73
After that.
Everything returned to normal.
Although there was still a week left until the vacation ceremony, there were no remaining lectures.
“Why is that?”
Professor Walnut from ‘Fundamentals and Applications of Elements’ reportedly said, ‘Since the grad students do the grading, direct all inquiries to Melwood, and never bother me.’ before promptly disappearing.
Rumors have it that recently at the Black Auction, it was witnessed that ‘Our Lady of the Manor, who couldn’t possibly be this adorable, purchased a limited edition first print set at a staggering price and left hugging it tightly.
Furthermore, Professor Bedel from ‘Introduction to Basic Swordsmanship’ declared a week-long recess, citing neglect in conversing with the muscles recently and claiming it was for genuine dialogue.
The rest of the professors from other subjects also unilaterally canceled post-final lectures either for grading or for their own desires.
Well.
It’s an event we’re all aware of anyway.
This is also the production company’s consideration.
During the leisure period of a week before the ‘vacation,’ it’s probably a message to conquer as many hidden beasts within the school at the second act point and then head outside.
But that message applies only to ‘me,’ while for other students, a week seems to have just slipped away.
And.
Students cheered fervently at the professors’ unilateral recess.
Some tidied up their belongings to go home, others studied on their own, or trembled at the upcoming final exam grades.
Those who just thought of enjoying the vacation without any other thoughts became a chaotic scene scattered all around.
And so…
“Does that mean we can freely explore Selenim now, senior?”
“That’s the idea. But are you sure about this?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Besides exploring Selenim with me, you could demand better rewards…”
“Oh, no, no! This is what I like the most! Really!”
Milige clapped her hands, shook her head, and looked up at me.
Is that so?
A mysterious fellow indeed. To offer touring the academy together as a reward.
Anyway.
This guy spent the entire final exam period with ‘Soufflé,’ destroying opponents with beginner magic, then me with intermediate magic, or whatever, just completely obliterating everyone.
“What kind of intermediate magic did you learn?”
“Ah… It’s the Fire Element Magic, Ignis Range Field!”
Wait a minute.
What?
“…Ignis Range Field? How did you learn that?”
“As you said, while browsing the library…”
“Did you find it on the third from the left at the bottom of column C in the Flame Magic section?”
“Yes! Oh, that’s right! I found it there.”
Hmm.
If we talk about ‘Ignis Range Field,’ it’s an ultimate type of magic specialized solely in destruction.
Summoning a magic circle within a specific range, it sets ablaze a wide area, burning everything to a crisp.
As far as I know, it’s among the top tier of intermediate magic, comparable in power to higher-level magic.
This magic was also a kind of hidden beast, a must-learn magic when following the magic department route.
The reason this guy was classified as ‘intermediate magic’ was due to the immense magical power it consumed compared to its power… Once cast, one would immediately become combat incapable and had to be carried on someone’s back.
Wait a minute, come to think of it…
“Explosive?”
“Explosive? Are you saying Ignis Range Field is also known as ‘explosive’?”
“No, there’s no such thing. Don’t worry about it. Anyway, explosive… no, Ignis Range Field should’ve been limited to about two steps of your mana… Ah.”
Come to think of it.
That guy had ‘that’ attached to him.
“Nero’s mana…”
“Oh, yes. I didn’t know it was a mana technique that could absorb mana to that extent. Due to my carelessness, I’ll have to recuperate in this state for about three days.”
Saying that, Milizé reached into her pocket and pulled out a black jelly-like substance in her hand.
“Not even responding when spoken to… Um, I’m sorry…”
Hmm.
I see.
“You’re getting stronger.”
“Yes, thanks to you. If you, Senpai, hadn’t led me back here… it would’ve been impossible. I can’t thank you enough, not now, not ever.”
That guy.
“You are the unique spirit user I must nurture.”
Indeed.
What if my cherished junior, a fanatic of dark spirits, is accompanied by an explosive aura?
“Yes, I am Senpai’s spirit user!”
I am no one else, I chose this guy.
“Shall we go then, we must keep the promise. Let me engrave the structure of the academy into your memory so you won’t forget.”
I walked ahead, and the guy followed behind, cheerfully shouting, “Yes!”
And so.
The internal investigation within the school, which seemed to have gone off course, had begun.
* * *
After that, I showed him around various places in the academy.
The Magic Department’s lecture halls by year, the annexes of those lecture halls, then moving on to the Knight Department’s lecture halls by year, annexes, training grounds, and more.
We went around from the Student Council building, the dining hall in the central district, the shopping street, and ended up sitting on the café terrace, enjoying a drink.
“How was it? Seems like you’ve seen everything.”
“It’s fascinating! I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It feels even more special with you, Senpai!”
Is that so.
After taking a sip of his smoothie, he made a sound, “Pfft!” and looked at me.
“By the way… Senpai, are you really okay? I don’t know anything about nobility or politics…”
“Well, I’ll manage.”
Proposal.
