I have… returned.

Granted, nothing interesting ever happens in these days, but it is precisely the reason why I find these days especially precious.

But, a certain student pulled me from my withdrawn state, and returned me to this bright and colorful world…

She told me I could continue to enjoy this peaceful and calm days.

As I repeatedly thought of this debt – a certain incident occurred.

“Huh? Huuuh?!”

“Hey, just a moment, what is this all about?”

“I do not recall doing something that would warrant me getting fired… probably… no, definitely not!”

“…Not accurate?”

“T-then, why is it…?”

While leaning on the nearby wall, Celica interjected into the conversation.

The injury that Celica suffered from the recent expedition down into the Underground Labyrinth has yet to fully heal. Her slender build was wrapped in bandages, and her left arm held in a sling.

“Glenn… Have you submitted your thesis on magic? Surely you know that the deadline for submission has long since pa.s.sed…”

“Ah… Thesis on magic…?”

“…I see, that… Umm… Is it really necessary to write one?”

Suddenly, sparks of flame burst forth as Celica blew Glenn up with spell.

“You are a teacher of the academy! It should be painfully clear that you needed to periodically report your research progress with a thesis!”

“Ugh… W-what the heck, I’m sure this is the first that I heard about it…!”

After a period of intense shaking, Glenn’s head just meekly drooped down.

The headmaster looked directly at Glenn.

“One of the conditions for the extended employment of a teacher is to periodically submit a thesis to report their research progress. It’s part of the academy’s operational rules. It is different from that time in which I took you on as a teacher despite your lack of a resume. On this matter, I can’t help you even if I want to!”

“Celica, I just thought of a great idea, why not just let me get laid off and go back to being a moocher…?”

Celica mercilessly kicked down the wisecrack who still dared to joke.

Glenn wobbly stood back up, and turned to face the headmaster.

“…Hmm? G-Glenn… You…?”

“Uhh…”

“Is there any possibility to see that the thesis deadline extended? I will certainly write one… I beg of you! Please give me the chance!”

Daaarn it…!!! I can’t let myself get fired…!!!

It will seriously be bad if I get fired now! Just a while ago, I secretly used Celica’s name to shop by mail, with everything to be paid in installments. I won’t be able to pay for it if I am no longer getting paid!

The plan was a simple one: Have the puppet take his appearance, and teach the cla.s.s in his stead, so that he can skip work.

‘Until those kids graduate’. Such words came out spontaneously, perhaps reflective of his changed inner thoughts, but it seems the path was still long before he completely become a respectable individual.

With such troubled thoughts…

Glenn used all his efforts to perform the perfect dogeza.

“T-that’s…”

Glenn revealed a pained expression. Certainly, without any research to build a thesis and just rely purely on citing literatures won’t make the cut before the close scrutiny of the reviewers.

Before the fear of not being able to meet his payments, his first feelings were of regret to his students.

“…? Umm… Isn’t it an ancient ruins in the northern regions…?”

“Yes, as you may be aware, the site’s difficulty is rated as ‘F’. The site lacks any significant sorcerous relics, the spirit veins are also quite lackl.u.s.ter. Neither the magical nor the archaeological value is anything worth mentioning. If it weren’t for its inaccessible location, it would probably have long been turned into a tourist attraction…” After a moment’s pause, headmaster Rick then continued in a stern voice, “However, a few years ago, certain magician’s research of the ‘Taum Observatory’ proposed the site as the ritual ground for spatial-temporal magic.”

Spatial-temporal magic. To anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of magic, such talks were nothing but hogwash.

“But… The magician who posited such a theory was a famed genius, so much so that we cannot simply disregard it as madness.”

“Just as Glenn-kun said, ‘Taum Observatory’ has been repeatedly investigated, and the results are without any promise. As of such, no self-respecting researcher is willing to take up the task. That and, everyone is busy with their own research projects to have the spare time for such a fool’s errand. But, since the genius magician brought up such a theory, we cannot simply ignore it. So at the very least, a repeat expedition is necessary…”

“We have left the site untouched for quite some time. Don’t you think it is about time to dispatch someone to check it out again?”

