I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 483: Selmore's Invitation (1)

Chapter 483: Selmore's Invitation (1)

The commotion settled down after some time had passed.

Walter had a brief conversation with Sedina and left somewhere.

Whether it was to control his emotions, or to give his daughter some time, is unknown.

Perhaps he went to handle the backlog of work that hadn't been properly managed until now.

Whatever the reason, Rudger, now alone with Sedina, thought this was his chance and asked.

"Is that settled now?"

Sedina silently nodded.

In the end, Sedina accepted Walter's apology.

Of course, this didn't mean they would immediately return to being a harmonious family but it's true that they prevented an irreversible breakdown.

Their relationship will gradually change depending on how well Walter treats Sedina from now on.

It's easy to destroy something, but rebuilding requires extreme focus and a long time.

Walter probably knows this too, so he'll do his best.

"Thinking about it now, I wonder if I made another decision I'll regret."

Sedina heaved a deep sigh.

"Should I tell father to forget what I just said?"

"...Stop it. You made him cry so pathetically, are you planning to make him cry again?"

"That's not enough. He needs to cry more."

Though she said this, Sedina's voice showed no hatred or venom toward Walter.

While feelings of dissatisfaction and irritation remained, it had improved remarkably compared to before.

Sedina herself had relieved some of the bitterness in her heart by expressing the words she had been keeping inside.

"Right. Now that you've gained the upper hand, keep using it to your advantage."

"...Thank you. It's all thanks to you, teacher."

"You were the one who made the final choice."

"I couldn't have done it without your help. You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean when you threatened to kill my father."

Sedina smiled softly as if she knew everything.

"I know you're not the type of person who would harm father there. Despite that, you acted that way on purpose, taking on the role of the villain to make me step up, right?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"...Father also said he wanted to express his gratitude for that part."

Rudger shook his head as if to say never mind.

With a lighter heart, Sedina could decide what she needed to do.

"Teacher."

"What is it?"

"I need to return to the Elf Kingdom."

"..."

Rudger looked at Sedina as if asking if she was serious.

"I made this decision after careful consideration."

"It seems too short a time to call it careful consideration."

"I've always thought about how I, who only received from others, could repay that kindness."

"I didn't do it expecting anything in return. You don't need to feel indebted for that."

"It's not just you. Teacher Vierano and Aunt Ambella who saved me. And my mother who's still inside the World Tree. Ah, there are also the seniors at Owens."

Sedina gazed out the window.

"I received help that I can never fully repay from many people."

"They helped you because they cared about you."

"I also care about other people."

"..."

"So I too must do something. That's why I'm going back to the Elf Kingdom to help with reconstruction. I want to help other elves by coordinating the World Tree and repairing injuries."

"Sedina."

"Ah, of course, this doesn't mean I'll become queen. That position is too burdensome no matter how I think about it. Just think of it as me making appropriate connections with the Elf Kingdom."

"You don't need to go that far. You have no such duty or responsibility."

"But I have the power to resonate with the World Tree, don't I?"

"It's just power. Power itself is pure. How you handle it is entirely up to you. No one can force you to do anything with it."

"That's right. That's why I chose this by my own will."

"Why?"

To Rudger's question, Sedina replied with a smile in her eyes.

"Because I can't remain a child forever."

Sedina was still a student.

Even though she suddenly gained great power, she was still at an age where she wasn't even sure what she would do in the future.

So for now, she could act according to her age because she had been sufficiently unhappy until now.

Even if becoming an adult was a bit delayed no one could reproach her but Sedina had already become a proper adult.

The various events during this short period had made her grow.

While Rudger felt sorry about Sedina's actions, he also felt proud as a teacher.

"Really, kids these days grow up too fast."

Rudger shook his head as if there was nothing he could do.

"Don't worry too much. Think of it as me visiting my mother's hometown during vacation. I'm still your assistant, Teacher Rudger."

"Right. Since it's vacation, a student is free to do whatever they want."

Rudger looked at Sedina and asked.

"Will you be able to handle everything well and return?"

"Yes."

She didn't say she'd find out by trying, or that it might be difficult.

Just one word filled with certainty that she could definitely do it.

That was enough for Rudger.

"Alright. I'll trust you."

"Thank you."

"So, you haven't told Walter? About Ella Plante being alive?"

Of course, it might be somewhat inappropriate to say she's alive when she can only exist inside the World Tree.

But at least since they're not completely unable to meet, Rudger thought Walter should know.

"I haven't told him yet. Even if I tell him, he probably won't believe it easily, and I'm not ready yet."

"Is it not partly because you want to spite him?"

"Well, that's part of it too."

Sedina answered the playful question with equal playfulness.

"But someday, I should tell him, right? Beyond simply telling him she's alive, I'm thinking of finding a way for humans to access the World Tree too."

Rudger guessed what Sedina was thinking.

When she later regains complete authority over the World Tree she plans to tell him when there's an opportunity, even if temporary, for humans to access the World Tree.

"Yes. It would be good if we could find that solution soon."

"It won't take long. You've been inside once too, teacher. Of course, you were a special case, but who knows? Maybe this small opportunity can be turned into proper results."

"You'll definitely be able to do it. There's nothing wrong with thinking of it as magic. New magic is created with such thoughts. Give it a try."

"Is that an order?"

"Let's call it vacation homework."

Sedina replied with a voice full of regret, saying "I see" because she sensed that she wouldn't be able to meet Rudger until the vacation was over.

"Teacher. Could you stand up for a moment?"

Sedina made Rudger get up from his seat.

Rudger didn't particularly refuse.

Although it wasn't an eternal farewell, they wouldn't see each other for quite a while, so he was curious about what she was planning.

