Akatsuki Translations

Ur and his party, shortly after entering Lust,

“This place hosts the premier magical academy on the continent.” -Ur

“I will enroll.” -Shizuku

“That was quick.” -Ur

And so, the above encapsulates the circumstances under which Shizuku decided to enroll.

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Lautaro Magic Academy, Main Gate

Ur and Rock stood at the forefront, where they could survey the vast magical academy that the City of Sin, Lust took pride in.

“Taking another look…It’s enormous, isn’t it.” -Ur

『It’s not our first sight of it, is it? In this city-state, you can see it from just about anywhere. 』-Rock

“No matter how many times I see it, it’s still huge… Well, urban buildings are generally tall, I guess.” -Ur

The decision to momentarily halt their subjugation of the “Poison Omen Bird” and visit this academy was twofold: one reason was to meet a prospective adventurer, a magician introduced at the guild. The other reason was:

“I want to exchange information with Shizuku.” -Ur

『You do realize she’s only been enrolled for a few days, right? 』-Rock

“Our stay is short; it’s better to exchange information frequently.” -Ur

In order to vanquish the Poison Omen Bird, for the purpose of temporarily mastering new magic, they had accomplished Shizuku’s enrollment here. Her decision to join the academy was driven by a desire to enhance their combat capabilities.

The enhancement of her abilities was, of course, a welcome development for Ur. If a variety of magic could be managed, the breadth of their tactics would expand accordingly. Additionally, there was the matter of Rock. Though he was currently Shizuku’s familiar, their magical contract had been quite clumsy (which couldn’t be helped since it was ad-libbed to completion on the spot).

At the very least, they needed to instill a basic knowledge of necromancy in her.

Meanwhile, Ur gathered information on their target, the Poison Omen Bird, periodically sharing insights about its abilities and what kind of magic would be helpful against it. It was a distribution of roles.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Ur-san We’ve received Shizuku-san’s confirmation. Please, go ahead.” -Gate Guard

Ur nodded and proceeded toward the opened gate. As Rock tried to follow, he was unexpectedly halted.

“Excuse me, he is an undead soldier, Shizuku-san’s familiar, correct? Please wait.” -Gate Guard

『Hm, I won’t cause any trouble. 』-Rock

“No, it’s not that. There’s a message from Shizuku-san. She says, 《Currently, the contract is unstable, so I’d like him to wait a bit longer before stepping into the academy, where various magics are rampant. 》” -Gate Guard

Ur and Rock exchanged glances. If it was a message from Shizuku, it was an unavoidable matter. It seemed Rock also understood, as he slightly shrugged his shoulders and stepped back.

『Well, if that’s the case, I’ll refrain. 』-Rock

“Just kill time as you please. We’ll gather at the inn when the evening bell rings.” -Ur

『Alright, maybe I’ll show my face at Garralda-dono’s place then. 』

Garralda, their silver-ranked senior who had given advice at the bar earlier. Wondering if he had some sort of errand there, Ur was pondering when Rock gave a grin — or seemed to, with bones rattling inside his helmet.

『There’s a bar nearby that’s hosting a gambling event called “Bug Battle” or something. I’ll have him show me around. 』 -Rock

“…Just make sure to stay within your spending allowance.” -Ur

『No need to tell me, see you! 』-Rock

With that, waving his hand and with light footsteps, Rock departed.

Somehow, it was heartening to see him thoroughly enjoying his second life.

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Lautaro Magic Academy, Student Dormitory, in a room reserved for visitors,

“Ur-sama! It’s been a while!” -Shizuku

“Well, it’s only been about four days.” -Ur

Ur was face-to-face with Shizuku. While he wasn’t particularly worried, she seemed to be her usual spirited self. Instead of her usual monster-fighting armor, she wore the academy’s primarily white uniform,  which accentuated the beauty of her silver hair.

“That’s a pretty uniform. It suits you.” -Ur

“I’m quite fond of it.” -Shizuku

Shizuku seemed faintly pleased at the compliment. Seeing her delighted in such a way was endearingly age-appropriate. Such gestures made one think there was no need to worry, but…

“…For now, let’s exchange information. From my side, I’ve learned a bit about the ecology of the Poison Omen Bird.” -Ur

“Do tell.” -Shizuku

Ur cleared his throat, and Shizuku nodded in acknowledgment. He proceeded to fill her in on everything he knew about the current situation. The known characteristics of the Poison Omen Bird, its weapons, nature, temperament, and so on. Beyond that, he detailed the environment of the Dungeon of Sin, Lust, the challenges, threats, and the monsters that appeared. Shizuku listened intently, maintaining her silence. After he’d covered most of the topics, Shizuku finally spoke.

