episode_0102

The bridgehead leading into the academy grounds.

It’s a short bridge that only allows entry to permitted merchants, but because the amount of goods they usually bring in is considerable, the bridge was built quite sturdy. Countless crowds are gathered upon it.

“Please hold your positions!”

“Please enter slowly! Only by following our control can you enter quickly!”

“Family members of the top students of each year, please go to the professor on the left! Immediate entry is possible!”

Staff standing at the end of the bridge, at the entrance to the academy grounds, project their voices through amplification magic.

“No, immediate entry is possible if you’re a top student’s family? Isn’t this discrimination?”

“It is a top student benefit.”

Some nobles expressed dissatisfaction, but the academy staff paid them no mind. They were already hardened to dealing with nobles. Thanks to several years of working at the academy and clashing with nobles, no one was intimidated by the authority of the nobles. Perhaps the nobles knew this, as they only grumbled and didn’t genuinely get annoyed.

What could they do? It was their child’s fault for not becoming a top student at the academy. He sighed deeply, looked at the bridge still densely packed, and clicked his tongue.

At that moment, a woman with black hair entered the straight waiting line prepared for the families of top students. A beautiful woman with an iron sparrow perched on her shoulder and bizarre-shaped spheres dangling from her waist.

At first glance, she was a young noble offspring. The clothes she was wearing were made of high-class material not easily found, and her hair was more vibrant than that of most nobles. Her face was also attractive, as if a mix of sensuality and innocence.

“Hmm… I think it’s here…”

But unlike her appearance, her personality itself seemed very authoritarian. It was obvious from the way she couldn’t stand the line everyone else was waiting in and stepped aside. There was a possibility she was a top student’s family member, but then she wouldn’t have come alone like this. She would have mobilized her entire family and proudly entered the academy.

‘Looks like a low-ranking noble. To have such a twisted personality at that young age. The family’s future is obvious.’

The noble man clicked his tongue and firmly grabbed the shoulder of the woman passing right beside him.

“Hiyah!”

The woman was startled and vigorously slapped away the hand on her shoulder with her palm.

“No! Don’t do it! I don’t like it!”

“You are having a ridiculous misunderstanding, young lady.”

The man frowned as if displeased and withdrew his hand. The woman exhaled threateningly and placed her hand on the metal sphere attached to her waist.

“W-what are you doing like this in broad daylight!”

“…How old do you think I am that I would lust after a young woman like you? I was merely trying to give you a piece of advice.”

“…Advice?”

“Do you see the line here? These are people who have been waiting since dawn to enter the academy. But what are you doing, young lady, not keeping the line? That path is not a path permitted to you, but a path permitted only to the family of the academy’s top student. Go back immediately.”

“……?”

At the man’s words, the woman tilted her head.

“Then isn’t it the path I’m allowed to take?”

“…What?”

The moment the man asked back in a foolish voice.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

One of the professors standing at the end of the bridge had already approached the woman and had a welcoming smile. The woman seemed surprised by her sudden appearance and flinched, but realized the professor’s physique was smaller than hers and relaxed her expression.

“…Who are you?”

“I am an academy professor. My name is Marie. Currently, I am in charge of guiding the families of the top students attempting to enter the academy. Is your name Evelyn, by any chance?”

“Ah, yes.”

Evelyn nodded. The sparrow sitting on her shoulder made a cute sound and flapped its wings.

Marie looked at the sparrow with eyes of admiration for a moment, then seemed to collect herself and guided Evelyn.

“Asel student’s older sister, confirmed. You can go inside and unpack your luggage at the accommodation we’ve prepared, or you can sightsee until the duel begins. What would you like to do?”

“Uh, uhm…”

At the more elaborate hospitality than she expected, Evelyn’s eyes spun around. Although she lived without want during her time in Wiheim, she did not live receiving others’ assistance. On the contrary, she often assisted others herself.

