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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Empty Dreams Taste the Best
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The next day.
I finished my early morning Heavenly Origin Art training and opened my eyes with the sunlight.
'As expected….'
It truly was an elixir worthy of its price.
The core in my heart. The amount of mana coiled inside had noticeably increased.
Considering that only about ten percent of the medicinal properties absorbed into my body had been converted to mana, if I converted the full hundred percent, I'd have a solid foundation.
And thanks to my constitution changed by the Fire Mark.
Normally, converting medicinal properties to mana incurs unavoidable losses, but surprisingly, those losses were practically nonexistent.
Moreover, the mana absorbed from the elixir should have been somewhat impure by nature, yet it blended seamlessly with my existing mana without any separate refinement process.
In other words, the effects exceeded expectations.
I finished my internal inspection with a light heart and rose from the bed.
'By the way.'
Bianca's words from yesterday echoed in my ears.
'The academy….'
It was an unexpected proposal.
To suggest the academy to me, someone not even a member of the family?
Of course, there were circumstances.
'Damian.'
That kid was causing trouble.
- Originally, Damian was supposed to enter the academy last year. But he stubbornly refused, so it got pushed back to this year. And then….
He ran away.
To the Black-White Slums.
At this point, Bianca had no choice but to take it seriously.
'Forcing him into the academy might make him run away again, but changing his mind….'
There was no easy way.
- That's why I'm asking you. Damian said he'd be fine if it's with you, Aster.
Of course, it wasn't a bad opportunity for me either.
'The academy, nice.'
The world fundamentally runs on blood ties, regional ties, and school ties.
Even strangers from the same region get a couple fewer beatings.
Blood ties go without saying. The prestigious families band together through them.
And school ties?
'The academy.'
They prop each other up, pull each other along.
Even if you trip while running alone, they check your name tag and help you up if you're from the same academy.
It looks dirty from the outside, but that warmth inside the fence….
It's good. Really good.
"Tssp."
But I couldn't shake off a nagging feeling.
'Feels like they're trying to hook me.'
There were no conditions.
I could accept the elixir with all its excuses, but the academy? Even for the Blandoga Family, academy admission isn't something you hand out easily.
No. Even if it were easy to obtain, it's meant for loyal family members.
And yet, no conditions….
'There's something. Definitely.'
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue at the unease and set the thought aside.
- I'll think about it first.
That's why I postponed my answer.
No point dwelling on something that hadn't revealed itself despite all my pondering.
To shake off this complicated mood, I headed to the small training ground attached to the annex.
I figured a good run would work up a sweat….
"Aster!"
"…?"
An unexpected guest approached.
Annoying face, platinum blond hair. The collateral bloodline member from yesterday.
"You dared to fool me yesterday? You must be prepared. The price for deceiving me is steep."
My mood was already sour from the unprecedented unease, and now this pesky fly shows up.
"Hoo."
Rising irritation made me squat down and grip the innocent sand hard.
"So."
"W-What?"
"So what."
The collateral bloodline member visibly panicked and stepped back a couple paces.
Then, embarrassed at his own retreat, his face flushed red.
"D-Duel!"
" Duel?"
"Yeah!"
Right, a duel.
Perfect timing. My head was already a mess.
Running to sweat it out helps with stress, but there's something even better.
Beating someone.
And I just happened to need someone I could beat freely.
"Shall we start now, then?"
"Hmph. I don't know where you get your guts, but remember we're on a different level from those trainees. Don't underestimate the Blandoga!"
"Never have."
"Hmph, don't make me laugh."
He seemed to have immense pride in the family. Hearing the trainees got wrecked must have made him rush over during his precious free time.
"So, we starting now?"
"Yeah… Ack!"
I flung the sand from my left hand into the collateral bloodline member's face.
Caught off guard by the surprise attack, he rubbed his eyes.
But bloodline is bloodline, after all.
"Y-You coward…!"
He screamed and deployed a barrier around himself. Definitely different from the trainees.
Zzzzt—
The barrier formed quickly. Several times more solid than the trainees'.
But.
"Too slow."
A stone slicing through the air. I'd gripped it in my right hand while grabbing the sand.
The stone flew straight into the gap of the forming barrier….
Thwack!
"Urk!"
It struck the collateral bloodline member's forehead dead-on.
'As expected.'
The feel was different from Black-White Slums street rats or trainees.
Not that throwing a stone gives much "feel," but connoisseurs know the taste.
I felt it again.
'The taste of beating….'
Bloodline is the best.
"Urk! Ack! S-Stop!"
The peaceful training ground.
A hollow echo resounded.
* * *
Rustle, scrape.
Early morning, yet the lady of the Blandoga household, Bianca, was deep in work.
She was handling the family's major and minor affairs in place of the patriarch who was away.
But for some reason.
"...."
Even as she tackled the mountain of tasks, a smile played on Bianca's face.
There wasn't any particularly good news for the family.
No, if anything, there might be.
'Damian.'
The academy matter for Damian, who had been such a headache, had been smoothly resolved without issue.
Knowing his stubbornness well, she'd thought it impossible….
It was clear whose credit it was.
'Aster.'
The slum rat Damian had picked up on the street after running away to the Black-White Slums.
'That child is a good friend.'
His talent was decent too.
His personality….
According to Alfredo, he could be a bit cheeky—no, bold at times.
But that was whatever.
'All boys that age are like that.'
What she liked most was his eyes.
Even after living in the Black-White Slums, even knowing Damian's background.
