I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 437: The Visitor (1)

'First, stay calm.'

Sedina didn't act rashly.

Since nothing was certain yet, she couldn't jump to conclusions about being followed.

'Let's confirm first.'

Sedina started walking again, trying her best not to show any signs that she had noticed.

'Indeed, I am being followed.'

Someone was really following her.

Even though she deliberately changed directions and passed through crowded areas, the presence following her didn't disappear.

Sedina quietly folded a piece of paper in her palm and dropped it on the ground.

The paper that fell to the ground soon began moving like an insect, stealthily approaching the follower, it was her paper folding magic.

Sedina observed the follower's appearance while sharing vision with the paper she had created.

It was a man in ordinary clothes that could be seen anywhere.

However, the fact that he appeared so ordinary proved that he was highly skilled.

Just looking at how he followed Sedina without arousing suspicion showed this.

Despite her several attempts to shake him off, the distance only increased slightly, but she couldn't properly lose him.

'Who could be tailing me?'

Sedina pondered deeply.

The first thing that came to mind was someone tracking the Black Dawn Society but she hadn't done anything as a Black Dawn Society member that would warrant being followed.

'No. Perhaps it could be someone from within the main society.'

If it were from Nikolai's faction, they would have sufficient reason to secretly follow her.

Since Nikolai wasn't on good terms with the current John Doe, Rudger Chelici, they might be trying to find some weakness.

'If not that, are they targeting me for other reasons?'

If pressed, there was also the fact that she was of Roschen blood.

Even though the family treated her poorly, almost like an outcast, the Roschen surname that followed Sedina's name was absolutely not something to be taken lightly.

There were many people who aimed to stage kidnappings targeting the enormous wealth of the Roschen family.

Of course, that had disappeared after she joined the Black Dawn Society and enrolled in Theon.

'Whatever the case, it's clear they're targeting me.'

Sedina considered whether to capture the follower here in reverse but she quickly changed her mind.

Rudger had previously asked Sedina if she had noticed any suspicious gazes or presences, that meant Rudger also knew something and this surveillance was likely an extension of that matter.

'If that's the case, rather than acting alone, it would be better to report this to the teacher and come up with a better plan.'

Sedina didn't act rashly.

She completely abandoned the thought of trying to do something by herself.

In the past, she might have pushed herself trying to gain recognition, but now it is different.

There was no need to be that greedy anymore, and the advice she received from Hans, her industry senior, was also very helpful.

-If you notice anything even slightly suspicious, run away immediately.

Hans had told Sedina this until his mouth went dry.

-We always try to be careful, but you never know when something might suddenly happen. If you think you might not be able to handle it alone, don't hesitate to withdraw.

Hans focused thoroughly on gathering information.

He said if you think you're being followed, don't let pride get in the way and withdraw immediately.

Don't be ashamed of it, but rather take pride in it, he said.

Sedina decided to follow that teaching.

'Yes. They may be following me, but they haven't shown signs of approaching directly. Moreover...'

Sedina rolled her eyes.

She observed other passersby with suspicious glances.

'There's no guarantee there's only one follower.'

Whatever the case, these were people who had caught her trail.

That meant they must know at least her personal information.

She might look ordinary, but she was a Theon student and a magician.

Would they really send just one person to follow someone like her?

As she expanded her thinking, things that weren't visible before started becoming faintly visible.

'I see. I was already surrounded.'

It didn't seem like this was planned specifically knowing she would come out today.

They must have been waiting for several days and happened to catch her today.

'In this case, I need to return to the hideout and request help.'

If she tried to take a carriage back to Theon, there was a high possibility of being kidnapped somewhere along the way.

Though the distance between Theon and Leathervelk was close, the gap between the two locations was enough for someone to disappear.

So the question was how to naturally change her destination.

While contemplating this, Sedina ran into someone.

"Ah."

"..."

Sedina unconsciously let out a sound upon seeing Julia Plumhart.

Julia also had her eyes wide open, unlike usual, as if she hadn't expected to meet her here either.

Julia quickly composed herself and opened her mouth.

"What a coincidence? I didn't expect to meet you here."

