I crossed my arms and took in the sight of the table.
Two teacups.
In front of the half-empty cup belonging to Henji, my cup was full, with a fine layer of dust settling on it from time to time.
As I took in this scene, I reviewed the memories of my past life.
'Yes, then everything fits.'
The fall of the Blando family.
No matter how many times I reconsidered the events, Henji's research was always at the heart of it.
It wasn't just a guess based on Henji's claims.
Found a way to perfect it? This kind of self-assurance is quite common among scholars.
No matter how perfect a theory may seem, one cannot claim true perfection until the research is concluded.
But.
'The timing is just right.'
It was too coincidental.
The Deculan family, which had to endure significant losses to bring down the Blando family.
When they say 'significant,' it was to the point where Deculan's very existence was in jeopardy at the time.
Who would have imagined that the great Deculan, the family that was expected to remain the foremost magical house in the eastern continent forever, would fall into ruin after a meaningless war of attrition with Blando!
The gossips ridiculed Deculan's head, Fahern, as a fool.
Even the loyal mages, unable to avoid the inevitable decline, gradually turned their backs on the family and left.
It was a foregone conclusion that Deculan would fade into history like any other prestigious family, but...
'It took only five years.'
Exactly five years.
The time it took for Deculan to recover its former glory and once again stand as the foremost magical house in the eastern continent.
And—
'Fahern was recognized as the strongest in history around that time.'
Those who don't know the full story say:
Fahern, who had driven his family to ruin, achieved the status of the strongest in history to make up for his mistakes and set everything right.
But, having witnessed Deculan's decline and resurgence with my own eyes, I know.
'It's not like that.'
The premise is wrong.
'Did Fahern make a mistake? No way. Who would offer the position of a high priest to someone who massacred their family's mages?'
Deculan's head may have been unlucky, but his abilities and decisiveness were commendable.
I didn't know this in my past life, but now I can be certain.
'He was from the beginning...'
My eyes, which had been on the teacup, turned to Henji.
'He saw some potential in the New Heavenly Origin Technique.'
The New Heavenly Origin Technique, which was newly revealed during Deculan's decline after the fall of the Blando family, was a refined version of the Heavenly Origin Technique.
Something that perfectly addressed the existing flaws of the Heavenly Origin Technique.
Deculan's rapid rise from decline in just five years, and Head Fahern's breakthrough of a stagnant plateau to become the strongest in history.
All of this was possible because of the New Heavenly Origin Technique.
"Aster?"
I gathered my thoughts at the sound of Henji's voice.
"Are you regretting it? After all, the scale is quite large. Ha ha, if you're uncomfortable, I can make your death less painful."
"......"
As I glared at him silently, Henji gave an awkward smile.
"So, why did you come to me?"
"Well, actually, I didn't inform my family about the research on the Heavenly Origin Technique."
"The talk about Blando's fate hanging in the balance was a lie, then."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I just wanted to see what kind of person Aster is. The more provocative the question, the better it reveals a person's desires."
Henji gave a sly smile and continued.
"Anyway, that's why I can't use anyone from Blando. And, to be honest, I don't know who the informants are."
"If the secret research was exposed, isn't there someone you suspect?"
My words were aimed at the secretary.
"Ah, I understand what you're thinking, but that's probably not it. To be precise, it's related to the acquisition route..."
In other words, it wasn't exposed during the research process but traced back through the acquisition route.
By the time I heard this, I understood the situation.
"You deliberately leaked the information."
"Ha ha, that's right. Talking to you, Aster, is quite entertaining. As soon as I realized I was caught, I revealed part of the formula for the improvement. I don't want to die, after all..."
Deculan probably prepared an assassination as soon as they caught on.
No matter how prestigious the Blando family was, they couldn't be immune to all assassinations.
And no matter how formidable their defenses were, Deculan would have found a way to break through. Their tenacity was even more relentless than a starving goblin.
"Then, why not join Deculan? They would welcome you."
"Me, join Deculan? As a deputy head and blood relative of Blando? Ha ha, Aster, you have a free spirit. Well, I haven't completely dismissed the idea. However..."
"However?"
"Let's just say there are personal reasons. Ha ha."
I couldn't tell what those reasons were, but it didn't seem like he was just making excuses.
If he were, he would have said something like, "How could you betray your family?" Of course, it wouldn't have affected me.
"And continuing the research... I need Aster's help with this part."
"I can't read."
"......?"
"I can't be an assistant."
"......Ah, yes. A funny joke."
He usually breaks jokes, but this time he took it seriously.
After a moment,
"Really, you don't know?"
"......"
I didn't respond.
A moment of silence fell between us.
I spoke when I saw a deep look of pity in Henji's eyes, as if he were looking at a pitiful, uncivilized person.
"I can read."
"......Ignorance is not shameful."
"Shut up..."
Henji finally withdrew his pity and laughed, "Ha ha."
"Yes, I understand. I was joking. Even if you can read, this is quite a complex task. Assigning it to Aster... Ha ha."
I almost punched him but held back.
"Actually, this research is a collaborative effort."
"Collaborative effort?"
"Ah, don't worry. I'm working with a trustworthy friend. Anyway, the part I'm responsible for is difficult to advance. So I need to send a paper to my friend..."
In other words,
"I need someone I can trust."
