Chapter 292: Equal Joy and Sorrow

“I’m buying ten!”

Fanny’s extravagantly bold voice carried over to Ariel’s side as well, making her look over in reflexive curiosity.

“Did that senior Fanny also make money?”

“And from the way she’s talking, she made it off this bet too?”

“How nice.”

This equal kind of happiness made Ariel smile knowingly. She couldn’t help wanting to go chat with that senior—since they’d be traveling together for quite a while, getting acquainted in advance wouldn’t be a bad idea.

But before she could step forward, a stern and familiar voice sounded behind her.

“Is everyone here?”

At some point, an elderly man in gentleman’s dress was standing among them. His eyes were weathered yet still sharp as they swept the group.

“Professor Prang?”

Looking at the elder who had suddenly appeared, Ariel felt a jolt of panic.

“You’re actually accompanying us yourself?”

“Not me.”

Professor Prang denied it:

“I only came to see you off after finishing my tasks—and to escort a certain troublesome fellow.”

“Mm?”

Before Ariel could figure out what he meant by “escort a certain troublesome fellow,” Liya beside her plucked up the courage to raise her hand and ask:

“Um... Professor Prang, aren’t we still missing one person?”

She had counted over and over; there were only six.

And, conveniently, the jerk wasn’t here.

“We are indeed short one, but he’ll be here very soon.”

“Professor Prang, I don’t seem to see any academy transport.”

Marshall, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and asked:

“Are we walking to the Holy City?”

“As for that, I think it should also arrive very soon.”

“Mm?”

Professor Prang’s answer left them a bit at a loss; from his tone, he didn’t seem all that sure either.

But before they could continue asking, exclamations rose from the surrounding crowd.

“L-look!”

“What is that?”

The especially wide street in front of the academy gate—broad enough for eight carriages abreast—suddenly turned noisy and chaotic after a burst of bells. The nobles who had been taking advantage of the moment to exchange polite small talk, as if seeing something shocking, changed expressions and urged their coachmen to clear the way at once.

Very soon, a road was forcibly opened through the street that had been jammed solid with carriages, and then a particularly splendid convoy began to roll in slowly from the far end.

There were six carriages in total. Each one was inlaid with ornate decorations; pale-gold tracery gleamed faintly even under the unimpressive winter sun.

From those pale-gold lines, everyone could clearly feel fluctuations of mana—there must be some kind of defensive magic laid over the exterior of the carriages.

But it wasn’t only the carriages themselves that shocked them. There were also the steeds pulling them.

Each of these steeds was notably larger than an ordinary horse. No coachman held their reins, yet their heads were high, their steps powerful, their eyes bright with intelligence—and beneath the flowing, wind-lifted manes, there was, in fact, a layer of menacing scales!

They didn’t look like horses so much as terrifying magical beasts.

Merely passing by, they made all the common horses around them tremble in their legs and kneel. Some even collapsed outright, white foam spilling from their mouths, which threw the surroundings into fresh confusion.

“Th-those are... dragon-blood subspecies?”

If there are dragons in the world,

then naturally there are subspecies bearing dragon blood.

Although dragons have mostly vanished from the world, because of a certain trait of theirs, the number of subspecies is not small.

And since they inherit dragon blood, those subspecies naturally inherit the ferocity and pride that come with it.

Thus, subspecies are generally extremely vicious magical beasts and exceedingly hard to tame.

And the kind that can be tamed usually signifies one word.

Expensive.

Extremely expensive.

Ariel remembered that her own father, a count, had a few prized steeds with traces of dragon blood. They were so precious that ordinary people weren’t even allowed a look.

But now, they were using such steeds to pull carriages?

And two steeds to a single carriage?

What extravagance!

Snapping back to herself, Ariel blurted in shock:

“Are those carriages what we’re taking this time?”

After a brief pause, everyone’s eyes converged on Professor Prang.

“Should be,” Professor Prang said, a bit surprised as he glanced at the last carriage and raised a brow. “I suppose so.”

“Nice!”

At those words, Ariel lit up with excitement.

Not only her—the others shook off the irritation of waiting and stared curiously at the carriages, especially at those dragon-blood steeds with their singular aura.

Who would’ve thought the academy would be this generous—even the carriages were so luxurious. Is this the treatment for top students? I love it, I love it!

The convoy rolled to a stop before them. Clearly, no coachman was driving, yet those fine steeds moved with the terrifying uniformity of soldiers under strict command.

Ariel rubbed her hands nervously and edged closer to those dragon-blood steeds worth a fortune, little stars already sparkling in her eyes.

Oh yes.

So good.

She’d thought the trip would be unbearably dull, but now, not only was that detestable guy not coming along, they’d be riding ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) such extravagant carriages!

Add to that the tidy profit she’d just made before departure—truly, is luck in this world balanced?

She hadn’t been able to make money before and had to eat black bread every day, but from this moment on, was her good luck finally here?

No more worrying about money every day, no more black bread every day!

This was just—

“I advise you not to touch them casually, Miss Ariel.”

Right then, a voice Ariel knew all too well—and absolutely did not want to hear—sounded by her ear.

“Even with special training, these dragon-blood horses are still very violent toward strangers, so be careful.”

At that voice, Ariel’s body jolted to a halt.

Her neck turned stiffly as she looked to her side.

The carriage curtain had been lifted, and a handsome face came into view. That head of golden hair like sunset spill was even more dazzling than the luxurious carriage beside it.

“W-what?”

Staring at that familiar face, Ariel went blank, muttering:

“M-Muen Campbell? Why... why are you here?”

“Hm? Of course I’m here.”

Muen looked puzzled.

“You know this already—I’m on the roster too, so naturally I’m going to the Holy City.”

“I know, but you...”

Weren’t you supposed to be defeated and lose your spot?

Don’t tell me that in seven whole days, among the hundreds at the academy who met the conditions, not a single one managed to beat you?

And if you’re here, then those gambling dogs on the rooftop just now, and that senior who made a fortune...

Ariel whipped her head around.

The gambling dogs were still weeping bitterly on the rooftop. And Senior Fanny... was hurrying over with an excited face, shyly saying:

“Junior Muen, c-can I be your fan from now on? Forever?”

“Huh?”

Muen looked utterly at a loss, with no idea what was happening.

But in that instant, Ariel understood everything.

Her happiness and Senior Fanny’s were not equal.

What was equal to hers was the sorrow of those gambling dogs on the rooftop.