Sedina looked up at Rudger standing in front of her, and then, as if making some resolution, she ran into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Sedina?"

Before Rudger could ask about this unexpected action, Sedina mumbled softly with her face buried in his chest.

"I'll be back."

Though she was trying to act strong, she couldn't hide the sadness of parting that was evident in her trembling voice.

Rudger, who had been considering what to say, smiled slightly and stroked Sedina's head.

"Come back safely. I'll be waiting."

* * *

Rudger, Alex, and Hans returned to the hideout.

Perhaps because so much had happened it felt like returning after half a year.

"Leader. Is Bellaruna going too?"

Alex asked, thinking of Bellaruna who remained at Roschen’s mansion.

"Yes. She's an elf too, and an elf with unprecedented talent regarding the World Tree. I decided to send her with Sedina and she seemed quite willing herself."

"Well, it's fine if she goes since we don't need immediate help, but what if she likes it too much and doesn't come back?"

"That won't happen."

"What? Why are you so sure?"

Rudger thought of Chris Benimore.

"Let's just say I believe in matters of the heart."

"...? I don't understand at all."

"You don't need to. So, I hope there weren't any problems in Royal Street while we were away?"

What worried him most was the Lumensis Order.

When Sedina was kidnapped, they deliberately tried to interfere.

That means they did such things because they wanted something.

Rudger didn't think this was a very good sign.

"Fortunately, Royal Street has prospered as usual while we were away. No, it's actually gotten even better than before."

Hans, who was doing paperwork as soon as they arrived, answered with tired eyes.

"Even better?"

"Large-scale funding came in while we were gone."

"Funding. I think I know where it's from."

"Chairman Roschen is quite generous. I didn't expect him to move so openly. Well, I guess it's natural considering we rescued his only daughter."

Though Hans was tired from reviewing all the documents at once, his voice was brighter than ever before.

"Since we're collaborating with Roschen, rumors have spread quickly and more people are flocking here. It's literally so busy every day there's no room to step. Now we can say the symbol of Leathervelk's revival has completely moved here from Centerford."

"So there were no problems we were worried about."

"Not for now, at least."

"Right. I understand."

Rudger stood up from his seat.

"Where are you going right after coming back?"

"I'll just go on patrol. My body feels stiff from being inside all the time."

From the Dentis mansion to the airship, and then Roschen’s villa, Rudger received excellent treatment as a guest, but as a result, he was practically confined to rooms.

"It was just comfortable though."

"Not for me."

For Rudger, who never wastes even a moment of time, the past few days, though physically comfortable, were days of continuous mental discomfort.

So to sort out the complicated situation, Rudger decided to go out for a walk.

* * *

After confirming Rudger had left, Alex, lying on the sofa, glanced at Hans.

"What is it? If you're curious about something, just ask."

"Oh my. Was I that obvious?"

"Weren't you blatantly looking this way hoping I'd notice? That means you have something you're curious about."

At Hans's words, Alex brought up the question in his mind as if he'd been waiting.

"About the leader. He must be incredibly rich, right?"

"Are you trying to ask for a raise?"

"That's not what I mean. The salary I'm getting is more than enough anyway. What I'm curious about is the amount of money the leader earns."

"The amount of money..."

"All the profits from this street. Beyond that, the assets acquired from swallowing up the interests of various companies. Especially this time, even Roschen helped directly, right?"

Considering all that, it wouldn't be strange if Rudger had become one of the continent's most wealthy individuals.

"Honestly, don't you think it's strange? That amount of money goes beyond living comfortably for life; it's enough to shake a nation. But the leader keeps accumulating more money. Well, does having a lot of money make you want even more?"

"That's probably not it. As you know, brother basically boldly invests the profits earned in business, and also regularly operates scholarship foundations in the form of regular donations to orphanages and various universities and academies."

"...When?"

"While Royal Street was beginning to prosper and you were busy swinging your sword. Naturally, the main work is handled by me, Violetta, and those who once lived in the underworld."

"But that's not nearly enough people to handle such amounts. Or..."

"Don't worry. It's definitely not for laundering or anything like that. It's also true that an enormous amount of money remains even after that."

Hans neatly organized the documents in his hands after flipping through them.

"Actually, I don't know brother's true purpose either. I can only vaguely guess what it might be."

"Weren't you his right hand?"

"Don't you know brother's motto? He's someone who would do things without even his brain knowing."

"You can't do things if your brain doesn't know."

"That's just a saying. It means someone like a right hand can't know things done so secretly."

"You're not denying being the right hand?"

"Just consider me having the most seniority from knowing him the longest."

"Hmm. Anyway, it sounds like you don't know either...but actually, you've kind of figured it out, haven't you?"

At Alex's subtle indication, Hans's hands stopped organizing the documents.

Hans's eyes turned to Alex.

Seeing Alex's eyes that seemed to know everything, Hans nodded with a sigh.

"I was curious too, so I secretly traced the flow of funds once. I was also curious where all that enormous money brother earned was going."

"Oh. So? Did you find where it went?"

"The New Magic Tower."

At Hans's answer, Alex raised his upper body from the sofa.

"Can you say that again?"

"I said the New Magic Tower. More precisely, its headquarters, 'Isla Machina.'"

* * *

Rudger, who had been walking along a quiet park street, stopped his steps.

"Why don't you show yourself now?"

Words directed at someone.

They hadn't even tried to hide very conspicuously, so it was impossible not to notice.

At Rudger's words, the air rippled, and then, like a curtain parting, the person hiding inside revealed themselves.

"Casey Selmore."

Rudger narrowed his eyes at the appearance of the jade-colored magician with a somewhat determined expression.

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