80 – Shadow(3)

The black magician’s invasion was such a serious event that the closure of Eternia was discussed.

However, the reason why Eternia was not closed even in the face of an unprecedented situation was that all the areas where students would return were in a more vulnerable environment than Eternia.

It is said that the class schedule was postponed during the period of power reinforcement and training, and instructions were given to focus on special activities during the period of vacancy.

I decided to administer more potions and stay in the hospital for another day because the body’s internal tissues may not have recovered properly yet.

So I had to just sit around in bed doing nothing.

Somewhere in the distance, I hear girls my age laughing. It must have been hell before I opened my eyes, but the world has changed. Like a coin flipped over.

A refreshing breeze and moderate sunlight. It is peaceful like a resort for high-ranking nobles.

It feels like a fleeting dream that I fought desperately to the death. But on the other hand, it seemed that when I woke up again, the world would turn upside down again to greet the wet fog, blood, and ghoul corpses.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. He urged me not to indulge in miscellaneous sentiments.

This break was not very pleasant. Because it’s not all over yet.

I asked the nursing maid to take out the notebooks and writing utensils I had kept.

I opened the notebook and thought about the contents of the letter to Silverin. They said that if they arrived in Seongdo, they would be able to contact each other, so they planned to deliver my letter as well.

Trying to deceive foolishly would only have the opposite effect, and since you couldn’t tell everything as it was, you were completely blocked.

I wrote a sentence and crossed it out over and over again. No matter how much I shook my head, I couldn’t think of anything to write. After agonizing for several hours, I gave up and closed the notebook.

The poison in my head did not escape. So, I couldn’t say anything to Sylverine.

***

The next day, as soon as I got out of the hospital, I immediately went to see Ella.

There, I even made a statement about my encounter with the warlock. Ella focused on my story without blinking.

“I was aware of the circumstances to some extent during the investigation… It’s amazing how you can stay calm after going through something like that. This aspect resembles Silverine to the point of frightening.”

“… .”

“And… You saw the face of the warlock?”

“Yes, we met right in front of you.”

“… have you ever painted a picture? Can you leave me a montage? It doesn’t have to be right now.”

“It is still possible. You can do simple sketches. Can I borrow your notebook and pencil?”

The first task in metalworking is always a drawing sketch. It took a long time to hold a pencil, so there was no problem in drawing simple portraits.

“Are you going to draw now?”

“Yes.”

Ella gave me some parchment and a pencil and I quickly started sketching. I simply described the features and hair and handed it over to Ella.

Even when I held the pen, Ella couldn’t help but look at me suspiciously, but when I received the painting, those eyes disappeared.

“Did you say you trained in metalwork? Your dexterity is exceptional.”

“That is the limit.”

“that’s enough. thanks.”

After that, Ella explained the situation in Eternia after the warlock’s invasion.

The black magician manipulated Luna to neutralize the barrier opened by the guardian tree, and thanks to that, the invasion was possible.

A person named Kaedwen is a Masters Class graduate, and it is assumed that he used him to figure out how to destroy the labyrinth.

The black magician disappeared after the battle with me, and said that the investigation is still ongoing.

“Still in progress. I still haven’t figured out exactly what the entity did to Eternia’s Guardian Tree and Luna. It’s very likely that it came from another dimension.”

“What’s the difference if you come from another dimension?”

“It is very different. I’ve never experienced it, so it’s impossible to prevent or deal with it. In addition, it takes a long time to study to find out how to destroy it.”

“Is Luna’s condition very bad?”

The night before the entrance ceremony, I met Luna in front of the Guardian Tree. What happened to Luna then?

At the time, there was nothing I could do. Luna was terrified, and I hadn’t really noticed anything out of the ordinary around the Guardian Tree and Luna.

“… Not very good. The trauma has been healed, but the bond of the curse is still unresolved. Even now, Luna’s magical power continues to escape and attack the Guardian Tree, and all we can do is seal them both to stop their progress. The Kaedwen you mentioned and the Zverev guy probably suffered from the same thing.”

“… Can I meet Luna in person?”

“Honestly, I don’t want to add to the burden you shouldered. In order to properly grasp its existence, a decision was made to stop all work related to the north and to bring back the professors who had been dispatched and all of your direct seniors. Things will be better than they are now when Eternia, which was only half, is full again. What you need to do right now… It’s about getting used to the academy.”

“… .”

Ella pondered for a while before adding her words.

“If you still want to dig into its existence, come back tomorrow.”

“All right. And… Everyone said he was returning, so is my teacher coming back too?”

“Whether or not Silverin will return will depend on how things work out in the Chengdu. If you want to tell me the news, give me the letter, and tomorrow I’ll deliver it while reporting to the superiors.”

“… .”

Ella studied my face for a moment and then said.

“What’s on your mind?”

I hesitated for a moment, but finally made up my mind and brought up the story.

“Professor, I have a favor to ask you.”

“… What do you want?”

“I want to keep my involvement with the warlock a secret from my master, if it’s not too late.”

Ella immediately narrowed her brows and closed her mouth tightly. As if trying to understand the true intention of my words, he carefully examines my expression.

“Do you have any unspeakable reason to keep it a secret?”

