Reborn as the Head of the Stolen Mage Family

Chapter 66

The schedule at the Valcon Ruins finally concluded in the evening.

The next part of the schedule was to set up barracks at a campsite a little away from the city and spend the night.

Of course, it was just called a campsite, but the place where the children of the magical world's top upper class stayed couldn't be ordinary.

The prepared barracks and equipment were already ultra-luxurious outdoor accommodations.

Moreover, without the students having to lift a finger, almost all the camping preparations were already completed when they arrived at the campsite.

"Are the barracks and tables all set up? Have all the students' luggage been brought in?"

"Yes, now we just need to hang the lights in the plaza and turn them on."

"What are you doing, hanging the lights now that the students have arrived? Hurry up and move!"

"Yes… yes!"

Blake Dancher, Mayor Dixon's aide, urged the city hall staff even more.

He had received an order from the mayor to 'somehow leave a good impression of Lacania City on the students.'

Of course, Blake wanted to do so as well, but was it as easy as it sounded?

The tension that came from handling luxurious items he had never touched before.

Perhaps because of that, the city hall staff made mistakes one after another throughout the work.

Moreover, their movements were slow, further frustrating Blake.

Of course, it wasn't that Blake didn't understand the staff.

It was the first time in Lacania City that dozens of VIP-level guests had visited at once.

‘Sigh… I wish they would just leave quickly.’

Blake's gaze turned to the students gathering in the campsite plaza.

He truly hoped that the field trip would end without a single one of them getting hurt or complaining.

Perhaps thanks to such painstaking efforts.

The students, after finishing their dinner, had a much more enjoyable rest time than at the academy.

There were some model students who had already started studying about the ruins, but most were busy playing with their wands and using magic.

The campsite was outside the academy grounds, so they were free from the rule of only being able to use magic of 3-stars or less.

Therefore, the students enjoyed their rest time by freely using the magic they had always wanted to use.

While the students were having fun.

Fred and Brenda were writing a report in the professors' barracks.

[…With this, we have concluded the 1st-year Valcon Ruins field trip.]

The report writing concluded with the signatures of the two professors.

The report, placed in an envelope, was tied to the back of Fury, who had come out of Brenda's summoning stone.

"There. Deliver this well to the dean and come back."

With a gentle request, Fury let out a purr and left the barracks.

Besides Fury, various summoned creatures were out in the barracks.

Brenda had let out the summoned creatures, who were excited to be outdoors after a long time, for a while.

Flap-

The summoned creature Melfox flapped its large ears and flew onto Fred's lap.

Fred stroked the back of the Melfox that had landed on his lap.

"But… when the magical beast appears, these children won't get out of the professor's control, will they……?"

"Why, are you scared?"

"Well, since it's a Rakan beast, I'm worried. Among the five founding magical beasts, there's a king of summoned creatures, so the king of summoned creatures and Rakan are both among the five great magical beasts, so Rakan's power might affect the summoned creatures."

"Don't worry. The summoner's rapport is superior to the magical beast's howling in terms of compatibility. Unless the magical beast king himself steps forward."

Fred shook his head at the last sentence as if he was creeped out.

It was because he remembered ‘that operation’ that Eddie had told him about at the last meeting of Palamedes before they left.

Just then, a presence was felt approaching the barracks.

The two professors stopped talking and looked at the entrance of the barracks.

The person who had visited the professors' barracks was Blake.

He said in a polite tone.

"The students' sleeping arrangements and the maintenance of the campsite's barrier stones are all complete."

"Thank you for your hard work, Aide Dancher. The academy will send a separate thank you message to Lacania City Hall."

"No, haha. It's something we should do, of course. We will be staying near the campsite, so please feel free to call on us if you need anything."

"Uh… no, you don't have to go that far. According to the rules, only the students and the supervising professors are supposed to camp."

"That's right. The city hall has already provided us with more convenience than necessary. We will finish the remaining schedule on our own."

The two professors refused the excessive kindness and were a little wary of Blake.

It was because they wondered if he had some other intention.

But Blake's expression was closer to desperation than to being meaningful.

He quickly ended the conversation as if to give no room for rebuttal.

"It is the kindness of our Lacania City for those who will become great mages of the future, so please don't feel burdened! Then, I'll be on my way."

He quickly bowed his head and left the barracks.

The two professors stared at the flapping barracks entrance in bewilderment.

They talked as if complaining.

"No matter what, for the representatives of a city to be so subservient……."

"I think they're being even more like that because there are so many children from influential families in this 1st year."

"Right. Since the next heads of the two pillars of the magical world are both here, it's an opportunity for the mayor, but for them, it's just a crisis."

"Still, if their reaction is that sensitive, it will be easy to create public opinion as planned."

"That's right."

The two professors looked at each other and nodded.

What was bewildering was bewildering, but thanks to it, the work had become easier.

Because rumors spread more easily in a noisy situation.

* * *

The students gathered in the campsite plaza before bedtime.

Surprisingly, the one who had called them was Eddie.

When he got on a log chair in the plaza and shouted for their attention several times, the students gathered, albeit reluctantly.

Eddie stood on the log and looked down at the gathered students.

Alexein had taken a few close friends a little while ago and had gone into his own barracks to eat some high-class snacks sent from Dickens.

Eddie had discussed telling them the instructions right before bedtime, but he had only half-listened.

And as expected, Alexein, as if he had completely forgotten Eddie's words, did not come out to the plaza.

Eddie began to speak the instructions alone.

"Lights out at the campsite is at 11 PM, and wake-up time tomorrow morning is at 7 AM. We will be leaving the campsite at 9 AM, so please finish your breakfast and personal arrangements before then."

