#34
This sword was none other than a demonic sword. It was a sword that could put one in danger just by holding it, so I shouldn’t bring it out if possible. However, this sword was the only thing that could teach me about magic circles. There was no way a school official would explain magic circles one by one to a young person like me. Moreover, they likely didn’t know about magic circles themselves.
Even in the game, the term “magic circle” had never appeared. There were many words like demons or demonic swords, but no one ever mentioned or used magic circles. If such things were widely known, the Duke would have used them from the start.
The only thing commonly used in this game is summoning circles. That’s why I had asked the sword, which mentioned magic circles, various questions. If that’s the case, the school officials would certainly think that what was drawn underground was a type of summoning circle.
After we went all the way down to the basement, I saw a spacious area used as a storage room. I could see several people talking, seemingly waiting for Rikin.
“You came right on time.”
“Hello.”
Rikin greeted the people who were waiting with a light greeting. One was wearing a robe, perhaps a mage, and the other was dressed in neat formal attire. The mage was a face I hadn’t seen before, but the man in formal attire looked familiar.
He looked similar to an NPC I had seen several times while playing the game. I definitely remember he was a history teacher.
“But who is the student behind you?”
The teacher glanced at me and asked Rikin.
“This is Andelion Crusay, who just enrolled. He wanted to come along.”
“Not allowed. Even though all danger elements have been removed, we can’t bring a newly enrolled student.”
The mage, whose face was hidden by the robe, interrupted Rikin’s words. As soon as he heard my name, the teacher who had been standing still stepped forward.
“So you’re from the Duke’s family. I’m Ramtel Ion, who teaches history.”
“Yes. Hello, teacher.”
The mage, seemingly displeased with Ramtel’s behavior, folded his arms and stared at him. Ramtel stepped back, unable to withstand the gaze. I could hear the mage sighing through the robe. My sudden appearance seemed quite displeasing to him.
“I’ll just watch from behind.”
“No matter if you’re from the Duke’s family, you’re just a student in this school. Stop being stubborn and go back.”
“Come now, Yaksi. Haven’t we looked around several times already? What’s wrong with him just watching from behind?”
Yaksi was an NPC known as the court mage. In the game, there wasn’t even an illustration, so I didn’t know what he looked like. In other words, he was someone who originally had no need to set foot in this school. This suddenly occurring incident had brought a new person onto the scene.
This isn’t good. I felt anxious as it seemed to be moving further away from the future I knew. My only advantage was knowing the future. I don’t understand why it’s wavering like this.
“I guess they haven’t taught you that power shouldn’t be wielded carelessly just because you have it. The Crusay family has seen better days.”
The mage glared at me, casually bringing up our family name. While his words weren’t completely wrong, I thought it was too much to insult the entire family over something like this. But I couldn’t get excited over every single word he said. If I got angry here, I might really be kicked out.
“I was the one who asked him to come along. He is, after all, the heir to a duchy. He can’t just ignore such matters.”
Rikin, who had been silently observing the situation, stood beside me and defended me. The mage still didn’t trust me to the end, but since he couldn’t waste any more time, he only moved on after extracting a promise that I would only watch from behind.
However, I couldn’t tell exactly where we were going. The basement we were in was blocked on all sides, so I couldn’t see a path forward.
That’s when Ramtel, who was leading the way, stopped at a seemingly empty wall. It seemed that beyond this wall was where we needed to go. As he touched various parts of the wall, the wall in front of us split open to the sides, emitting a bright light.
“Only school officials knew about this door, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Even among the teachers, only a few know. Only those who have been at the school for a long time or whose identities are certain know about it.”
When the door opened, Yaksi walked forward without looking back. Even in his gait, it was evident that he wanted to finish his business quickly and return. Ramtel gave us an awkward smile and quickly followed Yaksi.
Rikin nudged my arm.
“Let’s go.”
