Chapter 45

Leon Rothe Dale, a second-year student in the Swordsmanship Department of the Academy, had missed several opportunities. He failed to take down a villain (me) selling opium-laced wine to students and gain renown, and also missed the chance to attract the attention of nobles while courting the Third Imperial Princess. Despite all this, Leon still became the most famous student at the Academy.

Back when he was a freshman, the professors had even recommended he withdraw, but his turnaround began right after he started second year. He single-handedly apprehended a Demon Worshipper who had infiltrated the convocation hall, then casually fended off a challenge from the top-ranked student of his year who had tried to pick a fight, dismissing it as mere luck.

The following episode was supposed to be about the opium wine, which I did mess up.

However, handling the conflict with the Elves was something I still wanted to leave to Leon.

‘It wouldn’t be a bad thing for him either.’

In the original story, Leon’s rise to prominence in the Empire began right after the events in the Great Forest.

By crushing the Uldris Clan’s plot to interfere with the Saintess’ peace efforts and heroically stopping the extremist Elves attacking in desperation, Leon prevented what could have become a full-blown war.

The Elves rewarded his efforts greatly:

“Leon Rothe Dale. Without you, there would have been conflict in the territory of the Mother World Tree. Even if we wouldn’t have lost to the lower races, it would have been impossible to prevent the forest falling into ruin. Thanks to your efforts, calamity was averted… We will actively pursue peace negotiations with the Empire as the Saintess has requested.”

Moved by Leon’s actions, the Elves swallowed their pride and opened negotiations with the Empire.

“Sir Leon. Ah, not yet a sir? Haha! You will be soon. A medal of merit is already being discussed for you on the recommendation of Her Highness the Third Princess. It’s the highest honor available to civilians… Not just that, you’ll be awarded a title as well. Preventing the war alongside the Saintess deserves more than this reward, wouldn’t you agree?”

Because of Leon’s achievements, the Empire rewarded him with honors and a title after finalizing favorable peace terms with the Elves.

He’ll likely get a similar reward this time as well.

Though Anais has been sent off to the monastery, it’s probably for the best, right? There are plenty of other women in the world.

There’s one female lead candidate creating a love triangle with Anais, or he could just find any nice woman. Once he succeeds, the female students will flock to him anyway.

‘Leon really is the right person to handle the Great Forest.’

Since I can’t guarantee he’ll go there on his own, I’ve decided to keep a close eye on him.

It wasn’t difficult to send people to gather public opinion, or even to question the Swordsmanship professors about Leon.

But the method I chose was to visit the Academy myself.

Seeing things directly is always most reliable.

If Leon doesn’t seem to be following the original plotline, I plan to give him a little push.

If he doesn’t step up, I’d inevitably have to get involved, and I know exactly how that scenario would play out.

I’d prefer to avoid that if possible.

…

Two days later, I headed to the Academy.

The pretext for my visit was to personally sponsor Leon Rothe Dale.

While sponsoring current students isn’t common, it’s not impossible either.

Considering Leon’s already established reputation as a genius, I decided to offer a substantial amount. As long as he quietly follows the Saintess to the Great Forest, money is no object. After all, I can just make more by selling medicine.

***

The smoke from the pipe was beautiful. Wispy and soft, it looked so plush you wanted to touch it.

Why was it so pretty?

Wasn’t there some reason for it?

Not answering?

..

Watching the haze fill his dorm room, Leon’s expression twisted slightly. He lowered the hand that had been reaching out to touch the smoke.

‘Did he just talk over me..?’

Originally, Leon was a gentle person full of consideration for others.

Even last year, when some students subtly disrespected him, he simply beat them up a little during training and forgave them.

He let the swindlers from the Department of Magic selling “health syrup” alone rather than getting into a fight, simply paying their outrageous prices.

The latter group were especially despicable, yet since he still had leftover sponsorship money from the nobles at the beginning of the first semester, he paid them without complaint.

But he couldn’t forgive someone talking over him.

Maybe once or twice could be considered a mistake, but by the third time, it’s deliberate disrespect. Leon would have let it go with a smile if his friend had acted absentmindedly, but this outright dismissal crossed a line.

Even close friends, especially true close friends, should show proper respect.

‘Right. I should say something.’

Leon tried to sit up dramatically from where he lay to assert himself…

But then decided it was too troublesome.

Even lifting his upper body proved too much of a hassle.

