episode_0062

000

“Today’s laboratory opening is over. After tidying up the laboratory, please clean the tools and quickly return to the dormitory.”

A voice amplified using magic echoed throughout the laboratory.

Lowering the bow he was holding, he quietly flips his hair back.

Looking at the target 110m away in front,

Dozens of arrows are stuck in the red center.

Some of them were seen tearing through the arrows already embedded from behind.

“Heh….”

The talent for marksmanship inherited from his father, who was a sniper in the war with the Empire.

As the eldest son of the Olalion family, it was natural to set an example for other students in the `Archery Department`.

There is no room for error for this Trace Olalion.

“Wow~! Sasha is amazing! She hit the center of the target 200m away!”

The voices of female students chattering noisily next to him are heard.

Turning to look, there were about 3 girls gathered, chatting.

Standing in the center was a girl with beast ears and a tail, and orange hair.

Sanasia Lupenwolf.

Although her body is delicate, the parts needed as a hunter were certainly trained.

Above all, the simultaneous existence of human ears and beast ears is her characteristic.

Recalling what he heard in her self-introduction on the first day, she says it was due to `some kind of curse`.

When he first saw her, she just gave the impression of a slightly cute girl.

Thanks to the power of the special mark that appeared in his eyes, her archery skills were more excellent than those of ordinary students.

More than anything, she is more sensitive than others, quickly noticing even small sounds or feelings of discomfort.

“Hmm…?”

See. Even now, she senses my gaze and looks this way.

Of course, as the eldest son of a traditional family, I do not easily make eye contact with women.

It’s definitely not because I’m nervous or my heart is pounding.

According to what he heard, as a member of a special bloodline, she spent her childhood in a difficult environment.

Hmph. This body is not swayed by such things.

He had enough compassion to feel a hint of sympathy for a girl with a harsh fate.

The mindset of noblesse oblige.

But he never speaks to her first.

That is the advice of his father, who achieved love at the age of 50.

A woman (prey) whom you truly love will come to you even if you stay still.

That is the attitude that a hunting expert should have.

If she, who is surrounded by friends and happily wagging her tail, happens to.

Become aware of this body’s compassionate heart.

If she comes to him, he is ready to accept it.

“Hehehe… Ahahahaha… Hahahahahaha!!!”

Imagining that day, he feels good and cannot stop laughing.

He does not care about the whispering sounds around him.

Because his hunting is as good as already successful.

“Ah! Mr. Cleon!”

In the midst of this, her voice echoes throughout the practice field.

Turning around, he sees a black-haired man approaching her and acting friendly.

However, Sanasia pricks up her ears and wags her tail, grabbing his hand.

Just like his dog `Orthrus`, who always greets him happily at his main house.

He had never seen her smile so brightly….

Unable to bear it, he grabbed the arm of a male student from the same department next to him.

“Hey! Spanking! Who is that guy!”

“…My name is Schubert. Hmm…? Ah, you mean Mr. Cleon.”

Spanking looked at the figure of a man named Cleon and uttered his name as if he was familiar with him.

“Cleon…?”

“Ah. Trace always goes straight home after class, so you wouldn’t know, but Mr. Cleon always comes to pick up Sanasia when she stays late.”

Does that mean that a man named Cleon is Sanasia’s guardian?

He was unnecessarily nervous, thinking that a rival had appeared.

“Is the man named Cleon also a student at the Academy?”

“No? I heard he’s a temporary instructor in another department. I think it was the Department of Sexual Studies…?”

“Se, Sexual Studies!? Isn’t that the shameless department where only perverts gather!”

That’s a big problem.

Being protected by a man who is even a lecturer in the Department of Sexual Studies.

He might lose his chastity at any moment to his perfect prey.

“More than that. You’ll get demerit points if you don’t clean up the practice room quickly.”

He did not pay much attention to Spanking’s words from behind.

His eyes were just fixed on the shameless human being called `Cleon`.

001

Even in the Academy, where various education and research are conducted day and night.

When the sun sets and dusk falls, a dark night descends.

The lights of magical power lit on the streets illuminate the surroundings, but.

