OKHS 05

Chapter 5

Richard Kronel.

He was a man whose presence was far more immense than the rumors suggested.

Wearing a pitch-black dress uniform tailored for the banquet, his towering height well over 190 centimeters and sturdy build gave off a dense sense of intimidation.

On top of that, he possessed such splendid looks that calling him peerlessly handsome would not be an exaggeration.

Beneath neatly swept-back platinum blond hair, his blue eyes brought to mind the summer sea, and his deep-set eyes, sharp nose bridge, and refined, distinct jawline fully displayed a masculine beauty.

Everyone stared at him, spellbound, at the sight of him—like a god of war from a myth, incomparable to any newspaper illustration.

Even Mona, who had no interest in others’ appearances—let alone her own—was inwardly astonished by the perfect symmetry and balance of the man’s face.

“He’s handsome…….”

Olivia’s entranced murmur came from beside her.

After the man’s entrance, the banquet hall, which had fallen into dead silence, soon grew even more boisterous.

“What an incredibly handsome man!”

“To think such a fine man is a war hero…… The empire’s future is bright.”

“Bloodline, achievements, appearance—there’s not a single flaw to be found.”

Even amid the blatant gazes and praises pouring in from all sides, the man’s face was dry.

He looked indifferent, or perhaps as if everything was a bother.

” How should I put it—he’s so perfect he doesn’t even look like the same species as us. Hoho.”

Mona inwardly agreed with someone’s assessment from behind.

Yes, this man called Richard lacked a certain human touch somewhere.

‘Perhaps that’s what draws even more attention…….’

Having finished her brief appraisal, Mona soon lightly pressed her lips together and recalled the purpose of attending this banquet.

Now was not the time to be entranced by human beauty.

More important to her right now than whether the war hero had any human touch was finding Professor Thomas.

‘That damned professor. Why can’t I see him…….’

Professor Thomas was not among the people currently in her field of vision.

Instead, Mona spotted, far off in the direction of the terrace, a man who might know of Professor Thomas’s whereabouts.

It was Professor Jerome of the academy, who had once tried to persuade Mona to enter the Department of Magic Formula Studies.

‘Before the familiar face disappears, I should probably move somewhere else…….’

The problem was that, by etiquette, an unmarried young lady could not wander about the banquet hall freely without being escorted by family or a partner.

‘Of course, a person with as little presence as me could wander all over and no one would pay any attention.’

But her father, who had brought her here to serve as a shield for rejecting Olivia’s marriage proposals, would never let her go so easily.

Just then, a peculiar light flickered in Mona’s eyes as she surveyed the flow of people.

She had spotted the master of ceremonies, who had been attending the imperial family, stepping back for a moment and bringing out a military merit medal.

“Mona, where are you going?”

Count Bellose, keenly noticing Mona’s attempt to slip away, blocked her path.

“An unmarried young lady wandering alone without an escort violates imperial court etiquette—urgh!”

Just then, as Richard moved to the center of the banquet hall to receive the military merit medal, the nobles began rushing en masse toward the center.

“Good heavens!”

While Count Bellose floundered, swept up in the crowd, Mona took advantage of the commotion and quickly distanced herself from her family.

Then, pushing upstream through the crowd like a salmon, she made her way toward the corner terrace where the Department of Magic Formula Studies professor had just been standing.

As Mona had expected, the professor—who was loath to move his heavy bottom—was still standing on the terrace with an acquaintance, chatting away.

“The Grand Duke Kronel truly has an amazing son.”

“To become a dragon slayer at the mere age of twenty-four. Is that even possible, Professor?”

“More wondrous still is the knight order’s high survival rate. It’s proof that he’s not merely strong in martial prowess but an outstanding commander…… Hm?”

While Mona hovered, wondering when to speak, Professor Jerome unexpectedly recognized her first.

“Isn’t that Miss Mona Bellose? How nice to see you.”

Mona wrung out what little social grace she had like squeezing a dry rag and spoke.

“It is an honor to see you in a place like this, Professor.”

“Hoho. Everyone’s in an uproar over the war hero—what are you doing over here?”

“Because Professor Jerome was here.”

She had only spoken the truth, yet the formula studies professor suddenly looked touched.

“Choosing to come see me over the war hero. Hoho! You’re as scholarly as ever.”

Thanks to the professor, who had become moved all on his own, she broke into a cold sweat—and then he opened his mouth with a wistful look in his eyes.

“Miss Mona, have you no thought of taking a double major even now?”

“……Pardon?”

“You’re a talent far too good to waste away in that remote, insignificant Department of Monster Studies.”

Just one major was already tearing her apart at the seams—and now a double major?

Who was he trying to ruin now?

Just as Mona was about to open her mouth, the professor’s acquaintance cut in.

“Oh, this is the first time I’ve seen a research student Professor Jerome praises so highly.”

“I’ve also never seen a student who scored full marks on my formula problems yet lost the top entrance rank because of an etiquette general education course that even dogs and cows pass.”