“That’s right.”

As if her head was complicated, Ella pressed the pen to her temples and inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. When it comes to warlocks, Silverin needs to know, and he has no choice but to know. No matter how you try to cheat, you’ll find out when you finally come back.”

… Still, you can buy some time and come up with countermeasures in the meantime.

“it’s okay. I don’t want to worry Master.”

“Ha, yes. Let’s figure out how to do it, and then we’ll talk about it tomorrow. As for the dormitory, stay at the Whitdruff House for a while, or if you want to be safer, you can go to Sylveryne’s Castle.”

“All right.”

“Because there’s nothing more frustrating than picking out special activities, and if you procrastinate and get assigned to a shady place like the Literary Club.”

There must be some departments with a bad atmosphere. When I heard that it was shady, I felt a strong sense of rejection towards the Ministry of Literature. I’ll have to look into this.

“I will keep this in mind, Professor. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

“yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As I turned around and left the professor’s room, Ella hinted.

“Ah, since I’m good with my hands, try visiting the art department. The theater department is also good. I’m not forcing you, so just bear with it.”

***

I came out of the research building of the Faculty of Magic and headed for the Whitdruff Hall.

However, on the way, I felt a strange gaze.

I felt strange and looked back several times.

A female student with bluish hair holding a textbook to her chest was following me.

When our eyes meet, she flinches for a moment.

Then, like a guard looking for a wanted criminal, he strode forward with his eyes slightly narrowed and his gaze fixed on me.

“You, are you a freshman?”

“… Yes?”

“Perhaps… Have you ever heard of Damian? No, are you Damian?”

“Yes, that’s right, but… who are you.”

“Oh, that’s right! I was just in doubt. It’s nothing else, someone was looking for you very anxiously. I don’t think you’re an academy student… . A girl in a maid’s uniform seems lost on campus, so we’ve been holding her since the morning. Is that your name? Lily? was Anyone know?”

If you’re wearing a maid outfit, I think you’re referring to Lyria. You lost your way looking for me?

“Yes. That’s who I know.”

upset stomach If I had known it would be like this, I would have prepared a map of the Eternia campus in advance.

“Where are you?”

“Oh, it seems like someone you know. That’s great. In the Faculty of Magic Caltera Elemental Training Center… not. You’re also a freshman, so I don’t know. I’ll just guide you.”

“no. it’s okay.”

“no. It’s very common for freshmen to get lost on campus. The campus must be quite large. At first, I was lost and cried a lot. Follow.”

She said that and took the lead to guide me. I followed without a murmur. For a while, a quiet and awkward companion follows.

As we walked along, she turned around several times and glanced at my face.

After a few times, when she reached the main department of the Faculty of Magic, she reluctantly said a word to me.

“Hey, can you loosen up your face? It’s scary.”

“… Yes?”

“Are you a sympathetic young boy? He’s just a maid, but he seems to care a lot. Are you close friends?”

“… ”

“Eww, you look like an older brother who was kidnapped by a younger sister. I’m not a kidnapper, I’m not imprisoned or threatened, so relax your expression. It stings the back of my head.”

I was in a hurry to keep drawing the image of Lilia frightened and shivering among strangers.

In the meantime, my expression seems to have deteriorated without my knowledge. something embarrassing

“It’s true that he cares a lot because he’s a young friend. sorry.”

“We are almost there. Don’t worry too much.”

After going further for a while, we reached the outdoor training ground of the Faculty of Magic. She paused and looked around.

“Well… . near here… ah! There it is.”

At the place she pointed with her finger, there was a small garden created like a resting place. There, five or six students gathered around a tree bank and were talking about something.

And through that gap, Lilia’s figure could be seen.

I hurriedly approached the place, and before I could squeeze through the gap, Lyria recognized me and shouted.

“Damian!”

Soon after, the path opened from the students, and Lilia jumped out and hugged me.

“Lilia, is everything okay?”

She glanced up at me and nodded.

“Yes!”

The male students took a quick look at us and left with expressions of satisfaction.

“Isn’t it possible that men ask strange things, make comments, or harass you?”

“Nope! My sisters and brothers did a great job. I think I’ve heard cute things the most in my life today. They also bring a lot of snacks.”

The corners of her mouth are smeared with cookie crumbs that she hasn’t been able to wipe off yet. well… must have been

I was relieved for a moment after removing the crumbs from the corner of my mouth.

Lilia looked at my face and instead worried about me.

“Hey Damian. That… You can really rest assured. They are grateful people. Relax your face.”

Oh, it looks like your face has hardened again. Maybe it’s because I’ve been through an unpleasant incident and haven’t gotten rid of poison yet.

Lyria went back to the tree trunk where she was originally sitting and came back to me with the basket.

“Last week, I sent a letter to Damian, but I was informed that I would not be able to contact him because he was injured. You’re right what happened… !”

“It’s okay now.”

“I was worried. Just in case, I brought herbs, potions, and snacks… . This one.”

Then he handed me a basket.

It contained herbal extracts, Gryphon potions, butter cookies, and petal candy Cecile loved.

“… .”

As soon as I saw that, something that had been firmly held in my heart melted away.