Chapter 133 - Spirit of the Guardian Tree (12)

"Why specifically my cheek?"

"Just let me touch it once. It's not like it'll wear out."

"Depends how useful that information is."

Of course, no matter how useful the information, I had no intention of letting her touch my cheek. If it was about Silveryn, I might seriously consider it, but she wouldn't know about that.

"Ah... isn't Candy participating in the practice?"

"Depends on the circumstances."

"Hmm..."

Just then, several female students poked their heads out of the wide-open research lab and asked Cecil, "Cecil, what are you doing? Who's that?"

Cecil came to my side, casually linking arms while pretending to introduce me.

"Ah, my friend. I need to discuss something, so is it okay if I step out for a bit?"

The female student raised her eyebrows significantly while looking at me and said, "Oh, really? Well, you worked the hardest, so take a break. But don't slack off too much. We don't have many excuses ready for the professor."

Cecil shouted as if she'd been waiting for this, "I'll be back!"

She immediately led me down the corridor. After quickly glancing back to confirm no one was there, she spoke close to my ear, "I heard someone from the Yulisia Principality might observe the Combat Department practice."

"The Principality?"

"Yes. Apparently someone close to Duchess Gainax. But... Candy doesn't care much about duchesses and such, right?"

Since the Duchess' side had requested contact first, I couldn't say I had no interest at all. I had asked Silveryn about the Duchess Gainax's escort mission, and the answer should arrive soon.

"Is that what you called me for?"

"No, I have even more interesting news. News Candy will find more interesting!"

Cecil stopped at a door labeled “Magic Stone Laboratory” in the corridor.

Opening the door revealed various incomprehensible experimental equipment in the spacious interior. Stones were neatly arranged on cushions like a witch's crystal ball.

Cecil nagged me like a child, "Our Candy mustn't touch anything."

While I was absorbed in looking around, Cecil tapped something inside the fireplace and said, “Cold? Come here."

Instead of firewood, there was a black stone in the fireplace.

When she touched it and chanted a spell, the stone began emitting heat and light like a bonfire.

Neither in Haman nor with Silveryn had I seen such magic engineering items. Objects containing magical powers I couldn't understand always fascinated me.

It felt like broadening my horizons just by looking.

As I warmed myself by the fireplace, Cecil continued, "About the magic stone you asked about. How much do you know?"

"Not much. Just that it came from a wingless dragon's heart."

"Hmm, Candy has such good luck. Makes me a bit jealous."

Cecil stepped backward away from me, marking her position with chalk. I couldn't tell what she was planning.

"What do you mean?"

"You luckily got a Galimax grade magic stone and not to mention you have a girl who specializes in magic stone enchantment treating you as a friend without even seeing your face. You're blessed."

"..."

Cecil moved to a cabinet and inserted a key into a locked iron box.

What she took out was the crystal I had given her earlier.

"Candy, stay right there. Don't move."

Cecil gripped the crystal tightly and pulled something from her pocket with her other hand.

It was a Frost Wind Bomb.

For some inexplicable reason, she activated the bomb and held it in her palm, apparently intending it to explode there.

I couldn't understand what gave her such nerve.

With a poof, a white circular shockwave spread through the lab. Frost scattered onto my mask and clothes.

Frost and thin ice sheets formed around Cecil, and her body was covered in white frost.

She looked like a snow sculpture.

"...!"

Then she moved normally as usual.

"I'm not dead. Don't worry."

It was a bomb powerful enough to freeze even Planteras solid.

Yet she casually brushed off the frost.

Though her body should have been frozen solid, only the surface was covered in frost while she remained fine.

When she brushed off the frost clutched in her fist, the crystal became visible.

Its transparent color had turned into an opaque blue stone.

"Remember that giant lizard in the circulatory system, how bombs had no effect? It was probably thanks to this magic stone. It creates an elemental adaptive barrier for its owner."

"..."

Elemental adaptive barrier?

"Though we haven't confirmed everything yet, we know it can defend against fire, cold, lightning, and even corrosive liquids. That alone makes it incredibly valuable, and there might be more undiscovered resistances. It's only two grades below absolute rank at Galimar grade. At minimum. It could rise higher with more research."

Though I didn't understand completely, I could tell it was extraordinary. For something obtained by chance, it exceeded expectations.

"It can't be used unlimited times, right?"

"In exchange for powerful defensive abilities, it requires an absurd amount of mana. See how the color changed? That means its function stopped. Inject mana and it returns to normal, restoring function."

