episode_0034

The atmosphere at the academy was unusually chaotic this morning. It wasn’t as quiet as usual, and even from the dormitory, various sounds were drifting in through the windows, making it feel like something had happened. I changed my clothes for a moment and found Zeke in the room, who was already prepared and standing in front of the door, looking at me.

“Why?”

“Well, today the academy seems unusually chaotic. I wondered if there was anything I should know.”

“If you wanted to know that, you should have woken up a few hours earlier than now. And what could a first-year possibly know? You should be getting ready for today’s classes.”

“That’s true.”

Zeke and I left the room together, locking the door behind us, and as we walked down the dormitory corridor, Sharen approached us waving her hand, and we greeted her with a wave.

“Good morning.”

“It feels like a noisy morning, like something has happened.”

“Astane seems noisy today. Do you know anything, Sharen?”

“I don’t know either, but maybe we’ll find out something soon.”

“That’s true… but… it feels awkward today, doesn’t it?”

Is it because I saw the dead yesterday? Or is it because I couldn’t sleep well? Well, it’s natural to feel this way after being out late, encountering the dead, and even seeing corpses. But really, today the academy feels unusually noisy.

Thinking this, as I descended the dormitory stairs, Zeke suddenly said he would go ahead and meet some other friends, then disappeared, and Sharen and I continued down slowly, starting a conversation.

“Yesterday, I tried to find Isabelle senior and her familiar, but it seems her familiar might be a sorcerer or an eldritch.”

“Why do you think that?”

“We searched the graveyard together, and when we arrived, it was as if the dead were waiting for us, popping out. When we went inside, the core of the dead also came out. Senior said there might be something similar to Ignolia, but I don’t know the details. By the way, how’s your family? Everything okay?”

“Fortunately, I contacted my brother and he said there were no damages to the mansion or the estate, but still, it’s the core of the deceased… Just in case, we should contact our estate too.”

“Being cautious won’t hurt.”

As they arrived on the first floor of the dormitory, they saw unfamiliar people. Seeing them armed with armor and swords, instinctively, their hands moved towards their staffs, carefully examining the individuals. Why would such important figures from the Academy come in armed? Alongside this thought, the pattern on their armor caught their eye.

It was the symbol of Araleria. At the sight of the symbol, thoughts of Cerestria came to mind, wondering if something had happened. However, without dwelling on it, they whispered quietly to Sharon as they passed by them towards the dining hall.

“That was the symbol of Araleria just now.”

“Why would the knights of Araleria come here? Has something happened to Cerestria?”

“…That person is not someone who would be involved in anything like that.”

They are someone who could handle any situation that arose, unless it was a match against someone with an incredibly different level of skill.

Even as they walked to the dining hall with these questions in mind, the knights kept catching their eye. They seemed to be guarding the Academy, which piqued their curiosity. As they entered the dining hall, Cerestria was waiting for them at the door.

“Good morning.”

“It’s a busy morning, with the knights here too.”

“The Academy requested temporary assistance for Ignolia’s security. Fortunately, I lead a guardian knight order, and additional forces are currently being discussed with my father. They should all arrive by tomorrow to take charge of Ignolia’s protection.”

“Remarkable, the power of being a princess.”

At my words, Cerestria smiled brightly.

“You’ve come for breakfast. You two always eat together, don’t you?”

“Well, they’re the most comfortable company for me.”

“Is that a compliment?”

I slightly smiled at Sharon’s words, tapped her on the shoulder, and she bowed towards Cerestia, then moved to her seat. I also greeted her before trying to move my feet, but her voice stopped me.

“Astan knows something, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The reason the Academy requested the Knights, they must have thought that the Academy’s manpower couldn’t handle this situation… Am I wrong?”

“I’ll tell you when the opportunity arises.”

“Is that a promise?”

“I promise.”

While dining with Sharon, I looked out the window and saw many knights gathered near the Academy’s gate. From a distance, I could see a sorcerer standing in front of them. When I infused mana into my eyes, I realized it was Senior Isabelle and Senior Leonar. It was natural for Senior Leonar, who was practically in charge among the fifth years, to be there.

