Chapter 56 - Underground Vault (1)

The day after Ena attacked the Academy. Naturally, all Academy operations were temporarily suspended. All academic schedules were suddenly canceled, and senior students who had been secretly looking forward to the inter-grade competition all expressed disappointment.

But there was no choice. Since the academic officials had made that decision, it was impossible to argue.

No, even if they argued, what would change?

"..."

The scenery visible through the second-year dormitory window.

Originally, there was a huge mountain behind where their dormitory was located. It was carefully managed to prevent magic beasts or dangerous wild animals from appearing, and even walking paths were paved, making it a sort of sanctuary for the second-year students.

When exams didn't go well or they felt depressed, second-year students usually went into the mountain to spend time in their own sanctuaries. They would light bonfires and stare blankly at the flames, or sit on benches prepared along the walking paths and look up at the sky. They quite liked the comfortable atmosphere nature provided.

That mountain disappeared overnight. Instead, shattered and broken flatland was now flaunting its appearance. Squirrels and beavers that had lost their homes rolled around on the ground, and second-year students who had likewise lost their sanctuaries wailed. Then occasionally when electricity sparked from the ground, they would scream and hurriedly return to the dormitory.

"...Haa."

It was too devastating to be the result of one mage's attack. They say that when an archmage got serious, they could change the terrain, and it seemed that wasn't an exaggerated expression. Hamon Yankoff, the overall top student of the second year, thought this and let out a deep sigh.

Born as a natural warrior, he liked stories about knights but didn't pay much attention to mages. So he knew nothing about how amazing a person Ena was. He had heard her name here and there and knew she was a strong mage, but he never dreamed her majesty would be to this extent.

"...The more I look, the more unbelievable it is."

The scenery visible through the window. The devastated flatland and various wild animals and second-year students running around on it.

And above that.

Traces of pure white thunder crossing the sky occasionally flashed deep in the sky.

***

Part of the Academy grounds was completely destroyed. And it wasn't due to an attack by some group, but cleanly demolished by a single mage.

It was an unbelievable event to have occurred at Luminus Academy, where renowned powerful individuals abound. No wonder letters flew in from other academies asking what had happened.

Some letters were mocking, but after realizing the attacker was Ena, they all sent mild condolences. Fride shed tears while reading the heartfelt letters from those white-haired old men.

She didn't want it to be destroyed to this extent.

She really didn't know they'd have to move an entire mountain for restoration!

Even lamenting like that, the water was already spilled. Ena had the talent for destruction but not for restoration. The same was true for Fride. Without an earth mage, they couldn't make land rise from below.

In the end, they had no choice but to either directly bring in a mountain or create an entirely new natural environment.

Either way, it was certain that a considerable budget would be consumed. For Fride, an elf who naturally loved nature, leaving it as is wasn't an option. So she decided, with tears in her eyes, to create a forest on the flatland. With that, her wallet and the Academy budget were instantly depleted.

But where there was expenditure, there was also income. Fride pushed through the conclusion of granting Ena's demands at the naturally convened emergency Academy meeting.

There were objections. Most were from those who had briefly left the Academy and urgently returned today. They strongly requested to make a decision after grasping the full situation.

However, their arguments disappeared like bubbles as soon as they saw the white scar engraved in the sky.

People were like that. Just seeing traces of irresistible violence made their fighting spirit vanish. Even to Fride, who had lived through the same era as Ena, or rather an even longer time, the extreme magic Ena used was extremely dangerous.

If she hadn't controlled the magic's output, the entire western part of the Academy would have been blown away. Some might say that was an exaggeration, but Fride knew Ena's full power. It wasn't for nothing that she had the nickname of a long-lived being that even other long-lived beings shouldn't mess with.

Anyway.

The meeting concluded with granting all of Ena's demands and providing appropriate compensation to the victims. Some entrenched interests still sent unpleasant glances, but Fride paid them no attention. With justification given, there was no one to stop her.

"Wait, please wait! This isn't my fault, it's my assistant professor's fault! She must have made a mistake in the process of helping review requests."

"Shut up and get out."

"Just a moment, Headmistress! Headmitresss!!"

She immediately cut off the professor who had been reviewing requests coming into the Academy. He was originally attached to the entrenched interests side. There was no hesitation in dismissing him. Even if a large-scale purge was unrealistic at this point, getting rid of one wasn't such a difficult task.

Thus, along with announcing the name of the dismissed Academy professor, what happened in the first-year first assignment was widely publicized. Fride personally appeared on an official platform, bowed her waist, and promised to provide maximum compensation to Gorsel and his deceased group members, and to Acel. Along with this, a two-week temporary Academy break was implemented.

Naturally, the Academy was in an uproar. All kinds of criticism and condemnation were received, and contacts from nobles who had enrolled their children in the Academy poured in endlessly. Fride personally became the Academy's shield and took all those attacks.

