Chapter 181, Information in the Form of Rumors_5

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

A recommendation for Azalea academy isn’t that uncommon.

Ms. Kriemhild and Ms. Mary also got recommendations because they can use alchemy magic, and the love interests Prince Vermillion and Silva Seyfried have also gotten recommendations.

In other words, if you possess ‘somewhat special achievements, position, or magic’ you are eligible for a recommendation. And once you get the recommendation, you are exempt from some parts of the entrance exam.

There are various specifics to this, but I’m going to leave those details aside for now…

 

“Gray is getting a letter of recommendation? The one that even allows him to skip grades at that.”

“Yeah. It’s been approved by the Principal Noir.”

 

Moreover, it was written by Principal Noir himself, just as Ms. Schwarz said,

…What is he plotting?

If this had happened four years from now, after Gray had done something worthwhile, like defeating a B-rank monster, I would be honestly happy about this, but I can’t be happy right now.

After all, Gray might be skilled in magic, but it’s not something that has been acknowledged externally.

Even if Principal Noir is skilled at seeing the magic power, it’s unlikely that Gray, who has only been to the capital once, would receive a recommendation.

 

“Here’s the letter of recommendation.”

“… I will take a look at it.”

 

I received the letter of recommendation from Mr. Vert, and opened it so Gray, who looked both puzzled and interested, could see it too.

It was undoubtedly a letter sent under the name of Principal Noir, bearing anti-forgery seals and was addressed to Gray Heartfield.

Looking at the content of the letter, the gist of it was: ‘In honor of your excellent magical abilities, we would like you welcome you to the academy as a special student allowed to enter by skipping grades.’ It was a truly splendid letter of recommendation. However…

 

“Mrs. Vert, pardon me, but was this really written by Principal Noir of his own violation?”

 

When I finished reading, Gray had also finished reading it, so I handed the letter of recommendation to Lady Violet and questioned Mrs. Vert.

Frankly speaking, I could not trust it. I could only imagine that guy (the Second Prince) using his power to recommend Gray as a form of harassment or a ploy to crush him.

 

“Don’t worry about that. This is without a doubt a letter of recommendation from Principal Noir, who wrote in secret and had me personally deliver. He said that he was fascinated by Gray’s talents after seeing him at the school festival a while back, so he recommended him. Once again, this was all done in secret.”

 

As she was sipped her tea, Mrs. Vert realized what I was worried about and emphasized her answer. While she was at it, she glanced at Ms. Schwarz, who was aware of this confidential matter, but the latter simply ignored her gaze and continued drinking her coffee.

 

“Lord Noir… was it? I am pretty sure he was looking at me during the school festival wrap-up party… but I don’t remember showing any magic.”

“The Principal is skilled at seeing through other people’s magic abilities.”

 

Ms. Mary, who had been looking at the recommendation letter with Lady Violet, answered Gray’s question.

Come to think of it, Ms. Mary, an active student who also received the recommendation, has been here all this time. She also knows much more hidden settings (facts) than me, so it might be better to ask her.

 

 

“There are many rumors out there, like: if you are recognized by the principal, you will succeed; if you join the student council, which the principal is the advisor for, your future will be guaranteed; if you encounter the principal, who looks just as young as other students, in the student council room, you will be overwhelmed by his aura; if you have received a recommendation are not spoken to within a year, you can take it as a sign that you have been abandoned; but anyway, he is good at identifying excellent students.”

 

Weren’t there some strange things mixed in there?

 

“The fact that the principal personally wrote a recommendation letter that included skipping grades means that Gray must be very talented.”

“Me?”

“Yes, after all, it’s confirmed that the principal has a good insight.”

 

On the outside, he’s simply skilled at seeing through things, but in reality, he has incredible eyes, the kind that somebody like Apricot would give a special nickname to.

 

“… What should we do, Lord Clo, Lady Violet?”

