C270: Black Lion (1)
I'm sick so releases might be irregular.
A number of wizards gathered in the central square where the fountain was located.
They were the ones who came to act as mentors and the students recognized them.
"That person. Is that Caroline Monarch?"
"Wow! Hwiron is here too!"
"Royna Pavlini? I've read all his papers! It's my first time seeing him in person!"
The mentors gathered in the square were like celebrities for students exploring magic. Since all such people were gathered, it was like a role model's All-Star Game.
"I heard that great people are coming, but this is on a different level."
"Oh, my God. I'm already dizzy."
They heard from the seniors in advance that famous people would come, but it wasn't to this extent.
The number of wizards who applied to be field trip mentors this year tripled compared to last year. In the case of high-ranking wizards, there are far more applicants.
Rather, the applicants were so prominent that they had to spend considerable manpower trying to thin out the right people from among them.
It was the same with Aidan and his friends that recognized the wizards.
"Wow! It's Hwiron!"
Aidan's eyes shined when he saw a giant with muscles that was not like a wizard.
Tracy asked in a voice that said it was ridiculous.
"Why do you like it so much?"
"It's because he's the person I respect the most!"
"Respect?"
It came out of Aidan's mouth but it was a pretty bad word to say. No, if it was Aidan, who likes and admires magic itself, he may respect someone.
However, Aidan was not biased in taste on either side, but was an omnivorous person who liked everything. Perhaps no matter who it is, Aidan would have said he respected them with his eyes shining.
It was quite surprising to Tracy that Aidan pointed out one of these prominent people.
"Why? Is there any particular reason you like him?"
So she had no choice but to ask if there was a special reason.
Aidan answered the question as if it were natural.
"Yes, it is. My magic basically requires me to move my body, right?"
"That's true."
The magic that Aidan uses is anti-magic so he had a cane in the form of a sword and he had to swing it. Perhaps because of such magical characteristics, Aidan had to train his body, unlike other wizards.
"As a result, I have to train my body, and Hwiron is a high-ranking wizard and has a perfect body."
"Perfect"?
Tracy looked at Hwiron. Huge build, swollen muscles, thick neck and a masculine angular jaw.
She felt dizzy at his appearance, more like a knight than a wizard.
Muscles? It's good to have muscles. But if there is too much, it is rather antagonistic. It's gross, to be honest.
From Tracy's point of view, all I could think was that Huron's body was excessive rather than perfect.
"Aidan, you like that?"
"Yes. Isn't that obvious? That overflowing power. I'm thinking that I want to be like that someday."
"……."
Tracy thought about it and realized she didn't want to see Aidan like that.
Thinking of his innocent face full of muscles, Tracy got goosebumps without realizing it.
"No way!"
"Huh? What?"
"Anyway, no! I'm against building muscles!"
Seeing Aidan confused, Tracy put her hands on her waist.
"Don't get too excited. Today's field trip is important, but there's more to pay attention to, right?"
"Yes, that's true."
Aidan nodded and blamed himself for being so excited. Come to think of it, Tracy point was not wrong.
The field trip was important but they were going to find out what happened to Leo, who was recently in a bad condition.
Leo avoided it when he was in Theon, but if it's a field trip, Leo won't be able to escape because he moves according to the set route.
"Aidan, you're so anxious but you should do it properly. In the first place, you're not a kid, but you like meeting some of the industry seniors so much……Yay!"
Tracy, who was about to say something, found one of the people gathered in the square and screamed without realizing it.
"Tracy, are you okay? What's going on all of a sudden?"
"Oh, my God. Is this for real? Hey, that's Casey Selmore! Someone I respect! The Great Detective of the Century!"
"Uh……Tracy?"
"It's crazy! It's crazy! How can Casey be here? This must be a dream!"
"Tracy?"
"What should I do? What should I do? I'd like to get an autograph right now. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
"Tracy!"