“It uses poison, is tenacious, and moves in flocks with its kin. That sounds very troublesome.” -Shizuku

“It’s nimble and possesses tremendous strength. Without preparing countermeasures for both the dungeon’s environment and the poison, no one but Rock could even approach it, let alone fight it.” -Ur

“Should I learn detoxification magic?” -Shizuku

“I’m not sure if basic first-level detoxification magic would suffice. It might be better to invest in high-quality antidotes.” -Ur

“Should I focus on mastering necromancy and enhancement for now?” -Shizuku

“Rock, who isn’t affected by the poison, is crucial. Additionally, about the climate countermeasures—” -Ur

As they continued their conversation, they caught up on all the issues they’d been facing since they last met. The discussion was intensive. Given the limited time they had to converse face-to-face, there was much to talk about.

“……By the way, do you intend to stay here until the very last moment, Shizuku?” -Ur

“Yes, it seems there’s quite a lot to gain.” -Shizuku

Shizuku nodded without hesitation. Ur had heard that gaining something from this academy in just about a month would be difficult. However, her expression did not betray any hint of anxiety.

Ur thought, quite frankly, that it was reassuring. Her growth as a magician would undoubtedly benefit them in the future.

“It’s reassuring, but will you be alright on your own?” -Ur

“I have a reliable collaborator.” -Shizuku

Collaborator? As Ur puzzled over this, a knock sounded in the room. A man’s voice followed simultaneously. Wondering who it could be, Ur’s thoughts were interrupted.

“Ah, he has arrived. Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

“What, huh??!” -Ur

Something warm was thrown at Ur. It was the uniform Shizuku had been wearing.

Before Ur could query why she’d removed it, he was briskly pushed down onto the bed, a futon thrown over him.

“Just to be safe, please don’t make a sound, okay?” -Shizuku

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden???” -Ur

Shizuku, now in her clearly outlined undergarments and tousling her lustrous hair with her fingertips, whispered to Ur. Ur, on the verge of voicing various retorts like ‘what’s going on’ and ‘what are you planning’, stayed silent instead.

With her hair still disheveled, Shizuku rushed to the door, gently and slightly opening it. She exhaled a slightly feverish breath and bestowed a smile upon the man on the other side.

“Oh, Medal-sama. I apologize. It seems I drifted off because I was a bit tired.” -Shizuku

She had been asleep? But just moments ago, she seemed to be chatting quite lively with Ur. Ur resisted the urge to interject with this observation. Mostly hidden behind the bed and barely able to observe the man on the other side of the door, he listened intently.

“Ah, ah, well you’ve just transferred after all. It must be tough. Don’t worry about it.” -Medal

From the slightly strained quality of his voice, it was clear that Shizuku’s appearance had thrown him into a state of emotional tumult.

“So, what can I do for you?” -Shizuku

“Well, you mentioned a necromancy grimoire [1] that has withdrawal restrictions. I brought it for you.” -Medal

“My!” -Shizuku

Shizuku gently enveloped the man’s hands in hers.

“Thank you so much, Medal-sama! You’ve truly saved me! And to think you personally delivered it to me…” -Shizuku

“Oh, nothing of it. If I favor you too much, the other girls will get jealous. It’s quite the trouble.” -Medal

“My…”-Shizuku

Shizuku gazed up into the man’s face, her smile radiant and near. Even Ur, who was quite used to seeing the girl, whose beauty could without a doubt be described as matchless, would likely have been left breathless by her blushing cheeks and tender smile in such scant attire.

Indeed, the man on the other side of the door seemed to be holding his breath, his thin exhales sounding almost like pained whimpers.

“How about it? If you’d like, I could explain the necromancy grimoire in detail. Here–” -Medal

“Oh, I’m sorry, Medal-sama! Right now, this room is in a bit of a disarray with my preparation for school enrollment and it’s really not in a state to welcome anyone. Besides…” -Shizuku

With that, Shizuku lowered her voice just a bit,

“Inviting a man into my room is, well, a bit embarrassing.” -Shizuku

What? Had her gender been that of a young maiden all along? Ur nearly blurted out the thought but managed to hold his tongue.

“Can you explain it in detail tomorrow? I would be very grateful.” -Shizuku

“Of course, it’s no problem! No need to push yourself. Take it easy and rest today.” -Medal

“You’re so kind, Medal-sama. Thank you. I will.” -Shizuku

Shizuku bowed deeply. From the other side of the door, the man, seemingly satisfied with Shizuku’s demeanor, emitted a pleased chuckle and leisurely took his leave.

