episode_0070

000

It was around the time Kleon returned to Lyla’s mansion that the sun was crossing the horizon.

It was the time of day when the surrounding colors were tinged with orange and shadows were lengthening.

The hustle and bustle of the weekend gradually subsides.

It calms down to a level that is a little more lively than usual.

Compared to the city of Elesia, where Kleon and his party originally lived,

The fact that the laughter of young children is heard much more than the shouts of adults

Reminds us once again that this is a school.

He quietly opens the front door and walks inside.

He passes through the hallway and arrives at the living room.

There, Lyla has various documents spread out on the living room table.

And is making groaning noises.

She is wearing the same pajama dress she was wearing this morning.

She must have been wrestling with books and papers all day without going outside.

And yet, some researchers look for ways to achieve immortality because they are short on time….

Kleon opened his mouth, worrying that Lyla might go that far.

“Research in the living room, that’s unusual.”

“Yeah… I was feeling a bit stuffy…. Ah, Kleon. You’re back.”

Only then did Lyla realize Kleon’s return and turned to look at him.

When Kleon nodded lightly, Lyla stretched and leaned back on the sofa.

“Then it’s already dinner time. Ah. Did you enjoy the after?”

Lyla glanced at the clock and spoke nonchalantly.

“…Why do you know that?”

“After” must be referring to going to “that place” with Aruru.

Of course, he was late getting home, but….

“Sasha told me. She saw Kleon entering the ‘castle’ in District R with a blonde woman.”

Come to think of it, she said she was going to the free market with her friends today.

I never imagined that she would witness that scene.

“Um… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? I know that catering to her feelings is part of getting her consent.”

Lyla gave a wry smile at Kleon’s apology and glanced upstairs.

“…But. Quon seemed a little angry, didn’t she?”

“Quon….”

The moment Kleon answered.

“Kleon~~~!!”

A thunderous voice came from the top of the stairs.

There, Quon was coming down the stairs with a very angry face.

Her large breasts shook every time she came down the stairs at a slightly faster pace.

“I heard from Sasha! That you went to a place called ‘Love Nest’ with Aruru! And you were holding arms intimately!”

“Ah, ah. Sorry. That’s…”

“What are you going to do if Sasha becomes interested in such places! It’s not good for the emotional education of a curious adolescent!”

“So that’s the reason….”

Kleon sighed as he watched Quon speaking from a completely Sasha-mother-like perspective.

Sasha peeks out from behind Quon.

She looks a little apologetic and makes eye contact with Kleon.

Kleon could only give a wry smile.

“Don’t laugh while you’re being scolded~!”

Chatter, chatter. Chitter, chatter.

In the end, he ended up listening to a long, long lecture from Quon on the spot.

001

After that, the four of them sit down at the table together and have dinner as usual.

“Where’s Galatea?”

“She’s resting after the checkup during the day. She must be tired from looking around so thoroughly.”

When Lyla said that, Kleon’s gaze also turned to the upper floor where Galatea was.

“How is she doing?”

“Galatea and the baby in her womb are healthy. Rather, I think the rate of growth is too fast. I guess what’s inside isn’t human after all.”

On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be any change.

But according to Lyla, what’s inside Galatea is slowly increasing its magical power reaction.

And the current amount of magical power has already exceeded the level of most magical tools.

Because it’s not a “human” or a “living thing”, Galatea’s belly doesn’t swell.

Lyla and Galatea could not predict when the core of the sword growing inside would come out.

“The analysis of the Memoria Cube failed, but I’m glad I used the facilities at the Academy to investigate.”

It would have been impossible to get a detailed understanding with the things in the city.

Lyla adds the same words.

In addition to her magical research, Sasha’s and Galatea’s condition investigation.

And even helping to analyze the Memoria Cube.

She is working several times harder than others.

But the fact that she is showing a more lively appearance than when she was in the city is.

After all, she is a born researcher and scholar at heart.

