Ch.259Chapter 259 – An Outing After a Long Time

It’s already the end of the year.

I’m not sure what I’ve done for it to already be the end of the year, but anyway, it’s the end of the year.

Only 15 days remain until the new year arrives.

After those 15 days pass, the year will come to a close, and a hopeful new year will begin.

With the year’s end, many changes came to the Empire.

“I hereby officially declare the complete eradication of the plague.”

First, the plague that had troubled the Empire for some time completely disappeared.

As the treatment began to be supplied in earnest, the number of people being cured exceeded the number of those contracting the plague.

People readily accepted the plague treatment since research even showed that those who hadn’t contracted the plague would develop resistance to it after taking the medicine.

Thus, in less than half a year, the plague that had covered the entire Empire completely vanished.

“…Therefore, with the official end of the plague, our Academy will partially ease travel restrictions starting from this vacation, allowing students to visit their hometowns.”

With the demon cult eliminated and the plague ended, Sister Regina greatly extended the winter vacation period so students could freely visit their hometowns starting this break.

Though it had only been a year, I saw how the exhausted students came alive the moment they heard they could visit their homes.

Well, I suppose anyone would react that way if they’d been confined to school and suddenly allowed to go home.

Needless to say… some students chose to remain at the Academy during the vacation instead of returning to their hometowns.

“Are you two not returning to your hometowns this time?”

“My hometown is so far away that I’d spend the entire vacation just traveling there and back. So I’m staying to study magic more this semester.”

Mina didn’t want to go anywhere during the vacation since her hometown was far away.

Instead, she planned to study magic during the break, apparently preparing in earnest for the graduation exam.

“What about you, Elena?”

“I won’t be going home this vacation either. There are still two years until graduation, and there are many books in the library I haven’t conquered yet. If I study while reading those books, the vacation will pass quickly.”

Elena also showed her determination to master all the books in the library before graduation.

With both of them so determined, I couldn’t bring myself to suggest they visit their hometowns.

But it seemed they weren’t the only ones.

In most cases, except for fourth-year students whose graduation was confirmed and first-years who had just entered the Academy, most second and third-year students chose to remain at the Academy rather than go home.

The reason students chose to stay was obvious.

The ‘graduation exam.’

To receive certification of ‘graduation’ from Glesius Academy, one must pass the graduation exam.

Those who pass the graduation exam are treated as proper ‘graduates’ and receive many congratulations at the graduation ceremony held at the beginning of the following year.

Conversely, those who fail the graduation exam are given the qualification of ‘completion’ rather than ‘graduation.’

When I asked Sister Regina about the difference between graduation and completion…

“Completion means ‘I have successfully completed the Academy’s educational curriculum.'”

“Then what’s different about graduation?”

“Graduation proves ‘how much I’ve grown through the Academy’s educational curriculum.'”

Sister Regina further explained that graduation is much more difficult than completion.

While completion is a qualification that can be obtained simply by attending classes and not failing, graduation requires proving one’s growth. The tasks given for graduation often result in injuries, and in severe cases, even loss of life.

“So I suppose the world values graduates more than completers?”

“That’s right. But don’t worry, you’ll automatically become a graduate. You’ve already proven your abilities several times during your time at the Academy, so you’ll receive graduation qualification without a separate exam.”

“That’s a relief to hear.”

Although this was something already discussed when I entered the Academy with the Prime Minister, hearing the confirmation from Sister Regina’s lips finally put me at ease.

Still, since I’m enrolled in the Academy, graduation sounds more impressive than completion, right?

Anyway, she said that second and third-year students returning to their hometowns at this time were usually those who chose completion over graduation.

And those remaining at the Academy were preparing for graduation from now on.

In my previous life, students studied hard to get into their desired universities; here, they study hard to become graduates rather than completers—I could see the parallel.

I feel fortunate that in this life, at least, I don’t have to study for graduation.

“Oh, by the way, could you possibly visit the Magic Tower for me?”

“The Magic Tower?”

“Yes. There are some documents I need to collect from the Magic Tower that’s in exchange with the Academy, but I don’t have time to go…”

I was willing to do it since it was a rare request from Sister Regina, and it wasn’t a difficult task.

“Well, that’s not difficult. I just need to collect them in your name, right?”

“Yes. I’ll contact them in advance, so could you go now?”

“I’ll go then. Cheonhyeryeong, let’s go.”

“As you wish.”

I called for Cheonhyeryeong, and she rose from her seat to follow me.

To prepare for any unforeseen situations, I always made sure to have Cheonhyeryeong accompany me wherever I went.

‘You say you’ll go alone! I absolutely won’t allow it! Do you know what might happen if you’re separated from this master?!’

In truth, even if I tried to leave her behind, Cheonhyeryeong would strongly object… so I had no choice in the matter.

So now I’ve reached the point where I just accept her following me around.

The Magic Tower Sister Regina mentioned was the one in Archenium.

It was also the huge tower visible in the distance as soon as you exit the Academy’s main gate.

“Cheonhyeryeong. Do towers as large as that exist in the Eastern Continent?”

“Where this master lived, most buildings were made of wood, so there was no need to build such large structures. If a building was truly necessary, it would be built large, but otherwise, there was no need to build so grandly.”

Hmm… that was an answer I couldn’t have imagined coming from the mouth of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s leader.

I honestly thought she would say, ‘We build everything as large as possible! That is how we display the majesty of the Heavenly Demon!’

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Honestly, since you’re the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, I thought you’d say you had to build everything big to show the leader’s dignity.”

“Huh huh. Is that what you thought? What does the size of a building have to do with this master’s authority and dignity? The name of the Heavenly Demon is not determined by the size of buildings.”

“Hmm, when you put it that way, I guess you’re right.”

I walked through downtown Archenium for the first time in a while, chatting with Cheonhyeryeong about various things.

After walking for a few minutes like that, a massive tower revealed itself before us.

The enormous cylindrical structure, which appeared to be about 20 stories tall, boasted an imposing presence that made viewers feel diminutive in comparison.

“So this is what they call a Magic Tower. How fascinating.”

“You think so?”

“Would there not be many people inside who use magic like big sister?”

“Well… I suppose so?”

I guess since it’s called a Magic Tower, there would be far more skilled magic users here than elsewhere.

Otherwise, why would they specifically call it a Magic Tower?

Thinking this, I entered the Magic Tower.

Surprisingly, the interior of the Magic Tower was similar to a tower of paperwork.

There was a reception counter on the first floor, with several mana elevators arranged behind it.

I approached the counter and explained the purpose of my visit.

“Excuse me. I’ve come on behalf of Glesius Academy’s Headmaster Regina Blasteria to collect some documents…”

—Creak, creak.

But before I could finish speaking, a twisting sound began to emanate from the ceiling.

Cheonhyeryeong also sensed some danger and moved closer to me.

She seemed ready to evacuate me outside using the Heavenly Demon Dimension Step if necessary.

But soon the sound subsided, and I was finally able to approach the counter and ask what was happening.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah… you see, a recent failed magical experiment has put strain on the tower, but we’re applying repair magic daily, so please feel free to use the tower with confidence.”

A magic powerful enough to strain the tower…?

What kind of magic could that be?

I thought I should ask Sister Regina about it later.