Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Mirage Lake's Secret
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Creative ideas don't always guarantee good results.
Stefan's plan to nail the tent to trees for support was fairly inventive, but there was no one capable of pulling it off.
In the end, Felicia, unable to stand by any longer, kindly lectured the students on how to set up a tent without any supports.
"When driving stakes to support the tent, twist the knot like this to secure it firmly. That way, it won't come loose over time, and the fabric stays taut."
The magic department students, new to such practical knowledge, were astonished that they managed to erect a decent-looking tent in just ten minutes or so after she stepped in.
"That's incredible!"
Cheryl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Felicia smiled awkwardly, looking a bit burdened, and made a suggestion.
"So, how about we light a fire and grab something to eat? I'm getting a little hungry since we skipped breakfast."
'Where the heck did that guy wander off to?'
Felicia grumbled inwardly about Philip's sudden disappearance as she began stacking dry twigs neatly. At least, with three mages present, she didn't have to worry about starting the fire.
A short while later, just as the aroma of soup bubbling in the pot over the campfire began to waft through the air, Philip returned.
"Where have you been, Instructor?"
Philip gave a casual reply.
"I just scouted around nearby to check for any monsters."
It was a perfectly reasonable excuse, so Felicia could only grunt in annoyance and turn her head away sharply.
"...Tch."
The soup—made with salty jerky, high-quality sheep's milk cheese, and mashed potatoes—was the finest feast imaginable for a meal outdoors. Even though it wasn't fully ready yet, the students were already swallowing hard at the heavenly scent.
"I've never seen such a luxurious soup before. During class, they simulated field conditions and made us eat this soup that tasted like it had boots boiled in it."
Soon, the group finished their hearty meal and regained their energy.
"So, what do we do now?"
Stefan asked suddenly.
"How about we explore the lake? You might stumble upon that rumored anomaly yourselves."
Philip suggested.
With nothing particular to do, the proposal was readily accepted.
For teenagers, a new place was always an adventure waiting to happen—and a scenic lake was even better.
"The professor and I will stay here, so go on ahead by yourselves. I didn't spot anything dangerous nearby, so it should be safe. If something comes up, come back here and call for us."
"Got it. We will."
Once the students had left, Philip was alone with Felicia.
"What about us?"
"Hmm. Why don't you catch a nap, Sis? You seemed to be handling paperwork late last night."
As Philip said, Felicia hadn't gotten proper rest these past few days.
The early semester schedule was brutally intense, enough to wear down even a trained swordswoman like her, and today, if not for Philip's request, she'd have been stuck at the academy dealing with administrative duties.
"...Alright, then I'll sleep a bit. Just two hours."
Felicia said that, then stretched her arms high above her head. She glanced around, seemingly searching for something to use as a pillow.
"Yaaawn. You have to wake me up."
The moment she lay down using her backpack as a pillow, Felicia fell into a deep sleep, her breathing steady and even. Philip watched her with a warm smile.
"Yeah. Sleep well."
Everything was proceeding according to plan. After confirming she was fully asleep, he left the campsite.
'Kids are kids. Time to take care of my own business first.'
It was finally time to achieve the real purpose of coming here.
Philip untied Neria from beside his backpack and strapped her to his waist.
—...Yaaawn. Heading out to fight?
Her voice carried a sleepy drowsiness, as if she'd been dozing off.
"Something like that. If you want to sleep more, should I take another sword?"
—Are you always gonna say stuff like that to make me feel left out?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Damn it, shit. Is there really no other way?"
In a cave near 'Mirage Lake,' a man in a blue robe was engrossed in an experiment at his makeshift magical workbench.
On the workbench lay a sky-blue, translucent gem—the gift from the lake's fairy a few years ago. The man had been studying the mysterious power wielded by that fairy using this gem for years now.
A power utterly different from magic or aura. If he could uncover the secret behind this ability to manipulate nature with mere will, akin to a dragon's innate 'Dragon Word,' he could etch his name eternally in the annals of magical history.
'What principles govern the fairy's pranks?'
Deeply inspired by a forest fairy's prank during his boyhood, he had pursued traces of fairies from the moment he gained the means to conduct his own research.
After investing considerable time in the search, he discovered this 'Mirage Lake,' left the Yellow Mage Tower he belonged to, and transferred to the Blue Mage Tower, where he could delve deeper into water-manipulating magic.
For several years, he built rapport with the lake's fairy, indulging her pranks multiple times while observing and recording the phenomena.
Yet, his gains were meager.
The innocent pranks of a benevolent fairy didn't provide sufficient data.
