How to Survive at the Academy
chapter-200

Importance Assignment (3)

Until sunset, the party had no choice but to wait, seated all around the coast.

The handover concerning the belongings they had brought was already finished, and the nuns gathered, chatting amiably amongst themselves.

Even the beautiful coastal scenery becomes mundane after a few hours of viewing, as the eye adapts – such is the treacherous nature of human attention.

While facing the sea breeze, they were in the middle of a discussion about the Austin Monastery and life within its walls.

It was then that the sun began to dip below the horizon.

Over the horizon, atop the sea, the sun seemed to ponder when to sink completely, and as they again looked toward the ocean, the water had receded enough for a sandbar to appear.

It wasn’t very wide but seemed passable enough. The nuns also sensed that the time had come and began to check their belongings.

At that moment, the door of the grand saint’s carriage opened.

The unsophisticated nuns started with a shock, all rising from their seats and bowing their heads deeply, while the workers gazed up at the carriage with awe.

Clarice descended the carriage steps with calm and composure, her appearance akin to that of an angel alighting upon the earth.

Her saintly white robe fluttered softly in the breeze, a symbol of her immaculate presence.

Her white hair contrasted with her crimson eyes, and the fiery red butterfly hairpin perfectly matched the image they had envisioned.

To the followers of Telos, just one sight of the saint is considered a great honor, usually seen from afar amidst a huge crowd.

The opportunity to see Saint Clarice up close, in such a serene atmosphere, was a blessing of a lifetime.

As Clarice stepped onto the sand, the bustling energy of the scene fell to absolute silence.

She was escorted by soldiers to the coast and gave me a slight nod with a gentle smile.

Although it was a simple nod, the fact that I was a senior receiving a greeting from Saint Clarice seemed so shocking that the atmosphere froze. I didn’t exactly enjoy the mood.

Clarice picked up the hem of her dress slightly. Several nuns rushed forward, offering to lift her robes, but she declined politely with a soft smile.

Leading the escort, she gradually moved along the sandbar towards the Cledric Monastery.

Bathed in the waning sunlight and heading slowly towards the grand monastery, Clarice seemed to render the whole scene sacred all on her own.

However, I could not simply stand still. The nuns were already orderly collecting their luggage, and I rose from my seat, tying the hem of my robe, and walked towards the monastery.

*

“Lord Clarice’s meals are checked and prepared by the noble gentleman… but I really wonder if such an elaborate procedure is necessary. The meals in our monastery are but simple fare.”

“Still, I’ll likely lead the basic checking process and the arrangements for the meals.”

“Well, since the saintess approves of the process, what can a mere nun like me say? Do as you wish. We will provide everything that’s needed, so do not worry.”

Upon arriving at the monastery, Clarice immediately headed to the chapel on the very top floor.

Her room for eating and living was also arranged there. She had used the top floor even at the Ophelius complex, and it seems a custom to give the saintess the highest floor, closest to God. Rumor had it she lived in the topmost floor at the shanty of the holy too.

My assigned role was to receive reports about every environmental aspect she encounters, ensure there are no significant changes, and manage everything accordingly.

Normally, a high-ranking cleric from the Holy See would handle this, but it seems Saint Clarice had arranged well in advance that it wouldn’t be necessary to send a special selection from the archbishop’s side.

It seemed more significant than I had thought, and being entrusted to me gave me somewhat strange feelings.

However, the volume of the work didn’t seem to match the importance of the task. After all, there wasn’t much environmental change to speak of in this monastery, with its beautiful and majestic exterior.

“I regret I can’t offer you a palatial room, it being a monastery and all. Our lives are characterized by abstinence and frugality. Even royalty must live with mere blades of grass for food here at Cledric Monastery.”

“I expected that much. I wouldn’t have agreed otherwise.”

“It’s good you’re not complaining, but as a nobleman, I’ll make an effort to maintain the best meal quality possible. Though certainly, you should not expect any lavish feasts.”

