Lina firmly held Cain's shoulders and questioned him. She seemed quite drunk, with bloodshot eyes.
"...No, it was just a spur of the moment thing..."
"Our bags have limited capacity, which is quite a problem..."
Lina leaned in close to Cain's face and stared at him intently. Cain broke under the expectation in her eyes.
"Alright... I'll gladly make it..."
Lina, unlike before, beamed with a full smile and then laid her head on the table. It seemed she wasn't very good with alcohol and always ended up falling asleep.
"Cain... I'm sorry. Our Lina... She probably won't remember anything from today."
Claude spoke apologetically.
"It's fine. Actually, I have something to discuss..."
Cain's serious face made everyone else turn serious as well.
"When we were attacked by bandits, I heard they were going to sell their captives to slave traders. Handling kidnapped people as slaves is illegal, so I interrogated the bandits. They said that the Narnis Guild would take them in."
"Narnis Guild... They are a major guild, and I think they have the backing of high-ranking nobles."
In Cain's mind, he recalled the smelly branch manager who attended his debut party in the Gracia territory.
"Is that so? They have a branch in Gracia, and during my debut at five years old, they said they would provide anything."
"Words from bandits alone aren't enough as evidence. I hope things calm down a bit now that the bandits have been captured."
Claude pondered this while drinking.
"By the way, isn't it time for Cain to go home?"
Milly asked this.
"Isn't it a bit early to go home?"
Claude pointed out, but Cain had school the next day. He had skipped for three days last week, so he needed to go this week.
"Right, Cain is a student. I guess it can't be helped."
"Ten-year-olds do go to bed early."
While being teased by Claude, Cain left the group, who were enjoying their drinks, and went home alone.
After Cain left, Letia entered the drinking place.
"Hey, Claude, is Cain still here?"
"Cain has already gone home. He has school tomorrow."
"Is that so? Actually, the adventurer who was supposed to teach the adventure class tomorrow was injured, so they are looking for a substitute."
Everyone grinned.
"Letia, can you tell us more about it?"
Everyone's suspicious smiles were obvious.
◇◇◇
The next day, Cain attended the basic classes at the academy. The next class was the elective for the magic department. Cain was looking forward to learning new magic.
"Hello, I'm Melissa, the magic instructor. My specialties are fire and wind. I want you to cast the magic you are good at on that target. I'll point out any flaws afterward. And, is Cain von Silford here?"
"Here! I'm here!"
Cain raised his hand with anticipation.
"You are not allowed to use offensive magic within the academy. The barrier here can't withstand even your beginner-level magic. You'll just observe this class. The principal said it's fine to give you credit without participation. You can participate in non-offensive magic, but today's class is about offensive magic, so you can't."
"..."
Cain had chosen the magic department, but ended up doing nothing.
"Miss Melissa, can I study in the library instead..."
"Yes, that's fine. You'll be bored just watching."
"...Understood. I'll go then..."
Cain's magic class ended without him being able to do anything.
◇◇◇
After lunch, it was the elective for the adventure department.
"I'm Bowgan, the instructor for the adventure department. My specialty is swordsmanship. Today, we have a special guest from the guild."
The door opened, and Lina entered. However, she wasn't alone. Claude followed, then Milly and Nina.
"Originally, we were supposed to have a C-rank adventurer, but we have A-rank Claude, Lina, B-rank Milly, and Nina. Everyone, give them a round of applause."
The students in the adventure department were in an uproar at the arrival of high-ranking adventurers. The male students were captivated by the three female instructors.
Cain said nothing and looked down.
"You didn't say anything about this yesterday..."
Cain muttered.
Claude stood at the front of the class.
"I'm Claude, an A-rank adventurer from the guild. I also handled the practical exam for the entrance test, so some of you might recognize me."
He spotted Cain and grinned.
"By choosing this adventure department, you are likely to register as adventurers. You might take on solo requests or form parties like us. It depends on your individual abilities, so don't be overconfident. Overconfidence can lead to death."
The word "death" made the students shudder.
"How many of you are registered as adventurers?"
All the students raised their hands. They had registered in advance since they chose the adventure department.
"It seems everyone is registered. Show me your guild cards."
Claude said this while looking at Cain. The students who had cards were all new registrants with iron cards. They showed each other, but Cain didn't show his. He couldn't be the only one with a gold card.
"Hmm? Cain, you don't have a card?"
