How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 274

[Side story] Chasing butterflies (1)

I once saw a stray cat chasing a butterfly while walking on a quiet street.

His eyes are drawn to the fluttering wings, and he eagerly chases after the butterfly, but unfortunately, it is rare for his dainty hand to catch it.

In the end, the stray cats are led to a flower field full of butterflies, and then watch them fly high into the blue sky.

The butterfly flapping its wings eagerly looks like a flower flying in the sky, so stray cats endlessly follow the butterfly through the flower field.

It is a beast that has no home and no place to return to.

If you quietly chase a butterfly without being bound by anything… The surrounding landscape has changed a lot at some point. I can’t even guess how far I’ve come from where I started the chase.

It doesn’t matter though.

The top of this street is my house. There is no major change in the life of a stray cat who wanders aimlessly even after chasing a butterfly for a long time as if possessed.

As usual, I fall asleep with the sky as my roof, and when the sun rises, I just walk leisurely on the road.

A life lived as if swept away by the flow of time.

That was the life of a stray cat.

* * *

“Zhelan the Severer.”

During the school season, the landscape of Sylvania is quite different from any other time.

The faces of the students are full of energy, and the faculty members are all energetic. This kind of scenery at the beginning of the semester, when people are still full of vitality, will quickly wither when it starts to get busy little by little.

Like a flower that blooms in full bloom in a warm spring, it is a trace of youth that is difficult to enjoy except at that time.

People who have romance in their bachelor life will say with all sorts of misayeogu that this is the most beautiful and shining time.

“My old comrade… Maybe that guy… big… heck… .”

Apart from such a lively school atmosphere, there was a guy who made an impression that he would die at any moment.

It was my senior professor, Kaleid Roxter.

It is pitiful to see his sharp beard sticking out near his chin.

He had been dying from a hangover since the morning, but he was smoking a cigarette in a corner of the faculty building when he saw me and waved his hand in greeting.

As for me, I was on my way to the school building with the curriculum for this semester’s elemental science class on my side.

Then, when I met Professor Kalade, I remembered something to ask, so we continued the conversation.

The corpse of Tyr’calax, the highest wind spirit.

When I showed her the highest-grade artifact I had brought from Yenika’s hometown, Kaleid looked at me with his eyes wide open.

And, when I asked him if he was looking for a devious way to use this properly, the name of a wizard named Gellan the Amputator popped out of his mouth.

“I don’t know where they got the corpse of the highest ranking spirit, but there is no one on the island of Aken who can handle something of that level.”

It is an object that only takes the form of a small marble, but its value is enormous.

In order to use it properly, a special form of magic processing was required.

“Ugh… for a moment… My stomach hurts so much… .”

“Did you have a drink yesterday?”

“I did… Yesterday and the day before… . Even three days ago… .”

It’s no surprise now that Professor Kalade is in a drunken state before school starts.

He mumbled and wondered whether or not to clear his stomach, then exhaled heavily as he buried himself on the bench.

“It is an object found in Pulan.”

“Yeah. On the subject of having been excitedly swept up in an internal conflict of interest in the Oldeck side, when did you find a chance to go to Pulan again? My successor professor, Naeuri, spent her vacation very well.”

“It was a combination of business and business while I went there to deal with undergraduate business.”

He says without hesitation that he was busy working even during vacation, but there is no way that Professor Kalade would be interested in such a thing.

“Anyway, my comrade, that guy named Gellan, was excellent at processing artifacts like this in an easy-to-use way. I still remember. I owe you a lot during the Ain War.”

Seeker Glast, Outlaw Khaled, Severer Gellan.

These are the names of the three wizards who are said to have slaughtered the largest number of subhumans in the world.

I’ve heard so many stories that I’m tired of helping Guardian Obel Forsyus to subdue the demi-humans in the north.

Glast passed away tragically, and Khaled retired from the field to become a teacher.

Then, where is Gellan and what is he doing?

“He’s already old enough to be old… If not to her grandmother, she must be an auntie… .”

“Are there any places you think might be?”

“well… He’s such a newcomer… But for the past few years, there have been rumors that he has been wandering around the Rameln Mountains in order to study the Archmage Glockt.”

That bastard, he should have eaten as much as he should, but he still has a lot of energy and passion.

After saying that, I take out another cigarette and bite it. Professor Kaleid was already half a zombie.

“You mean Glockt Elderbane?”

