The Aftermath and the Beast-Eared Girls

At that moment, Hecate marveled, “How fortunate! Everything you did drew them all over.”

“What’s more, Sorold, the only Sword Saint aware of your conflict, was captured by the witch on the battlefield, reportedly losing a rank from the beating.”

Nina and Yuna exchanged a glance, their expressions peculiar. “Quite a coincidence, indeed,” they murmured.

‘The Grand Witch… Lady Hecate, of all people, appeared at precisely the right moment, in the perfect location, and even focused her fire on the correct individual.’

“What a remarkable coincidence,” Sophia mused. Though the maid’s tone struck her as odd, she didn’t dwell on it.

Iordera’s eyelids, however, twitched uncontrollably. She was unsure how to feel.

Happy? Of course, one should be happy to have their life saved; a grimace would hardly be appropriate.

Yet, she now owed another favor. How would she face Hecate the next time their paths crossed?

‘Perhaps, as she’d suggested before, it could be converted into an IOU.’

The astute, white-haired girl, clever as frost and snow, conceived a perfect solution. Yes, that was precisely what she would do.

“Once you’ve recovered, go pick up Grandma Sharp and the others,” Sophia said, returning to more pressing matters. “And remember to give them my regards. I need to get back to school.”

Her last escapade, disrupting the boys’ dormitories, had certainly been thrilling. Yet, the consequences from the school remained unknown.

Moreover, having missed so many days of class, a flicker of unease stirred within Sophia.

Iordera nodded in assent. The smoke had cleared; the greatest darkness in Saroyan’s East District had fallen, and even its patrons had retreated to their homes to recuperate.

‘All of this,’ she thought, ‘it must be over now.’

For Saroyan, the death of a governor should have been a monumental event. Yet, the news of Sword Saint Sorold’s injury and return home seemed to carry far greater weight.

After all, a governor’s death merely signified a change in political office. The Sword Saint, however, was the spiritual beacon for the people of the East District.

Nevertheless, daily life seemed largely unaffected. People ate when they should, drank when they should, though discussions after meals grew fervent.

“When will Lord Sorold return?”

“No telling when he’ll recover.”

“Heard his injuries are quite severe, alas.”

“More importantly, the papers say the Sword Saint and Hecate have a personal vendetta. What if she comes hunting him here? Perhaps it’s better if Lord Sorold doesn’t return at all?”

Amidst these somewhat callous discussions, Saroyan continued its usual rhythm of life.

Meanwhile, at the East District’s teleportation array, several weary individuals, their faces etched with anxiety, stepped onto the platform. Their destination was the Sunhand family’s territory, near the Imperial Capital.

****

Those who had previously left via the teleportation array had now reached a small city called Corona, near the Imperial Capital. This was the territory of the Sunhand family, one of the major strongholds in the Empire’s core region.

The individuals who had rushed over from Saroyan were Busius’s primary doctors and priests. Clasping detailed medical reports, they hurried into the city, guided by others.

Busius’s bizarre death in the frontier city of Saroyan had sent shockwaves through the Sunhand family, prompting them to dispatch people overnight to retrieve his attending physicians.

The sun rose and fell, and the days truly seemed to settle into a peaceful rhythm.

Two days later, with her health restored, Iordera ventured to the safe house on the outskirts to pick up her companions.

Grandma Sharp and the beast-eared girls had spent many days living like ostriches, wary of external contact and oblivious to the outside world.

It wasn’t until the small, white-haired figure of Iordera appeared at the doorway that their anxious hearts finally found peace.

Duo Duo, though blind, followed Iordera’s scent, leaping with the force of a rabbit onto her, clutching tightly around her neck.

“Cough, cough, cough,” Iordera managed, struggling to speak. “A little gentler, please. Just a little.”

Her neck, having been broken once before, truly needed protection.

Little Pa, with her knee issues, and Awang, whose health was frail, couldn’t jump. They could only cling to Iordera’s legs, gazing enviously at the bouncing Duo Duo.

In an instant, Iordera found herself laden with three children, utterly unable to move. With a laugh, she asked, “Can you all come down first?”

“Pupu, pupu,” Duo Duo squeaked twice, ignoring the request.

Iordera then looked at Little Pa clinging to her left leg. Little Pa gazed up at her, then barked twice. “Woof! Woof!”

Iordera sighed, turning to the last beast-eared girl. “Awang, you’re the most sensible one.”

Awang hesitated for a moment, then made a small paw gesture with her hand. “Meow?”

Now, with a chorus of “pupu,” “meow,” and “woof” emanating from her, Iordera was utterly immobilized.

‘Perhaps,’ she mused, ‘I should introduce these “daughters” to Hecate sometime. No ulterior motives, of course. Hecate is, in a way, half a benefactor to these beast-eared girls, so a thank you is certainly in order, isn’t it?’

Outside, a touching scene of “mother, daughters, and a cat” unfolded. Meanwhile, within the United Academy, a different kind of harmony bloomed between teachers and students.

After her previous antics and unexplained absences, Sophia had fully expected retribution from the school. She returned, mentally prepared to face her teachers.

To her surprise, the teachers not only refrained from scolding her but greeted her with warm smiles and solicitous inquiries.

“Student Sophia, it is perfectly understandable to act impulsively when a friend’s safety is at stake,” one teacher remarked kindly. “It shows you possess a fiery spirit and a strong sense of loyalty!”

“We are aware of the Governor’s unfortunate incident, but you need not worry. You were in school the entire time he was attacked; the whole faculty and student body witnessed it. Everyone can vouch for you.”

“Augustus may be a Little Prince outside, but within the United Academy, he is just an ordinary student, like you.”

“No, in fact, he is a mediocre student, a laggard even. You, however, are a top student, an exemplary one!”

“So, please, don’t feel any pressure,” the teachers said amicably. They chuckled, their smiles wide.

Having failed to breach the sword array that morning, they had reconvened to discuss. Their conclusion: Sophia was at least level fifty.

Over level fifty! Higher than most of the teachers themselves. More crucially, Sophia had registered as level thirty-five. It mattered not what she truly was.

On paper, her registration clearly stated level thirty-five. Thus, officially, she had “made rapid progress after enrollment, skyrocketing over twenty levels in just a few months of academy life.”

What a testament to the prestige of the Continent’s Foremost Academy!

Still, Sophia felt a trace of unease. “But I haven’t attended class for days…”

“That is even more normal, and entirely the teachers’ responsibility,” Year Head Greg stated gravely. “We failed to account for the disparity in strength and learning pace among students, continuing to teach basic material uniformly in class. Such lessons are not only pointless for you but a waste of your valuable time.”

“From now on, we will ensure teachers pay attention: special treatment for special individuals!”

While Saroyan remained largely harmonious, those who had departed from the city found themselves far from content.

Those who had previously left via the teleportation array had now reached a small city called Corona, near the Imperial Capital. This was the territory of the Sunhand family, one of the major strongholds in the Empire’s core region.

The individuals who had rushed over from Saroyan were Busius’s primary doctors and priests. Clasping detailed medical reports, they hurried into the city, guided by others.

Busius’s bizarre death in the frontier city of Saroyan had sent shockwaves through the Sunhand family, prompting them to dispatch people overnight to retrieve his attending physicians.