“Why do you look like that? What kind of letter is it?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Julia quickly crumpled the letter and left her seat.
I wondered if I saw it wrong.
I returned to my room and checked the contents again.
-If I don’t receive your support, I will wither away and die. Please reply.
“I’m going crazy.”
What kind of threat is this?
A sponsored party threatening to cut off support.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t make any sense.
But our relationship is not normal, so I can’t help but be flustered.
‘I should read all the letters I’ve set aside.’
Come to think of it, I’ve just been stashing away all the letters Yuri sent.
At first, I thought they were mistakenly delivered to me, and later realized they were indeed from Yuri.
By the time I realized it, there were too many letters piled up to read from the beginning, so I left them alone.
I thought I had done enough by getting him into the Academy and that he would manage well on his own as the protagonist.
What could have happened for such an extreme letter to suddenly arrive?
Let’s start with the first letter.
-To the Mr. Black. What is the Mr. Black you ask? It’s a nickname I gave you after seeing your back. You were in a black suit with a black carriage, so Dark Man it is. If you don’t like this, tell me your real name. Calling you anonymous sponsor is too stiff. And…
-To the Mr. Black. Today I attended my first class! I didn’t know that you have to move to another classroom after each class. No one told me, so I almost missed my classes on the first day. My first class was…
-To the Mr. Black. Today I went out to the city. I had heard the capital was big, but I was still shocked by how overwhelming it was. Although the dormitory provides basic meals, there’s no shop in the city where I can go. I might need to find a side job to earn some pocket money. Oh, today…
.
.
.
All the letters are bright and cheerful.
Even the complaints are cute and don’t feel disgruntled.
It’s hard to believe that such a person wrote a depressing letter overnight.
“I should reply first.”
I hurriedly started writing a reply.
If I don’t reply, Yuri will stop receiving support.
If the support is cut off, Yuri will leave the Imperial Magic Academy and disappear.
It’s not surprising if he turns evil and returns corrupted by some villain.
He currently has no comrades to stay by his side, nor does he have Sylvia to lead him.
I included some pocket money with the reply.
Get yourself whatever you want to eat.
If you need more, just let me know. Please.
‘Bullying… How could it be?’
It’s hard to imagine him being bullied with his tremendous physical abilities.
But physical force isn’t the only way to bully someone.
Humans can use all kinds of petty and dirty tricks.
If Yuri turns evil due to bullying?
That’s a disaster. The end of the world.
I’d be captured and horribly killed, marking the start of the end.
“Who the hell is it? Who dares to bully Yuri.”
Grinding my teeth, I prepared to depart immediately.
This can’t go on.
I need to find out the details.
“Sylvia, please look after the children.”
“Are you going alone? Where are you heading?”
“To the Imperial Magic Academy.”
“Ah, travel safely.”
Sylvia, who usually accompanies me for protection and monitoring, bowed her head, seeing me off. She never follows when I go to the Magic Academy.
Must have some bad memories there.
I decided not to pry.
“Coachman, bring out a different carriage, not that one. Use the one with our family crest.”
“Yes, sir.”
“From now on, use this carriage only when going to the Magic Academy.”
“Understood.”
The plain carriage I used for my previous visit to the Magic Academy was sealed away.
That was the “Mr. Black’s” carriage.
I couldn’t use a carriage that Yuri had once seen.
The carriage sped along an incomplete road.
While I was momentarily daydreaming about Charlotte’s armor, we arrived at the Imperial Magic Academy. It was in no time at all.
I hadn’t realized the Vermont territory was this close to the Magic Academy.
“Is the headmaster available?”
“Sorry, but the headmaster is not here today.”
“Then call him. Tell him Aslan Vermont is waiting.”
“Y-Yes…”
The academy staff member turned back with a suspicious expression.
The headmaster will come.
If he doesn’t, I’ll make a scene.
Would the headmaster dare not come when Aslan Vermont is causing trouble?
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, is greatly pleased with your troublemaking.]
Troublemaking?
I haven’t done anything yet.
So it’s not troublemaking yet.
If the headmaster starts treating me like a troublemaker, then I have no choice but to become one.
‘Shall I visit the library?’
The mansion’s library is wide enough.
Honestly, it feels like it’s full of firestarter.
I gave up finding a reliable book there a long time ago.
‘Do they have books on black magic?’
The library of the empire’s highest educational institution is vast.
I should also find some books on spirit arts that Julia would like.
To find books on swordsmanship that Charlotte might be interested in.
I also decided to look for books on black magic out of curiosity.
However, this library doesn’t have a search system.
In a fantasy world, shouldn’t there be some kind of magical archive search?
Even if there are books on black magic, asking the librarian might not yield proper answers.
This is quite troublesome.
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, suggests you go over there.]
…Where is “there”?
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, is angry, saying it’s not that way but this way!]
Where exactly is “this way”?
After wandering around for a while, I managed to follow Kali’s haphazard directions.
In a dark, secluded corner, there was a small bookshelf that was hard to see.
‘Found it.’
Reflections on Dark Magic.
Does Evil Magic Exist?
The History of Black Magic.
All of them were related to black magic.
Without hesitation, I picked them all up.
By the time I had chosen books for Julia and Charlotte and loaded them up, I started to miss Sylvia a bit.
“I’d like to check these out.”
“Uhm. If you’re not a student or faculty member of this school, it’s difficult to check out books.”
“Is it still difficult if I show this?”
“…!”
I subtly showed the Imperial Magic Academy sponsor certificate, and the librarian flinched.
Sponsors are allowed to use the library, but it must be rare for a sponsor to actually want to check out books.
“Checkout complete, Mr. Aslan Vermont. The period is one week, and you can renew up to three times, each for one week…”
“Aslan Vermont!?”
“…?”
At that moment, a high-pitched voice came from behind.
I turned around, feeling a chill down my spine.
As expected, standing behind me was Yuri in a school uniform.
He still looked like a spoiled noble.
‘Did he see the sponsor certificate?’
I quickly covered the certificate with my hand.
Did he notice?
If he discovers that I’m the anonymous sponsor, it’s over.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, it’s nothing… I’m sorry…”
Biting his lip, Yuri turned his head away from me.
I could see him clenching his fist, trying to suppress his anger.
If someone who hates me this much finds out I’m his sponsor, what will happen?
He would immediately refuse the sponsorship and disappear.
Then, if he returns later, corrupted by some villain… well, it’s obvious what would happen.
It’s a future that makes me shudder no matter how many times I imagine it.
‘Be careful. Be very careful.’
Passing by Yuri, I broke into a cold sweat, feeling like I was walking past a grizzly bear.
What kind of guts do those who think of bullying such a person have?
I hurriedly left the library as if escaping.
The entire time I was leaving, I felt a menacing gaze from behind.
I wanted to confront him right then and there, but he was holding back.
It seems he’s developed some patience while attending the Academy, which is a huge relief.
‘Was I too careless?’
I should have brought a guard.
I should have considered that Yuri might attack me when I came to the Academy.
Next time, I’ll need to have some kind of safety measure in place.
“Ah. The headmaster has arrived. Shall I take you to his office now?”
“Lead the way.”
I received the notification that the headmaster had arrived.
Good. Let’s find out who’s been bullying this ticking time bomb.
If I find out who it is…
“No… Bullying… That can’t be…”
“Educators often have a hard time noticing bullying. Yuri has personally testified to it in his letter. Are you saying Yuri is lying?”
“Yes. Most likely. You see, Yuri has already subdued the senior students and made them his subordinates, establishing an untouchable position within the school…”
“…What?”
What is this?
Wasn’t he being bullied? He was the one doing the bullying?
