Chapter 43
I went to the parlor, pondering how to get rid of the new Imperial Language teacher.
But to my surprise, there was no Imperial Language teacher—only Dietrich Rothen sitting alone in the parlor.
I glanced around.
“Where’s the Imperial Language teacher?”
“Hey! It’s me!”
What was this? A puppy meowing?
“You?”
“Wow, that smile of yours is seriously irritating! You think I enjoy teaching a goldfish turd like you?”
“Watch your mouth.”
I stepped forward as if to kick, and Dietrich swiftly shielded his leg.
Not a chance. The crown of his head!
Thwack!
[Stress Level –1]
Dietrich clutched his head, trembling.
“Ugh... What did you eat to hit this hard? I must be insane, making shady deals with someone like you.”
“For a life debt, that’s cheap.”
Hmph. I snorted and sat across from him.
“So, how’d you end up becoming a teacher?”
Dietrich sighed deeply and relayed his conversation with Viscount So.
After hearing everything, I said,
“To summarize: Viscount So dumped you, so you lied about becoming a double agent out of spite?”
“Spite? That’s harsh. Don’t you want intel on Viscount So?”
“How do I know if your intel’s any good?”
“Oh really? You’ll regret this.”
My eyes narrowed at Dietrich’s infuriating grin.
‘Seems he’s figured something out.’
I had an inkling. After the council adjourned, I’d overheard Viscount So and the chairman talking:
“I’ll find a suitable feast day.”
“Ah, for that, we should summon a high priest...”
“Will that suffice? If it’s my request, the High Priest himself will come.”
I already knew whom he meant.
The High Priest served one of the four nurturers in —specifically, the Saint.
The Saint was the sole nurturer capable of raising Noah to become Pope.
A prodigy who could awaken and cultivate Noah’s divine power—the ultimate divine power mentor.
But he’d currently gone missing.
The High Priest must be scrambling to find him before this leaks.
“Hey! Focus on me!”
“Ah.”
As I recalled the Saint’s ethereal appearance from the game, I looked up to see Dietrich scowling like a disgruntled grasshopper.
My face instinctively twisted in disgust.
“You look like a bug.”
“Why are you suddenly acting insane?!”
Dietrich shouted, straining to contain his anger.
“Anyway, you need intel on Viscount So’s plans, right? Preferably ongoing updates?”
Reluctantly, I admitted he was right. Foreknowledge of Viscount So’s moves would be invaluable.
“...Fine. What do you want in exchange for being a double agent?”
“Ha, straight to business!”
Dietrich grinned, pleased by our alignment.
“If you’d tried exploiting me with a contract, I’d have been sorely disappointed.”
“The contract obligates me to guarantee your freedom and safety. Can’t be helped. Pity.”
“Anyway, my demand’s simple.”
The smile faded from Dietrich’s face.
“You... know I can’t read properly. Right?”
“......”
“But when you used that supreme-grade potion on me, the words... they became visible again.”
This was bad.
“Even before that, after meeting you at the general store, letters started appearing.”
Dietrich’s gaze wavered as he stared at me—a mix of suspicion and desperate hope, as if questioning his own sanity.
“Answer me, Your Grace.”
“......”
“Can you... fix me?”
I swallowed a sigh. I’d anticipated this.
‘Of all things to demand...’
I’d known using my ability on Dietrich would risk exposure eventually.
But voluntarily granting my power versus being forced to pay it as a transactional debt were entirely different matters.
‘Moreover, prolonged use removes the time limit. It becomes a permanent part of them.’
Sturdy maids or Lynen? Their stats keep rising with my help—the more I use my ability, the better.
But Dietrich reduces my Stress Level.
Once it hits zero, I’ll become unnecessary.
Then I’d have to offer new payments for intel.
From that point, risks of blackmail or reversed power dynamics would skyrocket.
Thus, my ability must stay out of this deal.
“What ridiculous nonsense.”
“Huh?”
“How could I possibly fix you?”
“M-magic...”
“Are you mocking me, knowing I’m magically inept?”
I sneered venomously, making Dietrich fluster.
“But your mana grade was gold at the council! Higher than the Tower Lord’s!”
“Having mana and using it are different. I’m still magically inept.”
“......”
“If I could use magic, wouldn’t I have helped myself first?”
Dietrich furrowed his brows, confused.
Good. Get tangled. Now propose another term.
‘I need to reduce how often I use my ability on him.’
Should’ve refrained from hitting him earlier.
Clicking my tongue internally, I steered back.
“Regardless, since Viscount So sent you, I’ll accept you as a teacher. On one condition: Noah approves.”
“Since when does a brat’s opinion matter?”
“It matters most.”
Noah’s the one taking lessons, not me.
“Shut up and conduct a mock lesson first. I’ll step aside.”
I needed to brainstorm alternative payment for the intel.
‘But what if Noah’s scared of Dietrich?’
A needless worry, as proven when summoned Noah immediately insulted:
“Evil pepper head.”
“Excuse me?! You calling me that, goldfish turd?”
Perfect. I can leave now.
Dietrich’s mind churned.
‘Was it really Calipe? Did I misjudge?’
No answers emerged.
Sighing, Dietrich decided to at least pretend to teach.
“Hey, goldfish turd.”
“Not a goldfish turd.”
“Whatever. Write what I dictate. Know how to take dictation?”
“......”
If he couldn’t write, verbal substitution would suffice.
Marveling at his own cunning, Dietrich rattled off nonsense:
“Baron Rothen is a magnificent gentleman. Write that.”
“......”
“Huh? What’s with that look?”
Noah sighed through his nose and scribbled:
“Calipe Offensa is no match for Baron Rothen. Write that.”
“No.”
“Hey! Respect your teacher! End sentences properly! Huh?”
“No.”
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
After a brief standoff, the dictation concluded.
“Brat. You’re just like someone I know.”
Dietrich snatched Noah’s notebook, grumbling.
‘Can’t see anyway. I’ll just mark everything correct.’
As he prepared to draw a large circle:
“Hm...?”
The child’s crooked letters appeared faintly legible.
‘What? The words... they’re visible again!’
After the banquet incident, they’d briefly reappeared before vanishing.
Dietrich’s tawny eyes darted to Noah.
‘Is it because of him?’
Come to think of it, the kid was at the general store too. Could he be the cause?
Or another reason...
‘...Damn it, no! Stick to facts!’
The second time his dyslexia improved, Calipe—not the kid—had been present.
He’d also just encountered Calipe.
‘But if Calipe can use magic, why help me? No reason.’
Then Dietrich recalled Calipe’s words:
‘Right—if he knew magic, he’d have acted. But... what if he doesn’t realize?’
Calipe possessed mana a tier above the Tower Lord’s.
With such power, unconsciously casting magic wouldn’t be strange.
Some mages only realize they’ve cast spells retroactively.
Therefore.
‘Calipe doesn’t know he can use magic!’
Meaning Calipe Offensa was on the verge of awakening as an extraordinary mage!
Dietrich’s eyes bulged like he’d struck gold.
‘Holy hell! I’ve hit the jackpot! Calipe’s a golden lifeline!’
His heart pounded.
He swiftly formulated a plan:
‘Others learning this benefits no one.’
Pretend ignorance about Calipe’s capability. Play nice—extremely nice.
Lick his boots if necessary!
