episode_0039

A lot had changed in just one day.

Posters seeking information about Rosaria were plastered all over the academy.

Officials questioned passing students, trying to gather any leads on her whereabouts.

Among them was her bodyguard, Emile.

“You…!”

Emile recognized me as we crossed paths and called me over.

*

“Is it true that you last hid your whereabouts five days ago…?”

“Yes. It was the day I last went to see Cyan.”

During break time, many students passed by us.

Standing in the center of the lecture hall building, Emile’s expression was filled with worry as we conversed.

One could sense how much he cared for Rosaria from her demeanor.

“When you went to see Cyan, she insisted on going alone without an escort… I should have followed her no matter what she said!”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault…”

“No, Cyan did nothing wrong. The villains are the ones who kidnapped the princess…! Why would they take the princess…!”

She clenched her fists in frustration.

“Do you have any idea why they kidnapped the princess?! Those who took the princess!”

“….”

The Black Mage Sect… Could it be them?

Not entirely certain.

The Black Mage Sect abhors magic and sorcery.

A group that revolts against favoring mages and discriminating against the untalented.

Therefore, it is highly likely that they kidnapped the princess due to dissatisfaction with the current monarchy.

Moreover, given the peculiar alliance between the Black Mage Sect and the third prince, Zerar, in the story.

As the attempts on Rosaria’s life by the third prince failed repeatedly, there might have been a dramatic turn of events.

“Not entirely sure… but I have some suspicions.”

“Is that so?!”

“Yes. Let me investigate once. Please wait a moment.”

“Understood! Thank you! Thank you so much, Cyan!”

After parting ways with Emile, I headed towards the scroll shop.

Being the Empire’s top academy, Ariel Academy had various shops inside, such as magical item stores, scroll shops, and general goods stores.

Upon entering the scroll shop, the elderly owner greeted me with a nod.

In a hurry, I quickly paid ten gold at the sound of his gruff voice and purchased a magic scroll from the counter.

It was a personal purchase from my savings.

Since the tournament had been postponed, I couldn’t delay any longer because someone’s life was at stake.

I infused one-third of my magic into the purchased magic scroll, which should be sufficient for crafting a magical item.

I then placed the magic scroll into my pocket and headed straight to the Alchemy Club room.

.

.

.

Afternoon classes ended.

The Alchemy Club room was packed.

As soon as I hurried into the club room, the female members chatting at the table and the head, Celia, sitting in the center, turned to look at me.

“What’s up! You’ve been quiet since joining, what brings you here now?”

Celia asked.

“It’s… I came for something important.”

“What’s so important?”

“….”

I silently looked at Lucy, who was sitting at the table.

“Huh…? M-me…?”

Lucy pointed at herself in surprise, eyes wide.

I nodded.

The other members covered their mouths in shock, tapping their knees.

“What’s this?! When did Lucy and Cyan become friends?!”

“Our newbie is quite bold, huh?!”

The members alternated glances between me and Lucy, making a fuss.

They were unaware of our relationship.

A connection based on gemstone business. Knowing this, Celia chuckled and stopped the members.

The situation was urgent, so without any explanation, I dragged Lucy out of the club room.

Suddenly, Lucy appeared in the hallway.

I got straight to the point with her.

“Here is a magic scroll.”

“What?”

As I handed her the scroll, Lucy’s eyes widened.

“Wait, was it because of this…?”

“Yes. I apologize for coming so suddenly. It was an urgent situation…”

“Oh, no. It’s not because of that… Well, anyway, you ended up purchasing it after all.”

After accepting the scroll, Lucy began to examine it.

I subtly asked her.

“Is it possible to make a magic tool within two days?”

“Two days…?”

“Yes. I apologize for continuously making unreasonable requests. It’s a pressing situation where we need help… It doesn’t have to be exactly two days, just as quickly as possible would be great.”

“Hmm…”

With her arms crossed, Lucy touched her cheek with her index finger.

Seeming lost in thought for a moment, she soon spoke again.

