"Our mission is to investigate the unusual situation in the Fairy Forest. It's an investigation into the reason why undead are appearing."
At Lauta's words, Lunia raised her hand.
"I heard that Death Knights have also appeared in the Fairy Forest. Have you ever fought a Death Knight, Senior Lauta?"
"Yes."
"Then you must have prepared a strategy against Death Knights."
"Do we really need to prepare a strategy against Death Knights?"
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
Lauta's question left Lunia looking flustered.
"If Death Knights really did appear, we would need to prepare a strategy. But."
Lauta glanced at Leo.
"There's only one person who has seen a Death Knight."
"Are you saying Leo lied?"
"He probably didn't lie, but he might have mistaken another undead for a Death Knight. Skeleton Knights can sometimes look like Death Knights."
"Even so, I think it's right to prepare for any possible situation. It's not that difficult to come up with a strategy against Death Knights, right?"
"Proud representative of Seirun, you know one thing but not two."
Lauta chuckled.
"Upper-level undead like Death Knights will disappear if they don't continuously receive mana from a necromancer. That's why there's always a demon where there's a Death Knight. But this place is the capital of Elsvalbekia, Verkia."
"β¦β¦"
"Seirun students should know this, right? A large-scale celestial magic is cast around Verkia. Created by the great ancestor, Lady Luna, it prevents demons from approaching. If they do approach, their position is immediately detected."
Lauta spoke as if she was certain that no Death Knight would appear.
When Lunia hesitated at her words, Leo spoke up.
"A necromancer doesn't have to be a demon."
"What?"
"Any being can use dark powers, not just demons."
Hearing Leo's words, Lauta said:
"That's an even more absurd story. Do you think a proud elf would do that?"
Lauta, speaking irritably, turned around sharply.
"Let's stop wasting time and get moving."
Watching Lauta walk ahead, Kai whispered:
"Her attitude has completely changed, hasn't it?"
"Probably because there's no one else to impress now."
Hearing Kai's words, Lunia clicked her tongue.
"I don't really like that type."
A short while later.
Keheheh! Kyahahaha!
A group of goblins appeared.
"Let's see how well Lumern's students can handle this."
Lauta smiled and gestured at the goblins.
"Can you two handle them?"
As Leo was about to step forward, Kai said:
"Leo, do you really need to step in for goblins?"
Kai, smirking, took out his magic wand.
"Leave these little guys to me."
"Goblins are a piece of cake."
Kai, laughing playfully, inserted the short wand between his fingers and spun it around. He accidentally dropped it.
"Uh?"
Seeing Kai frantically pick up the wand, Lunia looked bewildered.
"Why is he so clumsy?"
Kai, who had picked up the wand, grinned at the goblins forming a circle around him.
"Alright, let me show you my work."
Kai opened a subspace.
Weapons poured out from the subspace.
Eiran's eyes widened at the sight.
"Weapons..."
"Seems so. That guy's specialty is alchemy, after all."
While Leo tilted his head in confusion, Kai summoned his mana.
Lauta snorted.
"Your mana is weak."
Indeed, Kai's mana was barely at the average level of Lumern students.
Kai is a talented magician, but in Lumern, where only the best are gathered, he seemed lacking.
'But Kai never gave up.'
Knowing his limits, he never gave up.
Instead, he chose to advance in a different direction.
Woo-!
The weapons responded to Kai's mana and floated in the air.
Leo's eyes slightly widened at the sight.
"What, just simple telekinesis magic?"
Lunia, who had been watching with mild interest, looked a bit disappointed.
"Using weapons with telekinesis magic is a very common offensive method."
"No, that's not telekinesis magic."
"What?"
The weapons emitted mana, and various elemental powers began to manifest.
Eiran was surprised.
"How is that possible?"
"Enchantment."
"Enchantment?"
"Yes."
Leo instantly understood the magic Kai used.
'He must have engraved telekinesis magic runes on the weapons. Those runes are reacting to the enchantment magic.'
Enchantment magic is a simple spell that any magician can use.
The idea of engraving telekinesis magic runes on weapons is also simple.
But implementing enchantment magic in such a complex structure is a difficult task even for experienced magicians.
'These weapons were probably made through alchemy. Impressive.'
"Go!"
The weapons, responding to Kai's command, flew towards the goblins.
The enchanted weapons, adorned with various elemental magics, filled the air.
Creak?
Kyaaaaa!
The goblins scattered in panic.
"Where do you think you're going!"
But the weapons, imbued with Kai's will, moved intricately.
In an instant, they cut down the goblins and returned to Kai.
Kai, putting the weapons back into the subspace, looked smug.
"Heh. How was that, my ace in the hole?"
"Lord Kai! That was amazing!"
Eiran shouted excitedly.
Leo was also impressed.