"..."

Sedina rolled her eyes.

More than the followers, Julia was an uncomfortable person for her.

She felt sorry and awkward because she had unilaterally wronged her but conversely, Sedina thought this was her only chance.

"...I'm surprised too. Didn't expect to see you out on the street."

Julia's lips trembled, perhaps surprised that Sedina had responded when she expected to be ignored as usual.

She soon smiled brightly and said,

"Since we've met like this by chance, shall we walk together?"

"...Alright."

When she started walking with another Theon student, there was a change in the follower.

They continued following, seemingly not having expected this, but when Julia and Sedina left Leathervelk, they simply disappeared.

The other presences were the same.

During this time, Sedina and Julia didn't exchange a single word, they just quietly walked together.

Julia didn't say anything, and neither did Sedina.

Julia spoke only when they safely arrived at Theon.

"Be careful."

There was no reason for her to suddenly say such words.

At that moment, Sedina realized that Julia knew she was in danger and had helped her.

Should she say thank you?

She had received help so expressing gratitude would be natural but her lips simply wouldn't move.

It felt like if she said thank you here, the distance they had barely managed to create would close again.

Julia is a precious friend. That fact hasn't changed from before until now, that's why, ironically, Sedina hoped Julia would distance herself from her.

It was truly selfish.

Even in a situation like this, even after receiving help, she was not able to easily say thank you.

"Well, I'll be going now."

Julia left immediately without waiting for Sedina's response.

She left as if there was no need to hear it, but Sedina knew that Julia had acted that way deliberately to avoid burdening her.

'You haven't changed.'

Sedina saw Julia's past self in her current appearance.

Though she might say she's changed, to Sedina, she remained the same but she herself had changed to the point where she could never go back to how things were then.

Though feeling gloomy, Sedina made her way to the faculty office.

She planned to report this incident to Rudger first.

* * *

"So that happened."

"Yes."

Rudger fell into thought after receiving Sedina's report.

First of all, the fact that Sedina had naturally escaped the scene and reached Theon was certainly praiseworthy.

It was much better to observe the situation than to needlessly stir up a hornet's nest but what mattered was what came next.

Who exactly had followed Sedina?

"Did you see their appearance?"

"Yes. But they were all people I'd never seen before."

"Any notable characteristics?"

"I thought their most notable characteristic was that they had no characteristics."

"Professional ones then."

Rudger thought of the Shadewarden trackers.

Could they have discovered Sedina's identity and tried to kidnap her?

'But considering their temperament, it's surprising they didn't strike immediately.'

Perhaps it was because it wasn't nighttime.

"I understand. For now I want to tell you to refrain from going out as much as possible, but that would be difficult."

Thinking of safety, staying within Theon would be the right choice but if the tracker was from the Black Dawn Society, even Theon couldn't be considered completely safe.

After all, their pawns were still hiding here too.

"If you need to go to the city, I'll arrange for an escort."

"What? You don't need to go that far..."

"It's preparation for contingencies. Don't think of it as a burden. And we need to identify those followers as quickly as possible."

Identifying the trackers was the priority.

Who ordered them, and what their purpose was.

For that, they first needed to obtain information from Bellaruna who had headed to the capital.

'Should I tell Sedina too?'

Rudger contemplated whether to tell Sedina that elven trackers might be targeting her.

Sedina is of Plante family blood.

The problem was that Sedina herself had no awareness of this at all.

There seemed to be quite complicated family circumstances about being from the Roschen family, and about hating her own family.

Even if he suddenly told such a Sedina that she carried a very important bloodline, would she properly accept it?

'Should I ask Hans to carefully look into it?'

While Rudger was contemplating, someone knocked on the faculty office door with a ‘knock knock’ sound.

After briefly exchanging glances with Sedina, Rudger immediately answered.

"You may enter."

The one who opened the door and entered was a Theon servant.

He bowed politely toward Rudger and said,

"Professor Rudger. An important guest who has visited Theon now requests to meet with you."

"An important guest? Who might that be?"

"That, that is...it's the Queen of the Yuta Kingdom."

"What?"

Rudger was taken aback by this sudden situation.

