Secret Passage

After meeting Rotten, we returned to the academy and resumed our investigation into the secret room.

As befitting a legend that many students of the academy had challenged and failed for a long time, we didn’t find a single clue about the secret room for several days.

Even Kane and Lacar’s investigation of the blueprints and comparison with the actual academy was over.

The result was once again confirming that there was no spatial allowance for the existence of a secret room anywhere in the academy.

Luna and I continued to visit the library and investigate books, but the lack of results remained the same.

However, as time passed, rather than becoming impatient, I was very much looking forward to the upcoming weekend. The thought of Luna, having been treated by Rotten, being able to freely use both hands made a happy smile appear on my face involuntarily.

Lost in that thought, I inadvertently looked at Luna, who was diligently looking at a book, and an idea came to me when I saw the club badge on her chest.

,Ah, Luna. We can go to the forbidden books section too, right…?

The badge that Headmaster Nelson gave as a gift to the Messiah club members allowed access to anywhere in the school, and it was even possible to borrow books from the forbidden books section.

Like me, who had forgotten that fact, Luna made a dumbfounded expression and opened her mouth upon hearing my words.

We hurriedly headed to the forbidden books section with Luna. It was a library that all citizens of the capital could use, but the forbidden books section was a special place that required grade, rank, and permission.

Luna and I, seeing the red line on the floor indicating the forbidden books section, nervously took a step forward to cross the red line.

Along with a strange feeling as if we had passed through something like a transparent barrier, as we entered the forbidden books section, some first-year students, out of curiosity, stepped in but were bounced back without crossing the red line.

We hurriedly looked for a librarian’s book dedicated to the forbidden books section. It was distinguished from ordinary librarian’s books by its red cover.

Searching for things related to the secret room, things that could not be seen in ordinary librarian’s books began to appear.

Luna and I gathered them and placed them on the table. A total of 11 books existing within the forbidden books section.

Luna, making eye contact with me, nodded with a determined expression. As we carefully examined the books, hoping for a clue about the secret room.

We found someone’s scribbled writing in a book titled [The Secrets of Transcendence Academy].

= Legends are always close by. For example, somewhere in the warehouse on the 5th floor of the main building…. – Captain – =

Captain…? It was a very childish nickname, but it was the only trace left by the advance team that sought the secret room.

I showed it to Luna. Luna, seeing the writing left by Captain, sent a look full of anticipation.

,Shall we go to the 5th-floor warehouse?

,It’s a bit late today, so let’s investigate the books we took out and go with the club members tomorrow.

At my words, Luna nodded and began to investigate the books again. Luna, who was always gentle and never opposed my opinion, was like a puppy that followed its owner well, just like she looked.

As I was looking at her, fantasizing about whether she would make a pleasant expression if I scratched her chin, I came to my senses when Luna slightly lowered her gaze, feeling burdened by my gaze, and checked the books.

But… who the hell is Captain?

*

,So, who is Captain?

The next day, as we gathered in the club room and told the club members about what I had found, Aria asked with a puzzled expression.

,Well, maybe it’s a senior who used to attend the academy?

,Ew, Captain…! Isn’t that totally an old person!?

As Aria showed a strong reaction, Lacar’s muttering, who had been listening quietly, was heard softly.

,Captain…. Isn’t it okay?

Pretending not to hear Lacar’s muttering, I led the club members, suggesting that we all go to the 5th floor together.

Since there was no reason to go up to the 5th floor of the main building, other club members, including me, looked around here and there with curious eyes.

,Wow, the 4th floor and above were off-limits to first-year students?!

As Aria said in surprise, from the 4th floor, there were classrooms and laboratories mainly used by 3rd and 4th-year students. 2nd-year students were allowed to enter, but 1st-year students were prohibited from entering, perhaps because of the thought that they might cause an accident.

Of course, we were able to enter freely thanks to the club badge.

,Oh, but what warehouse are they talking about?

Like Kane’s bewildered voice, I had no choice but to make a flustered expression after checking the 5th floor.