“Glenn-kun, I wish for you to lead the expedition to ‘Taum Observatory.’ If by odd chance you are able to discover evidence of spatial-temporal magic, your name will be forever left in the annals of discovery. That and ‘finding no evidence’ is also a valid result given the circ.u.mstances, and if you write it into a thesis… Haa… While those reviewers may laugh at it, at the very least they will let you continue on with your position… How does that sound?”

Glenn leaned forward and gratefully gripped the headmaster’s hands, then, said with the utmost confidence.

As he expressed his grat.i.tude, within Glenn’s heart…

Glenn resisted the deep desire to shout in frustration.

…Glenn still failed to mature even the slightest.

Unaware of the internal conflicts within Glenn, the headmaster then dropped a bombsh.e.l.l.

W-what the heck…?! I must pay out of my own pocket?!

“N-no problem! I have been a teacher for some time after all! I should be fine with the savings I have built up.”

Ugh! My stomach is churning again! To have to self-fund an expedition is too much! I n-need to think of something… I’m going to be screwed if I carry on this expedition as normal, especially with how little I have left after repeated salary cuts.

T-that’s right…! As long as I bring some students along, I can skimp on the hiring fee for expedition members! This way, I will be able to avoid any personnel expenditure…! Hehehe~!

If I remember correctly, any site rated D or above is prohibited for academy students… B-but! Conveniently, ‘Taum Observatory’ is F-ranked! The lowest possible rank! It is a trash site that could not even be used for the student’s ‘Archaeology Practic.u.m’! Everything is perfect!

I only need to trick the students, and make them labor away at the site… all for the sake of my continued employment… and for the sake of my salary!

“Glenn!”

Ah? Celica?! C-could it be that s-she sensed my intentions…?!

But, Celica’s serious expression relaxed and turned into a smile, with tears that soon followed…

Celica brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes. Her expression of joy so much removed from her usual cold visage… almost as if the person in front of Glenn was a different person.

The surprised Glenn was at a loss on how to respond.

“H-headmaster?!”

“C-can we not talk about it in front of Glenn?! D-don’t be mean! Unfair!”

Ugh… The stinging pain from my bad conscience…

“Well then, I guess the matter is settled…”

“J-just leave the repeat expedition of Taum Observatory t-to me! I n-need to get the preparations in order, till then…”

Just as Glenn was about to step out of the office, he was stopped by Celica.

“Mm, thank you.”

◇　◇　◇

“That’s right. People can change…”

The encouragement she showered him and the magic she taught him led to the tragedy, and resulted in Glenn’s ruin. ‘Glenn may never recover, perhaps for as long as he lives’ – such thoughts tormented Celica, for which she shed countless tears.

Thankfully, Glenn seemingly had recovered from his trauma, albeit it took quite some time.

Although he faced hards.h.i.+p, he did not become discouraged. Although he struggled with his day to day life, his eyes remained looking toward the future.

Celica revealed a bitter smile.

For the immortal Celica, it was a painful realization.

Guile, ignorance, and misfortune were all facets of what it meant to be human.

“Ah… Here it comes again.”

“D-darn it… Ugh…”

Times and times again such attacks would come. This was Celica’s ‘ailment’ – one not of the flesh, but of the mind. Although Celica was well aware of the cause, she knows no way to resolve it. As of late, the frequency of the episodes has worsened, roughly around when Glenn took on the mantle of the teacher, and once again returned to the path of life.

For the moments that followed, Celica did not move, and only repeatedly took deep breaths, as if waiting for the storm to pa.s.s… until finally, peace returned and Celica raised her head once more.

◇　◇　◇

Alzano Imperial Medical Academy, Cla.s.s 202.

