Hunt (7)
As I opened the box, Hierniorn flapped his wings and muttered.
"Oh ho. You've prepared this as a reward?"
The reward Professor Rapens had prepared for the hunting practical was a sleek longsword.
It lacked extravagant decorations, but the silvery blade gleamed with delicate runes etched upon it.
As I drew it out, the professor spoke up.
"Some of you may already know, but this is a longsword called Mudra. It's a high-end piece forged in House Kirchheis."
It was one of the armaments issued to the house's key figures.
The sword itself was unfamiliar, but the magic circle engraved on the blade was all too recognizable.
It was a miniaturized version of Light of Demon Extermination, a spell devised five hundred years ago during the war to inflict magical damage on demonic beasts.
Just like the Serpent's Time that Jenice had used, it was a technique that had survived the long march of time.
"Hm, it would've been better if it were an Agni Sword. A bit disappointing... but Mudra's not bad either. Still, with the divine sword Nirvana already in thy possession, I wonder if thou'lt ever have need of this one."
Hierniorn tilted his head.
He had a point—but.
'I can use it to conceal Nirvana. I can't keep disguising it as Mihaden's dagger forever, can I?'
A longsword form to hide Nirvana.
That settled the Mudra sword's purpose.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Next, to second place, Miss Libiel."
The professor pulled a small glass vial from his pocket and handed it to Libiel.
A potion bottle sloshing with deep purple liquid.
Unlike when he'd given me the Mudra sword, this handover was exceedingly casual.
But Libiel's reaction was the polar opposite of mine.
"Huh? This is...?"
"You can open it and take a whiff if you'd like. I'm sure you recognize it, Miss Libiel."
The moment she cracked open the lid and sniffed the contents, her eyes went wide and she leaped from her seat.
Professor Rapens smiled faintly.
"I hear your mother's family is House Goldsmith. As heirs to the world's greatest house of healing arts, I figured you could turn that poison into a fine medicine."
"Grrraaah! Such profound intent! Thank you! I'll do my absolute best to research it and make an elixir! Believe me!"
"Yes, give it your all."
Of course, no such thing as an elixir to revive the dead actually existed.
But if it had Libiel this excited, it must be quite valuable.
"What's that?"
"It's called Hell's Tear, an extreme poison. But the stench is so foul it's hard to use for evil ends—you refine it, alter its properties, and turn it into medicine instead!"
"Hmm..."
I see.
Libiel chattered on excitedly about the poison's properties, but I'd already lost interest.
At that moment, Professor Rapens clapped his hands to draw attention.
"Alright, that wraps up the hunting practical. We have more important matters ahead."
Come to think of it, had his eyes always sparkled like that?
For some reason, it felt ominous.
"Next, we'll go over the basic evaluations I've assigned each of you over the past few days, one by one."
Mihaden tilted his head at his words.
"Evaluations? What...?"
"Forgot already? I started with the basics to gauge your abilities. The hunting practical served the same purpose. You'll each receive a customized curriculum based on these results."
"Ah..."
"Let's start with Miss Libiel, since she's second-year."
Libiel straightened up hastily at being called.
Professor Rapens launched right in.
"First off, as a second-year, your mana control and spell variety are commendable. You lack great talent for swordsmanship, but you have all the essentials for training—proof of diligent practice. However—"
He shook his head slightly as he added,
"You're too hasty. In every aspect."
"Me...? Hasty?"
"Yes. And you have a habit of leaning on those beside you. A very bad habit. One you must correct."
"That's, ugh..."
"I'll assign a curriculum suited to that. Follow it closely. Anything else to say?"
"No, nothing..."
The next one called was Mihaden.
Professor Rapens's tone grew heavier.
"Sorry to say, Mihaden, you're average. And you seem to prioritize safety. Regrettably, that's a glaring flaw. In any school, really. So you must challenge yourself more—if you want to survive in this house, that is."
"...I'll keep that in mind, Professor."
Not content with lagging in the practical rankings, he got harsh marks overall too.
Mihaden's shoulders naturally slumped.
Lorang nudged him and muttered,
"Average... That's nothing."
"Pfft."
He'd probably meant it as encouragement—that it was a surmountable issue.
But his odd phrasing made Libiel snicker.
"Indeed, 'tis nothing. Regrettably."
Hierniorn clicked his tongue lightly too.
But I said nothing.
It felt like glimpsing my past self.
Me, who rejoiced at small successes but ultimately failed to join the expedition for lack of talent.
In a way, Mihaden now was just like that.
"Lorang, you might not grasp my words, so we'll talk separately. Come to my office after lunch."
"Y-yes..."
"Finally, Kirian."
Professor Rapens's gaze turned to me.
His eyes sparkled intensely, but there was something unsettling about it too.
After a moment's silence, he spoke.
"To be frank, what you showed today surpasses my ability to evaluate."
