Chapter 340 - Evolving Magic Technology and Changing Regulations
The bracelet given to me as a pass seems to have the same power as a Magic-Sealing Bracelet.
This thin silver bracelet looks like a regular accessory, but it’s surprisingly a magic-sealing device. This country, being the center of magical devices, is clearly more advanced than I imagined.
Such devices are usually used for criminals or in special security areas. They are dangerous and controlled by the state. They certainly shouldn’t be used casually in entertainment venues. Perhaps the regulations on magical devices have been relaxed. That’s probably the case.
I can’t imagine they’d use underground devices as casual passes, especially given to talkative young people. Now they must be legal. They’re probably expensive, though.
Wait, what if...
"They gave me this magic-sealing bracelet to lure me into a trap?"
It’s tough to identify a magical device that looks like a regular accessory. Unless you already know or can instantly recognize its magical function, you’d easily put it on without suspicion.
I’ve studied magic-sealing bracelets extensively, so I can recognize them even if they’ve been modified or improved. But most people wouldn’t suspect a thing and would wear it as just a pass.
"Hmm, it’s a bit half-baked, though."
This bracelet doesn’t have a tightening mechanism; it’s easy to put on and take off.
The ones I’ve seen before were locked in place once worn, requiring a special key to remove. They were dangerous because they were hard to break. But this one is easily removable.
Ah, so it’s designed to be used as a pass. I’ll keep this as a sample.
I put the bracelet in my pocket and used a fake one for the pass. It looks exactly the same.
I put on the fake bracelet and headed for the second floor. I needed to act quickly before the commotion from my earlier actions was noticed.
Back near the entrance, I noticed a corridor I hadn’t seen before. When I entered, I was too focused on the flashy dance hall to notice the side corridor. I followed it and turned the corner to find a staircase leading up, guarded by a man.
I casually showed the bracelet on my left wrist, walked up the stairs without stopping, and made it up. Good, no problem.
The scene on the second floor was exactly as I imagined. The interior was like a high-end club, but the majority of the occupants were flashy young people, not discerning adults.
Men and women, alcohol and drugs, card games, and loud partying. It’s a degenerate space, typical of the scene. I can’t believe these young people, still living off their parents, can behave so wildly.
I scanned the room, trying not to draw suspicion, and took a seat at the bar counter to have a drink. I was a bit cautious, but the drink was clean.
Let’s see if any students from the academy are here.
"...Hmm, I guess that’s to be expected."
I found them quickly. The one in the center of the most crowded sofa was Edith Ribbonstrat, the curly-haired daughter of a marquess. She was wearing a revealing top and short shorts, with bold makeup and gaudy accessories. Her hairstyle was mostly unchanged, making her easy to recognize.
But, she’s a troublemaker, as expected. The one providing the drinks is probably him.
Whether he’s the host of the party or a generous patron, he’s clearly close to the local thugs. Many shallow-seeming people are trying to ingratiate themselves with her, the curly-haired marquess daughter. A big, crude-looking man is sitting next to her, casually draping his arm around her shoulders. They seem like a typical couple, but Edith is still a marquess daughter. The man, despite his crude appearance, doesn’t seem to be of high social standing. Though, his actual status is unknown.
"A mismatched couple falling in love... Not quite."
From what I can see, Edith gives vague, uninterested responses to anyone who talks to her. Her eyes are lifeless. Despite being at the center of the flashy scene, she doesn’t look like she’s having fun.
Especially, she doesn’t look like she has any romantic feelings for the man who’s casually draping his arm around her. She seems more like she’s acting out of rebelliousness.
Is this a typical rebellious phase? Maybe she’s acting out because of problems at home.
Still, she’s an odd one. Despite her rebellious behavior, she’s a top student with impeccable academic and magical skills. As a rich noble daughter, she’s well-groomed, and with a bit of polishing, she could be called a beauty. Yet, she’s misbehaving and hanging out in places like this. What circumstances could lead to such an imbalance?
While I was observing, our eyes met for a moment, but she showed no reaction. If she recognized me as Yukari Evilbanshee, she would have been surprised. Probably just my imagination. If she had recognized me, it would have been amusing to see her panic.
