Chapter 434: The Path to Surpass (2)

Words : 2273 Updated : Oct 18th, 2025

"What?" The expressions of the students subtly changed and everyone felt something off about Rudger's words. Belatedly, one incident flashed through their minds. "The Wakpala Massacre..." The Wakpala Massacre was an incident where frontier soldiers and mercenaries annihilated a beastkin tribe, causing quite significant repercussions. Fighting between beastkin and frontier people wasn't anything new. However, this incident was heavily publicized because a historian got involved and did something serious, namely, the act of historical distortion. "In the Wakpala Massacre, a total of 300 beastkin tribe members died. Among them, more than 150 were children and elderly. They were mercilessly purged under false accusations of eating humans." What's more surprising was that the beastkin tribe that died was actually very friendly towards humans. "Why did such a thing happen?" Asked Tracy, who was lacking knowledge in this area and Leo answered her question. "Because of a gold mine." "A gold mine?" "Yes. There was a gold mine near the land where the tribe members lived. When people tried to buy the mining rights, the beastkin refused, saying they couldn't give up the land inherited from their ancestors. But people didn't give up." Rudger continued the explanation. "However, they couldn't freely harm the beastkin due to the treaty at the time. It was after the racial war, so even minor conflicts were being hushed up. So they changed their approach through malicious distortion of information." That's when historian Jayden Rumpal stepped in. He was a renowned scholar who had studied the history and culture of different races and compiled them into books. The academic world highly valued his papers and materials, and he was famous for never being involved in any controversy. "Why would such a person do something like that...?" "Because he lacked funding." Jayden had failed several times to get the funding needed for his research. As he became anxious, someone proposed a dirty deal to him. It was a request to write a column exposing the cannibalistic practices of a beastkin tribe. Adding that they would provide the massive funds needed for research if he just did that. Jayden didn't refuse the proposal. "He immediately wrote a denouncement of the man-eating beastkin. Using his authority, he incited people by claiming that the innocent tribe ate humans and danced heretical dances. How do you think people reacted to that news?" "..." It was the words of an authority that was said to have no equal in the history of races and no one doubted his words. There were some who said they should properly verify the facts but their opinions were silenced by the massive trend. The pioneers' massacre driven by gold lust was transformed into the execution of justice against evil cannibals. That's how 300 people died, without discrimination between the elderly and children. Although the truth was revealed later, the dead beastkin couldn't come back. "Even now, beastkin are called barbaric. While elves and dwarves each have their merits, they say beastkin don't. When it's just cultural differences." Leo flinched at Rudger's words. The image of Iona flashed through Leo's mind. "What this incident tells us is clear. Authority is not truth. Those in authority are not always benevolent. They can spread lies anytime for their own desires." "But there are people who don't do that." "That's probably true. In terms of ratio, there might be more people who don't. But this still happened. Why do you think that is? It's because no one was wary of such situations." Rudger's gaze turned to the students who had received his source code magic. "I have only one thing to say to you. Don't let my authority rot my magic." Rudger's words were truly funny. He told magicians not to acknowledge his magic and rather actively encouraged modification but Rudger thought this was right. It's a really good thing for an educator to guide someone but they can't keep guiding forever. "I make mistakes too because I'm human. I'm not always right. Sometimes I might lead you down the wrong path." Such a one-sided relationship eventually hits its limits and easily breaks down. What's important is figuring out how to walk on your own. In a long journey, sometimes leading and sometimes being led. Sometimes fighting and sometimes holding hands. And someday he hopes they surpass him, becoming the leaders of a new era, guiding the next people, and teaching them how to move forward. That was what Rudger wanted most as an educator. "Keep doubting. Challenge and achieve. You can create better magic." Everyone was speechless at that solemn declaration. "That's all I wanted to say. You may go now." * * * Tracy and Leo walked together in the hallway after leaving the faculty office. Tracy asked Leo, who had been maintaining silence. "What are you going to do now?" It was a question with quite a lot of implied meaning but Leo answered indifferently. "Not much to do. I didn't receive all the framework pieces of the source code anyway." "I could teach you?" Tracy cautiously brought it up. She had consistently ranked high enough to obtain all four framework pieces. If she wanted to, she could pass on the framework pieces Leo was missing, though it would take time. "I didn't work hard because I desperately wanted that." "Then?" "I just wanted to prove my worth. And to bring down the noble bastards who act all high and mighty just because of their family name." That's why Leo wasn't particularly regretful about not getting the source code. "Really? You sure you don't want me to teach you?" "I said I don't need it." Tracy pouted her lips. She finally had a chance to tease Leo, but as expected, he wouldn't fall for it easily. Of course, if Leo asked, she really would have taught him. Although she obtained this purely through her own ability, there was no reason she couldn't teach a friend. "More importantly, vacation is coming soon. Time really flies." "It sure does." "Leo. Do you have any plans for the vacation?" "Me? Not really. At most, I might visit home once to meet family." "Same here. As for Aidan..." "That guy will probably go up to his hometown once too. Didn't he say he has a lot of younger siblings? Must have been tough for him." "Siblings..." Tracy murmured that word. "What? Were you an only child?" "Of course. How could fallen nobility have other siblings in the first place?" "...That's a funny prejudice that fallen nobles must be only children. Well, still congratulations. You're closer to rebuilding