The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 95

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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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Chapter 95
* * *
The home of those exiled from the Magic Tower.
The Mado Engineering Academy, which had established the discipline of Mado Engineering and thereby transformed the world, had long declared itself politically neutral.
Yet the foundation that established the academy bore the name Clavis.
Their proclamation of political neutrality also meant: with endless support flowing in, focus on your research and nothing else.
Thanks to this, the Mado Engineering Academy had remained free from political conflict for ages.
It was Clavis who made this possible.
A house that existed as an equal to the Imperial Court.
Perhaps something even greater.
Those obsessed with scholarship and research could only sing the praises of Clavis.
The Mado Engineering Academy had grown complacent, trusting only in Clavis, turning into a nest of recluses. Shut away in their rooms, nothing but research.
Confined to back chambers, consumed by their studies, their hunger for knowledge alone.
“If those who pursue knowledge to serve the world turn their backs on it, that’s a disaster.”
The previous Clavis, concerned about this very thing, had expanded the academy’s grounds to create the Deste Estate, forcing them to engage with the world—but that’s not the point right now.
The real issue was this:
‘Damn it…!’
Copelia, the current Director of the Mado Engineering Academy.
‘Why did this have to happen on my watch?’
This was her present predicament.
Whenever Copelia met with people, she would always let her dark green hair fall loose and tangled down across her face, and draped herself in loose, shapeless robes.
When she appeared like this, people would think to themselves, ‘They say the academy director’s unhinged—guess the rumors were true,’ and readily assume the worst on their own.
That made dealing with people slightly easier.
But the Crown Prince standing before her saw right through such tricks.
“The Mado Engineering Academy’s long service to the Empire—all of us in the royal family are deeply grateful for it.”
“…….”
“I also understand that the current situation is not favorable to the academy. His Imperial Majesty is genuinely concerned for your future.”
“…….”
Copelia’s face, hidden behind her hair, went cold and hard.
‘Sophistry.’
The Imperial Court had spent ages trying every trick to bring the Mado Engineering Academy under its control, and each time Clavis had stood in the way.
‘Liars.’
Then they shouldn’t have annihilated Clavis’s clan!
‘Attempted murder of a princess? That’s a lie too. Nobody believes it.’
But Copelia was a coward, so she didn’t commit the stupid mistake of recklessly venting her rage.
If she did, the Mado Engineering Academy would be truly endangered.
“…….”
Crown Prince Phereus regarded her silently.
‘Fearful, but careful.’
Keeping this in mind, the Crown Prince continued.
“The Mado Engineering Academy must be allowed to operate with the freedom it has always enjoyed. That’s how the Reformation of the Exiled came to be—and it brought unprecedented prosperity to the Empire.”
“You know your history well.”
Copelia spoke for the first time.
Crown Prince Phereus was quietly taken aback inside.
‘So she does have pride.’
How pathetic.
‘Without Clavis, she’s nothing at all.’
The Crown Prince lifted the corners of his mouth to suppress the sneer.
“The Empire wishes to support the Mado Engineering Academy. You are all precious subjects of the Empire, and your foundation rests upon imperial soil, does it not?”
“…….”
“The academy’s growth and development are the Empire’s prosperity, and only a strong and flourishing Empire can ensure the safety and advancement of Mado Engineering.”
“The Imperial Court maintains friendly relations with the Magic Tower.”
Copelia spoke.
“The Mado Engineering Academy and the Magic Tower have long been bitter enemies. Since you know the history, surely you understand the Imperial Court’s position, having held hands with them for so long….”
“We will let go.”
The Crown Prince answered.
Behind her dark green hair, Copelia’s eyes went wide.
Noticing this, the Crown Prince staged a solemn expression.
“The Imperial Court is currently severing its ties with the Magic Tower, one strand at a time.”
“…….”
“I cannot disclose all the details, but this is His Majesty’s decision for the peace and security of the Empire.”
“…….”
“Due to an unfortunate incident, Clavis—once a great pillar of the Empire—has suffered clan annihilation. The Imperial Court must now fill that void. To do so, we require the aid of the Mado Engineering Academy.”
The Crown Prince laid bare his purpose for coming here.
“You will receive the Imperial Court’s support.”
“…….”
“I promise assistance no less than what Clavis once received.”
“Time…….”
Copelia lowered her head slightly.
“Please, give me time to think.”
* * *
[Director’s Office of Mado Engineering Academy]
The Crown Prince glanced briefly at the nameplate on the door he had just exited, then spun around sharply.
“Well?”
He turned to Rashid, the knight commander who had remained at his side throughout.
“Do you think she’ll come over to us?”
“Appearances aside, she is not someone to be underestimated.”
The Mado Engineering Academy is already a vast power in its own right. Since Clavis was with them from the beginning, it would not be an exaggeration to call the Academy a branch of Clavis itself.
Copelia.
“She possesses the caliber to be elected the leader of this faction. Moreover, she is someone who has been vetted by Clavis.”
“It won’t be easy, then?”
“She asked for time to think, but…….”
“Yes, she’ll use that gap to cook up some scheme of her own.”
The Crown Prince could deduce that much.
