Chapter 203

I conducted the class with Danyerin, who had given me a promise that felt more like a threat.

The class itself was surprisingly underwhelming, somewhat similar yet different from the first semester.

Every Wednesday we would have Autonomous Training or receive training from a cultivator, while the rest of the time consisted of various practical sessions.

As always, I breezed through the practicals. Most of the first-year practices were closer to training.

The professors mainly conducted the practical sessions, with me being the exception to prevent any balance disruption or accidents, or so they claimed.

Moreover, they sought permission to impose some not-really-limits on the next week’s practice.

I had no idea what kind of practice it would be, but it was clear that maintaining balance wouldn’t be easy.

Anyway, I managed to wrap up another ordinary day. All that was left was to relax comfortably…

“As I mentioned this morning, starting today, I will teach you various subjects, with a focus on Mathematics.”

“I don’t want to.”

“No can do. You need to learn basic subjects to avoid being looked down upon. As I said before, it’s a waste to use that smart head of yours just for headbutting.”

I couldn’t protest. Even though studying wasn’t my favorite, Grace was so adamant that I had to learn.

The subjects included Mathematics, Philosophy, Science, History, Ethics, and more—basic stuff concentrated on the essentials.

“Today, I’ll start with the most basic Math. Here, take this book.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s basic Math that nobles learn. As a magician, Math is very important to me.”

You might wonder what Math has to do with magic and language.

But mathematical logic isn’t just for show. Math is an objective science that excludes human emotions.

Language, on the other hand, can’t help but carry human emotions, while Math can stabilize things for more efficient application.

Even the magic Godin is researching likely has deep connections to Math. That’s how crucial it is.

“Formulas are important, but the most important thing is mathematical logic. It’s about application, not rote memorization. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

“And ethics. This might actually be the most important.”

Grace emphasized its significance, even more than Math. Honestly, ethics are straightforward.

Of course, learning them is easy, but having a sense of morality in this harsh world is practically a luxury.

In this day and age, genuine morality rarely holds sway.

Even within the academy, violence could pop up at any random moment.

“I guess I’ll just have to memorize it.”

Application will vary depending on the situation. I had learned this from Eli, so it didn’t really move me.

“First, you must protect those to be protected with your life.”

“Okay.”

“Second, respect and protect the weak. Third, do not insult others carelessly. Fourth…”

“…?”

Wait a minute. The more I heard, the more it sounded like something I had heard before.

I couldn’t quite remember where I’d heard it, but I definitely had.

But each point was valid, and since it was closely related to ethics, I didn’t press for more details.

I thought, “Just so it is,” and moved on. After all, I was generally a moral person.

“I just cause accidents.”

Thinking that inwardly, I underwent Grace’s education. Surprisingly, she taught well enough that it wasn’t boring.

Especially since it was her first time teaching, she often stumbled, which was somewhat cute.

“That’s it for today. Good job.”

“Now it’s Grace’s turn.”

“Huh? My turn?”

“It’s time for your workout.”

Once I finished my class, it was Grace’s turn to exercise.

Grace flinched at my words and started rolling her eyes, seemingly trying to escape somehow.

Anyone could see that she was just stalling, but I remained silent, curious to see what excuse she might come up with.

“Oh, let’s skip today. It’s getting late, isn’t it?”

“No way. If we postpone it, you won’t do it at all.”

“Well, still…”

“An hour is enough.”

“…”

Under a not-so-subtle coercion, Grace reluctantly accepted, even though she was clearly trying to wriggle out of it.

First, we changed into workout clothes, thankfully finding some exercise gear.

After some quick stretching, we stepped outside and began a light jog.

Since Grace was extremely weak physically, I planned to keep it light.

“Hah. Hah. Ugh…”

“Wow.”

But less than three minutes in, she was already staggering. I couldn’t help but be impressed by her lack of stamina.

Furthermore, she couldn’t even do two push-ups or was doing sit-ups completely with her back—what a disaster.

It was a mess, and I couldn’t figure out where to start helping. Did she just pour all her energy into magic?

“This won’t do.”

“Y-Yeah? So, then exercising is…”

“More emphasis needed.”

“Ahh…”

She definitely needed at least some stamina to function like a regular human being. Her endurance was far too lacking.

At least her recovery was decent, thanks to her high magic power.

“Um, Sivar, I’m a bit embarrassed to say this but…”

“What is it?”

“Considering my chest is a little… ample, running is tough for me.”

“Kara’s is big too. Eli’s is even bigger.”