Fairies' pranks, like magic, surely manipulated some force and followed certain laws.
"...Not enough data. I need to observe more phenomena."
Originally, it was taboo for mages to study fairies' powers. The mage towers discouraged provoking supernatural entities that were variables in themselves.
But without provocation, no phenomena occurred.
The man's gaze shifted to the crystal orb beside the workbench. On its surface floated images of boys and girls laughing and chatting.
Judging by their uniforms, they were Previa Academy students.
'Sorry, but progress always demands sacrifice.'
He had prepared for this moment over a long time.
'If I enrage the lake fairy and observe the source of her power...'
Of course, the students in the crystal orb would pay the price, but the man was prepared to abandon his conscience for magic.
Now, all he needed was to chant the spell, and the summoning ritual hidden near the lake would activate. It was for an ancient monster he'd bargained with long ago: a 'Manticore.'
The Manticore, known as the 'Secret Devourer,' possessed magical abilities potent enough to rampage even in a fairy's domain. With his support, the man might glimpse the depths of the fairy's powers.
"Forgive me."
He muttered grimly, raising his staff. At that instant, the cabin door burst open.
"Who goes there!"
The man canceled his chant and prepared an attack spell to intercept the intruder. Ice spear magic—the hallmark of the Blue Mage Tower—materialized around him.
"Me? I'm the teacher of the students you've been spying on."
The man tried to discern the intruder's identity.
Handsome enough to inspire envy at first glance, with a subtly domineering yet chilling gaze. Not a face he recognized.
But he could tell from the Previa Academy instructor uniform, so the man attempted dialogue first.
"I am of the Blue Mage Tower..."
"I know. Zioro Matran of the Blue Mage Tower. A talentless hack daring to break taboos. Want me to guess what you're up to here? Trying to summon a manticore into the lake, right? To watch an enraged fairy slaughter all my students and raze the nearby village."
The intruder—Philip—cut him off.
"...What nonsense is this? I'm a Blue Mage Tower mage, and I have no intention of breaking any taboos."
Zioro Matran denied it, slipping his left hand behind his back to activate the magic circle engraved near the door.
"Oh, really? No plans like that?"
Philip smirked and drew his sword.
—Is that true, Master?
Neria, who had been listening, asked in surprise. Philip nodded. In the meantime, frost began settling around where he stood.
"...Take one more step forward, and you'll be an ice statue. I don't know what bullshit you're spouting, but leave now, and I won't harm you. Be grateful you're getting out alive after barging into a mage's workshop."
Zioro Matran, having fully activated the magic circle, seemed to regain his composure.
Philip clicked his tongue at the arrogant attitude.
'Should I just kill him?'
Zioro Matran was already fully within his range. He wasn't an exceptional mage, so killing him would be easy.
Still, gaining combat experience against a mage here wouldn't be bad.
Philip observed Zioro Matran's stance.
Seeing him blatantly hide hand seals behind his back and the traces of trap magic screaming their presence, Philip scrapped his plan to farm experience from him.
To Philip, Zioro was small fry at best. His sloppy skills wouldn't offer much reference for future mage fights.
In an instant, Philip surged his aura and whipped out a long sword aura like a lash before Zioro could react.
Zioro's covert defense spell blocked the sword aura once, but it couldn't negate the impact.
"Hngh!"
Zioro's frail body was flung back, slamming into the cabin wall. Sprawled on the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood surging from his guts.
From the moment he'd faced Philip without any preparation, victory was impossible for him.
A fully prepared mage was a nightmare even at a low realm, but most mages—bar a few exceptions—were weak at improvisation.
'Gotta watch out for those magic circles.'
He needed to finish him off while he was down. Philip maneuvered his sword aura toward Zioro's neck.
As the writhing sword aura hovered like a viper about to strike the nape, the fighting spirit faded from Zioro's eyes.
"...W-Who the hell are you? I've never heard of anything like this."
"I've never heard of a loose-cannon mage like you either, so call it even. More importantly, deactivate that magic circle right now. If any magic lingers around me by the time I count to three... well, use your imagination."
Philip fully intended to kill Zioro.
Sacrificing innocent students for his ambitions was utterly unforgivable by his standards.
'Fuck...'
Zioro cursed inwardly but had no choice but to dispel the magic circle. Feeling the frost and chill around him slowly dissipate, Philip approached.
"W-What are you going to do with me?"
Zioro's eyes trembled. Philip kicked his shin as if wondering why he'd even ask.
"Ask the fairy girl you were about to screw over. You'll have to explain everything yourself. She seemed pretty kind—play your cards right, and she might spare your life."