Chapter 203

* * *

This day was no different from any other.

I went to the academy and attended classes as usual.

“Look carefully. These six are the essential formulas of advanced flame magic. If you see the same circuit in a magic circle? Then it's definitely advanced flame magic. Of course, it could also be a combination magic with other attributes. What's certain is that you have to think about how to deal with flame magic, which is considered the best in terms of firepower among attribute magic.”

The young teacher in the Magic Department’s Flame Magic course was a new hire.

It was because when the academy was attacked by Brahmus, all the teachers in that department had died….

The bell rang, and the teacher began to pack his books.

“Alright, that’s all for today. We’ll continue where we left off next time.”

And not even a minute later, Teacher Hailey ran in through the front door.

“Now, it's time to finish! Tomorrow is the weekend, right?! Hehe, I like weekends too.”

The following homeroom was ordinary.

Don't play too much just because it's the weekend, study a little, and be careful because it might not be safe wherever you go….

“I say this all the time, but you really have to be careful. It’s been unsettling lately, right?”

It was just like the kind-hearted Teacher Hailey.

Were there any people who were closer to being a disaster than the academy cadets?

“Whatever you all do, be safe! Got it? If you have any difficulties, please consult with me about anything. Because I'm a teacher.”

Teacher Hailey, who said that, had plans with me today.

Quite a spectacular schedule.

“You are still students. It’s okay to rely on adults.”

Student.

It wasn't like the academy, which called them cadets, but that was what made it like Teacher Hailey.

Principal Lukfels had decided on this great undertaking, saying he couldn't bear to see the academy cadets get hurt anymore.

Teacher Hailey was probably no different.

“Now, shall we finish? Class president!”

“Yes, sir! Everyone, stand at attention! Bow to the teacher!”

Class A, who bowed in unison with Bord's command, slowly began to head home.

It was Friday, after all!

“Finally, the weekend. Why is one week so long…?”

“Forget that, wanna play Nine Kingdoms?”

“Ah, of course we have to go.”

Unfortunately, I had no intention of joining that group.

I immediately got up and packed my things.

Adela, who was next to me, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“What are you in such a hurry for?”

“I have plans later.”

“Plans again, again. Will I have to seize all your time with an imperial order for you to spend time with me?”

“Seize my time…?”

“Half of it is a joke.”

“Which means half of it is serious.”

Luri, beside her, chided the listlessly joking Adela.

“Hey! Why are you doing that to our Martin?! He said he's busy!”

“Our Martin? What are you talking about. He is my, my Martin.”

I left the two of them growling at each other and slipped out.

“Hey.”

The one who stopped me was Elisha.

“…You, you're planning something again these days, aren't you?”

The face that asked that question was filled with worry instead of vigilance.

Even though, looking at the cast on her left arm, she was in no position to worry about anyone.

“You know me well.”

“Really. There’s no one who suits being a Black Knight as well as you do.”

It seemed like everyone knew now whenever I got involved in something.

Was I that obvious…?

“If you ever need help, let me know. My arm may be like this, but I’m still the young lady of Harmadun. I have plans today and I’m busy, but still, if you ask for help, I can cancel my plans. And don't overdo it again.”

“I understand.”

Upon returning home, I had to transform into a Barista without a moment's rest.

Because customers were lined up to the point of forming a queue.

It was probably thanks to the Coco Cake I had served at the Elidore succession ceremony gaining great popularity.

“Co-coco Cake coming right up!”

As a bonus, Lilac, who was in charge of the cakes, was so busy that she was running around frantically.

‘Hot chocolate is popular today.’

It was full-blown winter, a time when one craves something sweet and hot.

This year would end soon.

Then it would be the new year.

The first new year I would welcome in this world.

‘A lot has changed.’

The business that started with a coffee cart had opened a popular café in the capital, and my own situation, which had been treated as a trash extra villain, had changed to be at least more human.

“Shall we close up soon?”

“Yes!”

As the evening peak time ended, we also prepared to close the business.

We hung the ‘CLOSE’ sign on the door, cleaned up with a broom and dustpan, covered the windows with curtains, and turned off the lights.

And then we all put on white robes.

White robes embroidered with the image of crossed dual pistols over a hood.

“Oof.”

With a flash of light, the Star Child plopped down on the cash register.

The Star Child, who had naturally taken a seat at the counter table, pulled on a white hood, held up dual pistols, and smiled like a mischievous child.

“Everyone ready? Let's go.”

At a glance, the preparations were complete.

The Star Child took Savo's hand.

I took Nerjin's, Lilac took Bianca's.

Sebastian bit the hem of my robe.

Then, with a flash, they blinked.

The place the group appeared in was the underground waterway.

[Whine.]

Sebastian grimaced at the stench of the underground waterway.

“Let's hurry. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if we're late?”

Following the Star Child, we crossed the underground waterway and arrived at a closed sewage treatment plant.

A man was standing at the entrance.

A handsome man with curly blond hair and green eyes that were narrowed as if slits.

“Welcome, Star Child.”

Teacher Faris greeted the Star Child politely.

Just like a well-mannered person.

“Hey there, little one of Quesharow. Were you on the lookout?”

“Yes. Please come inside. Principal Lukfels is preparing.”

Passing him and going inside, the first thing I saw was a huge magic circle shining brilliantly with five colors.

The person standing in its center was, of course, Principal Lukfels.

‘So that is the transport magic that will lead us to the Humanity Preservation Agency.’

I saw the teachers gathered at a place a little away from the transport magic circle, doing a final check.

Hailey, who was doing something to help Herbology Teacher Wilhelm, saw me and waved her hand in recognition.

