NOVEL NEXT Chapter 721
<721 – A Peaceful Day (1)>
Darknodi honestly regretted it.
She didn’t know until coming to the academy.
– Heheh. The Function Experience Points are going up and it was such a beneficial lecture!
– It’s too easy, so I’m not getting anything. Should I scratch the professor to increase the difficulty?
– Oops, it’s Hidden Beetle gathering time during break! I should grab points with a spell that will only be known a year later and hurry to gather!
Oknodie had been going through her normal routine without a second thought.
How harsh it was to maintain that difficulty.
“Why is this so hard…? I didn’t remember any of this in my memories…”
The reason was her ambition.
Oknodie enjoyed becoming stronger.
Friends she lost because she couldn’t get stronger.
The branching point of routes she couldn’t open for a happy ending.
Every moment she shaped into her own effort was something she felt proud of.
But, to do that, exploring the ending where the world perishes and using friends like shields might be a bit much.
Ultimately, she knew based on her memories that the ending she was aiming for was a happy one.
However, all those memories were just memories, and they were stories she couldn’t empathize with.
‘Anyway, Oknodie has already opened all the route branching points.’
The Berserker Hestia, who was never accepted anywhere, had long since vanished the bad ending where she destroyed her own place to stay.
Irene, who returned to the front lines to meet death due to the precariousness of the Northern Front, could now continue her academy life thanks to giant progress at the Northern Front.
Masugaki Princess became the greatest beneficiary, inheriting the position of Seonhwang and ascending as the Empress of the Empire.
‘Moreover, even though others don’t know, Ishtar has also opened her route branching.’
The curse of killing Seonhwang was avoided when Seonhwang relinquished the throne, and the powerful Four Kings who were obstacles in slaying the Demon King fell one after another.
Even the religious alliance, which was unfriendly to the Warrior, had been utterly destroyed, and the friendly Oknodie created the Saintess Alliance, establishing a strong support force.
With the support of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation, it was evident that the warrior’s journey would be even more fortified.
‘So it doesn’t matter. Even without me. Even if I don’t get stronger. Everything will resolve
Even with minor variables, it was a problem that could be controlled at the level of the well-grown students.
But why did she have to work so hard attending lectures and enduring a grueling schedule that felt like ten bodies wouldn’t be enough?
“You seem to be losing your composure, my lady.”
“Jonnas…!”
“Is your time here no longer enjoyable?”
Although he had assumed his position as a professor, Jonnas never lost the role of a butler, understanding Darknodi’s feelings.
“My lady. I should not have encouraged you to attend this academy for your happiness. There are days I still regret that choice.”
“Jonnas…”
“When you experience friendship and truly understand what normalcy is, what will happen when you choose to throw all that time away by your will? I was afraid of that, which is why I took the role of academy professor.”
Oknodie was already out playing beyond the academy…
Darknodi was tormented by guilt.
“Every time I personally teach you and pass on unknown techniques, I feel joy. There are still things you need to learn, and it feels good realizing I am a necessary existence.”
But in reality, Oknodie had learned everything she needed, so she told Darknodi to do the rest…
“The days I spend with you are irreplaceable joys.”
“…”
“So anytime you wish, just speak. If your desire is to leave the academy, I will gladly resign from my position to follow you.”
She couldn’t bring herself to suggest leaving in front of Jonnas, who seriously engaged in counseling.
If she caused trouble, the original Oknodie would be furious, and her clone would begin a bloody revenge.
Jonnas would surely find it easy to realize who the original and the clone were.
Because relationships were precious, parting would be even more painful.
Let alone, being abandoned while receiving resentment would be a future that was more hurtful, agonizing, and sad than any bad ending or ending of doom.
To avoid that future, if she were to leave the academy, she would have to depart even in front of Jonnas.
To keep Oknodie’s bond hidden from him.
At least to prevent herself from being abandoned.
To appear before Jonnas as if Oknodie, who had temporarily stepped out, would quickly recover her usual feelings and return with a bright smile.
“…I’m fine. Look, I’m healthy like this!”