The only bit of motivation he had was to roll over. Like a dying trout, Leon wriggled around and finally managed to roll over, feeling quite accomplished for the small feat.

Originally, he’d planned to confront his friend seriously, but feeling better, he decided to let it go.

‘Maybe he can talk over me sometimes.’

Perhaps sensing Leon’s glare, his sprawled-out friend Rudie slowly turned to look at him.

Seeing their mutual understanding, Rudie turned up the corners of his mouth in a smile. Leon smiled back, his expression becoming even brighter.

“Opium too? Hey, it’s pretty good, right?”

Asked Rudie. Not having any particular objections, Leon nodded.

“Yeah… it’s good.”

Sighing, Leon looked at the peculiar incense burner in the center of the dorm room. Somehow, it continually produced opium smoke without pipes, allowing for easy enjoyment.

Though just inhaling the smoke wasn’t enough – every hour they had to supplement it with a rum made from molasses to maximize the effects.

“Leon, don’t drink too much… you got that? More than half and your senses will dull.”

“Got it.”

“This is almost as good as syrup, isn’t it?”

Better than syrup?

No way. Leon could never agree with that.

He started smoking opium following his friend Rudie’s suggestion that morning and had been at it for nine hours straight without eating.

The reason for seeking opium was simple:

Health syrup had become too precious and expensive.

Some third-year students from the Department of Magic had been reselling stockpiled syrup to other students, but prices skyrocketed after it became officially banned. Though he still had 15 bottles stored away…

Each sip felt like a stab to the heart.

It was too precious.

He had no idea how to cope once it ran out.

Feeling trapped, he sighed repeatedly until Rudie suggested opium and rum as an affordable alternative to happiness.

“Still… it’s different from health syrup.”

Leon muttered to himself. Even Rudie sighed knowingly, unable to refute the point. No matter what he said, syrup was simply better.

“Leon, you’re right… syrup is better.”

“Syrup is the best!”

“Syrup… the best.”

Though he finally got Rudie’s agreement, it only made him more wistful.

Because the reality that syrup was becoming harder to obtain remained unchanged.

He missed the syrup’s effects.

Just nine spoonfuls mixed in water provided the perfect balance of Monglongyi and Bulongyi. After being inebriated on it, practicing with his sword for two hours in the middle of the night gave him an incredible high – his heart would race as if it would burst and he’d get that tingling sensation down his spine! The thought of never being able to experience that again saddened him.

“Maybe I won’t be able to have it soon?”

As long as you try, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish, so there must be some way somewhere. Still, he worried that finding it might come too late.

Whether securing a substitute for the syrup or sweeping up what little remained, some sort of alternative solution needed to be found, or his future would be grim without syrup. He wasn’t sure he could endure relying solely on this opium.

‘I need to find a solution quickly. I don’t have time for this.’

Leon sighed deeply and took half a sip of alcohol, as maintaining the drug’s effect was also a major concern. However, due to his longing for syrup, his enjoyment of the opium and rum cocktail started to rapidly decline. It felt sort of boring now.

Still, it was better than nothing, so Leon lay there idly gazing at the ceiling.

Hoping that a solution would present itself automatically as he lay there.

Only to be interrupted by someone.

Bang! Bang!

“Leon Rothe Dale! Are you in your room?”

It was the assistant from the Department of Swordsmanship.

‘Not in the mood for this… oh, is it because I missed class today?’

Leon had skipped all his classes that day to only smoke opium.

When he was only taking health syrup, he never missed classes. In fact, he once had so much energy after class that he asked the professor for extra lessons and thoroughly pounded him.

Missing class was definitely wrong, but it wasn’t serious enough to deserve this kind of attention. After all, he was already stronger than the professors, so there wasn’t much more he could learn from them.

‘Ignore it.’

Surely they’ll go away eventually.

The moment he made that decision, an interesting development occurred.

“…Leon. There’s someone who wants to personally sponsor you. It’s Sir Alan from the Imperial Guard. He’s offering 50,000 talers. He’d like to have a brief interview with you before making the final decision.”

50,000 talers?!

Some color gradually returned to Leon’s listless eyes. That was enough money to secure large quantities of syrup despite the current shortage. With that money, he could finally be done with this makeshift opium pleasure.

‘Blessings be upon you. Thank you.’

Finally, he saw a glimmer of hope.

Feeling his chest swell with emotion, Leon took out the syrup he had been saving.

He planned to use the syrup’s power to appear as sharp as possible for the interview with the sponsor.

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