42 – Friend
[Dark magic detected. Would you like to absorb it?]
I wanted to think I was seeing things, but the status window flashing before my eyes confirmed that this wallet was imbued with dark magic.
‘What in the world…’
Why was dark magic detected? This means… there’s a dark wizard inside the academy.
Does it mean that even the academy failed to detect a dark wizard?
‘No, it must be that they couldn’t.’
Dark magic, like mine, can only be detected by someone with a Demon Eye or by someone who also uses dark magic.
That must be why Ariel still doesn’t know that I’m a dark wizard.
Then, it means we need to invent a technique that can intricately detect only black magic. It seems that hasn’t been realized yet.
“How do I handle this…”
I started to ponder the current situation.
The reason Ariel and I have been able to easily find and deal with black magicians so far is that they never hid their identity as black magicians.
Anyone could tell – ‘I am a black magician’ – as they wore black robes with suspicious symbols and used black magic openly. Kidnapping and imprisoning people were also methods of recognition.
However, the thug just now was definitely dressed in the academy’s uniform. Simple attire alone can’t determine the truth.
Furthermore, if one has any sense, they wouldn’t openly cause harm in a place filled with the empire’s finest and noblest.
…It seems like a black magician wouldn’t necessarily have their wits about them. Anyway.
“Hmm… I don’t think that thug was a black magician.”
I didn’t sense even a hint of black magic from him. Original black magicians harbored a unique black magic instead of clear magic, so if he were one, I would have noticed immediately upon meeting him.
Then, it means there is definitely someone related to black magic in this academy…
“Hey… Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that.”
“Thanks for today. Like you said… I’ll try to be strong.”
“Yes. I sincerely hope you succeed.”
The cadet brushed off the dirt from their clothes and stood up, heading back to the academy.
“…Ah! By the way, do you know the name of that cadet just now?”
“Huh? The one just now? That’s the Copson and Jade brothers. Both are from the Zelk family in the west.”
Copson and Jade Zelk. I’ll have to remember that. I thanked the cadet and, following Ariel’s orders, headed inside the academy to find Ariel’s classroom.
***
-Who is that? I’ve never seen that face before.
-Oh… that person? Hey, don’t be surprised when you hear. They’re Lady Ariel’s servant!
-….What? Lady Ariel? Wow…!
-Really? Too bad… If it were just some unheard-of noble or servant, I would’ve definitely tried to catch their attention.
-…..Sigh.
Somehow, I managed to ask passersby and employees for directions and waited in front of the 3-A classroom where Ariel had told me to meet. The passing students did murmur something when they saw me, but well, it’s probably not a big deal.
Dang-dang-dang-
Ignoring the gazes of the people around me, I waited in the corridor outside the classroom when, at that moment, the long-awaited bell echoed.
Drumroll-
As soon as the bell stopped ringing, the back door opened, and students started pouring out like a flood. Among the students, Ariel, dressed in a white student uniform, was undoubtedly the most conspicuous woman.
“You were waiting, Venice. Did you wait for a long time?”
“No. I just arrived a moment ago. hahahaha.”
“Really? Well, that’s a relief. It’s almost lunchtime, so let’s go eat.”
Ariel, who seemed tired, whether from joy or indifference, led me towards the dining place before sighing.
“Oh… what’s this? Ariel got herself a boyfriend?”
“Gasp…! This is such incredible information…!”
Until Ariel let out a sigh due to the women who exclaimed with unknown admiration as we walked out through the back door.
“What’s going on? If you have such a handsome boyfriend, you should at least show off to your friends!”
“That’s right…! How could you hide someone like this…!”
“…..I don’t have friends like that.”
Like women with golden hair shining like sunlight, and a woman with short brown hair, they continued to talk as if they couldn’t hear Ariel’s words. The more they spoke, the more Ariel’s temples throbbed.
“Hey, what’s your name? How did you meet Ariel? Where are you from?”
“Yes? Yes?? No, I…”
“This is such rare information…! Come on, tell us!!”
“Uh… no, I just-“
“What’s wrong? Are you shy? This kid… trust her and tell her.”
Wrong. These people just don’t want to listen. I sent Ariel a desperate look for help, but all she did was let out a bigger sigh.
If it were the usual Ariel, she would have just passed by without even acknowledging them, but for some reason, Ariel didn’t show any sign of action.
“Ugh. Kale, Freya. Stop it. She’s just my servant. And I’m not your friend.”
“Ugh… what’s this? You’re being mean. You should have said something earlier. Are you trying to make us jealous?”
“Yes? No, I…”
“…What! It was nothing!”
“No…”
I’m going crazy. My words aren’t getting through. Under the one-sided criticism, I felt dizzy.
“Enough. Venice? Let’s go eat. Let’s ignore them.”
“Yes…”
Ariel, who was trying to lead me away while stumbling, couldn’t stop the girls who followed behind.
-Oh…? Look at this.
-Ariel has never had an encounter like this before, right?
-Yeah, yeah. It was just a joke earlier… but this might get interesting, right?
Ho- Hm-? Despite uttering the same words, Ariel couldn’t help but say a word to the girls who followed her, avoiding their seats one after another.