“Don’t overdo it.”

However, there were also aspects that worried him that much.

The Academy she knows is not just a friendly place for students.

The Council of Elders who hold the top positions.

The Execution Department that is repeating problems.

And even the “Black Scripture”, whose identity is unknown.

Enemies were still scattered in unseen places.

“What do you take me for? When you guys aren’t around, I’ve stayed up for a week researching.”

But Lyla smiles and answers as if there is no problem.

It was an answer that seemed to come from the heart, not a bluff or a show of strength.

“I feel like you’ll overdo it if I take my eyes off you. Lyla.”

Quon takes Kleon’s side and speaks.

Lyla simply sighed and rested her chin on her elbow on the table.

“More than that. Kleon, what do you have to say to Sasha?”

Lyla tries to avoid the arrow of the story flying towards her.

She changes the subject and mentions Sasha’s name, who was quietly eating her meal while looking at everyone’s mood.

Then, Kleon turns his gaze to Sasha next to the smiling Quon.

“Ah. That’s right. That outfit, is it a new outfit? It suits you well.”

The fluttering outfit she was wearing, with its green base and various patterns.

It was a cute outfit with neat yet sophisticated frills here and there, like those worn by noble young ladies in the city.

Sasha perked up the ears on her head and looked back at the three of them as they suddenly focused their attention on her.

Then, perhaps a little embarrassed by Kleon’s compliment.

“E, hehe…. T, thank you. I chose it with my friends.”

She answered, blushing.

“Wearing that, you really look like a noble young lady.”

Lyla also chimes in, backing up Kleon.

She usually prefers short clothes or light armor that are easy to move around in.

But in the Academy, where she doesn’t need to be armed all the time, she can live in clothes that are similar to those of her friends.

“Hey Lyla, let’s leave it as a spirit magic after all!”

When Quon said that to Lyla, Lyla was troubled, saying “Ehh….”

Spirit magic is a magic that copies the illusion of an object and stores it in a magic item.

After that, it can be checked at any time or projected onto paper.

However, that magic item is quite expensive.

So even nobles can’t easily get their hands on it unless it’s a really important moment.

Lyla was fed up with Quon, who was making ridiculous remarks simply because she thought Sasha was cute.

She seemed to have given up and was hurrying to finish her remaining meal.

002

In that way, the pleasant dinner ended.

It was time to enjoy the after-dinner tea time as usual.

It was originally Lyla’s habit, but Quon and Sasha joined in later.

Eventually, Kleon also ended up being there, and it became a part of the daily routine.

It was a perfect time to talk about what happened during the day and promise to do something the next day.

Quon and Sasha both had school assignments, so they returned to their rooms early today.

“…The top students are expelling the Execution Department…. Ha.”

Lyla sighed after receiving the information Kleon had obtained from Aruru.

“It seems that story is being made at a social gathering of the top students.”

“They were doing well to move the story forward in a place where I wasn’t present….”

Unlike her relaxed expression from before, she looks a little tired and pale.

Of course, Lyla had not been on good terms with them even before she left school for a year.

But if she realizes anew that she is being ostracized by them at a time when she is trying to get along somehow,

It can’t be helped that she loses energy from her body in many ways.

Kleon continues the story, watching Lyla’s face a little.

“Anyway, it’s a good opportunity. It can help with the problems of the Execution Department and put the other top students in debt.”

“That’s true, but….”

Lyla’s expression is filled with concern for Kleon.

Of course, she wasn’t worried that he would get hurt due to a lack of skill.

The upper student body of the Academy is a collection of human beings that is more troublesome than you might think.

First of all, there is a confrontation between the top students from commoner backgrounds and the top students from noble backgrounds.

The Flamewatch family is one of the founding families of the Academy.

But it is ultimately a commoner family that has not received a peerage.

In terms of classification, they are members of the commoner faction.

Naturally, most of the members belonging to the noble faction ignore her.

