NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 16 - Isabel's Apology Letter
“Please wait a moment, Hero Faust.”
A frail old woman, looking as if she might collapse at any moment like an ancient tree, pushed her way through the crowd. It was Bonita de Aurelia, who had lived in this palace for a thousand years until she was driven out by Carlos. Anyone who worked in the palace had encountered this old woman at least once.
“I am a humble old woman named Bonita. I have something I wish to say to the new hero.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“It’s inappropriate to reveal the identity of the thesis thief here in the royal palace. Three of them are telling the truth, and probably only one is a liar. From what I’ve heard, they all have plausible excuses and suspicious points. Do you intend to interrogate them one by one here, where domestic and foreign dignitaries are gathered? There’s no need for that. They might have past events they’re reluctant to speak about in public.”
“Then you all should leave the palace.”
“If the hero commands it, of course we should. But do you really intend to end everything here? Everyone has witnessed your power by reducing the king to a mere stable boy. In truth, no one will dare to challenge you anymore. Those who sent that disgraceful letter to Faust in the first place did so out of fear of Lucy… I mean, Kwak Dong-su, the former hero. Now, that fear will be devoted to you, Faust.”
“You’re quite eloquent. I heard you’re the oldest living person, and your speaking skills certainly match your age.”
“You have the power to darken this world by withdrawing your blessing at any time if you change your mind about not harming us now, don’t you?”
That wasn’t particularly difficult. It would happen automatically just by me deciding I didn’t want to bestow my blessing.
“Also, I heard that you were offered a professorship at the Academy by the Great Sage.”
“And?”
“If that’s the case, I believe it would be faster to identify the culprit at the Academy rather than here. After all, isn’t the Academy where the crime took place?”
The Academy.
On Earth, I was a graduate student dreaming of becoming a professor. I thought it was the best job in the world to stand at the podium teaching students and being able to fully engage in desired research with funding support.
Even after being summoned to the Pangea continent, my interests hadn’t changed.
In fact, I felt even more attracted to the Academy in terms of exploring this world full of things I didn’t know.
I had always been driven more by the desire for knowledge than by material or sexual desires. Apart from the goal of revenge, returning to the Academy was one of my wishes.
I had also promised to cooperate in finding the culprit who stole the thesis from the Great Sage.
“We are grateful just knowing that you, the hero, are alive somewhere in this world. Please do as you wish.”
“Oh… As a hero, is it okay if I don’t form a party and go on an expedition?”
“We have some shame. We don’t expect that much. But since you brought it up, do you have any party members in mind?”
Serena jumped forward nervously. She awkwardly raised her hand to make her presence known, but… you’re not even in the running, you know.
“I’m thinking of putting Misha Greenwood in my party as the elf.”
“I see. That woman… putting aside her personality, her skills are undoubtedly top-notch. She’s probably the strongest among the elves staying in Aurelia.”
“Personality? What about Misha’s personality?”
“Master! There’s no need to listen to the words of that old hag!”
Somehow, it seems Bonita and Misha know each other.
Being unable to contain my curiosity, I asked about their relationship.
“A thousand years ago, we fought over the same man.”
“Don’t say things that might make the master misunderstand. I fought for elven supremacy as a queen.”
“What? Misha, you were a queen?”
“But now I’m the master’s disciple!”
Hearing her icy cold voice, completely different from how she speaks to me, I could roughly guess how she treated her subordinates when she was queen.
If Misha was the queen of the elves, it makes sense that she has lived for over a thousand years and has overwhelming magical power. As I suspected, she wasn’t of ordinary lineage.
“Apart from Misha, I haven’t thought of any other party members yet. There might continue to be vacancies, or I might meet someone suitable at the Academy. However, I have no intention of fighting the Demon King for the sake of humanity.”
“As I said earlier, we are grateful just for your existence. Please do as you wish. However…”
“However, what?”
“With Carlos gone to the stables, the throne is currently empty. A nation needs a ruler. What should we do? Without your approval, no one will follow whoever ascends to the throne.”
“Ah, I see. I don’t really care, but… why don’t you sit on it?”
“…Pardon? May I ask why?”
“First, you didn’t send me a letter with insults. Second, you’re of royal blood, so you should have the right to act as regent. Third, when I was cleaning horse dung in the stables, you were also exiled to the outskirts, living lonely in a hut, so I feel a sense of shared suffering. These are my reasons. Satisfied?”