An announcement that started without the president.

A few students were watchful, but most were natural about it.

Even the upper-class students now took Alexein's absence for granted.

Therefore, even when Alexein, who had joined the plaza late, glared at Eddie, fuming, there were few who were surprised or watchful.

"That cheeky bastard again…!"

"Ah, Alexein, wait a minute."

Tony, one of his group, hurriedly stopped Alexein, who was about to shout at any moment.

A sharp glare followed, asking what he was doing, but Tony gestured with his chin as if to tell him to read the room.

"……."

The students were concentrating on Eddie's words without any problems, even though Alexein, the president, was absent.

Moreover, even though they knew he had come, most of the students did not show any agitation.

They just looked at Eddie, who was continuing the announcement in front of them.

"When did that cunning bastard win the kids' hearts……."

Clenching his fists, Alexein slowly moved forward.

As he pushed through the crowd, Eddie's clear voice grew louder and louder.

Eddie also saw Alexein but didn't care.

"And leaving the campsite at night is prohibited, and we recommend that you do not wander around within the campsite if possible. If the magical beasts come out of the ruins at night, the campsite's barrier will be useless."

It was a flawless announcement.

But the upper-class students scoffed at the last sentence.

That a magical beast might appear at night, and outside the ruins at that.

It was a commoner-like thought to believe what the professor had written down as it was.

And Alexein would not miss this golden opportunity for ridicule.

He stepped forward at the right time and said.

"Ha, what a ridiculous thing to say. Do you think a magical beast is some kind of nocturnal animal? To wander around anywhere at night."

Alexein raised his voice and got on the log.

His voice was full of energy, as if he was happy to have a chance to take the lead from Eddie.

"Well, the fact that you have no prior knowledge of magical beasts is not surprising, considering your background. But should a vice president be openly talking nonsense?"

"Ah… is that so."

"Yes. A magical beast is not a simple nocturnal beast. The conditions for its appearance are also strict, and the last time it was witnessed was already more than 50 years ago."

"Hmm."

"And that last magical beast was not even a Rakan beast, but a Tesa beast. Got it?"

Eddie gave a subtle smile at Alexein's rebuke.

He had squeezed out his knowledge to say it, but his immaturity was clearly revealed.

To think that it would be fine in the future just because of past experiences.

Without knowing that his smile contained ridicule, Alexein continued to speak.

"So don't call out the kids who were resting well and confuse them with wrong information. Got it?"

"The president's words are wise. Then will the president deliver the rest of the information?"

Eddie didn't lose a single word and instead came out with a sly attitude.

Alexein roughly snatched the paper from Eddie's hand as if to say he couldn't do it.

But the rest of the instructions were-

"I hope today's tour was an informative learning experience for everyone…. Have a good night."

It was just a rather cringey closing remark.

Alexein's face turned red with embarrassment and he flapped the paper back and forth.

Unfortunately for him, that was really the end of the instructions.

‘How dare this cheeky bastard play with me……?’

The sound of giggles could be heard from here and there.

The students no longer cared much about Alexein's anger.

Eddie also came down from the log to return to his barracks.

But Alexein couldn't hold back any longer and called him out in an angry voice.

He couldn't let it go like this.

"How long do you think you can be so arrogant?"

Alexein, who had come in front of Eddie, shot at him in a low voice.

"You probably think Kirhausen is your backer and you're something special now, right? But you, you'll be kicked out soon."

"……."

"You probably don't know, but no matter how good your skills are, there's no noble family that likes a tail to be so presumptuous and attract attention like this."

"……."

"For now, Kirhausen is staying quiet for the sake of the family's dignity, but in my opinion, your time is short. You'll be back on the streets soon."

"...I will take your advice to heart."

Eddie answered briefly and walked past Alexein towards his barracks.

In fact, a lot of things he wanted to say to Eustaf's grandson had just popped into his head.

Things like scolding and teaching.

But he didn't want to continue the argument here.

And Alexein was right.

‘My time is short.’

* * *

Night fell, and the campsite was shrouded in darkness.

Rustle-

And the entrance to a barracks flapped, and footprints began to be imprinted on the dirt ground.

It was Eddie, who had hidden his appearance with invisibility magic.

The footprints continued to be imprinted towards the campsite entrance.

Eddie had hidden his appearance, presence, and even his magic, but he had left the footprints as they were.

A few hours later.

Because they had to be used as evidence for Fred and Brenda to publicize his departure from the campsite.

Vrooom- vrooom-

Eddie passed the entrance and stood in front of the barrier surrounding the campsite.

Then he closed his eyes, drew up his magic, and pictured the entrance to the Valcon Ruins in his head.

For medium- to long-distance teleportation, he used Teleport instead of Blink.

It was a magic that required more magic than Blink and had more complex calculations, but it was not a problem for Eddie.

Pat-!

When he opened his eyes, the entrance to the Valcon Ruins, shrouded in darkness, appeared before him.

But Eddie didn't enter right away.

In front of the ruins entrance, Eddie drew up his magic once more.

Then he swung his wand over his head.

Hide Mana

Mana Cloaking

And even Mana Vanish.

He deployed a triple layer of magic perception hindrance spells.

Only after completing the best possible defense against any magic detection did Eddie enter the ruins.

‘As expected. They're operating the facility.’

A change from the daytime was soon felt by Eddie.

In the Valcon Ruins at night, several auras that were not of magical beasts were felt.

Eddie briefly loosened his body and hurried his steps towards the tree artifact he had confirmed during the day.