Eunrad Lee menyesali mulutnya sendiri.
Bukan, sebenarnya pada titik ini, tidak akan berlebihan jika menyebutnya moncong.
"Jika seorang lulusan tidak bisa mempercayai juniornya seperti itu, bagaimana birokrat kekaisaran bisa mempercayai mereka?"
"Be-benar."
"Siswa tahun pertama dari keluarga Wardanaz. Hmm. Aku harus bertanya lebih banyak."
"..."
Mendengar kata-kata atasannya, Eunrad Lee mengangguk dan kemudian ragu-ragu.
Dia terlalu bingung dan kacau untuk memahaminya, tapi setelah memikirkannya, Wardanaz ini pasti Wardanaz yang sama yang pernah dia dengar sebelumnya.
Orang yang membuat kepala sekolah tengkorak terkenal di dunia dipanggil ke hadapan Yang Mulia Kaisar...!
Wajah Eunrad Lee memucat karena takut dan tegang.
Dia bahkan tidak bisa membayangkan bagaimana penyelidikan ini akan berakhir.
'Apakah akan baik-baik saja? Apakah benar-benar akan baik-baik saja!?'
***
"..."
"..."
Yi-han dan Jijel berjalan dalam diam.
Di tengah kebisingan kota, melalui jalan utama di mana berbagai ras bercampur dan berlalu lalang, mereka berjalan dan berjalan dengan tenang.
Wajah mereka suram dan gelap.
Yi-han menghela napas sekali dan membuka mulut.
"...Mari kita lupakan saja dan beli apa yang kita butuhkan."
"Apakah semudah itu?"
"Tidak ada cara lain."
Jijel meliriknya sekali, merenungkan, dan dengan cara yang sama menghela napas dan berbicara.
"Ya. Mari kita lupakan dan beli apa yang kita butuhkan."
Keduanya berdiri di depan Aula Bodoh Mutlak, salah satu toko buku di Kota Grangden.
Petugas yang bekerja di toko buku itu akan menyapa pelanggan yang masuk melalui pintu tetapi ragu-ragu.
'...Apakah terjadi sesuatu pada kalian?'
Keduanya memiliki ekspresi gelap seolah-olah teman mereka baru saja meninggal.
"Prinsip Lingkaran Deteksi Dasar, apakah ini buku yang tepat?"
"Itu buku yang tepat. Mereka bilang bagus untuk mempersiapkan ujian akhir."
"Mengenali Batu Kuning Palsu. Ini juga?"
"Batu kuning sering dibuang, jadi tidak ada salahnya merujuknya."
Keduanya menyiapkan barang-barang yang dibutuhkan untuk ujian akhir satu per satu dengan wajah suram.
Apa yang dibutuhkan untuk ujian akhir bukan hanya reagen atau bahan.
Ada juga hal-hal seperti keberanian, persahabatan, ketekunan, kebencian, dan tentu saja, grimoire.
Biasanya, grimoire semacam itu bisa diperoleh dari perpustakaan, tetapi siswa-siswa cerdas Einroguard memilih untuk pergi keluar dan membeli buku daripada mendapatkannya dari perpustakaan.
Setidaknya grimoire yang dijual di luar tidak menggigit orang.
"Tunggu. Wardanaz. Mengapa kita perlu membeli Ejaan Dasar untuk Mage Buta Huruf?"
"Eh, karena anak-anak menaramu terus membuat kesalahan ejaan."
"..."
Pipi Jijel hingga ujung telinga panjangnya memerah.
Mengutuki teman-teman Menara Macan Putihnya yang membuat kesalahan dalam ejaan mudah, Jijel memindahkan langkahnya ke rak buku berikutnya.
Saat Jijel sedang membaca sekilas Prinsip Transformasi Sihir Tingkat Lanjut, dia merasakan sesuatu yang aneh.
"Wardanaz."
"?"
"Bukankah orang itu tampak mencurigakan?"
"Kurasa yang paling mencurigakan di toko buku ini adalah kita..."
Meski berkata demikian, Yi-han menatap intens pada orang yang ditunjuk Jijel.
Memang ada alasan mengapa dia bilang orang itu mencurigakan.
Bukan karena dia menutupi tubuhnya dengan jubah. Di kota besar, ada lebih dari beberapa orang yang menutupi tubuh mereka, jadi mereka tidak mencurigainya hanya berdasarkan itu.
Pola mana unik seorang mage terasa dari lawan.
Ada perbedaan halus antara sekitar orang biasa yang tidak bisa menggunakan mana dan sekitar mage yang secara instingtif mengendalikan dan memanipulasi mana.
