Not long after, an investigation team dispatched from Aeroc arrived in Grasco.
"Hmph, truly...."
Investigator Robert Modernian, the head of the investigation team.
As he was also a graduate of Grasco, he could not help but gasp at the sight, which was far removed from the magnificent image he remembered.
Vice President.
"Ah, you've come, Investigator."
Please feel free to speak comfortably.
"Even though he was my disciple, isn't he now the one overseeing the affairs of state in Aeroc? We must clearly distinguish between public and private matters."
The upright character was the Ronald he knew.
My joy at my teacher's health was short-lived, as an explanation of this horrific scene is required.
I heard there was a raid.
"That is correct. It seems there was some kind of problem with the barrier, and taking advantage of a very brief crack…"
"If it is Grasco's barrier, I understand it is the highest-grade barrier of the Magic Tower."
That is correct.
"It looks like the Magic Tower will be showing its face soon as well. If the problem with the barrier is confirmed, the Magic Tower will likely have to provide compensation."
That is not the problem.
Following Ronald's gaze, I saw casualties groaning from their injuries or already dead.
There are even young students.
Please do not blame yourself.
It is the result of my lack of virtue.
"If you hadn't been here, Vice President, there would have been far more casualties. The entire continent will acknowledge that you prevented it with minimal damage."
"It is not me. All the credit rightfully belongs to someone else."
"If it were someone else...."
There comes.
As I turned my head in the direction Ronald was pointing, I instantly felt a shiver run down my spine.
Like someone existing in a different world, wrinkle-free clothes, neatly styled hair, and above all, the nobility emanating from his very existence.
Professor Lucas.
It was the first time he had actually seen Lucas, but he recognized him immediately.
"If it weren't for Professor Lucas... we probably would have experienced an even greater loss."
"okay."
Robert approached him as he appeared with a line of young students.
"Professor Lucas, it is an honor to meet you. I am Robert Moderian, an investigator from the investigation team at Aeroc."
Lucas shifted his gaze to Robert.
The moment their cold gazes met, he felt as if something were piercing his entire body. Robert had met countless formidable opponents before, but the sensation Lucas gave him—how should I put it—made him feel a sense of alienation on a different dimension.
Above all, his appearance was truly shocking, to the point where even I, a man, would be left speechless.
However, he is an investigator with a duty to investigate this situation.
He regained his composure and spoke.
"I have something I would like to ask you about what happened today...."
"...Can't you see those covered in blood right now?"
Robert took a step back without realizing it.
Treatment first. The investigation comes afterward.
He moves.
I was mesmerized by their elegant dignity for quite a while, and only came to my senses after Lucas's group disappeared from sight.
"Investigator, please understand. His students are seriously injured. Right now, treating them is his top priority."
"Oh, I see... I was short-sighted."
I will cooperate. Let's go to my room first.
* * *
"Fortunately, the wound isn't deep. They say it should heal quickly with a few days of good rest. Anyway, what on earth is all this fuss about?"
Thank you for your hard work.
Fortunately, Jesse's wound was not deep. They said he would recover with just a few days of rest.
The other students also had no major injuries, so simple first aid was all that was needed.
A sense of relief washed over me.
By the way, what's gotten into Torres?
He was the kind of guy who would normally have made a fuss shouting "Our young master, our young master," but even though he was sticking right by his side guarding him, he didn't make a fuss.
It was the same before Jessie came here, even when the bloodshed was excessive. He even took the lead in clearing out the demons, leaving Jessie behind.
As if sensing the meaning of my gaze, Torres answered in surprise.
"D-The young master told me not to overreact. And, the professor will save you, so…"
This is a bit touching.
So, now the trust in me has increased more than the worry about Jesse. Is that it?
You all worked hard.
It might be a selfish thought, but none of my students died.
However, there were only students who sustained minor injuries.
"but."
However, I clearly warned.
"I would have said that anything getting even the slightest bit hurt was a failure."
In this case, failing means being deprived of the opportunity to advance to the final exam.
"B-but, Professor. That is...."
"It must have been an unavoidable situation. I understand. So—"
Of course, failing is just a threat in words. Besides, since the situation doesn't allow for resuming the midterm exams, re-selection is out of the question.