Unlike the other students noisily chatting away before the start of cla.s.s, Sistine wearily stretched her out on the desk and let out a long and audible sigh. Her smooth long platinum hair spread upon the table, as if a glistening river.

Lumia, sitting next to Sistine, tried to comfort her.

Sistine slowly lifted her face, without an ounce of her usual aloofness. If one have to describe, it would be an air of utter dejection.

“Uhh, a little of this, and a little of that…”

“I worked my arms off writing that essay to apply as a member of the expedition, the minimum they should do is to at least be gentle with their words… Are they purposely making fun of me? That and…”

Lumia could only do her best to calm the fuming yet disappointed Sistine.

It all started with Professor Rufi Fosil’s desire to field an expedition to the newly found ruins in the eastern regions of the empire, and began to gather research a.s.sistants from among the students.

However, her application was quickly rejected. ‘Female, too young, too low of a grade, too low of a magician rank, too opinionated’ and so forth, they picked at Sistine of her various inadequacies. Even the essay that was to be evaluated as part of the application was discarded to the side.

Sistine’s anger welled up whenever she remember the contemptuous response Professor Fosil gave.

Not just this time, Sistine has applied every time there was an expedition, yet every time she failed to get accepted.

Lumia abruptly stopped at the sight of Sistine’s furrowed eyebrows.

“Mm… That… is certainly true…”

Difficulty rating was set by taking into account a combined factor of the site’s traps, mechanisms, guardians, beasts, and regional conditions. They were set into one of the seven broad category of S, A, B, C, D, E, and F, and subsequently divided into 21 more specific ranks. A rank of B++ signified a risk of death even for professional expedition members with ample preparation.

“Uuu…”

While magician rank was not a strict representation of one’s ability, by and large Lumia was correct. The same could be said about the site’s difficulty. Just calmly evaluating her own capability for a slight moment was enough to recognize herself as inadequate.

The childish behavior of her best friend made Lumia unable to do anything but wryly smile.

“…T-thanks, Lumia.”

“Haa… Everyone, good morning!”

At the same time, the bell rung, signaling the start of cla.s.s, and the side conversations slowly died down.

Something is up…

“You guys are always cooped up inside the cla.s.sroom, studying the material from the textbooks, and memorizing those esoteric facts… Is that really good? Are you satisfied with such a boring education?”

“You are all magicians seeking the ‘truth of the world’, right? Sure, there is plenty of knowledge to be had within the books, but this world cannot be contained within mere lines of words. It’s a world filled with many wonders just waiting to be explored! If you do not yearn after these wonders, what make of magicians are you?! What sort of truth-seeker are you?!”

“You should spend more time learning about the world and expand your horizons! After all, you are still all too young. If you keep yourself cooped up in your rooms, you will become more and more detached from the world! You must step out of your comfort zone and experience the outside world! Discover the unknown and grow your experiences! After all, new discoveries are always just around the corner, and you should expand your understanding of the great world we all live in! Don't you all agree?”

Glenn’s arousing speech created a fervor of excitement within the cla.s.sroom.

The fervor continued to grow among the students.

Glenn’s words had a portion of truth to them.

As of such, the students are unable to refute Glenn’s arguments, and pa.s.sively absorbed his words.

“T-Taum Observatory…?!”

“Huh? White Cat? What’s the matter?”

After being focused on by the gazes of the entire cla.s.s, Sistine s.h.i.+rked back into her seat with a reddened face.

Glenn’s words riled up the entire cla.s.s into discussion.

“The difficulty rank is also quite low… It is a perfect opportunity for Sisti, who currently lack experience!”

Although she was unaware of Glenn’s intentions for riling everyone up, both of her eyes beamed with the desire to partic.i.p.ate.

Just moments before Glenn’s remarks made Sistine reflexively raised her hands.

The gla.s.sed youth stood up as he flashed a sarcastic smile. It was Gibul Wisdan, one of the students in Glenn’s cla.s.s.

Although there were thorns in Gibul’s words, he nevertheless raised a valid point.