"How much mana needs to be injected?"

"Well... let me emphasize again, an absurdly large amount. It needs a week's worth of mana from a high-level mage to function properly. Even I struggled to charge it. But once mana is stored it maintains, and its utility is so excellent that possibilities are endless."

"That's good."

"A very skilled magic engineer could process it for even higher efficiency."

"Lucky me. I have a magic engineer specializing in stone processing right in front of me."

"Hmm..."

Cecil made an ambiguous expression.

"And that magic engineer happens to be pretty too."

Her mouth twitched slightly as she tried to maintain her expression. Then, she spoke as if reluctantly, "Fine. I'll work on it. But on one condition. Let me submit the processed stone for the midterm evaluation. It's just for evaluation, so professors won't confiscate it."

Silveryn was rarely wrong. Being friends with magic engineers was always good. Could there be a better deal?

"Alright."

Cecil put the crystal in the iron box and locked it.

"And..."

She seemed to want something more. But Cecil hesitated a bit.

"What is it?"

"...Play with me when I ask."

Looks like we'll be drinking again soon.

"Need a drinking buddy?"

"Ah, no! Don't judge me by that one time I drank a little. I'm not that kind of person!"

***

I continued training until night and returned to Thorn Garden.

Silveryn's letter, which should have arrived by now, hadn't come yet.

Trisha had gone to bed early and was quiet.

Having pushed my body hard, I also went to bed early.

And that night, I dreamed.

In a blurry background, a woman and I were on a cliff. And I had drawn my sword, facing someone.

I seemed to have had this dream recently, but everything was so blurry I couldn't distinguish properly.

When I was with Silveryn, dreams had helped me.

But this dream—I couldn't tell if it was prophetic or just repeating past memories.

Perhaps my prophetic ability was fading along with consuming my past.

***

Associate Professor Gael paced Eternia's training ground, which resembled a circular arena, hands behind her back.

The first major Combat Department class.

Before her, students assigned to the advanced Combat Department class sat with one knee on the sandy ground.

And behind her, large square cages covered with veils were lined up.

Every time Gael's foot moved, something inside the cages thrashed violently, shaking the bars. Almost no students had realized what was inside.

They nervously swallowed at this unknown terror.

Even though assigned to the advanced class, Eternia didn't let them become intoxicated with achievement and pride.

Rather, it threw them into grueling tests to prove they deserved their positions.

That was why they were gathered here.

Following Gael's silence, all students remained silent. Only the giant magic beasts trapped in cages disturbed the quiet, writhing at the scent of flesh.

In the tense silence, Gael examined each student's face.

While most cowered like dogs frightened by predator sounds, a few maintained composed expressions.

Sion, Gale, Victor, Lawrence... scanning one by one, she noticed one student that troubled her mind.

It was Damian, whom she had met as an examiner during the Masters Class screening.

He, too, wore an utterly relaxed expression.

She pushed aside random thoughts and announced the start of class, "Consider yourselves unlucky today."

Gael skipped all boring introductions and went straight to the point.

Then she pulled away the veil.

The monster trapped in the iron cage was revealed.

"Because you'll face magic beasts without preparation."

Clang! Clang!

A giant spider large enough to pull a carriage repeatedly rammed the bars while looking at Gael.

Sparsely grown hair. Legs spotted like leopard print. Eyes gleaming without whites. And on the cage floor, saliva pooled, drooled from uncontrollable appetite.

Students' mouths gaped in shock.

"We'll proceed immediately without preparation time. Those I designate will face this magic beast publicly today."

Though several students raised their hands for questions, Gael ignored them.

"I'll say it again—no preparation time will be given. Magic beasts are always encountered in unexpected situations. Do you think a magic beast will wait while you carefully button up and adjust your belt?"

She wouldn't tell them about weaknesses, habits, or potential precautions. Magic beasts were originally met in such situations, and training to deal with such situations promptly was the class' purpose.

Soon after, assistants entered carrying numerous weapons and laid them before Gael.

Spears, bows, longswords, shortswords, maces, and axes—every type was present.

"Additionally, your personal weapons are not allowed."

For fairness in practice, weapons had to be supplied rather than personal ones, and artifacts were also forbidden.

Only keen observation and trained combat sense were required.

No matter how good your sword or artifacts, they were meaningless in this practice.

Gael looked at Damian with mixed feelings of expectation and displeasure.

Then she announced loudly as if addressing him, "Additionally, an advisor from House Gainax will observe today's class. This makes it doubly unlucky for you all."