Episode 67
Elonia was no longer even trying to hide her annoyance.
“Such beautiful equations! I’ve never seen anything like it in my 60 years! I honestly didn’t think anyone could solve this, you’re amazing!”
“What? This…”
She was about to call her a scammer, but Caroline was faster.
“As expected of the student who aced my entrance exam.”
Caroline chuckled heartily, unfazed by Elonia’s glare.
She addressed the other students,
“Elonia has explained it so perfectly that I don’t see the need to repeat it.”
Elonia looked at the other students.
They seemed to agree with Caroline, despite their wounded pride.
Some were even busy copying down Elonia’s solution.
“Elonia, this formula you used at the end. Which theory is it based on?”
“I just came up with it on my own.”
“Oh, then I should explain it to you. This formula actually exists, and it was inspired by Chelon Heilan.”
‘What the hell?’
Elonia was shocked.
She had solved the last part using her own method because she couldn’t figure it out using the theories they had learned. And it was actually a formula based on her own work?
She had really messed up.
“Professor, may I return to my seat now?”
“Elonia, I’m giving you the privilege of learning from the best seat in the house.”
Elonia, still trapped by Caroline’s grip, raised her hand and asked, but her request was denied.
She was forced to listen to Caroline’s explanation from the professor’s podium.
‘Ugh, I don’t want to hear about the war.’
But Caroline, oblivious to her discomfort, continued, her eyes sparkling as she spoke about Chelon Heilan, a figure both feared and admired by the Ravanta students.
“The discoverer of this formula was one of the mages who participated in the Continental War. He survived his encounter with Heilan, or rather, Chelon Heilan. And he brought me a few magic circles.”
‘Damn it, who stole my formulas?’
Formulas were a mage’s most prized possession.
And hers had been stolen while she was dead!
“The magic circles he brought were just a small fraction of the spells Chelon Heilan used, but I couldn’t decipher the formulas. Still, I was impressed that he had managed to memorize even a few of those large and complex magic circles. Anyway, I spent years studying them.”
‘Don’t analyze someone else’s magic without permission.’
“After years of research, I finally figured out the process, and I discovered that there was a pattern in the way Chelon Heilan used magic. Now, students, I’m sure you’re curious about the formulas of the War Demon, the Archmage Chelon, right?”
‘No.’
Elonia silently objected.
And this time, the other students were on her side.
Their eyes had momentarily lit up with interest, but then, sensing an incoming assignment, their expressions turned apprehensive.
And their premonition proved to be accurate.
Even though no one had answered, Caroline nodded, as if expecting their enthusiasm, and said excitedly,
“Since you’re all so curious, I have no choice. Here’s this week’s assignment. There’s a book I compiled about Chelon Heilan’s theories in the Magic Department library. But it only contains the magic circles she used and her methods, not the formulas. I want you to figure out the formulas yourselves.”
“…What?”
The students were dumbfounded.
Theories formed formulas, formulas formed magic circles, and only by imbuing those magic circles with mana could a spell be cast.
And she was asking them to figure out the missing step?
But that wasn’t what truly bothered Elonia.
‘What is this old woman doing? Publishing a book about my magic without my permission?’
Caroline, meeting Elonia’s furious gaze, grinned mischievously.
“I look forward to seeing how you approach this. It’s due next week.”
As soon as the class ended, Elonia rushed to the library.
There were supposed to be enough copies for all the students, but she had to see how Caroline had plagiarized her magic.
She approached the librarian and asked,
“I’m here to borrow the assignment material for Professor Caroline’s ‘Ancient Magic’ class. The book is called ‘Chelon Heilan Theories.'”
“Yes, one moment.”
The book was only available to students taking the “Ancient Magic” course.
And what kind of a title was “Chelon Heilan Theories”?
‘That’s a terrible name.’
Elonia suppressed her urge to cringe.
The librarian quickly found the book and handed her a key.
“Take this key and go to bookshelf K-139.”
Elonia took the key and hurried towards section K.
She inserted the key into the lock of a closed door and turned it. The door swung open silently.
The door closed automatically as she entered.
“139… 139…”
Elonia walked slowly, scanning the bookshelves.
Finding bookshelf 139 wasn’t difficult.
The book she was looking for was glowing, thanks to a magic spell.
“There it is.”
It was on a high shelf, so Elonia had to use a ladder to retrieve it.
The book looked brand new, probably because it had been compiled recently and not many people had borrowed it.
“My magic stolen after death.”
Life was full of surprises.
Elonia returned the key after borrowing the book and left the Magic Department campus, flipping through the pages as she walked down a quiet path.
