Place of Friendship (2)

The summer semester, which started in April, required less luggage than the winter semester. Dione, who was packing Kleio’s bags, cracked a joke with a sorrowful expression.

“What, the troublemaker prince’s friendly visit awoke our sleeping master? It’s a little sad.”

Unlike usual, Kleio couldn’t give her a vague answer. In fact, it was more embarrassing because Jungjin was practically a stranger to the word friend. In childhood, friends had been a problem. The accent of Jungjin, who had learned to speak from his mother, was subtly unique, just enough for the children to be cruel to him because he was different. Jungjin had grown up that way and became a silent student. The exclusion had decreased, but it was impossible to catch up with his age group. He was in a hurry to hide his past, even from his teachers. Old scholars tended to be quick to notice the faint dialect in his words.

‘It seems like there is a missing accent. Did one of your grandparents come down during the retreat?’

Words were an old sign that separated Jungjin from others, and he grew more desperate to try and live like others. He went to college and got a job, having classmates and co-workers. However, he didn’t get the chance to know what friendship was like—it was a life that felt close to one who had already died and remained only as a record or a character in a book. Now that he had become the friend of the protagonist of -The Prince of the Albion Kingdom-, it felt oddly consistent.

No, Arthur’s attitude was really strange still.

‘I’m going with you because of my interests, but you act like a real friend.’

But Arthur’s hard-earned friendship felt like half at best. Kleio’s soul and body didn’t match, and in such a situation, true friendship couldn’t be established.

‘In the first place, I’m in my thirties, but I’ve made a friend with an eighteen-year-old. A good friend is still the same regardless…’

Kleio stopped considering it and opened up his Memory.

‘Okay, what? Is it because the child is young, or because he has a good personality, that he’s a very reliable colleague? Why should I worry about it?’

It couldn’t be changed anyway; it was a waste of energy to continue to worry.

***

After school started, three days passed by in a blur. In the second year, the swordsman and magic classes were divided, as were the days the intensive major courses were held, so Arthur’s group was separated. The morning training hours were regular, and the instructors for individual practice and afternoon research were also set, so there was no time to be spent leisurely like before.

‘I heard that it would be like this, but it really is right from the start.’

Kleio, who had pledged to become a research student before the vacation, had even achieved level 5 during the break, so Zebedee was quick to put him to work. He had summoned him after the opening ceremony and gave him a key to the research annex. He had heard that no one had used it in the decades since Zebedee took office, but the annex was polished and clean like it had been built just yesterday.

“It’s no good if anyone interferes, so do whatever you want to do. The building has permanent defense magic in it so that it won’t break from a little experimentation!”

Zebedee had declared so triumphantly. The two-story building, built in a square shape with a courtyard in the middle, seemed just right for magic experiments that avoided the eyes of others. Sighing as he considered when he had become a villainous mad scientist, Kleio figured out the layout of the annex and made a plan to strengthen security. He needed two ingredients for that. That would be a bribe of 1875 Bishop’s Tower and some food. Behemoth had told him to do his own lab work, but when he mentioned the wine, the turnaround was quick.

‘I’ll be bringing mana stones and papers with mantras on them to the lab in the future, neither of which can be seen by others.’

He spent 4,200 dinars on six bottles of wine. Since 1875 was a great vintage, the price per bottle had increased by more than 100 dinars. Of course, that amount was minor to Kleio now. He bought three more cases, for a total of 36 bottles, in secret. Half of it was to be used for various bribes to Behemoth, and half of it was bought with a heart that couldn’t forget living an unemployed life.

.

.

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Only History and Classics were the subjects shared by the swordsmen and the wizards, but since Kleio had history class on Wednesday, it wasn’t until Friday evening that he could properly greet the others. The Angellium twins and Cel welcomed Kleio as they entered the cafeteria. All the freshmen were gathered in the auditorium to receive instructions, so the dining room was set sparsely.

“Lei!”

“You were absent in history.”

“Aren’t you mistaken?”

“Did you even come to school on the first day?”

As usual, the twins quickly settled on either side of him.

“Arthur told me.”

“I told you I would make a fox scarf for you when I hunted in Tristein’s territory.”

“Arthur said you wouldn’t be in the room.”

“The dean called me.”

“Is that what a research student says as an excuse?”

Cel took her place across from the trio.

“But we started taking the Carolinger class together. Please do well for the year.”

“Cel, there you are.”