As I gazed toward the gate, Sharon’s voice reached me.

“The spy will be caught soon.”

“If they mobilize the knights like that, the spy might not hide anymore.”

“But with that many troops moving, there’s no one to escape, they can’t stay in Ignolia.”

“If they go somewhere other than Ignolia, that’s also a problem, we need to catch the spy.”

“The best way is to find the Academy’s spy and lure Ignolia’s spy.”

I nodded in agreement to Sharon’s words and took a sip of apple juice before speaking.

“It might be among the students, in my opinion, even a first-year.”

“That’s probably the highest possibility, if not…”

“It would be a professor.”

Sharon nodded affirmatively at my response, and I looked at her and said,

“Anyway, be careful. If the knights know what they’re looking for, the spy might hide or boldly appear in front of you.”

“So, Astan, how about doing something weird with me?”

“…That’s scary to say, what are you thinking?”

“We are looking for the spies of the Demon King’s army, and their target is me, so I will be the bait.”

At that moment, wondering what she was talking about, I looked at Sharene with a strange look, and Sharene smiled broadly at me.

“They say the best defense is offense. I’m not having strange thoughts either. I have a magical tool that can summon seniors, so we’ll find him and call the seniors.”

“The risk is too great.”

“No risk, no gain.”

Sharene’s pupils were sharp. The thought that it wouldn’t be easy to bend her opinion with that somewhat firm voice crossed my mind. Looking for the spies of the Demon King’s army, but no method came to mind, and I became curious.

“What’s the plan?”

“Let me work at the tavern where you work.”

“You’re not trying to make money.”

“Think about it, friend. Can the spy target me at this academy? He appeared in the dormitory at night, but it would be impossible to attack me by invading the dormitory, right? He would lure me somewhere and then attack me, right?”

“That’s true.”

“So if I move to Ignolia, the probability of being attacked on the way to Ignolia will increase, which means the probability of meeting the spy will also increase.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m a wizard too, I can protect myself.”

Sharene’s words slowly swirled around my heart. It was indeed dangerous, and of course, the probability of meeting the spy would be high. The difference was whether I could protect her or not… Since I couldn’t prevent her from being there, I opened my mouth and gave an answer.

“I’ll consult with the seniors.”

“Just in case, I’ll request permission to go out in Ignolia from the professor.”

“That won’t be easy, will it?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

I emptied the glass of apple juice in front of me.

Sharen moved to meet the professor, and I moved my feet to the classroom. On the way to the classroom, I encountered Seresria, who was talking with someone. However, it seemed like she was conversing with someone of higher status rather than a friend or peer, so I cautiously hid myself. A voice reached my ears.

“I hope to meet the Second Princess of the vast kingdom of Araleria, the light of the Order of the Azure Rose, Shuren.”

“You don’t need to be so formal. Please rise; there are many eyes here.”

“I will comply.”

It seemed to be the leader of the dispatched order of knights. I couldn’t tell if they were male or female from the brief glimpse in the corridor, but judging by the low voice, they seemed to be male.

“What is the request from the Academy? There must be a reason for the high-and-mighty Academy to seek our cooperation.”

“They say they have found the core of a deceased in Ignolia, and they requested assistance in confirming and destroying it, as well as helping with the Academy’s security until the demon army’s spy is captured.”

“I understand. First, let’s assist the Academy. If something happens, I will give the orders at that time.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Then the sound of footsteps faded away. Just as I thought it was safe to move, a voice reached my ears.

“I thought it was just a cat eavesdropping on the conversation, but it turns out it was a bigger cat than I expected. You know eavesdropping is a bad thing, right?”

Suddenly, I broke into a cold sweat upon seeing her standing in front of me. When I met her red eyes, I struggled to regain my composure and finally spoke.

“…I don’t think it’s good to have such conversations in the middle of the corridor.”

She chuckled at my response, and I scratched my head.

“It’s a joke. Are you on your way to the classroom? Shall we go together?”

“Isn’t it strange to go separately?”

What a strange person.