In the midst of an ambiguous atmosphere, the automated carriage finally arrived at its destination. Getting off the carriage, Luca had a puzzled expression.

'This place is...?'

Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was a place where the sound of steel hammers never ceased from all corners.

At the same time, a description popped into his mind.

— The blue flames of blazing magic power. There were dozens of the Empire's pride, magic stone forges, lined up.— Across the Petto River, in contrast to the desolate magic stone forges, there was an unbelievably lush green forest, its vibrant life force enough to make one's heart race in admiration.— The name of this place was the Ataran Magic Stone Workshop. It was the Empire's renowned source for magic stones.

Even without the description, just looking at the blue river dividing a bustling forge area full of people on one side and a verdant forest on the other, one could immediately tell where this was.

'But why are we here...?'

This was the place the protagonist had visited during second-year field practice in the original story. Considering that, it didn't make sense for first-years like them to be here.

'I don't remember the detailed setting... Should I reread it?'

As Luca thought about that and was about to pull out his phone, he turned his head at the teacher's call.

"Alright! Focus! Just because it's field practice doesn't mean you'll be sent out to hunt monsters right away! Today, you'll learn about the Empire's pride, the Ataran Magic Stone Workshop, and teams will be formed as well! Everyone, form groups of at least three and up to six people!"

With the teacher's brief explanation came an introduction to the Ataran Magic Stone Workshop.

"The special technology of refining lower-grade magic stones into higher-grade ones is a miraculous feat, achieved through the efforts of our Hernan Empire's mages and alchemists."

"The engineers working here all earn high wages, and funding for technology development is specially provided."

"When you become upperclassmen and decide your future path, be sure to remember this Ataran Magic Stone Workshop!"

In short, they were being told to come here after graduation.

Not all students at the Hernan Academy go to the imperial capital or become lords. Some need to take on these kinds of jobs.

"Ugh... But this place is kind of..."

"Could you even work here?"

"Lu-Luca, isn't that a bit harsh...?"

With Ottbo whining, Luca shot back with a sharp comment while glancing around.

"Still, it seems there are quite a few people interested."

"For commoners, this is practically a dream job. It's not that dangerous, pays well, and they even help relocate your family to the nearby city."

"Even those who aren't commoners seem to be considering it."

Only some of the students in S-class were commoners, yet even now, a lot seemed interested in the Ataran Magic Stone Workshop.

"Well... Yeah. But why is that?"

Just as Ottbo wore a curious look, a bit of trouble arose to answer their question.

"These magic stones look really well-made. Can I buy just one?"

"Ah, sorry. All our workshop products are strictly managed by the Empire, so private purchases are not allowed!"

"What, don't you know who I am? I'm Nord Halfmole from the Nord Halfmole Count's family!"

Luca let out a snort.

"Interested only in the result, not the process."

"It's true that the magic stones here are top quality. Any mage or alchemist would be tempted."

Ottbo looked understanding, at least.

"Nord. Don't trouble people here by doing that."

"Archiond."

"Your family could easily get high quality magic stones elsewhere, right? Let's just look around~."

Archiond resolved the trouble.

"Typical Archiond. He's so nice. Really, he could just ignore things like that."

"Exactly. 'I'm Nord Halfmole of the Halfmole Count's house~ heh heh."

"What was the Halfmole Count's house famous for again?"

However, it seemed not everyone approved of the way Archiond acted.

"There he goes again. Always pretending to be nice."

"Let it go. He's the one always saying, 'We're all friends~ Friends shouldn't fight~' right?"

"Ugh. Disgusting."

Luca clicked his tongue as he glanced at the others gossiping.

'So much for saying everyone's a friend—it's not exactly true, is it?'

As he was revising his opinion of Archiond, Ottbo carefully broached the topic.

"Luca. Should we start forming a group?"

"Is that necessary? As long as I have you and Moula, that's enough."

"But... Archiond made a team of six."

Luca glanced toward Archiond.

Just as Ottbo said, Archiond's team consisted of six.

"... Sneaky. So he's taking a numerical advantage."

"W-Well, we could just recruit more people too, right?"

"Too much trouble. With Moula Prington, we'll manage."

With Moula's magic power beam cannon, he figured they'd be fine.

'It may take some time to charge and fire, but the power is certain. All I have to do is attract the monster's attention.'

As Luca thought that, Moula timidly approached from somewhere.

"Um, excuse me..."

"Yes, Moula Prington. As promised, we'll form a group of three."

"But, um..."

Moula hesitated, only glancing at Luca anxiously. Luca tilted his head.

"What's wrong? Are you saying you don't want to be in the same group after all?"

"I-It's not that, it's just..."

As Moula struggled to continue, a confident-sounding boy suddenly appeared from the direction she came from, grabbing her arm.

"Moula! What's this about you not being able to team up with us?!"

Moula, despite her arm being grabbed, wasn't surprised—she just continued to look at Luca nervously.

"He's my friend... Is it okay if he joins our group?"

"Friend?"

"Moula, are you really thinking of teaming with this noble?"

The boy, with the spirited voice, looked wary of Luca. Moula looked flustered.

"H-Hav. Don't say anything rude..."

"I said I'd find a group!"

"But Hav... you haven't found one yet, have you?"

At Moula's words, the boy called Hav pouted.

"That's because the nobles only form groups amongst themselves..."

"That's why they don't team up with you, if you talk like that."

"Ugh! But... but...!"

Watching them argue, Luca clicked his tongue. He glanced at Ottbo, who felt Luca's gaze and whispered into his ear.