"Yes, to be honest, I didn't need someone I could trust. As long as it could be sent secretly, it could be used and discarded. The first question was to gauge that standard..."
A sly look appeared in Henji's eyes.
"An unexpected success. To find a friend who understands me so well."
"Why am I your friend?"
"Then, shall we speak more formally?"
"Friend."
Regardless of age, especially considering my age in my past life, speaking formally to him felt awkward.
Especially to a snake like him, it felt bad.
"Anyway, I hope Aster can deliver the paper to my friend. I'll provide proper compensation. A healing light incantation should be suitable..."
Henji said this and picked up the secret book on the table.
Whoosh—
A sudden burst of flames.
As Henji extended his hand, a book floated up from the shelf and was drawn into his hand.
"......"
I silently took in the scene, understanding its significance.
"Of course, it's a fake."
"Did you notice? Ha ha, it seemed a waste to give the real healing light incantation to someone who would be used and discarded. Though it's not completely useless..."
So, Henji had prepared a deceptive deal from the beginning.
"This is the original."
"Sure, it is."
I could tell it was the original just by looking at it.
The surface bore the seal that only the head of the Blando family could use.
While not all books without a seal were fake, the presence of a seal guaranteed authenticity.
The flow of mana on the seal's surface was proof of its authenticity.
"But, is it okay to give it to me?"
I said with a nonchalant look.
In prestigious families, when distributing secrets to blood relatives, they stamp a seal.
Each seal has a unique number to identify the owner.
'It also prevents leaks.'
The seal is enchanted with ancient magic, so anyone who reads a sealed book cannot transfer its contents to the outside by any means.
They can only reflect on and use it alone.
Additionally, if the book is opened without inputting the owner's mana pattern, the contents are immediately erased.
"Hmm, for a street urchin, you know a lot. I didn't expect you to know about the seal. Well, let's call it an investment for trust."
"Investment..."
"Now, aren't we in the same boat? Just as you trusted me, I need to show some trust. You understand what this means, right?"
"I get it. It's a ticket to trade for your head. But, are you going to unlock the pattern?"
"The pattern is already unlocked. Anyway, if you take this to the family's inspection department, they can trace the owner by the seal's number. And I... Ha ha!"
Thinking about it now, there's no one as crazy as him.
No matter how much he likes someone, to entrust his life to a stranger... Well, it's not exactly entrusting.
'There are ways to recover it.'
For Henji, it was a risky move, but it earned him some trust.
"But, in the same boat..."
I fell into thought.
To be honest, what I'm currently learning is the Heavenly Origin Technique.
But...
'The old version, before it was improved.'
When the New Heavenly Origin Technique appeared, I secretly took the old version from the family archives during my troubleshooter days.
However, the old version was not lacking in any way. It was just that the improved version was overwhelmingly better.
'Anyway, I was planning to get the New Heavenly Origin Technique later.'
It was so far in the future that I had forgotten about it.
But now that I have the opportunity to get the New Heavenly Origin Technique right in front of me...
"Let's do this."
"......?"
"I'll take the risk of the healing light incantation and the New Heavenly Origin Technique when it's completed. If you insist, I can give up the healing light incantation. If we're in the same boat, I can do that, right?"
Henji looked at me with a blank expression.
"Aster, you're quite bold."
"Just tell me. If it's not possible, I won't take it."
"Hmm."
Henji let out a light hum and tapped the table with his fingertips.
He seemed to be thinking, but fortunately, it didn't take long.
"Alright. The New Heavenly Origin Technique... well, the name doesn't matter. I'll give you the New Heavenly Origin Technique when it's completed. However, I don't understand why. Even if you receive it, it will be useless unless you learn the Heavenly Origin Technique."
"You don't need to know that."
"However, there is a condition. I may need Aster's help until this research paper is completed. I hope you can help when the time comes... If we're in the same boat, you can do that, right?"
It wasn't a difficult request.
"Help with the paper, that's all. By the way, I can't read."
"......Bold and boring."
It was a joke, but Henji's reaction was terrible. But it's fine. I didn't intend to make him laugh.
It was a joke for my own amusement.
I straightened my posture and asked,
"So."
"......?"
"Who should I deliver it to? I need to handle it quickly before I enter the academy, so tell me quickly."
At my question, Henji smiled in a way that seemed suspicious.
It was a creepy smile, and I wanted to punch him, but I suppressed the urge.
"Well, this is quite a coincidence. Actually, there's no rush. The friend is where Aster is going."
"......?"
If I decided where to go, the closest place would be the annex where I'm staying, and the farthest would be the academy.
Then...
"Yes, that's right. Deliver the paper to Professor Falun at Jenion Academy."
I silently looked at Henji.
"......? What is it?"
"Nothing."
Suddenly, I thought:
People tend to gather with those similar to themselves.
This applies not only to humans but also to monsters.
Even among goblins, those who like swamps live in swamps, and those who like mountains live in mountains. They group together based on their inclinations.
"An old friend?"
"From the time we were assistant professors at the academy, my friend and I were always competing for the top two spots. Unfortunately, the competition ended when I returned to Blando..."
His confident expression seemed to say, 'But I was always better.'
I couldn't help but sigh.
Because it meant there was another crazy person at the academy.
Of course, he would be good at hiding his madness like Henji.
But, even so, it was a burden for someone like me.