Ketika mereka pertama kali masuk Einroguard, mereka tidak tahu, tetapi seiring berjalannya waktu, mereka menjadi bisa membedakan bahkan poin-poin halus ini.
Terlebih lagi, buku-buku yang dipilih lawan adalah...
'Sihir Darah Tingkat Lanjut', 'Penelitian tentang Rituil Pengorbanan Manusia'
Di antara grimoire di Aula Bodoh Mutlak, ada buku yang diverifikasi dan dibeli dari mage yang meminjamkan nama mereka, tetapi ada juga buku mencurigakan yang asal-usulnya tidak diketahui.
Tentu saja, karena itu adalah toko buku yang terletak di distrik pusat kota, jumlahnya hanya segelintir dibandingkan dengan skala keseluruhan. Itu bukan warung jalanan di gang belakang, jadi mereka tidak menyimpan banyak buku mencurigakan.
Tetapi lawan secara terang-terangan membaca sekilas dan memilih hanya buku-buku seperti itu.
"Memang mencurigakan."
"Kan? Ada belati di dalam jubah. Ada darah di atasnya. Melihat bahwa belum mengering, pasti belum lama."
Jijel berbisik dengan suara tajam.
Baru saat itu Yi-han menyadari bahwa ada belati yang tersangkut di dalam jubah lawan.
"Ah. Aku mengerti."
"...Tunggu. Bukankah kamu melihat belatinya? Lalu apa yang kamu anggap mencurigakan?"
"Fakta bahwa dia seorang mage?"
"?"
"Dan dia terus mencoba mengumpulkan grimoire mencurigakan..."
"Itu tidak benar-benar... Tidak. Lupakan. Itu bukan yang penting sekarang."
Jijel akan berkata, 'Wardanaz, bukankah kamu juga mengumpulkan banyak grimoire mencurigakan sebagai mage?' tetapi dia berhenti.
Karena itu bukan yang penting sekarang.
"Jadi apa pendapatmu?"
"Itu mencurigakan, tetapi pasti ada puluhan orang mencurigakan di kota, dan kita tidak bisa ikut campur dengan setiap orang. Bisa ada alasan tak terhitung untuk belati berdarah."
Jijel mengerutkan kening dan menunjukkan ekspresi kontemplatidf untuk sesaat. Dia mengetuk sarung dengan ujung jari panjangnya dan berbicara seolah-olah dia tidak punya pilihan.
"Kurasa kamu benar."
"Untuk berjaga-jaga, mari kita beri tahu petugas."
Keduanya menyelesaikan pembelian mereka dan meninggalkan Aula Bodoh Mutlak, memindahkan langkah mereka ke lokasi berikutnya.
Itu adalah Bengkel Staf Puyo, toko pengrajin staf.
"Bagaimana kamu meninggalkan koin perak di sana?"
"Aku meninggalkan apa yang kuhasilkan dari bekerja terakhir kali."
"..."
Sementara Jijel bingung tentang di mana harus mulai menunjukkan, seseorang yang familiar terlihat berjalan di depan.
Itu adalah orang mencurigakan yang mereka lihat di toko buku tadi.
"Orang itu?"
"Mungkin hanya kebetulan jalan kita bersilangan."
Yi-han berbicara dengan tegas.
Dia tidak ingin terlibat dengan orang mencurigakan ketika dia sudah kekurangan waktu.
Tolong jangan membuat masalah!
Tuk-
Lawan berhenti di depan Bengkel Staf Puyo. Tidak ada tanda-tanda orang yang mencolok di sekitar.
Yi-han secara instingtif menggenggam Jijel dan merapal mantra.
"Jubah, selubungi aku!"
Saat sihir tembus pandang dicast, sosok mereka menghilang. Lawan melihat sekeliling tetapi tidak memerhatikan sesuatu yang tidak biasa.
Swish-
Orang mencurigakan mengeluarkan staf canggung dan menggambar belati berdarah dengan tangan lainnya.
Saat dia 'swish' memotong lengannya sendiri, mata pisau meminum darah dan berdenyut mana secara tidak teratur.
'Sihir darah!'
Yi-han mengenali sihir apa yang digunakan lawan.
Tentu saja, itu adalah struktur yang jauh lebih kasar, kasar, dan berbahaya daripada sihir darah yang dipelajari Yi-han, tetapi prinsip memperkuat mana dengan darah itu sendiri adalah sama.
Saat mananya meningkat, orang itu tampak mendapat kepercayaan diri dan mencoba merapal mantra sambil memegang stafnya.
"Kekuatan, kekuatan, kekuatan..."
Mantra canggung untuk memperkuat dirinya sendiri.
