44

“…?”

Hamel, who didn’t speak much, tilted his head.

It was because he had heard a sound.

When he listened closely, it was a human voice.

Hamel turned and looked at Daniel and Ono.

They, too, only nodded quietly as if they had heard it.

They were already on the grounds of the Colorless Magic Tower.

They couldn’t afford to miss even the smallest clue.

Since gathering information was the top priority, Hamel dismounted without hesitation.

“…there is… I saw it.”

The sound came again.

It was from deeper within the forest off the path.

Hamel and Daniel left Ono to watch the horses and moved toward the sound.

The voices grew clearer, and soon Hamel and his party found a group of people.

“Rena. What am I going to do, I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

A robe embroidered with a blue dragon motif on the chest caught his eye.

Its meaning was not hard to discern.

They were students of the Colorless Magic Tower Academy.

What were academy students doing in a forest like this?

Hamel hid his presence and listened to the students’ conversation.

“I really saw a cluster of blue moonlight herb around here. Strange.”

The blond girl said, arms crossed, sounding troubled.

The students behind her giggled at something.

The black-haired girl, crouched and rummaging through the grass, answered expressionlessly.

“Just knowing that is enough. It should be nearby.”

“You’re understanding? See, Rena’s kind. If it’s not here, go to the Old Tree Forest. It will definitely be there.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The black-haired girl nodded calmly.

“We’re going now. I hope you find it.”

“Okay, bye.”

After the conversation, the blond girl and the others behind her walked toward Hamel.

Hamel moved silently and hid to avoid them.

The students passed by without noticing, whispering and giggling among themselves.

“Hey hey. She really looks like she doesn’t know?”

“Is she dumb, or pretending to be bold, I don’t know.”

“It’s not an act. You can tell by the magic she studies.”

“Ah~ true.”

As the blond girl nodded, the freckled boy asked curiously.

“But why the Old Tree Forest?”

“Oh, because last time you said you liked her face.”

“Oh, so…?”

“Confess or whatever. Do as you like.”

“Yes! Thanks!”

The freckled boy was thrilled, while the blond girl who had spoken scowled as if disgusted.

“Crazy… are you really going to confess?”

“I mean, she’s pretty. She’s naive, so if you set the mood right she’ll fall for it. Perfect for a bit of fun.”

“Then at least pick up that thing you dropped earlier and give it to her. She’d like that.”

“Ugh, still, how do you pick something out of the trash can?”

“Bullshit.”

The boys and girls snickered and left, and Hamel walked slowly out of the bushes.

Further in the forest, the black-haired girl was still crouched, rummaging through the undergrowth.

Hamel, who had watched for a moment, made his presence known and spoke.

“Hello.”

“…Oh, yes.”

The girl widened her eyes slightly at Hamel, then answered curtly.

The brief awkward silence was broken when Daniel, unable to stand it, stepped forward.

“Are you a student of the tower? We are people from the order.”

The student, who had been watching Daniel’s sudden appearance, nodded.

“That’s right.”

A calm response on an expressionless face.

‘Who does she remind me of?’

Daniel looked at Hamel with a stunned expression.

Her manner was a carbon copy of Hamel’s.

Daniel swallowed a dry laugh and continued.

“What brings a student like you to a place like this alone?”

“I lost some herbs I needed for class.”

“You lost them?”

“Yes. I had prepared them, but before class they were gone.”

“That’s… strange.”

“It is strange.”

The student nodded calmly.

Daniel was a little taken aback.

To anyone else it was obviously bullying, but she seemed completely unaware.

Just as he was wondering how to tell her, it happened.

“My name is Hamel Gilmore. What is your name, student?”

“…?”

When Hamel suddenly asked her name, the student fell silent for a moment.

But she soon answered in her usual dry tone.

“I’m Rena.”

“Pleased to meet you, Rena. There’s something I should tell you.”

“What is it?”

“You are currently being bullied by the other students.”

“…?”

Rena tilted her head in confusion.

Daniel, who had been watching them, was too surprised to do anything but gape.

But Hamel showed no intention of stopping.

“The blue moonlight herb you lost was taken by them.”

Rena, who had been silent, suddenly rebutted.

She was still calm, but there was a hint of irritation.

“…But Mellany told me the location of the moonlight herb.”

“That’s a lie. They just want to watch you run around for nothing.”

“…”

“The Old Tree Forest is the same. They’ll call you there to play a trick on you.”

“How am I supposed to believe that…?”

“Check the trash bin of the classroom where the academy lesson was held. Your moonlight herb will be thrown there.”

Rena was speechless at Hamel’s certainty.

She then nodded slowly.

“I’ll know if I go see.”

“Yes. Let’s go together. We’re on our way to the tower anyway.”

“I’ll guide you.”

Daniel felt dizzy from the absurdity of the conversation.

As Rena led the way, Daniel murmured loud enough for Hamel to hear.

“You. You weren’t that indifferent a person, were you?”

“Ah, well.”

After a moment’s thought, Hamel nodded as if he finally understood and replied.

