Chapter 18
Chapter 18
The surroundings were still noisy.
But on their table alone, all sound ceased.
The Demon King.
That terrifying word had devoured all other topics.
Tolln, as well as the others who had been talking with others until now, all turned to look at Pine.
A strange tension flowed.
At the sudden silence, the timid girl shrank her neck.
But her mouth did not stop.
“Anecdotes about the Demon King are passed down in various regions. Because it’s such a shocking history and its influence spans the entire world, there are all sorts of stories.”
“That’s true.”
Even Tolln, who had been cooped up in his mansion building his body, honing his skills, and studying for the academy entrance exam, could hear legends about the Demon King if he paid a little attention.
Though they were all of extremely low credibility.
“There is a ruin here in Minero too. A legend of the Demon King is passed down there.”
Interesting.
Nothing was found when I investigated near the academy.
I was already starting to think it was a good thing I joined this club.
“What kind is it?”
“It’s nothing grand. One day, the Demon King’s forces suddenly appeared from those ruins and ravaged this area.”
“It’s certainly not special.”
That kind of Demon King legend is common in this world.
“Ah, as expected, right?”
“I’m not disappointed. It was helpful enough.”
What I’m doing now is literally bashing my head against a wall.
The more clues, the better.
‘In the first place, I was planning to check all those things with weak evidence.’
I just postponed it because I thought using the academy library had a higher chance of achieving my goal.
“Where are the ruins?”
“They’re on the hill right next to Minero!”
As Tolln showed interest, Pine started chattering excitedly again.
It was a stark contrast to Pels, who was gulping down water beside her.
“May I ask you to guide me later?”
“Of course!”
She readily agreed, as if she wanted to do it herself.
“I’ll go too.”
“I’ll go too.”
The two, who had no interest in the ruins at all, quickly joined in.
Their intention was obvious.
“I’ll go too. As the advisor, I should see how they conduct their activities once.”
Kal, also making an excuse to tag along.
But whatever their intentions, Pine was happy.
“Then let’s go now!”
“Now?”
“Ah, do you have other plans?”
“No, it’s just that it’s sudden.”
“There’s no need to postpone it, is there? It’s right outside Minero. We can get there quickly by carriage.”
Tolln glanced at the window.
The sun was still up.
It was a bit tilted, but if what she said was true, there was more than enough time.
“To be honest, the first activity our club usually does with new students is to visit those ruins.”
“No matter how much the purpose of the club is to find hidden history, that doesn’t mean we should ignore known history.”
Whether he had given up or it was due to his sense of responsibility as vice president, Pels added an explanation.
Tolln asked for the others’ opinions with a glance.
No one showed any negative signs.
“Then let’s just finish these and get up.”
And so, their club’s schedule was decided.
* * *
As Pine said, the ruins were indeed close.
A single structure standing alone on the top of the hill visible right outside the city gate.
“Is it the top of a tower?”
“It looks like a bell tower that has broken off.”
As Crane and Liana said, it looked like the bell tower part of a collapsed building.
Judging by its size and decorations, it seemed to have been part of a very magnificent building.
The sight of such a thing, left alone and desolate, rolling on the ground, evoked a strange feeling.
I approached the ruins.
Liana and Crane, their curiosity piqued upon seeing the ruins in person, followed me closely.
“President. What kind of ruin is this?”
“I don’t know. It’s definitely a building from before the Age of the Demon King, but as you know, so many records were lost during the Age of Stigma, right? It’s presumed that the records of this building were also lost then.”
I placed my hand on the wall.
I could feel the cool texture of the wall.
“There’s more to it than meets the eye, isn’t there?”
Liana, who was looking inside the bell tower, said with a surprised look.
I also stuck my head inside the bell tower.
Surprisingly, unlike its appearance of a head that had been broken off and was rolling on the ground, the bell tower continued into the ground.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
Pine laughed like a child who had successfully pulled a prank.
“Surprisingly, this building didn’t collapse. It’s buried whole in the ground.”
“You mean it’s intact?”
“Exactly, Dawson.”
“Then we can go inside.”
“Of course.”
Pine nodded.
“But not now. There are often accidents where people who go inside out of curiosity get lost trying to find the exit. That’s why the city has forbidden entry without permission. If you get caught, the fine is quite steep.”
“Where do we get permission?”
I asked immediately.
“At Minero’s city hall. It’s not that difficult. Believe it or not, we’re the history club of Tros Academy. Permission to tour ruins of this level is easily granted. In fact, other history clubs go in once a year as an annual event.”
“Does our club not do it?”
“Uh, well….”
Pine, who was hesitating at Liana’s question.
The answer was given by Pels, who was standing next to her.
“This is usually a place where we take first-years on a tour. Because it’s the most plausible ruin among the surrounding ruins, it’s perfect for satisfying the expectations of the first-years.”
