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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Please Acquire Some Intellect
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"...."
After Aster left.
Henji sat alone in his office, lost in thought.
'Intriguing.'
When he first heard about Aster, he hadn't thought much of it.
Damian, the young patriarch of the Blandoga Family, born with the greatest talent. His personality was a bit naive compared to his peers.
'Whether he's truly naive or just pretending, I'm not sure....'
Either way, it probably didn't matter from the young patriarch's position.
With the immense backing of the Blandoga Family and that incredible talent.
There was no reason for him not to be carefree.
So when he first heard the name Aster, he assumed it was just a playmate the young master had picked up on a childish whim. You know, the kind of toy a kid takes an interest in for a fleeting moment.
But when he heard that Gamo had taken notice of him, even Henji couldn't help but feel curious.
That's why he wanted to see the boy's face at least once.
'An unexpected harvest.'
At first, it had been a lighthearted notion.
If he seemed useful enough, he'd have him deliver papers. If not, he'd discard him midway.
- Ah, then just kill me.
"Haha!"
Recalling that look in his eyes, Henji couldn't hold back the laughter that burst out.
'Kill me?'
He had truly meant to kill him.
The threat was just a way to draw out the true nature of this Aster, who couldn't be read through questions alone. But there was no reason not to kill him either.
He could always come up with some excuse.
Of course, it would put him at odds with Young Patriarch Damian, but in the end, the patriarch and matriarch would need him more than some dead slum rat from the Black-White Slums.
But the moment he saw that look in his eyes...
'He's interesting.'
It was easy to say death meant nothing.
But it was only easy to say.
Would a knight who lays down his life for his beliefs truly not fear death? Of course not. He simply valued the nobility of his convictions over life itself.
There were many who claimed death was trivial, but how many truly saw it that way?
None.
Or so he had thought.
He himself didn't know how he'd react when death actually came knocking. What about the other pigs?
And yet, there was one.
"You're hiding quite a lot, aren't you...."
But wasn't that a good thing?
He had found someone in the same position as himself, someone who looked in the same direction.
That must have been why.
He had handed over the grimoire of Light of Healing registered with his personal code without hesitation, and even promised the results of research papers written at the risk of his life.
If anyone else had demanded the same, he would have made them regret uttering those words to their bones.
"Not bad. Quite good, actually."
For a kindred spirit to desire his results.
The recognition from idiots held no value, but recognition from a peer felt entirely new.
The only concern was...
"Hm, he really can't read?"
Considering that he had learned magic, it seemed unlikely.
But thinking about his origins in the Black-White Slums, it seemed possible.
Above all, while their conversation revealed exceptional intellect, his manners lacked the refinement to match.
"Truly amusing."
How long had it been since he indulged in such unproductive musing?
'Ah, pointless worry.'
Henji shook his head dismissively.
But for some reason.
A nagging unease wouldn't fade.
'What if... he truly can't read?'
Before sending Aster off.
Henji had packed several books into his own sub-space pouch.
It was both a means for Aster to carry the papers without detection and a gift for the intriguing young friend...
"Does that mean all of it is useless?"
He had selected essential magical studies texts that must be mastered for the future.
He had packed them dreaming of the day they could discuss his papers in depth.
He had even personally annotated them with marginal notes over many long hours!
"No way...."
Surely not. He hoped not.
Henji's eyes flickered with anxiety.
But if it were true, what difference would it make from putting a longsword around a goblin's neck?
Even if he was a kindred spirit, as a scholar walking the path of magical studies, it would be an intolerable tragedy.
'It's not, it can't be. Aster, if you're watching, give me the right answer. Tell me no!'
Of course, there was no reply.
* * *
Back in my room, I sat on the bed.
'That took quite a while.'
The sun outside the window was already on the verge of setting.
The conversation itself hadn't taken long to conclude. It was just that Henji had spent a considerable amount of time packing things up.
'He stuffed it full.'
I pulled out the sub-space pouch I had hidden in my bosom, out of sight.
Henji had dashed around the spacious annex office, grabbing various books from the shelves. By rough estimate, there were over a hundred volumes.
'....'
Peeking into the sub-space, sure enough, it was piled high with over a hundred books.
Beside them sat two sets of papers: one from Professor Parun of Jenion Academy, and the other mine.
But something caught my eye.
A lone envelope placed neatly in one corner of the sub-space.
To my dear Aster.
'So that's what he was writing....'
I read the letter, which began with a rather unwelcome salutation. Contrary to the opening, the content was quite substantial.
Henji introduced a total of 132 magical studies texts, organized from basic to advanced magical studies in stages.
Not only that, he even specified the exact order in which to read the 132 volumes.
'...Hm.'
After skimming through the letter, I felt a complex mix of emotions.
Please strive diligently and attain the intellect befitting your station.
Your friend, Henji von Blandoga.
It ended with another unwelcome phrase, much like the beginning, but still.
'I received a fine gift.'
Magical studies is a vast discipline encompassing the theory and principles of magic.