His unwavering attitude never changed.
'He's got a big vessel.'
So she thought.
He's worth keeping close.
That's why.
She'd played a little trick with the academy admission at Alfredo's request.
Knock knock.
"Madam, it's Alfredo."
At Alfredo's timely visit, Bianca set down her pen and wrapped up her work.
"Come in."
Alfredo entered with a stern expression, bowed, and asked in a tense voice.
"How did it go?"
"Well."
Their eyes met.
Soon, an irrepressible smile bloomed on Alfredo's tense face.
"He didn't notice."
"Of course. He seemed a bit suspicious, but when I mentioned Damian, he accepted it right away."
"Excellent."
"He postponed his answer, but given his positive reaction…."
"He'll accept. I know that boy's passion, the fire burning in his eyes. Once he accepts…."
In a way, Aster's suspicion was spot on.
Offering academy admission to someone not even Blandoga bloodline meant some scheme.
Surely, they were plotting to hook him.
That's what he thought… but strictly speaking, it wasn't that kind of scheme.
Just preparation for a scheme.
Alfredo's plan was this.
Jenion Academy.
As the top academy on the eastern continent, its tuition was no joke.
One semester's fees equaled half a year's living expenses for a commoner family.
Not a big deal for well-off houses, but an enormous sum for average commoners—and by Aster's standards.
But that's not all. Those entering via prestigious family slots had to pay several times more.
"The first semester will be fine. We'll cover it. But what about the next?"
Bianca didn't answer.
It wasn't a question Alfredo asked expecting one.
He continued, muscles bulging as if possessed.
"He'll get anxious. Why? He'll want to learn more. But it'll be tough."
Where would a Black-White Slums slum rat get that kind of money? Absurd.
"That's when the saving hand appears!"
The boy would be deeply moved then.
He'd once brushed it off, yet they extend it again.
"That day, I'll have an heir. His name: Aster!"
Alfredo clenched his fists, lost in the afterglow. Just imagining it was pure joy.
After a moment.
"Oh! Time's up. I'll check if breakfast is ready and head to the kitchen!"
Even then, his professional spirit kicked in, and he hurriedly left the room.
Thud!
"Hoo."
Bianca sighed right after.
Moments ago, she'd been smiling alongside Alfredo.
But once he was gone, she shook her head as if to say she couldn't stop him.
She didn't agree.
'You think that'll work?'
It won't.
The Aster she saw was a free bird.
He wouldn't belong anywhere, and even if he did, it wouldn't be ordinary.
He didn't suit the Blandoga—no, any prestigious family. He'd fit better in a mercenary band.
But she didn't shatter Alfredo's sweet dream….
'If he insists on paying the enrollment himself, whatever.'
Alfredo, eager to cover not just enrollment but future tuition too.
That's why.
Still.
'He's worth keeping close.'
That feeling was sincere.
There are many ways to keep someone near.
Not necessarily by pulling them into your group like Alfredo planned, sharing the same bowl.
She'd figure out the method later.
As she thought that far.
"...."
Bianca stared silently at the door Alfredo had closed behind him. Just for a brief moment.
A flicker of pity.
'Poor Alfredo.'
He wasn't a fool. A little thought would reveal how flimsy the plan was.
Yet his conviction probably came from….
'He fell for something similar himself.'
Rumor had it from the previous patriarch that it was the former head butler's idea back then.
* * *
Breakfast done.
I patted my full belly contentedly and headed to the open lot by the annex.
'As expected of the Blandoga.'
The food was no joke.
It was always good.
Luxuries I couldn't even glimpse as a Troubleshooter now graced the table….
Today was especially outstanding.
Steak from the one-horned mountain goat of the Rakan Mountains, said to boost mana.
Kenti fruit salad to heighten concentration.
'Bribe?'
Could be.
Since Damian's academy depended on me, a plea to choose wisely.
Or maybe they already assumed I'd accept.
No sane person would pass up such a golden opportunity.
And rightly so.
Jenion Academy.
The foremost on the eastern continent.
An educational institution founded centuries ago by a sage, offering vast knowledge from its long history.
'No.'
That didn't matter much to me.
Just.
'No matter how I think about it, filling the tower with every book myself is impossible.'
Even if one person reads a ton, it won't exceed a small library.
But.
'With modest sponsorship, I can fill it endlessly.'
Modest sponsorship, mind you.
And for finding such sponsors, Jenion Academy was ideal.
A place full of those intoxicated by sage ideals—what better spot?
In fact, I'd already decided.
Jenion Academy.
'I'm enrolling.'
Not without suspicions, sure.
Alfredo, ever eager to hook me, and Bianca's tone hinted at something too.
But.
'Fat chance.'
I'm the future great sage.
No plan is the plan.
Meaning: without any plan, I can handle any situation.
Is there a more meticulous mindset?
'While there, scout Rapiter, snag sponsors. Two birds, one stone.'
Heading down the hall for my meeting with Bianca, footsteps approached.
"Aster, perfect timing. The madam is looking for you."
The usual servant.
He led me to Bianca, and I cut straight to it.
"I'll enroll in the academy."
"…Ho."
Didn't expect an answer so soon?
Bianca seemed surprised for a moment, then said.
"Very well. We'll prepare quickly, then. Rest easy until then."
And that day.
For some reason, a booming laugh from Alfredo echoed from somewhere near the annex.
So I laughed too.
'Empty dreams taste the best.'
Yeah, that's it.