episode_0041

When I first moved into the dormitory, I packed my belongings in a worn travel bag.

Food supplies were provided by Emil, so I only brought spare clothes and essentials.

After packing to some extent, I carried the genuine sword inherited from my family and stitched it onto my waist, then left the dormitory.

“I’ll be away from the academy for about ten days….”

Since I wouldn’t be able to attend evening training during that time, I had to inform them in advance that I would be absent.

After finishing my preparations roughly, I opened the dormitory door and stepped out.

“Huh?”

“……”

Then, I coincidentally ran into Lloyd.

His gaze fixated on the large backpack on my back.

“Where are you off to? What’s with the sudden evacuation preparation?”

“Just stepping out for a bit. Until then, have lunch with your friends.”

“For how long?”

“Four days.”

“What are you going for?”

“Just… something.”

I was cautious not to mention going to rescue the princess, fearing his concern.

However, Lloyd, quick-witted as ever, said to me, “Are you going to meet a girl?”

It was a slightly odd remark.

“Why do you always involve yourself with girls in everything? Is that all that’s on your mind?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah, but….”

“Then why bother. Idiot.”

“……”

I had nothing to say.

“Anyway, take care. Your behavior has been a bit strange since the first day of school, so I’m oddly worried….”

“…Me?”

I flinched.

The original Si-an and I must have had different minor habits or routines.

It was inevitable that there would be differences in trivial matters since I wasn’t the original owner of this body.

Although I couldn’t risk revealing the fact of my possession, I needed to be a bit cautious.

While pondering this, Lloyd walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“You act like someone who’s about to leave soon, not caring about your surroundings. But well, since you’re going to meet a girl, I feel relieved. Do well and come back.”

“……”

So that was it.

Acting like someone about to leave soon… It was a thought-provoking statement.

“…It’s not entirely wrong.”

Originally, the academy was a means to cultivate my strength and skills, not a place to build relationships.

Would Lloyd, who was usually perceptive, have sensed the identity of the previous Si-an?

A wry smile crept up on my face.

I realized anew that he had always cared about me.

Lloyd and I are friends… or are we?

He was a friend of the original Si-an, but could I consider myself his friend now, possessing Si-an’s body?

“Hey, Lloyd.”

“What?”

“…Never mind.”

“What’s up with this guy?”

I was about to ask him a probing question out of curiosity but stopped myself.

There was no need to provide information that could raise suspicions unnecessarily.

“I’ll be back.”

“Sure. Take care.”

With a bitter smile, I exchanged greetings with him once and then left the male dormitory.

As agreed, I headed towards the back entrance of the alchemy lecture building to meet Lucy.

Today was the second day I was supposed to receive the madogu.

—

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”

Upon arrival, Lucy, who had stepped out of the lecture building, greeted me from under the shade.

Today, the sunlight was strong, making this place appropriately shaded and comfortable.

“Yes. Did you sleep well too, Lucy?”

“I stayed up all night working on the magic stones.”

“……”

“Just kidding. I slept well.”

She chuckled mischievously.

Was she originally such a mischievous character?

Her playful antics dampened my spirits a bit.

“Have you completed the items I requested?”

“Of course. I postponed my assignments to make this, and it was really tough.”

Lucy rummaged through her backpack and then handed me something wrapped in paper.

“Here you go.”

“What is this….”

I immediately unwrapped the paper-like material.

– Ruffle. Thud.

Unveiled was an item emitting a bluish hue made from my magic stones.

“…A knife handle?”

“I originally intended to make it as an accessory, but it was so hard that even with Sian’s magic, meticulous crafting was impossible. It ended up like this. Despite appearances, it contains groundbreaking functions!”

“What kind of functions?”

“Hehe… Don’t be surprised.”

Holding the knife handle with both hands, I looked puzzled, and Lucy, with an excited expression, said in a mysterious tone.

“I maximized the magic compatibility to allow Sian’s magic to take shape!”

“Take shape?”

“Yes. You can make the blade longer or shorter according to Sian’s will.”

Lucy continued.

“This not only involves interference and manipulation of Sian’s magic but also allows the weapon itself to be used!”

“…!”

I was taken aback when I finally understood Lucy’s words.

Does that mean…

I can use my aura as a blade itself?

Originally, the aura is used around a sword.

The reason being that if there is no medium to contain it, the aura just spins within the body.

From the handle of the sword to the blade, the aura flows through gradually. That’s the basic way to use aura.

However… if what Lucy said is true.

Can I materialize the aura in a straight line in the air without a blade?

Thanks to the high compatibility of my magic with this gemstone, using magic manipulation?

It’s the principle of a beam sword!

“Truly revolutionary magical equipment…! Does this mean I no longer need to worry about the durability of the sword…?!”

“That’s right. If Sian’s magic isn’t enough. Also, since the raw material is the gemstone brought by Sian, no one else can use it.”