Establishing a personal perspective within this vast field is exceedingly difficult, yet Henji had laid out the framework with just 132 volumes.
With a mere 132 books.
'...Mere might not be the word.'
I thought about it briefly, but no, "mere" was accurate.
Excluding so-called geniuses, it was impossible to build a framework with just 132 books.
With that in mind, I gazed at Henji's three-to-four-page letter.
My dear...
I wasn't particularly eager to be "dear" to him.
...attain intellect...
It felt a bit uncomfortable, as if I'd been painted as some illiterate brute, and above all, "your friend" was utterly grating.
But it was undeniably a valuable, unexpected gift.
'....'
Night breeze slipped through the open window.
Amid the dark night sky studded with stars asserting their presence, I sat immersed in thought within the silent, tranquil space.
How much time passed?
"Alright."
I stood up and fetched parchment and a pen from the room.
The nib, meticulously maintained daily, was spotless. I dipped it in ink.
As I lightly touched the pen nib to the parchment, the fine fibers absorbed the black ink. I began to write.
Book Donor List
The handwriting was shaky and messy, but it didn't matter.
This was for my eyes only, to remember.
Beneath it, I added a single line.
1. Henji von Blandoga (132 volumes)
I excluded the two sets of papers and the Light of Healing grimoire.
I planned to discuss stocking the Light of Healing in the tower with Damian later.
Fine for me to learn alone, but making it publicly available for all to see was another matter.
If I hadn't formed a bond with Damian in this life, it would be different, but now we were friends, after all.
Call it the friend perk.
"But, wait...."
Something felt lacking.
From Henji's perspective, this was already the highest honor. Being listed as the inaugural donor to a tower that would endure through history.
This emptiness was just in my own heart.
The 132 books Henji provided weren't merely valuable as individual tomes.
Even if it was collaborative research, it was the improvement of the Heavenly Origin Art—something even the Decullan Family hadn't achieved in their long history—crafted by a genius. These were his magical studies guidelines.
'Worth its weight in gold.'
Listing it simply as 132 volumes meant they would one day scatter as individual books.
Would Henji's magical framework be properly transmitted then?
No. They'd just become a random collection of magical texts.
Rustle—
I took out a fresh sheet of parchment and unfolded one page of Henji's letter.
Then, I copied down the exact reading order he had proposed.
I revised the entry on the original Book Donor List as well.
The result:
1. Henji von Blandoga (Henji's Magical Studies Curriculum / 132 volumes)
—Learning guide included separately
This was no mere 132 books.
It was a single category.
With this category, anyone aspiring to learn magical studies could build their own framework.
Of course, it would be a tougher path than studying under a master, but that was fine. It was prepared for those without teachers in the first place.
And what I gained from Henji wasn't just this.
'The tower's direction.'
Before, I had only thought of filling it with books. Now, that had changed.
From now on, whenever possible, I would ask figures like Henji to provide curricula that establish frameworks in their fields.
The quantity of books mattered, but this would be the tower's true identity.
A space that grants knowledge to those who seek it.
Days passed like that.
"Aster, it's nearly time for departure."
The same curt, oblivious servant announced the time.
"Upon arriving at the academy, you'll handle some simple paperwork. Note that both the young patriarch and you are exempt from the entrance exam."
It was an explanation I'd heard multiple times, but the servant dutifully repeated it, as if it were his duty.
'Well, that's how prestigious families are.'
Special admission, you could say.
Most heirs of noble houses entered the academy without taking the entrance exam.
Various reasons existed, but the biggest was that the families conducted their own rigorous vetting internally, making the exam redundant.
Sure, some eccentric heirs from noble houses took the exam anyway, but they were a tiny minority.
In any case, being exempt from the exam wasn't bad for me.
"I'm ready."
Having packed most of my luggage into the sub-space, I stepped into the corridor.
"...."
Perhaps because it was the day the young patriarch was leaving the family.
The mansion, which had felt quiet before, buzzed with unusual clamor today. No, it actually was clamorous.
"Madam, congratulations...."
"Madam, I'm from the vassal family Heln...."
It was due to the influx of people under the Blandoga Family's influence, all eager to make their faces known.
Bianca greeted them on behalf of the patriarch, with Damian at her side.
"Friend! Come on! Hurry!"
Damian was already in his academy uniform. Hard to believe this was the same kid who hated going to the academy—he waved enthusiastically with a bright smile the moment he saw me.
After that came a series of ceremonial non-ceremonies, and only after enduring them for a while did we finally reach the carriage.
"Damian, please take care of yourself.... Aster?"
"Yes."
"It's a fine opportunity, so I pray you achieve the results you desire."
"Thank you."
With Bianca's farewell as the last, the carriage door closed.
'The results I desire.'
Of course, I intended to.
Jenion Academy, the foremost institution on the eastern continent. Countless potential donors awaited there.
I would snag them.
'Wait, my fellow students... no, classmates.'
I'm coming.