However, that doesn’t mean that the top students of the commoner faction would have agreed with Lyla’s personality.

She was full of elitism and basically saw people as beneath her.

But it wasn’t like everyone got along just because Lyla wasn’t around.

The fight between the commoner faction and the noble faction.

Also, conflicts between departments that have been in conflict in the history of the Academy.

The thought that they would unite is truly unless there is an enemy threatening the Academy itself.

It is a difficult sight to imagine.

Aruru is close to him, but he is just a temporary instructor in the Department of Theology, which has the worst reputation.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that he, a member of the Black Magic clan, would be welcomed even if he visited.

Even if Kleon is used to such looks,

Lyla couldn’t help but worry that her companion would be in such a situation.

Then, Kleon opened his mouth after receiving such a look from Lyla.

“It’s okay, don’t worry. More than that, you should be worried about those guys, shouldn’t you?”

“…That’s true. I know best how scary you are when you’re angry.”

Kleon also gave a wry smile as he watched Lyla laugh self-deprecatingly.

“What are you going to do?”

Then, Lyla’s eyes widened at Kleon’s unexpected question.

“U, um… I wonder if I’ll be okay. Going there would only make the atmosphere worse.”

Lyla smiled awkwardly, unlike her usual self, and turned her head away.

This must be because she knows that her existence itself is unwelcome in that group.

Then, without making eye contact with Kleon, she opened her mouth.

“O, of course. I’ll help Kleon from behind, but there’s no need to go there directly, is there? If it’s about Kleon, I think you can leave it to Aruru.”

“… …”

Certainly, what she said was not wrong.

There is no need to show up in front of those who hate you.

Also, if Aruru is there, there is no need to worry about Kleon.

But Kleon tells Lyla.

“I think I’d feel more secure if you were with me.”

“…Liar. You’re thinking of dragging me there by talking like that. I’m not going to fall for it.”

Lyla denies Kleon’s words, but her face blushed a little.

“It’s not a lie. I’m completely an outsider at the Academy. It’s a really big help to have a companion with me.”

“Ugh…. If you say that….”

Lyla turns to look at Kleon, as if her heart has softened a little.

Kleon continued the story in a tone that seemed to reassure her.

“Besides, those guys think of you as a heartless witch…. I think it’s a good opportunity to let them know that’s not the case anymore.”

“I, it’s not like there’s anything good about letting those guys at the Academy know that.”

“…But Lyla. You like this place…. the Academy, right?”

Lyla’s eyes widened at Kleon’s words, and she made eye contact with him.

Ah, that’s right.

She can’t hide her feelings from this man.

When everything was destroyed by her own foolishness.

She had shown this man everything she had hidden inside.

Her grandfather’s pride and memories.

The family’s honor, which was by no means light.

There are those who have tarnished all of that, and no matter how much they corrupt this place.

Even if everyone around her hates her.

She likes this place where she can research magic as much as she wants.

The fact that something she created remains and is passed on to someone is itself enjoyable.

And in a place where memories with “her” remain.

She still has affection for it.

That’s why when Quon, Sasha, and Kleon all said they would come here with her.

She was excited.

She wished that life here would continue forever.

There was a part of herself that wished that.

But when the necessary work is done, they will leave this place again.

She doesn’t know exactly what she will do then.

But at least, when she stood in front of her grandfather’s grave again.

She had to be able to laugh while talking about the Academy.

Lyla’s mouth opened and closed several times.

It took courage to say a word.

But if she had that courage.

Surely she can change.

Herself and those around her.

And even this Academy─

“Kleon, I-”

003

The Tower of Aion.

If you go up instead of going down to the basement.

There is a conference hall where only the top students and professors of each department can enter.

The emblems of each department are decorated on the wall around the round table in the center.

Among them, the emblems of the three founding departments, Magic, Swordsmanship, and Theology, were old and flashy, and were more than enough to represent their history.

