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"Hey? You guys are still here? What are you doing?"
Caught in an awkward stance, Shirone's group entered the eting room, bowing their heads as Siena greeted them.
"Oh, we wanted to say goodbye before leaving. Thank you for teaching us this sester."
An elderly teacher chuckled warmly.
"Haha! It's funny to hear such words from the academy's biggest troublemakers. Anyway, you guys have worked hard too. Make sure to enjoy your vacation. Students should know how to have fun, after all."
As Siena made room for Shirone's group and poured tea, she offered so parting words.
"Congratulations to all three of you on advancing. Next sester will be busier, wont it? Its good to relax, but don't let your guard down. Ill be watching closely when school resus."
Siena was not one to let things slide easily.
But her words were kind even for a teacher known to freeze a classroom with her sternness. The teachers seed more relaxed with the sester ending.
"Yes, we'll work hard," Shirone replied, sipping his tea. Then, standing beside him, Thadd asked Ethella.
"Teacher Ethella, if you have ti, would you like to have a al with ...?"
Shirone almost spit out his tea in surprise.
Even for a flirt, making advances to a nun was sothing else.
Ethella, too, seed flustered, politely declining with a wave of her hand.
"I'm sorry, but I must manage the parish during the vacation."
"Ah, I see. If I could be guided by a beauty like Teacher Ethella, I'd join the Karsis Order right away."
Ethella was at a loss for words. It was unthinkable for soone to speak like this to a bishop of the order.
But true to her pursuit of virtue, she maintained her composure.
"Hehe, that's too bad. Then, Thadd, what will you do during the vacation?"
Siena interjected.
"Hmph, he'll probably just go around flirting with won."
Thadd's eyebrows furrowed.
Why was this woman always picking fights with him? Even on the last day of the sester, she seed restless.
Trying to appear unaffected, Thadd shrugged nonchalantly.
"Haha, there's nothing shaful about falling in love at my age. I'm more worried about Teacher Siena. With her prickly personality, it must be hard to find a partner."
"What did you say?"
"What else? That you lack charm. It's obvious. You've never dated a man, have you? That's all because of your prickly nature."
Siena glared at Thadd, grinding her teeth.
She might not care about anyone else, but she didn't want to lose to this man.
"Ma..."
"Ma?"
Everyone leaned in, eager to hear her response.
"Magic. I'm in a relationship with magic."
Siena's face flushed red.
People often say things they don't an when they're defiant, and this situation was a classic example.
The atmosphere in the room grew solemn as the teachers turned away, their faces red with embarrassnt.
Thadd, wanting to escape, barely managed to respond.
"Ah, I see."
"Are you mocking now? I'm committed to magic for life. Is that so wrong?"
"No, I'm sorry. It seems I spoke out of turn."
Thadd quickly drank his hot tea and turned away from Siena.
Watching this, Shirone's group covered their mouths, struggling to contain their laughter. It was a side of the teachers they rarely saw.
"Everyone's still here, I see."
"Oh, Headmaster!"
Alpheas entered the eting room.
Having been suspended from his duties, he had been staying in the dormitory and decided to stop by after most students had left.
"You rascals have worked hard this sester."
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Headmaster. We are also grateful."
"Hoho, am I still the headmaster? From next sester, an interim headmaster sent by the Magic Association will take over. Treat them well as you did ."
Nade's face fell.
It seed unlikely that anyone better than Alpheas would co.
Regardless of the saying, "old but gold," Alpheas was considered one of the best headmasters.
"Who could it be? Will next sester be even tougher?"
"Haha! Possibly. But be confident. The progress you've made this sester is remarkable. You'll do well next sester too."
As the teachers finished their tea and started packing, Shirone's group prepared to leave.
"We'll see you after the break, Headmaster."
"Sure. Have a good ti with your families and enjoy your vacation. Oh, and Shirone, could you spare a mont?"
Shirone, about to follow his friends out, turned around.
Nade gestured towards the door.
"We'll wait outside for you. Hey, Shirone, we'll be in the hallway."
"Okay."
In the now-empty eting room, Shirone had a private conversation with Alpheas.
Alpheas looked serious, so Shirone tensed up, waiting for him to speak.
"The reason I wanted to see you is about the labyrinth."
"Ah, I see."
Shirone rembered the labyrinth.
Although Shirone had been busy since his promotion was confird, the impression of Miro was still vividly etched in his mind.
"I'm curious to know. Are you still interested in investigating more about Miro?"
"Yes. I'll have to discuss it with my parents, but I'm trying to make ti for it. It seems like now or never since it's vacation."
"That's good. It'll be a valuable experience."
