Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 500

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 270.
Beneath the Almond Tree (13)
It was unclear who should comfort whom, but one thing was certain: Juspian had anticipated this and sent Tichiel. Finding someone else who could read ancient languages and remain here long enough to help would have been difficult. Considering she was his treasured daughter, it was a remarkable gesture of goodwill, even if he maintained a cold demeanor about it.
Tichiel then gestured for the two boys to approach. It was beneath the desk. There was a floor hatch there. When they lifted it and descended, they found a small chamber with only a single bed and a narrow wardrobe. The ceiling was so low it felt like a cave. The boys had to bow their heads slightly.
“This is the bedroom. There’s only one bed, but we can bring more bedding and lay it on the floor. I’ll sleep in the Professor’s chamber.”
Hearing that she would sleep with that cold professor, questions inevitably arose.
“But what’s your relationship with Professor Leomentiis?”
“She’s my aunt.”
Tichiel answered matter-of-factly, but the two boys were so startled their mouths fell open. After a moment, Joshua managed to ask.
“Wait, if she’s your aunt, then you’re sister-in-law and brother-in-law with Juspian, so why did he say mentioning himself would backfire?”
“And what was that about dying quickly?”
Tichiel smiled awkwardly.
“My aunt opposed my mother’s marriage.”
“Ah… it seems like it was quite the opposition.”
“The Professor was very close with my mother. My father may look like this, but he’s quite elderly. That’s why her opposition was fierce. After my mother passed away, she seems to think even more that she should have stopped it then. Now she’s one of the two mages in the world who hate my father the most.”
“Then who’s the other one?”
“Axel Leomantis.”
“Wait, doesn’t he have the same surname as that professor?”
“He’s my maternal uncle.”
After a moment, Joshua murmured.
“You must have it rough.”
“Not really. Both of them treat me well.”
Maximian opened one palm and shrugged his shoulder.
“Well, I suppose you’d be much better off meeting someone like you as a niece rather than as a friend or student.”
Unexpectedly, Tichiel replied.
“The same goes for you.”
“You wish I were your nephew?”
“Yes. If you were my nephew, I could give you a good smack when you run around skipping your studies.”
Seeing the light in Tichiel’s eyes as she imagined the scene, Maximian slowly backed away and went back up. Joshua laughed and gestured to Tichiel.
“Let’s go up. Can we start right now?”
After both came up, Tichiel closed the hatch and sat before the desk. Joshua thought for a moment, then spoke.
“First, about the Doppelgänger. Specifically, how to restore the weakened connection with the original body. And the source of magical power needed to do that. The magical artifacts that can be used as that source. And among those, the strongest instrument of malice.”
Tichiel stopped her hand from moving and turned to Joshua.
“Joshua, that last one isn’t something you told the Professor about, is it?”
Joshua smiled.
“Look at the order I mentioned them in. They’re all interconnected. Besides, when you get approval in ten days, the Professor will know anyway.”
Tichiel lifted her shoulders lightly.
“You’re confident you’ll get approved as is?”
“Perhaps?”
Tichiel didn’t ask further and placed her hand on the desk. Light began to emanate from the characters carved into the desk, and dozens of glowing letters floated in the air. All of them were unreadable. Tichiel read one of them and spoke.
“It’ll take several months just to cover what I’ve mentioned.”
“That’s about right. It’s fine. This place seems pleasant enough to stay in.”
Even as he said this, a moment later Joshua alone furrowed his brow and added,
“If only it were a bit quieter, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Tichiel’s expression turned puzzled.
“But this is quiet, isn’t it? Are you hearing some kind of sound?”
In truth, the surroundings were very quiet. Yet Joshua sighed and glanced around in all directions.
“Yes. It’s terribly loud. Just like your house.”
7. The Pursuers
The hunter thinks. The beast is near.
It must be watching him.
The footprints are scattered, and blood stains the arrowhead.
The sound of a cub crying. Calling to the beast.
At the path back to its nest, let us place bait there.
It will rejoice at the sight of the dropped food.
It will forget its injured leg and try to drag it away.
Not knowing that this will tighten the noose around its neck….
Silviet hesitated slightly. The door before her eyes was made of iron.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could see iron rivets embedded all around the door. Iron plates were affixed to both sides of a wooden door and fastened with fixed bolts. There was only one conceivable purpose. That imagination sent a chill down her spine.
The doorknob was worn and pale. The man who had brought her extended his hand and turned the knob. It made a much louder sound than imagined. Creeeeak.
“I have brought her, Major.”
The chamber was wider than expected, but it had no windows. Why would they not install windows when it wasn’t even underground? A desk stood opposite, and beyond it a young officer in Kingdom 8th Army uniform sat examining documents. He lifted his head somewhat late and rose from his seat.
“I apologize for receiving you in such a chamber.”