“okay. The man who wants to become a wizard on this continent, but there is no one whose name he does not know. In fact, it seems that there are quite a few artifacts and magical engineering items left behind by that man.”

Glockt Elderbane was a wizard who was well-versed in all fields of magic.

It must have reached a high enough level for relics and magic engineering.

“How extensive must have been the items that the nobleman used or researched during his active duty days. However, rumors circulate that the finished products from the process are sleeping closely somewhere in the Rameln Mountains.”

“I’ve never heard of such a rumor… .”

“Actually, me too. If such rumors had spread extensively, treasure hunters would have sought to find Glockt’s treasure, even if it meant razing the entire Rameln Mountains.”

Even if that’s a little exaggerated, he must have searched every nook and cranny of the mountain range.

Glockt Elderbane was a wizard so valuable that even the book he wrote right before his death could cost thousands of gold coins.

If there are items of magical, historical, and monetary value that cannot be ignored somewhere in the Rameln Mountains… .

“I think, it was just a rumor, but I think he knows something.”

I don’t know exactly what it is, but it sounds like a man named Gelan the Severer is wandering around the Rameln Mountains in search of traces of Glockt.

“hmm… .”

“Why, do you have any guesses?”

“no. As you know, my family is protecting Gloct Elderbane’s apprentice.”

“ah. A fussy fellow like that stray cat.”

Her name is Lucy Mayrill.

At one time, he was a wizard who boasted enormous power enough to command the whole world.

Right now, he is resting and restoring the mana he has consumed for some reason.

“In fact, since he has been taught with Archmage Glockt in the Rameln Mountains for many years, he probably knows where Glockt lives somewhere in the Rameln Mountains.”

“… When Zelan hears that, his eyes will light up and he will be happy.”

“In exchange for processing this corpse of Tyrcalax, would you accept it if I bet you to tell me the location of Gloct’s former residence?”

“Beyond accepting, you could ask for an extra charge.”

I feel like I know a little bit about the personality of a person named Jellan the Amputator.

Curious and adventurous, he is also possessed of goodness as a human being.

I heard that she was the one who asked Cleric Monastery to protect the countless demi-humans.

Even though he was nicknamed ‘The Severer’ because he slaughtered so many subhumans, he showed mercy to the young subhumans, who were still untainted by the taint of the world.

“Of course, it’s hard to think that anything will remain just because it’s Glockt’s old residence… .”

“is it? Rather, don’t you think that there would be something in the residence of an archmage like that?”

I heard that Lucy abandoned the residence as soon as Glockt died… . Most likely, it was still the same as it was when Lucy left.

Of course, if it were a simple log cabin, it might have been worn out and collapsed over a long period of time.

“the problem is… How do you find that person named Gellan?”

The problem is that I am in the middle of the semester right now.

With so many academic schedules piled up, I can’t just throw them all away and leave. As my sister says, I am a person who works as much as I receive.

“Well, it’s not urgent right now, so you can think about it slowly. If not, is there any reason why the artifact must be processed right away?”

“It’s not like that, but… .”

I sat down on a bench and lit a cigarette.

“About the highest level spirit ceremony… I have some ideas on my mind… .”

I gathered mana on my fingertips and talked. At the end, the wind rose a little, and then it died down again.

He is now completely accustomed to handling the power of Merilda, a high-ranking wind spirit. If so, it’s time to think about the next step.

Professor Kalade, who had been quietly listening to those words, burst out laughing.

“Yes, you are crazy.”

“… … .”

If I had to choose the madman between the two of us, I think Professor Kalreid would be the closer.

“Anyway, for the time being, I will have to focus on digesting my academic schedule… I’ll have to think about it slowly. I have to go back to my parents’ house to talk to Lucy, but I don’t have plans to go home for the time being.”

“Well, that would be the law. But you know… Things in the world don’t always go according to schedule.”

“… Why do you say such disturbing things?”

“Well, it’s just like that.”

Professor Kalade chuckled as he lay completely flat on the bench.

Anyway, he was a good human being.

* * *

“Professor Ed. I have finished organizing all the paperwork you instructed. Shall I bring it to the classroom?”

“No, give it now. I’ll have to finish reviewing it when my hands are empty.”

“yes. please wait for a moment.”

Six teaching assistants belonged to my laboratory provided by the undergraduate school.

The smartest guy among them was holding the papers he had ordered and putting them on my desk, organized by agenda, one by one.