,Magic Department Warehouses 1-4. Combat Department Warehouses 1-7…. Alchemy Department, Magic Department Warehouses 1-12…. Even basic warehouses and training weapon warehouses….

Aria read the 5th-floor guide map hanging in the hallway in a deflated voice.

,Do we have to check all of these…?

,Maybe…?

As I was scratching my head, Kane suddenly interjected in a sharp voice.

,Wait, we might not have to check everything.

,Why?

I asked, curious at Kane’s sudden words.

,If the person named Captain was our senior, it would have been a warehouse that students could access. So, the basic warehouse and the training weapon warehouse are excluded because students can’t enter. General students can’t enter the Alchemy Department and Magic Department warehouses alone either. There are many dangerous and expensive things, so you have to enter the warehouse with a professor.

Kane’s reasoning made me and the club members nod as if we understood.

,Then the only places left are the Combat Department and Magic Department warehouses. It’s written here that Magic Department Warehouses 3 and 4 also require the accompaniment of a professor. So, it seems like we only need to check Warehouses 1 and 2.

,You, you…! You were a detective!

As soon as Kane finished speaking, Aria started a comedy routine as if she had been waiting for it.

,Hmph, this much is basic…. I’ll bet my father’s honor on it.

Seeing things like this, it seems like the two of them get along really well…. It was a little disappointing that Aria was a lesbian.

I was very curious about what kind of child would be born if the two of them got married.

I clapped my hands, drawing the attention of the club members.

,Okay, then let’s investigate the warehouses one by one in order. Instead of dividing up and investigating, let’s have one person check the entire warehouse at a time.

,Why? It’s faster if we divide up.

I shook my head at Aria’s question.

,It’s about the secret room, so it might be hidden. If everyone checks it once, the next person can check what was inadvertently missed.

,As expected of the club president. It’s definitely safer for several people to knock on a stone bridge.

Receiving Lacar’s burdensome trust, I started checking Combat Department Warehouse 1 first. As soon as I came out, Aria, who had been pacing back and forth, went into Warehouse 1, and I immediately moved on to Warehouse 2.

After a long time, we, having finished searching all the warehouses, were sitting down in the 5th-floor hallway.

,Hey, weren’t your deductions wrong?

Kane scratched his head at Aria’s suspicious voice.

,It’s okay. I’m an illegitimate child. I can use my father’s honor as much as I want.

,You irresponsible bastard!!!

Listening to Aria and Kane’s comedy routine, I thought back to the clue left by Captain. Was it simply a message left to check the warehouse on the 5th floor?

As I was lost in thought, Luna, who was sitting next to me, suddenly got up and began to look closely at the 5th-floor warehouse guide map.

,Magic Department warehouse, Alchemy Department warehouse… huh?

Luna, who had been muttering to herself, suddenly tilted her head and began to look closely at the guide map.

,Ross, this….

,Huh?

At Luna’s call, I got up from my seat and looked at the guide map.

,…Is there something strange?

,The warehouses exist in numerical order, but here. Only Combat Department Warehouse 5 is on the opposite side….

Kane stopped the comedy routine and came to us, touching his chin and saying.

,…That’s strange? Lacar! Go to Combat Department Warehouse 5!

At Kane’s words, Lacar got up from his seat and walked to the front of Combat Department Warehouse No. 5, looking at us.

,Huh…? Lacar, is that Warehouse 5?

,Huh? It is? It says Warehouse 5 here.

At Lacar’s words, Kane and I exchanged glances.

According to the guide map, Lacar should have turned the corner of the hallway, so we shouldn’t have been able to see him.

Aria also realized that the atmosphere was strange and jumped up from her seat, sending a look full of anticipation.

Together with the club members, we headed to where Lacar was standing.

,According to the guide map, this should be part of Warehouse 4.

,We checked here earlier…? Then what about Warehouse 5 on the guide map?

,We have to check it.

There was only a wall where the corner of the hallway was, as shown on the guide map.

,There’s no door?

It was possible that the guide map was simply wrong. From Warehouse 6 onwards, they were properly arranged according to the guide map.

,But if that’s the case, structurally, this place would be an empty space with nothing?

