Chapter 22.2
Ah, I remembered.
In the setting, there was such a character.
‘Weren’t they already separated?’
“Even so, isn’t it revealed recently that Master Van was wrongly accused by Vallic when he was said to have mistreated Miss Emily during their breakup? Perhaps she wants to discuss that with you?”
I nodded, acknowledging the information from the Rapalt’s knight.
“Miss Emily wants to resolve any misunderstandings with Master Van.”
I frowned.
‘Do I have to?’
The thought crossed my mind.
Who Emily was.
She wasn’t a bad character.
On the contrary, within the corrupted Rapalt Duchy, she was a person with a sense of justice and became an ally to the protagonists.
However, the meaning of that message was,
‘She might become a bothersome connection.’
My goal was to quietly enjoy a comfortable life without unnecessary ties.
‘I must especially avoid setting any flags.’
Feeling excitement over a changed character was a common cliché.
It was best to completely avoid the seeds of turmoil.
“There’s no need for that. Convey that to her.”
“But she insists on meeting you in person.”
“Can’t you understand my words? I’m rejecting this offer as a ‘victim’.”
“!!”
I spoke with the coldest tone possible.
“If, by any chance, you feel sorry for misunderstanding me, never appear in front of me again. Disappear from my sight forever. That would be your apology to me.”
If we never meet, there won’t be any chance for a flag to be raised!
As the knight left with a troubled expression, Hans cautiously asked,
“Are you okay, Master?”
“We have no reason to see each other again, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“…For someone who was once a Casanova, the words you just said seemed rather…”
“??”
“Never mind… Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
I had my doubts but decided to let it slide.
“I’ll go deal with the problematic student.”
* * *
“Lindon’s residence is in Zone 5.
‘According to the documents, he was originally from an ordinary household. How did he end up staying in Zone 5?’
The free city is divided into a total of 7 zones.
Zone 1 has the best environment, and as the numbers go up, the environment becomes less favorable.
Zone 6 is a slum, Zone 7 is Dragon Stronghold, and Zone 5 is almost as poor as a slum.
“He used to be a diligent student in his own way. But when he became a senior, his situation suddenly worsened, and his attitude at school became a mess.”
I nodded.
‘I don’t know every detail of Lindon’s past as a Ten Malevolent, but…’
Struggling with massive debt, he became a slave of a dark sorcerer, and after facing the brink of death, he eventually became the most powerful dark mage.
“That’s here.”
A house came into view.
It was as impoverished as the shanties I lived in during my poor childhood on Earth.
“I’m coming in.”
Creaking, as I entered, a young man with a hazy impression was startled and hunched his shoulders.
“Wh-who?! A debt collector? I-I’ll pay you back, I swear! If the stocks I invested in this time hit the jackpot!!”
…Stocks?
I asked Hans.
“…Is this guy Lindon?”
“Uh, y-yes, he matches the description.”
Lindon blinked his eyes.
“…And who are you? Senior Young Van? What’s going on?”
Lindon was now a senior in the graduating class, having seen me when I was in the first year.
“Now, I’m a professor.”
“…What?”
“I decided to become a professor at the academy. The Chancellor told me to help you, a failing student. Why are you stuck here? Tell me. I’ll help.”
Lindon cautiously spoke.
“…He said you, the senior will help me?”
“That’s right.”
“…Then, can you lend me 10,000 Penas?”
“…What?”
“I can repay it right away! I have incredible information this time, and if it hits big, I’ll make at least ten times the profit!!”
My head throbbed.
As mentioned earlier, Lindon had been sold to a dark sorcerer due to massive debts. I was curious about how he ended up with such debts, and his recent story shed some light on it.
“Did you, by any chance, lose all your money while playing stocks?”
A twitch.
It seemed like a confirmation.
“Then, did you not take the graduation exam?”
Lindon hesitated to answer.
“…I wrote a physical forfeiture agreement to postpone graduation immediately because, if I graduated, I would be taken away right away.”
I sighed.
To think that a member of the Ten Malevolents was such a pathetic guy!
‘Wait, isn’t this situation not bad for me?’
I looked at Lindon from top to bottom.
Despite his murky appearance, he was a future top-tier dark sorcerer.
In other words, he was an uncut gem.
‘Maybe I can turn him into my pawn if I play my cards right?’
Unlike the protagonists who must be avoided at all costs, Lindon is different.
If I managed to get him to shape up mentally, there was no need for him to fall into the path of evil.
“I’ll take care of your debt problem for you.”
This will be the way.
“S-Senior, what do you mean?”
“But, of course, nothing is free. There are conditions.”
Lindon was flabbergasted. Probably, he expected something sinister from my offer.
“I’ll take over your physical forfeiture agreement.”
“Wh-What are you planning to make me do?”
“Once you graduate, become a graduate student in my research lab.”
“!!”
I grinned. To Lindon, it probably looked like a smile full of terrifying intent for him.
“Serve… no, become a graduate student and pay off the debt you owe me.”
Acquiring a servant, no, a graduate student, of the caliber of a top-tier dark sorcerer was an opportunity…
I couldn’t afford to miss it.
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