“It can be done within two days. If I postpone some of my assignments… Hmm! I’ll have it completed within two days.”

“…! Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”

“But there’s a condition.”

She pointed at me with the finger she had on her cheek.

I expected she might ask for a reward, but did she have something to demand from me from the beginning?

Her proposal seemed a bit prompt.

Nevertheless, I had to agree.

“As someone asking for a favor, I will certainly help. What’s the condition?”

“Just buy me dinner.”

“…Dinner?”

“Yes. That’s all.”

I looked at Lucy with a surprised expression.

…Just dinner?

Perhaps she was a better person than I had known.

When I played Cain through the monitor, I thought he only treated her well because of the setting that he fell in love with her.

Seeing her being kind to me shortly after meeting made me a little touched.

“By the way, you’ll be getting something expensive in return.”

“Gladly. Just let me know. I’ll fill my wallet.”

“Hehe. Alright then. How would you like the magic tool to be made?”

“…I’d like it to have a means of generating variables for attack. Also, it should be convenient to carry around.”

“Got it! Please give me the mana stone here.”

“Yes.”

After handing over the mana stone and exchanging a few words, the conversation ended.

As she bid me farewell, shaking my hand, I smiled back at her.

“…The most important task has been resolved.”

The journey back felt somewhat lighthearted.

Preparations were complete.

What remained ahead was…

Going to a tavern in a small village within the Liana Empire.

***

Night fell, and darkness enveloped the time.

Like precious metals reflecting sunlight in the sand, countless stars revealed their presence in the night sky.

It was a beautiful sky never seen in the real world.

-Clang!

I was riding in a carriage, heading towards the village of Bahatra in the Liana Empire.

Not too far from the Ariel Academy, it took about three hours by carriage.

“We’ve arrived~!”

The coachman announced our arrival at the entrance of the village with a cheerful tone.

After getting off the carriage, I handed two silver coins to the coachman.

“Thank you! Have a good look around!”

Leaving the satisfied coachman behind, I, dressed in a black robe with a hidden sword at my waist, entered the village.

Upon entering, a familiar sight greeted me.

A village I had seen countless times through the monitor in the other world.

Revolum.

Not quite a slum, nor a neighborhood where the rich lived.

…Geometric stone buildings reminiscent of a mix between Northern Europe and Egypt spread out before me.

“I used to come here occasionally on hunting breaks because I liked this scenery.”

Walking along the familiar path, I headed towards the center of the village.

It was a street filled with romance.

The night was dark, yet the village was bathed in the glow of sunset.

After walking for a few minutes, I soon stopped in front of a building.

“….”

A thick and dark yellow brick building.

Smoke was billowing from the chimney, and the interior was filled with the sounds of people.

Sunset Tavern.

I was familiar with this tavern.

-Creak-

I opened the door and stepped inside.

“Hahaha! Did you have a great harvest this time?! Are you going to treat us this time?”

“Mumble, where did this guy come from… I’ll buy two glasses of wine.”

“Auntie! Order some chicken wings here!”

“Gelias! Are you drunk?! The bathroom is not there-!”

The lively atmosphere of small-scale farmers.

I enjoyed the rugged atmosphere different from the slums.

I walked steadily towards the counter where barrels and drinks were displayed on the wall.

Still clad in a black robe, my face concealed.

I had to hide my age.

“…Welcome.”

As soon as I sat on the counter stool, the middle-aged male owner greeted me with a hearty voice.

The owner handed me a menu made of old paper.

Without even looking at the menu, I placed my order.

“Please give me a glass of the lowest sweetness wine in the world.”

“…Thank you again today.”

Upon hearing my order, the owner briskly walked somewhere, opened a door, and went inside.

Naturally, what I ordered wasn’t among the displayed drinks on the back wall.

…It was five minutes later.

“Hmm~ How does the brother we haven’t seen know about our hideout?”

A girl who seemed to be in her mid-teens boldly walked out from the door the owner had entered.

Dark brown skin with yellow eyes.

With a childlike figure, her face bore a red tattoo.