I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

84. The best thing to shake is the one that is already shaking

After finishing all the schedules in Aquitelo, Luna and I boarded the ship again.

Although there was one time when Luna-san tried to get the same room as me instead of getting a different room during the process of choosing the ship’s cabin (she explained that it was a mistake, perhaps because she was flustered, even though I didn’t say anything), overall, everything went smoothly.

The ship we both took was one that went from Architelos to the Imperial Capital via the Academy. As soon as I got on the ship, I looked at her, whose hair had turned pink again, as if the magic had been lifted, and said.

“Oh, but I don’t get off at the Academy Pier.”

At those words, Luna frowned and looked at me. I smiled at her and said.

“Oh, it’s nothing special. I have some business to attend to in the capital. I’ve already contacted the principal, so don’t worry about it and just get off first.”

After hearing that, Luna seemed to hesitate for a moment to say something, but then nodded and went into the room.

I looked at the sight for a moment, then I went into the room.

“It’s been so long since we started living together, but the room already feels spacious.”

I said that, fell down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling. Was there anything left to do?

“I have finished reporting on what happened in Architelos, and I have also been given permission to go and see to business in the capital.”

Well, I guess I could say that I’ve pretty much finished everything I had to do. I smiled with satisfaction and went to sleep.

…

Luna stared blankly at the ceiling. And then, she felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness.

Clearly, the work of watching him was over. At this point, I could confidently say that my work was done, and not only that, I would no longer have to share an uncomfortable room with another man.

But, even so, is it inevitable that I will feel empty and cold because of the familiarity that has seeped in like rainwater?

Luna looked at her bed. Normally, she would have rolled around on the bed, thinking that now that she was done with work, she should rest comfortably. However,

“…Was the bed originally this wide?”

If you think about it, why are you so shameless about saying ‘I don’t care’? After spending over a week together, and directly touching each other, how can you cut off that kind of relationship so easily, to that man?

As the thought reached that point, Luna suddenly felt aggrieved. She grumbled without realizing it.

“…Anyway, I wonder if he’s some kind of evil guy who hangs around here and there, saying nice things and taking advantage of people.”

Luna, who had said that, suddenly felt something strange.

Wasn’t he the kind of person you didn’t like that much anyway? But now that the time you spent with him is over, are you feeling annoyed and regretful?

She frowned. No, that can’t be. If they were to respond so lightly first, then I should do the same. In the first place, there was no need to have an emotional exchange with them.

I tried to think like that alone, but in the end, after the torrent of emotions passed, all that remained was the silence and emptiness of the room where I was alone.

Luna sighed and looked up at the ceiling. The ship was magically free of motion sickness, and the room was comfortable and cozy.

But, in the end… it was true that I couldn’t help but feel a little regret.

And then, at that moment.

There was a knock on the door. Luna wondered what was going on, but opened the door anyway.

In front of him stood Eden Cainus.

“I thought about it and realized that I haven’t eaten yet. Let’s eat together.”

… Now that I think about it, I feel a little hungry.

However, Luna bounced back once.

“If you’re hungry, you can just eat by yourself.”

Then Eden shrugged his shoulders and answered.

“Hey, but we’ve been together for a few days, so we have feelings for each other. That’s too rude of you to say.”

As he said that, he extended his hand to Luna. Looking at his hand, she snorted.

Their hands met and the woman’s new body crossed the line.

…

I landed at the port of the imperial capital, smiled contentedly, and picked up a newspaper.

[The main character of the Magic Tower presentation, colluding with the Mines]

Oh, just looking at the title of the article, it was quite provocative and satisfied me.

“good.”

I said that and started walking while looking at the newspaper. At the end of my steps, a carriage was waiting.

“Get in.”

Seris spoke to me. I took her hand and climbed into the carriage.

“It seems the reaction in the imperial capital is stronger than expected.”

Then, Seris looked at me with her orange eyes, and the corners of her eyes arched gently.

“Of course. Everyone knows that the Emperor and Eden are not on good terms. Even if Eden were to collude with the Mines, there would be no reason to call him a traitor, so the Emperor’s faction would be extremely frustrated.”

I had already clearly stated that I would not sell the artifacts I had created to the Emperor’s faction. Because of that, even though it was not a large number, there must have been some level of anxiety among the Emperor’s faction nobles.

Of course I know. If the method of using this magic is leaked, I will be like a kite with a broken string. However, I don’t have to fear that anymore.

Because I had burned all the materials I had prepared while studying magic. Now, Professor Cordelia and I were the only ones who knew the exact information about the ‘Gourmet’s’ magic.

And, I was sure. I was sure that Professor Cordelia would not betray me. How could I live in this world if I worried about being betrayed by someone like that in the first place?

… Of course, I have thought the same thing about Ariel, but I guess we should leave that out of the discussion since the situation is different from Ariel’s in many ways.

Well, anyway. By coincidence, the situation is going very well. In this situation, doing nothing is like missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How charming it is that no one can blame me for making irresponsible mistakes against the royal family.

I looked at Seris and said.

“I’m trying to contact the press. Is that okay?”

Seris nodded at my words.

“Yes, of course. I’ve already finished preparing, so just contact me as soon as you arrive at the mansion.”

The first revenge I took against the Emperor was through the press. To be honest, you might think it was small compared to what I suffered, but you don’t know.

‘The press is a major axis responsible for public opinion in the empire.’

There are two ways to shape public opinion in the empire: through the interaction of nobles at banquets and other meeting places, and through the press. The press is more influential, mainly targeting the common people, but in the current situation, it is a different story.

Even without that, the Emperor’s faction has shown that I harbor a grudge against them, so the Emperor’s faction has become a little less united. In this situation, I can’t help but be concerned when I see a provocative article title.

Even though the media already realized that articles about me are profitable, all the media outlets are churning out articles about me.

In this situation, it was safe to say that there was nothing the Emperor could do since even the justification was with me.

Even the media companies were so powerful that they could not easily suppress the emperor. In a situation where the history of some media companies is a joke that goes back hundreds of years, no matter how great the power is, it is impossible to lightly ignore that much history.

In this situation, if I had to do something, there’s only one thing.

It’s refreshing to give reporters a heads-up about something that will make headlines.

In addition, Seris faithfully served as my agent when I was away from the capital, and as a result, I was able to communicate directly with the press.

I looked at Seris and smiled.

“I really feel like I only get help from you.”

Then Seris shook her head.

“What is it? Your very existence is a source of strength to me.”

At those words, I continued to gaze at Ceres’ appearance.

If you can’t even take advantage of all this help, then there’s no one more idiot than you.

As soon as I arrived at Count Darin’s mansion, I began talking to representatives of the press through the crystal ball.

The next day, articles about me that were starting to cool down began to explode again with hot headlines.

[Eden Cainus, massive supply of artifacts to Architelos… to the Empire? ‘There will be no more deliveries to the Empire.’]

[The magic developer of the century who should have been a national hero, turns his back on the empire!]

[There is no ‘devourer’ magic in the Empire.]

The content of the articles was all the same and clear.

I said that I would no longer distribute artifacts to the Empire.