episode_0035

“I’ve always had one thought, may I ask you about it?”

As I walked toward the classroom, when I asked Cerestia, she nodded, and I cautiously held my words.

“How much do you know? About the current situation, since you seem to have a lot of information, it makes me curious.”

“The core of the deceased was found in Ignolia, and recently a villain appeared. It’s said that the villain scattered or created the core of the deceased. However, even though the villain died, seeing the appearance of the core of the deceased, it seems they revived. Recently, the principal mentioned the story of the envoy of the Demon King’s army. That’s all I know. Rather, you probably know more about this, Astan.”

She looked at me as she spoke. Meeting her deep red eyes, I naturally swallowed. She always looked at me with the same eyes. Although she already knew the answer, I couldn’t accurately read the thoughts contained in her eyes, which seemed to be trying to confirm the answer. Just looking into her eyes didn’t easily erase the creeping unease.

They say deep red eyes are a symbol of vampires. Come to think of it, maybe Cerestia has vampire blood flowing through her body, as she has always been someone who drains my blood.

“Astan, did you know that the core of the deceased appeared in Ignolia? If it were the usual Astan, he would have asked, but the fact that he didn’t means he already knows.”

“Well… yes, but…”

“It’s a bit envious and jealous that you know the information from the fifth year. Also, the fact that you’re on good terms with them. But if Astan is asking me something… there must be something unresolved, right? That’s why you want to hear my opinion.”

“Since you’re not an envoy of the Demon King’s army, if I were to ask, the envoy’s purpose is Sharen. But I don’t understand the reason.”

“Sharen… There are only two reasons to target him, the Tirk family or light magic. The latter is more likely, and why light magic… I don’t know. If you search this continent, you can find a magician who uses light magic. It might not be for the purpose of light magic.”

There was something that roughly matched her guess. If one aims for light magic, it would be natural to aim for someone other than Sharen. How many magicians using light magic are in places where kidnapping or murder like Sharen’s is difficult? Of course, there are many people who use light magic, which makes kidnapping or murdering them easier than Sharen. Why Sharen? If the purpose was the Tirk family, they would have targeted Sharen’s family, but that wasn’t it.

Why Sharen, why. Isabelle senior said that the answer was not in the memory of the goddess of wisdom she had seen. She said there was something special about Sharen, but I couldn’t remember it.

The content I read in the book did not come to mind. Will that memory fade away as time goes by and eventually forget everything? Before I knew it, my original name didn’t come to mind either. My name is… Astan, isn’t it?

I felt a little stiff at the thought. So I asked Seresria another question to make an effort to think of something else.

“Seresria, do you think the Demon King is dead?”

Seresria’s eyes sharply changed at my question. It was, of course, a dangerous question. In the records, it says that the Demon King is dead. I raised my hand to indicate no hostility, and Seresria slowly breathed out and spoke.

“We can’t know. It’s recorded that he’s dead, but there’s no evidence. If the Demon King really died, there should be evidence like the Demon King’s grave or something, but all we know is that a hero killed the Demon King, and that he died at the hands of the person the hero loved the most. But in some records, it also says that the Demon King is alive. We can’t know the answer.”

“It seems we think alike.”

“Perhaps most wizards would have similar thoughts, that the death of a hero is known, but we act as if we don’t know where the hero’s grave is.”

And in the brief silence that followed, I smiled.

“I might be late for the lecture.”

“Astan, I have one last question.”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you really want? It’s something we shouldn’t even bother with. No matter how much we think and delve into it, ultimately there’s nothing we can do. We should just wait for the seniors and professors to handle it. Why are you so driven? Do you want to become a hero?”

I looked at her without saying anything in response to her words. I couldn’t discern the intention behind the sharp gaze directed at me. As for what I wanted, I organized the answer to her question in my mind and spoke.

“I want to protect the people around me.”

“Do you often hear that you’re being foolish?”