Glenn quickly stopped his tongue after letting slip the real answer to Gibul’s question.

Glenn continued to spew out excuses, and let out a forced laughter.

“Huh? What rumors, Gibul?” The well-built Kash asked.

“F-fired?!”

“I-is that really true?! Has teacher really not written a thesis?!”

“Ahaha~! W-what are you talking about, I h-have no i-idea…!”

Seeing Glenn’s constantly swimming eyes, all the students inevitably reached the same conclusion.

Gibul’s verbal insults and sharp glare struck deep into Glenn’s heart.

Glenn’s voice crackled in his response. His lack of persuasiveness was evident to all in the cla.s.sroom.

“R-regardless of the intention, something like an archaeological expedition should be quite a novel experience for you students. Not only partic.i.p.ating on expeditions, a magician is also required to partic.i.p.ate on all kinds of on-site investigation! The experience of partic.i.p.ating on an expedition is definitely a valuable one! Right? Right?!” Glenn desperately pleaded.

Death. This one word that made the students skip a breath.

Glenn suddenly leapt into the air and made a twirl.

Two full flips, followed by a perfect landing with his limbs and head touching the ground. A stellar execution of Glenn’s special personalized magic ‘Double Moonsault Dogeza’.

“Teacher, please raise your head.”

“…I wish to a.s.sist teacher in the expedition.”

“Uhh…”

“A-angel?!”

“Mm… I know you would definitely join in. Yeah, I am sure of it!”

“Yes, I will do my best to help teacher write a splendid thesis… Although, I am not sure how someone inexperienced like me can really help…”

Returning to him faking ignorance, Glenn revealed a forced smile at Lumia.

Glenn’s excessive praise made Lumia let out a chuckle.

“Although I am confused about the details, I will volunteer myself for the expedition.”

“I am Glenn’s sword. Just leave Glenn’s and Lumia’s protection to me.”

“Mm.”

“Sisti, you should hurry up.” After Lumia sat back down, she whispered to Sistine.

“Sisti?”

Actually, Sistine Fibel was holding a slight childish grudge against Glenn. Although she really wanted to announce her partic.i.p.ation, she would rather hear the request from Glenn himself. Basically, she was feeling jealous.

I’ll be relying on you, Riel.

The potency of Lumia’s healing spell was not shy to any professional healers, and it was something Sistine could not compare. While the combat strength of Riel, an operative of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, was also unparalleled. Considering the dangers they might encounter on the expedition, there were no better candidates.

J-just not long ago, I fought alongside teacher and triumphed over a powerful foe…

N-no no no… That definitely won’t happen…

Her mind could easily imagine the arrogant Glenn, speaking in a tone that would make her boil inside. Not to mention, the situation would be infinitely worse since he just openly praised and demonstrated his trust in Lumia and Riel.

Sistine wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Redolf Fibel, and become a famous archaeothaumatologist.

What can I do? I really want to partic.i.p.ate, but also don’t want to be treated differently than Lumia and Riel, to be seen like a burden.

“Hmm… Is there anyone else interested in joining?” Glenn beckoned the students from the podium.

…T-that’s right! If I think about it, experience gained on research expedition can be counted toward our total combat experience! Therefore, I can give the excuse that for the sake of gaining experience, however unwilling I am, I will wish to partic.i.p.ate! This way, my partic.i.p.ation will be seen as a favor to him!

This way, no matter how the teacher end up evaluating me, I won’t lose any face! Yes, let’s go with th-…

“Then, count me in.”

Sistine meekly drooped her head at the interruption.

My idea was scooped…!!

“Haa… You are really a problematic kid, but it’s fine. Now, anyone else?”

If I use the same excuse to partic.i.p.ate after Gibul, won’t it feel very unnatural? Won’t people see it as me purposely trying to hide my true desires, that I use the same excuse to pretend to be uninterested? Should I think of some other excuse?