“No. It’s fine to follow your friend. Go ahead~”
Ariel was about to say something more, but she gave up and quietly continued walking.
***
“Oh… Greetings to the Empire’s sun…!”
“Yeah~ Yeah, don’t bother doing that next time.”
“….Lady Freya, greetings! Our family is a regular at Golden Rush in which Lady Freya resides…”
“Oh, yes. I understand.”
From Noble mtl dot com
As I arrived at the restaurant, I witnessed the relentless efforts of the girls to engage in conversation with them.
‘…From the royal family. The daughter of the continent’s top information merchant?’
Once again, I looked at the approaching girls with a business-like smile, observing them sigh tiredly.
The radiant blonde girl is the third daughter of the Sunrise family, the royal family of the current empire. Kale Sunrise.
The seemingly ordinary girl with short brown hair is the only daughter of the entire empire’s top-rated information merchant. Freya.
I thought they were just Ariel’s slightly peculiar friends, but they were giants to the point where I couldn’t even meet their eyes.
And with the addition of the Northern Duchess, Ariel, in one place. I couldn’t even have a proper meal. They couldn’t even lift their spoons to receive the greetings delivered by people changing every three seconds.
Of course, most of the gazes mixed with the question, ‘Who is this guy and why is he here?’.
In the end, the girls started heading somewhere as if it were a regular occurrence without even having a proper meal. I quickly finished my work and hurriedly followed them.
***
The place where I could barely find the traces of their movements, disappearing as if in an instant, was a small garden behind the academy.
If you weren’t someone who thoroughly inspected and remembered the academy, you wouldn’t even know it existed because it was so small. But because of that, the girls took a seat on the bench in a quiet place without anyone and let out a sigh.
“Venice. You’ve arrived.”
“….Oh? You managed to follow me here? Seems like you have some skills.”
“Hmm… I haven’t been caught by anyone yet, though.”
They spoke with a playful tone, (of course, Ariel remained expressionless), but their smiles revealed exhaustion.
“Well… Do I need to have manners?”
“No, no. Please don’t. If you do, this sister might get angry.”
“You should refrain from doing that too. It’s getting tiresome…”
“Alright. Keil, Freya.”
“You’re much better than those who chase after status alone. If only Ariel weren’t-!”
“…What did you say?”
“Oh, just kidding. You know I don’t take what belongs to others, Ariel.”
When Ariel frowned and asked, Kale patted her on the shoulder and comforted her. However, the weariness in their expressions remained.
“I agree with what you said. Even if we keep telling them to stop… Most of them won’t listen.”
“Hmm.”
Ariel also let out a small sigh, as if agreeing with those words. They all possessed positions and power that everyone admired, but because of those positions, they suffered a lot.
However, even in that situation where they couldn’t detach themselves from those positions and the people wouldn’t listen, they already seemed exhausted.
“I’ll try my best not to do that.”
“hahahaha… What you said earlier. Trying to be genuine.”
“I said it earlier too. That kind of behavior…”
“It’s just a joke!”
“Quite… You have a decent person, Ariel.”
“That’s-!”
In response to my words, they conversed like ordinary friends. Although Ariel had claimed not to be my friend, she seemed quite happy.
In my eyes, it was somewhat disheartening to see these girls, who held higher positions than anyone else, find happiness in such small daily routines.
“So, so. How did you meet Ariel?”
“Ah, well. I happened to pass by her on the street-“
In answer to their question, I smiled and told the story as if chatting with close friends. Sometimes, I laughed for no reason at all. I even played pranks.
“…Really? That sorcerer bastard…?”
“Wow… He turned out to be more talented than I thought. So, what happened next?”
In response to my words, they laughed and got angry. But because they seemed happy while talking, I felt happy too.
Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.
“Oh, no. It’s already this late.”
“We should go back to the classroom. Let’s go quickly.”
“Sigh… I don’t want to go.”
Kale and Freya had disappointed expressions, and Ariel seemed genuinely disgusted.
“Venice. From now on, do whatever you want. I have plans for today. See you tomorrow.”
“Venice, was it? Little sister, today was fun! See you tomorrow~”
“Let’s meet tomorrow. Goodbye!”
“…Ah, right. The sorcerer…”
I had intended to talk to Ariel about the wallet infused with dark magic, but seeing how she brushed it off and continued the conversation, I didn’t say anything and just bid her farewell.
Upon reflection, if I were to say this to Ariel… I’d have to mention that I sense dark magic, and if I reveal that fact, clever Ariel will quickly deduce that I am a dark sorcerer. And… I don’t particularly want to break off that conversation.
Hmm… from now on, is this my free time?
From now on… I should find out what’s actually happening in this academy.
“This… could potentially be a very dangerous situation.”
The tribe of dark sorcerers never engages in unfavorable battles. These individuals endure any process as long as they get results.
Devoid of even basic humanity, they don’t care about any consequences.
Trying to fathom what dark sorcerers are scheming is beyond imagination, given their actions that defy common sense.
Firstly… let’s look into those beings named Copsen and Jade.