It was what he said after a formal salute. Silviet, seeing the shabby chair with a low backrest where she was meant to sit, deliberately forced an expression of displeasure.
“So you know you should apologize. Then shouldn’t you have found a different place?”
“All military facilities are like this.”
The officer sat back down. And he looked up at Silviet with an expression asking why she didn’t sit.
“….”
She had no choice but to sit. As she smoothed out her skirts evenly, Silviet steeled herself not to be intimidated by the bleak atmosphere. The officer soon covered the documents and met Silviet’s gaze.
“I am Major Jenas. Are you Miss Sylviet de Argenson?”
“Your subordinate brought me here. And now you’re saying you don’t even know who I am?”
“The military has different ways of speaking. I ask for your understanding.”
Silviet took a breath.
“So asking for understanding unilaterally is all there is to it? I’m quite displeased. I’m uncomfortable with having been summoned to a place like this in the first place.”
Major Jenas responded immediately without changing his expression.
“I apologize.”
The mechanical response had a subtle power to wear down the other party. Silviet merely frowned in silence.
“The reason I have brought Miss Argenson here today is that there are several matters I wish to inquire about. As you know, the Kingdom 8th Army operates with the utmost priority given to the welfare of His Majesty, the noble and venerable sovereign. Therefore, there are occasions when we must conduct our duties in ways that sometimes deviate from conventional courtesy. Even if there were certain inconveniences in the manner of your reception, I humbly ask that you understand with the knowledge that we are serving the interests of His Majesty, the noble and venerable sovereign.”
Despite having been suddenly seized in front of her home while returning from a walk and dragged here without understanding why, his attitude showed no inclination to clarify the matter further. Yet rebuttal was impossible. To do so would require her to argue that her own inconvenience took precedence over the interests of “His Majesty, the noble and venerable sovereign.”
When Silviet did not respond, Major Jenas continued of his own accord.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
There was nothing I could do but let out a quiet snort. Major Jenas opened the first page of the documents.
“Then I shall ask. Last year, Miss Argenson frequented the Royal Grome School quite often. May I inquire as to your reasons?”
It had been a mistake not to consider what questions might come during the journey here. Without thinking, I widened my eyes.
“Why would you ask that?”
Major Jenas suddenly straightened his head.
“I must ask that you refrain from asking why, now or in the future. I cannot divulge anything due to the necessity of maintaining His Majesty’s confidentiality.”
My throat gradually grew dry. Three other men in military uniforms stood about, but they merely guarded me as though I were a criminal—there was no atmosphere suggesting they would offer me even a cup of tea.
The man before me was merely a soldier. I didn’t wish to be intimidated, but this was their domain. The frills wrapped around my dress sleeves trembled slightly. I mimicked a strong voice.
“There are times when I too must keep secrets for the honor of distinguished people connected to me.”
“Is there anyone in the Kingdom more noble and dignified than His Majesty the King?”
“But you….”
He was someone who wouldn’t even explain his reasons. Even if this were merely His Majesty’s trivial curiosity, it was difficult to argue that it was less important than another nobleman’s honor. Comparison was impossible from the start.
“Fine. From now on, everything I say here is for His Majesty. Even if it becomes a problem later, it will only be because I believed your words, so you must bear the responsibility. Remember that.”
“Understood.”
He still showed not a trace of hesitation. I pressed my lips thin and shot him a look.
“I went to Grome School to meet the young lady of Count Amaranth. It’s not something to be widely known, but the young lady has little interest in social matters and etiquette. That’s why the Countess asked me to help with her education.”
“You speak of Miss Ienna da Amaranth?”
“Are you suggesting there’s another young lady in that household?”
Major Jenas remained unmoved by my irritation.
“How often did you visit?”
“About once or twice a month.”
“How long did you stay when you went?”
“At most an hour or perhaps thirty minutes. Why are you asking such questions?”
“Military procedure. Did Miss Amaranth enjoy your visits?”
For a moment, Ienna’s bored expression came to mind, but I answered without hesitation.
“Isn’t that obvious? She was grateful to me.”
“I see. Then did you yourself come to like Miss Amaranth?”
“Ah, of course. The young lady of Amaranth is witty and full of vitality.”
“Then the two of you must have become quite close.”
“Of course.”
“Close enough to hide nothing from each other?”
I furrowed my brow with a puzzled expression.
“Isn’t that question rather impertinent? Why must I report on such personal matters one by one?”
Major Jenas turned another page of the documents, his eyes downcast.
“I already told you not to ask why. Soldiers dislike having to repeat themselves.”
“….”
Beneath the desk, blue veins stood out on the back of my clenched fist. I resolved to remember this man’s insulting demeanor. Once I returned home, I would find out who he was and, if possible, have him dismissed or demoted. If that proved impossible, I would spread the worst rumors about him far and wide.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Published by: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright to this book is held by the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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