“Teacher! Me! Pick me! I love these sorts of adventures! Hey, Cecil, you should come as well!”

“Really? You do know this isn’t a simple field trip, right? Well, fine, you’re both in.”

“Ah… Teacher, m-me as well.”

Soon after, the shy and apprehensive Lynn t.i.ttis, and the idol-like Teresa Reidy, both raised their hand in interest.

“T-that… I… I s-still wants t-teacher to keep t-teaching… Umm… A-although I may not be much of a help, but c-ch.o.r.es and stuff, I can definitely do… T-therefore, please.”

Ugh! I’m so envious of those who could clearly speak their minds!

“That’s right, teacher. As for the necessary supplies of the expedition, just leave it to my house – Reidy Conglomerate, to prepare. Of course, all supplies will be prepared at cost, and I will definitely ensure it will be less expensive than anywhere else. This way, we need not have to worry about the quality of the preparatory work, and is definitely in favor of teacher considering the circ.u.mstances… Hehehe~”

“Hey, Teresa… where did you learn that the school won’t cover the expenditures for this expedition?”

“It is hard to refuse such beneficial conditions. But still, are you planning to expand your connections within the school and increasing your business experience? For the sake of your conglomerate’s future…?”

“Definitely the scion of a great merchant, how scary… Either way, it will definitely be of a big help.”

Sistine continued to hang her head in displeasure.

Ugh, I can’t care about my pride anymore!

I don’t care what that guy thinks anymore! Other ruins aside, only Taum Observatory… only this one ruins I cannot let by!

“Ah, that’s right. About the last spot on the expedition team, to tell you all the truth, I already have decided on someone.”

Glenn’s sudden declaration caused Sistine to freeze.

Sistine’s mind turned into a field of white.

And then Glenn’s glance turned towards Sistine.

Looking at Glenn’s gaze made Sistine’s heart race nonstop.

Glenn slowly walked over toward Sistine. He has said it before, it was someone that he was willing to grovel on the ground for.

As Glenn approached, Sistine’s heart beat faster and faster.

Sistine could barely contain her joy.

Huh…? Ah?!

“Wendy, the last person must be you. Could you please partic.i.p.ate? I beg of you!” Glenn said to Wendy Nablesse, located five seats behind Sistine.

Sistine’s collapsed back down, and landed her forehead squarely on her desk.

Wendy held her face with one hand and tilted her head away, displaying a clear disinterest in the prospect.

“…” Wendy quietly thought to herself

Glenn begged with his hand clasped.

“Haa… I really don’t know what to do with you…”

“It’s not unusual for a n.o.ble to survey how the commoners lived, that and responding to the request of commoners is also a duty of n.o.bles… Although I am somewhat unwilling, I will still go.”

“Stop it! How disgusting! A gentlemen should not act so flirtatiously before a lady, a gentlemen is…”

…On the other hand.

Sistine’s time has completely froze.

“Sistine? Hmm? Not responding at all… How odd.”

The surrounding students was also confused. “How come both Lumia and Riel were partic.i.p.ating, yet Sistine was left behind?” Such peculiar development was difficult to explain.

“Uhh… Alrighty…!”

“With this, the expedition team is set! I thank you all for your time and a.s.sistance! Let us gather together after cla.s.s to discuss the details and preparations of the expedition.”

“Hmm?”

“W-what is it, White Cat… A-are you planning to criticize me for not writing a thesis?!”

“N-no! Its n-not my mistake, White Cat! R-rather, it is a p-problem of the system…!”

“Uuu… Ahh…”

“T-that… T-the…”

“Umm… What is wrong? You are scaring me…”

Lumia let out a pained smile from behind, and using hand signals (one of the absolutely necessary skill of a magician) to hint at Sistine’s true desires, and then lowered her head in request for Glenn.

After a moment’s pause, Glenn, who finally realized Sistine’s true intentions, simply shook his head a few times, and with a pained visage, let out a long sigh.

“…Mm?”