“She reminds me of my old self. Maybe she’ll accept it more easily if I tell her like this.”

“…So you noticed she reminded you of you.”

“She’s similar to the old me.”

“…Not now?”

“I’m different these days. Aren’t I more human than before?”

Hamel said, oddly proud.

‘Is being called more human a compliment?’

Daniel, looking utterly confused, just nodded.

The reason the Colorless Magic Tower is called the pride and headquarters of the empire’s mages.

There are many reasons, but one is that the tower produces many outstanding mages.

And now, one of the academy’s classrooms.

There, Rena murmured calmly.

“So it’s true.”

“…”

She held a handful of blue moonlight herb she had just taken from the trash can.

Hamel asked Rena, who was like that.

“What will you do now?”

“Hmm.”

Rena frowned slightly, thinking.

Then she, in turn, asked Hamel.

“Why am I being bullied?”

“It’s good to look for the reason within yourself, but sometimes the answer isn’t within you.”

Hamel answered calmly.

He didn’t really know the reason she was ostracized.

But.

Whether it was because she was blunt.

Or somewhat odd.

Or for any other reason.

Hamel believed bullying was hard to justify.

Rena, hearing him, rested her chin on her hand and fell into thought.

Then she bowed her head toward Hamel in thanks.

“Thank you.”

“Why?”

“Now that I think about it, it doesn’t seem to be my fault.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve decided what to do.”

Rena nodded with conviction.

He thought she would make the right choice, whatever it was.

It was then.

Screeech

Someone opened the classroom door and entered.

“Rena? And the person beside you… who are you?”

Hamel, Daniel, and even Ono.

The woman in the white hood, seeing three armed strangers, showed a wary look.

Rena stepped forward and said in a dry tone.

“Vice-principal. These people are from the order.”

“Ah!”

Only then did the woman called the vice-principal brighten and smile broadly.

“Hello. I’m Agnes Lowell, vice-principal of the Colorless Magic Tower.”

“Greetings. We are Hamel Saint Gilmore, Ono Paulo, and Daniel Tirian, dispatched from the order.”

“Welcome. We have been expecting you.”

The vice-principal truly seemed pleased, not just saying it.

She hadn’t heard the full story, but the situation didn’t look good.

“It seems Rena guided you. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm? That’s blue moonlight herb in your hand. Is it for another class?”

“…”

Rena’s expression changed oddly.

She then tilted her head and calmly replied.

“No. It’s for the intermediate course in Cursed Herbology.”

“Oh? Ah. Another one of Rena’s jokes?”

The vice-principal snorted and then turned to Hamel.

“Follow me. I’ll bring you to the tower master.”

“…Yes.”

Hamel looked at Rena, who was left behind.

Rena seemed to be puzzled by something and tilted her head.

Something nagged at him.

But he didn’t know what it was.

“Hamel?”

Daniel called to the motionless Hamel, and only then did Hamel come to himself.

“Let’s go.”

It was unsettling, but they couldn’t just stand there.

Meeting the tower master took priority now.

Hamel hurriedly followed behind the vice-principal.

In the tower master’s chamber, they were greeted by an old man with a long white beard.

“Greetings, people of the order. I’m Zickberg, tower master and head of the Colorless Magic Tower.”

“Hamel Saint Gilmore.”

The eastern empire was famed as a birthplace of magic, and so the Colorless Mage Tower held great influence.

To Hamel, lord of Haidern, Zickberg was a very important figure.

But Hamel cut to the chase and began.

“What is the situation?”

“It’s not good. I’ll explain at once.”

The tower master stroked his beard slowly and unfolded a map.

It showed the tower and the surrounding areas in detail.

“Recently three academy students have gone missing. The last places they were seen are here, here, and here.”

“When did they disappear?”

“The first was a week ago. The second two days ago. And the third was just yesterday.”

“Yesterday.”

Hamel repeated the word briefly, then continued to ask questions.

Commonalities among the missing children.

Traces found so far.

And the scopes of the searches already conducted.

“Based on where they went missing, the most suspicious place is here.”

“The Old Tree Forest. Yes, I checked there first, but found nothing amiss.”

“Then the next place to check is…”

“The mandragora plantations south of the tower are the next likely spot.”

“Yes, I agree.”

Hamel nodded briefly and rose from his seat.

The tower master opened his eyes wide in surprise and asked.

“Do you mean to go right away?”

“Of course.”

“As the rumors say, Exorcist priests are devout. That is reassuring.”

“Thank you. We’ll go first then.”

“Very well. Professor Agnes, who returned today, will guide you.”

As Hamel approached the door, the vice-principal who had been listening opened it and said.

“I’ll guide you. Follow me.”

“Please.”

When they left, the tower master’s room fell silent.

For a moment, the tower master’s hand, which had been stroking his beard kindly, stopped abruptly.

“Hamel Saint Gilmore, priest of the Azure Flame… this is unexpected.”

The tower master stared for a long time at the door through which Hamel had left, his eyes chillingly cold.