And around the round table, the top students of each department are present as usual, just waiting for the meeting to begin.

Those gathered are all the best talents in the Academy.

Each student had their own personality or gave an impression that could never be buried.

“Where is Aruru?”

A male student from the Department of Politics, who is the representative of the noble faction, opens his mouth.

Then, a female student from the Department of Theology next to him answers.

“She said she would be a little late. She said she has someone to bring.”

“Hmph.”

If a student from another department, such as the top student from the Department of Archery who is not here now, is late, he raises his voice even if the other student is from the same noble faction.

But if Aruru is the target, he endures it silently.

Even if they are from the same Duke family, the Tromeria family has a stronger history and power.

The top students of the commoner faction may also complain about Aruru not keeping the meeting time.

But when it comes to her, who treats them without prejudice or discrimination against commoners,

Everyone kept silent.

Soon, the closed door of the conference room opened and Aruru appeared.

And following behind her was a black-haired, white-skinned man.

The eyes of some of the students widened.

“A member of the Black Magic clan…?”

“I heard there were survivors, but why is he here….”

When murmuring voices echoed in the conference room, Aruru smiled and introduced the man standing next to her.

“Everyone, sorry for being late. I brought someone important to talk about the Execution Department.”

Aruru points to Kleon with her hand, as if not caring about the atmosphere of the conference room.

“This is Kleon. He is currently working as a temporary instructor in the Department of Theology, and was originally a skilled adventurer.”

“Theology…?”

Everyone- the faces of all the students except for Riomes, who was just smiling, frowned.

“Why is an instructor from the Department of Theology…”

“Could it be that the story that Aruru was seen walking with a man at the free market was true…?”

“Don’t be ridiculous…! Aruru would never do such a thing….”

They were raising their voices in embarrassment.

As if she had expected this reaction, Aruru cleared her throat and silenced everyone.

Kleon quietly marveled at her usual popularity.

Of course, he could still feel the stinging gazes of distrust and contempt, even though they didn’t make a sound.

“You can trust him on that. I guarantee it. Above all, we can fight the Execution Department like this now because he is here.”

“What do you mean?”

When the top student from the Department of Theology raised his voice and asked, Aruru answered.

“Everyone knows that the internal division of the Execution Department has accelerated due to the disappearance of the vice-chief, and that the situation has been exposed.”

The top students each nodded.

Then Aruru turns to Kleon.

“I killed Elise Hutherus, the Tamer of the Evil Eye.”

At the same time, a murmur filled with embarrassment dominated the conference room.

“An outsider of the Academy killed a student of the Academy? When? Why?”

Kleon calmly answered the question from the top student of the Department of Politics, who was showing a slightly hostile reaction.

“Because she threatened and harmed my companions first.”

“An adventurer was targeted by the Execution Department…? What on earth was the Execution Department trying to do….”

“Is there any proof?”

Then Kleon took out a black scroll from his pocket.

It was the item that Kleon had swiped from her before.

It was used by Lyla to restore Galatea.

The magical effect inside had already disappeared, but the Berserk Scroll itself still remained.

And the students who saw the scroll with the scales, the symbol of the Execution Department, raised their voices once again.

“Wait, can I check it for a moment?”

When he requested an appraisal from the “Department of Magical Engineering”, a department that specializes in developing magical tools.

Kleon handed it over to him.

The lens attached to the monocle contracted and expanded repeatedly.

The male student nodded and returned it to Kleon.

“There’s no mistake. Berserk Scroll. It’s the same item as the one we confiscated from the students of the Execution Department before.”

“…Amazing. So, Elise is really dead.”

When the top student from the Department of Politics muttered that, Aruru quietly whispered to Kleon.

“…Elise Hutherus was disguised as the vice-chief of the Department of Politics.”

“…I see.”

He nods, as if understanding to some extent why he was reacting so sensitively.

“He is still being targeted by the members of the Execution Department. Grudges don’t disappear so easily. Therefore, he will be more cooperative with us than anyone else.”

