Please, Just Read It

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“Please just read it!”

Chapter 7

Riley (3)

I gazed at Riley, who maintained a calm expression despite the lies she had just told.

In truth, I had known from the beginning that she was a bit crazy.

If she were even slightly sane, she wouldn’t have considered sneaking into the library in the dead of night.

But still, that’s not the whole story.

I’d always thought of her as having a decent sense of common sense and boundaries, and yet…

I never imagined she was this far gone.

[What? The Vailrock family? What a load of nonsense! I’ve lived for thousands of years and I’ve never heard of such a family!]

“That’s not true. The Vailrock family actually exists.”

[…….]

“Don’t believe me? The Vailrock family is located near the Haslapart mountain range, right on the front lines of the United Territories…”

[That’s not what’s important right now. Ugh, this girl is really out there.]

I was confused.

My mind felt like a jumbled mess.

I couldn’t even discern where Riley’s words began to be truth and where they became lies.

[Hey, be honest with me. You really are from the Thieves’ Guild, aren’t you? That’s not a lie, right?]

“That’s a fact.”

[…….]

Why was there such doubt?

It made me suspicious.

“I swear, aside from my imaginary friend Michael Vailrock, everything I’ve said until now is true…”

[Oh, come on! Then what’s this about your roommates going home for the break?!]

“Oh, right.”

Riley paused for a moment.

Then she casually replied in a nonchalant voice.

“Well, that was also a lie.”

[…….]

“It’s true that it’s break time, but they haven’t gone home. They’ve all returned to the dormitory a week before the semester starts.”

[…….]

“But really, aside from those two lies, everything else is true.”

She boldly declared without changing her expression.

My blood pressure began to rise.

I had lived for thousands of years as a magician, but I’d never encountered a person like her.

I wondered if I would ever meet someone more shameless than her in my lifetime.

[So, let’s hear why you told such ridiculous lies.]

“I thought I’d feel wronged if only I suffered.”

[No way, that’s just absurd.]

“Are you shocked? I felt that way when I first heard about the imaginary character Tyburn Handrake from the Magician.”

[What the…?]

Bang—!

Bang—!

“Hey!!! Riley you crazy girl!!! Open the door!!!”

I was practically going mad.

The sound of a girl’s scream from outside brought our conversation to a halt.

“Aaaaaah!!! Open the door!!! Aaaaah!!! Aaaah!!! I’m really so mad!!!”

“…….”

[…….]

Heeding the scream, I turned to Riley with a shocked expression and asked again.

[Just one more question.]

“Yes?”

[Why the hell did you lock the door?]

“I did it to keep my roommates from coming in.”

[…….]

But why?

What was the point of preventing her roommates from entering the room?

As I stood there dumbfounded, Riley added an explanation on her own.

“I did mention that I’m still being bullied, didn’t I?”

[Yes, you did.]

“When it’s bedtime, my roommates beat me up, saying it’s just a friendly prank.”

[…….]

“But yesterday, they started beating me up before bedtime, saying I had to exercise to clear my stomach before dinner.”

[What the…?]

How rotten was this academy?

To punch someone in good health before a meal under the excuse of exercise?

I couldn’t fathom how this dump was called an elite educational institution by the outside world.

[Hold on a second.]

“Yes?”

[But with your personality, you just took the hits? I don’t get it.]

The kind of girl who repays even the smallest joke just sat there and took the hits from the other students?

That didn’t make any sense.

As expected, Riley nodded and then answered my question.

“Of course, I fought back every time.”

[…….]

“But I lost.”

[……Is that supposed to be a boast?]

I replied in a tone of disappointment.

“There’s a reason behind my losses.”

[What is it?]

“Because they’re nobles. If I cause too much trouble, I could be expelled.”

[Ah.]

So that meant she had no choice but to let it slide.

Hmm.

That made sense.

As I said, Lutemis Academy was heavily influenced by nobility due to its institutional characteristics.

Hence, if a special entrance student like Riley made a big fuss, she could end up getting expelled.

Especially if it involved seriously injuring a noble student.

[…….]

Well, I guess that could happen.

By the way, I always thought that Riley was the type to get back at anyone who hurt her without second thoughts, but it seems she could discern and exercise restraint.

Though, I suppose having such a personality is what allowed her to endure and escape the Thieves’ Guild.

[So you locked the door out of spite, trying to get back at them?]

“No, that’s not it.”