Even so, the way to the dormitory is still long and lonely, with a cold night breeze blowing.

If she were alone, she would have quickened her pace and ran to the dormitory in one go.

But if Cleon is by her side.

Even if Sasha hums happily and walks slowly beside him.

She can throw off the loneliness in the darkness that calls for solitude.

And go home in a bright mood.

“Those two people from before are faces I see often.”

When Sasha turns to him at Cleon’s words, he has a bright smile on his face.

“Yes! They are both really kind!”

Seeing her like that, a smile also formed on Cleon’s lips.

A girl born as a member of a closed tribe, forced to live as a womb to produce strong children from a young age.

Rejecting such a fate, she ran away from the tribe and somehow reached Cleon.

That meeting greatly twisted the future given to her-.

Eventually, she cut off the ties with the past that clung to her like shackles with her own strength.

But life in the city was not so abundant.

Rather, by living with Cleon, she spent time similar to hiding in a mansion in the forest, rather than staying in the city.

Living with Lyla, Kuon, and Ruti was also fun, but.

Without being conscious of anyone.

Just freely. Making friends, learning new things, and.

An everyday life where you can hum and return to a home with family-like companions.

Perhaps that is what Sasha needed.

Cleon felt both sorry and relieved for her.

Of course, if she had remained in Albein’s party as it was and adventured with him.

She might have been greatly hurt by his rampage someday.

Even so, it was clear that Cleon was responsible for her having a slightly inconvenient experience.

If he could alleviate that responsibility even a little and see her smile.

Coming to the Academy might have been the right answer.

However-

“Your ears and tail still haven’t disappeared.”

At Cleon’s words, Sasha moves the pointed triangular animal ears like those of a fox that sprouted on top of her head and.

The fluffy tail that grew from her waist.

She has sensation and can move them at will.

Her ears could hear much more than human ears.

The tail moved like a third hand, from light objects to slightly heavier ones.

If necessary, it was strong enough to carry her bag when heading to the classroom.

It was convenient, but.

After all, it was a bit strange for her, who had lived without these things.

Above all, the cause of these things was the biggest concern.

The encroachment of the bloodline ability `Hunter’s Mark`.

By using the special lenses made by Lyla, she is hiding the mark that usually appears from others, but.

It is only in appearance.

If she takes off the lenses, her curse, emitting a clear light, is clearly visible inside.

That day, when she used the power of the mark to bury her fellow tribesmen who had fallen into beasts.

Originally, she too would have been encroached upon by the mark.

She might have become a wild beast, losing her reason.

Why did she stop in the middle of that, becoming an ambiguous form?

The reason for that was unknown to her or even the knowledgeable Lyla.

The animalistic organs that appeared on her body also had substance, but.

In reality, they were closer to lumps made of `magic power`, like Galatea’s body.

If there is any anxiety for her in the current situation.

It’s a ticking time bomb-like situation where the encroachment of the mark might progress again at any time.

Her whole body might change.

To solve that, the power of knowledge possessed by the Academy was needed.

“It’s okay! I have the lenses given by Lyla and the amulet given by Kuon… And most of all, Mr. Cleon is by my side!”

Sasha smiles brightly, as if trying not to show such anxiety.

Cleon was quietly thinking that he wanted to protect this sun-like girl’s smile.

“I’m glad Lyla’s dormitory is a special one! To provide a mansion with a workshop as a dormitory. The Academy is amazing!”

As if trying to change the subject, Sasha raised her voice and spoke.

The Academy also provided differential dormitories depending on the student’s performance.

Becoming the chief of a major department like Lyla.

She was provided with an entire mansion inside the Academy as her accommodation.

Originally, there are many noble children in the position of chief, so this is a consideration to allow the servants who assist them to stay together.

Lyla was said to have spent her time at the Academy researching alone in a large mansion without any servants,

Perhaps because of this, the entire house was in the same state as the rooms she used when Lyla stayed in the city or the Gortian mansion.

When Kuon went into nagging mode as soon as she arrived and cleaned the whole house to make it habitable,

It was clear that the sun had long passed and had already turned into a night sky, even though she was supposed to have arrived in the morning.

