I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

75 – Sale

The next day, I was able to leave the infirmary unscathed. I didn’t forget to thank Luna.

“Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I must have caused you trouble with unnecessary requests, so I want to apologize.”

In response, Luna looked at me, nodded, and said, “No, it’s okay. Well then, goodbye.”

As I left the infirmary, I thought about giving her some kind of response. With that thought in mind, I was able to announce my recovery safely.

“Oh, by the way, you’re fully recovered, right? Then get back to work. Can you handle the Alpha class?”

I nodded in response to the teacher’s question.

“Yes. I’ve already prepared study materials in advance, and I have an idea of the progress, so I should be able to manage.”

With that, I was able to return to the lectern after a few days.

…I’ll probably have to immerse myself in artifact creation again as soon as the class is over.

So, after a long time, I supervised the Alpha class.

Perhaps because they were talents recognized even in the Empire, their skills were visibly improving.

Even in using transformation magic, the fact that the practice magic changed each time was evident.

…Of course, among them, there was a talent that stood out.

Jezel Ircalli. Her talent was unparalleled compared to other Alpha class students.

Her growth rate was extremely steep. After losing to Vanessa in the midterm evaluation due to an accident, she seemed even more diligent because of it.

A talent that outshone other students. Considering that she had already mastered a considerable amount of second-circle magic, Jezel’s growth rate was impressive, even compared to when I was a student.

As I walked around the classroom checking students’ achievements, Jezel approached me.

“…I heard you went on an external mission.”

I could only respond with a puzzled expression to those words. Why on earth would they ask that out of the blue? After briefly pondering, I replied to the question.

“…I can’t give you the artifact yet. There’s still time.”

In response, Jisel whispered in a hushed voice.

“No, it’s not that… I just wanted to make sure you weren’t hurt anywhere.”

Hurt? I briefly recalled the injury that had kept me in the infirmary until this morning and shook my head.

“No, I’m fine. Why?”

Jisel let out an “Ah” and said, “No, it’s just… I’m glad.”

What’s this? Did they just ask about my well-being? Was I being overly suspicious? I shrugged at Jisel’s words.

“Bland. Is your practice going well?”

Jisel hesitated for a moment, then showed me the magic they were practicing.

“Well… this part seems a bit weak in the connection, how should I handle it?”

After giving some advice on that part, I tried to move my feet to go answer questions from other students. At that moment, Jisel grabbed my sleeve.

Turning around, I looked at Jisel.

“What? Do you have another question?”

Jisel seemed to hesitate for a moment, then lowered their head and said, “Ah… no, it’s a mistake, I’m sorry.”

A mistake, huh. Is that really true?

…I don’t know. Whether it’s a mistake or not, it doesn’t really matter. It’s annoying to be bothered over grabbing a sleeve.

I continued to roam around, supervising the students, and the class ended smoothly.

…

“Damn.”

I looked at the artifacts with disgusted eyes. Due to lack of time, the artifacts I had barely managed to produce were now in front of me.

Now that I had to meet the collector and hand these over, it felt like I was going to throw up.

“Damn… especially after pulling an all-nighter.”

At least today was a day off from classes, so it could be considered fortunate. It felt like I survived because it was a holiday.

…Well, what can you do.

I used magic to conceal my tired face as much as possible, dressed in dignified-looking clothes, and left the academy building.

At the meeting place with the collectors, numerous people were already waiting for me. As I handed over the items, they opened the magical packaging to confirm the contents and nodded in approval.

“Just so you know, there are internal spirits in the artifact that will be destroyed if you try to steal the contained alcohol. Don’t bother doing anything unnecessary and just use it as intended.”

Upon hearing my words, some of them flinched and then smiled as they responded.

“Well, of course. That’s obvious.”

“No thief would buy an artifact only to try and steal the contained alcohol. Haha.”

Internally, I scoffed at their words, but outwardly, I smiled and replied.

“Yes. Well then, I bid you all farewell. Feel free to place additional orders later, if you wish.”

“Oh, then what about adding an order now…?”

“We’re currently swamped with orders.”

As if I would really receive additional orders after telling them to do so later. These potential spirits were already powerful enough. If I ignorantly produced them in large quantities to make money, the possibility of bloodshed was imminent.

In short, in order to fully control the potential of the consuming spirits, mass production was never an option.

And besides, it was tiring just to think about mass producing them.

Exhausted from constantly using the Memorize magic without a break, I realized that this wasn’t something a person should be doing. But now, even the person who was about to place an order thought it was crazy to increase the buyer’s cut on a sluggish panel.

Having delivered all the goods to the recipients, I went to find Jasel, carrying the last remaining artifact.

“Here it is. The artifact you ordered. Don’t come find me privately anymore. It’s a hassle.”

Jasel obediently took the artifact I handed over. Then, looking at me, he asked.

“…What do you mean by not coming to find you privately?”

I answered his question.

“Not coming to find you privately means just that. You don’t have to come find me. Besides, you’ve already reached the level of an expert, so it would be most efficient for you to train alone.”

Then, unexpectedly, a voice came out of Jasel’s mouth that I hadn’t anticipated.

“…Didn’t you meet Vanessa Delphias privately?”

Hearing those words, I momentarily panicked and blurted out a surprised sound.

“Eh, eh?”

Perhaps realizing what he had said, Jasel himself seemed flustered, as his face turned red.

“…Forget it.”

Even though I heard those words, my mind was still confused. What’s going on? Did Jasel see me and Vanessa meeting by the lake? Or is there some kind of misunderstanding?

Those thoughts continued to unsettle my mind, but I managed to muster a response.

“…What do you mean by that?”

Jasel rolled his eyes with a flushed face. Then, looking at me, he said.

“It was a slip of the tongue. I apologize. Since I received the goods, I’ll take my leave now.”

Jeziel, who spoke thus, hurriedly turned away from me and began to walk somewhere.

I soon averted my gaze from Jeziel’s back and looked elsewhere. My mind remained as complex as before.

…

“Your Excellency, here is the artifact.”

“Oh, thank you. I will make sure to reciprocate appropriately.”

Ariel, taking the artifact, opened the packaging and extracted its contents after the noble who brought her the item had left.

It was an artifact made by her former fiancé. Unable to bring herself to ask her ex-fiancé directly, she had obtained the item through a messenger.

A simple yet neatly designed necklace emerged, making a clinking sound as it landed in her hands. Inside, a creature known for astonishing people was sealed.

In many ways, it was a well-crafted item.

Ariel recalled the past and bit her lip.

It was due to the memory of a ruby necklace with a weak protective spell she had received in the past. It still lay in her room, beside her bed.

The artifact Eden had given her as a birthday present in the past and the one in front of her now had a significant gap, whether in terms of completeness or the level of the sealed creature.

And, as if saying that an irreversible difference had occurred from the past, she felt a tightening sensation in her chest.

Holding the artifact made by Eden, she headed to her bedroom, then lay on the bed.

While staring quietly at the artifact, she gripped it with her hand and opened her mouth.

“… You’ve changed so much from the image I remember.”

With those words, Ariel let out a small chuckle.

Of course, it was only natural. After experiencing such events, how could a person not change?

She remembered Eden, who had been angry with her. His refusal to be entangled anymore, asserting that their relationship had already ended.

Ariel lowered the arm that was weakly holding the artifact.