“Professor Wand, could you please exin–”
“No. Professor Arion will answer all your questions. Please excuse me.”
“...”
A group of students in uniform were left speechless as they watched their professor sprint out of the lecture hall the moment the session ended. They had so many questions about runes and their applications; it felt as if a new world had just been revealed to them. Yet the man responsible for this revtion had no interest in answering their queries or offering advice on rune implementation. Before anyone could stop him, he was already around the corner and out of sight.
“Professor Wand seems busy. I wonder if he’s conducting research?”
“Probably. Maybe he’s already preparing a new lecture. What do you think it’ll be about next? Oh, I just can’t wait!”
The group chuckled, their excitement palpable. Meanwhile, the man in question was striding purposefully toward one of the mage towers. His daily obligations wereplete, and he only wanted to return home. The lessons he delivered were cobbled together just hours before each ss - an afterthought amidst the demands of his work in Albrook. Fortunately, his teaching duties only consumed a few hours, leaving him enough time to borrow books from the Headmistress’s study to expand his knowledge across various fields.
His investigation into the other faculty members was progressing steadily,rgely thanks to Professor Arion and the dwarven craftsmen. The monitoring devices he’d discreetly deployed had started to yield some intriguing results, which he promptly forwarded to both the Headmistress and the Enforcement Department. While a few individuals had already been apprehended for epting bribes, nothing groundbreaking had been discovered yet.
‘I think I’ll cut my research short, there is just too much work to do, I need to get back into the dungeon and clear those four temples…’Rnd made his way toward the teleportation gate within the fire tower, just as he always did. His associates were still working on fabricating theponents for the turret system and the generator room, and it would take some time before everything was ready. In the meantime, he was focused on creating a safe area for people to use the teleportation gate, hoping to involve the Adventurer’s Guild in the process. The Guild Master had already agreed in principle, and now they just needed to finalize the contracts.
ns to establish a teleportation gate within the city were also underway. Fortunately, there was no need to construct a separate mage tower or develop a new tower spirit for this purpose; Sebastian was already in ce. The tower spirit’sputing power was more than sufficient to manage both Rnd’s personal gate and the two nearby ones. Additionally, creating a gate with a fixed waypoint was far simpler and consumed less power than a gate requiring constant adjustments from a tower spirit.
With these thoughts in mind, Rnd continued on his way. However, just as he was about to enter the mage tower to return home, his helmet started beeping. Curious about the unexpected alert, he quickly nced at the message. To his surprise, it reported the reappearance of two individuals who had been missing for some time.
‘Those two? he thought. I thought they said they’d take the ship back. Did they change their minds?’
Through one of the runic cameras, he spotted the pair - two of his associates, who also happened to be siblings of his wife, Elodia - causing amotion at the institute. He had provided them with a temporary emblem to grant ess to the facility in case they ever needed it, but he hadn’t expected them to actually use it.
The two proimed their intent to travel across the Kingdom as tinum-ranked adventurers, leaving Rnd to assume they’d be gone for some time, even up to a year. He couldn’t help but shake his head as he observed the scene. Armand was up to his usual antics, gesturing animatedly, while Lobelia stood nearby, rolling her eyes in exasperation. However, Rnd noticed the dark circles under their eyes. Clearly, their journey hadn’t gone as smoothly as they might have hoped.
‘Did things not go as they expected? They look a bit thinner…’
Rnd had to stop himself from entering the mage tower to head back home. Instead, he turned on his heel and began walking toward the institute’s central za, where Armand and Lobelia were causing a stir. Whatever had brought them back so abruptly, it was bound to be annoying. It was probably in his best interest to diffuse this situation before people started asking more questions.
The institute grounds were as bustling as ever. Students moved in clusters, animatedly discussing theories and strategizing for their uing assignments. A few staff members nodded respectfully as Rnd passed, though most avoided direct eye contact. His reputation as the enigmatic Deputy Professor with a notoriously short temper had made him both a figure of awe and apprehension.
As he neared his destination, Armand’s booming voice cut through the ambient chatter.
“... and then I punched that Drake right in the jaw, and it popped right off!”
A collective gasp followed.
“Oh!”
“And what happened next?”
“Hah, listen up - this is the fun part!”
When Rnd arrived, he found a small crowd gathered around Armand and Lobelia. The institute, popted primarily by the sheltered children of nobles and merchants, rarely hosted rowdy adventurers, making the siblings an irresistible spectacle.
Armand, with his natural charisma and rugged demeanor, had captivated the young magedies, who hung on his every word. His disheveled appearance - and a notableck of proper attire only seemed to enhance his appeal.
Lobelia, in contrast, had drawn a circle of wide-eyed young men. As a young half-elf, she was strikingly beautiful in her own right. Combined with her status as a powerful tier-3 ss holder, she exuded a certain allure that stirred something primal in the gathered youths. They were clearly eager to secure her services - or perhaps just her attention before the opportunity slipped away. ?Ａ???ê?