Anyway.

There was enough space for a total of five people to live, including the four of them plus Galatea.

Lyla also told them to think of it as her own home and assigned them rooms.

So, the group did not live separately.

“I wouldn’t mind living alone with Cleon~”

There was a magical sword that ruined the harmonious atmosphere of the group while saying that.

“”No way!””

Thanks to the opposition from Kuon and Sasha, Cleon was safely given a room.

In this way.

The place and form are slightly different, but.

Even now, a haven where everyone can feel safe and live together.

Is waiting for the two of them.

002

“How is it going? The interpretation of the cube.”

After finishing the meal made by Kuon, Cleon visited Lyla’s room.

Lyla was sitting at the desk in her room, surrounded by various magical tools.

She was examining the Memoria Cube and groaning.

“From the large-scale equipment in the workshop to special analysis tools that ordinary people cannot touch. I used them all, but it’s not easy, as expected.”

Lyla takes off her monocle and sighs.

The fact that all of the various analysis magical tools from various eras that she brought in a box on the first day she returned to the Academy.

Failed to interpret the Memoria Cube was a pretty painful result.

“The higher the amount of information the Memoria Cube contains, the harder it is to interpret.”

“I heard that.”

When Cleon nodded, Lyla continued to explain the cube.

“Considering the era it was manufactured, it’s a pretty old-fashioned cube. The interpretation tools also need to be ancient items to match it….”

“Can you get them?”

Lyla was silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

“I can’t get them. They exist, but.”

“What do you mean?”

Lyla stared at the curtains in the room for a moment, then pulled them open.

Even from here, the giant clock tower, rising in the night with moonlight pouring down and shadows cast, caught her eye.

The giant clock tower in the center of the Academy.

`Tower of Aion`

It is generally known to play the role of announcing the start and end of classes throughout the Academy.

However, the true value of that clock tower was conveyed to some students and faculty members.

An entrance to the underground ancient relic repository…. `Warehouse of Vitus`.

That is the true raison d’être of the Tower of Aion.

“Entering the Warehouse of Vitus alone is okay even with the authority of the chief. I’ve been in there a few times too.”

Lyla closes one eye and recalls the memories of the numerous ancient relics she saw there.

A giant golem that was worshiped as a god in a certain region.

A machine said to be able to control the climate.

A forbidden grimoire that was said to have the power to revive the dead, but attracted dangerous creatures.

Each one was something that could not be restored or reproduced with modern technology.

They were things that she could not understand or use now.

But just one.

If there is anything that she is interested in.

`Stone Key of Trismegistus`

That stone key hanging from an unbreakable rope is.

It is one of the few ancient magical tools that modern people can use and is the only one in the world.

It was a thing that only existed within the Warehouse of Vitus.

Its ability is `the ultimate interpretation ability that can interpret any magical tool`.

To be exact, it is a thing that has the power to forcibly open the concept of `closed`.

It is used as a last resort for relics that are closed with vast amounts of information inside, such as Memoria Cubes.

However- the Stone Key loses its power the more it is used.

Therefore, it is forbidden to be used for personal gain.

It is expected that there are more important relics than the Memoria Cube.

The Stone Key could not be touched for such personal purposes.

After hearing the explanation up to this point, Cleon quietly opened his mouth.

“But giving me such an explanation means that there is a way to use it, right?”

“Of course. It’s not easy, though.”

Lyla sighed, closed the curtains, and sat back in her chair.

“This school is quite student-centered. If you are the chief, you have more authority than the professors in most departments.”

“It seems so.”

Of course, there are certainly departments that are not like that.

In particular, the chief of the Department of Sexual Studies, who is the department head’s lesbian play partner.

Even in class, she does not take off the name tag that says `Department Head’s Bitch` from her neck.

The headache was so bad that she felt like she was going crazy, but she is used to it now.

“Among the relics in the Warehouse of Vitus, there are some that students can use if they want. One of them is the `Stone Key`.”

She said that, raised her right hand, and showed all five fingers.

