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chapter 39
This was the same feeling I had back when I attended the academy—when I received my report card and couldn’t bring myself to look at my grades for a while, just leaving it face down.
The way I fidgeted like someone trying to grab a live, flapping fish for the first time made Teacher Qureil look at me with an exasperated expression.
“What’s the big deal? Why are you acting like that?”
Holding the unopened letter, I glanced up at her with teary eyes.
Just then, Martin walked in, tilting his head while chewing on a bundle of tea leaves as he spotted me and Qureil.
The teacher rubbed her forehead and motioned toward Martin.
She placed the tea leaves into the pot and poured in hot water as she spoke.
“Hmph. The effects are undeniable. Unless those fools had holes in their heads, they’ll have no choice but to grit their teeth and approve it.”
“Re… really?”
She sipped her tea and replied casually.
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
Her vague answer only made me look more pitiful.
Seeing my trembling face, Martin hurriedly pushed a cup of warm green tea toward me.
“Here, sir, here! These tea leaves are real fine. Drink up and take a deep breath, yeah?”
I nodded, took a sip, and inhaled deeply.
Then, with shaky hands, I finally opened the letter.
[We are pleased to inform you that your thesis, ‘The Unique Constitution of Beastkin and the Frost-Rate Extract’, has been approved.]
The short sentence made my eyes widen. I clapped my hands over my mouth and screamed silently.
Then, flailing my arms wildly, I turned to Teacher Qureil.
“T-this…! This, this right here…!”
I couldn’t even finish my words, just shouting “this” over and over. Qureil smirked at my ridiculous state.
“Looks like it turned out well.”
At that, my face lit up with a bright smile.
“Yes!”
Martin squeaked happily as he watched the two of us.
“Aw shucks~ So that means Sir Irriel’s thesis passed, and soon enough that Frost-something extract’ll be put to use, huh?”
“I think so… right? It should, right?”
As I bubbled with excitement, Qureil looked at me over her cigar.
“Don’t get too worked up. You’ll trip over yourself.”
I giggled foolishly.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Taking the cigar from her lips, she asked,
“By the way, you’re still researching the method of extracting Frost-Rate, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yes. I think we still need to refine the process to yield more effective results.”
“But even with the method you suggested, the amount is already substantial, isn’t it?”
I shook my head.
“Still, ten kilograms of Frost-Rate only yields about ten milligrams of extract. That feels far too little. I want to find a way to raise it to twenty milligrams per ten kilograms.”
I rested my hand on the teacup.
“That would make the process much more efficient.”
Qureil gave me a look that said, hopeless kid, while Martin squeaked loudly and spread his wings.
After chatting with Teacher Qureil and Martin, I returned to the lab to find Rudels waiting outside the door.
He greeted me with a warm smile.
“Hello, Teacher.”
Waving as he spoke, his cheerful face made me smile back.
“From the look on your face, I take it your paper got accepted?”
I crinkled my eyes and nodded.
“Congratulations, Teacher Irriel. Thanks to you, many beastkin won’t have to die from this illness anymore.”
His praise made me scratch my head in embarrassment.
“Ah, y-you’re making me blush.”
He continued kindly,
“It’s alright to be proud, Irriel. You’re a scholar who bridged the gap between races and made a discovery that will save countless lives.”
My face burned red.
Races? Gaps? Scholar?
Flustered, I waved my hands.
“N-no, no! It’s nothing like that!”
Rudels laughed heartily at my reaction.
“Then let’s just say it is, Teacher Irriel.”
His playful smile reminded me of something.
“B-but… why did you come all the way here?”
He rolled his eyes theatrically and muttered, acting suspicious.
“Mm… Could we maybe talk inside your room?”
“Uh… what?”
I glanced nervously toward my door.
“You can come in, but… uh…”
I looked away. There was only one reason—
I hadn’t cleaned my room in over a week.
Standing stiffly by the door, I forced an awkward smile.
Rudels raised an eyebrow.
“Hm?”
I muttered, avoiding his gaze.
“I… haven’t exactly… cleaned yet…”
He blinked.
“But the servants should’ve tidied up already?”
“I specifically told them not to touch the experiment tools or the important documents… so those are probably still lying around.”
Rudels clapped his hands together and grinned.
“So what you’re saying is—it’s only experiment tools and important papers scattered around.”
“W-well… yeah?”
“Then the rest of the room should be clean enough.”
“I can’t guarantee that much, Rudels.”
He pursed his lips dramatically.
“It’s fine. I only need a short moment to talk. Don’t worry.”
With no way to stop him, I reluctantly cracked the door open.
Peeking inside, I saw it wasn’t too messy.
“Please, come in.”
Rudels unfolded his arms and stepped inside, looking around with a grin.
“Smells like grass in here.”
I yelped.
“Huh? Is it still that bad? Sorry! I’ll air it out—!”
Panicked, I scrambled, but he chuckled.
“Not bad—it smells good.”
“…Huh?”
Smiling softly, he explained,
“The scent of grass makes my head feel clearer. Don’t you feel the same?”
I just stared blankly, not getting it.
Embarrassed, Rudels coughed and pulled out a chair to sit.
“Ahem! Anyway, I came here today because of something very important.”
“Yes? What is it?”
He tapped his fingers, raising a soundproof barrier.
“A letter came from the palace.”
I froze.
“From the palace… why?”
He folded his arms, eyes closed.
“There’s going to be a secret council. The subject: the rampant poisoning crimes targeting young beastkin.”
My hand twitched.
Sighing, Rudels continued.
“Of course you’d be shocked, Irriel. I didn’t know either.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“The King ordered secrecy, but it seems the situation is worse than expected.”
“W-what do you mean?”
He looked straight into my eyes.
“According to the investigation, the informant behind the poisonings has been narrowed down to a high-ranking official.”
He lowered his voice further.
“This is classified information known only to the King, myself as the appointed investigator… and you, Irriel.”
I swallowed hard, trembling.
“That’s why the Four Great Lords of the Beastkin Kingdom are being summoned. Publicly, it’ll be framed as a meeting to discuss policies for the beastkin. But secretly, it’ll serve as cover for an intensive investigation.”
He sighed.
“And I think you’ll have to accompany me to the secret council.”
The news hit me like thunder. My head spun.
“If a witch shows up, won’t they all raise hell?”
On the verge of tears, I looked at him. Rudels bowed his head deeply like a guilty man.
“My apologies, Teacher Irriel.”
Watching him bow made my mind spin.
Council, beastkin, the King, a secret investigation…
Nothing about this was favorable to a witch.
I choked out,
“In the contract, you promised my safety would be guaranteed, right?”
He nodded firmly.
“Of course. We can’t afford to lose a talent like our magic healer. I’ll make all the arrangements to ensure it.”
That clause was all I could rely on.
I nodded and asked,
“So… when do we depart?”
Rudels scratched his cheek.
“We’ll have to leave within three days at the latest.”
Three days—that was enough time to prepare.
“Alright. I’ll get ready too.”
He bowed his head again.
“Thank you, Teacher.”
“It’s fine. It was bound to happen anyway.”
I smiled faintly.
Though, the pile of documents stacked on my desk still made me dizzy.
Rudels followed my gaze and chuckled.
“Should I help tidy those up as thanks?”
“What?”
Before I could object, he snapped his fingers.
The towering stacks of paperwork fluttered neatly into an empty box, all sorted in less than a minute.
I froze, wide-eyed, in awe of his incredible magic.
