NOVPUB“Could they have hidden it?”
Amidst foolish thoughts, Noras shook her head.
It wasn’t something that could be hidden due to its size.
Nor was it possible to intentionally destroy the fortress.
It was the masterpiece of a great mage protected by numerous defensive spells.
The scene only added credibility to the reports they were claiming.
“Really?”
Arental seemed to share the same thought, looking quite perplexed.
“War with the spirits, what happens at other academies seems like child’s play…”
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Sir Arental. A proper investigation should come first.”
Rockfeller approached.
As he bowed in greeting, the professors who followed did the same.
“It’s an honor to have you visit again, Sir Arental.”
“You all must have had a hard time.”
Arental said, looking around the devastated surroundings, and Rockfeller began to lead the way.
“Though we have nothing much left, we prepared a ceremony with all our might upon hearing of your visit. This way, please.”
As Arental took a step forward, Noras frowned.
‘Look at these guys, starting from where?’
It wasn’t unusual for professors to attend to a superior. However, the timing was unfortunate.
To Noras, it seemed they were hiding the true state of things, presenting only what was favorable to them.
‘They’ll only show what they want to show. The moment we follow, they’ll keep us from conducting a proper investigation.’
This mission wasn’t just about investigation.
After confirming whether the fortress had indeed fallen, they needed to inquire into the negligence.
Interviewing the students was essential for an unbiased view.
Noras smiled wryly at Arental.
“How about we take a look around first?”
“Hmm. That makes sense. I did want to see the students’ condition with my own eyes right now.”
Noras chuckled and turned her head.
“Let’s see what their reaction will be.”
As expected, Rockfeller reacted hastily.
“Then I will assist you.”
Noras snorted, stopping his servile behavior.
“I am Sir Arental’s aide. I will handle such matters. Please focus on your own duties if needed.”
The professors’ expressions darkened.
Seeing no further attempts to stop them, Arental walked towards a spot where tiny students could be seen.
Following him, Noras carefully swung her staff, overhearing the murmuring professors.
“Will it be alright?”
“At this point, there’s no other choice but to trust that guy…”
“I’m not sure if it will work out.”
“But it went just as he predicted, didn’t it? That Noras would be the troublemaker.”
Rockfeller’s irritable voice cut through the professors’ conversation.
“…Everyone, keep your mouths shut. Dame Noras might be listening.”
Noras was a talent born with an enhanced sense of smell.
Not trained, but innate.
Noras narrowed her eyes.
‘Unhappy that I’m eavesdropping?’
It was true, but,
‘But just as he predicted?’
She was momentarily curious about whom they were referring to.
Noras considered her next move as Arental stopped walking.
“What are all of you doing in such shabby appearances?”
Arental’s question prompted Noras to adjust her glasses.
The students were dragging a rock tied with ropes, training.
Their faces looked gaunt, likely from not having proper meals.
“Sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but could we have a moment to talk?”
The student Arental had called hurried over, stopping what he was doing with a tense gesture.
“Wow, it’s an honor that you came, Sir Arental. We are currently…”
The student glanced around nervously, then swallowed hard. A hint of fear seemed to lurk in his eyes.
‘Is he nervous thinking Sir might eat him up?’
Noras simply nodded, focusing on the student’s words.
“We are in the middle of training.”
“Training?”
It was a moment when both Arental and Noras blinked in surprise.
‘Training, even in such a state as the academy is now?’
They must be hungry, and without proper facilities, training seemed absurd.
Though it was outrageous, Noras saw clearly the proof the students were demonstrating.
‘Are they really following the professors’ guidance?’
The stress of such harsh conditions must be immense. Naturally, their anger would be directed at the professors who failed to properly manage Frost Heart.
Yet, the fact that they were taking classes meant the evaluation of the professors wasn’t entirely negative.
‘Strange. There’s nothing left, not even the dormitories. There shouldn’t be anything good to see here.’
Noras felt suspicious and swung her staff.
The magic she used was to sense emotions through mana, often used during interrogations.
Just as the mana was about to scan the students, turning into tiny particles…
“Uncle, long time no see.”
Mircel approached with a cute expression, waving his hand.
Noras wanted to continue the spell, but Mircel was speaking comfortably in front of the elder.
As an advisor, she had no choice but to correct the inappropriate manners.
“No matter how close you are to the Sir, you should speak respectfully, especially as a student.”
“It’s alright, Noras. I actually prefer this casual interaction.”
Even if they had known each other since Mircel was a baby, there were lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Pathfinders, more than knights, prioritize hierarchy.
