Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Mirage Lake
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was Saturday, early in the morning.
The Travel Club students had gathered in the central plaza, waiting for Philip and Lua.
"......Suddenly telling us to prepare for camping. Isn't it too out of the blue?"
Janice Muriel frowned, feeling the weight of the backpack on her back. She, Cheryl, and Stefan had prepared for camping according to Philip's announcement.
If they had been third-years in the Swordsmanship Department, they might have been quite familiar with camping, but unfortunately, the Magic Department only learned to spend nights outdoors about once a year.
"Still, it feels like it'll be fun somehow. The strict professors aren't here, and Instructor Philip seems like he'd let us do whatever."
"But there are bugs everywhere, and Stefan's here too."
Stefan, who had been standing quietly nearby, made a wronged expression when Janice countered.
He was already aware that his presence made things uncomfortable for them as a guy, but it stung a bit to be lumped in with bugs.
"Do you dislike me by any chance?"
"Look at you. Aren't you the one who dislikes me? I've told you a bunch of times to drop the formal speech, but it never sticks."
"I've called you 'miss' my whole life. It can't change overnight."
Stefan made his excuse, but Janice just snorted in annoyance and shot back.
"No excuses, Stefan."
"No, that's not..."
Stefan, trapped in an awkward spot, was rescued by Philip and Lua appearing a short distance away. Cheryl spotted them first and tilted her head.
There was one extra person.
'Isn't that Professor Oswald from the Swordsmanship Department?'
Magic Department students rarely crossed paths with Swordsmanship Department professors. But Professor Felicia Oswald was different.
The youngest professor in Previa Academy history, a genius of the sword.
From the moment she became a third-year, she had been hailed as the strongest in the Swordsmanship Department.
She had crushed countless students from prestigious sword families and was the woman whom Aura Master Chief Professor Emil Panoy had called his prized disciple.
Cheryl secretly admired Felicia. She reminded her of the protagonists from the novels she loved reading.
"Hello, kids."
Felicia waved awkwardly at the Magic Department students with an embarrassed smile.
The reason she was here was simple.
At the recent faculty meeting, someone had pointed out that it didn't make sense for a single newbie instructor to accompany students on an off-campus activity.
Felicia, who owed Philip quite a few favors, couldn't bring herself to refuse his request.
"Looks like you all prepared diligently."
Philip nodded in satisfaction at the students' stuffed backpacks.
As third-years with camping experience, they seemed to have packed rations, spell scrolls, and magic tools as well.
In comparison, Lua had only brought a sleeping bag and a few changes of clothes—nothing much.
"We'll talk details on the carriage. Let's head out for now."
"Yes, Instructor."
The students replied and headed toward the academy's main gate, where a four-horse carriage awaited.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Felicia actually felt a bit burdened.
She was confident she could be a good conversation partner for the students under her care, but she had no idea what to talk about with the Magic Department kids she barely knew.
Her best bet was sitting next to the friendly Lua and answering the students' questions as they stole glances at the professor with awkward expressions.
That was the moment she started resenting Philip, who had vanished to the coachman's seat claiming the space was too cramped.
Janice Muriel was in a similar bind. The Oswald Count Family was a prestigious house that didn't pale in comparison to the Muriel family, and besides, Felicia was much older than her.
This wasn't a position where she could just chat freely as usual.
"Um, Professor. I heard the Orum Knights offered you a position when you graduated from the academy..."
It was Cheryl who broke the ice. She didn't want to miss this chance to talk with her admired female professor.
"Ah... that. Of course, it was an honor. But at the time, I had reasons I couldn't accept."
Meanwhile, Janice Muriel's gaze was fixed on Lua's hair.
The cute girl's hair looked like it had been styled by someone's delicate, artistic hands.
Seeing it neatly braided with a ribbon made her smile involuntarily.
'I want to ask who did it.'
Lua was sitting next to Felicia, dozing off with her head bobbing. Her first-ever trip had her so excited that she hadn't slept all night.
When the carriage jolted hard, Lua blinked sleepily around, then yawned with her mouth wide open. Spotting Janice, she smiled brightly without a second thought.
At that moment, Janice felt her heart thud and stared blankly at Lua.
'...So cute.'
She knew the girl was fourteen, but Lua looked a few years younger. Probably because of her small frame and baby fat.
'It'd be great if she were in the Magic Department.'
Janice stared at Lua's sleeping face for a while, then felt her own eyes growing heavy.
