NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86
“Ah, the Academy? Did I hear that right?”
While enjoying the steak I bought for her, Sif perked up her ears and asked me. I swallowed my share of steak and replied.
“You heard correctly.”
“Is it okay for someone like me to go?”
“I have full authority for this, so it’s fine.”
“R-Really…?”
Sif looked down at her plate with a touched expression. Such a strange face. Was there ever a setting where Sif wanted to go to the Academy?
I can’t quite remember.
After all, Sif is more like an Easter egg NPC; I’ve never really paid much attention. She’s not even a heroine, and unless you progress the quest, she’s an enemy monster, so I really didn’t think much of it.
“Did you want to go to Kalon Academy?”
Sif shot me a look of disbelief as if asking why I’d even ask something so obvious.
“Who wouldn’t want to go to Kalon Academy?! Just graduating guarantees you at least a position as a tutor for some noble family!”
Just like Sif to have such a reason. I glanced at the money-obsessed cat beastkin for a moment before turning my gaze outside. Students in uniforms and armored people. Ordinary folks mixed in between.
What a truly peaceful sight.
How nice it would be if I could live nestled in this peaceful scenery.
Finding a decent place to live, working, having a delicious meal with the money I earn, making a lover…
If I hadn’t been reincarnated, that would have been my horizon. But right now, that’s nothing but a distant dream. I know this peace is slowly crumbling.
People dying without even being able to resist. Monsters trampling the city. People gathering in the last bastion of the Academy, preparing for a final stand.
A bad ending.
I know the end of this world.
That’s why there’s no option for me to give up everything and hide. Ultimately, I would be swept away by the end as well. To survive, I have to use all the knowledge I have and fight desperately.
Main Quest.
Side Quest.
Information about the Dungeon.
And…
“Johann? Johann! Are you listening to me?”
At the voice harshly ringing in my ears, I turned to look at Sif. She had somehow emptied her plate and was now looking at me with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“I was just thinking for a moment.”
“Oh, really? Then, about that… can I order one more dish?”
Sif looked up at me with wide eyes, as if trying to act cute. Like she thinks I would be swayed by such blatant cuteness.
“…Alright, order one more.”
“Yay!”
———————-
“Um, m-me?”
A few hours after hiring Sif, I arrived at the Research Facility.
Since I had already informed Professor Lennon, I just needed to persuade Elisa. I knocked on the door of the research facility and shouted.
“Professor! It’s Johann!”
“Come in!”
As soon as I got permission, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it. I walked into the research facility and looked at Elisa, who was helping Professor Lennon. As soon as our eyes met, Elisa flinched and avoided my gaze.
Such progress, truly.
She even fainted the first time we met.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
I shook Professor Lennon’s hand as he came close to me to greet me.
“I’ve been doing alright.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Then, about what we discussed last time…”
“Elisa, come here.”
“Y-Yes?”
“I want to hire you over at Yeomyeong-gwan.”
“M-me?!”
“I heard you excel in your studies.”
“But there are plenty of other people who are better than me…”
“We need you.”
Judging by Professor Lennon’s slightly favoritism-laced compliment, it seems she’s good enough to be the second-best student, and her knowledge about the research is quite solid as a top disciple, so he decided it would be worth entrusting her with some administrative tasks.
Of course, there was also my quest, which included building connections.
It’s relatively easier to build connections when they’re nearby.
“Um… but… someone like me…”
Elisa stammered, glancing back and forth between me and Professor Lennon. Was she hoping for him to say something?
Though it wouldn’t serve any purpose.
“Elisa, this is a great opportunity. Getting to work at Yeomyeong-gwan is a rare chance. Why not try it out and improve your social skills while you’re at it?”
“But… I…”
“I know you’re a descendant of a witch.”
“W-What?!”
I waited for Elisa, who had gone into a vibrational mode like a cellphone, to calm down. The cold sweat she was breaking out suggested that it was quite shocking for her to know I was aware of her identity.
“What do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do…”
A secret no one else knew besides Professor Lennon. Oh, I guess Karina knows too.
Anyway, I placed my hand on her shoulder and spoke to her in the softest voice I could muster.
“Don’t worry. Didn’t Lady Karina say that being naturally gifted isn’t the only thing that defines a person? Remember that. We don’t care about where you come from.”
…Well, Renny probably doesn’t know, but anyway, she would comply if Karina said it just once!
Being a Karina fan like this is so useful.
Anyway, the witch’s descendant had a pale complexion and looked up at me with trembling eyes. Crouched like a scared rabbit, she met my gaze. My heightened insight assessed her state.