your family now that you've gotten the source code." "That's fortunate." Tracy replied like that and then suddenly asked. "By the way, what Professor Rudger said. Do you think it's true?" "What, the source code?" "No, not that. You know, that thing." "Ah. You mean the Wakpala Massacre? Why suddenly bring that up?" "Because I didn't know that such a horrible thing happened. The perception of beastkin is still bad so I wonder if Iona has been enduring such gazes all along." "..." Leo closed his mouth when Iona's name came up. It's not that Leo hadn't thought about Iona. If asked whether he sympathized with her situation, the answer would certainly be yes but Leo didn't speak it out loud. "Don't bring that up in front of Iona." "What? Why not?" "Because she wouldn't want to receive sympathy, at least not from friends." "..." Tracy opened her eyes in surprise at those words. "...You're right. I was being thoughtless." "As long as you understand." "What? Would it kill you to speak more nicely?" Soon after, the two joined up with Aidan and Iona who were waiting for them. The four of them had student-like conversations about what they would do during vacation. That's when Iona, who had been quiet, spoke up. "I'm planning to go back to my hometown during vacation too." If that was all she said, they would have just accepted it. She had been living in the foreign land of Theon, so she would need to see her family's faces at least once but Iona's following words were enough to surprise the other three. "My father says he wants to invite you three." Quite some time had passed since they became close, so the three knew Iona's position among the beastkin, and who her father was. Iona's father was the chief leading the largest tribe among current beastkin. * * * A coffee cup was placed in front of Rudger, who remained in the faculty office organizing materials. He could tell without looking that Sedina had brought him coffee. "I don't drink much." Rudger said that while taking a sip of coffee. Sedina stood silently in place, watching Rudger without a word. This kind of relationship between them had long since become familiar daily life. "Sedina. Vacation is coming up, do you have any separate plans?" "I don't. I'm thinking of just staying in the dormitory." "I see." Sedina could understand why Rudger asked her such a question. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm doing well. Of course, I don't plan to stay only in Theon. I intend to continue maintaining connections with the U.N. Owen people down in Leathervelk." "That's good then. I was being unnecessarily meddlesome." Actually, Rudger himself had been wondering why he was concerned about Sedina. Was it because something didn’t feel right? The moment he saw Sedina, a subtle anxiety that tickled his mind was felt and Rudger didn't take that lightly. "Sedina. Has anyone been watching you lately?" "Pardon?" Although Sedina wondered why Rudger was asking such a question, she answered diligently. "No one has." "Are you sure?" "I basically pay special attention to not being noticed by others. Secrecy is essential when gathering information." "Hmm. Is that so?" Despite hearing Sedina's confident answer, something still didn't sit right with Rudger. Sedina couldn't understand why Rudger was acting this way. "I understand. You may go now. Since there won't be any class-related matters going forward, I recommend taking sufficient rest during this opportunity." Rudger said that while getting up from his seat. "Where are you going?" "I have something to check." Rudger put on his coat. His destination was the hideout in Leathervelk. * * * ~A massive underground cavity within the Exilion Empire's capital~ At its center, surrounded by strict security, existed a giant World Tree root and there was an elf connecting to that root. "Ungh." The elf, Bellaruna, removed her hand from the World Tree root. She could barely remember how many days she had been stuck to the World Tree already. "Are you okay?" The one asking after Bellaruna's wellbeing was Madeline, who served as Bellaruna's guard and supervisor. "I-It's just because I stayed connected to the World Tree for too long." "That can happen?" "Originally, elves who haven't received permission can't connect to the World Tree. If you keep moving around bypassing that, it causes severe mental fatigue." Bellaruna said that while taking out an energy bar from her pouch and chewing it down. "Plus, they noticed traces of my previous connection and put special focus on security." "Security?" "The Elf Kingdom, I mean. I tried to peek slightly at what's happening there but it's not easy." At those words, Madeline opened her eyes wide in surprise. Considering the distance between the empire's capital and the Elf Kingdom, there should be no way to find that out. Perhaps it showed on her expression so Bellaruna continued her explanation. "T-The World Trees, though individual, are connected like a dense net through their roots. What we call a network." "Then, through this World Tree, you can connect all the way to the Elf Kingdom's World Tree?" "That's right. So I tried to do that, but they're blocking access from this side over there. Even the information stored in this dead World Tree has various seals placed on it." "So just as we can tamper with it from this side, they can do the same from the other side." "That's why I've been stuck here for days, but now I've properly gotten a handle on it. One more time, and I should be able to break through." Although Madeline was ignorant about World Trees, she knew how amazing Bellaruna was. To begin with, it was amazing for a common elf to connect to the World Tree. However she not only secretly connected by breaking through the defenses of the noble elves who control the World Tree, but even tried to access sealed information? With her haggard appearance, stuttering speech, and dark circles under her eyes, she thought what a strange elf but her abilities were certainly real. 'No wonder that man keeps her around.' Madeline nodded as if understanding. Meanwhile, having replenished her energy, Bellaruna again placed her palm on the dead World Tree to attempt connection. Madeline wondered how long she would last this time but Bellaruna regained consciousness earlier than expected. "...Ah. This is a big problem." "Did something happen?" "Yes. This has gotten quite serious." To Madeline’s question of what exactly it was, Bellaruna said in a dumbfounded tone. "It seems the Elf Kingdom is preparing for war."

Chapter 434: The Path to Surpass (2)

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