"These days, students are too bold. To walk so confidently into a restricted area like this."

Kryphi shook his head and approached the now-still armored infantry, inspecting it from various angles.

"And to go so far as to destroy even the armored infantry set to intimidate and drive off any students who dared come close... I can't just overlook this."

"Are we at fault for breaking the armored infantry that drew its blade and tried to kill a student? If that armored infantry is truly Academy property, then I think we're the ones who should be filing a complaint for almost dying because of it."

"Blade...?"

At Milia's words, Kryphi looked around with a puzzled expression. Then he spotted the blade embedded in a broken tree trunk.

"Huh?!"

He appeared visibly flustered.

'What, what is this? I heard that armored infantry never draw their blades unless they're in kill mode, right?'

If he checked the magic inside the armored infantry, he'd be able to figure out why it switched into kill mode, but since Kryphi was only a swordsmanship instructor, he had no way to verify that on the spot.

"Ahem! I'll look into that later... For now, all of you, please leave this area."

"What? But we came all the way here, and you want us to just leave?"

"Then what exactly do you plan to do here if you don't leave...?"

Kryphi asked in turn, as if he found their protest odd. Milia's eyes sparkled at his words.

"The very center of the restricted zone is right in front of us! We at least have to see what's there before we leave!"

"The center...? Ah, I see. Indeed. You all made it quite far."

It was only then, upon hearing 'center,' that Kryphi realized where they were. He looked at Luca and his friends in admiration.

"Since you've already seen the armored infantry, you'll hear about this eventually... Fine. Now that things have come to this, I'll show you the secret of the restricted area."

"R-really?!"

"Yes. Come along."

Nodding his head, Kryphi took the lead. Luca and his friends followed him, excitement plain on their faces.They hadn't walked more than a few minutes and had just exited the forest when their jaws dropped.

"Hey, check the output over there."

"Seems a bit lacking. Are you sure the magic circle's properly inscribed?"

"Ugh, so I'll have to reassemble the whole thing again?"

There were students who appeared to be upperclassmen, along with teachers, and dozens of armored infantry lined up throughout what was clearly a factory.

"This is the secret of the restricted area you were searching for."

Kryphi was smiling, seeming rather satisfied with their reaction.

"So... the restricted area is...."

"Yes. It's an armored infantry research zone. We've hidden it like this for secrecy and safety."

"Then the magic that causes people to get lost in the forest is also...."

"Yes. That's to prevent lost students or adventurous ones like yourselves from wandering in here."

"......"

Milia seemed disappointed, but Ottbo was looking around with great interest.There was one more person with a peculiar expression on their face.

"Hm......"

Luca looked around and took out his phone.

'Why did something like this disappear after a year?'

It could be said that Demons terrorists destroyed this place, but the real issue lay with the reason behind it.

'Having such a facility isn't sufficient reason to destroy it, is it?'

Research on armored infantry was ongoing with the Demons as well. It's not as if this place lagged behind so drastically that it warranted destruction.Even if they wanted to keep it in check, they wouldn't go so far as to openly wipe the entire place out.If anything, it'd be more beneficial to steal the research conducted here.

'And no matter how secret the armored infantry is, is there really a need to hide it so thoroughly in a place like this? Something smells fishy.'

[Legend of Hernan Academy - The Statue in Pia Forest]- ???- ???- ???- ???- ???

* Number of times you can input information related to this hint: 10

Luca glanced at the yet-unrevealed hint about the statue in Pia Forest.

'Should I try entering what I've learned?'

After a moment's hesitation, he typed in: "The Academy's secret armored infantry facility."

― You have entered correct information. The hint will be updated.

'Hit!'

Luca swallowed nervously and checked the hint again.

[Legend of Hernan Academy - The Statue in Pia Forest]- ???- The Academy has hidden an armored infantry facility in the restricted section of Pia Forest.- ???- ???- ???

* Number of times you can input information related to this hint: 9

'... Ah, so this is how it works?'

If the previous hints progressed like a quest through set stages, this hint collection worded clues like a detective game, requiring him to piece them together.

'Haa... Well, it's fine. I'll think more about it once I'm back in my room.'

As Luca disengaged from his thoughts, a whistling sound rang out and Whistle swooped down to perch on his shoulder.

Piiik!

"?"

Luca looked at Whistle with a puzzled expression. Whistle was gesturing this way and that, as if trying to say something.

"... I'm not sure what you want, but do as you like."

Piiik!

At his words, Whistle immediately flew off elsewhere. At the same time, a powerful sense of fatigue swept over him.

"Urgh!"

Thud!

"Luca?"

It felt as though his life force was actually draining away. Luca collapsed to the ground before he realized it.Ottbo, who had been looking around, noticed something was wrong and rushed over.

'Damn... My consciousness...'

Luca could feel his vision blurring, and forced out his words.

"Give... Bella... that medicine from before...."

"Luca? Luca! Get a hold of yourself!"

Luca lost consciousness just like that.

* * *

"Huk... Young master, how did someone as healthy as you end up like this..."

