第２５４堀：子供の頃、毎日が冒険だった。 (Part1)
### Chapter 254: Childhood, Every Day Was an Adventure.
Come now, whether you’re a student or a working professional, read this story and let your heart race.
Remember that feeling you’ve long since forgotten.
When we were children, every day was an adventure.
**Side: Yuki**
It was a nostalgic memory of student life, one that had slipped away into the past.
The sunset streamed through the windows of the academy’s library.
Even though I’m in another world, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity with this scenery.
No, wait—I hardly ever used the library back home, did I?
You only go there for school assignments, right? Or maybe to borrow a book when you’re forced to write a book report. There’s no real reason to hang around.
These days, you can just open a computer to look things up.
...The library is pretty pointless, isn't it?
Well, that’s neither here nor there.
Currently, I’m in another world, standing in the library that the Magic Academy prides itself on—a place packed with the history of this continent and countless volumes of magical knowledge.
Naturally, there are no e-books here, nor is it all indexed on some internet encyclopedia.
That’s why we have to investigate it ourselves, which is why we came to take a look.
However, this library isn't just for finishing assignments or studying; it’s quite bustling with students hoping to improve their magic.
"Well, to begin with, their mindset is different..."
Even in Japan, the libraries at top-tier universities are constantly in use.
And this academy is the highest institution of learning on this continent. It would be rude to compare their level of academic consciousness to the school I attended.
...Though, I’m sure I’d get sleepy if I started looking things up here.
"Right, let’s finish our business quickly before I fall asleep."
Yes, I came to this library for a specific purpose. I didn’t come here to nap.
"Do you really think it’s here?"
Ria, who was tagging along, asked while looking around.
Before I could answer, Taiki-kun chimed in.
"I’m sure of it. After all, this is a magic school!!"
"Eh? Isn't it a Magic Academy?"
"Ah, no, no. Ria, you saw it too, right? *Rory Out and the Mysterious Room*."
"Ah, that movie. I see, the atmosphere is certainly similar."
Ria seemed convinced, looking around as if comparing the current situation to that film.
Well, just as Taiki-kun said, we were using a certain movie as a reference to conduct an expedition within the academy.
You might ask, "Why not just ask the Headmaster through Eris?" But there’s no reason to casually spill information that could lead to the Holy Sword User, and it’s not the kind of content that should be shared so easily.
Eris seems to acknowledge me as a close friend, but that’s exactly why I can’t tell her. Since she doesn’t know our true standing, I can’t find a reason to explain it.
We’re both keeping vital information hidden while wanting to know everything about the other.
And so, here we are, searching for a place that might house a secret room.
Oh, Eris, Tori, Aslin, and the others are currently swamped with explaining the Wyvern incident.
Amanda-san, who tamed the main beast, is getting the short end of the stick, though!
As for Kuro-chan, his status as the "Guardian of Monsters" has been established through the testimonies of Eris, Lady Samantha, and Amanda-san.
Well, Kuro-chan spoke in such stiff, formal language that Amanda-san assumed "Princess" referred to Lady Samantha. She didn't seem to think it referred to Aslin.
I mean, that’s the logical conclusion, right?
So, the story is that he protected them from the attack, and while he was apologizing for the Wyvern attacking people, the Headmaster attacked him.
Yeah, the Headmaster really wasted his effort.
Well, no one knows he lost.
The moment that battle started, the students immediately retreated on the Wyvern, Wai-chan.
Apparently, Wai-chan complained that there were too many people to fly, but Aslin told her to do her best, which spurred her on.
Aslin is a terrifying girl!
After giving the order, Aslin told them to follow the instructions of Amanda-san, who also has the talent of a Tamer, and secretly went back to check on Eris, Kuro-chan, and the Headmaster. Seeing it had become a major incident, they immediately provided first aid and called for me.
Well, Nina, the Holy Sword User, was also watching the situation just like us, so there might be some contact there.
I’ve left the surveillance of that side to Kirika and her group, so we’re off on a school expedition.
The official excuse is that we’re walking around the academy to memorize the layout of the classrooms and the grounds.
"But Yuki-san, if we weren't 'cheat' users, we wouldn't be exploring like this, would we?"
"That’s true."
"Eh? Why is that?"
Ria tilted her head in confusion.
"Ria, you understand that you’ve gained strength through the power of the Hero and training in Weed, right?"
"Yes."
"Without that, do you think you could explore an academy filled with dangers disguised as security measures? Simply put, it wouldn't be a mistake to call this academy a dungeon full of traps."
"I see. In that case, a normal person wouldn't explore it. I wouldn't want to die."
That movie—guard dogs, monsters, man-eating books, cursed books, rooms that move... that school is practically a death trap.
The stairs move, too; I’m sure people fall to their deaths all the time.
Well, we prepared our exploration gear based on the movie and came here.
"Yuki-san, I understand the exploration part, but since this place is already a dungeon, you can see the map of the entire city, including this academy, under your control, right?"
Ria secretly brought up the 3D map of the academy on her call screen so no one would see.
"Yeah, but this academy is a tricky one. Can you tell at a glance where the hidden room is?"
"Eh? Um, let’s see... maybe here, or the classroom we saw earlier, or that place in the back that looks sealed off... Wait, there are so many!"
Exactly. This academy has a deep history, and with repeated additions and renovations, dead points exist everywhere.
It would be easy if there were just one clearly hidden basement, but even regarding basements, there are over ten hidden rooms, mistakes from renovations, and dead points.
"Well, as you can see, there are a lot of things just from a quick glance. Or rather, one of them is likely the 'correct' one, some are intentional traps, and the rest are just dead points created by renovation errors."
"...Why the library?"
"“Intuition.”"
"Intuition, you say..."
"Taiki-sama, when you saved the country, you were so full of wisdom..."
Ria and Airi-san looked at me with sad eyes.
Taiki-kun brought his wife along for this exploration.
Well, there have been so many events that it didn't really feel like a honeymoon.
Since we’re inside the academy, Taiki-kun judged that he could protect her if any trouble occurred, so she’s here today.
"No, no, when I say intuition, I mean I’ve considered everything comprehensively, so I’m sure there’s a high probability it’s the right one."
"...Are you sure? Taiki-sama, you haven't become a softie, have you?"
"Yeah, yeah. Look, the library is where you put books, right? So, just like hiding a tree in a forest, it’s not good to hide important books in a place unsuitable for them. Therefore, there’s a high possibility that the hidden room in this library contains important books."
Just as Taiki-kun said, that’s why we targeted the library.
"Geez, Yuki-san, I wanted to say you were tired and go cuddle in bed."
"Hey."
Honestly, these wives are not to be underestimated.
I can’t even make a careless joke.