Perhaps because of that, Evelyn found the situation where others deferred to her very unfamiliar…

And Marie, who lived by reading the professors’ moods, quickly figured out what Evelyn was thinking. She smiled gently and naturally took the luggage bag held in Evelyn’s hand.

“If it’s difficult to decide, how about following our recommendation for now?”

“Ah, ah! Yes, yes! Then I’ll do that!”

“Alright. Please follow me then.”

Marie smiled at Evelyn once, then picked up her luggage bag and moved towards the inside of the academy. Evelyn hesitantly followed behind her. The staff guarding the academy entrance immediately cleared the way as soon as Marie appeared.

“…Huh, really.”

The man who had meddled with Evelyn scratched his empty head in embarrassment at the sight.

“Kyaaaak! My eyes!”

The young lady standing behind him screamed at the sudden glare.

***

“Wow… this is the academy…”

Evelyn walked around the academy grounds with Marie, exclaiming in admiration. Stylish tiles. Street trees and lampposts installed at intervals. Vibrant shops and busy academy students running around.

There’s no mysterious atmosphere like Wiheim. It’s not leisurely either. However, the freshness and vibrancy peculiar to school life filled the surroundings. It was an atmosphere Evelyn liked.

Evelyn didn’t particularly dislike the calm yet free-spirited, mysterious yet closed-off atmosphere of Wiheim. Rather, she liked it if anything; there was no reason to dislike it. No matter what anyone said, her hometown was now Wiheim.

Still… her personal preference aligned better with the academy. Talking about assignments with friends, grumbling that classes are difficult, or falling in love with someone. She preferred an atmosphere similar to such peaceful novels. It couldn’t be helped, living amongst tiresome old wizards unlike her appearance suggested.

However, she didn’t particularly feel like enrolling in the academy. It’s better to study only the subjects of interest in Wiheim than to learn unnecessary ones. And it didn’t seem like the magical engineering taught by academy professors would be more amazing than an engineer who had been in Wiheim for over a hundred years.

‘As long as Asel is happy, that’s enough. There’s no need for me to specifically enter the academy.’

Thinking that, Evelyn gently stroked the sparrow sitting on her shoulder. The sparrow made a pleasant sound and rubbed its head against Evelyn’s finger.

“You can use this place for accommodation.”

As they walked a bit further, chatting privately with Marie, a towering hotel appeared. Although the exterior was quite splendid, Evelyn, who was used to Ena’s mansion, wasn’t particularly surprised by the hotel.

“Let’s go in.”

She followed Marie, who had entered the hotel, and moved her steps. In the hotel lobby on the first floor, various distinguished guests who had already arrived were seated. Vampires with pale skin and striking white hair, a duke with red hair, Archmages from the Aurora Magic Tower Academy branch, a blonde noble boasting a rugged body like an orc, and so on.

“……”

“Hmm. A young girl!”

Some of them subtly glanced sideways at Evelyn, who had entered the hotel following Marie. Evelyn felt that gaze and hiccuped.

But she didn’t show any sign of being nervous. After all, she was visiting the academy as Asel’s family and a guest. If she were intimidated by others in this place, there was a possibility it would negatively affect Asel. So Evelyn, deliberately whistling nonchalantly, walked past the muscular giant. The giant quietly looked down at the top of Evelyn’s head, then chuckled and turned his head away.

“The people using this hotel are the families of the top and second-place students, and those who have already reserved stays for several days.”

“Oh, I see.”

“As this is a place full of distinguished individuals, the service has also been luxuriously prepared to the extent that even high-ranking nobles can be satisfied. Therefore, you are free to use all facilities existing in this hotel.”

“Ah, aha! That’s great! I like it!”

Evelyn exclaimed in an exaggerated voice. Marie chuckled slightly and handed the card received from the hotel staff to Evelyn.

“The room number written on the card is Evelyn’s room. The way to enter is to hold the card up to the recognition device placed in front of the room. You can also use the card when using facilities…”

Marie handed over Evelyn’s luggage bag she was carrying and smiled sweetly.

