Episode 124

In truth, it had little to do with the Wardanaz family, but Gainando was adamant.

“A habit like that must have been drilled in by the Wardanaz family. Otherwise, who would study that much on their own?”

‘You should study a bit…’

The Blue Dragon Tower friend looked at Gainando pitifully and walked away.

Thanks to his family, he didn’t really need to care about grades, but even among Blue Dragon Tower students, Gainando was on another level.

Even to the other Blue Dragon Tower students who weren’t diligent at their studies, it seemed, ‘Isn’t he playing around way too much?’

Seriously, study a bit!

“All right. Let’s go.”

Ihan finished packing and put his hand-drawn map in his backpack.

He put more than just a map inside.

Sharpened daggers, nails, tools like hammers, sturdy and tough rope, and hand-made torches made from oiled rags all went in his backpack.

There were also glass bottles filled with oil he used frequently, a few cans for emergencies, a glass jar filled with sugar, and a leather canteen…

Given his skillful, precise handling, this clearly wasn’t his first time.

…It was questionable whether he really needed to go to such lengths to explore inside the school, though.

“Are you really going out?”

“Yeah.”

With Professor Garcia’s test tomorrow, Gainando was moved by how confidently Ihan announced his plans.

So cool!

‘That’s what being a noble is!’

Nobles shouldn’t be slavishly studying, bound by grades.

A real noble should be bold, throwing away books and going out for a walk.

Of course, strictly speaking, Ihan was going out after already finishing all his studying…

Gainando decided to ignore that part.

“I’ll come too.”

“Hm?”

Ihan was a little surprised at Gainando’s response.

He hadn’t expected Gainando to suggest coming along.

“You sure?”

“Of course. I can’t just let a friend go somewhere dangerous alone.”

“You just don’t want to study, so you’re coming, aren’t you?”

“……”

Gainando fell silent, struck in the heart.

If he stayed in the lounge, everyone passing by would be sure to say things like, “Aren’t you going to study?” “Why are you playing cards now, isn’t a quiz coming up? You should be studying.”

Rather than getting nagged, it was better to follow Ihan.

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“I think it is… But it’s fine if you come. Go ahead.”

With Ihan’s permission, Gainando happily put on his coat.

Asan came in and asked,

“Gainando. Is it okay if you don’t study?”

“Oh, stop asking already!”

“I just asked once…”

• * *

The main reason Ihan wanted to check the spire stables first was because of an escape plan.

He had made a promise with Amur, the owner of the magical school’s outer stables.

—When the evil lich falls and the crimson dawn arrives, raise your head and look to the east of the spire!

‘…Hm. Come to think of it, the conversation wasn’t quite that dramatic.’

With time, memories become distorted, but this one had gotten a bit exaggerated in just a short span.

More accurately, Amur, the stable owner, had promised to fly to the school once every two weeks.

He hadn’t gotten a flying mount yet, but it was best to learn the way to the stables ahead of time.

And who knew—maybe in the process of heading to the spire stables, he’d find a hint for getting a mount.

‘If the promise holds, they’ll come once this weekend; I wonder if I’ll be able to meet them.’

“It’s really great being together like this, right?”

At Nilia’s question, Ihan and Yonair both nodded quickly.

Gainando, standing absentmindedly, got pinched in the back by Ihan and hurriedly nodded, too.

“I’m so happy I can walk around with a reliable guide like Nilia instead of that nasty guy from House Tutanta. Isn’t that right, Yonair?”

“Of course. I’m seriously really, really happy, too.”

“I’m really, really happy as well.”

Thanks to the flattering remarks from Ihan, Yonair, and Ratford in sequence, Nilia’s mood seemed to have greatly improved.

‘It’d be more comfortable if some other Black Turtle Tower guys were here.’

Ihan felt a bit of regret.

The Salko crew had joined hands on the understanding that they would use each other, so no matter what happened there was no need to feel guilty.

Even if the skeletal principal showed up and they tossed one of the Salko crew as bait and ran, it wouldn’t be a problem since they’d agreed on it beforehand.

…Though, Ihan wasn’t sure if the Salko crew felt the same way.

At any rate, that’s what Ihan thought.

On the other hand, he couldn’t just abandon Nilia. That was the one thing that left Ihan feeling regretful.

‘Maybe I should’ve brought one or two of them?’

But if he borrowed a couple from Salko’s crew, Salko himself would join, and then if Salko joined, Nilia would try to get payback for missing out last time…

Rather than making it complicated, Ihan decided it was best to just bring along people he could trust.

“It’s really hard to handle relationships between people, Ratford.”

“???”

Ratford was flustered at the sudden topic, but quickly nodded.

Relationships were unexpectedly important even among thieves.

A thief who only looked out for himself and made many enemies never lasted long.

“You’re absolutely right.”

“It’d be nice to have one or two friends who could step up and take initiative when something happened. Like the Salko gang.”

“Um. But Miss Nilia doesn’t seem to like the Salko gang much…”

“I know.”

After speaking, Ihan looked absentmindedly at Gainando. Ratford unintentionally did the same.

And the two exchanged subtle glances.