She randomly opened the book and scanned a few lines, her eyes widening in surprise.
“…She’s actually quite skilled.”
It was a simple spell in Elonia’s opinion, but the magic circle was perfectly replicated.
The book even described Chelon’s approach to magic in detail.
“Well, at least I can finish this assignment quickly.”
Elonia closed the book.
“Ancient Magic” was her last class of the week, and tomorrow was Saturday.
But even if she finished this assignment quickly, she still had other assignments to catch up on. She probably wouldn’t be able to visit the palace this weekend.
“I should call Dad… Huh?”
Elonia stopped walking and looked around.
She was heading towards the dormitory, but she had somehow ended up on a completely different path.
And it was the path leading to the Theology Department, the place she wanted to avoid the most.
“This is why you shouldn’t read while walking.”
Elonia sighed, running a hand through her hair, and turned back.
And then she bumped into someone.
“…Your Highness.”
“…Lucius.”
It was Lucius again.
The academy wasn’t small, but they seemed to run into each other quite often.
He also looked startled, as if he was about to turn away, but then he noticed the title of the book she was holding and quickly approached her.
“Why are you reading that?”
He was clearly upset and agitated, a rare sight.
Elonia, baffled, retorted,
“What? I need your permission to read a book now? On top of being told not to acknowledge you?”
“T-that’s not what I meant… But isn’t that book about Chelon Heilan?”
“It’s an assignment from Professor Caroline.”
“…Ah.”
Lucius fell silent, his cheeks flushing pink.
He seemed embarrassed, realizing his outburst had been foolish.
He usually left after saying what he wanted to say, but this time, he hesitated.
He looked speechless, but Elonia could tell that he was curious about the book.
‘This is strange.’
He seemed like the type who carefully managed his image.
Based on Llewellyn’s stories and her own experience, it was unusual for him to be so emotional.
She felt that sense of familiarity again, the feeling that she had met him somewhere before.
Elonia asked,
“Were you close to Chelon Heilan?”
“…Why would you even ask that?”
“You’re clearly upset that I’m reading this book. Even Heilan citizens dislike Chelon Heilan. Why would you care?”
“…”
Lucius clamped his mouth shut.
But his lips, plump and red, looked like macarons.
Elonia, suddenly feeling awkward, chided him lightly,
“You’re the one who told me not to acknowledge you, and now you’re the one initiating contact?”
“…”
He remained silent.
‘Whatever.’
Finishing her assignment was more important than dealing with him.
“W-wait!”
But just as she turned to leave, Lucius called out, stopping her in her tracks.
“What is it now?”
Elonia asked, her voice laced with annoyance. Lucius hesitated, his lips moving soundlessly.
He finally spoke up as she was about to ignore him and leave.
“What does that book say about Lady Chelon?”
“It’s restricted to students taking the course.”
“…Ah.”
Lucius, his face falling, looked genuinely hurt.
Elonia, her heart softening, couldn’t bear to see him like that.
She reluctantly offered him a tiny piece of information.
“It doesn’t say anything bad about her. Don’t worry.”
“…I never asked.”
“Do I have to spell it out for you?”
Lucius, his face flushed, touched his cheek, as if he had been slapped.
He seemed to have finally realized that he had been acting unusually emotional.
Even Elonia could tell.
He didn’t dislike Chelon. In fact, he seemed to admire her.
But that was the question.
What kind of twisted personality would admire the War Demon?
‘And I don’t even think I ever spoke to him when I was Chelon.’
Or did she?
Why else would she feel this sense of familiarity?
She had definitely met him before.
‘Where was it…?’
Elonia racked her brain, trying to remember.
Lucius was fifteen now, and it had been nine years since Chelon’s death.
She must have met him when he was much younger.
‘He would have been at least six years old then… But I rarely returned to Heilan during the war. So if we subtract five years…’
That would make Lucius a one-year-old baby.
And Elonia had never seen any young children besides Simon…
‘Wait a minute.’
She had thought she hadn’t, but now she remembered.
It was right before the war with Ravanta, after they had conquered the Connet Kingdom.
But that didn’t make sense.
‘He remembers that?’
Just like Llewellyn couldn’t remember his diaper days, Lucius couldn’t possibly remember something from when he was a baby.
Elonia could remember everything from her infancy because she was living her second life, but it was normal for others to forget.
Even if she was his savior.
‘…But still, this doesn’t make sense.’
She was more likely to be someone’s enemy than their hero.
Elonia hated uncertainty.
She couldn’t help but ask,
“What do you even like about the War Demon?”