There’s no need to be this considerate. He seemed to be looking out for me in various ways, perhaps fearing I might feel dejected. I didn’t feel entirely comfortable, feeling like I was burdening Rikin. It seemed like I would have to follow him wherever he wanted to go later, as he wished.
Yaksi created a small light in his hand and walked down the dark corridor. I could see light coming in from a distance. As we left the corridor, we came upon an open space with a ceiling that had been broken through. The sudden light falling from the sky hurt my eyes, and I unconsciously closed them for a moment.
When I opened my eyes again, I could see unknown symbols and pictures densely drawn on the floor of a large space where the ceiling had collapsed. Between the pillars that had been supporting the ceiling, incomprehensible pictures and letters were drawn over chaotically connected lines. This was different from the common summoning circles I was familiar with.
Yaksi extinguished the light in his hand and turned around.
“Did you find anything special on the way here?”
“No, nothing.”
“Well, anyone who would do this wouldn’t be careless enough to leave such things behind.”
People who had already arrived in this space were busily moving around, shifting broken pillars and ceiling fragments. It would have been easier to enter through that hole, but Ramtel and the investigation team had likely come through the building’s basement to determine how the perpetrator had reached this open space.
However, there was no evidence left by the perpetrator anywhere.
“It’s different from ordinary summoning circles. What is this?”
“It’s a magic circle.”
Yaksi answered Rikin’s question. I was surprised and looked at Yaksi. I didn’t expect to hear that term here again.
“A magic circle? I’ve never heard of such a thing?”
“You wouldn’t have heard of it. It’s a method that has disappeared by now. It’s cumbersome to use, and ordinary people wouldn’t even dare to try.”
Saying that, Yaksi waved his hand several times. Then, a large rock in the distance suddenly floated up into the air. I could see the workers who had been gathered around the large rock backing away in surprise. It was an impressive skill befitting a court mage.
Yaksi gently scraped the magic circle with his foot. As the magic circle on the floor was brushed by Yaksi’s shoe, red stains appeared on the floor.
“This is blood.”
“Pardon?”
“Human blood. Magic circles are drawn with human blood. I wonder how many people’s blood would be needed to draw such a large magic circle.”
Ramtel, who had been listening, let out a small scream and moved away from Yaksi. It was indeed something that would make one shudder just hearing about it. Human blood? It didn’t quite register. I knew this was a world where it wouldn’t be strange for people to die at any time, but I never thought something like this would happen.
Who on earth, and for what reason, would cause such an incident?
“Seems like it was too shocking for our young master. His face has turned completely pale.”
Yaksi’s gaze, which had been looking at the magic circle, was now directed at me. Judging by his mocking words, Yaksi really didn’t like me. There was no need to bother someone who was just standing quietly.
I was surprised, but not as shocked as Yaksi had suggested. “Luper” was famous for being a dating simulation game with many cruel scenes. Compared to some things the Duke had done, this was nothing.
Of course, seeing it directly with my own eyes for the first time was surprising, but I wasn’t as shocked as when I first saw the magical beasts. The blood from those magical beasts alone could have drawn several more magic circles like the one on this floor.
“My face is naturally pale.”
“Ha, what? Are you pretending now? You even came wearing a sword just to get here?”
At that moment, Yaksi’s eyes stopped on my sword. His voice, which had been slowly degrading me, stopped.
“There’s something strange about that sword.”
Yaksi was a mage who had recognized that what was drawn here was a magic circle. Then he would likely be able to recognize the magic placed on my sword as well. I shouldn’t have brought it after all. I gritted my teeth and stepped back. Then Yaksi, who had been standing at a distance, took a step toward me. Rikin didn’t even have a chance to stop him.
I needed to escape somehow, but I couldn’t find a way. Just as I was pondering what to do…
“Ana?”
Someone called my name. When I turned my head toward the sound, one of the few people who called me “Ana” was standing there.
“Why are you here?”
I want to ask the same thing. Is it okay for a prince to come here? Persis?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