Glenn continued, “Ah, I was obviously planning to bring you along. Regardless of whether you are willing or not, I was going to drag you along. I decided upon this from the very beginning… Yeah.”

“Umm… Regardless of how it is, I am someone who is unfamiliar with archaeothaumatology… How to put this, I need someone to consult, basically an expert I guess. Don’t you fit the bill perfectly?”

“Y-yeah, either way, only you I need to force to come along regardless of what you think. Even if it means abusing my power as a teacher. If you refuse this request, I will forcibly fail you… Hehehe~”

Light returned to the husk-like Sistine.

“No can do, I don’t like to hold in my feelings like a certain someone, you copy?”

Sistine angrily launched a verbal barrage, and now naturally transitioned into lecturing Glenn. But, to any outside observer, it was quite obvious that Sistine was ecstatic about being able to partic.i.p.ate in the expedition.

This time, everyone, including Glenn, came to the same conclusion.

In the week that followed.

In the bustling southern district of Fejite, at a small discreet pub hidden away in the mazelike alleyways, Glenn sat on the counter.

The enervated Glenn let himself rest on the counter. With the final preparations wrapped up today, Glenn could finally take a breather.

But Glenn was not in the position to force discipline upon them.

“Then…”

“Hmph… I guess I got here too early.”

“Sleepy… Is there nothing here with which I could pa.s.s the time…?”

“Hmm? This is…”

The t.i.tle was ‘Investigation: Regarding Taum Observatory and Spatial-Temporal Magic’

A few days ago, Glenn used his privilege as a teacher to take out a copy of the thesis from the Academy’s library, but soon forgotten it in his bag.

If a certain white-haired girl was present, she would definite shout ‘that is really irresponsible of you’ and begin a long lecture.

Glenn flipped through the paper as he let out a yawn.

From the looks of it, that site really is worthless…

The numerous tablets within the Observatory were all translated, but none that was worth mentioning within the field of archaeothaumatology – or rather, was of benefit to the research into sorcery. The structure of the ruins has been completely a.n.a.lyzed, and all of the hidden chambers were well doc.u.mented. There really wasn’t anything left to discover at the ruins.

Glenn was now worried about how to go about writing his own thesis, and let out a yawn at the thought.

Taum Observatory was recognized by everyone in the magical community as a completely worthless site. Yet, the author challenged that widely held opinion, and concluded that Taum Observatory was an ancient ritual site for spatial-temporal magic, a huge magic installation.

With a sarcastic smile, Glenn flipped the page with a single finger.

Ha! Clearly the author was overthinking it. If there really was a device as the author described… How to say this… Won’t the world be already destroyed?

“…! …Oh?!”

Glenn could not help but think about what compelled the author to go to such great length for his research. The incredible concentration and imagination that went into the conjectures, almost as if perfectly building a castle in the air, attracted and excited every fiber of Glenn’s attention. It convinced readers that the worthless Taum Observatory was an important ancient installation, and made readers believe its purpose was undoubtedly for spatial-temporal magic. However, the most important part of the paper, the part that tied all the theories together: the evidence of magic in the temple, was nowhere to be found. “Why? How can this happen? Was something missing from the site? Did we overlook something?” The words of the thesis permeated the distraught feelings of the author.

Glenn took a deep breath, and put away the thesis. He then took a glance at the time, and noticed he had burned more time than he expected.

Despite not presenting any strong evidence, this thesis was undoubtedly the magnum opus of its author. The imagination and thought experiments, the carefully formulated reasoning, and the crisp conclusions were all deserving of study by others.

Glenn excitedly flipped to the cover and read the author’s name.

“Hmm? Fibel… Why does that name sound familiar…”

“What a rare occurrence, it’s rare to see you arriving earlier than me.”

The sudden cool voice that rang out from behind his back gave Glenn a scare. Glenn quickly caught the thesis he reflexively dropped, and glared at the youth with critical eyes.