 

Gray could not comprehend the situation at first, but after a while, he looked back and forth between me and Lady Violet with an uneasy expression.

He could probably vaguely tell that something good was happening. If he accepted this recommendation, he would be able to spend the same school life with Apricot, whom he respects, and he would be able to learn a higher tier magic.

However, he would also feel lonely leaving Shiki. Moreover, both Lady Violet and I dropped out of school and we don’t have a good reputation in the capital. There’s no guarantee Gray won’t feel the brunt of this. But…

 

“Gray, first of all, what do you think, looking at this letter of recommendation?”

“What I think?…”

 

First, I have to ask what Gray wants to do.

Gray is still a child, but I want to allow him to make decisions for himself to a certain extent. Although I have some concerns about the recommendation letter, first I have to know what Gray himself thinks after looking at it.

 

“Me?… I was certainly being watched, but that was….”

 

Gray seemed to still be at a loss, looking at the recommendation letter while muttering about the time he was being watched.

Even if his opinion is something that will make us sad or worry, we should respect his wish and be happy about his growth, so we can’t push our opinions on to him.

 

“Oh, that’s right. I remember now.”

“What do you mean, Gray?”

“I was thinking back to when I was being watched, but the way Lord Principal looked at me was…”

“Yeah?”

“I remembered that Lord Bligh sometimes looks at me with the same look.”

““….What?””

 

However, hearing Gray’s words, Lady Violet and I froze, and we both had some questions.

Ms. Mary and the others looked at our reactions strangely, but it did not matter.

 

“The same look as Mr. Bligh!?”

“Yes. I was remembering the way he was looking at me, and it reminded me of the way Lady Vert had looked at Lord Clo before. It was the same look as Lord Bligh.”

“… And that’s how Principal Noir was looking at you?”

“Yes. Could the fact that he was looking at me the same way mean that he felt a similar desire to protect me?”

“…”

“Lord Clo?”

 

Hearing this, I turned towards Lady Violet and our eyes met.

Then, we nodded silently. We had no need to talk right now.

 

“Ms. Schwarz, please immediately investigate Principal Noir. As for the payment, let’s see… I will pay this much.”

“W-wow, you’re putting out quite a lot. Does that mean that there’s some kind of a secret connection? Well, it’s fine if it’s within the scope of my peddling job…”

“No, you can just investigate the principal’s perversions.”

“Per… versions…?”

“Yes, perversions.”

 

Although Ms. Schwarz was puzzled by my actions, she was being considerate towards Ms. Mary and Mrs. Vert and made a joke that she would only do it in the scope of peddling, but as long as she investigated what I wanted to know, it didn’t matter if it was information gathered by monsters or by peddling.

 

“Clo, Principal Noir is also like my mentor. We serve the same person and work together. You can’t just start an investigation in front of—“

“Mrs. Vert, if you investigate, you can touch my arms as much as you like for ten minutes. No licking, but you can rub your cheeks against them like you wanted before.”

“Both arms?! And bare skin?!”

“I don’t mind.”

“Alright, let’s do this!”

 

I made a hardly bearable promise to Mrs. Vert, but at this point it did not matter.

If it’s for my precious Son, I can endure even more trauma.

 

“Mary, I don’t mind if you do it when you go back to the academy. I want you to investigate the principal. I assume he’s been to the student council several times too.”

“What’s wrong, Violet. You’re s-scaring me.”

“Please. Neither I nor Lord Clo can enter the academy. We can only rely on you, who has the advantage of being able to easily approach the principal…!”

“Rely on me…! Wow, that really sounds like friendship. Fine. I’ll do it!”

“Thanks, Mary…!”

 

Alright, looks like Lady Violet was also able to get the investigation underway.

I hope it’s just us overthinking it. But I can’t stay calm knowing that my Son’s body might be in danger.

 

“… I wonder why the term ‘monster parents’ I learned once comes to mind… no, this is just proof that they care about me. That’s what familial love is about!”