“Gainando, you’re really reassuring to have around.”

“Huh? Why? What?”

• * *

Both Nilia and Ratford were skilled guides.

One was an outdoors expert, the other indoors—just a difference in their specialties.

So it was natural that, when it came to moving through the complex hallways and stairs of the magic school, Ratford contributed a bit more.

“Please wait a moment.”

Ratford extended his hand to stop his friends, then lowered his ear near the corridor floor.

Right now, Ihan’s group was at the end of the severed second-floor corridor, trying to find a way up.

According to the map, this was the right way to the third floor, but they couldn’t see any staircase at all.

“Hmm… Over there! I hear the staircase moving from that direction.”

“…I can do that too, you know…”

As Nilia tried to press her ear to the floor, Ihan stopped her.

“Nilia, it’s not time to show off your skills yet. Better to save it for later!”

“I think so, too!”

When Ihan and Yonair stopped her and pulled her up, Nilia stood up, looking regretful.

In the meantime, the staircase slowly arrived. The group used it to reach the third floor.

‘This way is new.’

Ihan had gone up to the main building’s third floor before, guided by Salko, but that was from a completely different direction.

He couldn’t know what might be on this side’s third floor.

Clack—

With a heavy sound, the staircase connected.

Ihan stepped forward to the third floor.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

And then Ihan realized the scenery around him had changed from the corridors, windows, and ceilings of the main building to a forest thick with trees.

“…?!”

He knew there were all sorts of natural landscapes inside the magic school, but to witness such a transformation even within the main building was unexpected.

He understood that powerful mages could expand and rearrange spaces, but he’d failed to think outside the box.

The main building was so ancient that even the principal didn’t know all its secrets.

Seeing a forest inside, or even a volcano or glacier, wouldn’t be strange at all.

“Amazing. To think there’s a forest like this on the third floor… Nilia, I’m counting on you.”

Ihan looked to his side as he spoke.

Finally, a situation where Nilia could contribute. Ihan was almost happy for her.

But there was no sign of Nilia beside him.

“???”

Meow.

Looking down, he saw a black cat scratching furiously at his ankle.

Even Ihan, who had become pretty familiar with the school, was perplexed by the present situation.

“Where did everyone go…?”

Amazingly, none of his friends who’d ridden the moving stairs arrived at the third floor together with him.

Ihan immediately drew his staff and checked the surroundings of the forest.

Meow. Meow.

As the cat kept pawing insistently at Ihan’s ankle, Ihan suddenly had a suspicion.

“…Nilia, is that you?”

The black cat made a meowing sound and nodded repeatedly. Anyone could see she was agreeing.

‘Polymorph!’

This wasn’t just a forest—setting foot in it triggered a polymorph spell, forcibly transforming one into an animal.

A chill ran down Ihan’s spine.

‘Wait. Why wasn’t I affected?’

If all his friends had transformed, it was odd for him to be fine.

‘Because of my mana?’

At this school, when something different happened to him, it was correct ninety-nine percent of the time to suspect his innate mana.

Ihan decided that, for now, he’d search for the others with Nilia.

“Sharkan, find the other friends.”

The bone summon that had been sleeping at his belt rattled into shape and dropped to the ground, then dashed ahead.

Nilia pressed her front paws firmly into Ihan’s foot.

“Nilia, go easy… What?”

Nilia pointed at the bone summon and raised both paws, in a threatening gesture.

“If the others see the bone summon, won’t they get scared and run away?”

Nilia nodded.

Ihan thought for a moment.

“Then I’ll have to catch them before they see it and run off.”

……

Nilia was speechless with disbelief.

• * *

Fortunately, the other friends were found quickly.

A bat that had been on a branch flew urgently toward Ihan (he assumed it was Ratford), and following the bone summon came a red fox with fluffy fur (presumably Yonair).

“Where did Gainando go?”

The others answered in a variety of animal sounds. Ihan nodded.

‘Mhm. It’s better to just think for myself.’

Having the others answer didn’t seem to help, anyway.

Sharkan, the incomplete bone summon, sniffed the air and diligently led Ihan ahead.

After walking a while through lush forest trails, they arrived at a large clearing.

Having met a wood spirit in a forest in the mountains once before, Ihan thought maybe there would be another wood spirit here.

‘You’d need a spirit to maintain a forest like this inside the school, right?’

But Ihan’s prediction was off.

What stood in the middle of the clearing was a mouse.

Clack clack—

The bone summon Sharkan lowered its stance, brimming with wariness.

It wasn’t just Sharkan who noticed. Ihan could also sense the powerful mana radiating from the mouse.

‘Is there no normal flora or fauna in this magic school?’

The mouse swished its tail and cast a spell.

Bushes sank and trees parted to either side around Ihan.

“…!”

While Ihan gaped in wonder, the mouse used magic to draw letters on the ground.

—Forest. Pass through. Duel. Victory. Loser. Return.

“To pass through the forest, you have to win a duel, and if you lose you have to turn back?”

The mouse nodded. Then it raised its head and stared at Ihan.

Squeak squeak squeak squeak!

Seeing Ihan had not transformed, the mouse was so surprised it fell over backward.