Hanya ada satu alasan jelas untuk merapal mantra semacam itu di depan toko orang lain di tempat dengan sedikit orang.
Yi-han dan Jijel secara bersamaan saling bertukar pandangan dan menghela napas dalam.
Itu adalah hari dengan nasib buruk yang benar-benar buruk.
"Menyerang, petir Ferkuntra!"
"Bersemayam di bilah dan hancurkan!"
"Ugh!"
Mage yang mencoba merampok toko terkena petir dan pedang dan menggelinding di tanah.
***
"Aku benar-benar berterima kasih. Benar-benar berterima kasih."
Puyo, yang biasanya tidak ekspresif, tampaknya sangat tergerak kali ini saat dia menggenggam tangan mereka dan mengocoknya naik turun dengan kuat.
"Kami hanya melakukan apa yang harus kami lakukan."
"Benar. Kamu tidak perlu berterima kasih..."
Karena penjaga kota telah menyeret pergi penjahat yang terjatuh, keduanya juga ingin cepat menerima koin perak dan pergi.
"Tunggu sebentar. Aku tidak bisa membiarkan kalian pergi tanpa menjamu kalian setelah kalian membantu seperti ini. Aku baru-baru ini mendapat daun teh yang benar-benar langka..."
"Eh, Puyo. Sebenarnya, aku ada urusan mendesak..."
"Ngomong-ngomong, bagaimana kalian bisa keluar? Seharusnya tidak mudah bagi siswa Einroguard untuk keluar?"
Ketika Puyo bertanya dengan bingung, Yi-han cepat menjawab.
"Daun teh apa yang kamu dapat?"
"Ah. Yah, itu daun teh yang dipanen dari gletser laut utara kekaisaran."
Jijel mengirim pandangan yang mengatakan 'Kita perlu mengakhiri percakapan dengan cepat dan pergi,' tetapi Yi-han tidak punya pilihan.
Menimbang hubungan masa depannya dengan Puyo, dia tidak bisa melawan suasana hatinya tanpa alasan.
Hasilnya, keduanya dijamu teh oleh Puyo, staf mereka diperiksa, menerima beberapa nasihat tentang penggunaan sihir, dan diberi hadiah segenggam kayu yang baru-baru ini dipangkas Puyo untuk staf.
"..."
"Kurasa kita hancur."
Jijel bergumam, tetapi Yi-han memuat tumpukan kayu di punggungnya, pura-pura tidak mendengar.
"Ayo. Kita masih punya banyak yang harus dibeli."
"Kurasa kita selesai. Mungkin juga akan ada perampok di jalan berikutnya."
"Jangan bilang hal-hal seperti Anglago. Apakah kamu akan menyerah pada takhayul?"
Jijel menghela napas sekali dan mengikuti di belakang Yi-han.
Itu benar.
Tidak peduli seberapa banyak takdir menyiksa mereka, mereka harus melawan.
"Ya. Yang lain pasti juga membeli barang, jadi bahkan jika kita tidak bisa membeli banyak..."
Crash bang bang!
"Aaaah!"
"Dinding runtuh! Semua orang hati-hati!!"
"Jelin! Jelin terkubur di bawah puing-puing! Sial. Terlalu banyak darah! Tuhan Sisenja, mengapa cobaan seperti ini!"
Yi-han melempar tumpukan kayu dan berlari ke lokasi konstruk
Chapter 559
Eunrad Lee resented his own mouth.
No, in fact, at this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a snout.
"If a graduate can't trust his juniors like that, how can the imperial bureaucrats trust them?"
"Th-that's right."
"A 1st-year student from the Wardanaz family. Hmm. I'll have to ask more."
"..."
At his superior's words, Eunrad Lee nodded his head and then hesitated.
He was too flustered and confused to grasp it, but upon thinking about it, this Wardanaz was definitely the same Wardanaz he had heard about before.
The one who made the world-renowned skull principal be summoned in front of His Majesty the Emperor...!
Eunrad Lee's face turned pale with fear and tension.
He couldn't even imagine how this investigation would end.
'Will it be okay? Will it really be okay!?'
***
"..."
"..."
Yi-Han and Jijel walked silently.
Amidst the noise of the city, through the main street where numerous races mingled and passed by, they walked and walked quietly.
Their faces were gloomy and dark.
Yi-Han sighed once and opened his mouth.
"...Let's just forget it and buy what we need."
"Is it that easy to do?"
"There's no other way."
Jijel glanced at him once, pondered, and similarly sighed and spoke.
"Yeah. Let's forget it and buy what we need."
The two stood in front of , one of the bookstores in Granden City.
