kscans

Chapter 53 - Little One's New Daily Life, Seven

"Magic is logic. Based on theory, correctly combined and interwoven, it is even possible to activate compound magic. To learn this foundation, we will be moving to a different location from here."

His plump potbelly jiggling, the magic teacher, Yofas-sensei, led the students out of the building.

Normally, classes were held in the specialized wing, but for the special class only, they were conducted in a facility dedicated to it. A facility specializing in magic. That meant the Tower of David.

Since the students in the special magic class naturally possessed high levels of magical power, they were also able to use the transfer gate. As a special exception, only this class's lessons were held at the Tower of David, with permission from the royal palace.

Upon arriving at the place where experts in the field gathered, the newly added students let out sighs of admiration.

"So this is the Tower of David... Ah, I am so grateful to be a student at the Noble Academy."

The senior students placed their hands over their chests, their gazes fixed on the tower with fervent longing. Including the princes, there were seven students in the special magic class. They lined up in front of the Tower of David with their supervising teacher.

"This is the pinnacle of magic. There are confidential matters here as well. Everyone, please be sure not to forget this."

The plump, portly old man looked at the students with eyes as gentle as if he were looking at his grandchildren. He had pure white hair and a long, magnificent beard. He looked just like the headmaster of a certain magic school from a movie, and Little One was struck by an unbearable urge to place a pointed hat on his pure white head.

He really looks like a wizard, this old man. Though he's a little too fat.

Yofas-sensei, standing with the students, was a veteran with seventy years of teaching experience.

After waiting in front of the tower for a few minutes, the doors opened from the inside, and the mages of the tower appeared. Their eyes wide at the sight of the opened double doors, Little One and Chihaya glanced at the magic gate next to them.

Aren't we going in that way?

Little One and the others always entered through that gate, the one that dissolved when they poured magic into it. Noticing the twins at the back of the line glancing at the gate as they proceeded inside, Yofas-sensei placed a finger to his lips and narrowed his eyes playfully.

Ah, I see. This is also a confidential matter.

The twins gave a slight nod and passed through the doors with the other students. Inside, a great deal of equipment was lined up, and that familiar magic circuit was operating with a crackling pishipashi sound. The students seeing the magic circuit for the first time were speechless.

"This is a circuit that allows us to test the direction and combination of magic. And it holds a certain secret."

As the explaining mage made a twirling gesture with his finger, a bright red, palm-sized lizard materialized on it. The students' eyes widened with a wa.

"This is a Salamander. For a mage, it can become a rather useful partner. It is possible for only those who pour their full magical power into this circuit and overcome the trial to obtain a spirit."

The students stared, their eyes shining, at the Salamander entwined around the mage's outstretched hand. Startled by the focused barrage of gazes, the Salamander looked uncomfortable and let out a small puff of flame from its mouth.

"Fire!"

"That's right. The Salamander is a fire spirit. It will not manifest without an affinity for fire. Now, now, there's no harm in trying. Would you all like to give it a go?"

Crowding around the smiling mage, five students rushed to the magic circuit. Forgetting all about their lesson, they poured their magic into the circuit. Watching them with lukewarm gazes, the twins looked up at Yofas-sensei. The teacher smiled with a knowing look.

"You know, don't you, sensei?"

At Chihiro's words, Yofas-sensei narrowed his eyes, his bushy beard trembling slightly.

"His Highness the Prince Regent is a former student of mine. He asked me to take good care of you two."

Romel's master?!

The two of them unconsciously straightened their backs. Yofas-sensei's shoulders shook with amusement.

"No need to be so stiff. I've heard you are promising candidates for becoming excellent mages. Please learn as you see fit."

As Yofas-sensei laughed merrily with a foffoffo, several students poured all their magic into the circuit, but none of them could manifest a Salamander. Theodore also tried, but his strength gave out and he collapsed. Some were even on the verge of losing consciousness. They had run out of magic.

"It's either a simple lack of magical power, or they don't have an affinity for flame. A pity."

"It is a good test for them to learn what it's like to use their magic to its limit. It is important to understand the upper limit of one's own magical power."

The students looked on with frustration as the adults chatted idly. Then, Fatima suddenly turned to look at the twins.

"Aren't you two going to try?"

Reacting to Fatima's genuinely curious question, the other students also turned to look at Little One and the others.

"Ah... well, isn't it still too soon for us?"

"Yes, I believe it would be presumptuous of us."

The mages who heard this were shaking their shoulders with laughter, but the twins pretended not to notice. It was best not to make unnecessary waves. As if to say they wanted to avoid trouble at all costs, the George family children smoothly deflected the question. From a short distance away, someone was observing them.

Their eyes were murky and sludgy, as stagnant as a dead person's, and their lips were slightly parted, as if they were about to drool. If anyone had seen him at that moment, they would surely have screamed. He was that inhumanly grotesque. A man stood alone, casting a gloomy shadow, and disappeared before the twins could notice.

"Nyu?"

"What's wrong, Hiro?"

The strange gaze that had been fixed on her just a moment ago. It was elusive and dissipated before she could confirm it.

"No, it just felt like someone was watching me."

"Who?"

At Little One's words, Chihaya's eyes took on a ferocious glint. A sharp gaze reminiscent of a bird of prey.

Watching Hiro? When? Who? I didn't notice at all??

Chihaya searched for the person who had been watching his sister without him noticing. He sharpened his senses, cranked the precision of his gifted cuff to the max, and scanned for the person in question. A high-pitched, suppressed laugh reached his still unskillfully manipulated cuff. His eyes flew open, and Chihaya looked up at the ceiling where the voice had come from.

From there, he heard a disturbing whisper.

'Soon... I will revive. The sacrifice is the Golden King...'

It was scratchy in places and he couldn't hear it all perfectly, but the words he could make out were extremely unsettling.

The Golden King, isn't that Hiro? A sacrifice?

There was no mistaking the malice in that whisper. A red haze filled Chihaya's vision.

Don't mess with me!

The person must have moved using a transfer device. The floor above was the mages' private quarters. There was an enemy in this Tower of David who sought to harm Chihiro. Spurred by his rage, a tremendous amount of magical power swirled around Chihaya. Sensing it, Little One clapped her hands together right in front of his face.

His pitch-black eyes stared blankly.

"What's wrong, Nii-ni? You're making a scary face."

"Huh? ...Ah, sorry."

Snapping back to his senses, Chihaya still couldn't take his eyes off the ceiling.

I have to tell Dad... no, Prince Romel.

Gripping his back teeth with a sharp giri, Chihaya left the Tower of David.

Suspicious of Chihaya's sudden change, Little One was too busy with other things to remember the incident this time.

In line with the pilgrimage, the lid of the abyss had opened.

The trap laid to ensnare the twins was set in motion. The curtain had now risen on a gruesome future of bloodshed.