Thanks to this, only her assistant Plum died. No, she died along with Fride. It took a week to settle the chaotic internal state of the Academy. The date for reopening the Academy as promised with Ena in advance was approaching, but Fride politely asked for a little more time.

Ena gladly accepted this. She had no reason to refuse since it meant more time to be with Acel.

But for Fride, there was one more huge adversary after Ena.

"The tea tastes good."

He was an old man with impressive pure white hair and neatly tied beard. His robe was huge, but it couldn't hide the physique contained within. Despite being a mage, trained muscles peeked out from inside the sleeves, and the dizzying and complex magical power pattern unique to space mages emanated from his entire body.

As far as Fride knew, there was only one person on the continent who possessed such a magical power pattern.

A genius who completed his rank at a young age. However, he forcibly shattered all ranks to learn space formulas and rebuilt from the beginning, an oddball among oddballs. Yet he instantly reached 8th rank and seized the position of archmage, a monster.

Norieum Ibarren.

He smiled warmly while rattling his teacup.

"My, my. I'd like to learn whose handiwork this is."

"...It's tea brewed by my assistant. If you wish, I can ask her to tell you the recipe anytime."

"Oh my, there's no need for that. An old man can't take up a young woman's time, can he? I'll be satisfied with this today," Norieum said with a kindly smile. 

But Fride couldn't just smile along.

Though he pretended otherwise, he was a man who lived with dozens of cunning snakes released inside him. He clearly used to have violent tendencies similar to Ena, but since taking on the role of Alliance leader, it seemed his methods had changed from physical violence to pen tips and tongue.

Personally, Fride preferred his former self. It was easier to deal with a mage who did as he pleased than one skilled in tactics.

Still, there was no need to worry much if Norieum hadn't come here to fight. Although the mage sitting next to Norieum smoking a pipe was concerning, she didn't seem to have any will to fight either.

In the end, the purpose was a negotiation table. And Fride planned to grant most of what he wanted as much as possible.

Anyone who knew gratitude had to do so. Of course, she couldn't accept all the conditions offered, but she intended to adjust them well and aim for the direction that would benefit Acel and Wyheim as much as possible.

That was better than engaging in a battle of nerves. In a situation where the superior and subordinate were clear, there was no need for actions that would raise voices.

Thinking this, Fride first opened her mouth towards Norieum, who was smiling broadly, "First, I'll offer an apology. I'm truly sorry for the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Academy you trusted and sent him to. I have no words even with ten mouths."

"You should apologize directly to Acel, not me. I'm not the party involved in the incident. I was a bit angry, but I've calmed down now."

"Still, I'm sincerely sorry."

Instead of answering, Norieum grinned and picked up a cookie to eat. Irina blew out smoke into the air.

"Naturally, I intend to compensate for the apology. To both Wyheim and Acel. So don't hesitate and tell me what you want. I'll grant as much as possible."

"My demands can wait. Let's hear Acel's first."

Norieum took out a neatly folded paper from his chest. Fride checked its contents and let out a thoughtful sound.

[I want to take a magic tool from the Academy's underground vault. Of course, with me as the owner.]

There weren't many people who knew about the existence of an underground vault where magic tools were collected in the Academy. So how did Acel accurately grasp the existence of the vault and want something inside it?

The answer was obvious. Fride turned her head towards Irina, who was looking at her, and sighed deeply. Irina grinned and extinguished the flame of her pipe.

"Have you been well, Headmistress?"

"...I've been fine. Though it's been tough recently."

"Hang in there."

That was the end of the conversation. Irina, who couldn't drink caffeine, gulped down milk and nibbled on a cookie split in half. Fride turned away from her and leaned back against the chair to ponder for a moment.

A brief silence fell. But no one was feeling impatient.

Norieum quietly appreciated the bird sounds coming from outside the window, and Irina smiled while freely manipulating the smoke she had blown out.

After a while.

The Headmistress’ mouth opened, "Alright. I'll provide one magic tool. Anything else besides this?"

"I think we should hear that directly."

"...What did you say?"

Instead of answering, Norieum smiled and strongly struck the air.

[Other World]

Crack!!

Cracks appeared in space centered on where his fist made contact. The cracks soon spread into fissures extending in all directions, eventually forming a complete black passage.

And from beyond that, before Fride could grasp the situation, Acel walked out. Ena followed behind him.

"Seeing that the passage opened, it seems things went well?" Acel asked Norieum. 

Norieum shrugged and answered, "That's right. I've already been promised one magic tool."

"Good. Then let's move on to the next plan."

"That's what I was hoping for."

The two turned their heads towards Fride in unison. Ena quietly sat down next to Irina, and Irina looked down at her and blew out cigarette smoke.

Crackle!!

"Gack!"

Lightning struck Irina's side. The punishment was swift and accurate.

And watching all this, Fride smiled with resignation.

The number of opponents she had to face suddenly increased from two to four.

Her vision darkened.

It was her own doing.