighting was turned on.

The round horizon, pure white waves, and the absurdly gigantic sandcastle of light flooded the emperor’s videophone.

“Dad told me about the sea. How is it, is it a little similar?”

“… Really, really like the ocean, frills.”

Neither Frill nor Zer have ever been to the sea.

When Zer was young, he understood the sea drawn on the map as a huge, calm lake, and Kissing Garden was the first person to describe the sea to him.

Sitting him on her lap, she showed him a picture of the beach, and expressed the scenery of the beach with great care so that young Zer-nim could vividly recall the sea.

Zer hadn’t been to the sea even as an adult, so he had no choice but to repeat Kissing’s explanation to Frill, who was curious about the sea.

The sea that the garden had drawn was now overflowing in front of his eyes.

The teacher who treated me without prejudice as a member of the royal family.

Did such an educator come to Frill as well?

“It looks like you learned a lot of magic from Professor Ian.”

“yes. Magic is magic, but there is a lot to learn as a human being.”

Frill gradually began to understand that Ian, who revealed the secrets of Kiruna’s school and did not hide his enmity toward Euril, was actually walking on a very precarious path.

So I wanted to tell my dad everything and ask him to help Ian.

I wanted to reach all the contradictions of the school and the third sister’s bad deeds.

‘not now.’

Evidence fabrication and concealment would be a piece of cake for a sister who pushes a person to the brink of death for the sake of power. I have no choice but to wait until I can pull it out with certainty.

So now, there is only one way for Frill to help Professor Ian.

“Professor Ian has no hesitation in teaching me even if I am a princess. Point out mistakes, praise when they grow. Isn’t that really easy?”

Continuing to praise the professor to Dad.

When the Third Princess later framed him, it was Frill’s best to tell him about his true side so that he could be at least a little defensive.

He said that it might be fresh to his father, who is the pinnacle of the empire… . So thought Frill.

“I’m so glad you did.”

And, fortunately… .

From Professor Ian, Zer sees a vision of a teacher he will never forget.

‘Really, if that’s the professor… .’

Before anyone knew it, Professor Ian was recognized by the emperor as someone he could trust and entrust the princess to.

* * *

“… Damn it!”

Hadley Race, the vice-professor of the Mado Linguistics Department, had been drinking for the first time in a while.

The maids were busy every day, and I was worried if it would be okay, but I couldn’t stay sane without being drunk.

‘Have you been to Professor Ian’s class, Hadley?’

‘sorry… ! I am Professor Ian… .’

‘Hmm, you seem to be misunderstanding something. Please sit down.’

After losing his soul in Professor Ian’s class, which was terrible.

The only stories that Principal Skillbeck visited and carefully told her were things she couldn’t believe.

‘Yeah!? A top-secret research from the imperial family!’

‘It’s literally top secret, so I can’t tell you the contents. As far as I can tell you, Professor Ian and Professor Dana have been assigned to do the research. It’s not an imperial society, it’s a project directly managed and supervised by the imperial family.’

‘Even if Dana said so, Professor Ian… . Are you saying you’ve risen to that position?’

‘That’s right. I don’t know what kind of results he showed as soon as he came here, but from what I heard when I was notified by the imperial family… .’

His Majesty, who had been indifferent to over 100 issues, said that he was visibly interested in Professor Ian’s name and his achievements.

‘What on earth did I show you, so that I could beat all the professors who devoted their entire lives to research but couldn’t even tell the Emperor their name?’

‘Don’t get so excited already. I still have more to say.’

‘Are you saying there is more than this?’

‘yes. Do you know of a student in your department named Mina Spearmint?’

Mina Spearmint… ?

It was a name I can’t remember. She only paid attention to the top students, so she didn’t even memorize the names and faces of the students who weren’t worth investing in.

‘Sorry, I don’t remember… .’

‘yes. Professor Ian is also Professor Ian, but please keep a close eye on that student from now on. Before explaining the circumstances, let me conclude by saying that she is a unique magic user.’

The news was so shocking that I completely forgot about Professor Ian.

Hadley emptied the overflowing glass just like that. I felt like my stomach was about to explode.

Confidential research conducted directly under the imperial family and a unique magic user. The fact that these two storms were not the only ones brought by Professor Ian completely ruined her, who was always thorough, today.

“Assuming they are all like that… . Why is Ina coming to our department!!”

The strong smell of alcohol lingered in her tidy office, and Hadley’s painful memories continued… .

* * *

‘I picked up the pen like this to personally comfort and encourage you, who have bravely stepped into an unknown world that no one can understand.’

The emperor’s personal letter, which I managed to open at Meriel’s prompting, was a congratulatory letter announcing that I had been promoted to pond researcher.

‘No matter how much Elma guided you to the pond and protected you, in the end it was your feet that jumped directly into it. It is an achievement that shows the courage and strength of defending the forefront.’

At first, it was understood that the imperial family had a great interest in the pond, to the extent that the emperor encouraged researchers with his own handwriting.

“… You love frills more than I thought. Maybe it’s because I’m the youngest.”

“Mister, is this just a joke?”

However, from the middle of the letter, frills suddenly came up, and towards the end, it became difficult to tell whether this was a personal letter from the emperor or a letter from his parents.

It was evident that he was trying to be as restrained as possible, and to the extent that it was even more pitiful, the emperor was paying attention and worrying about the frills.

“It’s fortunate. Unlike Euril, the Emperor seems to be the way I knew him.”

“What kind of emperor do you know?”

The most human emperor.

A person who has many scars and shakes, but always struggles to protect innocence and justice.

He is a good father and a good emperor. I want to be both, but it’s not easy to achieve either of the two dreams properly.

‘Nevertheless… .’

I was impressed by the emperor who kept trying despite knowing that.

“I see you keep in touch with Frill from time to time. Did you hear my story from him… . What did you say to write me such a long letter?”

“Wait, uncle. Be quiet for a moment.”

At Meriel’s sudden warning in a low voice, I just silently nodded nervously.

Has it been about a minute since you held your breath like that?

“Is this the office of Professor Ian, by any chance?”

A middle-aged man knocked on my office door.

‘Who is it, a professor in the same department?’

“Yeah. Welcome. I am Ian Laver.”

“Nice to meet you, I am Telvin, the head of the special warfare department. I’m sorry I came without a letter asking if I could visit, but could you give me a minute?”

… Telvin?

When you’re so busy, why did that person come all of a sudden… ?