kscans

Chapter 19 - A Request

"A creeping crisis. You mean the Magic Academy is in danger. Tell me the details."

"Tell me too, Iz."

Her words, a crisis at the academy, echoed in my ears. Moreover, her choice of the word "creeping" left an eerie feeling. When we asked her to explain, Iz began to speak with a quiet smile.

"...Thank you. First, let me tell you about the academy. As you know, only those with a talent for magic can enter Grossa Magic Academy. The instructors, of course, and the students are all exceptional people."

"I don’t have any connection to a place like that, but I’ve heard of it. They say it’s full of people who could lead the country."

"There are many graduates from the academy within the national army as well."

There are several magic academies in the country, but this one is apparently the best. It made me appreciate anew just how amazing Iz was to serve as its Chief Instructor. Iz continued her explanation.

"One’s talent for magic can be enhanced many times over by possessing a compatible staff. As such, it’s inevitable that many of the students come from noble families. I was the daughter of a commoner with no power or money, but thanks to this staff, I was able to become an instructor."

"Is that so… I’m sorry, this is the first I’m hearing of this."

"To think that you too benefited from Sensei’s wonderful power, Iz. As I thought, the weapons Sensei creates have incredible performance."

The staff she held… it was originally a toy, right. I had no idea why it evolved into an S-rank weapon, but I was relieved that it seemed to be helping people.

"And now, for the main topic… The crisis is about a certain kind of staff that has been spreading throughout the academy."

""A staff.""

We questioned her in unison.

"Recently, there have been frequent incidents of students at the academy being ensnared by dark magic… Upon investigation, we found that they all possessed similar staves."

"Dark magic… That sounds like a pretty serious incident."

"The last time I saw it might have been when we fought one of the Demon Lord's Four Heavenly Kings."

Dark magic is said to be magic used only by the Demon Race. It’s not that humans can’t use it, but it apparently takes a heavy toll on the body and mind. After using it, one might be unable to move for a while or feel unwell.

"Do you know where the staves are coming from."

"When we asked the students, they all said they bought them from a black-hooded figure. However, it seems they are under a curse that prevents them from speaking about it to others, so further investigation has been difficult. We can’t find any clues by examining the staves with magic, and we are swamped with healing the students…"

"I see, what a mess."

"So even you can’t solve it easily, Iz."

If even the students were exceptionally talented, then instructors like Iz must be even more so. The fact that their response was still lagging behind showed the gravity of the situation.

"And to make matters even worse, there is no end to the number of students buying these staves."

"Seriously, why… Can’t the academy forbid them."

"Grossa Magic Academy is a wonderful educational institution, but because of that, the competition among students is fierce. As a result, they desperately seek powerful staves… I believe that is why these tragic incidents are occurring."

"The person selling the staves is surely taking advantage of the academy’s situation."

After that, Iz explained the academy's internal affairs in detail. The students feel constant pressure because of the high expectations placed on them. Tuition is expensive for everyone except scholarship students, so they are terrified of failing. The relationships between students are tense, with an atmosphere where they are constantly trying to undermine each other. It was clear that someone was exploiting this environment.

"I suspect there is a large organization behind this. …And so, I have a request for you, Dareth-sama."

Iz straightened her posture and looked at me with a serious expression.

"Could you examine the staves from a blacksmith’s perspective and see if you can find any clues."

"...I see, a blacksmith’s perspective."

"With your excellent powers of observation, Dareth-sama, I believe you will be able to find something."

If the problem can’t be found from a magical perspective, then look for it from a weapon-making perspective. A clever way of thinking, just like the Iz I knew from my childhood.

"Yeah, if I can help, of course I will. To think of something like that, you really are smart, Iz."

"I’ll go too. Fortunately, the kingdom is stable and there’s no threat of invasion."

"Thank you… both of you. Your kindness is another thing that hasn’t changed since long ago."

Iz replied with a quiet smile. Her eyes were faintly glistening with tears.

"Don’t mention it, it’s only natural to help someone in need. Especially when it’s someone important from my past."

"It’s for an important friend. I’ll do my best to help."

"Thank… you. I’m so glad I was able to see you both again… so glad I met you, Dareth-sama."

We all joined hands, none of us initiating it more than the other. Iz’s hand, which I held tightly, was trembling slightly. That alone conveyed how much she cared for her students. I had to do my best, too. I made a firm resolve in my heart.

"Everyone, listen up for a moment. I’ll be going to Grossa Magic Academy for a while. I’m counting on you to look after the forge in my absence."

""Understood. Please be careful.""

I returned to the forge and finished my preparations. I would be gone for a few days, maybe a few weeks, but the blacksmiths here were skilled. They would be fine without me. Besides, I had already finished all the urgent work. All that was left was him.

"Senji-san, I’m leaving Shion in your care. As for his forging, please have him work on shaping metal plates."

"Understood. You can count on me."

Senji-san puffed out his chest with a thud. With him here, I had nothing to worry about. Or so I thought, but Shion started fuming again.

"I’m asking you, why are you the only one surrounded by beautiful women. Take me with you."

"Like I’d take you with me, you toilet."

"Aaaah."

Shion was beaten, as was to be expected. By now, not a single shred of his self-importance remained. He was then dragged off somewhere. You’d think he would have learned his lesson by now. In any case, right now I needed to focus on Iz’s problem.

"Well, let’s head to the Magic Academy. But it’ll take quite a while on foot."

"Shall I arrange for a carriage from the national army."

"No, that won’t be necessary. Let’s go with my Teleportation Magic."

""Aaaah.""

That was right, she was the Chief Instructor of the Magic Academy. It was a well known fact, throughout all of time and space, that a mage’s preferred method of travel was teleportation magic.

"O great spirits who rule this world. Grant me your power… ."

Iz chanted the spell, and the surroundings were enveloped in a white light. I felt a thrill of excitement, unbecoming of my age. Come to think of it, what was teleportation magic like. Would I get that feeling of my organs floating. I really wasn’t a fan of that. Just as I was thinking that, my vision went completely white.