"... I think it's fine."

"Do you know what that kid is like?"

"He's famous in the alchemy department. He's a commoner, but apparently excellent with chemical alchemy. But he's got such a rough attitude that people tend to hush it up."

Luca snorted.

"It is certainly not an easy attitude to accept."

"But, but, Hav is really skilled, even if he talks that way...!"

"Moula!"

Ignoring Hav's words, Moula looked at Luca.

"I-I'm sure he'll be a great help. Please accept him into the group...!"

"Fine."

"!"

At Luca's simple answer, Hav's eyes opened wide. He couldn't believe his ears after straightforwardly saying it to this guy.

"You, you..."

"Not 'you'—Luca Traverse. And your name?"

"..."

At Luca's calm question, Hav hesitated, then eventually held out his hand.

"Hav Irid. Obviously, that's a temporary surname."

"Then I'll call you Hav. You can call me by name too."

"... Yeah."

"I'm Ottbo Gress! You can call me Ottbo too."

"O-Okay."

With Hav quieted down, Ottbo introduced himself as well, and they all agreed to call each other by their first names. Hav looked at Luca with a curious expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, it's just..."

Hav scratched the back of his head.

"You're a bit different from those other guys."

"Those guys?"

As Luca made a puzzled face, Hav glanced at the other S-class students.

"Their tone and the look in their eyes... When they look at us, you can just tell they look down on us a bit. But you're not like that."

"Huh."

It seemed to echo what Bogus had mentioned before, 'their gaze is different'.

'Does being a commoner really make that big a difference? It's a good thing I reincarnated as Luca Traverse instead.'

There certainly seemed to be a distinction.

"But will four be enough? Shouldn't we fill out to six if we want to beat Archiond?"

"What are you talking about?"

Hav tilted his head at Ottbo's worried look. Luca replied indifferently.

"It's nothing. Basically, the so-called star over there and I made a bet about who gets a higher score for this practical, but the group sizes are different. Don't worry, it's not important."

"A bet?"

"Yeah. Not that it matters. I'm going to win anyway."

With Ottbo's mechanized golem and Moula's magic power beam cannon, losing didn't seem likely.

"Huh, is that so?"

Hav snorted and thumped his chest.

"Good! I, Hav of Portro, will bring you victory as gratitude for letting me join your team!"

"...?"

"P-Portro is the name of our hometown,"

Moula added in explanation.

Luca smacked his lips and nodded.

"I'll look forward to it."

* * *

The second day of field training dawned. The fatigue from the first day in the automated carriage had melted away and everyone was in peak condition.

"Alright, from now on the Hernan Academy field training will begin. Hunt the monsters in the Ataran Forest across the river and collect magic stones! Your personal results will be reflected, but in the end, what matters is how many magic stones you bring back. I pray you all make it back safely!"

In any case, teachers monitored the woods here and there, and each group was given a tracker and a rescue flare for emergencies, so there wasn't too much to worry about.

"Ugh... I'm a little nervous."

"Isn't it time you got bolder? After everything that already happened."

"That was then, this is now. This affects our grade, you know?"

Luca let out a snicker at Ottbo, who looked so tense he might have a stomachache, but suddenly froze at a sound from somewhere.

Pii!

"?"

It was the cry of Whistle, his familiar. It sounded like the bird was calling for him.

'She never shows herself in front of people first unless he has to. What's this about?'

Feeling uneasy, Luca turned to Ottbo.

"How about going to the bathroom now?"

"Yeah, I should."

"Are you guys ready?"

"Wait... Moula, did you bring your handkerchief?"

"I-I think I left my bag!"

"What?! Where is it!"

As the three others quickly left, Luca clicked his tongue and looked to see Whistle sitting on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Master, be careful! I sense a strange power from that forest!"

"Strange power?"

Luca tilted his head slightly.

"You mean a devil's power?"

"It's... it's like devil's power, but... something's different."

"Different, huh."

Whistle sounded confused, but Luca got the gist.

'So it already existed at this point.'

That presence, which put the main character in mortal danger in the original, was apparently already in the forest. However, this was three years before its first actual appearance in the story—so it shouldn't be that dangerous yet.

'Or maybe it's an opportunity?'

Though not full-fledged demonic power, perhaps it could help Whistle grow.

'Thanks to Whistle, I have nothing to worry about anyway.'

Thinking this, Luca looked at Whistle.

"Either way, as long as I have your power, it should be fine, right?"

"That's true, but... just in case, be careful."

"Then fully charge my lightning power. Just in case, like I said."

At Luca's words, Whistle immediately pecked at his neck with his beak.

Jolt!

A tingling sensation raced through his body, focused on his neck. Luca flinched, then bit his lip.

"Next time, warn me first..."

"Then I'll be up there."

With that, Whistle vanished into the sky. Watching this, Luca pouted, then seeing Ottbo returning with a pale face, curled his lips.

'Well, nothing will happen anyway.'

* * *

"Hm? What's that?"

Across the Petto River, in the Ataran Forest, someone was gazing toward the magic stone workshop with a puzzled face.

"... Oh? Why are the academy's first-years here?"

While stroking his chin in thought, he let out a sly smile.

"Heh, I see. Was this arranged by that person?"

The man slipped into the forest shadows, muttering.

"It's good to see you again, Luca Traverse."

Before he vanished completely, sunlight filtered through the trees and made his monocle glint.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Is it now a boss fight with that spy professor of Demons?Devil here is 악마(ak-ma).And Demon is 데몬즈(Demonz).【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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