“There are students who get full marks on your problems……!”

“Yes. The only one who properly wrote out the answer on the low-mana sustained defense formula using triple mana circulation was Miss Mona here.”

“What!? A high-difficulty problem that even I, an active mage, would struggle to solve in time—why would you put that on the academy entrance exam…….”

“I put it in for fun! For fun! That’s how you find interesting students like this. Gahaha!”

As Mona stood there hesitating, unable to find the right moment to cut into their conversation, the professor’s acquaintance addressed her.

“Miss Mona, was it? Research on multiple mana circulation has been drawing even more attention lately. If you’re interested, come visit the Magic Tower. I can arrange an internship position for you.”

First a double major, and now they were trying to drag her into an infamous Magic Tower internship.

Were these people demons?

“It’s not too late even now, Miss Mona.”

Watching the man even hand over a business card stamped with the Magic Tower’s seal, Mona broke into a cold sweat.

“……I think it’s quite late already.”

“Haha! Miss Mona really is amusing!”

“When I told you to join the Department of Formula Studies as a researcher three years ago, you answered, ‘I don’t think it would be fun.’ You remember, don’t you, Miss Mona?”

“Yeees…….”

“I was quite bold myself when I was your age. This brings back memories.”

Whatever he found so funny, the formula studies professor chuckled and launched once more into his “back in my day” routine.

From tales of boldly taking on formulas everyone deemed unsolvable for fun, to the anecdote of rejecting an unfair proposal from the academy’s dean.

Only after listening to the old professor’s long reminiscence was Mona finally able to ask about Professor Thomas’s whereabouts.

“……Hmm. You say Professor Thomas hasn’t been coming to the lab lately, so you’re looking for him?”

“Yes.”

“Worrying about your advisor’s well-being—how admirable! The fellows under me just count down the days hoping I’ll be sick and cancel class. Haha!”

“……Um, Professor. If the professor Miss Mona is looking for is Thomas Levett, then I think I saw him over there—in the corner of the balcony, earlier.”

It was the mage who had offered her the internship who unexpectedly provided a useful clue.

Just as he said, the moment she turned her head toward the outer balcony, a familiar mustache passed through Mona’s field of vision.

“He was gathered with the Magic Tower’s foremost fools. Tsk. The victory celebration is just an excuse—he’s clearly slipped off to a social club.”

“Thank you!”

Her heart racing, Mona gave a quick bow and hurriedly moved from the spot.

“Hoho. To be that passionate about scholarship.”

Watching Mona’s figure disappear quickly, Professor Jerome chuckled as if finding it admirable.

“Indeed. With such a dazzling war hero right before her eyes, she goes looking for a department professor. That’s no ordinary passion.”

The Magic Tower mage nodded with a smile in agreement.

“Her capacity for a double major looks more than sufficient. She’s growing more and more tempting.”

“She doesn’t let time or place hinder her scholarship—I’m sure she’d do well as a Magic Tower intern too.”

“Now, now, I was first.”

Even after Mona disappeared, the two chattered on, saying things that would have startled her.

“Mona—where on earth did that girl suddenly disappear to!?”

Amid the bustling crowd, Count Bellose looked around with an anxious expression.

Meanwhile, Olivia was pressing her twin brother Liam to help her see Richard receiving his medal.

“Liam! Clear the way a bit. I can’t see Lord Richard’s face properly.”

At Olivia’s command, Liam stood on tiptoe and searched for a gap to squeeze through, then slumped his shoulders.

“Sis, the front is already packed with people—it’s hard to move.”

“Olivia, don’t be impatient and wait until the victory ceremony ends and the after-party banquet begins. Surely a chance to share a social dance with Lord Richard will come.”

At her mother’s advice, Olivia smacked her lips.

Around her, the vast majority were young ladies burning with determination to meet Lord Richard’s eyes just once, like herself.

This was no time to be sitting comfortably.

“……I know, Mother. But to stand out, I need to secure a spot as close to the center of the banquet hall as possible.”

Watching his wife and Olivia stubbornly holding their ground near the center, the Count spoke with an impatient look.

“Dear, I think we should look for Mona since she’s gone missing…….”

“Is that what’s important to you right now?”

“Father, we’ve already declined the Roussel Marquis family’s marriage proposal over the family business anyway.”

“Th-that’s true, but…….”

At the two women’s forceful insistence, the Count caved and shut his mouth.

“It’s taking quite a while.”

“It really is.”

The Bellose family struggled not to be pushed away from the center of the corridor until the victory ceremony ended.

But as the ceremony drew to a close, sighs of disappointment were heard here and there.

“Haa…….”

“What’s wrong?”

“They say Lord Richard won’t be attending the after-party. That he wishes to focus on honoring the fallen rather than on the joy of victory…….”

“Oh my……. The war hero is noble even in his heart.”

Their waiting proved futile—Richard Kronel vanished without a trace, attending neither the social dance nor even the after-party.