Chapter 148

“You’re asking me to stop the forced return?”

What Camille Sapin said was the complete opposite of what I had expected.

“Aren’t you the ambassador from Karaf? You’re the one who delivered the return request to the Academy, weren’t you?”

“That’s true. But it wasn’t my will. As you know, among mages, being a diplomat… it’s a role given to the most disregarded person.”

That was a peculiarity unique to Karaf.

To mages whose greatest concern in life was researching magic and pursuing personal advancement, diplomacy with other nations was nothing more than a bothersome, undesirable chore.

“Still, aren’t you a 6th-class mage?”

“I’m just slightly better off among the ones stuck with cold shoulders. That’s how I ended up pretending to be an ambassador.”

He spoke humbly, but a 6th-class mage was someone who would be treated as a senior member in any school of magic.

I assumed Camille Sapin had, for whatever reason, failed to join a faction or had been rejected by the mainstream ones.

“I’m nothing more than a loudspeaker, repeating the decisions handed down from Karaf. I couldn’t stop the decision that came from above.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“I asked if the Academy could protect Miss Quinlivan, but of course, that was rejected. That’s when the Dean of the Magic Department mentioned your name. He said, Professor Winslet, that if anyone could help, it would be you.”

So Dean Kingfisher had referred him to me.

Normally, I’d scold someone for name-dropping me, but just this once, I felt like praising him.

If it involved Shannon, I couldn’t ignore it.

“What’s the plan?”

No matter how much of a figurehead he might be, an ambassador from a country wouldn’t come here without some kind of idea.

Camille nodded and handed me a thick book.

The Academy Admissions Regulations.

That was the title, but even within the Academy, there were only a handful of people who had read it from cover to cover.

“According to the regulations, all Academy entrants must sign a document agreeing to legal accountability. However, if the entrant is a minor, consent from a guardian or legal representative is required.”

As he spoke, Camille pointed to a page in the rulebook.

“This is the basis on which the Venizelos school claims Miss Quinlivan’s admission was invalid. Although she did submit her own consent form, she had only just come of age shortly after enrolling.”

“So there’s no way to argue around it, then.”

“Exactly. Falsifying the date on the form wouldn’t be enough. What I’ve come up with instead… is pretending that a guardian’s consent form was discovered belatedly and adding it to the record.”

“Isn’t that a bit too obvious?”

“These things often come down to who argues the hardest. The real issue is… who will step up to be her guardian.”

Camille went on to list the risks that could arise from becoming Shannon’s legal guardian.

“First of all, the Venizelos school won’t sit quietly. They’ll accuse you of illegally transferring their heir without permission.”

In the insular world of mages, being branded a traitor came with terrifying consequences. Camille explained that just imagining the backlash was enough to make one shudder.

“You can assume that living in Karaf would be out of the question. There’s even a chance you might face assassination attempts. I considered becoming Miss Quinlivan’s guardian myself… but if they chose to ignore legal procedures and forcibly take her, I’m not confident I could protect her.”

Venizelos wasn’t just the head of a school. He was the Master of the Southeastern Magic Tower and an 8th-class mage.

If he wanted to, he could easily pull strings in the Karaf government to have Camille reassigned far from Laurencia or dealt with altogether.

“To make matters worse, I haven’t even had a chance to discuss this with Miss Quinlivan. She avoids me every time we cross paths.”

That was the full story behind why Camille Sapin had come to me.

With a faint mix of tension and hope, he made his plea:

“I know this is an outrageous request, but… Professor Winslet, would you protect Miss Quinlivan?”

“I only have one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you going this far? And for a student whose name and face are all you know.”

“Why, huh…”

Camille answered without much hesitation.

“It’s because the Venizelos school discovered Miss Quinlivan’s whereabouts due to my own curiosity. I felt I had to take responsibility in some way. And also… do you know why Miss Quinlivan ran away from her school?”

I shook my head.

Camille cautiously began to speak.

“She was designated as the heir to Venizelos from a young age. As a result, she was subjected to harsh training. Especially that school’s methods… well, they have a tendency to push both the body and mind to their absolute limits.”

The Venizelos school’s obsession was with ascension and transcendence.

Their goal was to produce a 9th-class mage….something only two people in history had achieved.

To them, achieving that meant abandoning human limitations and defying common sense.

It was easy to imagine what their training must have been like.

“She went through truly brutal experiences. And among the things I learned during my recent contact with Karaf, the most shocking was about Miss Quinlivan’s parents.”

“Shannon’s parents?”

“Yes. They were exiled from Karaf and now live in isolation, in a desolate wasteland, in conditions no better than prisoners. Apparently, they opposed Venizelos’s educational methods and were punished for it.”

