86 – shadow(9)

I left the letter to Sylveryn with Professor Ella and got out of the labyrinth.

Then, walking around the student plaza, I passed the time until the class of the art department came.

The first class in Eternia is about to take place, but there is no anticipation or excitement, and only questions about Luna are in my head.

Silverin once said that Luna hated men.

I remembered what it looked like when I faced Luna. It was more like fear than hate.

It’s a morbid level that goes beyond just likes and dislikes.

What lies beneath it?

It’s a problem to blow a whole semester, but even if you completely get away from the ‘black spirit’, it will be difficult to enjoy a smooth daily life. Because I have to live while avoiding half of Eternia’s students.

I can’t be Luna’s prince on a white horse. People become unhappy for their own complicated reasons. And it is arrogance to believe that you can intervene in that complicated twisted life and heal the trauma and save it.

Because I’m still a guy with a lot of holes in my heart.

I put my thoughts on Luna aside for a while and headed to the Greenhouse of the Pensions Department, where the Art Department classes were held.

***

“Second-seat of the Faculty of Magic?”

“Yes, it’s not confirmed yet, but Lilith is close with me, so I can bring her.”

At the mention of Lilith, the boy named Maurice finally put on an expression of interest.

Mathias’ expression was strangely displeased. Could it be because of the rumors about Lilith’s appearance? I was suspicious that he might have other ulterior motives beyond ‘cooperation’.

Maurice asked an insinuating question.

“Is Lilith a bit famous?”

“What nonsense do you want to make?”

“Ah, you know everything.”

“Just say it straight.”

“No, there are a lot of boys following her. I heard that the male seniors knew each other even before entering school?”

“So you don’t like it or you like it?”

Maurice raised his eyebrows doubtfully.

“I am fine. Why would you refuse when you can be with a pretty and talented kid? But what I really want to know is if you can really bring Lilith.”

There will be many competitors, but is that possible? If you’re the second-in-command in the Faculty of Magic, the competition for recruiting will be fierce.

Mathias nodded as if it were natural.

It is possible. Even if it doesn’t, you should do it.

“With Lilith, we share the same hometown, and when we are apart, we are close enough to exchange letters. Don’t worry about that. I can show you proof if you want.”

Maurice quietly agreed with Mathias’ words and nodded.

“Ok, fine. This joint class will be in your group.”

It’s a success. Matthias, who had succeeded in capturing the Elementalist, exclaimed inwardly for joy.

“great. Then I’ll contact you again then. Oh, where did you say the dormitory was?”

“Kaluna, Hall 2”

Mathias took out his notebook and took notes.

“yes. Let’s finish here for now.”

After the conversation in the central hall of the Marigold Hall, I sent Maurice back.

Mathias took out his notebook again and checked the notes he had made.

Morris. Faculty of Magic. You can freely deal with lower spirits. 17 years old.

It was a bit unfortunate that he belonged to the mid-ranking dormitory, Kaluna Hall, but thanks to his special position as a ‘spiritualist’, Maurice was valuable as a team member.

He reviewed his future plans again, gathering information from his seniors.

Read at noblemtl.com

Joint class of all faculties.

Group tasks are given within a week, and the team can consist of up to four people.

And since the task is deeply related to ‘phantom beasts’, he said that it becomes very easy if there is a team member who has good affinity with the spirits.

Since there were only a few people skilled in spirit magic, they had to recruit them in advance to gain an advantage.

He bit his lip for a moment as he looked at the list of elementals he had written down in his notebook.

Now we have to move on to the next step. Sorry Maurice, but he’s just insurance. Now it was his turn to enlist a skilled elemental lyricist in earnest.

There were spiritists at the upper ranks, Marigold and Wittrough.

Naias, Martha, and Brussels.

Naias has a unique history of being the only one who majored in spiritism and weather magic among freshmen.

Since Marta was in a group with Cecil, the head of the Faculty of Magic, there was a high possibility that a decision had already been made.

At least, Brussels and Naias have the potential to join the group.

In spiritism, the one that is so overwhelming that even upperclassmen stick out their tongues is ‘Luna Reilless’, but it was unfavorable to him.

There is no such thing as the head and the second head of a department forming the same group. As long as Lilith was planned, there was no possibility that Luna would come this way.

Furthermore, it was clear that Luna had already been working behind the scenes to get the prominent competitors into the group.

These are the kids who cling to the top competition like Victor, Gale, Shion, and Iris.

Mathias put the notebook in his pocket and climbed the stairs of the dormitory.

He passed through the hallway with half-jumping steps and stopped in front of Lilith’s room.

Then he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Lilith, are you there?”

Again, there was no answer.

After the entrance ceremony, Lilith feels like it’s not enough to say that she’s full of poison… Something was desperate.

She spent most of her day practicing magic in the training hall, and when she returned to the dormitory, she locked herself in her room and went to sleep. I haven’t even decided on a special activity yet.

And he became cold to Matthias. The relationship between the two seemed to have returned to when it was a few years ago.

Since he was watching the entrance ceremony from the side, Mathias knew that it was because of the man’s burns.

Wounds inflicted by people can be healed by people. Matthias believed that he could heal Lilith’s wounds.

“Lilith, I have something to tell you. It may not be right now. I’ll be waiting for you… . Come visit me.”

***

Recently, more and more people have blocked my way while walking around the campus.

Group suggestions in upcoming joint classes.

and offers to join sub-activities.

I hit it off a few times, but there was no sign of it ending.

When a senior student, who had nothing to do with her now, stood in the way, she became more and more angry.