The clerk working at the bookstore was about to greet the customers entering through the door but hesitated.
'...Did something happen to you?'
The two had such dark expressions as if their friend had just died.
", is this the right book?"
"That's the right book. They said it's good for preparing for the final exams."
". This too?"
"Yellow stones are often discarded, so it wouldn't hurt to refer to it."
The two prepared the items needed for the final exams one by one with gloomy faces.
What was needed for the final exams was not just reagents or materials.
There were also things like courage, friendship, tenacity, hatred, and of course, grimoires.
Usually, such grimoires could be obtained from the library, but the clever students of Einroguard chose to go outside and buy books rather than getting them from the library.
At least the grimoires sold outside didn't bite people.
"Wait. Wardanaz. Why do we need to buy ?"
"Uh, because your tower's kids keep making spelling mistakes."
"..."
Jijel's cheeks to the tips of her long ears turned red.
Cursing her White Tiger Tower friends who made mistakes in easy spellings, Jijel moved her steps to the next bookshelf.
As Jijel was skimming through , she felt something strange.
"Wardanaz."
"?"
"Doesn't that person look suspicious?"
"I think the most suspicious ones in this bookstore are us..."
Even as he said that, Yi-Han stared intently at the person Jijel pointed to.
There was certainly a reason why she said he was suspicious.
It wasn't because he had his body deeply covered with a robe. In a large city, there were more than a few people who covered their bodies, so they didn't suspect him just based on that.
A unique mana pattern of a mage was felt from the opponent.
There was a subtle difference between the surroundings of ordinary people who couldn't use mana and the surroundings of mages who instinctively controlled and manipulated mana.
When they first entered Einroguard, they didn't know, but as time passed, they became able to distinguish even these subtle points.
Moreover, the books the opponent was selecting were…
', '
Among the grimoires in the Absolute Fool Hall, there were books that were verified and purchased from mages who lent their names, but there were also suspicious books of unknown origin.
Of course, since it was a bookstore located in the central district of the city, the amount was only a handful compared to the overall scale. It wasn't a street stall in a back alley, so they didn't stock many suspicious books.
But the opponent was blatantly skimming through and selecting only such books.
"It is indeed suspicious."
"Right? There's a dagger inside the robe. It has blood on it. Seeing that it hasn't dried yet, it must not have been long."
Jijel whispered in a sharp voice.
Only then did Yi-Han realize that there was a dagger stuck inside the opponent's robe.
"Ah. I see."
"...Wait. Didn't you see the dagger? Then what did you find suspicious?"
"The fact that he's a mage?"
"?"
"And he keeps trying to collect suspicious grimoires..."
"That's not really... No. Forget it. That's not what's important right now."
Jijel was about to say, 'Wardanaz, don't you also collect a lot of suspicious grimoires as a mage?' but she stopped.
Because that wasn't what was important right now.
"So what do you think?"
"It's suspicious, but there must be dozens of suspicious people in the city, and we can't interfere with each and every one of them. There can be countless reasons for a bloody dagger."
Jijel frowned and showed a contemplative expression for a moment. She tapped the scabbard with the tip of her long finger and spoke as if she had no choice.
"I guess you're right."
"Just in case, let's tell the clerk."
The two finished their purchase and left the Absolute Fool Hall, moving their steps to the next location.
It was , the shop of a staff craftsman.
"How did you leave the silver coins there?"
"I left what I earned from working last time."
"..."
While Jijel was confused about where to start pointing out, a familiar person was seen walking ahead.
It was the suspicious person they had seen at the bookstore earlier.
"That guy?"
"It's probably just a coincidence that our paths crossed."
Yi-Han spoke firmly.
He didn't want to get involved with a suspicious person when he was already short on time.
Please don't cause any trouble!
Thud-
The opponent stopped in front of . There were no notable signs of people around.
Yi-Han instinctively grabbed Jijel and chanted a spell.
"Cloak, engulf me!"
As the invisibility magic was cast, their figures disappeared. The opponent looked around but didn't notice anything unusual.
Swish-
The suspicious person took out a clumsy staff and drew a bloody dagger with his other hand.
As he 'swish' cut his own arm, the blade drank the blood and pulsated mana irregularly.
'Blood magic!'
Yi-Han recognized what magic the opponent was using.
Of course, it was a much more violent, crude, and dangerous structure than the blood magic Yi-Han had learned, but the principle of amplifying mana with blood itself was the same.
As his mana increased, the person seemed to gain confidence and tried to chant a spell while holding his staff.
"Power, power, power..."
A clumsy spell to strengthen himself.
There was only one obvious reason for chanting such a spell in front of someone else's shop in a place with few people.