And he had no intention of allowing it.
“Now that I think of it.”
The Crown Prince, his confidence renewed, broached another subject.
“I hear you grant wishes?”
“Your Highness.”
“You left out the condition, didn’t you.”
The knight commander understood the omitted phrase: *if you summon a demon.*
“So then, what wish did you make?”
“That is a secret.”
“But not a matter of state.”
* * *
Director Copelia remained seated on the sofa long after the Crown Prince and the knight commander had left the room.
And then, shortly after.
“Ahhhhh! Kyaaaaaah! Eeeeeek!”
She sprang from her seat, trembling violently.
“What—what do I do! What do I do! It was real!”
Like a frightened child, Copelia bounced in place, then quickly locked the door and surrounded herself with multiple layers of defensive barriers created by magical devices.
Then she obsessively began touching the window.
“How—how did I not notice? The defensive spell I had placed on the window has been completely dismantled! This is……!”
Gasp, gasp.
Her face flushed with excitement as she breathed heavily.
“C—Clavis……!”
He was alive after all!
Copelia let out a breathless laugh, her lips curling as she swallowed hard.
“My research subject is alive!”
With trembling hands that quivered from the thrill, she fumbled through her pocket.
What she withdrew was a single letter.
The very letter that had appeared through the suddenly opened window just before the Crown Prince’s visit.
The letter contained only a single line.
[Give me just one week.]
With merely this one line, Copelia had experienced something akin to a near-death vision—her soul departing and returning in an instant.
She was delighted that her research subject lived, but Clavis was still terrifying.
“Who could it be? Who is alive?”
Copelia analyzed the handwriting in the letter.
“There’s a sharpness to it, yet it retains a certain roundness. It’s not the Patriarch or the Young Patriarch. The ladies have a somewhat more refined touch…….”
Could it possibly be Young Master Pertel?
‘No.’
That left only one.
Clavis’s princess.
“Oh dear…….”
Copelia’s brow furrowed with something like pity.
“The youngest and most delicate princess…….”
* * *
“Ah, damn it.”
Slurp.
I drained the carbonated beverage made by a Magic Engineering Academy student while spewing out a string of rough curses.
“Now that I think about it, my life really is a godless mess.”
“Even the head of the Clavis household wouldn’t have cursed like that in broad daylight.”
Verity sighed and shot me a reproachful look, but.
So what.
“Too bad. I learned vulgarity as a second language in Korea.”
“One begins to wonder if Korea was truly the right refuge…….”
“It’s a nice place if you have money and no conscience.”
“Though I suppose that’s true of any country.”
We sat on a bench waiting for the Crown Prince to arrive.
I’d wanted to see the Magic Engineering Academy, but the Crown Prince’s surveillance had soured my mood entirely.
Of course, that wasn’t why I stayed put.
“In the old days, I would’ve had a nosebleed by now…….”
I absently touched my unblemished philtrum.
Using my ability moments before had brought a powerful wave of exhaustion with it. For a second, the dizziness was so overwhelming I nearly staggered.
“At least I’m not bleeding from the nose anymore. That’s fortunate. I was worried about it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. What kind of adult could stay composed watching a tiny girl pour out a basin of blood? My heart would sink every time.”
Verity confessed his hidden concern belatedly.
“……Heh.”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
“Will they make a move soon?”
Verity kept watch on the Imperial Court knights who were still monitoring us.
As we sat quietly on the bench, the knights began slowly closing the distance.
“They’ve come within ten paces. Ah, one of them is a demon.”
“What.”
“What about the protective barrier? Should you lower it?”
“What’s your opinion, Butler?”
“Hmm…….”
Verity, who had been gazing blankly at the sky with a straw between his lips, lifted the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.
His gaze fell upon young students gathered to test a magical device.
“Hey, why won’t this activate?”
“Senior, the heat transfer in the core circuit just stopped.”
“What? That shouldn’t happen. Why did it stop there…….”
“Uh, uh uh?”
“Wait! The heat transfer didn’t stop, it……!”
“The heat is accumulating! This isn’t good……!”
“Ahhhhh!”
The runaway magical device spewed heat as it hurtled toward Havenia.
Verity began counting.
“Three. Two.”
One.
Click—.
The moment he lowered the protective barrier, Verity flicked the straw from his lips.
“Watch out!”
“Over there! Be careful!”
The approaching magical device collided with the straw shot out at even greater speed. In the same instant, its trajectory twisted ever so slightly.
“Miss!”
Verity cried out and pulled my body close.
We looked like we were frozen in terror, unable to flee.
People shouted for us to run, or else stood with expressions of resignation, as if everything were already lost.
‘It’s fine.’
I wasn’t frightened in the slightest.
“Ha, as expected.”
Verity whispered softly.
“A true talent is indeed a talent. Now I understand why the chamberlain covets you so.”
Bang!
Verity’s subtle twist of the straw with her strike created a critical opening.
In a flash, a holy knight in white uniform rushed forward and swung an enormous axe, sending the runaway Magical Device soaring high into the air.
Thud—the massive axe blade struck the ground.
Olive, the Inquisitor, frowned and turned to look at me.

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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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