Despite Arental’s discouragement, Noras was about to sharply reprimand him.
“Sister remains the same.”
“What?”
“Her skin, isn’t it? Seems prettier, doesn’t it?”
Maybe next time.
“Indeed, he’s always been honest with his feelings. Perhaps I was too harsh.”
Noras struggled to hold back a smile.
Meanwhile, Mircel’s gaze caught her attention.
It matched exactly the direction the previously scared student had looked.
“Huh?”
She turned her head quickly, but saw nothing.
Except for a brief flash of gold in the distance…
‘Is there some kind of peculiar animal there?’
As Arental moved, Noras, about to cast her forgotten spell, followed him.
“Mircel, since it’s a rare occasion, let’s have a longer chat with your uncle.”
“That sounds good.”
Mircel joined in.
After they left, the students of the Knight section sighed.
“It feels like we’re going to die, not being able to eat properly while doing this.”
“Hey, hey. Don’t stop. They might still be watching.”
“Can they see us from this distance?”
“You know Limberton, the tiny one.”
***
Even using a telescope, the distance was too great to discern details clearly.
So I asked Limberton.
“What?”
“One guy was obviously slacking off.”
“Who?”
“Riamon.”
“That guy is excluded from today’s rationing.”
We were noting down the names of those who were slacking off.
“Hersel, Mircel just signaled again. Is he guiding them to the next destination properly?”
With the large number of students, they were divided into groups.
Some groups were assembled to show only the best appearances, like now, while others, like just before, were made up of those who were unskilled.
Placing Mircel to direct Arental away from the less skilled was an excellent decision.
“Then we’ll head to the Magic Department where Bellman is.”
The insurance was working properly.
However, an unexpected variable emerged.
“Hersel, we have a big problem.”
Athera, the representative of the Schlaphe Hall, came running breathlessly.
“What’s the matter?”
“The student council guys have escaped from the prison…”
The new complication involved the now powerless and redundant members of the student council.
These were the ones who had been scorned and pelted with stones by other students as they passed by, full of bitterness and capable of anything.
They had been temporarily confined in a makeshift prison.
“They’re searching the area where the elder is now.”
Apparently, they planned to blow the whistle inside.
The students were reluctantly participating in current activities, and many still harbored grievances against the professors.
Exposing such facts would be disastrous.
Immediate action was necessary.
“But how did they escape? Ricks was supposed to be watching them.”
When I asked, Athera mentioned a familiar name.
“It was the doing of Aros and Meldon.”
“Hmm?”
“You know, the former second-ranked of the Magic Department, Aros. And Meldon, who was defeated by Erucel.”
Ah, Aros was the third-year from the Magic Department who was ruthlessly defeated by Dorosian in the Ten Elites Challenge.
Meldon was a former seventh-ranked who had been discarded after losing his position to Erucel. It was somewhat unexpected, but those guys had enough motive.
They had been mocked and discarded, with no good feelings left.
Hmm, whom should I send?
Someone like Kerndel, who had a friendly connection with them, was out of the question. Mircel was busy, and thanks to the significant growth of the protagonists, just four of them would easily overpower those guys. However, they were assigned to the Ace group, and it was difficult to pull them out now.
While I was quickly considering who to send for the capture…
“I’m bored, maybe I’ll go?”
Dorosian, covering a yawn with her hand, flicked her hair back.
***
Aros had swung her staff and found out where the elder was.
“Come on, Meldon.”
“Yes, Senior!”
With Meldon joining in, the student council looked at Ders.
“President. Let’s go quickly.”
“Forget it, go by yourselves if you want.”
“But still…”
As he waved his hand listlessly, Aros frowned.
“Leave it. He doesn’t want to go. We don’t have time.”
Aros wanted to get back at them before she graduated. Though she was afraid of retaliation, whistleblowing to an elder was significant.
No matter who they were, they couldn’t act rashly against his authority.
As Aros ran, she glanced at Meldon.
Meldon was a second-year who still had to spend another year with the demons.
Yet, he was actively involved, which even Aros found surprising.
“But, Meldon, is that really true?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the rule that if it’s deemed impossible to operate normally, you can be educated at another academy.”
A clause created in case the academy ever lost its essential functions.
“It’s true. Some seniors jokingly told me about it during the Demonic realm practice. It’s written in tiny letters.”
Meldon intended to go to an academy without Hersel’s gang.
“Even so, the transfer process isn’t formal. The Frost Heart name will still be on the diploma, but at least I won’t have to see those bastards.”
If his words were true, this could be a powerful weapon.
In reality, there was no need to suffer here; they could simply go to another academy for education.