Alpheas readily agreed, but his face betrayed an unease.
"Is that why you called here?"
Finally, Alpheas brought up what was really on his mind.
"No, actually, I wanted to ask you sothing. Can you tell about Miros condition at that ti?"
"Do you an her ntal state?"
"Yes, that. But really, I'd like to hear in detail about Miro as you saw her."
Shirone recalled the encounter. Despite the brief interaction, the significant event had left a clear mory, even the minor details of their conversation.
"Hmm, thinking about it, her emotions seed a bit... erratic. I overlooked it at the ti because she was so enigmatic."
"How severe was it? Was it serious?"
"No, not to that extent. Although there were monts that felt a bit chilling."
Alpheas sighed softly, a complex emotion conveyed in the sound.
"Did Miro seem lonely to you?"
"I asked her the sa thing, but Miro said that gods do not feel loneliness."
"Gods do not feel loneliness. Hm."
A shadow fell across Alpheas's face.
Perhaps Miro wanted to convey sothing through Shirone, to him, or even...
'No, maybe to them...'
Shirone observed Alpheas carefully.
What could be so serious to make him look this grave?
But he had promised not to probe too deeply, so he couldn't outright ask.
"If you're that worried, Headmaster, I won't investigate the ruins."
Alpheas seed to snap out of his thoughts.
He realized he had been too absorbed in his own contemplations, ignoring the person before him.
"Huh? No, thats not it. The Kergos Ruins are a tourist spot; you should visit if you get the chance. You'll get a rough idea of the world Miro lives in."
"Does that an there really is a secret hidden there? But its a tourist site."
"Haha! It's no fun if I tell you everything. Just never let your guard down. I allowed you to investigate because I trust your abilities."
Shirone sensed the gravity behind his words.
Alpheas was known for letting students explore freely. However, he also had a mischievous side, allowing a suitable level of risk.
"Okay. I'll investigate thoroughly."
After saying goodbye to Alpheas and leaving the eting room, Shirone joined his friends waiting in the corridor.
"What did you talk about, Shirone?"
"About Miro, the person I ntioned before."
"Oh right, you were curious about her, werent you? The Kergos Ruins, right?"
"Yes. But now I'm even more curious after talking to the Headmaster. I'm planning to go there."
"That's too bad. We'd love to join you."
"No, you should spend ti with your families during the vacation."
"Tch, who cares about that? I'd rather not go ho if it ans almost dying."
Nade grimaced at the re thought.
Yiruki faced a similar situation. Being the son of the head of the Kings Commission, he couldn't act rashly outside.
"But I'm really curious. Miro was the president of our research group. Technically, she's my direct senior. Maybe she watched over too?"
Yiruki shattered Nade's childhood wonder.
"Shirone said if we don't enter the Immortal Function, contact is impossible. She's probably dwelling in a dinsion between our world and theirs."
"Ah, I wanted to et and greet her."
"Well, you might see her before you die. Anyway, it's ti to part. Take care, everyone."
Yiruki pointed to three carriages waiting.
Among them, the flashy double-horse carriage from the rcodine family stood out.
"Wow, first-class nobility. Youre a different class indeed."
"Quiet. It's all a waste of money. And it's so slow, too."
The three exchanged farewells.
Though they'd see each other again soon, parting brought a rush of emotions.
"Shirone, Yiruki, I'll miss you. I've never disliked vacations as much as this ti."
"Will you be alright? Can you endure it?"
Yiruki asked with concern, knowing Nade's family situation and his current fear.
Surprisingly, Nade smiled brightly, a change from the previous sester. eting Shirone had given him many happy mories.
"No problem. I'll reorganize at ho and have more fun next sester. Stay healthy and take care."
After half a year of shared joys and sorrows, they walked to their respective carriages, waving goodbye.
"Great! See you on the first day of school!"
One week earlier.
Like other swordsmanship schools, the Kaizen Swordsmanship Academy had finished its first sester of training.
Despite receiving the worst report card, Rian's optimistic nature kept his spirits high on his way ho.
He would've preferred to go straight to his hotown, but he needed to collect his luggage from his sister's house in the royal palace area.
"Darn it, I have to et that witch again. I should've left my stuff at grandfather's place. She's going to kill over my report card."
Hoping desperately that Reina was out, Rian opened the door to the mansion.
Fitting for an artist recognized by the royal palace, the mansion was luxurious. But for Rian, it just felt like an unnecessarily long escape route.
Sneaking through the hall like a cat burglar, Rian's hopes were crushed by the loud sound of a piano.
"Damn! She's ho?"
The piano sound drowned out his voice.
Reina was focused solely on playing the grand piano in one corner of the hall.
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