Riley shook her head to deny my question and continued.

“Honestly, when I got up after being beaten yesterday, it was already closing time for the library.”

[…….]

“But the Magician disappears after midnight…”

[So it was basically that you wanted to avoid getting caught for sneaking out of the dormitory in the middle of the night.]

“Yes.”

[Hmm.]

It’s true that getting caught leaving the dormitory at midnight would lead to some serious disciplinary action in the academy.

In hindsight, that was a wise choice.

Okay.

I understood.

[Well then, that was a smart move. But hurry…]

Bang—! Bang! Bang, bang—!

“Hey!!! Open the door!!! Don’t you dare keep the door shut?!! Do you know where we slept because of you?!!!”

[Yeah… Open the door before those guys get angrier…]

“I’ll just get beaten up again.”

[Then just stay locked up your whole life.]

“…….”

Sighing quietly, Riley got off her bed and opened the door.

Creeeak—.

“Hey, you!”

Several students rushed at Riley with fierce expressions.

After that, I could just watch as Riley was mercilessly trampled by her roommates.

*

“Ugh, ughhhh…”

[…….]

After the roommates who stomped on Riley temporarily left the dormitory.

I gazed quietly at Riley sprawled on the floor.

Perhaps the echoes of the beating hadn’t faded; she was writhing in discomfort.

They really were relentless in their torment.

Though it looked like she had been trampled all over, there were no visible injuries.

That’s because her roommates ruthlessly assaulted her in the hidden areas under her clothing.

It demonstrated just how cruelly the other students tormented her.

What?

This academy under the Empire’s royal family is supposed to nurture outstanding talents?

[What a joke.]

This academy was undoubtedly a bunch of lunatics producing a bunch of idiots, as well as a torture institution that specialized in systematic lynching.

Otherwise, there’s no way the other students would go that far in tormenting Riley.

[Are you okay?]

“Yes…”

Just then, Riley, who had been face down, regained her senses and sat up.

As she straightened her clothes, she plopped down at the edge of her bed and let out a sigh.

“You don’t need to worry. How much does it hurt for those pampered flower kids to try hitting me?”

[Well, yeah. I guess it doesn’t hurt you at all.]

Of course, from Riley’s perspective, violence from others wouldn’t feel much like violence.

That made sense; she had once been a part of the Thieves’ Guild.

Having seen and experienced far worse things, this kind of bullying must seem like a child’s prank to her.

But what I was worrying about wasn’t the intensity of this torment.

It was longevity.

And progressiveness.

This kind of bullying would continue until Riley graduated from the academy.

As time progresses, its intensity would inevitably increase.

Why?

Because the other students wanted to force Riley to drop out.

Unless she voluntarily walked out of the academy, this bullying wouldn’t stop.

[What I’m worried about is something different.]

The psychological pressure on Riley due to continuous bullying?

Honestly, that didn’t concern me at all.

Although we haven’t known each other for long, I knew well that Riley wouldn’t be the kind to be intimidated by such bullying.

Yet…

[With you attending the academy, you’ll definitely lack time to learn magic from me. If those kinds of kids keep bothering you, when will you learn magic?]

“……”

Attending the academy would mean clear time restrictions.

It meant the time I could teach Riley was limited.

Free time after all classes were over.

Short breaks during moving classes.

Or weekends and holidays.

As long as we were at the academy, we had to make the most out of even the tiniest spare time.

But what if even that precious time was stolen by the other students bullying Riley?

Then, we would indeed be at a loss.

“So what should we do…?”

[It’s simple. There are two options.]

I continued.

[You can either endure this miserable life and learn magic from me or just drop out of the academy.]

“……”

Surely the classes at the academy would be beneficial.

After all, it was a course provided by an elite educational institution under the royal family.

The classes there would undeniably help Riley become an excellent magician.

But would those classes be more beneficial than what I could teach, which produced countless great magicians?

I didn’t think so.

“So if I leave the academy, what would life be like?”

[One thing’s for sure—it wouldn’t be as stable as life here.]

Would it feel like gambling every day?

Of course, could life at the academy, where bullying continues, truly be called stable?

Even so, the free accommodation and food provided at the academy were significant advantages.

If she left this place and lived outside, Riley would have to provide for her own food, clothing, and shelter.

And I could guarantee that it wouldn’t be an easy task at all.

[But if you go out, you’d definitely be given that much freedom. You’ll have more time to learn from me.]

