Chapter 46: Vacation (Complete)

Vacation had begun.
I spent the last two days resting and planning.

Early in the morning, I stepped outside and found the streets noticeably less crowded than usual.
Of course—
Most students had returned home for the break.
Only those with specific circumstances, or students who lived on campus year-round, were still around.

And yet—

“…?”
“…….”

Why you of all people?

As I walked down the street, I happened to make eye contact with Aisha through a glass storefront.

“Snow Fresh Something…”
In other words, she was eating a crepe.

She stared at me with wide, round eyes.
A brief silence.
I had somewhere to be originally, but my feet stopped moving.

Leaving behind a startled-looking Aisha, I stepped into the shop.
It was break time.
Most students had left yesterday.

Which meant—
Aside from a few who had special reasons to stay, there was no real reason for anyone to be here.

The bell above the door jingled as I approached her table.

—

“Mind if I sit?”
“…Go ahead.”

—

A nod.
Her mouth was full of crepe, so she simply responded with a bob of her head.

Right then, a server quickly noticed the new customer and brought over a menu.
Familiar situation.

It reminded me vaguely of the last time we were on good terms.
So I made the same choice again.

Without looking at the menu, I pointed to whatever it was Aisha was eating.

—

“I’ll have the same as her.”
“Coming right up.”

—

Once the server stepped away, Aisha finally swallowed the last bite and spoke.

—

“Aren’t you on break? Why are you even here…?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

—

I could come and go as I pleased.
But her? This was unexpected.

Aisha hesitated, then slowly opened her mouth, almost embarrassed.

—

“I just dropped by, that’s all. You wouldn’t know this, but I actually used to come here pretty often.”
“Really? Didn’t know that. How’s the crepe you’re eating now?”

—

Chew chew.
Had she already finished one?

Judging by the empty plate, this was her second crepe.

When I asked, Aisha shook her head, a little red in the face.
Then she explained further.

—

“They were closed yesterday. This place makes the best crepes, so I had to come back.”
“…….”

—

You burned a vacation day for crepes?

She was seriously committed.
Aisha took another big bite of the remaining crepe.

‘She really is kind of cute…’

Her puffed-up cheeks looked like a hamster’s.

Moments later, just as my own crepe arrived, Aisha immediately placed another order.

Not that it took long to make or anything, but—

Wasn’t this kind of a nuisance?

—

“You could’ve ordered it all at once, you know.”
“Fresh-off-the-pan is always best.”

—

Fair enough, I guess.
She kept glancing longingly at the crepe even while chatting with me.

Anyway.
I couldn’t afford to ruin all the rapport I’d built with her.

So before heading off to Blackmoor, I kept the conversation going for a while longer.

---

Next stop: the principal’s office.
After mulling it over for several days, I’d come to a conclusion.

I had no choice but to use that method.

The overwhelming force that had taken down Arkon—it was practically a divine power.
I couldn’t activate it at will. I couldn’t even control it properly.

But now, the time had come to harness it.

To defeat the Archdragon Pafnir, that power would be essential.

And before I could use it—there was one crucial preparation I had to make.

I knocked on the principal’s door.

—

“Come in.”

—

Creak.
The door opened as I stepped into the office.

She looked at me like she knew.

That expression on her face—
As if to say, “So… it’s time, huh?”
And those words soon followed from Stella’s mouth, with unwavering certainty.

“You’re leaving now, aren’t you?”
“Before that. There’s something I need to do.”

Maybe she thought it was just a farewell visit.
She wasn’t entirely wrong.
But my purpose was a little different.

I had seen her just a few days ago.
No real reason to see her again unless there was something important.
So I got straight to the point.

“I need the key to the underground library.”
“…What?”

Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Naturally—most normal Academy students didn’t even know such a place existed.

It was only because she mistook me for a dragon that I could even ask.

Stella muttered in disbelief.

“How do you even—no, then again. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Dragons really are secretive.”
“…….”

She seemed to convince herself of her own logic.
They don’t say “Silence is golden” for nothing.

Still, she shook her head a few times.
Which made sense.
It wasn’t just a place full of books.

If that were the case, there’d be no reason to hide it.

“I need it.”

The Necklace of Roundel.
The underground library beneath the Academy existed to seal that item.

It was like a cursed sword.
In exchange for great power, it gradually eroded the user’s sanity.

And the method it used was sleep.

Stella’s reluctance was understandable.
The Necklace of Roundel had been sealed away for one reason:

Because even dragons had gone mad from wearing it.

Her immediate horror and vigorous head-shaking made perfect sense.

I remained calm as I spoke.
There was no need for a lengthy argument.

“Please.”
“…….”
“I need it.”

I could feel her gaze on me.
I could practically hear the gears turning in her head.

