Convincing Seridan to go was not all that difficult.
“They say the southern mining district is overflowing with good-quality ingredients for gunpowder. Go with Phantos, handle the work properly, and you can bring back as much as you like.”
“I’ll go!”
Seridan had been restless lately, starving for something to blow up.
Sulfuric acid and nitric acid—both essential for making explosives.
The southern mountain ranges were famous for their rich supply of high-quality sulfur.
Sulfur was indispensable in chemical industries.
And for Seridan, who crafted explosives, sulfuric acid and nitric acid were always in short supply.
And now there was a place where she could stock up freely?
The reserves there alone would be immense.
Even if told not to, Seridan had every reason in the world to grit her teeth and go.
So, Seridan departed with Phantos to the southern district.
“All that remains is to keep watch over Isla Machia’s situation.”
There were still many matters demanding attention.
Ludger left the hideout and headed back to Seorn.
During vacation, Seorn was quieter than usual.
Aside from a handful of students who didn’t return home and stayed in the dorms, most of those seen around were graduate students shuffling like zombies.
That sight was common enough, hardly worth remarking on.
For now, what he needed was information about Dreamland.
The surest way would be to visit the Dreaming School, but unfortunately Ludger had no direct connection to reach them.
If he suddenly asked to browse their records, they would surely refuse.
‘Considering that, it’s best to dig through Seorn’s library first.’
Seorn’s library rivaled a national library in scale.
Seorn was a place dedicated to the education of magicians.
At the same time, as the continent’s largest magic academy, the number of books stored in its library was beyond imagination.
In terms of sheer size alone, it might even surpass the mansion’s study seen during Mystic Night.
‘Finding what I need might be a hassle, but it won’t hurt to try.’
Ludger walked toward the library.
The building, entirely devoted to books, was filled with endless shelves, tomes, and desks.
The ceiling rose high overhead, and if one looked up, books floated and moved about here and there.
As though sliding along invisible rails.
It was an automation spell, guiding items to their designated places.
With so many books, the librarians alone couldn’t possibly keep things organized—hence the enchantment.
‘If it’s divided by specialty, the section I’m after would fall under the peculiar branch.’
Following the signs, Ludger walked deeper into the library.
The place was so quiet that even his careful footsteps echoed.
Now and then, students immersed in study at their desks looked up at Ludger with surprise.
But none spoke to him or whispered.
With no one to interfere, Ludger reached the section housing peculiar-category books without issue.
“Why are you here...?”
There, he ran into someone unexpected.
White hair, flowing like water over a school uniform.
A face and bearing unusually mature for her age.
“Julia Plumehart.”
The girl, who rarely revealed her inner thoughts, widened her eyes in surprise at seeing him here.
Her expression soon shifted back to her usual composed mask, but her eyes still betrayed curiosity over why Ludger had come.
“It’s vacation. You’re not going home?”
“There’s nothing for me to do there. Boring, really. I’d rather stay and devote myself to magical training.”
“Magic, hm. Come to think of it, you were a Dreamwalker of the Dreaming School.”
“And you, Professor—what brings you here?”
Normally, Julia would have bowed and left.
But this time she sensed that if she didn’t ask now, she might never find her answers.
Part of it was the curiosity of meeting Ludger in such an unexpected place.
But more than that, it was because of Sedina Roschen.
Since vacation started, Sedina had vanished.
Knowing how much Sedina hated her home, Julia doubted she’d returned to House Roschen.
And assistants were generally required to continue helping instructors even during breaks, so they couldn’t be absent for long.
That Sedina had not shown herself at all since vacation began was strange indeed.
Naturally, Julia thought of the one person who might know her whereabouts.
And as far as she knew, that person was Ludger Cherish.
In fact, there was no one else.
“Do you perhaps have questions for me?”
Ludger noticed Julia’s uncharacteristic demeanor.
Just as he was curious about something, she must be curious about him.
But if one of them was more desperate, it was clearly Julia.
“...”
“If you’ve nothing to say, I’ll move on. I have books to find.”
“What kind?”
“Do I have any reason to tell you?”
“I might be able to help.”
Ludger smirked.
She was too proud to ask outright what she wanted to know, so she was offering help in return.
She didn’t want to be in the weaker position—she wanted a fair trade.
Bold, but her inexperience showed in how plainly she revealed it.
Understandable, given her age.
“Finding a few books isn’t difficult.”
“You’re looking for the peculiar branch, aren’t you?”
“That’s why I came here.”
“The peculiar branch holds more books than you’d expect. Over eighty percent are worthless husks. It’ll take a long time to find what you really want.”
“Oh? Then you’re not offering to help out of kindness. What is it you want to know?”
Julia clenched her fist inwardly.
She realized Ludger was baiting her, but forced herself to swallow her rising temper.
“I just... haven’t seen your assistant around.”
“Sedina Roschen? She’s been absent for quite a while.”
“...Where did she go?”
Julia felt unease at his casual answer.
Ludger only shrugged.
“She’s on personal leave. That’s all.”
“Personal leave, yet she’s not at Seorn.”
“Since she’s on leave, there’s no reason for her to stay here.”
