"Ah, I'm really exhausted." I boarded the carriage bound for the dormitory. It had been a hectic day. "See you tomorrow, Theo~" Before parting, Siena said that with a meaningful smile. "How am I supposed to see her?" Today's incident was resolved, and tomorrow is supposed to be a break day. Of course, during the break period, Professor Rok, the head professor, suggested students attend lectures from other departments, stating there might be something to learn from them. But it's just a suggestion, not mandatory. In the original work, most students don't bother attending lectures from other departments due to the Hero Department students' superiority complex. However, I plan to attend a lecture from the Knight Department tomorrow. Aside from the Hero Department, Elinia Academy houses various departments such as the Knight Department, Magic Department, Alchemy Department, Exploration Department, and Management Department. "Still, the knight department suits me best." It will aid in improving my reputation, and I'll be able to observe the skills of students from other departments. It's a win-win situation, far more productive than merely lying in bed. Additionally, tomorrow, there's a gathering for the gourmet club.
[Sub Quest: Join at least 2 clubs and participate actively.] Reward: 2 store gold coins
I can't give up for the sake of the reward. There's a reason I joined 3 clubs instead of 2 for reputation management purposes. Why? One shouldn't take the quest text in the original work lightly. The stated condition is joining "at least" 2 clubs. If I join and participate in three clubs, there should be additional rewards. For instance, let's say there's a quest to hunt 100 cockatrices, and I hunt 200. In that case, the reward isn't just double the stated amount. It's more than that. If the system remains the same as in the original work, I should receive at least 3 store gold coins as a reward. "I still don't understand what it means to participate actively." As long as I attend every gathering, I should meet the basic requirements. Lost in thought, I arrived at the dormitory and immediately climbed the stairs. "Welcome back, young master. You've returned early today," Amy greeted me as usual. "Yeah, there was a minor incident. Can I ask you to prepare dinner?" "Of course, young master. Leave it to me." Amy smiled gently. I had always seen her with a stern expression, but lately, her expressions had become more diverse. Just as I was about to enter my room, she asked, "...Young master, was it really just a minor incident?" In an instant, Amy's expression hardened. "It was merely a swarm of monsters we encountered during the practical evaluation in the magic dungeon. There were no casualties. Is there anything strange about that?" "No, not at all. I apologize for asking such a needless question. You must be tired; please get some rest." "Alright, I understand. Bring dinner to my room as before." I wanted to ask why, but Amy's expression was so serious that I decided not to. 'But what is this uneasy feeling?' Did something come from the magic dungeon? Squeak- After entering my room, I used Magic Nullification on myself as an emergency treatment.
***
'The thing that was lurking near Theo, no, near Young Master... it was definitely a spirit.' Amy sat at her desk, deep in thought. She had a high affinity with spirits, so she could at least sense what kind of spirit it was. It had been visible in the hallway and even when she brought food to the room. Sometimes spirits cling to humans, but she had never seen it happen before, so it seemed deliberate. It was clear that a spirit mage was targeting Young Master. 'Judging by the energy, it was a wind spirit.' Then who could it be? A few suspects came to mind. Even in Elinia Academy, where the best talents from the continent gathered, there were very few spirit mages. They were as rare as unicorns. 'Could it be the Wood Elf Princess of the Great Forest?' Siena was the first person that came to mind. Furthermore, she was a first-year student in the Hero Department, just like the Young Master, making her a prime suspect. 'Is the Great Forest targeting the young master?' The Great Forest, where elves reside, is a powerful entity that even Equilibrium cannot disregard. As elves live for over a thousand years, their world is surrounded by forests and trees, offering little entertainment. As a result, most elves devote their time to self-improvement. As a result, each elf warrior was a monster. There was even a recent incident where an Equilibrium executive who disappeared after a conflict with an elf warrior. 'I didn't expect to contact them so soon.' Amy picked up a pen and started writing a letter to send to the guild.