Arthur, who entered the restaurant with Isiel, waved at his friends. It seemed he had heard their conversation thus far.

“Yes, me too! I applied!”

Arthur’s roaring voice rang out through the restaurant, drawing several student’s attention. Kleio, turning on Perception, was amazed as gossip about them sprung up all over the cafeteria, but the content was more about curiosity than anything malicious.

“Hey, those are the core members of the 977th Golden Year now.”

Arthur’s behavior was the same, but Kleio’s evaluation of him had changed entirely. Of course, that didn’t last even thirty seconds among the kids like that. Cel fluttered, spinning her empty wine glass around.

“Arthur, you don’t even know the Carolingian alphabet.”

“I can learn from now! I’m going to take only two elective courses, so it’s okay.”

Arthur pulled out one of the wine bottles he carried and filled her glass first. Soon, a courier began to bring them their meals.

“The Carolingian class has a small number of students, but the prince’s grades for this semester are worth knowing.”

Second-years had completely different class compositions and points from first-years. The combined scores for the two major classes were 250 points, 100 points for the common subjects of Classics and History, and 50 points for the remaining electives, making a perfect score of 400. Of the forty students in the 977th class, four had and there were only seven members in the magic class while the swordsmen class had twenty-nine. It was a good situation for Kleio to be in as he aimed for third place in the graduation rankings. If he beat four other people, he could reach it.

“Oh, then what about Isiel?”

“I also applied for it.”

“What else did you apply for?”

“Since there are many subjects, it is too long to say all of them.”

Lippi’s question was snatched by Cel as she answered for Isiel.

“As Isiel said, Carolingian with us in addition to military studies and mathematics, and magical theory. We’re going to listen to the Introduction of Magic together.”

“Isiel is amazing.”

“Amazing.”

The two twins exclaimed their admiration as they ate their fresh white asparagus. The conversation went right through Kleio’s ears as his gaze was focused on the plate before him.

‘White asparagus… Is it steamed with butter and wine?’

The thick spring asparagus was served with the same wine it had been steamed in for an excellent combination. Kleio took a sip of the wine as he savored the rich buttery flavor. There was a little sweetness to it, but the scent was sweet and colorful—like spring flowers blooming. The bottle Arthur was holding had an unfamiliar name on it, but the taste was like a Riesling.

‘It’s perfect, truly perfect. Ha, it’s spring.’

It tasted ten times better than the same type of wine he had bought from the special wine market in the past. After the asparagus, fried pumpkin flowers stuffed with ricotta, fried onions, and leeks with grilled chicken roulade were served immediately next.

‘This cafeteria is certainly a national treasure…’

The white cheese melted gently and spread over his plate as he cut the fried pumpkin flower in half. The crispy and moist textures, along with the soft but refreshing taste of the cheese, melted in his mouth.

“Ah, it’s so delicious…”

“No kidding. After the vacation, Mrs. Charlotte’s kitchen leadership seems to have grown even greater.”

“Mrs. Charlotte?”

Arthur filled Kleio’s empty glass as he spoke about Mrs. Charlotte, the head of the school cafeteria.

“Don’t you remember when we first met? Even then, Mrs. Charlotte was packing your late meal. All the meals here are made by her. Thanks to my connection with her, I always get plenty of alcohol.”

Kleio remembered the woman with a sturdy build, red cheeks, and a handkerchief wrapped around her head. Of course, Arthur’s behavior seemed a little different from his explanation.

“Are you not going to eat that?”

“Ah, can I not drink and talk?”

“That’s it.”

Kleio blocked any further conversation and cut into his chicken.

‘There are only four cafeterias in the school, but the quality control is amazing. Does Mrs. Charlotte have some unique skill? Ha, this school is quite active at attracting talent.’

He was grateful for it. The student’s chatter stopped as they busied themselves eating. Only the faint sound of cutlery touching the plate or the movement of glasses could be heard. It was then that a male student bolted into the cafeteria, his uniform denoting him as a fourth-year.

“Everyone, pay attention! Listen up!”

Some of the older students looked up in a panic.

“What is it, Mark?”

“This dinner is delicious. If it’s nothing, we’ll resent you.”

The student named Mark didn’t care about the cold treatment from his friends as he was motivated to spread the news he had heard.

“Is food the problem now? Listen! Magic class’s Guilard Eclipsi has been expelled!”

In an instant, the whole cafeteria quieted. Then, a hum of something rang out under the high vaulted ceiling.