Chapter 26

(1)

1.

“That building is the Lion’s Chamber.”

After leaving the Student Guidance Office.

Ulan arrived at his destination, following the inspector.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, the inspector suddenly added more words.

“In order, it’s the main building, the dining hall, the library, and the dormitory. The areas with flags on the outer walls are the places permitted for freshmen to enter.”

The inspector explained other buildings out of the blue.

After a while, having finished all his explanations, he stared at Ulan with a serious expression.

“Do not go anywhere else.”

The Military Department’s affiliated organization, the Inspection Team.

They had recently received a special mission from Dean Berge. The mission was to manage the barbarian, Ulan, who was right in front of them.

They thought it wouldn’t be a difficult task.

After all, it was just about monitoring a single barbarian kid and reporting his every move.

‘But······.’

Through the incident at the auditorium today, the Inspection Team realized something. This mission was definitely not going to be easy.

So they quickly made a decision.

To restrict Ulan’s range of movement.

The places listed earlier were areas where the Inspection Team’s influence reached. Even if another incident occurred, they could handle it within the Inspection Team’s capacity.

“Understood? Absolutely do not go anywhere else.”

“Hmm, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“No, not just keep in mind······.”

“I’ll be going now. Thank you for the guidance.”

He wanted to get a clear answer, but Ulan’s actions were faster. Watching his retreating figure, the inspector felt a bit uneasy.

‘Still······.’

He believed Ulan understood since he had been so direct.

After Ulan entered the Lion’s Chamber, the inspector finally turned away.

2.

Right after entering the Lion’s Chamber.

Ulan headed up the stairs to the second floor.

He had heard that class assignments were being conducted on the second-floor corridor. But upon arriving, he felt no presence of people.

And soon, he realized why there were no students in sight.

“Class assignments must be over.”

A bulletin board filled with students’ names and their assigned classes was visible. Ulan narrowed his eyes and searched for his name.

【Ulan Bator: Class 3】

Right after seeing the number 3.

He felt a strange sensation.

Because this number was the same as the order in which he had joined the hero’s party in his past life.

Of course, it was probably just a coincidence.

Ulan moved to find Class 3. Fortunately, finding the class wasn’t difficult.

The faint sound of voices beyond the door.

It seemed like the students who had just become classmates were chatting about this and that. Ulan opened the door without hesitation.

Creak!

The moment he entered the classroom.

All conversations abruptly stopped.

“······.”

A heavy silence filled the classroom.

The atmosphere had turned cold. As if someone had suddenly poured cold water over everything.

No one spoke, and no one tried to make eye contact with Ulan. It was because of the incident at the auditorium.

Ulan, however, paid no mind and looked around the classroom. To find a seat. Then, he finally spotted an empty seat.

That must be his seat.

As he walked briskly towards it, he suddenly made eye contact with a familiar face. A girl with light golden hair tied back.

‘Ivella?’

The future Sword Maiden, Ivella Elea’ad.

She must have been assigned to the same class.

On the other hand, unlike the others, Ivella didn’t avoid Ulan’s gaze. Instead, she widened her eyes and suddenly made an expression as if holding back a laugh.

‘Why is she like that?’

He didn’t understand.

Ulan tilted his head in confusion.

Not long after sitting down, he noticed something familiar in the seat next to him.

Hair as black as the night sky.

It was a very familiar face.

‘Noa is in the same class too.’

He felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Because Noa was very knowledgeable. And since she was right next to him, he could ask her anything he didn’t know in the future.

Just as he was thinking that.

Suddenly, Noa handed him something.

A small note.

「Are you okay?」

She must have known he had been taken to the Student Council. Her slightly worried expression was evidence.

Ulan nodded.

“Nothing happened.”

It wasn’t entirely true, but explaining was bothersome. So he brushed it off.

Then suddenly, the classroom door opened.

Creak!

A man in a suit appeared.

The ID card around his neck shone gold under the sunlight. The golden color of the ID meant the man was a professor.

“Nice to meet you.”

A deep voice broke the silence.

Standing at the podium, he briefly scanned the room and introduced himself.

“I am Miel Gulakas, a professor from the Magic Department, in charge of Class 3 this year. I look forward to working with you all for the next year.”

“······.”

After Professor Miel’s introduction.

The students just stared at him blankly.

With expressions as stiff as statues.

And for good reason.

The person who had just introduced himself as their homeroom teacher was not human.

“What’s with the surprise? Never seen a Lizardman before?”

A demi-human Lizardman.

Commonly known as lizard people.

They are not common, but not rare either. You can easily find Lizardman mercenaries on the battlefield.

But the students weren’t surprised because of the Lizardman himself. It was because a demi-human was a professor at the academy.

Even Ivella, who rarely gets surprised, had her eyes wide open.

Of course, there were exceptions.

Ulan and Noa. Only these two remained unfazed upon seeing Professor Miel.

‘Well, we’ve seen them a lot in the game.’

Noa, who had played <Chronicles of the Arsen Continent>, knew well that there were several demi-human professors at Arsen Academy.

And Ulan, having spent half his life wandering battlefields, was also familiar with demi-humans.

‘There were even heroes among them.’

Aside from Delia, who was a half-elf, two of the heroes were demi-humans.

So he was just indifferent.

Meanwhile, as the confusion in the classroom subsided, Professor Miel continued.

“I heard about the unfortunate incident at the entrance ceremony. I’m sure everyone is still shaken.”

Professor Miel glanced in their direction.

Reflected in his reptilian eyes was Ulan, the protagonist of the unfortunate incident. After a short cough, Professor Miel looked back at the students.

“So today, I’ll just deliver the necessary announcements and dismiss you early. Other classes are scheduled to start next week anyway.”