“Forget it. Please prepare the same meals for me as for the other monastics. We’re all here to labor, after all.”

“Hmm…”

The interior of the Cledric Monastery was as magnificent as its exterior.

The spectacle of marble and white bricks blended perfectly. Passing the endlessly ascending entrance stairs, the grand view of the central chapel made one wonder how they managed to bring so many materials to the island when it was first built. Magic must have been involved, presumably.

Beyond the chapel, down a path and through a door, there revealed a small, lush garden surrounded by a cloister. The view of the garden through the marble pillars was indeed meticulously maintained.

Walking along the cloister, feeling the pleasant breeze, I thought that even non-monastics might visit just to find peace of mind.

Of course, such a place is not casually open for personal reasons.

“It’s indeed rare to encounter such a noble gentleman these days; it leaves quite the warm impression.”

“You don’t need to flatter me. I’m just…”

As I walked along the arcade, I couldn’t help but feel aware of the glances coming from all sides.

Perhaps because I was accompanying Abbott Austin, other nuns dared not approach directly.

But it was clear—from the nun carrying a full basket of vegetables, to the novices frolicking in the garden, to the child peeking from behind a cloister pillar, and inevitably, the passers-by crossing the cloister—that wherever I went, I was met with eyes that quivered with curiosity.

Indeed, becoming accustomed to such attention was not easy.

“You’re a foreigner, after all. You have to put up with the curious gazes.”

“Am I really the only man in this grand monastery?”

“Why, does it feel like you’re in heaven?”

“…”

“The joke didn’t land, did it? Well, I did think you wouldn’t enjoy such an environment.”

Abbott Austin chuckled dryly and turned towards the interior at the end of the cloister. It seemed my room was prepared as far inside as possible.

“Well, these days, visitors are much rarer here… but a long time ago, they used to let a notable man or two in… a very distant past.”

“How far back are we talking when the Abbott refers to the past…?”

“Who knows? You’ve probably heard the name ‘Zellan,’ a hero of war, right? He used to come by this monastery and donate. Going even further back… the previous generation’s Grand Mage Gluckt also visited.”

Indeed, the living fossil of the Telos Order, Abbott Austin, listed names that belong more to lore than to living memory.

The great Mage Gluckt, disciple of the Wise Sylvania, who achieved countless feats before parting from this world.

‘Zellan,’ the Cutter, one of the three scholars who stood at the forefront of the Aenid subjugation following Guardian Obel, protecting the Clorel Empire.

This old woman had lived in the same era as such figures.

“Well, those are about the only decent men I would mention.”

“…”

“You might not find it very pleasant to hear an old woman like me say ‘decent,’ eh? Well, come this way.”

The sun had long set, and it was now a time adequate to call night.

The ambiance within the monastery was of a day’s work being brought to an end, everyone preparing for sleep.

As a monastery begins its day early, so too does it conclude its activities ahead of the general pace.

The room Abbott Austin showed me was even more spartan than I expected.

A modest five-pyeong room with only a bed, a wooden table, a wardrobe, and a single window—that was it.

The coastal view from the window was spectacular, disproportionate to the size of the room… but that was all.

Still, it was much better compared to a camp life that mostly happened outdoors. I had survived months in the wilderness where it was barely fitting to call it living quarters. Even this modest room felt like a luxury.

“Then I’ll assume you’re starting your schedule from tomorrow, noble gentleman. Let me know if you need anything else.”

With that, Abbott Austin was about to close the door when he added:

“Oh, I believe I have stressed this before, but… be sure to watch the door…”

A sneering laugh accompanied his words.

– Thud!

The door closed with a heavy thud, and I was left fully alone in the room. First, I lit the candlestick, for the room was pitch-dark.

– Ssshhh, ssshhh.

The sound of waves gently lapped from outside the window. The sky was full of stars.