When she opened them again, the carriage had arrived at its destination.
"...Huh?"
She got off in a daze and looked around.
A lake shrouded in trees and mist lay before her, exuding a mystical aura.
Philip and Stefan were unloading the luggage from the carriage. Besides what the students had brought, there were extras like smoked meat chunks and bread mixed in.
"Set up camp in a sunny spot, then it's free time."
The students and Felicia looked at him with puzzled stares at Philip's declaration.
It was the look of "If we're not doing anything, why come all this way?"
"...That was a joke. There's a rumor that strange things happen at this lake late at night. Some say they've seen fairies, others spirits. Maybe you all can uncover the truth behind the rumors?"
Philip stirred their sense of adventure. He already knew the lake's secret but had no intention of revealing it outright.
"If we want to eat lunch leisurely, we need to hustle now. I'll help too, so let's get to it."
Setting up camp took more effort than expected.
They needed a fire pit first, and to avoid morning dew, they had to pitch tents. There was plenty of wood around, but they couldn't use green logs as supports.
"...Should I help?"
Felicia whispered to Philip. She could set up a camp for several people single-handedly, but he shook his head.
"They need to do it themselves for it to become experience and memories."
Felicia tilted her head at the words that sounded like they came from an old professor. Since Philip was the club's advisor, she planned to let him do things his way.
"What should I do?"
Lua asked the busy upperclassmen.
No third-year thought to give orders to the girl two years their junior.
"Could you gather some dry twigs? We need to start a fire."
Stefan assigned her a task, and Lua nodded before vanishing into the dense trees.
"Don't go too far! Getting lost would be a disaster!"
Cheryl called out urgently. Philip chuckled at the sight. He had already spent a day in the forest with Lua before.
'If I took her to Korea and filmed camping videos, becoming a multimillionaire wouldn't be a dream.'
In nature like mountains or forests, Lua moved like an elf. Maybe even faster and more adeptly than an elf her age.
Thanks to Lua's elusive prowess, dry twigs piled up in no time.
But despite the hustle, the camp setup progressed slowly.
"...Should I chop trees with magic?"
Janice pondered seriously.
"But if we mess up a Wind Blade spell here..."
Cheryl reminded her of the risks with an anxious look, and Janice sighed in resignation.
She was right—Wind Blade wasn't that convenient. Hitting the wrong tree could cause trouble.
There was nothing suitable for tent supports.
"We might not need separate supports. We could hammer nails into the trees and secure the fabric, right?"
Stefan suggested suddenly. It sounded plausible, so the girls nodded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Philip was circling the lake alone, heading quickly to the opposite side from the group.
He had business with the lake's owner.
Pushing through bushes and branches, he soon reached his destination.
On the far side of the lake, in a secretive spot amid mist-shrouded trees, stood a lonely statue.
It depicted a nude woman—the sculpture of the fairy who lived in this lake.
"Hello?"
Philip greeted the empty air, and soon mist rose from the lake, forming a human shape. It was a woman barely covering her body with hair cascading to her hips.
"Hello? Who might you be?"
The woman with water-colored hair looked at Philip with an innocent expression.
"A visitor who wants to spend the night at this lake. Since it's your domain, I thought it polite to say hello first."
The fairy clapped delightedly at his response.
"What manners! I like polite guests."
Then she pouted disappointingly.
"...Guess that means giving up my one pleasure. They'd figure out it was me if I pranked you all. Hope you enjoy your stay."
The fairy of "Mirage Lake" had one hobby: showing illusions via mist to visitors and enjoying their reactions.
Of course, being a kind fairy, she didn't just prank them.
After having her fun, she rewarded those who played along with gifts only she could give—one of which was quite valuable.
"No. Keep it secret from the kids, and feel free to have your fun. Actually, I'd like to ask you to. Those kids will face all sorts of evil illusions and horrors later—might be good to experience some beforehand."
The fairy covered her mouth in surprise.
"Really? I can?"
"Of course. Just... they're young students, so go easy—no dunking them in the water or anything."
"Heehee. Deal! Lately it's just lumberjacks, so boring. Didn't expect young girls. Pranking kids is the most fun."
And so, the deal between the lake fairy and the instructor was struck.
"Gotta think up the best pranks then. Keep it secret, okay!"
With that, the fairy vanished into the lake.
Philip felt a twinge of worry.
'She seems too excited. Is this okay?'
"...Eh, it'll be fine."
Thinking that, he headed back to the group.