“Oh my… this old woman has made it big in her twilight years. I was born a princess, but with ten older brothers, I never dreamed of the throne. Life is full of surprises when you live long enough. Ah, speaking of princesses, it reminds me of someone… Isabel.”
Bonita said, keenly observing my reaction.
“Would it be alright to go and see if that poor, stupid, and ill-mannered princess is still alive?”
“Don’t beat around the bush. You want to rescue her, right? I’ll tell you in advance, I have no intention of helping.”
“Don’t worry. With the hero’s return, the weapons of mages and soldiers have regained their power, so we’re thinking of trying on our own. I’m just concerned that rescuing Isabel might go against the hero’s wishes.”
“Have Isabel write me a letter of apology. Then I’ll allow the rescue operation.”
“Thank you for your generous words.”
Bonita bowed respectfully.
I requested a carriage and packed my belongings from the mud house I had built myself. Even though it was such a shabby house, I felt a bit sentimental thinking that I would never return.
The people boarding the carriage were me, Misha, and all of Kwak Dong-su’s party members except for Tiffania.
“Faust. Can I consider myself as part of your party too? Right?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Serena. I’m only taking you guys along to prevent you from running away until we find out who the culprit is.”
“…If it’s proven that I didn’t steal it, you’ll forgive me, right?”
Seeing that hopeful face, it seems Serena really thinks she’s not the culprit, but you never know. It could be a method acting performance giving it her all.
Even if it’s not Serena, there are actually many suspicious people.
“I heard there are a lot of rare magical items at the Academy. Can I steal them?”
The phantom thief Diana, who blatantly talks about stealing despite knowing full well why I’m angry, is suspicious too.
“I don’t want to go to the Academy. Just thinking about studying makes my head explode. It’s best to just live swinging a sword freely.”
Alice, who’s trying to leave the group, is also suspicious in her intentions. She might be using studying as an excuse, but she might just be trying to run away from me.
“…But, even if we go to the Academy, how do you plan to find out who the culprit is, Faust?”
Even Saint Beatrice’s behavior is equally suspicious.
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of torturing us?”
“Hmph… I’m an intellectual. I have a smarter method.”
“I’d really like to know what that is.”
“Well, there’s some interesting news I heard from the Great Sage. Do you know where Tiffania is and what she’s doing right now?”
“…? We don’t know. We haven’t been in contact for a long time. But why Tiffania?”
“Well… never mind. I’ll tell you later. What I can say now is that the culprit might think they won’t be caught if they just keep their mouth shut, but there’s a way to find out everything anyway. However, I can’t use that method right now. So I’m thinking of detaining you all at the Academy for now. Of course, if you refuse and try to run away, I’ll take that as the thief giving themselves away. Do you understand?”
“”………………””
Whether they liked it or not, refusing to go to the Academy would make them look like thieves, so everyone ended up following me to the Academy.
As the carriage passed through the main gate of the Academy, all the faculty members led by the Great Sage and all the students were there to greet us. Their intention to curry favor with me was obvious.
“Welcome, Faust! I sincerely congratulate you on your appointment as a full professor at the Academy. Come, get out of the carriage. We’ve prepared a special office for you. It’s even larger and better equipped than my office.”
“That doesn’t matter to me. More importantly, has there been any contact from Tiffania?”
“Hmm… not yet on that front. However, we received a letter from someone named Isabel. The handwriting is quite shaky, as if written while trembling considerably. Why don’t you read it?”
It hadn’t taken that long to get from the royal palace to the Academy, yet the letter had already arrived. She must have been quite anxious.
After being briefly shown to my office, I opened the letter placed on the desk.
—To Faust,
Hello, Faust. I heard the news that you’ve been appointed as the hero. As a princess, no, as a mere citizen, I feel infinite joy. Right now, I’m in a situation where I can’t move an inch in a dragon’s nest. They don’t provide food or water, so I have to catch insects to eat or moisten my throat with my own urine in these hellish days that continue. Here, I’m deeply reflecting on all the rudeness I’ve committed against you, the hero, and I’ve resolved again and again that if I’m given another chance to return to the human world, I will never commit such acts again. I humbly await your generous decision.
—From Isabel.
After pondering how to reply, I just went to sleep because I was tired.
From tomorrow, a new life as an Academy professor awaits me.