Perhaps because classes were ending early?

The students’ eyes lit up momentarily. Professor Miel chuckled and tapped the blackboard.

“First, Arsen Academy has five major departments.”

Military, Magic, General, Crafting, and Arts.

All fields mentioned in the aptitude test.

Here, the Military and Magic departments are combat-related, while the other three are non-combat.

“This year’s first-year students are divided into eight classes. Each class has twenty-five students, and the assignment is based on two criteria.”

First, the department.

The faculty selected five students from each department to form a class. So each class has five students from Military, Magic, General, Crafting, and Arts.

Second, the entrance exam scores.

But they weren’t grouped by rank.

If they were, the top students would dominate a single class. So they adjusted the assignments to balance the average scores of each class.

‘Ah, so that’s why I’m in the same class as Noa?’

Then Delia, who was second, probably wouldn’t have been in the same class from the start. Ulan finally understood.

“Next, you must choose a major and a minor from the five departments.”

When you advance to the second year, classes are divided based on your major. To separate combat and non-combat fields.

So this is a chance to experience and decide which major to choose in the second year.

“Finally, there are common courses in the first year. Physical Training and Basic Education. That’s the homeroom teacher’s responsibility.”

Meaning, Professor Miel will teach them.

With that, the explanation ended. Professor Miel blinked his reptilian eyes and asked.

“Any questions?”

As soon as he finished, a girl with ash-gray hair in the front row raised her hand.

With a somewhat anxious expression.

“······Can we switch classes?”

“I can guess why you’re asking, but it’s impossible. Unless there’s a significant reason, permission won’t be granted.”

“W-what if there’s a reason······.”

“Your reason won’t be valid.”

A firm answer came back.

The girl slumped her head in disappointment.

The other students, who had been hopeful, also felt the same. Most of them were the ones who had fainted from Ulan’s shout in the auditorium.

A somber atmosphere filled the classroom.

Professor Miel coughed.

“If there are no more questions, we’ll end here.”

Just as he was about to turn away, he suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, and there’s an official schedule tonight, so everyone gather at the statue by 6 PM.”

“Huh? A schedule?”

“There’s nothing written here······.”

“What kind of schedule is it?”

“A field trip. A place you must see at least once if you’re enrolled at Arsen Academy.”

As soon as he finished, some students’ eyes widened. As if they had guessed the location. Seeing this, Professor Miel grinned.

“The Source of Magic, ‘Arsen.’ A chance to see it in person. Everyone must attend.”

“······!”

The atmosphere instantly brightened.

The somber expressions on the students’ faces disappeared. What? Is going to the Source of Magic that exciting?

Ulan tilted his head in confusion.

Then Noa’s answer came.

“The Source of Magic is a place anyone who handles mana wants to visit at least once.”

“Why?”

“There’s a legend that if someone who walks the path of mana spends a night at the Source of Magic, they can gain a thousand days’ worth of mana.”

The Source of Magic, Arsen.

A sanctuary where pure mana springs forth, the origin of magic. That’s why among mages, there’s even a saying.

If you can see this place even once before you die, you can die without regret.

Ulan nodded as if he understood.

Then he looked at Noa again.

“You seem excited too.”

“Ahaha, I’m a sorcerer after all.”

Noa laughed awkwardly.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

‘The Source of Magic has hidden pieces.’

Three of them, in fact.

Of course, being hidden pieces, they’re very hard to obtain. The conditions are extremely strict.

‘But coincidentally······.’

At this very moment, the conditions to obtain one of the hidden pieces have been met.

This is the first proper opportunity since enrolling at Arsen Academy.

‘I can’t miss this chance.’

Noa’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Filled with anticipation.

3.

That evening.

After an early dinner.

The freshmen gathered one by one in front of the statue.

Everyone was in casual attire.

But Noa’s outfit was a bit different. She was wearing a thick coat, boots, a backpack, and even a portable staff.

“Ah, Ulan!”

Seeing a familiar face, Noa waved.

Ulan, always in the same attire. But today was different. Noa hurried over to him and suddenly asked.

“Where’s your axe?”

“Axe?”

“The one your master gave you.”

Noa suddenly asked about the axe.

Ulan answered indifferently.

“I left it in the room.”

“Then go get it quickly. There’s still time before 6 PM.”

“Why the axe?”

“You’ll definitely need it.”

A bit of a random answer.

But Ulan didn’t question further.

Noa’s random remarks were often prophetic. And he had never suffered a loss by following her premonitions.

So he quickly fetched the axe.

Not long after.

Ding! Dong!

The bell signaling 6 PM rang.

Soon after, a familiar shadow appeared. A Lizardman in a gray robe, Professor Miel.

“Everyone here?”

No answer was needed.

Lizardmen have excellent eyesight.

It took less than two seconds to count all twenty-five students.

Then, Professor Miel noticed something unusual and narrowed his eyes.

“Seems like someone misunderstood me. I said it’s a field trip, not a picnic.”

His gaze fixed on Noa.

Laughter erupted from various places. Noa tried to maintain a straight face, but her ears turned red.

Perhaps because the students reacted well?

He also spoke to Ulan, who was beside her.

“And this one looks like he’s ready for war.”

“······.”

But this time, no one laughed.

Instead, they slowly stepped back. He was scary enough unarmed, but with an axe, he exuded an inexplicable pressure.

“Pfft!”

Except for Ivella.

She suddenly burst out laughing but quickly wiped the expression off her face, realizing her mistake.

As the trivial conversation ended.

Professor Miel immediately turned around.

“Alright. We’re short on time, so let’s go.”

The field trip location had a limited access time. So the students followed Professor Miel without further ado.

Towards the Source of Magic, Arsen.

Chapter 9. The Source of Magic

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