“You’re a tinum adventurer, right? How much to hire you as my personal bodyguard?”
One of them asked eagerly.
“Hey, Edward, back off! I saw her first!”
Another interjected, his tone dripping with indignation.
“Hah, as if!”
The first retorted, ring at his rival. The esctingpetition was as transparent as it wasical, and Lobelia seemed to take it all in stride, her lips curving into a faintly amused smile.
Rnd approached the scene with a purposeful stride, his eyes narrowing as he took in the crowd that had gathered around Armand and Lobelia. He could hear the students’ exaggerated excitement and chatter, but what stood out to him was the disheveled appearance of his wife’s siblings. They looked worse for wear, their clothes torn and dirty, and the exhaustion visible in their faces. He couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh. This wasn’t exactly the reception he had nned for them, but it was typical of Armand to get into the spotlight in the most inconvenient of ways.
Without missing a beat, Rnd walked directly up to the group, his presence cutting through the mor like a sharp de. The students paused, some snapping to attention at the sight of their professor. Rnd’s reputation preceded him, and it was no surprise that the crowd quickly began to disperse or at least move to the side.
‘I’m really seen as a viin huh… but not quite?’
While many of the young mages backed away, they didn’t stray too far. Instead, they lingered, as if expecting something to unfold. Perhaps they were hoping for a spectacle - watching their infamous Full-Mithril professor confront the two tinum adventurers. Maybe, just maybe, they were hoping for a battle to erupt so they could enjoy a thrilling show. However, as Rnd drew near, both Armand and Lobelia instantly recognized him.
“Wand!”
Lobelia was the first to call out to him, her voiceced with annoyance. She quickly slipped away from the group as the teenage boys spread out, positioning herself at his side. It was clear she was happy to see him. He wasn’t sure what the two had been through, but this wasn’t the ce to discuss it. Now that they were here, he could take them back home, which was probably the main reason they hade.
“Wand my friend, you found us, just wait until you hear this, you won’t believe what happened to us!”
Armand on the other hand seemed to enjoy the attention of these youngdies. It was as if he wanted to tell him all about his recent adventures while all of these people were listening. Rnd wasted no time. His hand shot out and grabbed both Armand and Lobelia by their arms, firmly but not harshly.
“You two juste with me, don’t talk.”
Rnd yanked Armand and Lobelia out of the crowd, ignoring the murmurs and whispers from the students. The buzz of excitement quickly turned into quiet murmuring as the Full-Mithril professor led the siblings away.
"Wait, Way–"
Armand protested as he was yanked along. Even though he wasrger than Rnd his body was being yanked as if he was a young boy being punished by his father.
"Not here. Whatever nonsense you''ve gotten yourselves into, we’ll talk about it somewhere private."
Armand gave a sheepish grin, but Lobelia simply sighed, grateful for the intervention. As they moved through the campus grounds, Rnd kept a firm grip on both of them. Students parted like waves before them as he headed straight for the fire mage tower. His work for the day was done, and he had no desire to deal with more rumors spreading. Once inside, he loosened his grip and cast a stern look at the two troublemakers.
“Come, I’ll get you back to Albrook. You shouldn’t stay here too long.”
Rnd nced around. A few curious eyes were still watching them, and he knew this was far from ideal. While his involvement in Robert’s case was widely known, he didn’t want anyone digging into Armand and Lobelia as it would inevitably lead them to Albrook. He wasn’t sure what these two had been up to, but there was always the risk that the count would uncover the truth about what had happened after the trial.
“He’s always this grumpy, huh?”
“Shut up, Armand.”
Lobelia hissed back, elbowing him in the ribs.
“Ow, what was that for?”
“Can you read the room already?”
“Ahhh…!”
Armand seemed to have finally realized something and gave Rnd a wink. Lobelia, on the other hand, had known from the start to stay silent. She simply nodded as the two followed Rnd, who guided them toward the teleportation gate chamber.
In situations like this, Rnd’s newly gained status proved invaluable. No one questioned him, and no one dared to inquire about his twopanions. The mages in charge of the teleportation gate quietly stepped aside, allowing him to activate it without interference. Momentster, the three of them walked through the gate, arriving at their destination inside his workshop.
“What is this ce? and what’s with this strange white light?”
Armand asked as he was the first to break the silence.
“This is inside my workshop. I suppose it has changed slightly since thest time you were here.”
Rnd responded as he noticed Armand ncing curiously around the lower workshop. There was more equipment nowpared to when theyst used the teleportation gate, and the chamber was well-lit. Previously, they had moved quickly from the elevator area to the gate without being given much time to look around. While he trusted the two, he had already scanned them for any potential parasites or shape-shifting abilities. They appeared clean, but it was always better to be cautious.
