[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 44: The Ancient Tree Forest and the Girl (1)
"...?"
Hal, who was riding his horse, tilted his head.
He had heard sothing.
Listening closely, it was a human voice.
Hal looked back at Daniel and Ono.
They simply nodded, indicating they had heard it too.
This was already the land of the Colorless Magic Tower.
They couldn't miss even a small clue.
Since gathering information was their top priority, Hal dismounted without hesitation.
"...There... I saw it."
The voice was heard again.
It was coming from within the forest, off the road.
Hal and Daniel left their horses with Ono and walked towards the source of the sound.
The voices gradually beca clearer, and soon Hal and his party found a group of people.
"Lena, I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay."
A robe with a blue dragon embroidered on the chest caught his eye.
It was easy to recognize what it ant.
They were students of the Colorless Magic Tower Academy.
What were academy students doing in a forest like this?
Hal hid his presence and listened to their conversation.
"I really saw a cluster of Blue Moon Flowers around here. It's strange."
A girl with yellow hair said with her arms crossed, looking troubled.
The students behind her chuckled as if amused by sothing.
The black-haired girl, squatting on the ground and rummaging through the grass, replied with an expressionless face,
"Telling is enough. They must be nearby."
"You understand? You're so kind, Lena. If they're not here, try the Ancient Tree Forest. They'll definitely be there."
"Okay, thank you."
The black-haired girl nodded calmly.
"We'll be going now. I hope you find them."
"Yeah, see you."
The yellow-haired girl finished the conversation and walked towards Hal with the children behind her.
Hal moved silently and hid to avoid them.
The students didn't notice him and walked past, whispering and giggling amongst themselves.
"He he. She really seems clueless, doesn't she?"
"I don't know if she's stupid or just pretending to be bold."
"I don't think she's acting. You can tell by the magic she specializes in."
"Ah, that's true."
As the yellow-haired girl nodded, a freckled boy asked curiously,
"But why the Ancient Tree Forest?"
"Ah, because you said you liked her face before."
"Oh, then...?"
"Confess to her or whatever, do as you like."
"Yay! Thanks!"
The freckled boy was delighted, but the yellow-haired girl who had brought it up frowned with a disgusted expression.
"Crazy... Is he really going to confess?"
"Why not? She's pretty. If she's naive, he can easily win her over if he sets the mood right. She's perfect to play with."
"Well, then go pick it up again. I'll be happy if you give it to ."
"Eww, how can I pick up sothing I threw in the trash?"
"Ugh, seriously."
The male and female students giggled and left. Hal slowly erged from the bushes.
Deeper in the forest, the black-haired girl was still squatting and rummaging through the bushes.
Hal approached her, making his presence known.
"Hello."
"...Oh, hello."
The girl's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Hal, then she replied curtly.
An awkward silence fell between the two, and Daniel, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward.
"Are you a student of the Magic Tower? We're from the order."
The student, staring intently at the suddenly appearing Daniel, nodded.
"Yes, I am."
An indifferent response with an expressionless face.
'Who does she remind of?'
Daniel looked at Hal with a dumbfounded expression.
Her behavior was a carbon copy of Hal's.
Daniel swallowed a chuckle and continued,
"What are you doing here alone?"
"I lost the herbs I need for class."
"Lost them?"
"Yes, I had them prepared, but they were gone before class."
"That's... strange."
"It is strange."
The student nodded calmly.
Daniel was a bit flustered.
It was a clear case of bullying, but she seed completely unaware of it.
Just as he was wondering how to tell her,
"My na is Hal Gilmore. What's your na?"
"...?"
The student was silent for a mont at Hal's sudden question.
But she soon replied in her usual monotonous tone,
"I'm Lena."
"Nice to et you, Lena. There's sothing I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"You're being bullied by other students."
"...?"
Lena tilted her head, puzzled.
Daniel, watching the two, was so surprised that he could only gape.
But Hal didn't seem to want to stop talking.
"The Blue Moon Flowers you lost, they took them."
Lena, silent for a mont, retorted,
She was still calm but seed slightly irritated.
"...But lina told where the Moon Flowers were."
"That's a lie. They just want to see you struggle in vain."
"..."
"The Ancient Tree Forest too. They are luring you there and to play a prank on you."
"How can I believe that..."
"The trash can in the classroom where you had your academy class. You'll find your Moon Flowers discarded there."
Lena was speechless at Hal's confident words.
Then she slowly nodded.
"I'll see for myself."
"Yes, let's go together. We're on our way to the Magic Tower anyway."
"I'll lead the way."
Daniel was baffled by the unbelievable conversation.
As Lena walked ahead, Daniel whispered to Hal,
"You... weren't that insensitive, were you?"
"Ah, well..."
After a brief mont of contemplation, Hal nodded as if he finally understood.
"I think she resembles my past self. She'll probably understand better if I tell her this way."
"...I knew she resembled you."