It was all based on a misunderstanding.

There was no need to explain.
Better to let the silence speak.

Still, she began listing off reason after reason.
Information that was practically classified—but necessary to say.

—

“It drives its user insane.”
“I’m aware.”
“It’s no mere relic. It’s practically a catastrophe incarnate—”
“I know that too.”
“Just being a dragon doesn’t make you immune. If you use it—”
“Yes.”

—

This was a transaction.
But it was also a promise.

Stella’s lips pressed tightly shut.
I simply looked back at her without a word.

It was a reckless move.

But my entire track record proved otherwise.
Would anyone in their right mind willingly wear something that guaranteed madness?

No—unless they had a reason.
Something they could rely on.

Stella, who had looked flustered by the sudden request, eventually pulled herself together.

Even if she knew the truth, even if she understood everything—
If I still said I needed it, she had no real reason to stop me.

I repeated the same words I’d said just days ago.

“You don’t need to worry.”

Firm, confident.
It was the same this time too.

This was a task for both our sakes.

Unlike the amused smile she’d worn before, this time Stella let out a sigh.

“Haa… Do whatever you want, then.”

Whoooom.
A wave of magic pulsed through the air.

And then, in her hand, appeared a crimson key.

It didn’t look like an ordinary library key.
And of course it wasn’t.

The place it opened was where an item cursed enough to drive users mad was sealed.

“Just touch the seal. That’ll unlock it.”
“Understood. Thank you.”

“It was the best choice I could make back then…”

Stella muttered quietly as she handed over the key.

Whatever her history with it was…
That wasn’t my concern.

I only had to do my part.

Go to Blackmoor and slay the Archdragon Pafnir.
That was my role—and what she needed done.

It was a mutual deal.
But still, she gave me a bitter smile.

—

“So you’re heading out right after picking it up?”
“Yes. It’s break, after all.”
“Then I’ll see you off when you leave.”

—

Yeah.
Because it’s break.

I gave a polite nod and headed straight for the underground library.
It wasn’t that far.
It was, after all, a facility attached to the Academy.

An illusion visible only to those who held the key.
The seal itself was the lock, and the key served as the only clue to unlocking it.

–Click.

The wooden door opened.
The underground library really was… just that—a library.

Rows upon rows of books filled the shelves.
A space bathed in a faint red glow.

If not for that ominous atmosphere, it would’ve looked like any other library.
But once you laid eyes on the source of that red light—
Anyone would instinctively take a step back.

“…….”

I took a step forward.
They said it eroded the mind.
I’d never experienced that.
And I wasn’t planning to.

Mental breakdown through sleep?
If I’m not even in control of my own body, would it still affect me?
Based on everything so far—
The answer was no.

Step. Step.
I walked slowly forward.

The red light grew stronger.
The necklace was beautiful.
Each jewel embedded in it shimmered with contained magic.
A low hum rang in my ears.

I slowly reached out.
And picked it up.

—Wuum.

A low vibration.
But the Necklace of Roundel remained still.
It didn’t seem to have any intent to gnaw at my mind.

“If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
That old saying came to mind.

Well, I hadn’t used the necklace’s power yet.
It showed no signs of trying to devour me either.

“Hoo.”

It would strengthen the body while asleep.
I’d be engulfed in a storm of mana and drift off into unconsciousness.
I took a deep breath and mentally reviewed the plan.

First—summon the familiar.
I summoned Ruki, the one I had made a contract with earlier.

“Ruki.”

At that moment, a gate opened in midair.
Ruki’s ability as a reconnaissance-type spirit.

She appeared through the gate.
We were already bound in a master-servant contract.
Even so, Ruki looked visibly uneasy, her eyes darting nervously as she hesitated to speak.

“Ruki.”
“Y-yes!”

Spacing out already, huh.
Watching Ruki’s dazed expression, I continued.

“We’re going to Blackmoor.”
“Huh…?”

Blackmoor?
That cursed demonic land?

“Why… would we go there?”
“We’re going to hunt an archdragon.”
“An archdragon? Don’t tell me—Pafnir?”
“Yeah.”

Me…?
No, wait, we are?

Ruki’s eyes shook like she’d just experienced an earthquake.
I smirked and beckoned casually.

“You know the way, right?”
“W-well, sure I do, but I was hoping I could… sit this one out…”
“Then guide me.”
“…”

You’re a reconnaissance spirit, aren’t you?
If not now, when?

Faced with this unbelievable reality, Ruki stood there slack-jawed.

A natural smile crept onto my face.
Might as well strike while the iron’s hot.

After forcing Ruki to confront reality again—

I took a step forward.

Slowly.
Very slowly.

And just like that,
I set off for Blackmoor.