“…”

[Make sure you understand. The pros and cons of life at the academy and life outside are clear.]

After hearing my words, Riley thought for a while and asked again.

“Which option is better…?”

[There isn’t one. Again, it’s a matter of choice.]

If she leaves and goes out to live, Riley would have to endure quite a tough life for years to build her achievements.

Starting as a mercenary, building up basic public records, then heading to the mage tower to begin research, becoming established as a magician…

She would have to face many truly harrowing experiences.

But what about the academy?

She simply had to endure for five years and then graduated.

Then, she would fall under the scouts’ offers awaiting her from various mage towers and guilds.

Would it stop there?

Students who graduated with excellent grades from the academy would directly enter the royal magic department.

Thus, the standing of Lutemis graduates within the Empire was considerably high.

[So it’s entirely a matter of choice.]

A free life with an unclear future outside, or an oppressed life within the academy with a guaranteed future.

Honestly, there’s no bad choice.

I’ve said it countless times, but I was confident I could turn Riley into a great magician in any situation.

[So don’t hesitate and just choose.]

“……”

[It’s just a matter of method; the outcomes stemming from this choice won’t change.]

After listening to my words, Riley closed her eyes and began to carefully contemplate.

Minutes passed, and finally, she opened her mouth.

“I’ve made my choice.”

[What is it?]

“The academy. I think the academy is better, overall.”

[Are you sure? Like I said, bullying from others will continue.]

“I’m fine. Compared to what I went through in the Thieves’ Guild, the bullying here is nothing.”

[Yeah, okay.]

If she was okay with it, then that was that.

“I actually find my current life too comfortable. This is the first time I’ve lived in such a cozy place. The delicious meals provided at the academy are also a first.”

[…….]

“I lived dangerously as a member of the Thieves’ Guild, didn’t I? Back then, every day felt like a gamble.”

As she stared vacantly into space, Riley smiled lightly.

“Because of that, I’ve grown tired of an adventurous life.”

[…….]

“I want to try living a stable life for once.”

[Okay.]

I understood.

I had lived for thousands of years as a magician.

In that vast period, I had accumulated countless experiences.

Among those experiences, many involved the Thieves’ Guild.

I was well aware of the true nature of the Thieves’ Guild.

So, I understood very well the kind of life Riley had lived in the Thieves’ Guild.

Why she was pursuing this stable life.

And why she didn’t want to lead an adventurous life any longer.

I could comprehend her completely.

[That’s a great choice. The academy.]

The academy.

There was nothing wrong with it at all.

It offered stability and a guaranteed future.

The drawbacks of living at the academy could easily be resolved with a bit of thought.

In fact, I had previously raised academy students to become great magicians.

To be precise, I had enrolled someone I was raising in the academy, but still.

And if I made good use of the experience gained back then…

I could make Riley’s life at the academy incredibly rewarding.

[So shall we begin right away?]

The starting point had been decided.

Accordingly, my short-term plans for how to develop Riley gradually started to take shape.

So now was the time.

It was truly time to begin raising a magician…

“Wait, but thinking it over again, I’m not sure I need to go to the academy.”

[……What?]

“No, it’s just that…”

Riley shrugged her shoulders, continuing.

“Since I have the Magician, why do I have to endure the bullying from the other students while attending the academy?”

[……?]

“Hmm. Really thinking it through, the academy seems like a bad idea. Let’s go drop out.”

Before finishing her sentence, Riley hugged me tight and headed straight for the professor’s office.

I asked back in a flustered voice.

[……This suddenly? You’re just changing your choice like this?]

Riley smiled faintly and quietly replied.

“Honestly, I never intended to stay at the academy from the very first moment. Why would I want to attend this boring academy?”

[…….]

“Every day is a rigid schedule, rigid classes. Just thinking about it exhausts me.”

With gentle steps, Riley strolled through the main building of Lutemis.

The sunlight streaming through the gaps in the windows dyed the hallways a crimson hue.

“My life has always been a gamble. At every turning point, my life changed drastically.”

[…….]

“It was the same when I decided to escape the Thieves’ Guild as it was when I took the risk to sneak into the library to find the Magician.”

She paused.

Riley stopped walking.

I took that opportunity to observe her expression.

“To be honest, the Magician must find stable living boring too, right?”

[…….]

“So let’s gamble again this time.”

Riley was smiling.

It was the brightest expression of hers that I had seen so far.