The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

I immediately left Stella’s room and knocked on Pina’s door. I even considered forcibly breaking the door down, but that didn’t seem necessary.

There was no sign of her anywhere.

I couldn’t find Pina in the Training Grounds, the Mana Workshop, or the Training Room.

I checked the Classroom and our class too, but still, no sign of Pina.

An hour had passed since all the lectures ended.

And still, I couldn’t get in touch with Pina.

There wasn’t a single place I could find her.

Even the passing students had no idea where Pina was.

And then, the crucial evidence.

Paid Haberon.

I couldn’t find that bastard either.

With that, I was sure.

Pina had been kidnapped.

If I had been careless, I could blame my negligence. But I never expected things would escalate so suddenly.

Yet, this was the Academy.

Just look at Sedil—he’s a force to be reckoned with, even on his own.

And is that all?

The professors of the courses I’m taking, particularly Wivir Arkand. That woman alone has the skills to wipe the floor with most Dark Mages.

I never thought such a bold kidnapping attempt would happen right here among such powerful figures.

And I certainly never imagined it would be successful.

The Academy’s security is pretty tight, as I have witnessed.

From the barrier that detects magic to the sheer number of humans who can sense it, there are many safeguards.

Yet… she was snatched so easily.

Is there some means of concealing magic?

There’s definitely a high possibility of that.

Just take Stella’s story—she mentioned that flames created with magic burned the note.

That means there’s a way to breach the Academy’s seals.

If not… then there must be a human who can use magic within the Academy from the get-go.

But on the brighter side, it’s quite likely they won’t kill Pina right away.

I might not have a clear grasp of what that door is specifically, but since they kidnapped Pina, it stands to reason that they need her for the power of the spirits.

If that’s the case, they must keep her alive.

Because if Pina dies, they won’t be able to summon the spirit.

…They may torture her, but for now, they’ll likely keep her alive.

What about Muyeong? Has he fallen into the Labyrinth?

That seems highly probable.

Perhaps they moved the timeline forward due to their awareness of Muyeong’s existence.

Anyway.

Considering how brazenly they orchestrated this, they undoubtedly prepared an escape route.

And that’s probably the ‘back door’ of the Labyrinth.

The Labyrinth, that’s where she always made her hasty retreats.

They must have that ability as well.

“Hey! You said I could say anything and now you’re suddenly giving off this heavy vibe!! What’s going on?!”

Stella, who had followed me in a flurry, was shaking her legs and chirping away.

“What’s going on? Why are you searching for Pina so desperately?”

Regardless of her fuss, I pulled out the documents I got from Ophelia and began reading them rapidly.

The geography of Miri Maeh.

The location of the entrance to the underground waterway.

A rough map of the Labyrinth that comes after entering.

The map isn’t entirely reliable, but it’s a huge help in getting a grasp of the situation early on.

If it were the me of my previous life, I’d have run off without a second thought, but not now.

No matter what I do, I need to prepare thoroughly.

Otherwise, I could end up in deep trouble while trying to save her.

Five minutes passed.

Having memorized Ophelia’s documents, I immediately began changing my clothes.

“Uh? Uh-oh?? Hey! Hey!! Why all of a sudden, changing clothes… Am I going crazy…!! No, but your skin is super pale…”

“Stop buzzing around and go back to your room.”

“What?! I came to check on you, why are you saying that?!”

“You’re not feeling well either, so just go back.”

Stella tilted her head.

“Me? Why?”

“Because you’re just like me… It’s that time of the month, isn’t it?”

“…Me?”

One of Stella’s eyebrows shot up.

“Not for me.”

As I was putting on my pants, I froze—my body seemed suddenly stiff.

“…Not true?”

“Yep. I already finished last week.”

Now that I think about it, Stella had said she rarely had menstrual cramps.

So… was I just misunderstanding?

Had I been sensitive due to lack of sleep while organizing that information?

But no…? The way she looked yesterday was definitely… not that kind of fatigue.

Tsk, what does that even matter right now.

“Anyway, go back to your room. Back to…”

Should I add this last part?

Would I only be causing unnecessary worry?

I don’t know.

“Back to?”

“Go… take a shower or something. You smell.”

Stella’s face turned bright red.

“Wh-What?! I… I smell?! Hey! I took a shower this morning! Or was it last night? Or, uh yesterday morning…? Wait, no! Anyway, I showered! It doesn’t smell! I didn’t even sweat! I… I naturally don’t smell!!”

Screaming “Gawaahhh!” she secretly sniffed her own body.

“…You didn’t shower yesterday either?”

“I d-did shower!”

“Ugh, gross.”

Of course, there wasn’t any smell.

In fact, she had a pleasant scent for someone who had supposedly not showered.

“Anyway, go back. It’s nothing serious.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Listen when an adult speaks.”

“Adult? Who? I was born earlier than you!”

“How did you know my birthday? You’re not even trying to hide it anymore.”

“…Anyway, what the hell happened? Did something happen to Pina?”

“You don’t need to know.”