“that… Professor Ed. May I ask you a personal question?”

“… What.”

“While reviewing the Sylvania Academy’s academic records, I saw Lucy Meiril’s records… .”

He’s kind of quick-witted and smart, so he’s the one I’m determined to keep with him all the time.

As I was listening to the story, hoping to clear up some of my curiosity, Lucy’s name popped up.

“that… How did Lucy feel when she was a student?”

“… … .”

“As expected of the legendary senior Lucy, she must have been a role model for all students… .”

At Sylvania Academy, the existence of a senior named Lucy Meiril had already become something of a legend.

Lucy has reached the point where all students consider her an idol even though she did not even graduate and finished her school as a dropout.

Well it was worth it. Since she entered this Sylvania Academy, her progress has gone beyond being an honor student and has reached the realm of a great person.

In the end, after enduring several hours against the Holy Spear Dragon, Velbroke, and even neutralizing the Astral Magic of the great sage Sylvania… . No one could have predicted what kind of monster he would become if he grew up like this and developed all his talents.

Rumors about her often circulated around the school as she was the most talented wizard of this century in name and reality.

Intelligent looks, graceful gestures. The chief mage of Sylvania who is always thoughtful and beautiful, smiles gracefully and represents the students.

… Rumors are bound to be inflated, but to those who knew the real Lucy Meiril, all they heard was absurd.

Of course, from the perspective of a bachelor, there was no reason to deny the fact that they had produced such a great wizard, so the rumors were neglected and inflated.

“my… Because he is like an idol… .”

“… … .”

The innocent girl’s curious eyes made me speechless for a moment.

If you ask me what Lucy Mayreel’s bachelor life was like… I can’t say that I was sincere even with empty words.

However, it is not so easy to mercilessly trample on the dream of a young girl full of romance… .

“… Lucy… .”

okay… Anyway, I’m also a bachelor’s person now. For now, it makes sense to move in a direction that benefits the school.

And, whatever the truth, if students are motivated and able to work hard… Wouldn’t that be enough… .

No one is avoiding… Sometimes honesty is not the answer.

“okay… Lucy is… He was a really good wizard. He was truly the model for all wizards… .”

“female… I guess so… . I’ve always wondered what kind of person you are… .”

It is fortunate that all records of her astronomical number of penalty points or absences in the academic record are not left and have been erased.

Maybe dropping out was a godsend.

“Even though he mastered any kind of magic without much effort, he never neglected his training and was sincere.”

hey… My conscience stings a little… .

I don’t have to meet Lucy, who has lost her magic anyway and is stuck in the Ross Taylor mansion… At this point, she thinks she’ll be fine as motivation for her studies… .

“me too… Will I be able to become a wizard like Lucy someday… .”

“It is possible if you try. There is no such thing as an empty goal in this world, so try hard every day.”

“yes… I’m a weak wizard right now, but I’ll do my best to become someone like senior Lucy!”

The teaching assistant, who clenched both fists tightly, raised fire from his eyes.

okay… . That’s it… .

* * *

Once school started, Ed Rosteyler’s return to the mansion became extremely rare.

It was unavoidable because it would be quite difficult just to digest the academic schedule.

In a way, it was natural for me to think that I miss Ed.

“… … .”

Lucy Meiril was lying on the bed in her pajamas, staring at the ceiling.

It’s been several years since I lost my magic and entrusted myself to the Ross Taylor mansion. He had been able to handle simple magical powers in the meantime, but when he thought about the enormous power he had in the past, he didn’t even notice because he was at such a weak level.

He creates a spark with his fingertips and lets it float in the air, then clench his fists to get rid of it.

It took several years, but I was able to use basic magic anyway. Even that much meant a lot to Lucy.

Veteran veterans who have wielded swords for decades subdue beasts with just one cleaver.

Although it is only a rudimentary level of magic, Lucy, who has reached the peak of her sense of applying magic, can use it infinitely even if she is given a very small amount of magic.

Even if it is basic fire magic and basic stealth magic, the magic that comes out of Lucy’s hand is different in itself.

“… … .”

Having lived in this Ross Taylor mansion for a long time, I had already noticed the lifestyle of the maids to some extent.

I haven’t seen Ed Rosteyler’s face in a long time, and I feel like the tip of my nose is itching for some reason.

After staring blankly at the ceiling, before long, Lucy spat out.

“… Shall we escape?”

… It was a sign of a major accident.