“…”

Grace’s excuse was somewhat understandable, but ultimately just an excuse.

In the end, even Grace had no choice but to exercise, reluctantly chewing on a bitter pill.

I wasn’t cruel, so we only trained for thirty minutes. Any more would leave her unable to get out of bed the next day.

“Hah…”

“Good night.”

How exhausted must she be to fall asleep that quickly? I gazed at Grace’s face.

Within five minutes of lying side by side, she was off to dreamland, never forgetting to hug me tight.

As I quietly watched the sleeping Grace, I quietly got up.

Then I moved from the bed to the balcony. It was almost time for our little secret meeting.

“You’ve come.”

A familiar voice greeted me from the side. I turned my head in that direction.

As expected, Danyerin was standing on the adjacent balcony.

In one hand, she held a pipe, a gentle smile adorning her face. She wore the Eastern-style pajamas I’d seen the previous night.

“I could hear your snoring all the way over here. I suppose your workout was rather taxing.”

“I stopped just before I felt like dying.”

“That’s not surprising. Magicians often neglect physical strength.”

Tuk-tuk—

Danyerin tapped the ashes from her pipe into an ashtray. It looked like she had smoked it all.

She then set the pipe down and showed me something.

It was a small bottle. A bottle labeled with a word symbolizing alcohol.

“I have a drink called Danju, a sweet and delightful alcohol. I thought both you and I would enjoy it.”

“That’s true.”

“I picked a suitable one. Now I just need to get us some cups…”

Danyerin paused mid-sentence and looked at me. The distance between the balconies was quite far.

In other words, someone would have to cross over. I realized what she meant and cautiously started to move.

It was dark all around, but someone could be watching, and if Yeohye woke up, it would be a hassle.

Danyerin seemed to understand this as well, stepping aside to allow me to cross over.

With a light and quiet movement, I jumped from one balcony to the other. Thanks to my ambush skills, I probably made no sound at all.

Seeing me cross over, Danyerin smiled satisfied and handed me a cup.

“Here’s your cup. Take it.”

It seemed she had prepared this intentionally. I accepted the cup from Danyerin.

It wasn’t a wine glass but a small cup. It looked like it was made from a whitened material.

A typical Eastern-style drinking cup. All that was left was to fill this cup with the drink.

Slurp—

After we filled each other’s cups, we took a light sip.

It had a herbal, bitter scent, but the sweetness overwhelmed it. Quite a unique flavor.

Most Eastern alcohol prides itself on its bitterness, but this one was different. It tasted just right, even without snacks.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“Yeah. It’s delicious.”

“Thank goodness. Most Eastern alcohol is quite bitter.”

Danyerin smiled contently while pouring more alcohol into her cup.

She spoke with no formality, casually treating me as she would a close friend. That’s something I could never imagine with anyone else.

However, I knew enough about Danyerin to approach her. She had lived a lonely life, but in a different sense from mine.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve conversed with someone like this. Back in my place, I often marveled over whom to trust.”

“I had no one.”

“Oh, I see. So, how do you feel about talking to people now?”

“It’s fun.”

Especially teasing Luna is the most enjoyable. Gabbing with her is always entertaining.

Danyerin seemed pleased with my answer, giving a gentle smile as she looked up at the sky.

The dark night sky was speckled with countless stars, making it seem like there were rivers of stars.

“I know very well how enjoyable it is to talk with someone. When you open your heart, it feels like a burden is lifted.”

“Even now?”

“Of course. You’re safe, after all.”

She meant politically safe. I was a feral man with no backing whatsoever.

For someone like Danyerin, who was under significant political stress, that must have been incredibly comforting.

She didn’t even trust her own bodyguard, Yeohye, who was with her. She was isolated in many ways.

“I have no choice but to continue this lonely fight for my dream. That’s why I can’t afford to treat anyone comfortably. You’re an exception, of course.”

“Dream?”

“I wish to become an Emperor.”

As you’ve heard, Danyerin’s ambition is to sit upon the throne. That path is thorny enough to resemble walking through hellfire.

I know that her siblings exceed ten in number. Each one of them is a competitor.

Even the slightest hint of ambition could lead to severe consequences, potentially vanishing like a mouse in the night.

If it weren’t for Danyerin’s talent, she would’ve likely been assassinated long ago.

“An Emperor?”

“It’s a position everyone looks up to, a place from which one can survey the land below. You may not understand, but that’s how it is.”

“Why do you want to become an Emperor?”

Danyerin’s response to my question was extremely simple.

“Because it’s a hellhole.”

