Chapter 47- The Escape Plan (4)
Dione, the boy’s current guardian, wrote an identification letter and paid the bail to release Clayo from confinement. And she brought along a huge basket full of food and a champagne bottle for the knights to apologize for the trouble her charge caused.
“When the mansion was turned upside down the day you ran away, a maid named Mira approached me and confessed about your one thousand dinars offer. She said you left the cat as if you were planning to go away and not return. So, as a reward, I gave her two thousand dinars for telling the truth. After all, if it wasn’t for her, the whole kingdom would be turned upside down with reports of your kidnapping.”
On their way back to the capital, Dione guffawed periodically as she teased the boy who hasn’t taken a bath for almost 10 days since his detention. Ignoring the amused laughter at his expense as well as her words, Clayo rubbed his arms, wishing for a bath to feel better.
While on their way returning to the capital, Dione intermittently laughs inside the carriage. She seemed to be over the moon since she had gotten her revenge after 10 days of hard work tracking Clayo.
“Truly, young master! I’ve to give you credit where it’s due. To think that you managed to slip away from me, Dione Gray. Nevertheless, Baron Asser has given you full discretion to act as you see fit. So, he must be proud of you recovering your honor.”
“… What did my father say?”
“He didn’t react at all, as usual. Why? Are you scared now?”
“It’s not like that…”
“Well, I suppose this is enough for now. Your father said he didn’t blame me. Moreover, he still pays me even if you weren’t there! Anyway, did you have fun playing outside while causing huge trouble for many people?”
“……. ”
“I feel that the young master is an amazingly smart kid since I had never expected I would take so long to find a boy like you. But I guess you haven’t heard rumours that Baron Asser’s investigative unit is quite superior to the Secret Intelligence Service under Prince Melchior.”
That’s it! Jeongjin’s eyes light up in realization. Come to think of it; it should be obvious. The knights are not investigators, so how did they manage to catch my tail? Father’s company must have had an investigation unit or something.
“Does he, like, run a dark organization or something?”
“Not really, your father’s water business constantly makes a huge profit each year. So, there is no need for him to smuggle anything. Besides, it’s not easy to hire the ‘Apostle’. Anyway, information is money. As such, no one can avoid Baron Asser’s eyes anywhere on Dernier.”
That is to say, he would hire the apostle if he needed it, huh?
At this point, Clayo was tired, angry, and dismayed. He buried his head between his knees and lamented silently. He had never expected that his plan to run away was thwarted because of his father’s influence over the continent. And he had never expected that he would allow Dione to use that influence to trace his whereabouts.
“By the way, young master. Why would you want to run away when you have a nice mansion that is located in a luxurious area in the West Bank? Depending on your answer, I may just leave a good word for you to your father.”
“… I just don’t want to join the army.”
Clayo answered, cutting the long story short because he felt that giving a long explanation was annoying.
Hearing the answer that came from Clayo, Dione froze slightly. She simply couldn’t understand Clayo’s train of thought. And Clayo couldn’t explain to her about how he, as a former Korean, felt in regard to his father’s ambitions being foisted on him. He couldn’t tell her how he feels about having a supporting role in a novel; much less tell her that he didn’t want to get caught up in the main character’s fate.
And he didn’t know how to explain to her about him testing the author’s limitation. As such, not having the same basis, Dione was unable to understand Clayo and his acts. Thus, everything he had done left the lady feeling utterly flummoxed.
“What?”
This time, Dione’s surprise was not a pretense. She was truly shocked as her eyes momentarily widened. Then, she folded her hand fan with a snap and continued to listen to Clayo’s explanation.
“I tried to drop out of the school because I hate having to go through military service. However, father said that if I drop out, he will immediately enlist me into the army.”
Dione silently put down her hand fan on her lap and put her hand to her forehead. She looked out the carriage at the distant mountain before turning her focus back at Clayo, eyes filled with pity.
“Young master, I thought you are a smart lad… but you actually didn’t have a brain, did you? Look at me, young master. Look at Dione Gray, a graduate in the year of 972. And did I go to the army after I graduate?”
It was only when she asked that question to Clayo that he realized that this woman was also an alumnus. Clayo thought back and remembered what she said before. She was five years older than him. And this year, she had reached twenty-two. Considering her age, she was supposed to be in the mandatory service right now, but it didn’t seem to be the case for her since she was working for Baron Asser.
“Students majoring in magic are exempt from compulsory military service if they are in the top three of their grade on the graduation day. They are able to choose to become a researcher or work for an industry depending on their wish. And that’s why I’m able to work in your father’s company in the past two years.”
Clayo’s head rose abruptly at Dione’s explanation, mouth slightly agape due to shock.
“Anyway, the number of students majoring in magic is most likely less than ten students. Do you really think it would be hard to get into the top three?”
No one had ever told Clayo about that. That little tidbit didn’t even appear in the novel. Though, it was no wonder that it wasn’t mentioned. After all, Arthur’s colleagues were all knights who went through military service with him!
“Besides, why do you think there’s a separate division for wizards and prosecutors in the first place? It is because each side has their own roles to fulfill.”
Dione explained patiently with a friendly tone as befitted of her role as his personal tutor.
“The prosecutors are people who use their ether in conjunction with their bodies. As such, they have to go through physical training first before they are able to use their ether.”
With every explanation Dione gave, Clayo felt like his intelligence was questioned and found wanting.
“On the other hand, the wizard’s circle is greatly influenced by their natural aptitude. And even if they can circulate their ether in a steady manner, they can’t realize the circle in real life constantly. Therefore, it was difficult to train wizards. So, will the kingdom treat both equally?”
The reason why he wanted to drop out from the school was not only because he wanted to avoid compulsory military service. Nevertheless, it was still the central motivation behind it. Thus, finding out the fact that his efforts were done in vain, Clayo slumped back on the wagon’s seat. And the light in his eyes numbed over as he internalized Dione’s words to his world view.