Yi-Han and Jijel simultaneously exchanged glances and let out a deep sigh.
It was a day with really bad luck.
"Strike, Ferkuntra's thunderbolt!"
"Dwell in the blade and destroy!"
"Ugh!"
The mage who tried to raid the shop was hit by lightning and sword and rolled on the ground.
***
"I'm really grateful. Really grateful."
Puyo, who wasn't usually expressive, seemed to be greatly moved this time as he grabbed their hands and shook them up and down forcefully.
"We just did what we had to do."
"That's right. You don't have to be so thankful..."
Since the city guard had dragged away the fallen criminal, the two also wanted to quickly receive the silver coins and leave.
"Wait a moment. I can't just let you go without treating you to anything after you helped me like this. I recently obtained some really rare tea leaves..."
"Uh, Puyo. Actually, I have an urgent matter to attend to..."
"Come to think of it, how did you come out? It shouldn't be easy for Einroguard students to come out?"
When Puyo asked in puzzlement, Yi-Han quickly answered.
"What kind of tea leaves did you get?"
"Ah. Well, they're tea leaves harvested from the glaciers of the empire's northern sea."
Jijel sent a gaze saying 'We need to end the conversation quickly and leave,' but Yi-Han had no choice.
Considering his future connections with Puyo, he couldn't go against his mood for no reason.
As a result, the two were treated to tea by Puyo, had their staffs inspected, received some advice on magic usage, and were gifted an armful of wood that Puyo had recently trimmed for staffs.
"..."
"I think we're screwed."
Jijel muttered, but Yi-Han loaded the pile of wood on his back, pretending not to hear.
"Let's go. We still have a lot to buy."
"I think we're done. There will probably be robbers on the next path too."
"Don't say things like Anglago. Are you going to succumb to superstition?"
Jijel sighed once and followed behind Yi-Han.
It was true.
No matter how much fate tormented them, they had to fight against it.
"Yeah. The others must be buying things too, so even if we can't buy much..."
Crash bang bang!
"Aaaah!"
"The wall collapsed! Everyone be careful!!"
"Jelin! Jelin is buried under the rubble! Damn it. There's too much blood! Lord Sisenja, why such a trial!"
Yi-Han threw the pile of wood and ran to the construction site of the guild next door.
Jijel followed behind him without a word.
"Everyone, please move aside!"
"Who are you... Gasp, a mage! Are you a mage from Einroguard?"
There was no time to make excuses, so Yi-Han held up his staff and gestured. Jijel immediately used her enhanced strength to kick and throw away the rubble.
As space was created, Yi-Han washed the lying patient with water and immediately chanted a spell.
"Stick together, stick together, stick together, stick together..."
With a crunching sound, the bones began to stick together. Jijel, who was clearing the rubble, looked at him with surprised eyes.
She knew that Yi-Han was almost the only one among the 1st-years who could properly use healing magic, but she didn't know he could heal such wounds at this speed.
"...Heal!"
"Is-is it over?"
"He was lucky."
Yi-Han nodded while panting.
He had ignored it when Moradi said it, but today might really be an unlucky day.
When they arrived at the mansion, the prisoners inside attempted to escape, when they caught the prisoner, they encountered a robber, when they dealt with the robber, an accident…
'I should have had my fortune told and set the date.'
Yi-Han regretted as he put away his staff.
"Th-thank you. Mage. You are the savior of life!"
"Please tell us your name!"
Before Yi-Han could answer, a city guard passing by from behind took off his helmet, bowed his head, and kindly explained.
"The one on the left is Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family, and the one on the right is Jijel of the Moradi family. Mages from Einroguard. Thank you once again for your dedication."
"I see!! Thank you so much!"
"Yes..."
"That's us."
Yi-Han and Jijel half-heartedly nodded their heads.
At this point, they might have to just accept reality.
***
"No one is here yet!"
"Run, run!"
The students who returned before sunset ran to the upper corridor of the mansion with their luggage.
Fortunately, despite all the commotion, there was still no one in the mansion.
The realm gate was also functioning properly.
"Go in!"
"Good work, everyone!"
The students waiting in the warehouse cheered as they saw their returning friends.
"No one chased after you?"
"Hey. I heard Wardanaz caught a robber, what are you talking about? Why did you catch a robber?"
"Robber? I heard he saved a stonemason guild member?"
"...???"
"?????"
The students looked at each other in confusion.
"It must be a false rumor, right?"
"It must be. Wardanaz isn't a fool, there's no way he would do such a thing while wandering around."
"That's right. Moradi is with him too. Moradi isn't the type of person to make a mistake while helping others. She's not Anglago."
"Hey. You bastard."
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