“Ah… I see.”
Come to think of it, I remembered her saying at the pub that the first activity their club does with new students is to visit these ruins.
In the end, it meant they hadn’t come here because there had been no first-years joining in the last few years.
Pine’s face turned bright red.
I continued to observe the ruins.
“So, did you feel anything?”
Kal asked, perhaps trying to do his job as an advisor.
“It’s amazing.”
“It was worth coming on the tour.”
Liana and Crane seemed quite satisfied.
“Frois. What about you?”
“I think I can say for sure once I see the inside.”
Honestly, there was no reason for me to be amazed.
I’ve seen plenty of ruins like this.
I’ve even built and lived in them myself.
More than that, I had to find traces of the Demon King.
But I couldn’t feel anything on the outside.
“When can we see the inside, President?”
“Although it’s a formality, we still have to make a request to the city through the academy, so it will take a few days. But we should be able to see it next weekend.”
“Next weekend.”
“Should I apply?”
“Please do.”
“Alright. What about the others?”
“I’ll participate.”
“Me too.”
“Ah, I think I’ll be busy that day… Aargh, alright! I’ll participate!”
Whatever the means, Pels also declared his participation of his own(?) free will, and it was decided that all the club members would come to these ruins again next week.
“Hmm, I’ll participate too if I have time.”
“We’d be happy if you could join us, Professor!”
[She’s a person who really enjoys doing club activities with many people. I’d think some people would feel uncomfortable with a professor joining in.]
There’s that, but isn’t she happy because he’s a sponsor?
She was overjoyed when Kal paid for the dinner earlier.
[…Isn’t that person a noble? The daughter of a high-ranking noble, at that.]
Everyone has their own circumstances.
I turned my back to the ruins.
“Have you seen enough?”
“Yes, President. I think I just need to see the inside later.”
“Alright. It should be possible next week for sure.”
We started to return to Minero.
“Then are we going back to the academy like this?”
“Do you have something else in mind, Villau?”
“That’s not it, President. It’s just that this is the first time our club has gone out together, so it feels a bit disappointing.”
“Ah, no. But there will be plenty of opportunities to go out at other times, so how about we call it a day… Keuk!”
“Stay still, Pels. Villau has a point. Then shall we play a little longer before going back?”
“I’m in favor!”
“I don’t mind either.”
“I don’t mind, but remember that you’re academy students and play accordingly.”
I slowly follow behind the group that is walking ahead, talking.
I suddenly looked back.
[Is something wrong?]
Who knows.
No one else felt it.
Is it my imagination?
“Hey, Frois. What are you going to do?”
The sticky gum urged me for an answer.
“I’m fine with it too.”
“It’s a unanimous decision! Then let’s hurry up and go!”
Liana said excitedly.
I looked back at the ruins once more.
So we’re going in next week.
[You don’t want to wait?]
Is there anyone who likes to wait?
Besides, I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I think I felt something just now.
[Then are you going to sneak in?]
I fell into thought for a moment.
But I soon decided.
Let’s just go in next week.
[That’s a relief. I was worried you might just push your way in.]
Since I can go in next week, there’s no need to risk lowering my reputation.
It’s not for nothing that I’m not breaking into the library.
Leaving my regrets behind, I left the ruins.
* * *
Even after Tolln’s group left, the bell tower quietly kept its place as usual.
The sun gradually set, and the time when darkness engulfed the world approached.
The light around the bell tower also slowly faded.
Was it an illusion?
No matter how much it was the time when twilight was approaching, the shadow cast inside the bell tower looked particularly deep.
* * *
We played in Minero for a long time.
By the time we were done, the moon had replaced the sun in the sky.
“Thankfully, the carriages haven’t stopped running yet.”
The president was happy to see the remaining public carriages.
“Even if they stop, we can just use our private carriages.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine. As the president, I can’t be so indebted to the new students.”
The president desperately refused.
It must be burdensome.
Her heart must still be pounding from just doing club activities with Liana, let alone an imperial carriage.
She’d be lucky not to have a heart attack.
We caught one of the public carriages.
The surroundings were dark, but the road between Minero and the academy had magic lights, so there was no difficulty in securing a field of vision.
“Wasn’t today fun?”
Liana, who was sitting next to me, chattered.
Perhaps due to the influence of the new student welcoming party, the atmosphere among the people had certainly eased compared to the beginning.
However, the stiff atmosphere had not completely disappeared yet.
[From the side, do you know that you are a very interesting group of members?]
I’m not interested.
Can that fun protect even a single strand of my hair?
[…….]
Besides, it didn’t seem like a time to be laughing and joking right now.
I looked out the window and grabbed the hilt of Bekareuneum.
An ominous wind had been blowing for some time now.