“nice to meet. You are the famous Zion. I’m Dymov, the 3rd year pension department. Have you ever heard of Galihar Potion? My grandfather made the recipe.”

Dymov, who looked like a toad, stood proudly in front of Shion and said,

“… .”

“Hmm, I don’t know. Well… Have you finished recruiting group members for joint classes?”

Shion suppressed his anger and spoke in a polite tone.

“It’s none of your business.”

“You better get it soon. Even if you are the top of the group, you are not all-rounder.”

Shion said in a voice full of resentment.

“So what’s the matter?”

Rumors about Zion had already spread far and wide. Even as a senior, he couldn’t beat the momentum. This was especially true for undergraduate students who were far from fighting like the pension department.

Dymov forced a smile and tried to pretend to be nonchalant.

“As I’ve heard, you have one personality. Do you know what the fighters call you? Hello Hound. Once the prey is targeted, it is said to grab the neck and rip it off.”

Zion’s expression became increasingly grim. Dymov spoke quickly.

“Um, yeah, let’s get rid of the nonsense. The reason why I came to you like this is because of that nickname. Hellhound, I don’t think you’ll miss what you’re aiming for.”

“… .”

“I’m guessing you’re telling me you’ll do the best in joint classes.”

what did that have to do with him

“Why would a third year care about a fucking first year job?”

Dymov furrowed his brows and shook his head.

“I don’t care about your business. The purpose is the ‘reward’ given to students who complete the assigned tasks in joint classes.”

“… .”

“I say it with a grain of salt. When you get it, hand it over to me. I’ll pay you double the price.”

It was all the same story. All the upperclassmen who came to Zion had the same purpose.

Hand over that ‘reward’. I’ll give you a hefty price.

However, it does not tell us what the reality of that ‘compensation’ is. As if they were concerned that the greed that captivated them would spread to Zion if they revealed the identity of the object.

Why do all of them come here with faces hungry for desire? What a great thing.

Shion didn’t know much about that ‘reward’.

If you bring the horn of the phantom beast, it will be awarded.

And that ‘reward’ is a rare potion containing the essence of alchemy.

Since the class was opened, only two people have brought the horns of the phantom beast so far. Even if it was opened less than 6 years ago, this was an extremely small number.

Shion had no special strategy. I thought I could break through quickly and cut off the phantom beast’s head. He was able to do better than anyone else in tracking down the Witchbeast as he was thoroughly educated by his master.

In the speed battle, there is no one but one person who will fight against Zion.

Even the phantom beast itself wasn’t that important to her.

The most important thing was that if I went with a similar composition to the entrance exam, I could meet ‘that bastard’ again at the final gateway.

There is no such thing as compensation. The only thing Shion cared about was the reunion with that child.

“I am not interested. When the business is over, I will go.”

Shion shoved Dymov’s shoulder and moved forward again.

***

As we arrived at the class, we met a familiar figure.

Professor Georgia, an advisor to the art department, was hanging out in front of the greenhouse and pretended to know me when he saw me.

“Oh, Damian. Come here.”

As I approached Georgia, she patted me on the shoulder as if encouraging.

“I was waiting. Your seniors are inside. A guy coming in after a long time… No, since I’m new, everyone will like it.”

“… Yes?”

… what do you expect? Are you expecting a newcomer to have a great sense of aesthetics?

“The kids can be a bit naughty. It’s just like a newcomer’s entrance ceremony, so there’s nothing to be afraid of. Let’s go in.”

“Ah, that professor. Do you need any other preparations? Whether it’s paint or a brush… .”

Professor Georgia shook her head.

“I don’t need anything. We make the materials we need ourselves. Come on, come in.”

She pushed me on the back and led the way, and we entered the greenhouse together.

Passing through a passage lined with plants, a circular, open space appeared.

A group of people a little over forty were sitting together, each holding an easel.

And among them, only five were men. The rest were all girls.

As we enter, each of us stops brushing and looks at where I am standing.

The way he raises his eyebrows and looks up at me is very burdensome.

Giorgia clapped her hands and said.

“Come on, stop what you’re doing. Here’s a new friend from our art department. He is the newcomer you guys have been looking for.”

Then he tapped me on the shoulder again.

“I am a child who is not used to art activities yet. I don’t know how to use a brush or how to use charcoal, so you guys should teach me well so I don’t lose interest. Say hello.”

I nodded once and said.

“My name is Demian, a freshman in the combat club. Her birthplace is Wiesel. i look forward to.”

Even when they greet me, they just stare blankly at my face. Sometimes I just sit there and whisper in my ear. There is no sign of welcome.

Georgia cleared her throat once and said.

“Keuheum, I need someone to teach Damian the basics. Do you have any volunteers?”

The members only blinked their wide open eyes. No response. Silence flows enough to make me wonder what sin I have committed.

what is this, is this correct?

Giorgia sighed and whispered in my ear.

“Because they are nobles, they have strong pride. They think it’s a sin for a lady to approach first. You should be friendly first.”

“… .”

I really hope that’s the case for no other reason.

Georgia turned around and asked the student sitting in the front.

“Is there anyone who didn’t show up today? ”

“… Nope?”

“yes? But what about that empty space? Who brought the easel and chair? It’s just fine. Damian, you should go there. Favela! Since you are next to me, take care of Damian.”

Giorgia pointed to an empty seat at the far end of the diagonal.

As I made my way across the students to my seat, the strained gazes still did not abate. It feels like walking on a thorny road.

And in the seat next to me was a familiar face.

It was the blue-haired female senior who helped her find Lilia who was lost in Eternia.

As soon as I sat down, the senior didn’t even look at me and said, engrossed in brush strokes.