The flame of the candle flickered in the wind, causing my shadow on the wall to dance as well.

Indeed, in such a scene, it felt as if one had been left alone in the world—an environment well-suited to forgetting earthly matters and contemplating the divine alone.

I sat quietly at the wooden table, arms crossed, having set my luggage down. It seemed my body needed a period of adjustment to this sudden change in living conditions.

Or perhaps it was too early to sleep. It would have been early evening back in the camp, but the monastery was already preparing for bed.

“Hmm…”

To serve breakfast to Lady Clarice atop the spire tomorrow morning, retiring early seemed wise.

During my stay, I planned to manage the saintess’s surroundings and help with various tasks within the monastery to blend in well. Drawing too much attention was not desirable.

There is a prayer meeting in 5 days with distinguished guests. Until then, I intended to integrate fully into the monastery life, so I would not feel out of place there.

However, I was somewhat concerned by Abbott Austin’s request.

– ‘I do not wish to interfere with the human aspect of the children’s faith’

– ‘In short, I might as well stay a prince.’

I understood his noble sentiment, but complying with it as requested was impractical.

It would suffice to blend in adequately with the monastery, without entangling myself in challenging human relationships.

Therefore, I also considered keeping to myself to a certain extent. I’m certainly not cut out to be the knight in shining armor, nor did I intend to strive to be so.

There was no obligation to uphold their dreamy vision of a prince charming. It would be inconvenient to try and fulfill such an unreasonable request.

Let’s stick to the basics, just the basics. Even though it’s somewhat of a rugged mindset, who would censure me?

*Rumor has it that a prince resides on the 4th floor guest room of Cledric Monastery.

If the person concerned had overheard the rumor, their extremities would have curled in embarrassment. It had been 3 days since Ed Rothtaylor visited Cledric Monastery.

In reality, Ed Rothtaylor had done little of note.

He would check on the saint’s condition during meals, share some small talk, lend a hand in the monastery’s garden, join the common meal in the main hall, and assist with various chores, including tending the fields and harvesting, cleaning inside the monastery, and repairing broken facilities with carpentry skills.

However, he was peculiarly enthusiastic whenever there was a need for mending clothes, much to the amusement of the nuns, especially the youthful ones who had just reached adulthood.

The devoted sisters frequently visited the sewing room, troubled by sleepless nights filled with troubling thoughts. They believed that, given their reliance on others, it was only natural to engage in such activities, but the sisters had a completely different perspective. The noble ladies who attended the grand prayer meetings each year were all so arrogant that even meal choices would lead to complaints.

Among them, Ed Rothtaylor was an exception, gentle in a way that set him apart from such people. While he didn’t offer bright smiles, his cool manner of silently helping and then leaving contrasted starkly with the haughty image of nobility, naturally leaving the young girls swallowing their sighs.

On day one, he would rise in the morning, don his leather shirt and magician’s robe, take care of the saint’s meal, and offer prayers in the chapel. After the prayers, he would help with the convent’s garden, fixing broken workbenches and plows with a few swings of his hammer. He also repaired any looser door latches and misaligned hinges throughout the convent, fixing any crooked window frames—completing a significant amount of work by mid-morning in an impressively swift manner.

Seeing a high-ranking noble, particularly of the Rothtaylor line, roll up his sleeves and sweat over hammers and nails caused all the sisters to be at a loss for words—to the point of it being a talking point.

When he began repairing imperfections in the sisters’ personal room furniture, they started requesting him to fix even the minor issues in their rooms, causing quite a stir with the requests, which were in truth full of ulterior motives—yearning for him to enter their rooms.

As it was not a workload that could be completed in a day, rothtayl told the convent’s head that he would steadily progress. The half-smiling, meaningful expression of Abbot Austin only hinted at the anticipation of what was to come.

Initially, rothtayl was simply seen as ‘a noble with a good personality,’ until on day two, he demonstrated simple spirit arts to some of the sisters interested in magic. The sight of him manipulating a large fire bat across the garden surprised every sister, wrapping their hands in awe.