If it's the Queen of Yuta Kingdom, isn't that Yekaterina?

Why would she come to Theon now?

'No. She did say she would visit Theon regarding natural resource mining...'

Though they had discussed it, he didn't expect her to visit so suddenly.

He thought it would take at least 3 months, or up to a year at the longest.

This was about the visit of a nation's leader.

From schedule coordination to other matters that needed attention, there would be countless things to handle.

'This tomboy.'

Rudger internally let out a small sigh at underestimating Yekaterina's impossible drive to action.

"I understand. I'll go right away."

"Yes."

After the servant left, Rudger slowly rose from his seat.

"Um, teacher. When you say the Queen of Yuta Kingdom, could it be that queen?"

"Yes. Yekaterina Volsbaya. She has now come to Theon."

As previously agreed, Rudger had to take on the role of guiding her.

* * *

"So this is Theon."

Walking through the corridor with her escort, Yekaterina Volsbaya quietly admired the scenery of Theon.

Indeed, the majesty of Theon proved that calling it the continent's premier magic academy was no exaggeration.

It wasn't just large in scale, it had all the spaces needed for various servants, teachers, and students to stay.

Most infrastructure was equipped within the academy, even what was lacking here could be enjoyed in the adjacent Leathervelk, so it could be said there was virtually nothing missing.

How could there be so little waste of space?

Yekaterina was seriously considering building an educational facility like Theon in the Yuta Kingdom.

Proper educational facilities were needed for the youth of her country to receive proper education in a good environment.

Since she had come all this way, she planned to look around every corner of Theon.

'For that, that man needs to come quickly first.'

Yekaterina waited for Rudger to come greet her.

Just then, the reception room door opened and someone entered.

Had Rudger already arrived?

Yekaterina managed her expression as best she could and looked toward the door.

'Who is this?'

Instead of the black-haired young man, a plump middle-aged man had come.

Yekaterina's gaze naturally turned sharp.

"Who are you?"

"Hu, huhu. I am delighted to meet the Queen who is called the Light of the Yuta Kingdom."

Hugo Burtag greeted Yekaterina with noble etiquette.

As soon as he heard the news that the Queen of Yuta Kingdom had personally visited Theon, he hurriedly came first.

"I asked who you are."

"I am Hugo Burtag, head of the prestigious Burtag family of the Empire and Vice President of this Theon."

"Vice President? Was there such a person here?"

Of course, the position of Vice President didn't actually exist.

It was just a title that Hugo used to introduce himself when he once led a large faction.

Now that his influence had collapsed and he had greatly lost power, Hugo was no different from a regular teacher.

But what did that matter?

What was important now was that someone with the power to make him Vice Chancellor again had come to Theon as a guest.

"I am called that because I have somewhat of a standing in Theon. Huhuhu."

"I see. So is there a reason you came to see me?"

"Since such an honorable person has visited Theon, I thought I might guide you around..."

Hugo prioritized building rapport with this queen first.

Though she was a nation's queen, the Yuta Kingdom was a country that hadn't been long since its civil war ended.

They were in a situation that required considerable time and manpower just for internal reconstruction.

The fact that the queen personally came to Theon at such a time meant she wanted something from here.

'This is an opportunity. If I can somehow accommodate her, I can gain a powerful backing.'

First, there seemed to be a need to soften that guarded gaze directed at him.

Hugo was thinking of how to somehow curry favor.

Perhaps his determination paid off?

The ice-cold expression of Queen Yekaterina directed at him seemed to soften instantly.

'Did I at least pass the first impression?'

This seemed workable.

Just as Hugo thought that, he belatedly felt something odd as Yekaterina's gaze toward him was subtly misaligned.

'She's not looking at me?'

More precisely, she was looking behind him.

Wondering who she could be looking at, Hugo turned around.

"Heuk."

And he couldn't help but freeze in place.

"Ru-Rudger Chelici..."

The root cause who had reduced him, once fearless in Theon, to this state, Rudger Chelici was standing behind him.

"Professor Hugo Burtag. What brings you here?"

Rudger coldly asked Hugo, who was blocking the doorway.