I picked up all my clothes, putting on my hood.

Just in case, I packed a few potions too.

And… bandages.

I grasped the bandages I had taken from the Royal Treasury.

Honestly… I didn’t think I would need them.

But Arisa always said this.

“What?! I’m not wrapping it for style! If you wrap it tightly like this, it reduces the risk of injuring your wrist! When you throw a punch, your wrist stays stable!”

If the strongest chimpanzee says so, then it must be true. And with Luna’s Divine Power in the mix… it should come in handy somewhere.

I crumpled the bandages and stuffed them in my pocket.

Luckily, I knew how to tie them securely.

I’ve tied up Arisa’s bandages a few times.

“…Are you going to fight?”

In the meantime, Stella continued to throw me questions.

Should I tie her up in my room again?

No… not today.

In a situation where I can’t guarantee a 100% return, I need someone to inform them of my condition in my stead.

Silina could take on that role, but she stands out too much. Plus, if Silina gets spotted contacting the Eustetia Duchy, it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

Yeah… it seems better to say something.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“If I don’t return to the Academy by the end of the weekend, can you contact the Eustetia Duchy?”

“…What?”

Who could possibly contact the Eustetia Duchy directly?

Sedil Mershdoff.

“If you go to the Dean and tell him I asked, he’ll connect you with the Eustetia Duchy. Then pass on this information. Also tell them I haven’t come back in two days.”

“You, what the hell are you saying? Where are you going? Huh? Where are you going that makes you say that?!”

Stella, pale as a ghost, shouted at me.

“I need a favor.”

Her eyes widened at my use of the word favor, but it didn’t matter at all.

“No. Absolutely not. I’m going too. Something happened to Pina, I’m going as well. And with a request like that, you could just send a message.”

“You’re way too weak to come.”

“Ha! Pfft… I’m not! I’m at the Fourth Circle now. The units of spells I can use have changed. I can totally be of help! Just like that time during the entrance exam, I can help you conserve your strength!”

“You might die. You probably will die.”

“…Just protect me like you did during the entrance exam.”

“Aren’t you a little too shameless?”

“Ugh… Fine. I don’t need you to protect me. I can handle myself now.”

Stella made a resolute face, turning to leave my room.

“Anyway, I made it clear. I’m definitely going. While you read that information, I was peeking too, you know? I know the way to get there. So… if you leave without me, I’ll find a way to follow.”

She then spoke in a serious tone.

“…If you want me dead, then just leave me behind.”

And with that, the door slammed shut.

“Is she really using threats like that now?”

Without any hesitation, I stepped outside.

*

“Hek… hek, hek… heeek…!”

All set and ready, Stella came running to catch up with me, panting heavily.

“You really… heeek… were going to leave me behind! How could you be so heartless?!”

“I clearly told you not to follow.”

“I said… heeek… if you wanted to see me die, then just leave me behind!”

Tsk, clicking my tongue, I turned my back towards the Academy’s main gate.

“So, uh… where are we going?”

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

“…Actually, I didn’t see it.”

“What the hell?!”

I whipped my head around to glare at Stella.

“What? What does it matter? The fault is yours for not realizing!”

Seeing Stella stick her tongue out at me, I was so dumbfounded I had no words.

Did she turn her back to hide her expression?

Quite clever for Stella.

“Tsk, damn it.”

“What? Wanna hit me?! Huh?! Go ahead! Hit me—ah! Wait… did you really hit me?! You actually hit me!!”

I jabbed her on the head lightly.

I might’ve hit a bit hard. There’s probably a bruise forming.

“If you’re going to follow me, just do it quietly. I’ll explain the situation as we go.”

“…Ugh, that hurts… But if I’m not at the Academy, then who will come looking for us if we haven’t returned?”

I handed my device to Stella, who was rubbing her head as she trailed behind me.

“Set a reservation message with this.”

“A reservation message? Hehe. You planned to have me wait for you from the beginning, huh?”

“Like I said, set it up before you complain more.”

“Ugh… Just say it nicely from the start.”

“What’s all this? Is this a dying wish?”

“That’s not a dying wish! I have no intention of dying.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. You, me, and Pina. We’re all coming back without a doubt.”

With trembling hands, Stella took the device, swallowing hard as she set up the reservation.

There were two reservation messages in total.

One was for Sedil. The other was for Silina.

The message to Sedil was set for two days later, while the one for Silina was scheduled for one day later.

For now, my goal is to find Pina and come back within 30 hours.

If I return and cancel the reservation message immediately, there shouldn’t be any issues.

“Done. So, how do we get out now? The gate guard is watching, right?”

I casually tossed the device I had received from Stella into the bushes. If I take it out, the message won’t be sent, so this was unavoidable.

When I return, I’ll have to ask Pina for a favor… no, I’ll have to beg her for it.

“Just sneak out.”

“How do we sneak out?”

I smirked- glancing over at the guard eyeing us suspiciously.

“You sneak out without anyone seeing us, and that’s all there is to it. What else is there?”

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