“But Sedina has nowhere else to go...”
Other than the Roschen estate.
But that was the last place she’d return to.
Then where?
Julia’s eyes wavered.
She had no way of knowing where Sedina had gone.
“Sedina... where is she?”
“Even if she is my assistant, I have a duty to respect her privacy.”
“That only applies to strangers. I’m her friend.”
Julia instantly regretted saying it.
Friend? Was that only in her mind? Was it reckless to speak so openly?
But the words were out, and she had no intention of backtracking.
“A friend, is it. For a top student, that’s rather sentimental.”
“...So what if it is? I’m only asking because I want to know where my friend went.”
“Even if she never saw you as a friend?”
Julia bit her lip at the pointed remark.
She had expected Ludger to know something, but hearing it so bluntly was hard.
“...Does that matter? I consider her a friend.”
“Sedina has always pushed you away.”
“She has. But I know her well enough. Even when she did that, her expression gave her away.”
“Her expression?”
“If she truly hated me, she wouldn’t have looked apologetic whenever our eyes met.”
Julia actually felt relieved.
No more reason to hesitate.
“Sedina was always soaked in gloom. But at some point, she changed. That was after she became your assistant, Professor.”
“You figured that out because of your magic, didn’t you?”
“Dreamwalkers are born able to sense lingering echoes of dreams. Not everyone’s dreams are visible, but in cases like Sedina’s, who suffered nightmares for years, it’s impossible not to notice. It shows.”
“So that’s how you realized she changed.”
“That’s part of it. But you, Professor, are unusual too.”
With the sudden turn, Ludger asked,
“Me?”
“You don’t have dreams. Every person dreams, but you leave behind no trace at all. It’s an extraordinary anomaly.”
“An anomaly, hm.”
Her frankness was bold, especially directed at a teacher.
“So, is that what you wanted to ask? Where Sedina went?”
“Yes.”
“And what will you do then? She’ll only push you away again.”
“Maybe. But she’s changing. I believe she’ll return to who she once was.”
Her voice carried conviction.
So different from the girl who usually shut others out.
It reminded Ludger that people were never just what they showed on the surface.
“A rare sort of friendship these days.”
“...Are you mocking me?”
“No. I mean it. Very well. You asked where she went.”
Julia swallowed nervously, waiting for his words.
“She went to the Forest of Life.”
“The Forest... of Life? That’s where the elven kingdom is...”
“Correct. And you know Sedina carries elven blood.”
“...Even so, how could she go with no connections?”
“Professor Vierno helped. As a fellow elf, he took her to her homeland. She’ll likely stay there for ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) some time.”
Julia’s shoulders slumped.
She had been determined to seek Sedina no matter where—but the elven kingdom was a different matter.
Ludger added,
“Before she left, she told me something.”
“...What was it?”
“That she was sorry. That if she ever met you again, she wanted to apologize.”
“Truly?”
Ludger nodded, as if understanding her doubtful look.
“You know Sedina’s past left her scarred and distrustful. But people eventually overcome their wounds. She is no different.”
“Then...”
“She has faced her past. Going to the elves’ forest is part of that.”
Julia trembled as if she had heard the impossible.
“If you cannot believe it, you needn’t force yourself. You’ll see for yourself whether it’s true when you meet again.”
“I believe it.”
“I didn’t expect you to be so easily persuaded.”
“At least in this matter, you’re not someone who’d lie just to tease a student.”
Besides, Ludger was the one who had helped Sedina change for the better.
Julia had no reason not to believe him.
Her lips twitched faintly.
Sedina had felt sorry toward her. Had promised to apologize if they met again.
Just hearing that news filled her with a smile she struggled to suppress.
She barely managed, not wanting to appear weak before her rival, Ludger.
“Was that answer enough?”
“Ahem. Yes. Thank you. I’ve been unsettled about this, but thanks to you, Professor, I feel at ease.”
“Good to hear.”
“And since you’ve helped me, I’ll return the favor by helping you find your book.”
“Not too busy?”
“It’s vacation. Besides, I know this library well enough. I often come here and have a good idea where everything is.”
Friendless, Julia had always passed her time reading or thinking in the library.
Especially the peculiar branch, given her talents.
In any case, her help wouldn’t hurt.
“In that case, do you know where I can find books on Dreamland?”
“Dreamland?”
The word made her eyes flicker with recognition.
“I do. But why...?”
“Curiosity.”
“Then you should know there are many books. Exploring the world of dreams has always been a magician’s wish. You’ll need to be more specific.”
“Then ones about Dreamland’s depths.”
At that, Julia’s expression stiffened.
“...Are you serious?”
“Is that a problem?”
“The depths of Dreamland aren’t well known. Among Dreamwalkers, it’s practically taboo.”
“So it does exist.”
“...”
Cornered, Julia finally gave in.
“But there’s nothing here.”
“Then where?”
“Where else? The Dreaming School. The elders there know more about Dreamland than anyone.”
“I see. So Seorn has nothing. That’s inconvenient.”
Seeing Ludger’s slight frown, Julia carefully offered,
“If you really want... I could help you.”