So the answer I came up with is-
"I will proceed with reinforcements. Present your proposal there. I know you are listening, so keep that in mind. You are included as well."
It was to work these children even harder.
"Professor, I'm not hurt."
Someone put up a timid resistance, but—
"There are no exceptions."
[A new notification has arrived.]
[Bad Mom donated 1,000G.]
[gokms2001 donated 1,000G.]
[k2929 donated 100G.]
[Baek Ri-eun donated 100G.]
[Baek Ri-eun donated 100G.]
[Domanggayu donated 100G.]
[dong203k donated 300G.]
It seems the readers are also satisfied with my decision.
* * *
"Hahaha... If it's a 'Legion Commander' level, it must be a high-ranking demon, yet to be struck by a single blow..."
That is why I am saying that if it weren't for Professor Lucas, Grasco would have collapsed long ago.
Ronald was wholeheartedly helping Robert with his investigation in place of Lucas.
I know you have many questions for the person involved, but I ask for your understanding.
"This is sufficient for the report to Your Majesty. Now, I just need to attach the results of the Magic Tower's investigation...."
dripping-
Vice President, guests have arrived from the Magic Tower.
"Oh, finally. You've arrived at the right time."
At the perfect timing, an investigator from the Magic Tower also arrived in Grasco.
I'll guide you to the barrier device. I'll be leaving soon, too.
-all right.
Let's go together, Investigator.
"Shall I?"
The two of them got up and headed toward the barrier device where the Magic Tower's investigation team was located.
The wizards of the magic tower were busy investigating the place after setting up access restriction spells.
"Ah, it's Vice Chancellor Ronald. Please come in. The Team Leader is waiting."
The wizard at the entrance partially dispelled the magic, helping Ronald and Robert enter.
"Team Leader, the Vice Chancellor of Grasco has arrived."
Tell them to wait a moment.
The woman called the team leader let her fiery red hair down and stared intently at the barrier device.
It gives off a strong aura that it won't be fun if you disturb it.
"It's true that it was off once... but who fixed it? And did they do it this perfectly?"
She could not help but marvel as she looked at the repaired barrier.
Once a barrier is broken, it is difficult to completely fix. No, it wasn't just difficult; it was close to impossible.
It is because of the characteristics of the damn runes.
However, now there is a perfectly repaired barrier right before her eyes.
Before becoming the team leader of the investigation team, I became interested as a researcher of the magic tower's runes.
"Ah, excuse me. I've kept you standing here for too long. My name is Millia. As you can see… I'm an elf."
She introduced herself, pointing to her protruding ears.
It is an infinite honor to meet the Forest Tribe. I am Ronald, the Vice Chancellor of Grasco.
"I am Robert Modernian. I am an investigator for the Aerok Investigation Team."
"I'm not exactly of the Forest Tribe. I'm a Half-breed. Oh, well. That's not important."
Millia, having corrected Ronald, placed her hands on her hips and opened her mouth.
First of all, I apologize for the significant damage caused to Grasco due to the malfunction of this barrier device. Appropriate compensation will be provided once the investigation is complete.
I will cooperate fully with the investigation.
"Based on our investigation so far, it appears that Yuleid has betrayed Mana. We will examine the details by tearing open Mana's heart, but the circumstances make it certain."
"Hmm...."
Betrayed Mana.
It is a metaphor meaning that wizards sold their souls to demons.
For Ronald, it was something he didn't want to believe.
From the Dean of the Combat Faculty to the President, and even Yuleid, the Barrier Master responsible for Grasco's safety. Had so many people associated with the demon race infiltrated Grasco?
"First of all, since we are the ones who dispatched Yuleid here, we will take responsibility for that as well. We will fill Yuleid's vacancy as quickly as possible. However, there is something I simply cannot understand."
Yuleid had clearly destroyed the barrier device. And he took quite a long time to do so.
"But I'm asking who fixed this device."
It takes a long time to break something, but it takes even longer to fix it.
Even the level of improvement is tremendously outstanding.
Since the study of barriers itself is exclusively managed by the Magic Tower, someone of this level of skill would surely know about it, but I can't even begin to guess.