By the time he came to, he was already in the dormitory's bedroom. Next to him was Bella, wearing a sorrowful expression.

"... How much time has passed?"

"Young master! You're awake!"

Squeeze!

Bella's eyes shot open and she abruptly hugged him tightly.

'... Soft.'

It was the first time—even including the life of Lee Myunghyun—that Luca had experienced being embraced by a woman, and he was stunned for a moment, but quickly regained his senses.

"L-let go."

"Young master... I'm so glad you're alive...."

"It wasn't that serious, was it? How long was I out?"

At Luca's question, Bella held up three fingers.

"Three days?"

Bella shook her head.

"Three weeks?"

She shook her head again.

"W-wait, three months?"

Luca asked with dread, and Bella shook her head once more.Only then did Luca realize there was something he hadn't asked.

"... Three hours?"

"Yes. To be exact, you woke up three hours after I heard the news, came right over, and gave you your medicine."

"Just say it. Don't make it so confusing."

Feeling relieved, Luca nearly gagged.

"Urk!"

"Young master! Are you still not feeling well?"

"... No, it's just that the taste of the medicine still lingering in my mouth is revolting."

It truly tasted like mop water squeezed from a dirty rag—awful.Shuddering, Luca suddenly remembered something and asked,

"What about the others?"

"They were by your side until I arrived. And Ottbo pleaded earnestly for me to give you that same medicine from last time."

"Heh, diligent fellow."

Luca gave a faint smile and leaned against the headboard. Then he rubbed his stomach.

"I'm hungry. Could you bring me a snack or something?"

"I'll make you some soup right away!"

As soon as Bella left, Luca pulled out his phone, intending to add some information to the hint collection.But an odd notification had popped up.

― The hint you were piecing together has been removed.

"... What the hell?"

Startled, Luca checked the Pia Forest hint again.

[Legend of Hernan Academy - The Statue in Pia Forest] (This hint has been removed.)- ???- The Academy has hidden an armored infantry facility in the restricted section of Pia Forest.- ???- ???- ???

* Number of times you can input information related to this hint: 9

"Wha?!"

The hint had literally disappeared—he had no idea why.

'Wait, hold on. What is this...?'

Just then, he noticed another notification.

― The Skybird is evolving. A related application will be created.

"What?"

Luca immediately searched for the application.

[Skybird Growth Diary]― This application records the Skybird's growth.― The Skybird grows when it absorbs special energy.― The Skybird is currently evolving to stage 1.

[Whistle]Species: SkybirdGrowth: Stage 1 (Currently Evolving)Available Power of the Sky: Lightning

Overall: Still growing. No remarkable traits yet. Please raise it with affection.

"Hm...?"

Luca's expression turned perplexed.

'As far as I can tell, Whistle used even my life force to do something back in the center of the restricted area, and as a result, evolved, so this app appeared?'

But his main concern was singular.

'Don't tell me the factory exploded?'

He worried that Whistle may have caused the factory's disappearance in the original story by messing up something.

'Since it's quiet, maybe nothing happened. I'll have to ask later.'

Bella would have told him if anything drastic had happened.

"Young master~ Here's some warm onion soup~"

"Thanks."

There wasn't much he could do at the moment anyway...From the looks of it, Whistle was growing well.He decided to take a good rest today and talk about everything tomorrow.

* * *

"Haaa... Do you think Luca will be okay?"

"He's not the type to collapse from having used just that much power. Please don't worry too much, miss."

Isella reassured Milia, who wore a worried look, but Milia remained a little frustrated.

"He wasn't feeling well, and now I'm worried that he overexerted himself because I suggested going exploring."

"I've fought with him several times, so I know—he's not someone who would collapse so easily. Don't worry."

"But I heard he got caught up in something strange. He was involved in the incident where three students died, and maybe that's why his health worsened."

Milia already knew that Luca had gotten wrapped up in something. She'd knew that three students had died because of it.

That was partly why, since he couldn't go outside, she suggested exploring one of the Academy's legends together—to cheer him up, and to enjoy a bit of the youthful excitement she'd imagined.

"He's not someone who'd weaken so easily."

"Isella. Do you know Luca well?"

"W-what do you mean, miss?"

"I mean, you speak as if you know everything about him."

"T-that's..."

Watching Isella flustered like that, Milia chuckled.

"Just kidding. Anyway, should we go get dinner soon? Where's Ottbo?"

"I believe he was called away by another teacher."

"Really? Well, nothing we can do, then."

"Ah! Milia Fille! There you are!"

"?"

Just then, someone spotted them and came running, catching their breath.

"Who are you?!"

Isella instantly put up her guard and stepped in front of Milia.

"Ah, sorry. I was hoping we could talk at Havok, but I didn't expect you wouldn't show."

A boy whose smile could only be described as refreshing reached out his hand.

"My name's Theodore Partigel. Pleased to meet you."

"...!"

He was Theodore Partigel, fifth son of the Partigel ducal family, the economic backbone of the Hernan Empire.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Is he an enemy or an ally?Mayble both?【「(°ヘ°)?】

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.