The sisters who never left the remote convent naturally admired someone of high standing from the renowned academy of Sylvania, especially those interested in magic and holy arts. They eagerly followed him, requesting tips on magical sensitivity and training methods, to which he invariably replied with empathy and encouragement, telling them they would succeed with enough effort.

His skill in magic and spirit arts remained obscured by his noble status. While his image as a noble working with wood was strong, he was, in fact, a leading figure in Sylvania’s Department of Magic. It would be foolish to not recognize his intelligence because of his physical attributes.

Furthermore, with the mysterious image of directly assisting the saint, it was no surprise that his reputation was skyrocketing. By now, the view of Rothtaylor had transcended that of a ‘great noble’ to the nickname ‘prince,’ with many considering him akin to a prince from a fairy tale—noble in spirit, skillful in both swordsmanship and archery, and continuing to train in magic.

If one could be cradled in his arms even just once, to feel like flying through the sky like a princess, that would be the ultimate wish. Such high praise would overwhelm anyone, and Rothtaylor no doubt felt the same. While no one dislikes high praise, too much can be detrimental.

In fact, it was only right to provide labor in return for being sheltered, at least in Rothtaylor’s mind. However, there was an unforeseen variable he hadn’t caught onto—the collective girlhood fantasy that was inadvertently pulsing amongst the sisters, creating an unstoppable runaway train of exaggeration.

The idolization of someone to the point where all flaws are forgotten, and the person is elevated to the status of a mythic being who doesn’t even visit the restroom or get eye crusts is a dangerous phenomenon.

‘Rumors say that Lord Ed can destroy the outside walls of the convent with a mere gesture of his powerful magic.’

‘Rumors say Lord Ed has mastered all the highest spirits through his spirit arts.’

‘Rumors say a single arrow shot by Lord Ed can split the sea!!!!!!!’

‘Does that even make sense?’

‘Ah… maybe not…?’

‘No, maybe it’s possible for Lord Ed?’

‘Definitely possible! Absolutely possible!’

‘Hm… is that so…?’

It’s actually a relief when such rumors stop. But it doesn’t end there:

‘Once you hear Lord Ed’s voice, your brain stops functioning, and your eyes won’t move on their own—so be careful!!’

‘Did you know? Lord Ed once killed a bear with just his gaze!!!’

‘I’ve heard that he can ride a horse standing up!!!!!’

‘He can freeze water with just a command, turning it into ice!!!!’

‘Rumor has it he can read all the books in the library in just one night!!!’

‘I heard that instead of Sylvania teaching Lord Ed, it’s Lord Ed who’s teaching Sylvania Academy!!!!’

‘Of course!!! That makes sense!!!!’

“…”

All these rumors reached Ed’s ears on the morning of the third day. As he exited the saint’s room and encountered Abbot Austin, the latter was on the verge of bursting into laughter.

“Good morning. Ed, the noble prince who can kill a bear with his gaze, perform horseback stunts while standing, freeze water on command, speed-read an entire library in a single night, and teach the academy of Sylvania.”

“……”

“You seem flustered. Is it not easy getting used to the wild imaginations of unconcerned cloistered nuns? I wonder how far this will go by the end of the high guests’ prayer meeting. Are we comparing with the god Telos?”

In a place where the faith of Telos was discussed, what business did they have in creating a new cult of personality?

Rothtaylor glared at Austin with narrowed eyes.

“What’s the matter, just treat it like a pop rumor. I do warn them not to take it too far… but you know, adolescent girls’ imaginations can run even wilder if you try to control them… Just play along for a while.”

“This is always the mood in the convent?”

“Of course, the tension is usually lower than this. It’s a place for discussing faith, after all. But indeed, it’s been more lively because of you. That said… yeah… It’s been the same, with no shortage of incidents or mishaps over the years.”