When Aidan raised his voice, Tracy, who had fallen into her own world, regained her reason.
When she recalled her acts, she blushed and coughed.
"……that, I mean, this. It's a feeling of respect that I've had since a long time ago."
"Yes, I see."
Aidan remembered Tessie saying, "You're not even a child" but decided not to bring it up here.
Aidan also experienced many things and developed a sense of wit.
While students admired mentors, mentors, on the contrary, focused their attention on one person. It was Rudger Chelici, who was the leading teacher this time.
Rudger was not unaware of the gazes flying toward him.
'Everyone seems to be burning up.'
They were high-ranking wizards. A high-quality workforce regarded as executives in a huge group of wizards
Those who can cancel their appointment at any time if they feel unwilling even if someone eagerly invites them, and nevertheless, those who have an absolute first position that makes the other person feel awkward and bow their heads.
Such people came together as mentors.
No matter how much Theon is said to be the first magic academy on the continent beyond the Empire, this situation was definitely strange.
Rudger knew all too well why.
'I taught you how to make the mana inhibitor, but it didn't work as well as you thought.'
There was a reason Rudger released the formula to everyone in the Arcane Chamber.
Even if they know the recipe, they can't make it as it is.
Several magic societies, including the Old and New Towers, made mana inhibitors after the formula provided by Rudger. However, they realized that their results did not meet the actual research.
There's something important missing and only Rudger knew what it was but they couldn't argue with him about it.
Rudger's name value has risen considerably in the magical world when the information has already been released.
Some wizards thirsty for knowledge would have tried to win by using dirty tricks, but it was also something they had to do while looking at their opponents.
So what's left?
The only option they had was to hear it from Rudger himself. That's why they sent a high-ranking wizard as a mentor.
In a way, a clear-cut action.
Of course, not everyone came with a black heart and Hwiron was a prime example of such a person.
"Hahaha! Mr. Rudger! Long time no see! How have you been?"
When others were somehow paying attention to their cause and looking around, Hwiron strode up as if it had nothing to do with him.
Rudger grabbed the hand and shook it.
"It's the first time I see you since the Arcane Chamber."
"I know, I've been busy!"
Knowing that the other person had no hidden intentions, Rudger said something appropriate.
"I think you're feeling better than before."
"Haha! Is that so? I've changed the way I train these days. I can't believe you've noticed this! Have you ever worked out?"
"Just to increase my stamina."
"Hahaha! You don't have to be shy at a time when there are so many wizards who don't even do it! On the contrary, I'm jealous!"
"Jealous?"
Rudger asked again as if wondering at the sudden talk.
"Of course! Research to increase mana emissions was originally the wish of our school!"
"If it's Hwiron's school……."
Rudger swallowed his last words because he had something on his mind.
Hwiron is a man, who has trained his body to the limit even though he is a wizard and the reason for that was,
<Muscular Biology School>
It is the school to which Hwiron belongs, and unlike its playful name, it unexpectedly boasted a considerable size.
The magic they pursued was simple. It was the strength of the body.
-The wizard's body is weak, so the amount of mana released does not increase!
– Strong body and strong mana!
If the school of ordinary wizards is where all kinds of books are piled up and quietly explored, Muscular Biology School is a place full of sweat and spirit.
"Not only did you fulfill our wishes, but also humbled us! How can this be so unfair? But if there's a good wind in the magic world, that's enough! I'll accept it neatly!"
Even if he said so, Hwiron acknowledged Rudger.
"I have a better face, of course. You should try your best to be as wild as I am. Hmm, maybe you should grow a beard."
"I appreciate your generosity, but I'm afraid I can't afford it just yet."
"Then why don't you pay a visit to our school, which, by the looks of it, has more than enough of those qualities!"
Hwiron swept his hawk-like eyes over Rudger's body.
What others might not have seen, he could. A very well-honed body, hidden beneath a black coat.