Claude asked Cain with a suppressed grin.
"Sorry, I forgot it today."
Cain couldn't show his guild card, so he pretended to forget.
"Everyone, always carry your guild card except when you're at home! It's your ID in case of emergencies. Cain, don't forget to carry it!"
Claude patted Cain's shoulder twice and started walking around.
"You knew I didn't have an iron card..."
When Cain looked at Milly and Nina, they avoided his gaze and tried to suppress their laughter. For about an hour, they explained camping preparations and request procedures.
Then it was time for the practical session. Cain was eager to get back at Claude.
"I'll get you back for earlier..."
"Let's practice with body enhancement. Adventurers might lose their weapons at any time. Those who can use body enhancement will spar. Start!"
The students split into their specialties. Swordsmanship with Claude and Milly, and magic with Lina and Nina. Cain, of course, chose swordsmanship.
"I'll take on each of you one by one. Come at me in order."
Claude said this and started sparring with the students who could use body enhancement. Cain waited until the end to get his revenge. Finally, it was Cain's turn.
"Mr. Claude, please—"
Ding Dong Ding Dong
"..."
"That's it for today."
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Claude ended the session.
"..."
Cain was trembling.
"Today's time was short, so we'll do it another time. Oh, and this is a one-time request for the teacher."
Claude left with a laugh.
That day, Cain didn't say a word at school. He emitted a negative aura, and even Tele and Silk couldn't approach him.
On the way home, Cain left the capital in his uniform and teleported to the monster forest in the Gracia territory. He walked deep into the forest, destroying everything in his path. He reached the rocky mountain where the Red Dragon lived.
"Claude, you bastard!!!!!!!!"
'Rock Meteor Shower'
Cain cast the spell at the mountain. It was a super-level magic combining fire and earth. Several meter-sized burning rocks fell from the sky like meteors, creating multiple craters and sending smoke high into the air. The rocky mountain was completely gone.
"Phew, I feel much better."
Cain had released his pent-up frustration with magic.
That day, from the Gracia territory, people saw burning rocks fall in a cluster into the monster forest. A large earthquake was observed, and the smoke rising to the sky caused a commotion in the territory. The royal castle was immediately informed, and knights were dispatched from the capital to investigate. The knights saw a five-meter-wide path cut through the monster forest and multiple craters at the end.
The knights all said the same thing:
"Maybe the Demon King has appeared..."
Unaware of this, Cain, after releasing his frustration with a powerful spell, returned to his normal life.
Later, Cain was called to the royal castle. The king and the prime minister were seated in front of him.
"Actually, a few days ago, we received an urgent message from your father, Garm. It said that the Demon King might have appeared in the monster forest."
"The Demon King!?"
Cain was surprised by the king's words.
"Yes. The forest was cut through in a five-meter-wide path, and burning rocks fell from the sky, creating large craters. If this disaster had targeted the Gracia territory... I called you here because of this. As an apostle, did you receive any divine revelation?"
The king and the prime minister were genuinely worried.
Cain, however, was sweating profusely, knowing exactly what had happened...
"No... I don't think so... It was just a natural disaster, wasn't it...?"
The king noticed Cain's nervousness.
"Cain... Is there something you need to tell us?"
The cold gazes of the two men pierced Cain.
"..."
Silence.
After a few minutes, Cain confessed.
"Sorry... I was frustrated and ended up casting a spell..."
Cain skipped school for three days to receive a lecture at the royal castle.
◇◇◇
Later, Cain was called to the royal castle. The king and the prime minister were seated in front of him.
"Actually, a few days ago, we received an urgent message from your father, Garm. It said that the Demon King might have appeared in the monster forest."
"The Demon King!?"
Cain was surprised by the king's words.
"Yes. The forest was cut through in a five-meter-wide path, and burning rocks fell from the sky, creating large craters. If this disaster had targeted the Gracia territory... I called you here because of this. As an apostle, did you receive any divine revelation?"
The king and the prime minister were genuinely worried.
Cain, however, was sweating profusely, knowing exactly what had happened...
"No... I don't think so... It was just a natural disaster, wasn't it...?"
The king noticed Cain's nervousness.
"Cain... Is there something you need to tell us?"
The cold gazes of the two men pierced Cain.
"..."
Silence.
After a few minutes, Cain confessed.
"Sorry... I was frustrated and ended up casting a spell..."
Cain skipped school for three days to receive a lecture at the royal castle.