“Master, initializing scan… No outside influences have been detected in the Runic workshop”
A calm, mechanical voice announced and prompted Armand to raise an eyebrow.
“Oh? What’s that thing? A talking orb of light?”
Sebastian, his artificial tower spirit, floated forward, emitting a soft, steady glow.
“It’s something mages like to call an artificial tower spirit but it’s slightly different from those.”
Rnd replied while knowing that Armand probably had no idea what he was talking about
“Oh… is it like a summoned spirit? Does it follow orders? Can it answer some questions?”
“I suppose so but let’s not change the subject, what happened to the two of you? I thought you wanted to tour through the kingdom for some more?”
Rnd finally posed the question, bringing up the issue that had been on his mind. The two before him looked as though they were on the run and hadn’t slept in days. Given that they were still tier-3 ss holders, there were only a few usible scenarios that could have led to such a state. While Rnd often encountered people above his level, this didn’t mean such individuals weremon in the wider world. The Kingdom was vast, and each city typically housed only a handful of such elites.
‘Could the count have sent his people to capture them? Or did they encounter the cult again?’
The cult had always been a persistent threat, having already made several attempts to hinder him. Thanks to the church’s presence in Albrook, he could sleep soundly at night. But if the cult discovered that two people close to him were wandering the kingdom unguarded, he could easily imagine them sending operatives to infect the pair with their insidious parasites.
“Ah, it was a grand adventure! We visited new cities, fought new monsters, and drank new liquor! Truly the best time I’ve had in ages, isn’t that right, Lobelia?”
“Yeah, sure - until someone had to ruin it all. I told you to keep your hands to yourself. And what did you go and do?”
“Well, it’s not my fault thedies can’t get enough of me! You can’t me me for what happened. It was just a moment of passion!”
Rnd narrowed his eyes when looking at Armand who flicked his hair.
“Moment of passion? I don’t understand…”
Lobelia groaned and buried her face in her hands, clearly exasperated.
“This idiot had an affair with the daughter of a nobleman…”
Rnd flinched as he heard Lobelia speak. Nobles were meticulous about their engagements and social arrangements. If the youngdy in question was already promised to another nobleman or waiting for a formal arrangement, this situation could spell disaster. If rumors spread that she had been involved with a rowdy adventurer like Armand, her reputation and life could be irreparably damaged.
Suddenly, everything clicked into ce. Whatever noble family they had encountered would likely go to great lengths to punish the man who had seduced their daughter. The real concern was the status of this noble as higher-ranking houses would pose far greater threats.
“Does this noble or noble house have a name?” @@novelbin@@
Rnd asked, his tone steady.
“I’m not entirely sure… but I think it was a Baron?”
Armand replied with a shrug. A wave of relief washed over Rnd at the mention of a Baron. While his own father held the same rank, few Barons couldpare to his family’s resources and influence. A lesser noble house would likely have limited means - fewer tier-3 elites, for instance, to send on a prolonged chase to this ind. He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose as he processed the situation.
"So, let me get this straight. You had a fling with a Baron’s daughter during your travels, and now they’ve sent people after you?"
Armand shrugged, his grin as carefree as ever.
"That’s one way of putting it. But hey, it’s not my fault her dad doesn’t approve of her taste in men like me.”
Lobelia groaned, her patience wearing thin as she watched her brother grin smugly, acting as though he hadn’t done anything wrong. With an exasperated sigh, she instinctively swatted him on the arm before speaking.
“Armand, for once in your life, could you stop treating everything like a joke? This isn’t just some tavern brawl you can charm your way out of.”
“She’s right. If a noble house has decided to target you, this could escte quickly. Even a Baron can pull strings to send bounty hunters or hire mercenaries. You''re lucky you made it back to Albrook in one piece.”
Armand raised his hands in mock surrender, the grin still stered across his face.
“Rx, Wand. We’re still alive and fine. We just had to run for a bit, but everything is fine now!”
Rnd frowned as Armand startedughing but nodded slightly. For now, it was best for them toy low in Albrook. Even if the noble managed to track them down here, there wouldn’t be much they could do as both Armand and Lobelia were under the employ of Arthur, a Duke’s son.
“A bit?”
Lobelia snapped, crossing her arms and ring at her brother.
“You mean running from town to town for a week, barely sleeping, and fending off hired thugs counts as ‘a bit’ to you?”
She raised her voice, her frustration mounting, while Rnd instinctively took a step back. A fling with a noble’s daughter was bad enough, but at least they were in Albrook now a city where people on the run seemed to inevitably converge.
Rnd sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose as Armand and Lobelia continued to bicker. He didn’t have the energy for this. After a full day of lectures, runic schematics, and managing student antics, his mind was already overtaxed. Thest thing he needed was yet another problem involving nobles.
‘Well, at least they are back here now, that’s one less thing to worry about.’
Though they bickered for some reason a smile crept on his face. While time was tight, it felt like such things were not bad from time to time…