"I can tell. Your body is packed to the gills with muscle!"
Hwiron's eyes shone. He'd thought most of the teachers at the Magic Academy didn't work out, but here was such a bright gem. That made him greedy.
"What do you say, let's do some dumbbells together?"
"……I appreciate your suggestion, but I'm in a hurry."
In the strange heat felt from Hwiron's gaze, Rudger felt a sense of crisis that it might be dangerous to do something wrong and immediately expressed his intention to refuse.
Hwiron agreed as if he couldn't help it, but he smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.
"That's too bad. I could have made your body beautiful to the limit."
"You have my gratitude……."
"Hahaha! Usually other wizards would crumble under my advances, but you're very polite. I could feel it then, but I also sensed a sense of authority. That's how a man should be!"
Hwiron left with a big smile, saying he would go meet his assigned students.
Rudger shook his head. Unlike other wizards with a dark inside, Hwiron was very straightforward and honest. There was something about his bluntness that made people tired.
'I've got other people to worry about over here.'
Rudger glanced over at the mentors who were trying to get a word in, and his eyes locked with Casey's.
"What?'
He felt this since the last time she submitted her mentor application, but Casey's behavior was somewhat strange. Even now, when their eyes met, Casey avoided him like she never did before.
'I thought you'd come up and pick a fight again, but that's not it.'
Then, for what purpose did she want to be a mentor?
Rudger had no idea.
At that moment, someone recognized him and said.
"Oh, Mr. Rudger Chelici!"
Rudger's eyes naturally turned towards the person and he was surprised when he saw who called him.
"Isn't it Ms. Veronica?"
Veronica De Ville, deputy leader of the Cold Steel Knights, in charge of the mountainous region of the Arete Mountains in the northern expanse of the Empire.
"Haha, you remembered me."
With her dark hair tied up in a ponytail, she recognized Rudger and approached with a smile.
"Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Yes, I've been well, but what brings you here, Veronica?"
"Today's the day of Theon's field trip to the capital so the imperial family sent us along to make sure the future talent doesn't get caught up in any untoward incidents. It's a policing operation, really."
"But to send someone of your rank is a little too much."
"Of course, I'm not the only one here, there are other members of our Knights besides me."
Veronica explained so, but Rudger still didn't quite understand.
"Then there will be a big gap in security in the northern mountains."
"Ah, that's fine. Since the Kingdom of Utah has overcome the aftermath of the civil war and finished its internal overhaul, we've been working with them to increase security, so it's actually less work."
It's been some time since the civil war in the Kingdom of Utah ended.
The newly crowned queen has done a remarkable job of repairing the wounds of the civil war and bringing the country back to stability but that didn't ease Rudger's suspicions.
The Knights of Cold Steel are one of the three great knightly orders of the Imperial Family and they called them here to take care of the students?
'Was there some kind of deal between the imperial family and Theon?'
However, even him, as the director of the planning department, did not hear anything about it. That means the president has personally contacted the imperial family.
'Or it was an act of the imperial family.'
Rudger thought the latter was more likely.
The word policing seems to be right at first glance, but it is likely to be a lie.
"Oh, and we Cold Steel Knights aren't the only ones gathered here – the Sea Keepers aren't here, but there are others."
Speaking of knights sent by the imperial family, there was only one thing that popped into Rudger's head.
"Ah. There they are, just in time."
Veronica's words drew Rudger's gaze to one side of the square.
In the distance, he could see a group of knights in black uniforms, the antithesis of the Cold Steel Knights' snow-white uniforms.
Considering that they were moving in the darkness of the empire, it couldn't help but be a perfect color.
The Nightcrawler Knights of the Security Service arrived and the figure at the head of the group caught Rudger's eye.
'Trina Ryanhowl.'
Snow-white hair and a charismatic presence.
She was a masterful knight and defender of the empire but also Rudger's nemesis from his days as Arsene Lupin.