Trying hard to put on a brave smile, Jonnas silently embraced Darknodi.
Such warmth was better when she didn’t know it.
Even the time with Seonhwang, who clearly drew the line calling her fake, was less painful in comparison.
“Reap will be creating a special chanting unit just for you today. Would you like to have dinner together after a long time?”
“That sounds good. And… thank you.”
The distinctly different temperament and personality due to her innate nature thankfully didn’t arouse suspicion in Jonnas that she was a clone.
“You’ve matured.”
“Because I’m older now.”
“Just turning 12 from 11 doesn’t make you an adult. Please don’t grow up too quickly. I won’t be able to enjoy the joy of supporting you.”
“Hehe. Then can I act a bit childish sometimes?”
“Not sometimes, but anytime you like.”
This shouldn’t be happening.
She knew it shouldn’t happen.
But as Jonnas kept getting kinder, her desire grew.
She didn’t want to give back.
No matter how hard and painful it was, she wanted to endure.
Suppressing that twisted desire to claim Oknodie’s place with a smile, she tentatively extended a minimal amount of desire she could compromise on.
“Can you carry me on your back?”
That was an event that wasn’t even in Oknodie’s memories.
An event that a daughter could experience with her father at least once.
As a ‘clone’, not the ‘original’, it was a cheerful routine she could proudly say she experienced first.
“As you wish, anytime.”
Jonnas lowered his head and willingly permitted her to climb onto his neck and shoulders.
Joy.
Tears came to her eyes.
The height and perspectives that had become more familiar in her memories compared to her small, insignificant view.
Unlike the lonely memories of being alone, the moments weren’t lonely because they were together.
Darknodi savored this moment with her entire being.
Certainly, the current memory was not just a simple memory, but a precious recollection she would carry for the rest of her life.
Even if one day she switched places with Oknodie and watched Jonnas from afar alone, she would cherish the memory of now.
[Why does Darknodi seem so pitiful? My tears are blurring my vision…]
[Good Kid Experience Points +15]
Though the existence of gods who were peeking at that precious memory was disconcerting, Darknodi knew.
They too would eventually become one of the stars that would fall under Oknodie’s hand.
“You’re here, my lady. The meal is ready, so please wash your hands.”
“Thanks as always, Reap.”
“…!”
Reap’s usually expressionless face couldn’t hold back a surprised expression, widening her eyes and biting her lip before turning away to hide her face.
“My lady has grown into a child who can express such gratitude…! Consider yourself lucky, Gift Academy… I’ll postpone the detonation date of the poison bomb set up in the professor’s residence by a year…”
“You were doing such a thing?! Stop it, that’s dangerous! You could get hurt!”
“Are you worried about me?! Please don’t do that. Today isn’t my birthday, nor the anniversary of my appointment as the Assassin Maid, or the celebration of your personal maid promotion. If I receive such extravagant gifts, my everyday life might become dull, and I might just die.”
“Then?! I won’t praise you. I promise from now on I won’t compliment you no matter what happens, so please don’t die!”
Gah… That’s also painful but it’s a fate I must prepare for as an assassin. I’ll do my utmost to further develop and spread more powerful poisons as per your command.”
If the students attending the newly established poison studies course next semester ever learned about the origins of the course, they would grab Darknodi by the collar and wail, asking why she did that.
But not knowing about the events happening six months later, and not being aware of the professors’ impending disasters occurring at the same time, Darknodi simply cherished this moment.
“Ugh, it’s heavy…!”
“It’s a special tableware set prepared by the butler for you. It’s embedded with a spell that irregularly increases gravitational coefficients to assist you in your mana manipulation, allowing you to enjoy meals while responding to patterns detected in changing spells.”
Ah, Oknodie had eaten this kind of meal before.
But enjoying it was Oknodie, not her…
With the harsh training invading even her mealtime, Darknodi shed tears.
The cozy meal where Reap was fidgeting and Jonnas wiped away her tears with a handkerchief continued steadily, even as Professor Plato’s office was being engulfed in Dark Mana and utterly destroyed far away.
It was a peaceful day.