“…Huh?”

“I wanted to be an Emperor because it’s a hellhole. I didn’t choose to be born here, yet it feels like my life is threatened at every turn.”

Those words don’t typically come from a princess but they show how stressed she really is.

The current state of the Hwan Empire isn’t particularly good. It’s like a power struggle brewing inside the Soviet Union.

It’s held together only because the current Emperor is a figure like Stalin, but the moment he passes, an incredible bloodbath will ensue.

Additionally, the Emperor himself has lost his mind, leaving even the heir ambiguous.

“If he had properly chosen an heir, it might be manageable, but that strange man said one must eliminate others to become the true ruler of the throne.”

“Like a predator?”

“Predator? Ah, are you referring to the wild predator? Hmm…”

Danyerin spun her wine glass while deep in thought, popping a sip into her mouth.

Following her lead, I tilted my glass back. Truly, it has a strange flavor.

“In a way, perhaps it’s similar. Relationships can be like a predator-prey dynamic, survival of the fittest, you know? Sometimes, it feels like people are just beasts.”

“Not always.”

“Heh, that’s a bone to chew on. For you to realize that already is impressive.”

Danyerin let out a quiet laugh at my words. It was more of a self-deprecating chuckle.

Then she poured more liquor into her cup and let out a sigh. The alcohol was quite potent, already turning her face red.

I could feel my own cheeks heating up but did my best not to show it. Acting drunk would be dangerous.

“Sivar.”

“Yeah?”

“How do you think one should find trustworthy people?”

Danyerin posed the question to me, her gaze still fixed on the sky.

Since yesterday, she had been asking me about trust. But considering her situation, I could understand it.

She had no one she could trust nearby. Maybe she had experience with betrayal in her past.

“I don’t know.”

And I couldn’t answer that. I genuinely didn’t know.

People’s relationships are inherently fluid. It’s rare to find someone who will stick by you through thick and thin.

An enemy of yesterday can become an ally today, and vice versa. That’s just how people are.

“I don’t know, huh? Then why do you trust people?”

“I just do.”

“What if that person deceives you?”

“Then I’ll be deceived.”

“…Same answer as before.”

Danyerin chuckled softly. Right now, that’s all I could say.

If I claimed to know the future, it would be obvious I couldn’t trust anyone. Otherwise, I’d be treated like a madman.

So with a shrug, I gave a relaxed answer.

“I dislike complicated matters. I’ll just trust.”

“…”

“Do you want to get tricked once?”

I playfully suggested to Danyerin, proposing she might want to try trusting once.

Danyerin stared blankly at me, her heart wavering as if ripples ran through her eyes.

“…Heh.”

Then suddenly, she burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha.”

She gave a sound like air escaping and shook her head in disbelief.

It wasn’t a negative reaction but more of a reaction to absurdity.

Then she looked straight at me and said in an incredulous voice.

“How interesting. Really interesting. To charm someone so naturally. The more I see you, the more I wonder at your abilities.”

“So, will you trust me?”

“I won’t trust you, but I’ll let you trick me.”

That sounded like she would trust me. I took it that way.

Moreover, that was something that typically comes out when a certain level of rapport has been built.

While it wasn’t complete, it reflected her comfort level as a conversational partner.

“I guess that’s all for today. After having some alcohol, you should sleep well.”

“What’s left?”

“I’m afraid I can’t share too much since it’s precious liquor. We must sip it slowly.”

Such a shame. It tasted really good.

I made a disappointed face, and Danyerin chuckled softly.

Afterward, she waggled her finger and gave me a gentle admonition.

“You shouldn’t get used to drinking too soon. Moderation is key in everything.”

“Got it.”

“Then, have a good night. Let’s meet again at this hour tomorrow.”

Danyerin casually set up plans for tomorrow and went back inside. I also returned to my room via the balcony.

But before that, one more thing. After crossing over to the balcony, I looked ahead. It was just thick darkness.

‘Should I go today?’

One time might be fine, twice would be okay. I leapt across the balcony into the darkness before the sensation disappeared.

Not towards Danyerin, but ahead. In other words, I’d crossed the wall.

The issue was…

Slip—

“Oh.”

My foot slipped due to a slight buzz from the alcohol. Without proper balance, I fell headfirst.

Thud!

“Ouch.”

Luckily, it wasn’t too high up. I rubbed my head as I stood up.

Did someone see me fall? The aura quickly faded. They must have realized I had noticed.

‘I can still catch them.’

Immediately, I started moving my legs.

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