“……”

“Knowing all this… I couldn’t believe returning to Karaf would be what’s best for Miss Quinlivan.”

“It certainly wouldn’t be.”

“And a true genius should never be caged. The Miss Quinlivan I saw back then was a raw gem with real talent. But even the strongest gemstone will shatter if too much pressure is applied.”

Camille’s eyes took on a distant focus as he spoke, as if recalling a painful memory of his own.

Even in a society filled with brilliant mages, things were far from ideal.

It was clear Camille too had suffered under the rigid structure of mage society and that was why he empathized with Shannon’s plight.

No society is perfect.

But that’s exactly why we must never turn a blind eye to someone else’s pain.

“I’ll be Shannon’s guardian.”

“Really?”

Camille’s face lit up with surprise and hope as he asked.

To be honest, I’d intended to accept his proposal from the start.

Karaf or not….Shannon was a precious asset of mine.

That Venizelos thief, damn him.

After all the trouble I went through to gain a top-tier companion, and he dares try to take Shannon away from me?

She was someone who had to stay by my side for at least another two years. Until the time of the Winslet Subjugation Arc in the original Candela of Judgment storyline.

That was the only way I’d have a better chance of surviving the possible ambush by the Knights of Candela.

“If there’s anything I can do to help—”

“Stay out of it. I’ll take full responsibility.”

That was my way of saying, “Back off. Don’t try to put your mark on someone else’s companion.”

Camille, however, blushed at my words.

“How embarrassing. You’re truly admirable, Professor. As a teacher, and as a mage.”

“Enough with the flattery. The truth is, as someone based in Laurencia rather than Karaf, I’m in a better position to endure the pressure.”

“Even so—”

“Enough.”

I cut him off, then made a suggestion.

“Let’s just say you owe me one for this. Will that do?”

“If it’s something like that… yes. I’ll make sure to repay this debt.”

Even if he was treated as a political outcast, he was still the ambassador of Karaf.

I planned to visit Karaf someday, and it never hurt to build connections in advance.

That is, assuming Camille remained in his ambassador post long enough to be of use.

Which meant it was best if he stayed uninvolved in this matter from here on out.

“Then I leave Miss Quinlivan in your care.”

With those words, Camille bowed his head to me.

***

Shannon awoke to the sound of morning birdsong.

She hadn’t truly been asleep.

She had stayed up the entire night, eyes open.

A full day had passed, and she still hadn’t made up her mind.

Her friends had encouraged her to seek help from Professor Winslet, but it wasn’t as easy as they made it sound.

Shannon was afraid.

Afraid of being a burden to others because of her personal situation. Afraid that it might make him hate her.

Afraid of being rejected.

Afraid of hearing the words, “Why would you ask me that?”

Professor Winslet…

Shannon admired him deeply.

However, she never felt close to him.

She only watched from afar.

No, it’s no use after all.

Shannon pulled back the curtains and opened the window.

The area around the dormitory was quiet.

It was already time for first period to begin.

That was just as well.

If she had to leave, then better to disappear quietly, with no one around to see.

Shannon took a bag out of the wardrobe and began packing.

Surprisingly, it didn’t take long.

All she had to pack were a few changes of clothes and a handful of valuables.

The only things she’d accumulated since coming here were a few writing supplies.

It made her a little sad, as if the lack of belongings was proof she had been meant to leave from the start.

As Shannon gave the wardrobe one last check, her eyes fell on a black coat hanging in the corner.

It was far too big for her to wear.

The professor’s coat… I forgot all about it.

Back when she had foolishly challenged him to a duel after she lost and broke down crying—

Professor Winslet had taken off the coat he was wearing and draped it over her.

I should return it. And say goodbye one last time.

His office was on the first floor of the Magic Department.

When she knocked, a voice responded.

“Come in.”

Shannon carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

She saw the professor’s back turned to her.

He was standing by the window.

With both hands in his pockets, he was gazing outside.

Shannon quietly took in the sight of his broad back.

The coat that fit him perfectly now hung over her arm.

“I came to return your coat.”

“My coat? What do you mean?”

Professor Winslet turned around and asked.

Shannon felt a mix of relief and pain.

Just as I thought.

It seemed Professor Winslet had long since forgotten what happened back then.

She was the only one who had held onto it so deeply.

That helped her finally let go.

No more clinging to foolish hopes.

At the very least, she would leave without causing him any trouble.

Just as Shannon managed to force a fragile smile to her lips, Professor Winslet pointed to the seat in front of his desk.

“I have something to say. Sit down.”