“Welcome to the academy. Please stay comfortably and leave having made good memories with your brother.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you!”

“Then I shall go now. There are about 2 hours left until the duel begins, so you are free to act as you wish until then.”

But.

Marie added that and said in a serious voice.

“Please do not go into the alleyways behind the academy grounds. Just yesterday, there was an illegal intrusion by a black mage.”

“Heh, heeeek! An intrusion?!”

Evelyn’s eyes widened round. Marie nodded her head.

“Yes. We don’t know where or how they got in, but many people directly witnessed it. They say black magic was used with shadows or darkness as a medium. We are currently tracking their location and have reinforced security… but haven’t found their exact whereabouts yet. It’s also possible they’ve already left the academy.”

“Hieeek…”

“Anyway, so please avoid dark or secluded places as much as possible. Our security is blocking all paths leading into the alleyways, so you won’t get lost, but please still be cautious.”

“I, I will keep that in mind.”

“Thank you. By the way, how do you feel about arranging a tour course and accompanying a guide as I mentioned before?”

“Uh, uhm… I’ll just go see my brother right away…”

“Alright. To meet your brother, you will probably just need to head straight to the main academy building. Then, have a pleasant trip.”

Marie bowed respectfully to Evelyn before leaving the hotel. After seeing her off, Evelyn went into the room written on the card and quickly unpacked her luggage.

She didn’t bring much. It was just clothes and underwear to change into for a few days, a gift for Asel, and magical engineering items to show off. She stood in front of the mirror, checked her appearance one last time, and smiled shyly.

“Mm-hmm! Perfect! I can’t show him an ugly look when seeing him after a long time!”

Evelyn massaged her soft cheeks vigorously as if kneading dough, then soon took her card and left the hotel room.

Simultaneously, a young man with black hair appeared from the room across the hall.

“Oh?”

Wearing a pitch-black uniform and coat, he tilted his head when he saw Evelyn coincidentally coming out of her room just like him.

“The room across the hall was originally empty, wasn’t it? Did you just move in today?”

“Ah, yes. Since I have family at the academy…”

Evelyn answered with an awkward smile. The young man nodded as if understanding, and stared at Evelyn with lifeless eyes.

“If you’re family staying here… it seems you have a top student or a second-place student in your family. Wow, that’s amazing!”

“Ehehe! It’s nothing! Although my brother is quite amazing!”

Evelyn was the type to react nonchalantly to compliments about herself, but would be delighted to hear compliments about Asel. She was a typical sibling-fool.

“He’s the top student in the Freshman Department of Magical Studies, no less! Do you know how surprised I was when I heard?”

“Top student in Magical Studies? First year?”

The young man’s eyes widened round as he asked.

“Then… could it be Asel, Master Gaebyeok’s disciple?”

“Yes! He’s my younger brother!”

“This can’t be! I’m a truly ardent fan of Master Gaebyeok! To think I would meet the disciple’s older sister in a place like this. It’s an honor!”

The young man made a fuss and extended his hand towards Evelyn. Evelyn eagerly shook his hand and wore a triumphant smile.

“Hoho. I am also Master Gaebyeok’s personal maid!”

“Heok!! I’m jealous! I want to be a butler too!”

“No.”

“You are very resolute.”

The young man said that, then as if something suddenly occurred to him, he made a sound of “Ah” and let go of Evelyn’s hand.

“Speaking of which, my introduction is late.”

With his mouth corners stretched wide, he greeted Evelyn with noble etiquette.

“My name is Villagers.”

“That’s a unique name. I am Evelyn.”

“Evelyn. A beautiful name. As much as Asel’s.”

“Our names are indeed pretty.”

Evelyn said, laughing softly.

Instead of answering, the young man hid his hand behind his back and smiled sweetly.

……쩌저적.

Some rotten flesh fell onto the floor with a thudding sound.