Accepting Ed’s coat, Austin chuckled softly.

“There’s been another peculiar rumor among the nuns lately. They say there’s a ghost in the convent.”

“… A ghost?”

“There have been reports of thudding sounds between the outer walls at night or footsteps on the ceiling, not to mention some down in the convent’s kitchen saying some ingredients have gone missing and claims of spotting strange shadows in the corridors at dawn… It’s gotten to the point where some girls are too scared to sleep alone at night.”

Ed had vaguely heard such rumors. It was said that at night a small shadow would appear by the windows.

“It’s not ideal for Telos’ convent to be shrouded in rumors of ghosts, especially not with the high guests’ prayer meeting upon us. We ought to be free from such disquieting atmosphere.”

“That’s true… you must have a lot on your mind.”

“Thanks to you, it’s not all doom and gloom which is something to be thankful for. Playing along with the nuns’ knightly fantasies must be tiring, but please bear with us for a few more days. I’ll make sure to prepare a little gift for you when you leave.”

“I don’t really mind… but recently the way the nuns look at me has started getting a bit dangerous…”

“Everyone is responsible for their own virtue. Come on, let’s cheer up and move on.”

As I gave a distant look, Austin just chuckled more, seemingly enjoying the situation.

“Right, I had to tell you. Just be mindful of your sanity.”

It appeared to occur belatedly to Abbot Austin, who had significant news to share.

“Princess Persica will be arriving at the convent today.”

*Before the tide comes in, regardless of royal status, one may wait by the seashore observing the convent as an act of purification and preparation before entering the holy ground.

Princess Persica was not one for such minor symbolic acts, content with waiting in front of the convent out of sheer boredom.

Seated quietly inside the grand royal carriage, surrounded by her close aides discussing the state of affairs, she had already somewhat heard about the happenings within the convent.

“So Ed Rothtaylor is staying there? The man deeply involved in the Rothtaylor family crisis and backing the powers of Phoenia.”

“Yes. He’s said to have entered as an aide to Saint Clarice, though the circumstances of how this came to be are still unclear.”

“Well, we’ll make our judgments upon seeing him… but it’s true that we have too little prior information on the man.”

Princess Persica has always been cautious by nature.

Sella and Phoenia. The focal point of the other factions vying for power, that man, carried the subtle anticipation of having something up his sleeve.

The reason Princess Persica had come to the convent, having assertively expressed her will even to Emperor Clorel, was to grasp a weakness in Austin, the elder of the Telos doctrine. She had all the necessary materials ready for this.

Was Ed Rothtaylor, who had arrived beforehand in the convent at this critical time, simply coincidence?

Princess Persica only had highly limited information on the man.

Information accessible through the authority of the princess. His past, lineage, and standing within Sylvania were all she had.

When she faced the delicate situation involving Elte Trading, she could only deduce his extraordinary judgment. Ultimately, one had to meet the person face-to-face to gauge finer details of the individual.

Yet, it wouldn’t make sense to meet him unprepared. Given the importance of the individual in question, a careful approach was essential.

“Tune.”

“Yes, Princess Persica.”

“Seems like the man has been living in the convent for a few days already. That means he must have had some interactions with the inside folks.”

“Yes.”

“As soon as we arrive at the convent, collect all information about him. We might find information that couldn’t be gleaned from looking into his academy or family records. At the very least, let’s ensure that no information slips through our fingers.”

Princess Persica spread out her fingers wide, then clenched them firmly.

“As a key figure from the Phoenia faction, let’s make the most out of this opportunity to secure him. Whether through allure or coercion, let’s not shy away from any means.”

“Yes… Understood…”

There was still some time before low tide.

Princess Persica gathered her thoughts, gazing quietly at the majestic Cledric Convent.

The grand headquarters of the Telos doctrine in Saint-Huang City. It’s the next biggest establishment, a description that seemed no exaggeration.

Truly a majestic sight.