But the professors had been hiding this fact.
‘This riot might be tougher than expected.’
The elder was approaching.
Aros retracted the bitter smile on her lips.
“Really impressive. Despite such difficult circumstances that make the ground seem like paper, they haven’t given up on learning.”
“…Hmm. There is a genuine zeal here. It’s chilling, though.”
As Aros approached Arental and Noras, who were conversing, she teared up.
“Whoa, elder…”
She was about to blow the whistle when she spoke up.
“What you see here is all fake. This academy is a sham!”
“A sham? What do you mean…”
As the incident unfolded, Noras’s mouth moved involuntarily.
“The students’ enthusiasm is even more intense than this.”
A familiar sensation sent shivers down Aros’s spine.
‘Could it be…?’
Memories of a traumatic duel with Dorosian swept through her mind. Sensing something off, Meldon spoke up in her stead. But when Mircel, standing next to Arental, glared at him with a sharp look, Meldon clamped his mouth shut.
Arental, unaware of the tension, smiled amiably.
“Oh, so you’ve come all this way to boast about that? Aren’t these students truly outstanding, Noras?”
“…I actually feel a sense of dissonance, as if mana was fluctuating just now.”
Noras pulled out her staff. Aros internally rejoiced, believing this would stop the nauseating words.
“The students really love their professors. Without their sacrifices, they would have fled long ago.”
“Ha, such an honest student.”
“Even a fool like me loves the professors who embraced me without reservation.”
But Mircel intervened.
“Ah, that sister. Looks like she’s been dabbling in weird magic again.”
Noras halted her staff and asked,
“Weird magic?”
“Yeah. She’s always like that. Got too into her experiments, and it messed with her head? It’s best to keep your distance.”
Arental shook his head and patted Mircel’s hair.
“You shouldn’t say things like that, Mircel. And we should mingle without prejudice.”
“Hmm… Alright then.”
Aros watched as Noras’s eyes, which had appeared normal, turned pitiful. She himself felt ridiculous for spouting such nonsense.
‘It’s all over…’
After a brief commotion, Arental chuckled and asked,
“What do you think?”
Noras eyed the students in the distance with suspicion.
“Honestly, it all feels unnatural. Everything.”
Not even basic necessities were being provided. It wouldn’t be surprising if a riot broke out.
And yet they’re enthusiastically attending classes? Reality isn’t a fairy tale.
There must be some force or reason behind it.
But Noras decided not to delve deeper. As mentioned earlier, reality is no fairy tale.
‘As long as things keep rolling, it doesn’t matter.’
The same was true for herself.
“Still, it seems we need to allocate some budget. Of course, rebuilding the fortress is out of the question, but setting a budget without waste just to restore the basics seems right.”
“Then, calculate it carefully.”
“Yes, Sir Arental.”
Noras wanted to be generous, but for now, she decided to hold off.
Arental’s face was suffused with satisfaction. Based on past experiences, the budget would likely be increased by about 20%.
‘Shall we check the truth now?’
Noras pulled out her staff. Interviews with the students had shown that the reports were close to the truth, but likely exaggerated.
“Huh.”
Noras concentrated a large amount of mana at the tip of her staff and closed her eyes.
The spell she was about to perform was the essence of mana forensics, determining what magic had been used in the past and its effects.
“Ugh.”
The mana wind struck Noras’s skin. Countless different types of magic burst forth, reminiscent of a battlefield.
‘This is the trace of spirits using mana. And this…’
Noras broke into a cold sweat as the mana swept past like a tidal wave, resembling the tumult of a massive creature.
‘They overcame such forces? The students?’
No further confirmation was needed.
Just as she was about to retract her staff, a disturbing energy caught Noras’s attention.
It was mana saturated with dark hatred. Taking some of it into herself, Noras bent over like a shrimp and choked back a gag.
“Ugh.”
Even feeling just a part of it was enough to make her skin crawl with its foul and viscous nature.
‘Judging by the stinging of my skin, this is definitely a trace of an explosion.’
It wasn’t just a small amount; there had been a massive explosion.
The invulnerable fortress had been pulverized into dust, a conclusion that now made perfect sense.
Noras gasped for air and abruptly stopped the magic.
“Are you alright, Noras?”
“Yes………….”
Arental supported Noras and said,
“Hmm, it seems the students’ words were not an exaggeration.”
This was no mere exaggeration.
Noras trembled and forced out his words,
“No, this is closer to being understated. It’s a miracle…”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nearly a miracle that they survived.”
To Noras, the students attending class now appeared as nothing short of spectral.