Could it be someone from the Elf clan? Is it the Dragon's return?
It was enough to make me have all sorts of thoughts.
"Ah, Professor Lucas would probably know about that."
Professor Lucas?
Millia is also a name I have heard before.
However, since he is a person from the combat academia who is far removed from himself, he simply does not know the details.
Come to think of it, Ruina was studying under that guy named Lucas or Bacchus, right?
If there is any point of contact with him, it would probably be Ruina, the successor to the Magic Tower.
"Could I possibly meet with that person?"
"Ah, well, right now...."
If it is difficult for you to come this way, I will visit you in person.
I want to meet up to hear a bit about Ruina, and while I'm at it, I also have something to ask about this barrier.
There is no need for that.
It was then.
The outer edge of the access restriction magic rippled, and the shadows of two people appeared.
"Ruina! And... Oho."
A face Millia knows well, Ruina. And the man exuding a strong presence beside her—Lucas.
Grandma Millia!
"That rotten brat. I told you not to call me Grandma! Anyway, are you Lucas?"
I am Lucas von Kraus, Professor of Combat Studies.
Millia scanned Lucas's entire body.
considerably....
It was heterogeneous.
At the same time, it felt unfamiliar.
"I… can't feel the magic power?"
Inheriting elf blood, she can instinctively sense magical power.
Magic exists in trees, grass, and even stones, but… … .
I couldn't sense any magical power from Lucas right in front of me.
And yet, it is strange that his instincts are shouting out his strength.
"Grandma, what's wrong?"
"I told you not to call me Grandma! Ah, excuse me. I have a few questions regarding this barrier device. Yuleid's first discoverer... no, shall I call him the Executor?"
"Well, whatever is comfortable for you."
"Anyway, Professor Lucas, do you know who fixed this barrier device that Yuleid broke?"
"Who would fix it? Who in Grasco knows how to practice barrier magic... Wait. You're right. If it's not Professor Yuleid, then who...."
There is no way Yuleid would have repaired the barrier device while repenting at the moment of his death.
Then who on earth.
People's eyes turned toward Lucas.
He answered lightly, as if nothing were wrong, in a tone as if he had eaten because he was hungry.
I fixed it.
There was a brief silence.
Since you said it so naturally, I thought, "Huh? Is that so?"
But it is a barrier.
It is an area that cannot be touched by mere 'versatile'.
"I understand that Professor Lucas is currently serving as a professor in the Faculty of Combat. How do you mean to have fixed the barrier?"
I know a little bit of runic characters.
Millia could not help but be dumbfounded.
Runes were not something that could be described as "I know how to do a little."
It's not for nothing that the Magic Tower gives it special treatment and monopolizes that research.
It's really nice to hear that you know how to do a little.
Millia scoffed inwardly.
The enigma of runes is such that even the Tower Master, the greatest sorcerer in history, shakes his head in disbelief.
It was not something a person who had lived for just over 30 years could confidently say.
A very nasty idea crossed her mind.
"I happen to be researching runes at the Magic Tower as well. Then, I wonder if you might be able to recognize this too?"
She drew a phrase of the runic characters she was currently studying in the air.
He devoted nearly 100 years of his life to the study of runic script, but he never once thought or even mentioned that he knew how to do it.
This sentence is also like that.
It was a sentence that even he could only interpret about 30% of.
However, that 30% interpretation was highly regarded to the extent that it advanced the study of runic characters.
Vampires and Blood.
It was a new interpretation of the word.
Naturally, since it has not yet been presented at an academic conference, no one would know that vampires or blood are mentioned in this sentence.
Except for myself, who interpreted this sentence at least a little.
See? His face just froze.
Sure enough, Lucas's expression stiffens.
You're going to hit rock bottom with just one sentence.
Millia smiled and tried to erase the text in the air.
But at that moment.
"The reason vampires never stop laughing at the dinner table—it is because they eat blood...."
A perfectly complete sentence, composed of key words hidden within these runes, flowed effortlessly from Lucas's mouth.
Lucas, having deciphered the runes in an instant, added a remark.
Your sense of humor is terrible.