The inside of the conference room was silent for a while at Aruru’s words.

They can understand the reason and the ability.

But he is an outsider, and an instructor in the Department of Theology.

“Seriously, it’s a pity that you’re called the best talents in the Academy. I never thought you guys would be so closed-minded.”

At that time, a voice can be heard from outside the door.

Some of those who heard it frowned, and some turned pale with fear.

When the door slowly opened, Lyla Flamewatch, who had shown her face at the top students’ meeting for the first time in years, was standing proudly.

“Lyla Flamewatch… I see. So he’s your companion.”

The inside of the conference room was quickly filled with a grim atmosphere.

But Lyla was not daunted at all and came inside and sat in her allocated seat, the seat of the Department of Magic.

“I came here to solve the problem. If the Execution Department continues to target my companions, I’m going to burn them all.”

“Since when have you cared about having companions?”

At the words of the top student from the Department of Theology, Lyla turns to look at her.

“People change. I’m no exception.”

Lyla answered with a slight smile, and she was slightly flustered and couldn’t say anything.

“You’ve been acting selfishly until now, and now you’re saying you’re going to cooperate with us?”

The Department of Politics, which still doesn’t like her, raises a voice of criticism.

“Yes. I promise that you will definitely be able to catch the Execution Department. Think of it as an apology.”

“How can we believe such a promise?”

Lyla’s eyes widened at the answer.

Her hair was enveloped in magic that burned like fire, and her eyes were filled with intense magic.

“I am Lyla Flamewatch. The lineage of the magician in charge of the fire element among the honorable founding families. You know very well what kind of person I am, right? Tenacity, selfishness, and arrogance. But no one here can say anything about the abilities I have.”

The Department of Politics said “Tch….” and lowered his arm and turned his head away.

The magical pressure felt from her.

It had already reached a level several stages higher than a year ago.

“But if you’re not so cooperative, it will be difficult for us to accept you.”

It was still the top student from the Department of Theology who did not back down from her.

Did she think that she hadn’t changed at all from that attitude just now?

The fluster from before had disappeared from her face.

Then Lyla sighs a little and looks back at everyone and says.

“Listen carefully. I will absolutely make sure that the students can study peacefully at this Academy. And I can do anything to protect my companions. For that purpose….”

The next moment, Lyla bowed her waist and head in front of everyone.

“Breaking my pride is nothing.”

“…That Lyla Flamewatch, is bowing…?”

“Is she a doppelganger or a shapeshifter…?”

Aruru quietly silences the other students who are looking at her in disbelief once again.

“Lyla and Instructor Kleon are both using their pride and time for us. I don’t think it’s wise as an intellectual of the Academy to refuse such kindness, do you?”

No one could answer her words.

“I feel the same way too. The instructor is certainly a wonderful person, but Ms. Lyla also seems to have changed a lot.”

The top student of the Department of Theology.

The Academy’s top-class bitch – Riomes opened her mouth.

“Ms. Lyla’s eyes are the eyes of a ‘girl in love’. A person with eyes like these can really do anything.”

“L, love…? Wh, what are you talking about?”

Lyla cleared her throat and turned her head at Riomes’ sudden words.

“I also agree. There aren’t many opportunities to work with Ms. Lyla.”

Following them, the male student from the Department of Magical Engineering, who had appraised the Berserk Scroll, raised his hand.

Starting with those two, when more than half of the top students eventually agreed, the other top students reluctantly nodded, as if they couldn’t help it.

“Okay. Then, let’s assume that everything about the two of them has been accepted…. Shall we move on to the main topic.”

Aruru looked at everyone with a satisfied expression and winked at Kleon.

It was she who had captured the top student from the Department of Magical Engineering in advance and created this flow.

She really is a flawless girl.

And by gathering the power of everyone gathered here.

To expel the “Execution Department” from the Academy.

A long, long meeting was about to begin.