“Can you precisely change its form?”

“That’s impossible. No matter how much you try, it can only be shaped in a straight line like a blade. Oh! And… it does consume magic power quite heavily, but…”

“It’s still fine!”

If it consumes magic power heavily, I’ll use it sparingly only when necessary.

I obtained more than I expected.

…Just intending to embed the gemstone for use, but ending up making the weapon itself.

“Thank you very much, Lucy.”

“Hehe. No problem. But more importantly, you haven’t forgotten about our dinner deal, have you?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”

With that, after bidding farewell to Lucy, I headed towards the entrance of the academy.

At the entrance, a regular carriage prepared by Emil was waiting.

Heading to Hongdeungga at the empire’s edge, it was best not to draw attention by riding a carriage adorned with imperial symbols or grandeur.

Moreover, if unnecessary attention were attracted, rumors would not be favorable. Having an imperial carriage from the Huang family arrive at Hongdeungga could lead to negative gossip spreading.

As I approached the carriage, Emil, who had finished preparations, was waiting.

She was dressed in casual attire rather than the usual iron armor.

Her sky-blue dress complemented her long white hair well.

With her dignified yet radiant appearance, she seemed like a wealthy commoner maiden.

“Are you all set?”

Emil asked me with a solemn expression.

“Yes. I’ve been ready for a while.”

“…What’s that black thing at your waist? Two knife handles?”

“It’s for emergencies.”

“I see…”

Upon hearing that everything was ready, we entered the carriage.

It was said that openly moving around with knights would undoubtedly prompt the Black Magic Sect, who kidnapped princesses, to flee.

Therefore, they had already infiltrated knights disguised as commoners into Hongdeungga. They would join us if we were in danger later.

“Let’s depart!”

As the coachman gave the command, he whipped the three horses, and the carriage started moving.

And so, we headed towards the outskirts of the empire.

*

As we neared the empire’s border, some bandits stopped us by blocking the carriage.

However, Emile, who was more than just a sword expert, couldn’t block the carriage.

Each time bandits approached, Emile swiftly disembarked from the carriage and effortlessly cut down dozens of them, immediately urging the coachman to continue straight ahead as if time was of the essence.

There was no room for me to intervene.

Despite being attacked sporadically by bandits due to our unorthodox route, Emile and I were more than a match for them.

The strongest opponent we faced so far was a Goblin Reinforced Plate Hop Goblin.

Even nearing the frontier, the security around the Empire was top-notch.

Night fell before long.

In the distance, the crimson glow of Hongdeungga could be seen.

We had almost arrived.

“Aren’t you feeling sleepy?” You asked Emile subtly.

She, who had been tirelessly dealing with bandits and horses, seemed to have accumulated considerable fatigue.

“Not at all. As long as I think of Her Highness’s safety, sleepiness doesn’t affect me.”

“Impressive.”

“That’s the duty of a knight. Sir Sian will realize it once he ages after graduating.”

The carriage gradually entered the interior of Hongdeungga.

A street lined with numerous taverns.

For promotion, each shop had round red lanterns hanging on their walls.

In the streets, one could see men and women, some elderly walking arm in arm with young ladies, staggering from alcohol, giving off an air of pleasure-seeking debauchery.

– Tap! Tap!

“Hey, you’re riding a nice carriage! Tsk tsk, fancy!”

“Oppa! Let’s just go!”

Then, a ruffian man tapped our carriage with his cudgel as we passed by.

When a woman who seemed to be his companion tried to restrain him, the man, filled with bravado, shouted at our carriage once more.

“Hey, you lot! Do you ignore people’s words?”

“….”

Emile’s expression upon seeing him soured as if she had seen a bug.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have paid any attention, but this sight might have been unfamiliar even to her.

I, having wandered through similar drunken tavern streets before possessing this body, was unfazed.

However, the coachman driving the carriage seemed wary, glancing around.

“…It feels like watching truly savage creatures. They hardly seem human,” Emile said to me.

I nodded silently.

And then, I looked around diligently.

Finding the destination was more important than enjoying the sights.

The destination building had a red roof, a wooden structure with rooms inside, advertised as a tavern, primarily known for illegal activities like prostitution.

That’s where Rosaria was located.

I didn’t know why they had taken Rosaria there, but it wasn’t a good place.

We needed to find it as soon as possible.

It was during this intense search that it happened.

– Creak, tap.

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt.

“Coachman! Why have we stopped?! Keep going along the road!” Emile exclaimed impatiently, but the coachman, looking flustered, remained frozen in place.

“Oh, up ahead…”

“…?”

The coachman pointed ahead to us.

Perplexed, we both looked in the direction he indicated.

There, blocking our path, were a rugged man with a thick beard and several others who appeared to be part of a group, inexplicably obstructing the carriage.