第５９７堀 裏：若者たちの集い (Part1)
**Chapter 597: The Gathering of Youth**
**Side: Amanda**
*Hoo-hoo.*
The call of an owl echoed through the night.
"So, there are owls here, too."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. We were in a place Master Deryu and the others called the "New Continent," a facility dedicated to the study of magic. It seemed to be much like the Lancer Magic Academy we attend back home.
It was called the Haiden Magic Academy.
On average, the students here were more skilled than those at our academy. This continent, much like the Rogali Continent where Weed is located, had a high density of mages; they weren't as rare as they were on the If Continent. Because of that, the truly talented individuals felt more concentrated.
However, because politics were so deeply intertwined with everything here, many seemed to enroll just to add prestige to their names, so their actual drive to learn didn't seem all that high.
Well, the top students like Kagura were incredible, though.
"Sigh... why was I called here, I wonder?"
I knew the answer, but I couldn't help but voice the complaint. Cleena and Samantha, who were top-class to begin with, possessed skills that didn't pale even when standing next to Kagura, and they had become terrifyingly strong through their training with Yuki-san and the others.
We had also grown significantly stronger thanks to the tutelage of Master Deryu and Master Eris, but we still had a long way to go. What was the point of us being here...?
"The headmaster told you, didn't he? That we were coming here to study."
I turned around at the sound of that voice to see Eoid standing there with two cups.
"I know that. But when we're left behind this much, I can't help but want to complain."
"Fair enough. Here, coffee."
"Thanks."
As I took the coffee, Eoid sat down beside me. Yeah, Eoid really belongs right here next to me. We were deeply in love. That was one thing I wouldn't lose to Master Deryu or Master Eris. Well, I suppose I was only able to marry Eoid thanks to the masters, so I couldn't really complain about helping out. I’d been taken care of by them so much that I felt I should help where I could, but the "ghost story exploration" scheduled for tomorrow felt like we were being led to the slaughter.
"...Honestly, I really don't want to go on that exploration tomorrow."
"You say that, but... if you really hate it that much, should I ask Yuki-san to let you off? I doubt he'd force you."
"...No, that would make me look like a spoiled brat. I don't want that."
"...Sigh. Amanda, you realize you're being a bit selfish, right?"
"I know! But I'm worried. They said they don't know what might happen. I don't want to end up all alone in a place like this."
If I ended up trapped in a library by myself, I’d probably lose my mind.
"I suppose you're right. That would be awful. But we're all going together to make sure that doesn't happen. Besides, Kagura is your friend, isn't she? You said you wanted to help her."
"Oh... right. Kagura is going through a lot, too."
Eoid’s reminder brought it all back. While there were many motives behind this academy visit, our primary goal was to help Kagura—someone we’d grown close to on this new continent, someone who had been just as confused by Weed as we were, and someone we had shared so many laughs with.
"I know you're worried, but Yuki-san and the others said they’d be backing us up. I'm sure it'll work out no matter what happens. They’ve helped us before, haven't they?"
"...Was I just being too much of a scaredy-cat?"
Thinking back on what Eoid said, I realized I might have been overreacting. The masters were in the same situation, after all...
"I don't think you're being too scared. Even Kagura was frightened. I think it's just that Yuki-san and Taiki-san are a bit too calm about the whole thing."
"...Those two do seem a bit too used to this kind of thing, don't they?"
"Well, they are who they are."
"I guess so. Then I should be fine. If things go south, we'll just rely on Yuki-san and the others."
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
Eoid and I shared a laugh. What was I so worried about? I had a husband I was proud of and reliable companions. Even if it was scary, it would surely work out. I felt a sense of resolve.
Just as I was steeling myself, there was a knock.
*Knock, knock.*
"Eek!?"
I let out a strange sound, startled by the noise.
"W-what was that!?"
I clung to Eoid and scanned the room. It had been so sudden that I couldn't tell where the sound had come from.
"Calm down, it was just a knock on the door."
"A door? At this hour?"
It was currently nine o'clock at night. In Weed, we had electricity, so the night was still young, but in this academy, which relied mostly on candles, light was hard to come by, and most people were already asleep. It was strange to have visitors at this time.
"Maybe Yuki-san's meeting finally finished."
"Ah, that makes sense."
After the announcement of the team formations, Yuki-san and the others were supposed to be having a strategy meeting for tomorrow's exploration. I felt guilty for complaining about the danger when they were doing so much to prepare. I really had just been being a coward.
"Coming! Who is it?"
Eoid called out to the door, and a reply came immediately.
"Sorry for the late hour. It's Kagura."
"And Micos-chan, too!"
Hm? Those two weren't supposed to be in the meeting...
Well, they were friends, so Eoid opened the door without hesitation. The two of them were standing there.
"What's wrong, you two?"
"Did you get some kind of message from Yuki-san?"
"Oh, no. It's not that."
"We actually wanted to talk to you about something. Is now a good time?"
Talk?
"Come on in."
"Thanks."
"Excuse us... Whoa, it's so bright in here!"
As I ushered them in, Micos let out a surprised cry at the sight of our high-performance magic electric lamp.
"This lamp is super bright!"
"It's a tool common in Weed. It converts magic power into electricity to provide light."
"Eh? Electricity? Like that zapping stuff Taizou-sensei teaches us about in class?"
"Exactly. And you can use it even if you don't have much magic power."
"Wow... I see. So that 'zapping' can turn into light like this? It's safer than dealing with fire, and anyone can use it. That's why he was teaching that class."
"The Princess seems determined to bring this new power of electricity into the country somehow."
"Well, of course she is. The fuel is magic power, right? Not needing fire starters or firewood is just too convenient."
Micos was right. Standard lamps and candelabras required a fire source, and consumables like candles were a constant drain. But this lamp lit up with the press of a button. While lightbulbs were a bit more frequent to replace than candles, you only had to change them once every few months. We were just as surprised when we first arrived in Weed.
"So, did you come here just to see the lamp?"
"Ah, no. We actually wanted to ask for some advice."
"Yeah, advice."
"Advice?"
I tilted my head, wondering what could be the matter, while Eoid brought over some tea.
"Here you go."
"Thanks, Eoid."
"Thanks!"
The two of them took a sip of the tea.
"Phew. This green tea is as soothing as ever."
"It's 'Green Tea,' right? It has a unique aroma, but it's strangely sweet, too."
Micos must have been drinking it for the first time. It is surprising when you first try it, isn't it? For some reason, green tea has a natural sweetness to it.
"So, now that you've calmed down with the tea, what's this advice you need?"
"Uh, well... you see..."
For some reason, Kagura kept glancing at us and then looking away, opening her mouth only to close it again. I wondered why she was acting so suspicious, when Micos spoke up for her.
"Amanda, Eoid, you two know a lot about Yuki-sensei and the others, right? There’s something we’re a bit too embarrassed to ask them directly. You two are close in age, and you were students in a similar place before, right? So we thought you’d be the best people to ask."
"I see."
Something they couldn't ask the people themselves. That explained why they came at such an hour. They were usually with Yuki-san and the others during the day, so they wouldn't have a chance to ask then.
"But, we don't know *that* much about Yuki-san and the others either, you know."