I pushed my thoughts aside and responded to her voice.
"Come in."
*—Click, creak...*
The hinges creaked softly as the door opened, and the brown-haired girl stepped inside.
Her brown eyes, sparkling with a clear light, met mine, and a gentle smile spread across her lips.
It was a smile that warmed my heart.
As I returned her smile, Rachel approached my desk and placed something on top of it.
"Here you go! This is what you asked for, Young Master!"
"You got it faster than I expected. Thank you."
What Rachel handed me was a crystal ball the size of my palm.
It emitted a faint blue light and was commonly known as a "communication artifact."
Judging by the strong flow of mana within it, it seemed to be quite a high-grade item.
It couldn't have been easy to get your hands on something like this.
As expected of Rachel, an exceptionally capable maid.
"You make it sound like my competence is a surprise, Young Master. You don't have to look at me with such intensity~"
I gave her a thumbs-up and turned my attention back to the crystal ball.
Now... how did this thing work again?
I vaguely recalled my memories and channeled my mana into the artifact.
Soon, the crystal ball began to connect to somewhere.
"Young Master...? Who are you suddenly trying to contact...?"
"You'll find out when it connects."
*—Beep, beep, beep... Beep, beep, beep...*
As I listened to the crisp ringing tone, I gathered my thoughts.
The most important thing in this quest was...
To keep those around me safe.
Stopping the invasion and saving the Academy came second.
*I won't let anything happen to them...*
I muttered to myself, biting my nails.
There was no guarantee that people like Ariel, Lucy, and Rachel would be safe in the chaos three days from now.
Someone could get hurt... or even die.
*—Beep, beep, beep... Beep, beep, beep...*
This call I was making was a precaution.
The best way to ensure the safety of those around me in this chaotic situation was...
"Rachel, you and Ariel will be going back to the main residence for a few days."
"What...? S-Suddenly?"
"Yes, something came up."
To get them out of harm's way.
*—Beep, beep, beep... Click.*
The ringing tone cut off, and the call connected.
A gentle, elderly voice came through the crystal ball.
—{Head Butler Gilbert speaking.}
"It's been a while, old man."
—{This voice... Young Master...?}
"Yes, it's me."
A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I heard his voice after such a long time.
However, I quickly pushed it aside.
This was no time to be reminiscing.
"Old man, it's an emergency."
—{An emergency...?}
"So, could you please connect me to my father right away?"
.
.
.
My conversation with my father after almost half a year was incredibly awkward.
I couldn't help but fidget with my hands as the awkwardness washed over me.
—{...So, you suddenly called me just to say that?}
—{That you're sending Ariel and Rachel back to the main residence for a week?}
"Yes, that's right..."
My tongue felt heavy.
Was it because of the aversion I felt towards the word "father"?
It was a strangely difficult feeling to deal with.
—{After five months of no contact, no less.}*
"..."
—{Well, I won't scold you. I'm sure you have your reasons.}
"Thank you for understanding."
I tried my best to respond in a neutral tone.
I could feel cold sweat trickling down my back.
I should have contacted him at some point.
I had kept putting it off, thinking I'd do it later, and now it had come to this.
—{In any case, I understand your request.}
—{I'll send a carriage to the Academy tomorrow.}
"Thank you... Father."
He had agreed much more easily than I expected.
He didn't even ask why I was sending them back to the main residence.
‘Come to think of it... before he became a good-for-nothing, Raiden had his father's absolute trust.’
It seemed that my recent rise in reputation and the rumors circulating outside the Academy had helped to restore some of that lost trust.
I held the now-silent crystal ball in my hand, a strange mix of emotions swirling within me.
However, I quickly pulled myself together.
This was no time to be lost in thought.
Rachel and Ariel's safety had been secured, which left Lucy.
In that case, the next place I needed to contact was...
—{Bella, Head Maid of the Imperial Palace, speaking.}
"It's been a while, Bella."
—{...Young Master Lishite?}
"I'd love to chat, but I'm short on time... Could you connect me with His Majesty?"
—{His Majesty is currently in a meeting.}
"It's alright. Tell him I called, and I'm sure he'll take it."
Now then.
Time to call in a favor from our dear Emperor.
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Thanks for the chapter
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