"She's similar to how I used to be."
"...Not now?"
"I'm different now. I'm more human than before, aren't I?"
Hal said, sounding sowhat proud for so reason.
'Is being human a complint?'
Daniel simply nodded, looking completely clueless.
***
One of the reasons why the Colorless Magic Tower was called the pride and origin of the Empire's mages,was that it produced many outstanding mages.
And in one of the academy classrooms,
Lena muttered with an indifferent expression,
"It's true."
"..."
In her hand was a handful of Blue Moon Flowers she had just taken out of the trash can.
Hal asked Lena,
"What are you going to do now?"
"Hmm."
Lena frowned slightly and pondered.
Then she asked Hal,
"Why am I being bullied?"
"Reflecting on oneself is admirable, but sotis the answer doesn't lie with you."
Hal replied calmly.
He didn't know why she was being ostracized.
But,
Whether it was because she was blunt,
Or a bit eccentric,
Or for any other reason,
Hal believed that bullying was difficult to justify.
Hearing his words, Lena rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought.
Then she bowed her head to Hal and thanked him.
"Thank you."
"Why?"
"Because I realized it's not my fault."
"That's good."
"Yes, thanks to you, I've decided what to do."
Lena nodded confidently.
He didn't know what choice she would make, but he had a feeling she would do well.
It was then.
Slide!
Soone opened the classroom door and entered.
"Lena? And who are those next to you...?"
Hal, Daniel, and even Ono.
The woman in the white pointed hat looked wary upon discovering the three strangers in arms.
Lena stepped forward and said in a monotonous tone,
"Vice-principal, these are people from the order."
"Ah!"
The woman, called the vice-principal, brightened up and smiled.
"Hello, I'm Agnes Lowell, the vice-principal of the Colorless Magic Tower."
"Greetings, we are Hal Saint Gilmore, Ono Paulo, and Daniel Tyrian, dispatched from the order."
"Welco. I've been waiting for you."
The vice-principal seed genuinely pleased, not just saying it out of courtesy.
He hadn't heard the details, but it seed the situation wasn't good.
"It seems Lena guided you. Thank you."
"It was nothing."
"Hmm? That in your hand is a Blue Moon Flower, isn't it? Is it for a different class?"
"..."
Lena's expression turned strange.
Then she tilted her head and asked back in a flat tone,
"No, it's for the Interdiate Curse Herbology class."
"Hmm? Aha, another one of Lena's jokes?"
The vice-principal chuckled and then turned to Hal.
"Follow . I'll guide you to the Tower Master."
"...Yes."
Hal looked at Lena, who was left behind.
Lena was tilting her head as if sothing was strange.
Sothing felt off.
But he didn't know what it was.
"Hal?"
As Daniel called out to Hal, who was standing still, Hal ca to his senses.
"Let's go."
He felt uneasy, but he couldn't just stand there.
eting the Tower Master was the priority now.
Hal hurriedly followed the vice-principal.
***
In the Tower Master's room, Hal was greeted by an old man with a long white beard.
"Greetings, mbers of the order. I am Siegberg, the Tower Master of the Colorless Magic Tower and the headmaster of the academy."
"I am Hal Saint Gilmore."
The eastern part of the Empire was called the ho of magic, and as such, the influence of the Colorless Magic Tower was significant.
This also ant that Siegberg was a very important person to Hal, the lord of Heidern.
But Hal got straight to the point.
"What's the situation?"
"Not good. I'll explain right away."
The Tower Master slowly stroked his beard and then took out a map and unfolded it.
It showed the Magic Tower and its surrounding areas in detail.
"Three students from the academy have recently disappeared. They were last seen here, here, and here."
"When did they go missing?"
"The first was a week ago, the second two days ago, and the third just yesterday."
"Yesterday."
Hal briefly pondered the word and continued his questions.
Commonalities between the missing children.
Any traces they had found so far.
And finally, the extent of the search area.
"Based on the locations where the children disappeared, the most suspicious place is here."
"The Ancient Tree Forest. Yes, that's where I looked first, but there was nothing unusual."
"Then the next place to investigate is..."
"The mandrake farm south of the Magic Tower is the next most likely."
"Yes, I agree."
Hal nodded briefly and rose from his seat.
The Tower Master's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you going right away?"
"Of course."
"As expected, exorcists are truly devout. That puts my mind at ease."
"Thank you. Then we'll be on our way."
"Very well. Professor Agnes, who returned today, will guide you."
As Hal approached the door, the vice-principal, who had been listening to the conversation, opened the door and said,
"I'll guide you. Follow ."
"Thank you."
As they stepped outside, silence fell over the Tower Master's room.
The Tower Master, who had been stroking his beard with a benevolent expression, suddenly stopped.
"Hal Saint Gilmore, the priest of the Azure Fla... This is unexpected."
The Tower Master stared at the door Hal had left through for a long ti, his eyes cold and sharp.
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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