“But you can’t do it alone. You need the consent of the chiefs of five departments to get permission to use the Stone Key.”

Cleon’s eyes wrinkled slightly when he heard that story.

There are 21 departments in the Academy.

Out of them, is it difficult to get the cooperation of just five people – four if you exclude Lyla?

The Department of Magic is the largest and oldest department in the Academy.

Thanks to this, it was also greatly checked by other departments.

And most of the chiefs are from aristocratic families.

They basically have an attitude of looking down on commoners.

There were also those who did not want to acknowledge the children of commoners from the countryside.

On top of that, Lyla’s arrogant attitude before she met Cleon.

Had left a bad impression on other students.

Most of them would shake their heads just because Lyla Flameworth wanted cooperation.

“Ugh…. I’m sorry.”

After finishing the explanation up to that point, Lyla lowered her head as if she was discouraged.

If her usual behavior had been good.

She would have been able to get the consent of the other chiefs right away and use the Stone Key.

Lyla felt that not being able to do so was all her own fault.

Cleon watched Lyla like that for a while and patted her on the shoulder.

Of course, he did not think it was good that she had been cold to others and looked down on them in the past, but.

The Memoria Cube is just his personal problem.

Trying to see the contents inside was Cleon’s own desire.

“It’s okay. Let’s think about measures regarding the consent of the chiefs little by little. There are also Sasha and Galatea’s problems.”

“Yeah. But I’ll apologize in advance. I still don’t have a very good personal evaluation among other people.”

“That…. I don’t think that’s the case either.”

At Lyla’s words, Cleon recalled the face of the chief of the Department of Swordsmanship, whom he had met during the day-.

Aruru Tromea.

At least she was reevaluating Lyla.

Of course, it was not certain whether she would give her consent as a chief with just that one emotion.

Cleon felt that he could trust her somewhere.

Perhaps it was because he felt that she was an honest human being who did not hide anything herself.

Even in a short conversation.

However, Lyla seemed a little dissatisfied with Cleon’s expression, which seemed to be thinking of another woman.

“Who are you thinking about?”

And she grumbled.

“No. I was thinking it would be nice if you could make friends too.”

At Cleon’s answer, Lyla opened her eyes wide and raised her voice.

“The Academy is not a place to make friends! Are you a middle-aged father worried about his daughter’s friendships! You are!”

While calming down Lyla, who was bursting with anger, Cleon’s lips naturally curled up.

“Ah.”

Then, Lyla saw the change in Cleon’s expression and let out a sound.

Cleon, who had tried not to show her a smile as much as possible while living in the Gortian mansion.

Now he naturally smiles in front of her too.

The fact that such a fact brought a warm feeling to one side of her heart was new.

Lyla quietly stared at Cleon’s face for a moment.

Then, she moved away from Cleon and quietly turned her body.

“Well, well. I’ll try to get the consent of the other chiefs by pretending or acting coy. I, I’m not trying to become friends, though.”

It was a perfectly exemplary grumbling.

Cleon opened his mouth while looking at Lyla like that.

“Yeah. I’ll talk to the chief of the Department of Sexual Studies once.”

“The chief of the Department of Sexual Studies…. What is it? I’ve never talked to them before, but just hearing the title sends chills down my spine.”

“… …”

Lyla shuddered and carefully looked back at Cleon.

“That means they are the most outstanding student in the department where the most perverts gather in the Academy, right? That means….”

After a beat, she took a breath, opened her eyes wide, and spoke to Cleon.

“Academy Top Class Bitch”

Academy Top Class Bitch.

It’s a scary name just to hear.

Of course, Cleon had talked to her.

Indeed, she was a student worthy of that title.

“A, anyway! Let’s work hard together for the sake of interpreting the cube. You have to go early tomorrow for the morning, erectile strength test, right?”

“Damn it…. I forgot.”

Cleon’s face quickly became gloomy and he left Lyla’s room.

Lyla sighed for a moment while looking at his retreating figure.

And she slyly lifted up the frame that was lying face down on the desk.

“Friend…. huh.”

It was too much of a story for herself.

Thinking that, she drank the bitter tea.