Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Hall of Achievements
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Philip swallowed hard as he stood in front of the dean's office.
The dean of Previa Academy, Rosello Graham, was the epitome of a dean appointed purely to facilitate the protagonist's exploits.
He was a wizard of immense power and exceptional talent, yet for some strange reason, he showed little interest in the academy itself.
Even Philip, who worked there, had only laid eyes on him once.
'No telling what the guy's actually up to.'
With that thought, Philip knocked twice on the dean's office door.
"Philip Oswald here, Dean."
A response came immediately.
"Come in."
As Philip entered, he saw the dean seated at his desk, peering intently at what appeared to be some important documents.
"So, Oswald. You want to establish a club?"
Philip nodded at the dean's question.
"Yes, that's right."
"I've been keeping tabs on you. You did some impressive work during the magic department's practical session. Professor Evelyn's failure to detect the demon there was a major oversight."
"...Well, just something to be more careful about next time, right?"
The dean nodded with a satisfied expression at Philip's reply.
"You've been performing admirably lately. But as someone who's been watching you, may I offer a bit of advice?"
"I'd be grateful to hear it."
Philip gazed at the dean with a tense expression. No matter how he thought about it, the man seemed to know something.
"First off, try not to get too entangled with demons. Not until you've mastered that treasure in your possession."
'Whoa.'
Philip drew in a sharp breath. The dean's face was kindly and relaxed, but Philip felt as if a dagger had been thrust into his solar plexus.
'At the very least, he knows about the Moonlight Sword.'
"And do try to get along with the dragon, if you can. She's spent a very long time alone, so I'm sure you could be a good friend to her. I'll see to it that your club is approved."
Philip's mouth fell open.
They said a master strategist could discern events a thousand miles away even from behind a desk, and this situation was no different.
"You... knew?"
The dean let out a wry chuckle at Philip's question.
"Heh, you opened a spatial transfer portal right here in the academy, and nobody noticed? The magic department professors say it would take them three days and nights of nonstop spellcasting to manage one like that."
"Ah...."
Now that he thought about it, that made sense. As a non-mage, Philip hadn't imagined that Previa's casually opened portals would leave traces.
"Pick up some fine tea leaves and pay her a visit. Who knows? It might bring you some good fortune."
With that, Philip was dismissed. He left the office with a dazed look, but his expression shifted in an instant.
'Can't be helped if my movements are all out in the open. But getting found out at this stage might actually be a blessing in disguise.'
He had no idea why the dean had summoned him for that talk.
It could have been a warning not to get too cocky, or perhaps just genuine advice.
But with the dean's allegiance unclear, Philip had no desire to provoke him rashly. He resolved to be a bit more cautious moving forward whenever he stirred up trouble.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Once approval was granted, everything proceeded smoothly. Dean Rosello Graham wasn't one to dawdle.
Less than an hour later, official permission arrived, and Felicia relayed the news to Philip.
"Now the travel club needs an official clubroom. But all the buildings near the departments or the grand plaza are already taken. New clubs usually end up with spots on the dormitory outskirts or near the back mountain."
Philip nodded without hesitation.
The academy grounds were so vast that clubs operating far from the department buildings or plaza weren't very popular.
No one wanted a twenty-minute walk back after activities.
"I've got a spot in mind. An old storage shed—it's been abandoned."
"You mean the warehouse on the way to the back mountain? That's been deserted for years, hasn't it? No one's maintaining it, so it'll take days of cleaning to make it usable."
"If we chip away at it starting today, it'll be done in no time."
In truth, Philip wanted that location for the space hidden beneath the building. That was the whole reason he'd pushed so hard for the club.
"...Handle it yourself, then. But don't neglect your academy duties. Got it?"
Felicia nodded offhandedly.
Philip headed straight for the warehouse building that would serve as their clubroom.
It had been built long ago, back when the back mountain served as the academy grounds.
The exterior was utterly ordinary for a warehouse—just a bit weathered, dusty, with faded paint on the outer walls.
Philip sliced through the padlock barring the door with Sword Aura and stepped inside.
—Kyaaak! Master! Spider! Spider! There's a spider on Neria's sheath! Eeeek!
Hardly had he entered when Neria's scream rang out. Philip chuckled and flicked the spider off her sheath with his fingers, tossing it outside.
The interior was a total disaster.
Tattered cloths that had once covered things, empty crates, and splintered oak barrels that looked like they might have held liquor lay scattered about. Broken floor tiles left jagged shards everywhere.
"Hate spiders that much?"
—They're gross!
Neria yelled as if it were the dumbest question ever.
"You might have to fight spider monsters someday. What then?"
—Just use a different sword.
"Never know when a monster like that might show up, so maybe I should start carrying another blade from now on."
