Handing Down (2)
To enter the underground of the Eternal Mansion, we needed to equip ourselves with protective gear first.
The Eternalism academy also had its own dedicated workshop, located in an annex building in the mansion's rear garden.
Fortunately, there was no need for all of us to go there together.
"You three will only be entering the general area, so this should be sufficient. Here, put them on."
"Ugh, the smell..."
"Hm? Looks like someone returned it without casting a Cleanse spell. Tsk."
Professor Schud Rapens handed out standard-issue protective gear to Libiel, Mihaden, and Lorang.
Since it was reused equipment, the hygiene wasn't perfect, but it would be more than adequate for the general area.
The security measures in the general area were nothing special, and above all, the professor would be personally protecting the kids.
But since I planned to go beyond the general area into the restricted zone, I decided to stop by the workshop first.
"Kirian needs custom-fitted gear. It's essential for breaking through the restricted zone's security at your current level. Obri, take Kirian to the workshop. We'll meet at the entrance."
"...Yes, Professor."
I followed Obri Iark to the annex outside the mansion.
The woman walked without a sound, her lips pressed tightly shut, saying nothing.
An expressionless face.
It was clear she wasn't enjoying this situation one bit.
She doesn't seem to like me much.
The senior's hostile attitude.
Since there hadn't been any direct-line trainees before, I'd figured something like this might happen eventually.
But actually facing it was a bit disorienting.
From my perspective, it felt like unfair treatment.
"Beno, where are you?"
"Who's there? Oh, Obri."
As Obri flung open the door to the annex and called out, a reply came from the corner.
A middle-aged man with thick forearms and stubby fingers, fiddling with something.
After the half-elf, this blacksmith reminded me of a dwarf.
Unlike elves, dwarves still mingled with humans, so it wasn't all that unusual.
"This kid's heading into the restricted zone today. He needs high-grade protective gear."
"Mm, Schud told me. The family head's grandson, right? And heir to Sir Leonir, too."
The adoption wasn't even finalized yet.
The blacksmith stood up with heavy steps and offered me a handshake.
"Pleased to meet you. Name's Beno. I run this academy's tool forge."
"First-year disciple Kirian. Feel free to speak casually."
"Oh? Even to someone who'll one day be family head? This lowly craftsman dares?"
"You can get formal then."
"Fair enough. Nice to meet you anyway, Kirian! Hahaha!"
Beno, who had been grinning slyly, burst into hearty laughter.
Unlike Obri, he didn't keep his distance from me.
Of course, there was no reason for the workshop craftsman to dislike me.
Can't compare to someone about to graduate, only to get tripped up by a junior.
Obri, standing beside me, had already turned to examine the protective gear hanging on the workshop wall.
A pitch-black armor forged from a mix of various metals.
"This one? The frame looks mostly complete."
"Yup. Started on it the moment Schud told me. Just needs the adjustments now."
"Got it. Please hurry. You cooperate with the measurements, Kirian."
With that, Obri spun on her heel and sat on a bench in the corner of the workshop, closing her eyes tightly.
Beno grinned and pulled out a measuring tape, starting on my limbs.
As he did, he whispered quietly.
"She's always stiff, but today she's extra rigid. Guess she really doesn't like you. Did you confess or something?"
"I'd feel less wronged if that were the case."
"Don't take it to heart. Obri's a sensitive, kind girl. It's just the situation."
Even the blacksmith seemed to know the gist.
But with nothing much to say, I just nodded vaguely.
In truth, Obri disliking me was somewhat predictable.
The other senior trainees probably felt the same.
A direct-line blood relative suddenly choosing Eternalism—they might see me as some kind of freak...
Or maybe they think I'll quit training soon and switch to Extremism.
People see what they want to see.
Even if I gathered them all, explaining my situation would be impossible.
Not that I planned to.
What's 'like me' supposed to mean?
This isn't five hundred years ago.
Back then, in an era where only madmen survived, that kind of thing happened daily.
If they showed outright hostility, I'd consider it, but not now.
Obri was prickly, but I doubted she'd sabotage me.
"Hmm, heard you were thirteen, but you're pretty well-built. Must've trained hard."
"It just kinda happened that way."
"'Just kinda happened'? Haha! Funny way to put it. Wonder how the others 'just kinda' went the opposite way?"
"..."
"Alright, measurements done. Wait a sec. I'll whip up the adjustments quick."
The only place to sit in this workshop was the bench where Obri was.
Not wanting to make things awkward, I decided to kill time browsing the weapons and tools on the wall.
That's when.
"One thing I'm curious about."
"...?"
It was Obri murmuring, eyes still shut tight.
Anyone could tell it was directed at me, so I had to turn around.
"What's on your mind?"
"What do you want to do that made you choose our academy?"
It was similar to the question I'd heard at enrollment, but different.
Elman Bykers's had been this:
"Kirian, why Eternalism?"
When asked for my reason, I'd blamed Ulfrik.
Said I chose it because I wanted to be like him.
But Obri's question was a bit different.
Asking what I wanted to do in the future—
"I want to tackle the Seven Great Puzzles."
That was answer enough.