Fear, confusion, despair.
Excessively negative emotions were clearly etched on her face.
“Lisa, don’t worry too much. These folks are good people. Haven’t you met them?”
Fortunately, to break through this awkward situation, Professor Lennon, who had been observing from the sidelines, stepped in. Since they had been talking from the start, it was only natural.
Professor Lennon is like a father figure to Elisa, and there’s no way he would let his daughter live alone for the rest of her life. He can’t always be there for her, so he’s planning to entrust her to us, whom he believes he can trust.
Our need for someone to assist Renny’s work matched his interests perfectly.
“But…”
“You can’t live alone forever, my dear.”
“But, someone like me… how…?”
“Lisa, you’re a good kid. Don’t feel too small just because of your background.”
With the professor’s persuasion, Elisa nodded her head. She seemed to be doing it reluctantly, but as long as she got permission, that was good enough for me. I stood up and started preparing to leave.
“Then I’ll, um, go and pack my things…”
“Understood. Do you need help?”
“I-I’m fine!”
Then I’ll just sit back and wait. I watched her hurriedly disappear out of the research facility, then looked at Professor Lennon, who sighed and stroked his beard.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Of course, I can’t let that kid stay under my protection forever.”
I see.
I looked at the wrinkles on Professor Lennon’s face. He’s at an age where retirement wouldn’t be strange. Given how the world is, who knows when he might die, so even if he thinks of her as his daughter, he can’t always take care of her.
Thus, he entrusts her to us, believing we won’t care about her background. It’s probably the best option he can come up with.
“I’m ready…”
That was quicker than expected. I turned to Professor Lennon at the voice coming from behind the door. As I was about to leave, he took my hand and spoke to me in a low voice.
“Take care of her.”
“Understood.”
I left the research facility behind. As I opened the door, I saw Elisa looking startled by my sudden exit.
“…Um…”
“I’ll carry the carrier.”
“But…”
“It’s okay.”
I swiftly snatched the carrier from Elisa, which I couldn’t tell what was inside, and quickened my pace. Hiring Sif and getting Elisa a job at Yeomyeong-gwan was just the beginning of my work.
“It feels like there are just more and more women showing up…”
“Y-Yes?”
“Nothing.”
————————-
“Sif.”
“One!”
“Millia.”
“Two!”
I looked down at my minions, each wearing safety helmets I made myself.
Sif. Transport team. She pulls a cart and delivers materials needed for the tunnel groundwork.
Millia. Meal team. She rides a kickboard and delivers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Me. Shoveling team. I dig the tunnels.
A neat combination.
“Johann! Isn’t there anything else to do besides meal delivery?”
“If you’re bored, go help Sif.”
“Johann! Can I touch your tail?”
“No!”
“Sure can!”
Millia’s face, oscillating between sadness and joy, was truly colorful. Meanwhile, Sif hid her tail in horror, but unfortunately, she has no right to refuse.
“That’s my tail!”
“And who’s the one employed here?”
“…Do what you want.”
“Hehe, then I’ll touch it!”
“Just don’t grip it too hard. Got it?”
Nyaaan!
With the two entertained, I thought it was time to start work.
I took out the map provided by the Academy and spread it out. Before starting the actual construction, I needed a design. This wasn’t a small-scale tunnel; creating a passage capable of accommodating dozens of people requires precise work.
Using the pen I brought, I sketched rough lines on the map. Naturally, these would mark the positions where the passages would be made. Since some departments had underground floors, I had to consider where to place emergency exits. Considering the dungeon located beneath the Academy was quite an annoying factor.
As the lines began to emerge one by one on the map, it quickly became a mess of black ink.
Others might find it hard to decipher, but as long as I understand it, that’s good enough.
After all, I’m the only one working on this construction.
Let me organize my plans.
First, I will create passages leading to each department and periodically set up shelters.
The shelters will contain basic medical supplies and preserved food. That’s the Academy’s job, so I can let that slide…
What’s important is that it has to be a structure where we could hold out underground for a while, even if the Academy crumbles. I envisioned the shelters and tunnels I had made until now and roughly estimated everything.
Just as I was shaping my ideas, a familiar scream came from behind.
“It tickles! Stop touching me! Johann! Help me out!”
I wonder if Millia really likes Sif. I said to the panicking Sif.
“I’ll give you a gold coin as a bonus.”
“Hehe, you’re the best, Johann!”
“Just don’t grip too hard! Nyaaan!”
Indeed, treating the adorable demon is easy.
With the atmosphere brightened by a single gold coin, I smiled and tightened my grip on the shovel.
Alright, let’s get started.