"You should have presented this as your unique magic during the midterm exam."
"It's just using simple enchantment magic and alchemically created weapons. It can't be called unique magic."
"Being able to approach magic in this way is itself worthy of being called unique magic."
"Is that so? I just came up with the idea while trying to create something decent."
Kai is a magician specialized in enchantment, a branch of alchemy that involves imbuing objects with magical properties.
But simply being an enchanter makes it difficult to become a great magician.
'But Kai has been focusing on enchantment magic since he entered school to leverage his strengths. That's why he completed this magic.'
"If you show this to Professor Ren, he'll praise you a lot."
"Really? Then maybe I can survive until the second semester with this?"
Kai's face brightened at Leo's words.
No matter what anyone said, Leo's endorsement was certain.
Seeing Kai's enthusiasm, Leo chuckled.
Lunia and Lauta also looked at Kai in surprise.
"Hmph. It's just simple enchantment magic."
Lauta snorted, but Lunia thought differently.
'For someone at the level of a lower-class student in our school to come up with such magic...'
Lunia looked at Kai with a complicated expression.
"Alright, let's move on."
After that, they encountered monsters several times.
But no undead appeared.
"Undead not appearing, and yet a Death Knight? That's ridiculous."
Lauta's mocking laughter echoed.
But Leo's face was serious.
The group had arrived at the entrance of the former Fairy Land.
The magic cast by the former fairy king was still intact, and from the outside, it looked no different from a few days ago.
But...
'There's a curse on the ground.'
A subtle curse that only Leo, who lived through the Age of Catastrophe, could detect.
'The Curse of the Dead.'
Among the many curses used by demons, this one was special.
It was a curse that only one person could use.
The commander of Tartaros' army, who survived the Age of Catastrophe.
The most loyal servant of Erebus and the most terrifying demon.
'The Necromancer King, Hell Kaiser.'
The de facto commander of Tartaros.
'He probably didn't move here himself.'
If Hell Kaiser had moved here himself, it would be a serious matter.
'According to records after the Age of Catastrophe, he has never moved himself. But at the very least, one of his subordinates is definitely here.'
Looking at the entrance to Fairy Land with a stern face.
'Beyond this... there's something Shirod wants to protect.'
While Leo was thinking, Lunia spoke to Lauta.
"Senior Lauta, since there are no signs of undead, should we return?"
"No. We'll search the surrounding area more thoroughly."
"Understood."
"From now on, we'll split up and search the surrounding area."
Lunia hesitated.
"Just us?"
"Of course. Do you want me to clean up after you?"
Lauta looked irritated.
Seeing this, Lunia was flustered, and Lauta, who snorted, began to seriously investigate the surroundings.
"No. Did this person come here to lead us? What is he trying to do?"
"He seems to be looking for something."
Kai grumbled, looking bewildered, and Eiran looked puzzled.
"Let's ignore that annoying guy and search the area ourselves."
Lunia, who had stuck out her tongue at Lauta and was taking care of the group, hesitated when she saw Leo.
Leo was staring intently at Lauta, who was diligently searching for something.
Seeing Leo's narrowed eyes, Lunia had a hunch.
'This guy knows something.'
***
That evening.
After completing the search mission, the Lumern and Seirun students felt puzzled.
"Chelsi, your group didn't find any undead either?"
"No, not just our group. None of the groups found any undead."
"Is that so?"
The appearance of undead had already been confirmed by the Elsvalbekia Council.
That's why they formally requested help from Lumern and Seirun.
'But the undead disappeared in just one day?'
It wouldn't be strange if the undead themselves disappeared.
Undead have a limited activity time without a continuous supply of mana.
But at the center of the Fairy Forest, the 'Curse of the Dead,' which can infinitely generate undead, was cast.
'But the undead have disappeared. It's as if there's a necromancer controlling them.'
"Professor Herdium."
At that moment, Lauta spoke to Professor Herdium, who was listening to the Seirun students' report.
"What is it, Lauta?"
"Even though there are no undead, the unusual situation is real. The Fairy Forest is the sacred land of the elves. I think we should quickly root out any ominous presence. Although it might be dangerous for first-year students, second-year students can search the forest at night. Please allow us to do so."
At this, some second-year students murmured irritably.
"Ugh, he's flattering again."
"Annoying guy."
Since all the second-year students, except Lauta, were from lower or middle classes, their peers' gazes towards Lauta were not favorable.
"Indeed, Lauta, your thoughts are well understood. However, searching at night is dangerous even for second-year students. Night is when the aura of the undead becomes stronger. Therefore, I cannot grant your request."
"But, Professor!"
"Lauta, enthusiasm can also be a problem if it's excessive."
Seeing Herdium's firm refusal, Lauta gritted her teeth and stepped back.