Jewel of Exploration, who spotted us, gave a nod from afar, then flew like a butterfly and approached Lukfels in the center of the magic circle.

‘Huh.’

It was incredible footwork, running around among the complex magic circles that made one dizzy just by looking at them, without disturbing the formation in the slightest.

It was unbelievable to see that it was the footwork of someone who had lost a leg to Brahmus.

But one of Jewel's legs was definitely a prosthetic.

“Principal, the Peacemakers have arrived.”

At Jewel's report, Lukfels slightly opened his eyes.

“Distribute those and explain them.”

He finished what he had to say and began to concentrate again.

“Understood.”

It was a quiet conversation, but it could not be free from the range of Wild Instinct.

Jewel flew like a swallow and reached us.

He was wearing a bamboo hat pressed down, had a twig in his mouth, and one leg was prosthetic; his attire was no different from a beggar's, but after seeing his movements once, I couldn't disregard him.

“Welcome, Peacemakers. There's a familiar cadet here too, isn't there?”

Jewel grinned at me.

What he took out from his pocket was a small, circular sticker.

At a glance, it looked exactly like a human body.

“This is the artifact ‘Signaler’, created by Principal Lukfels. It has the function of transmitting your current location, a request for help, or that you're engaged in combat, and receiving signals from other signalers. It's a hastily made artifact, so it doesn't have detailed communication functions.”

It was a part that showed how high-performance a magitool the Cadet Handbook was.

“It seems that the inside of the agency is likely in a state of powerful jamming. In an emergency, Principal Lukfels says that one-way communication is possible.”

The Star Child, who also knew, was grateful.

“Hah, a transport magic circle and even signalers. I didn't doubt Principal Lukfels' skills, but to think it was really possible. We are just grateful. So, how do we wear it?”

“You can attach it behind your left ear.”

Was it like a motion sickness patch?

When I received it, Know-It-All roughly identified its structure.

The communication device serving as the core was Principal Lukfels' signaler, and the rest were all just terminals.

Of course, even this was incredible magic.

“…?”

When I looked up, Lilac was struggling to attach the signaler behind and below her ear.

Perhaps because of her hair, she kept pushing it back, revealing her white neck.

“Lilac, just a moment.”

I slowly approached, gently took the signaler from Lilac's hand, and attached it for her.

“There, it's done.”

“I’ll attach yours, Master.”

Conversely, Lilac came and stood next to me.

Lilac, on her tiptoes, carefully attached the signaler behind and below my ear with both hands.

“It's attached. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“But how do you use this?”

I raised my left index finger and lightly tapped the signaler three times.

“Transmit location.”

Simultaneously, a hologram map appeared in the corner of everyone's vision in the hall.

“Oh my.”

“Ooh.”

The Peacemaker members let out exclamations of surprise.

The academy teachers were also looking at it with curious eyes, as if it were their first time using it.

The hologram map didn't obstruct the view much, but it could be bothersome during a hectic battle.

“Store map.”

Only the hologram map in front of me disappeared.

Seeing that, Lilac tried to follow.

“Store map.”

The map disappeared in the same way.

As if everyone was following a new function, they each muttered "store map."

“Impressive. You saw through it.”

As I was doing that, Lukfels with his profound eyes approached.

“Do you have a talent for magic as well?”

“Well…, I'm not without it, I suppose.”

To be precise, it was Know-It-All's doing.

But there was no need to explain it.

“Humble. As you saw, the signaler I created operates with three touches followed by a designated command. I made it so that at least minimal communication is possible.”

Lukfels, who explained simply as if he had saved himself some trouble, then pointed to the five-colored shining magic circle.

“That is the transport magic circle that leads to the Humanity Preservation Agency. Based on the disposable movement artifact that the Director handed out, I found and designated the real coordinates among countless imaginary coordinates. I've set it to follow the coordinates between real and imaginary numbers that change in real time, so there will be no coordinate misalignment.”

In any case, I understood that it was incredible magic.

“I have finished my preparations, Star Child of the Peacemakers. Have you kept your promise?”

“Of course.”

The Star Child spread his arms wide and pointed to me and my family.

“Behold the full might of the Peacemakers. These are the star warriors whom I, the Star Child, acknowledge and whom Cosmos has permitted. O educator of conviction, we have come to help you achieve your earnest wish.”

“Excellent.”

Lukfels turned and headed towards the magic circle.

“Do you need to reorganize? Or will you depart immediately?”

“No need for long words. Let's go now. My dual pistols are calling for blood.”

Lukfels flinched.

“Those dual pistols… are they demonic weapons?”

“…This old man, really. Of course, it's a joke. You've completely ruined the mood.”

The Star Child made a fed-up expression.

Only then did Lukfels nod in understanding.

‘Ugh!’

How embarrassing!

They are truly embarrassing masters to have anywhere!

The atmosphere was just getting good!

“Enough of that.”

I stepped forward, passed the two of them, and stood on the magic circle.

“Let's depart. It is time for action.”

At that sight, Lukfels and the Star Child entered the magic circle and chatted.

“Isn't our member cool?”

“He is a cadet of our academy.”

Until the very end….

‘But I like it.’

Leisure is the dignity of the strong.

It meant that they were confident even against the unknown powerful enemy, the Humanity Preservation Agency.

In the meantime, the academy teachers and the Peacemakers entered the magic circle.

“Then, I will begin the transport. This is the first joint operation between the Imperium Academy faculty and the Peacemakers.”

Sir Lukfels raised his magic staff.

“Everyone, be careful of motion sickness. 【Space Time Jump】.”

The five-colored magic circle shines with a brilliant light and leaps through time and space.