Silence fell over the classroom in an instant.
I could feel Libiel mouthing a silent scream, Mihaden lifting his head to stare right through me.
"It's hard to believe you're a first-year trainee. From your application of Lure to chaining Wrath of Fire with artifacts and magic crystals, even Sensory Distortion... Mastering such difficult spells with such skill was impressive. Sir Lamoff, your drill instructor, must be proud."
Professor Rapens paused, fixing me with his gaze.
His expression brimmed with the fascination of an explorer discovering uncharted lands.
"Standing against the ogre to protect the Holy Hero's traces was also praiseworthy. Though equally reckless and dangerous, so you'll take the reprimand in stride."
"If he's praising, why mix in the reprimand...?"
Hierniorn grumbled, but I just watched the professor silently.
He praised a few more things before reaching an odd conclusion.
"Regrettably, I couldn't evaluate you, Kirian. The other schools will be the same. It's unprecedented talent. But one thing I can say for certain."
"...?"
"The faster you race ahead, the greater the danger if you veer off course. You can plunge into the abyss in the blink of an eye—a precipice from which there's no return. I know of cases where that happened."
I furrowed my brow slightly.
No way that could happen to me, but it sounded for all the world like he was talking about Ulfrik's 'fall.'
I recalled the monocle we'd found buried with the gravestone too.
'Does Professor Rapens know something and say this on purpose?'
"Hm, who knows. Maybe just referring to troublesome trainees in general..."
'Or perhaps he knows someone connected to Ulfrik's fall, like Ledroy?'
"A chilling possibility."
Perhaps because I didn't respond, the mood chilled sharply.
Professor Rapens cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"In any case, my judgment is that you need a 'special curriculum,' Kirian. I'll consult the dean on it."
A special curriculum?
This might be my chance to gain one more thing.
I raised my hand, staring straight at Professor Rapens, and he tilted his head.
"Something to say? What is it?"
"I believe a 'special preparation process' is needed for me to undertake a special curriculum, Professor."
"Special preparation?"
"Yes."
"I agree! Special learning requires special prep!"
Libiel chimed in from beside me.
Mihaden, meanwhile, sat in silence.
Professor Rapens crossed his arms, intrigued, and asked back.
"Hm, not satisfied with the Mudra sword, eh? Anything specific you want?"
Now was the time to carve out a path.
An additional reward incomparable to consumable weapons.
I voiced what I'd been mulling over.
"Grant me permission to enter the 'Restricted Area' beneath the Eternal Mansion."
"The Restricted Area...?"
"Yes. I know third-years and up can access it after passing through the 'General Area.' But with a supervising professor's special permission, even we can enter."
At my request, Professor Rapens's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
It was understandable.
"How did you even know that area exists, Kirian? I haven't shared our school's secrets yet."
The general area underground in the Eternal Mansion held the 'Eternal Factors' and various secret arts.
And the Restricted Area held even more.
Even Ulfrik's unpublished research was stored there—
Its very existence wasn't known outside.
"But naught escapes this one's knowledge!"
'What are you talking about? I knew about the Restricted Area too. It existed five hundred years ago.'
Though its purpose was a bit different back then.
Anyway, I couldn't say that outright.
So I answered thus.
"Grandfather told me. He said the Holy Hero's research slumbers there."
"Ah, the Warlock..."
"Yes. He urged me to challenge it, so I'd like to live up to his expectations."
"Hmmm."
Rohbark Kirchheis was the house's master, and it wasn't odd for him to know Eternalism's secrets.
Seemingly convinced, the professor nodded with a smirk.
"You truly revere the Allmaster, don't you, Kirian? Very well. I'll issue you a pass to the Restricted Area. Simpler than I expected."
"..."
I'd thought he'd block it as too dangerous.
This was simpler than I expected.
Another thought flashed through my mind.
"One more thing, Professor?"
"Don't think 'simple' means I'll grant more requests, Kirian."
Professor Rapens turned away, ignoring my gaze.
But I spoke quickly, halting him in his tracks.
"Trying to gloss over it, are you? Tell me what happened twenty years ago. The dean mentioned it earlier, didn't he? You said we could skip 'that incident' if it's completely unrelated. Is it?"
"..."
This time, even Mihaden nodded in agreement.
An awkward silence fell.
No—a cold stillness that felt precarious.
Under everyone's stares, the professor sighed deeply and muttered,
"Very well. I'll tell you about the tragedy from twenty years ago."
And a short while later—
Lunchtime came, but none of us headed to the dining hall.
"To think such a thing happened."
"Oh my god. So tragic..."
"The professor overcame his past to become our homeroom teacher. We should all worship him."
We were all deeply shocked by Professor Rapens's tale.
Twenty years ago, in his days as a trainee.
He had lost four comrades in that Eternal Forest.
It was a catastrophe during a clash with another school.