It wasn't a lie.
But for some reason, the half-elf scowled deeply.
"You chose our academy to solve those puzzles?"
"Yes. For this at least, Eternalism is the leading academy. There's the legacy of research from predecessors over the years, and the Archmage is still working on it..."
"...Ridiculous."
"Pardon?"
"Time to teach you your place."
I asked what was so ridiculous, but got an off-topic reply.
Obri brushed off her clothes as she stood and approached another wall.
What she picked from the display was a set of shackles.
"Wanna make a bet?"
"What kind?"
"Once the gear's ready, put these on and move."
"Pardon? You want me to wear shackles?"
Was she some kind of pervert?
As I eyed her suspiciously, Obri flinched and gripped the chain lightly.
Mana flowed in, erasing the chain's appearance.
"Senior, even invisible, shackles are still shackles..."
"This isn't shackles—it's a training weight that gets heavier with more mana! The chain's just anti-loss! What do you take me for?"
"Hard to say."
A pervert lunging with shackles out of nowhere?
Anyway, it seemed like a type of sandbag.
Face flushing, Obri pulled a thin book from her pocket.
"If you pass the restricted zone with this on, I'll give you this."
"What's that?"
"A monster compendium I compiled over the last six years. Details every monster in the entire Eternal Forest. If you want, I can guide you personally too."
I couldn't help a smirk.
It was meaningless to me.
But I decided to hear more.
"And if I fail? What do you want?"
"Be my errand boy for a month. After classes, serve my meals, do my laundry, clean my room."
"..."
She wanted to humiliate me.
Maybe even hoping I'd leave Eternalism on my own.
No reason to accept.
But one idea popped up.
Might get a hint out of this?
A clue about the vanished elves.
Managing my expression, I spoke.
"Change the terms a bit, and I'll take it."
"Why? Scared?"
Obri taunted immediately.
But I ignored her.
Instead, I grabbed an identical training weight from nearby and made my proposal.
"You wear the same shackles. From the general area all the way to the restricted zone. Well?"
"This isn't shackles—it's a training weight!"
"Potato, po-tah-to."
"So you're saying you'll wear it in the restricted zone too?"
"Yes. First to give up and take it off loses."
In other words, same conditions.
And one more thing.
"If you win, I'll be your errand boy till graduation."
"A whole year?"
"Yes. But if I win..."
I paused slightly, and Obri's eyes wavered.
But I wasn't asking for anything weird.
"Answer one question I have. Swear on your mana to tell only the truth."
The elves who vanished in this era, and their home 'Elf Forest'.
They could be allies against Demon King Ulfrik later.
As a half-elf, Obri might know something about their whereabouts.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I wouldn't lose anyway.
The restricted zone was a place I knew very well.
"...You know nothing, yet you think the restricted zone's a cakewalk."
She frowned and clicked her tongue.
"Even advanced trainees struggle to pass unscathed. It's not open to third-years and up for nothing. And a first-year thinks he can waltz in wearing that?"
"You'll be leading the way, right? What, afraid you'll drop first? Ah, if you wanna throw it, go ahead. I'll take it as senior love."
"...!"
Her green eyes trembled visibly.
Hierniorn, who'd been listening, snickered.
"Such an arrogant punk."
Obri ground her teeth, snatched the training weight from my hand, and tossed it to the floor.
It slithered up and wrapped around my ankle on its own.
The chain was invisible, but this was totally...
"Feels like shackles."
"Shut up! Yours too. But half my weight."
Obri adjusted her own training weight's heft and handed it over, playing the generous senior...
I took it and immediately infused mana to restore full weight.
"What're you doing? I said half!"
"Thanks for the thought. Bets need to be fair, or tongues wag."
"What? Tongues? You really..."
That's when Beno returned with the completed gear.
He'd overheard, and was chuckling.
"Looks like I play a big role in you two coming back alive. Here, try it on!"
Nicknamed the 'Stairs of Darkness'.
The path down to the mansion's basement was pitch black.
They'd wanted to embed glowstones, but the budget hadn't allowed it.
And now, they kept it that way for tradition.
The budget issue remained the same, of course.
"As I explained earlier, this underground space holds our academy's treasures. Among them, the 'Factor of Eternity' is the most precious—like the academy's very heart."
It was Professor Rapens explaining as he led the way down the stairs.
Surprisingly, he said nothing about the training weights Obri and I wore.
He just calmly guided the kids downward.
"Hey, Kirian."
"What."
"You get close to that big sis or something?"
Libiel whispered, pointing at the half-elf's back.
Obri, as assistant, descended right behind Professor Rapens.
I replied indifferently.
"When'd I see her enough to call her 'sis'? And no, not close at all. She's prickly."
"Then what's with the couple's item? I want one too!"
"..."
Libiel was pretty crazy herself.
I ignored her talk of us getting chummy and kept walking.
At some point, the air turned chillingly cold.
Professor Rapens at the front spoke up.
"From here on, stick right behind me. Arrows will come flying from ahead nonstop."
And they did.
The general area's first security measure: countless arrow traps.
The moment Professor Rapens stepped forward, silver flashes shot from the front.