Chapter 7 …

The Graduate Student Is the Final Boss?

“Honestly, it was you who kept stirring things up saying you’d start a business, and you were the one borrowing money from the neighboring nobles. So why am I always the one who has to deal with everything?”

“Adele.”

Father called my name in a low, heavy voice. Letting out a sigh as if trying to suppress his anger, he said,

“You and your brother are different.”

“…How?”

“He’s the eldest son, and you’re the second child. Your brother is the one who will inherit this family. If he falls, our family falls with him.”

What the hell is this…?

“And besides, you can help us enough with the abilities you have. You’ve always been… a dependable child.”

At this point, I was speechless.

To be honest, I had been subtly treated differently from Adrian ever since I was young.

And even now, as an adult, nothing had changed.

Until now, I had endured everything like a fool, saving even the food that should have gone into my own mouth so I could send money home.

All while sacrificing sleep and being worked to the bone by my professor.

The reason I never once lost first place at the Academy and kept earning scholarships was entirely because of that.

As a result, I only managed to make a single friend I could truly rely on.

No, considering all I ever did was study, I should probably be grateful that I at least ended up gaining Adolf as a friend.

Meanwhile, Adrian…

Well, he had his own struggles too. He barely slept and was constantly pressured by the people around him.

The problem was that, unlike me, it was all because of the irresponsible businesses he kept starting.

And yet, my parents always protected Adrian.

That brother who had nothing to show for himself and only drained the family’s money.

“Adele, can’t you try to understand Adrian? Think about how hard things must be for him too.”

“…”

“They say girls mature faster. You should be the one looking after your brother.”

At those words, I quietly drew in a breath.

I couldn’t smile anymore.

“So no matter how hard things are for me, I’m supposed to quietly endure it, sacrifice myself for the family, and keep understanding everyone else?”

Until now, I had lived thinking that was normal.

But after recovering the memories of my previous life, there was no way I could tolerate it anymore.

At my rebuttal, Mother and Father’s expressions twisted slightly.

I didn’t miss that opportunity and continued.

“You say I’ve always been dependable? That’s right. Because I could handle things on my own. Because I didn’t complain or throw tantrums. That’s why you dumped everything on me.”

“Adele…”

“If you truly knew what I’ve sacrificed and endured all this time, would you really be able to stand here and tell me to understand my brother? Neither of you ever tried to understand my situation. You’ve deliberately pretended not to know.”

As the words poured out of me, emotions that had been buried deep inside surged forward like a tidal wave.

Meanwhile, the bastard responsible for all of this was probably still outside somewhere, completely unaware that this argument was even happening.

He’s probably drinking somewhere right now.

Letting out a frustrated breath, I leisurely observed my parents’ flustered faces.

Caught completely off guard by my rebellion, they looked utterly lost.

The quiet child who was easy to deal with.

The child who always managed everything on her own.

The family’s only hope and pillar of support.

All these years, they had simply fed me those hollow compliments, and I had obediently done whatever was asked of me.

Now, suddenly, I was declaring that I was done.

And at this very moment, they were almost certainly wondering what new method they could use to persuade me.

This can’t continue.

Pulling my gaze away from them, I slowly rose from my seat.

At this moment, there wasn’t a trace of hesitation or lingering attachment.

I’d already severed the research I had clung to for years.

If I could do it once, why couldn’t I do it twice?

“I’ve made my decision. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“…What?”

“You keep saying things are so difficult. Then I’ll lighten the burden by one mouth. From now on, you, Adrian, and the three of you can figure out the household finances yourselves.”

At my ice-cold words, my parents became as silent as people who had swallowed honey.

Good. I should’ve done this from the beginning.

To achieve the future I wanted, I had to leave this house.

Only by stepping outside the fence called family could I finally move toward the rosy future I dreamed of.

“Then please take care of yourselves.”

Leaving only those words behind, I turned away.

* * *

Back in my room, I quietly packed my bag.

My hands moved busily on their own.

That’s right. I’m really leaving this house now.

Goodbye, you hellish place.

If I didn’t want to be controlled by anyone ever again, the correct choice was to find my own path and become independent.

Although Adolf’s sponsorship had unfortunately fallen through, I still had one remaining candidate.

A name that had occupied my thoughts the entire way back from the Imperial Palace.

The protagonist of the original story who tried to save this world—

Heon Leonard.

I knew more about him than anyone else.

Even the secret that his family desperately tried to keep hidden.

Though I’ll have to figure out how to use that secret as leverage for persuasion.

Smiling confidently, I picked up my bag and left the house.

* * *

Cold, almost chilling eyes scanned the documents spread before him.

“Hmm.”

As he flipped through the pages, the man soon found a familiar name.

Name: Adele Catherine

Age: 21

Affiliation: …

“No wonder she looked familiar.”

Holding the paper containing the subject’s information, Kienne let out something between a sigh and a laugh.

He had reviewed several research reports over the years, but he had never imagined that the lifeless woman who looked as though she carried all the worries of the world on her shoulders was that woman.

Hair as black as the night sky.

Skin pale enough to seem almost translucent.

Eyes with an oddly distinctive color.

Life in the Mage Tower must have been quite difficult. Her face brightened completely after only a few days outside of it.

To think that this young woman was one of the foremost authorities behind a research project that had drawn so much attention from the Mage Tower.

Tap. Tap.

The man drummed his fingers against the table as he pondered.

Soon, his eyes narrowed.

“But why did she quit research?”

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that nearly every major theory and experimental method used in this research had originated from her hands.

Yet such a talented individual had suddenly decided to leave the Mage Tower.

And she had done so precisely when the research was finally beginning to produce meaningful results.

At exactly the time when he had been preparing to actively support it.

“…Hmm.”

Suddenly, the image of the woman desperately trying to maintain proper etiquette surfaced in Kienne’s mind.

“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to have a longer conversation with you next time.”

“Yes, if that is what you desire.”

The memory of her lips trembling as she forced the corners of her mouth upward simply wouldn’t leave his mind.

A face that so openly displayed disinterest—no, outright reluctance.

The corners of his lips curved slightly.

“Well, I can just find out myself.”

Kienne thought.

Perhaps she might become a rather interesting variable in this otherwise dull and ordinary life.

And he had always been the type of person who never let interesting things slip away.

With a calm smile, the man leisurely tilted his head back.

A breeze entered through the open window, scattering his pale pink hair as it passed.

* * *

Strike while the iron is hot.

The next day, I found a small house on the outskirts of the old district.

The half-collapsed stone wall and broken window made the place look gloomy, but so what?

I could just repair everything.

Good thing I kept saving my living expenses just in case.

Back when I was a research student in the Mage Tower, I had faithfully sent nearly all of my money home, keeping only a small amount for living expenses.

Even then, I was so consumed by research that I barely had time to spend that money.

As a result, that small savings fund has become my security deposit now.

Looking back, it was definitely a good thing I hadn’t handed it over to my parents when I returned home.

I needed to buy experimental equipment.

I needed furniture.

Money was going to disappear in every direction.

Still, memories from my previous life—when I had searched for apartments as a graduate student—turned out to be surprisingly useful.

“Miss, see this? A house without drafts stays warm. Places like this save money on heating bills.”

“Always flush the toilet and listen to the sound. If it’s loud, the plumbing’s probably old!”

“Check wallpaper, furniture gaps, and around the windows for moisture too, student. Houses that grow mold will make your life miserable the whole time you’re living there.”