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Volume 7 Chapter 1 Part 7

Siluca didn’t say anything, but instead she decided to keep his words etched in her mind. However, it was most reassuring to know that the head of the Meletes family had ideals that were not that much different from her own.

「After leaving Elam, I will head straight to Veltava. I will ask Lord Theo to become the leader of the Artuk Treaty, and we will finally become truly independent third power, free of the influence of both the factory Alliance and the Fantasia Union. Then, we will encourage reconciliation between the Alliance and the Union, and bring an end to the Great War. 」

「You mean that you actually want to bring the three forces together and stabilize the situation between them? 」

「Yes, that’s what we’re intending to do. 」

Siluca smiled and nodded her head.

「It’s a reasonable strategy. 」

「My Lord’s desire was to liberate his hometown from unjust oppression, so it is enough to maintain the current system without the integration of the Grancrest. 」

Theo is starting to move towards a new dream now, but there was no need for Siluca to reveal that information right now. She doesn’t doubt the sincerity of Tiberio’s intentions, but if he were to find out about it, that could spell trouble both for him and the rest of the Meletes family.

「That’s what the Sages Committee wants to hear. I’ll be sure to report it to them then. 」

「Thank you very much. 」

Siluca bowed once more to Tiberio and left his office. Then, the secretary who was waiting outside the room escorted Siluca out of the building.

「You are the epitome of a contract Mage. Who would’ve thought that you’ll be able to turn an ordinary wandering Lord into a genuine Earl! 」

The secretary called out to her while hugging Siluca tightly.

「Thank you, but it was only possible for me to do it because of all the things that the Meletes family have taught me. 」

Siluca answered mysteriously while returning the hug, and then he left the mansion.

A carriage would arrive to pick her up soon, so all she had to do was to wait for it nearby. Aishela was also waiting for her in a nearby alley.

「Sorry for making you wait. 」

Siluca nodded at Aishela, and the two of them got into the carriage, which arrived shortly after.

「So? How was it? 」

Sitting next to Aishela, Siluca cried out in a low voice.

「I haven’t seen any of them, but it seems like there are a lot of them around the embassy. 」

Aishela answered.

「I see… 」

Siluca nodded.

「I just hope that no one goes out of control, like during 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」. 」

「It’s okay. If anything happens, I’ll protect you, Siluca. 」

Aishela said as she hugged Siluca.

「Stop it, you’re going to mess up my hair! 」

Siluca chastised Aishela in a hurry.

「Do I really need to remind you that I still need to go meet with Headmaster Sembros at the Magic University? 」

Just like she thought, Aishela’s way of expressing her love was simply too excessive at times.

The carriage carrying Siluca and Aishela ran for a short time and arrived at the entrance to the Magic University. When she reached the entrance, Siluca showed her magic wand and ID to the gatekeeper, and then said that Headmaster Sembros is expecting her, after which she was allowed to enter the university’s premises.

Instead of staying behind this time, Aishela also accompanied Siluca while shrugging her shoulders nervously.

「I caused trouble for that old man. 」

「That makes two of us then. 」

Siluca nodded with a bitter smile. Then she walked side by side with Aishela to the principal’s office. A few students passed them by, all of them nodding at the two. Everyone had a curious look on their faces, wandering what these two strange visitors were doing here.

「Maybe we stand out too much? 」

「You were pretty famous around the campus back in your Magic Academy days and I’m sure that there was a lot of rumors going on about you, but I’m pretty sure none of them were the bad ones, and you had a pretty good reputation. 」

Siluca sighed. So the students At the Magic University are still concerned about what happens to the graduates of their institution. Well, Silica herself was something of a special case, so she cannot help it but to gather attention to herself.

In any case, she didn’t want anyone to stop them in an attempt to talk to them, so she decided to quicken her pace and get to the headmaster’s office as soon as possible.

When they finally reached their destination and she knocked on the door, she heard the sound of footsteps, and the one to open the door for them was Headmaster Sembros himself.

「Long time no see, Siluca. 」

Senbros called out to her with no expression on his face.

「It has been a while. 」

Siluca bowed to him on the spot.

「Thanks for having us. 」

Aishela welcomed him in a crude manner.

「Hmm… and you are? 」

Senbros looked at Aishela with a critical eye.

「We apologize for the inconvenience caused by our visit. 」

Aishela didn’t answer, but simply bowed her head.

「It’s an inconvenience alright.」

Sembros grumbled bitterly.

「How is the cat fairy doing? 」

「Right now, he’s resting in my shadow. 」

Siluca looked down at her feet.

「I see. In that case, let’s talk at the Demon Beast Garden on Earth. For you guys, it’s the place where the two of you met each other for the first time, after all. 」

「I don’t mind that, but…「

For a moment, Siluca locked eyes with Aishela, and she gave her a meaningful look. She wondered if she meant something specific by it, so she sneakily took a peek around the room, but she only saw Sembros’s secretary. The secretary was looking through the documents, but she felt like she was looking at her.

(Maybe it’s something that he doesn’t want her to hear?)

Headmaster Sembros values the uniqueness of the Magic University above all else. Thanks to that and his stubborn nature, the students of the Magic University were able to enjoy relative freedom during their years of learning there. Researching magic is already hard enough as it is, but these youthful years at the University were the only times when the students could play and fall in love to their heart’s content, so they were jumping at every chance to do so they could. After their graduation, Mages would have no time for such frivolities, since they’d need to devote their entire lives to serving their contracted Lord properly.

Sembros then led Siluca and Aishela to the Magical Beasts Garden built in the basement of the Magic University. He was silent the whole time they walked there, so Siluca also decided that it would be better not to talk to him, even though she wanted to tell him about the offer that she received from the member of the Inquiry Committee.

Aishera also had her hands behind her head the entire way nonchalantly while she was humming a song to herself, but her eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings in search of anything suspicious.

They walked for a little while, and then they arrived at the Magical Beast Garden. This was the place where the students of the Magic University were being taught Summoning Magic, but at the same time it was the place where a large variety of magical beats were being kept im custom made cages and containers.

One of such magical beasts was a Unicorn, the mythical horned horse which was used as the emblem of house Constance of Artuk, known for its noble and beautiful appearance. The beast was by the artificial spring near the trees that have been planted in the garden while being kept separately from the griffons, lions and eagles which were gorging themselves on various pieces of meat, including the horse meat.

There is a research report that indicates that the Unicorns breed with horses from this world, and there is a second research report that they’re capable of producing a hybrid beast called the Hippogriff. Mages at the University also attempted to breed them artificially, but no matter how many times they were bringing breeding partners for the Unicorns to mate with, they were always killed and devoured by them shortly after.

Among the extremely large provisions, sleeping on a mountain of gold coins was a true dragon. Every time it took a breath, sulfur-smelling smoke rose from his nostrils. It is said that if you accidentally sleep near its container, you may become trapped in a dream about a dragon.