—...Master's an idiot. Why are you picking on Neria?
Since Neria sounded like she was on the verge of tears, Philip decided to stop teasing. She really did seem to hate spiders.
"Sorry. Couldn't resist—you're too cute."
—Not happy at all!
Philip could tell Neria was thrilled and nodded contentedly.
Suddenly, he wondered about Neria's true nature. For an ego sword, she had far too many human traits. Her thought patterns were downright odd.
Awakening an ego in a sword was supposed to be extraordinarily difficult.
It required forging mythical feats alongside a legendary swordsman and sharing profound bonds with one's master—a true miracle.
And the resulting ego usually mirrored the master's personality.
From what Philip had heard, Neria's first owner was undoubtedly a great swordsman, though his name didn't stick in Philip's memory.
'Come to think of it, Previa's reaction last time was weird too.'
The dragon Previa had acted as if she already knew Neria. Things had been too hectic then to press the issue, but there was no harm in looking into it now.
There might be some hidden secret about Neria, after all.
"By the way, Neria—were you always a sword?"
—Huh? What kind of question is that? Neria's been a sword from the start, obviously.
"Maybe not. Could've started as a plow or a pitchfork, for all we know."
—Neria hopes Master gets sick. Nothing major—just diarrhea or insomnia.
It seemed unlikely he'd get any useful info out of Neria.
The dean's words suggested getting closer to Previa was necessary.
For now, though, Philip focused on his reason for coming. He rummaged through the warehouse.
He tossed visible obstacles outside or piled them aside, stomping suspicious floor spots and inspecting tiles closely.
—What are you looking for?
"Secret passage. Ah, here it is."
—Oh, okay.
Philip shoved aside two empty crates and spotted a floor tile that protruded ever so slightly—unnoticeable to anyone but the most perceptive.
He realized it was one of four tiles used as a code.
'This must be the southeast one.'
It was a hidden feature that opened a secret passage when stepping on the tiles in the correct sequence.
'Was it 12143213?'
His memory fuzzy, Philip endured several failures. Alternately stepping on the 40cm-square tiles made him look like he was dancing.
Neria giggled at his struggles.
—Pfft.
"...".
Once he recalled the sequence, the correct steps caused the tile beneath him to split open, revealing stairs leading underground.
—You never cease to amaze me, Master. How do you even know about stuff like this?
"Just roll with it."
—Okay.
Philip descended the narrow stairs. After what felt like two floors down, light from magically illuminated lamps seeped through a closed door ahead.
—...So, what's this place?
Opening the door revealed a vast cavern, artificially carved like a cave. Three closed doors lined the walls, and a pedestal stood in the center.
'Why's it empty?'
Philip called out.
"Anyone here?"
—Looks empty to me.
No sooner had Neria replied than green flames erupted atop the central pedestal. They vanished in a flash, leaving a translucent brown bear in their wake.
"My goodness, I never dreamed a visitor would grace this place. In place of my master, the great Archmage Asla, I welcome you."
The translucent brown bear bent its forelegs slightly in a refined bow, like a human noble.
"Pleased to meet you."
The sight was comical, but Philip kept a straight face.
—B-bear... it's talking, Master!
Philip ignored Neria's startled voice. In a world where swords talked, a bear doing so was hardly surprising.
"Would you care for an explanation of this 'Hall of Achievements'?"
Philip nodded at the bear's courteous offer.
"The honorable third dean of Previa Academy, Archmage Asla, wished for the rare magical items and tomes he collected over a lifetime to fall into the hands of pure, brilliant students rather than greedy, selfish adults. Thus, he created this place. Though he passed before he could leave clues to its discovery."
"...I actually found it by accident."
This 'Hall of Achievements' was a secret known only to Philip.
He recalled how he'd stumbled upon it before and clicked his tongue.
'Got a phone call while playing the game and wandered the warehouse aimlessly. Suddenly, stairs to the basement appeared.'
Pure luck. No in-game clues existed anywhere.
He'd thought it was a bug when the secret passage opened after randomly pacing the four tiles.
Philip eyed the bear.
It was amazing that a bear could show such an expression. It was clearly agonizing over Philip, deep furrows forming across its forehead. Quite the sight.
"Truth be told... this place was made for young students. My master hoped those with exceptional talent and potential would uncover its sleeping secrets and artifacts, growing into talents who could contribute to the continent. Forgive my impertinence, but might I ask your age?"
Philip answered the bear's question.
"Twenty-two."
"Ah...... That's cutting it close, but within my discretion. You may undertake the trials prepared here and claim rewards befitting your achievements. Please examine those doors."
Following the bear's guidance, Philip looked at the three doors.
The words 'Valor', 'Wisdom', and 'Knowledge' glowed on their surfaces.