Still, what should I do? If I try to take her back, it might lead to a confrontation, and I doubt she’ll listen calmly.
"Tsk, time to go."
There’s commotion downstairs. The people having fun are moving differently, and the bartender I knocked out and hid in the back is probably discovered.
I think it’s fine to stop here for today. I wanted to observe more or talk to someone, but I’ve made some progress tonight. Edith doesn’t seem to be in immediate danger, so I’ll head back.
Confidently walking out, I returned to the academy. The search for intruders wasn’t as thorough as I expected, and I managed to leave without incident.
"What, you’re leaving already? The night is just beginning."
It’s the guard at the entrance. He’s still here.
"I intended to stay longer, but something came up. I don’t want to get involved in any trouble, so I’m heading back."
"Trouble? What happened?"
"I have no idea. See you next time."
I pretended I didn’t know and left. I might need to disguise myself next time.
I walked back through the lively streets and returned to the academy.
Upon arriving, I found a visitor. Layla, whom I had asked to gather information, had come to see me. We had planned to meet in two days, but her visit at this hour must be urgent. I let her report without unnecessary formalities.
"The security at the student council building is more advanced than I expected. It’s possible that my intrusion was detected."
"Your magic was detected?"
"No alarms went off, but I felt like I triggered some magic sensors. Hopefully, it was just my imagination."
Layla’s magic creates shadow doubles that can share sensory information with her. They have no offensive capabilities and are invaluable for reconnaissance. The main limitation is their short effective range, but for a building the size of the student council building, they’re sufficient.
Layla is too careful to make mistakes. The student council building, being in Belrizan, the center of magical devices, is likely equipped with more advanced security than expected.
"If you felt something, we shouldn’t dismiss it as just imagination."
"Yes, the lack of alarms is also suspicious."
"They might have detected an intruder and are monitoring without alerting them. It’s a sophisticated security measure."
"Given the nature of the place, it’s likely that a newcomer would be the primary suspect."
Of course, even the most advanced security devices can’t identify the user of a shadow double. The school administration has no knowledge of Layla’s abilities, and there’s no evidence to trace it back to her. Even if she’s suspected, she can deny it.
"Advanced alarm systems are one thing, but the purpose of monitoring intruders without their knowledge is unsettling. It’s creepy."
"The security is indeed excessive for a student building."
Exactly. Monitoring intruders without revealing detection suggests a trap. Whatever they’re trying to hide must be significant. The student council building is more suspicious than I thought. It’s become even more intriguing, and I want to uncover their secrets. For now, we’ll observe and wait.
"If they make a move, they might reveal something. We should be cautious of unknown magical devices."
"Agreed. I’ll warn Valeria and the others to be cautious around the student council. I’ll also probe with my own magic. There might be some movement."
"I can draw a rough layout of the student council building, though it’s incomplete due to the interruption."
"Even a rough layout will help."
As soon as Layla left, I expanded my magical perception to focus on the student council building.
Experts like me can expose ordinary security measures with routine magical perception. If I can identify the placement of magical devices, I can deduce their functions. However, distinguishing between everyday magical devices and security devices can be challenging.
Layla, with her similar level of magical perception and superior skills in identifying magical devices, would have encountered a formidable security system. I need to investigate further.
With the expectation that it’s more complicated than I imagined, I carefully explored the area. Recalling Layla’s observations, I probed more densely than usual.
I discovered various security devices, more numerous than expected. Some were likely decoys. High-performance security devices can be difficult to detect, and their responses can be subtle. But the subtle responses confirm that they are not ordinary devices.
The performance of these magical devices, their clever placement, and the security level exceeding even military facilities or guild branches is undeniable. Even I, without Layla’s experience, might not have noticed them.
The security might be heightened after today’s intrusion. If they have significant secrets to protect, it’s a logical step.
For now, there’s no sign of human movement. It’s possible I’m overthinking it. However, given our prolonged stay and the constraints of our situation, we should observe for a few more days.
"The student council... I thought it was just a playground for upper-class nobles, but it’s more like a den of vice."
This is interesting. I might get a taste of my own medicine if I underestimate them as mere children.
I’ll treat them as more than just delinquents and slightly increase the danger rating.