“I don’t recall hearing such words often, but maybe now I am.”

As I gave my response, a strange laughter escaped her. Her words were right; if I was a fool, then I was certainly a fool enough. Even if I were to face that spy, I knew I couldn’t defeat him. Yet, why did I rush like this? If someone were to ask, it was simply because I wanted to protect my friend and those around me.

So, my answer was simple.

Perhaps that’s the reason I want to become stronger.

“Senior.”

As I called out to Senior Erika, she looked down at me and sighed.

“You’re crazy.”

“It’s not me who’s crazy, it’s Sharon, isn’t it?”

“Risking your own life isn’t crazy unless it’s Sharon’s idea. And it’s not like Sharon is going alone, he’ll be with you, so you’ll be risking your life too. You know that, right? That’s why you asked the question.”

“I have vague thoughts about it.”

“And you also know we won’t allow it.”

“I’m well aware of that too.”

“But you still asked? You’ve become quite bold lately, haven’t you?”

Senior Erika took a step towards me, and I didn’t step back, but instead, I spoke.

“Even if we destroy all of the core of the deceased, the core of the deceased will continue to appear. The knights and guards are searching through Ignolia. Would any magician just sit still?

“The more you hide, the easier it is to catch.”

“What if something happens in the meantime? Right now, there’s no harm to the residents of Ignolia, but if there is harm, there’s no way.”

At my words, Senior Erica looked at me intently, let out a long sigh, then took one step closer to me. Looking at the senior standing in front of me, it felt as if an eerie chill was surrounding my body, so I slowly clenched my fist.

“Junior.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Do you want to become a hero?”

“That’s not it.”

“Aren’t you the kind of magician who would risk their life?”

Withholding curiosity isn’t what a magician does; it’s just my curiosity. I’ve learned that not rushing into curiosity is not what a magician does, but if Sharen is wandering around, would her spy appear? If it’s me and Sharen, can we subdue that spy? I’ve developed curiosity, but I’ve learned that not rushing into it is not what a magician does.”

“You speak well.”

Senior Erica looked at me. As our eyes met, words naturally flowed from my lips.

“You asked why I want to become stronger, and I think I found the answer.”

“Why on earth has our junior become so bold?”

“I just want to protect the people around me, that’s all.”

As my words echoed in my ears, Senior Erica began to laugh loudly. Watching her laugh, I just looked at her, and she smiled at me and spoke.

“That’s impossible, you know?”

“Isn’t it interesting because it’s impossible?”

“Right, right… Wanting to become strong to protect those around you, that’s the right thing to say. Oh, of course it is. But Astan, do you know how big a story it is to protect those around you? You’ll have to give up many things within that, and many things will leave your side. Are you prepared for that?”

“Not yet, but if you ask why I want to become stronger, I think it’s the biggest reason.”

She smiled as if she found it interesting, and I just looked into the eyes of my senior.

“I won’t allow Sharon to go out. If I judge that either you or Sharon has the ability to defeat that spy, then I will permit it. And I also want to prohibit your outing, but I’ll tolerate it because your livelihood depends on it.”

“So in the end, we’re back to square one, nothing has changed at all, right?”

“But now that I’ve found your purpose, I need to reconsider my thoughts as well.”

Then she gripped a cane in her right hand.

“Hold the cane, Astan. Do you want to protect your surroundings?”

“I have to go to work in the evening.”

“I can send you with teleportation, can’t I?”

Then she took a few steps away from me and pointed the cane at me with a smile.

“If I don’t stop you, you’ll end up going to the infirmary instead of the tavern, won’t you?”

At that moment, a shock spell flew towards me, and I quickly cast a protection spell.

“This is violence.”

“Show me what real violence is.”

“…No, it’s not.”

I looked at Senior Erica with my right hand extended. The seemingly interesting gaze in her eyes directed at me felt particularly intimidating today.

It would be impossible to go to work if I were hit even once.

With that thought, I bit my lip.