The door closed. Shizuku stood still in front of it for a moment, intently listening. Once assured that he had completely departed, she approached Ur, who was hidden under the bed cover, with the obtained grimoire in hand, her face breaking into a bright smile.

“Ur-sama! I have obtained a grimoire of necromancy!” -Shizuku

“Shizuku.” -Ur

“Yes!” -Shizuku

“Seiza.” -Ur

If she were growing as a magician, that would be one thing. But growing as a villainess? To what end?

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Being too unscrupulous carries risks, both in the short term and the long term. Cease such actions.

After such admonishment, the consultation with her came to an end.

She indeed had a bad habit of recklessly disregarding herself. It’s not something that can be remedied overnight. Well, considering it’s her, it seems likely she could eventually control that male accomplice of hers. But then again, is that really alright? No, it probably isn’t.

“I hope nothing happens during this study abroad… But I have a feeling something will.” -Ur

Murmuring to himself, Ur was exploring the academy for another purpose he had in coming here: to visit a young girl who aspired to be an adventurer, as introduced by the Adventurers’ Guild.

Her name was Lynne Nuu Leyline. When he asked Shizuku if the name sounded familiar, she seemed to recall something and snapped her fingers in realization.

“I am familiar with her. She has been quite kind to me.” -Shizuku

“Oh?” -Ur

“She was being bullied, you see.” -Shizuku

“Oh…” -Ur

He wished he could unhear that.

The time was already approaching evening, and the sun was beginning to set. While classrooms had finished their lessons for the day, the students were still engrossed, continuing their studies and training in magic.

Exiting the guest lodgings and stepping into the courtyard, Ur was slightly moved by the sight before him.

Magic lights, a myriad of illuminations, lit and colored the flowers in the courtyard, bringing them to life. Lights, resembling vine-like tendrils, encircled the four towers that surrounded the school building, creating an image akin to a luminous giant tree.

And the school’s stained-glass windows reflected the magicians inside, persisting in their training.

It was beautiful. It made sense that this place was known as the continent’s premier institution for learning magic. Moreover, Ur was impressed by the sheer number of magicians continuing to train, even at this hour.

“Let’s work hard.” -Ur

Ur, feeling a kinship with their diligence, moved forward.

His destination was the magical training ground located in the basement of this academy, colloquially known as the 【White Garden.】It existed just beyond the stairs descending from the center of the courtyard. A vast underground space, covered by a 【White Barrier】 that absorbed even the most powerful magics, ensuring no external disturbances.

“It’s huge.” -Ur

In a world where humanity’s living space is limited, underground construction technology has advanced. Although underground facilities are not uncommon due to this, Ur had never seen one with such vastness. It seemed to spread not just beneath the courtyard above, but beneath the entire school grounds.

This barrier was said to be able to withstand even the pinnacle of magical arts, third-class, Ultimate Magic. It was a robustness fitting for a training ground prepared by an educational institution for the highest peak of magicians.

“In this time slot, she should be here, but well…” -Ur

According to the Adventurer Guild’s receptionist, she is usually here at this time. It would be nice if they could meet easily… However, as Ur pondered in front of the barrier, individuals who seemed to be users emerged from within it. Perhaps they were returning from training.

“Did you…uh, see that?”

“We can’t…go on like this, can we?”

“Isn’t it perfect? Such a…disgrace, it’s better to…outside…”

Ur sensed some slightly unsettling words but dismissed them as irrelevant for now, glaring at the barrier instead.

“…But, is it okay to enter this freely?” -Ur

He gently touched the barrier. There was a peculiar, bubble-like sensation, and that was all. The inside was obscured by a white light. It was slightly eerie, but hesitating here would be a waste of time.

“….There’s no point in wasting time here.” -Ur

The time allotted to stay in this academy, sanctioned by the guard, was fixed. There was no point in dilly-dallying. After all, it was dubious whether the magician named Lynne was really inside. Anyway, why not check quickly?

“Excuse me~”-Ur

Raising his voice as much as possible, Ur stepped into the white barrier. The moment he touched the barrier, he was struck by a strange sensation, as if touching a very light, soft cloth, but he slowly advanced his steps, infiltrating inside. And then…

“………”

“………”

He encountered a small lump of mud.

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Sorry, there were some issues going on with the site this morning, so this chapter is a bit late.

TL Note(s)

[1] Magic tome changed to grimoire