So, after Evnis mentioned something about a fragment in the hospital, I made a proposal…
─ How about, as a friendly gesture, we all go see the sea together.
Rayna instantly changed the atmosphere in the hospital by shouting, “Adrian, you finally listened to me! I’ll send someone right away to inquire if we can rent a boat!”
Naturally, a chorus of approval followed, and despite Evnis’s refusal, Rayna managed to persuade him under the guise of inspecting the Western Volfgang Family.
Yes.
From Evnis, to me, Kalen, Rayna, Milizé, Soufflé, and Relevrian.
The grand adventure of ‘Wolfgang Territory’ with seven people by the seaside.
Unfortunately, Rizelirias had a lot to handle at the royal palace due to the succession declaration during the vacation, so she decided to go next time.
Soufflé was requested by Milize, and Reyna said, “Anyone with a face can come if they know Adrian!”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Senpai….”
The West.
Strictly speaking, it is the territory of the Wolfgang family, but when you think about it, the Wolfgang family’s territory is also part of Repelheight.
Returning to the West that chased me away?
And going with Evenis?
“I’m really lo-looki-looking forward to it! Actually, two days from now, I’m planning to go buy swimsuits with Senpai Reyna…. I, I’m from the countryside and have never seen the sea, and I don’t even know what a swimsuit is. Ahahahaha…. I hope it’s a good summer.”
Milize said with a smile.
“Alright, it’ll be a good summer.”
“Yes!”
Hmm.
…If there’s a wall in front, it doesn’t mean you’re a dead end.
Even if you have to use all sorts of bugs on the wall, in the end, isn’t it true that a dead end is someone who breaks through the wall and passes through it?
* * *
The next day.
As promised, wearing Soufflé, I met Milize again.
“Hello, Senpai. I’m counting on you today….”
“Hmm.”
The guy who bowed and walked unsteadily towards me.
Soufflé, the chief of the School of Magic, is the last member of the ‘Ice Witch Tribe’ and, if you think about it, a person from hundreds of years ago.
Before the ‘Ice Witch Tribe’ stepped up against the demons in a full-scale battle, she leaped over hundreds of years in cryostasis for the future of the tribe and woke up in this era.
…But.
Due to the side effects of cryostasis, she had forgotten almost everything that happened three hundred years ago.
She forgot the names and faces of her fellow tribe members, as well as everything that happened three hundred years ago.
It was said that helping her regain her memories and resolving her trauma, then moving forward together, was the main content of Soufflé’s route.
“Shall we go?”
I took him around here and there.
Even though Milize had been there before, her eyes sparkled, and Soufflé seemed indifferent.
After completing the hands-on learning experience for the two kids, Milize was sent to buy drinks, and I was left alone with Soufflé.
“Soufflé.”
“…Yes, Senpai.”
“You are the last survivor of the Ice Witch Tribe. Isn’t that right?”
To my words.
He opened his eyes slightly wider and looked at me.
“How did you know…. No, you probably knew, it was obvious. And Senpai is… a descendant of Repelheight.”
Nodding slightly, he said.
“That’s right. I am the last survivor of the Ice Witch Tribe. Soufflé… But, you won’t be able to get information from me three hundred years ago… I don’t remember well either….”
Understood.
Sure, here’s the translated text:
That’s right, nothing will come of it.
“Suffle.”
“Huh?”
“Do you want to find your memories?”
“My… memories? I don’t have any, senpai. They’re memories lost due to the side effects of hibernation…”
“You’re wrong.”
“Huh?”
But…
I know.
Because…
“You didn’t lose your memories. They were sealed away. Three hundred years ago, the memories you forgot, do you want to recover them? The altar where your memories are sealed is surprisingly inside the island of Sareneum.”
“Ah…?”
Suffle’s eyes widened in an instant.
He looked genuinely surprised.
“It’s not a lie. I gain nothing by lying to you in the first place.”
“…My memories, sealed? Then I haven’t lost my memories?”
“That’s right.”
“…The comrades and friends of the Ice Witch Clan that I forgot… I can remember them all again?”
Slowly, but surely.
He asked.
“Of course.”
Of course…
“They are figures from the past. According to the history books, except for you, all the members of the ‘Ice Witch Clan’ have been wiped out… Even if they were long-lived, they wouldn’t be alive in this era.”
“Yeah…”
“Even if you recover all your ‘memories,’ you won’t be able to meet them again.”
“Uh-huh.”
“If you recover your ‘memories,’ all the emotions you haven’t felt during that time might come rushing in. It could be an emotional outburst… Can you handle it? Even so… Do you still want to find your lost memories?”
To my question…
“…”
Suffle couldn’t give a definite answer.
“Fearful of the emotional outburst, but you need to know. I am the last survivor of the clan… What I experienced in the past, what happened… So, please, Adrian-senpai. Even if it’s not right now, please help me. I want to find my memories.”
Alright.
I heard your words clearly.