As if reading my thoughts, Kane knocked on the wall where the door should be with his hand.

,Let’s go back to Warehouse 5 and check again.

It didn’t seem like the problem would be solved by being in the hallway. Together with the club members, we entered Warehouse 5 and searched thoroughly to see if we had missed anything, but there were only combat-related training tools and practice tools. There was nothing that seemed to be related to the secret room.

,That Captain or whatever, that person just wrote it to mess with us, right? Otherwise, why wouldn’t they have written it clearly!

Aria, who had been diligently checking the warehouse with her bangs wet with sweat due to anticipation, punched the wall while huffing and puffing.

Tong-

,Huh?

A very clear sound was heard, considering she had hit the wall.

Aria, also feeling something strange, punched the wall again.

Tong- Tong- Tong-

,Wh, what! This isn’t a wall!!!

The annoyance that had filled her face disappeared in an instant, and Aria, whose face had changed to one full of anticipation again, diligently punched the wall.

,Move.

At Lacar’s words, Aria moved to the side. Lacar immediately rammed his shoulder into the wall.

Kung-!

Lacar was sucked into the wall along with the illusion that the entire warehouse had shaken.

,L, Lacar!

,Kyaaak, what!!!

While the club members were making a fuss watching Lacar disappear into the wall, I carefully approached and pressed the wall with my hand.

I had seen something similar to this in Modest.

As I had expected, the wall rotated, and Lacar’s figure, who had fallen to the floor, was visible. Perhaps he hadn’t thought that the wall would rotate, he had lost his balance and fallen over after hitting his shoulder with all his might.

,Lacar, are you okay?

,Cough, I guess I wasn’t supposed to break it.

It seemed like he couldn’t get up not because he was in pain, but because he was embarrassed. I helped Lacar up and checked beyond the rotating wall.

,Guys, there’s a passage here.

,No, no way…! Th, the secret room?!

Aria made a fuss, and Lacar, who was stuck in the rotating wall because she was pushing her body to come inside recklessly, screamed.

,St, stop! Aria, stop! Calm down!

,Secret room!!!

Aria, shouting that, squeezed in and started running through the passage recklessly.

,Hey! Be careful!!!

Despite my shouting, Aria, who had gone crazy, could not be controlled.

We hurriedly followed the passage with the club members. Aria’s figure, struggling to open the door, came into view.

,Aria, who told you to act alone.

When I blamed her in a slightly stern voice, Aria, who had come to her senses, apologized to us with a dejected face.

,M, sorry…. Was I a little excited?

After sternly scolding Aria, who had acted alone, leaving the club members behind. We took turns trying to open the door, but for some reason, the door didn’t seem to open.

,That’s strange. It doesn’t seem to have a lock.

As Kane said, there was no hole in the doorknob to insert a key.

,Hmm…. Shall we use magic?

Aria, who had been quiet because she had done something wrong, took out her wand with shining eyes, but.

,You’re going to break the door. Don’t do it.

Her expression soon turned gloomy at Kane’s words.

As I was wondering what to do, Luna, who had been quietly looking at the door, opened her mouth.

,Um…. Doesn’t this door look familiar?

,Huh…?

Just like she had found the secret in the guide map, had Luna found something again this time? I checked the door in detail, but nothing came to mind.

,You’ve seen it somewhere? It seems different from the doors in the academy?

At Aria’s words, Luna looked at the door with a cute expression, putting her finger on her lips, and finally, as if she had remembered, made an ah sound.

,It’s the same as the door that goes back to the closet on our island!

The heads of the club members, who had been looking at Luna, turned to the door.

,That’s right…. Now that I hear it…?

,I remember now. Good job, Luna.

,Wow, you found this? Luna, you’re amazing?

I also gave a thumbs up to Luna, who was fidgeting with her fingers, perhaps embarrassed by the club members’ compliments, and said.

,You’re the best.

As the praise time ended, we fell into one question while looking at the door.

,But… what are we supposed to do if the door is the same?

I nodded involuntarily at Aria’s words.

Now what are we supposed to do…?