“You are too careless. If I were an a.s.sa.s.sin, I would’ve killed you three times over.” The cool youth, Albert, emotionlessly replied.

“I’ve heard you gotten yourself into something troublesome, Glenn.”

“Hmph, to need your students to cover for your mistakes, you are honestly beyond help.”

Of course, Albert was well aware where Glenn will be heading tomorrow, his cool appearance contained a tinge of anger and frustration.

“…”

“Haa… You b.a.s.t.a.r.d is really merciless.”

With drinks in hand, the two exchanged details about recent developments – The current situation of the Imperial Government, the movements of the military, as well as news from the magic academy. Overall, a very professional exchange of Intel.

Glenn s.h.i.+fted the topic to one of his interest.

That organization they were discussing was the one that targeted the disowned princess, the forbidden ability user Lumia, and would go to any lengths to capture her – the cult that called themselves the ‘Researchers of Divine Wisdom’.

“W-what?! Is that true?!”

“…Calm yourself. Don’t let something as petty as this disturb your cool.”

Albert kept his usual cool, and quietly sipped his gla.s.s of brandy.

“We discovered it early, and have quietly disposed of the ones involved.” Albert briskly replied, almost as if nothing has happened. To which, Glenn let out a long sigh.

Glenn took a sip of brandy, the liquid was tasteless in his mouth.

“But, as long as we have you standing guard, no matter how strong the enemy, they are nothing more than trash. Isn’t that right?”

Glenn was originally a member of the Imperial Court Mage Corps. Although only a measly third-ranked magician, he can always pull through in life and death battles. But compared to that, Albert was able to clean everything up without the notice of Glenn. While his actions was less disruptive, it was somewhat terrifying to be guarded in the shadows.

“I-is that so…”

“But, by the Intel we got from the higher-ups, it seems that the organization has taken to a new direction. One can rather say, they are preoccupied so as to ignore the princess for now.”

“That’s correct. The organization has realigned its focus on a new direction, and have a new goal at hand. We are unsure of the details. ‘Hermit’ and ‘Hierophant’ are looking into it.”

“That and, recently, Jatice Lowfan’s movement are quite concerning.”

“The Jatice that faked his own death, and then hid away for over a full year before returning… After that encounter with you, he seemed to be active in the regions around Fejite, wiping out anyone with relations to the Researchers of Divine Wisdom… occasionally getting innocent civilians involved in his rampage.”

Jatice was a dangerous individual who believed in his own form of justice. If necessary, he would not hesitate to murder innocents, and would not be ridden with any guilt, for he earnestly believed his actions to reflect ‘justice’.

“Darn him… He is acting hostile to both the empire and the cultists, just what exactly is he trying to achieve?”

“I am not sure, but it feels like he is searching for something. It also seemed like he is purposely revealing himself, baiting others into attacking him.”

With an unusual interest in Glenn, Jatice was someone hard to figure out. Rather, it would be unthinkable for a normal person to understand the thoughts of a madman.

Just then, Albert calmly changed the topic.

“You are being called back from Fejite? I guess the personnel shortage is quite real…”

As among the strongest of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, Albert could easily complete many difficult missions, and was a favorite among the top bra.s.s of the military. It was not the least due in part to how he could coldly execute any task a.s.signed to him.

Bait. Albert said with a tinge of sarcasm, but sadly it reflected the thoughts of the military and the government.

With such distasteful methods, Alicia the Seventh must be worried sick for her beloved daughter.

To this very day, the Researchers of Divine Wisdom would use every trick in their a.r.s.enal to get their hands on Lumia – dead or alive. It was not wrong to think that for the sake of a certain goal of theirs, the Researchers of Divine Wisdom needed to get their hands on the unique ability holder Lumia.

Was Lumia no longer an essential target to their plans?

During the last field trip, the Project: Revive Life incident… Did I overlook something?

Worrisome matters kept on piling up. Yet no matter how hard they thought about it, there was not a single lead to follow.