Chapter 194

When Hans, a neighborhood kid, frowned, Roan also frowned slightly.

“Phew…”

“This is more like it…”

Only then did the mother and son wear expressions as if the world were turning according to its proper order.

‘Anyway, trying to be kind is always a problem.’

At any rate, like a fearless child, Hans overcame his dread and steadfastly said what he had intended to say to Roan.

“The baby inside that bag… is it by any chance a dragon?”

“!”

[!]

Roan and Bel were startled by the unexpected question.

‘How did he know?’

[How did he know?]

To think there would be someone who recognized him when Roan had gone as far as placing him in the bag just to avoid drawing attention!

Did it mean his method was so crude that even a small child could notice it?

‘…I don’t think it was to that extent.’

As Roan hesitated and sweated, unable to reply immediately unlike his usual self, Yusina approached with a bright smile from behind.

“Ah, Saintess…”

“Wow, she is a really pretty big sister…”

The reaction was a complete hundred and eighty degrees different from the one Roan had received.

Roan glared at Yusina as if he were displeased.

However, Yusina paid him no mind, matching Hans’s eye level as she spoke.

“Is your name Hans? Why did you think Yongyong-ie was a dragon, Hans?”

‘Normally, when you call it Yongyong-ie, wouldn’t people think it’s a dragon even more…’

Roan was dumbfounded, wondering if those were the words of someone trying to resolve the problem.

“It is not Yongyong-ie, it is Bel.”

“Anyway~”

Contrary to Roan’s thoughts, however, Hans smiled brightly and said:

“I saw it in a storybook yesterday! It looks exactly like him!”

The innocence of a child who did not assume it was a dragon just because of the name Yongyong-ie!

Yusina gently stroked Hans’s hair.

“Oh dear, Saintess. Your hands will get dirty…”

Hans’s mother felt honored, but pulled Hans closer to her chest out of consideration for Yusina.

“Is that so? Hans is very smart. But what a shame. That is not a dragon, it is a lizard.”

“Then why did you put it in the bag? Isn’t it to hide the wings?”

‘Sharp, isn’t he?’

Roan looked at Hans with sharp eyes.

The boy might be more talented than he looked.

Perhaps among the future named-grade characters, there was one named Hans…

False Divinity vibrated as if finding it pathetic.

*Hum*—

Live life with a bit more innocence!

Naturally, the authority could not comprehend expressions related to the game, but it was still able to grasp the general gist of Roan’s thoughts.

Roan spoke to Hans.

At any rate, clearing up the misunderstanding about Bel completely was something only he could do.

“This fellow… is a spiritual beast called an Ebony Lizard. Mmh… they mostly live in the Zest Mountains in the western part of the Empire… and since he likes warm places, I keep him in the bag.”

Espard, Yusina, and Sion, who were listening to those words, thought simultaneously:

‘…He really is terrible at lying.’

Usually, he spoke as smooth as flowing water, but when it came to lying, his tells could not be more obvious.

Still, it was sufficient to deceive those who did not know Roan at all.

“Wow~ An Ebony Lizard? That’s so cool!”

Hans jumped up and down in delight, and seeing this, his mother wore a pleased smile.

‘He has a scary face, but he must be a nice student!’

As the atmosphere turned favorable, Roan’s explanation also became a bit more natural.

“Ebony Lizards grow up to one hundred and fifty centimeters when fully grown and are classified as small to medium-sized spiritual beasts. They are also called gravel lizards by the locals because they chew rocks. Because of that, their scales are harder, and their claws are sharper than those of ordinary ones…”

…Although the problem was that he had become too natural.

[……I am not really an Ebony Lizard, right?]

It was so bad that even Bel, who was listening, experienced an identity crisis!

Perhaps Hans did not want to know in such detail, as he stealthily tugged his mother’s sleeve and said:

“M-Mom, let’s go now. This hyung is scary…”

“Y-Yes! Saintess, thank you!”

As the mother and son hurriedly disappeared into the alleyway.

‘Honestly, even when I explain in detail…!’

Roan felt a profound sense of betrayal at that sight.

An Ebony Lizard was such a rare spiritual beast; it was only right for them to be grateful when given that information, not run away like that.

*Rumble*———!

An ominous energy billowed from Roan’s body.

*Rumble*———!

The same went for Tirmy, who felt that their efficiency had dropped again due to the delay caused by Hans and his mother.

— Whoa! What is that? In the middle of the street?

— L-Let’s just pass by!

Pedestrians quickened their steps in fear.

Roan and Tirmy looked at each other and nodded.

‘As expected, I will live a life that values efficiency like you, Professor!’

‘Yes, you too should enter the world of duels.’

‘Ah, that is a bit…’

The two of them conversed through glances alone for the sake of efficiency!

“Ah, ahaha… shall we go again then? Hans is a cute kid…”

Espard spoke as cheerfully as possible to calm the atmosphere that had grown grim because of the two.

“I will not respond to anyone who speaks to us from now on.”

“Y-Yes! Do as you wish, Roan!”

In any case, as long as those two walked with such grim expressions, it was certain that no one but a lunatic would dare come near.

As they set off toward the guard post again, Yusina asked Roan:

“Roan, how did you come up with a spiritual beast like the Ebony Lizard? You have a good imagination~”

Roan glared at her as if asking what she meant, and said:

“The Ebony Lizard is a real spiritual beast. It’s just that records are scarce because it’s rare. Of course, it has never participated in the Holy War either.”

“…? It actually exists?”

Yusina asked back doubtfully.

By the time one reached their fourth year at Akerandir, even non-majors would have heard the names of most spiritual beasts.

Even so, the Ebony Lizard was a name she was truly hearing for the first time.

Seeing Roan speak so seriously made her think it must actually exist, but

‘how does Roan know about it when there are barely any records?’

even that did not resolve all her questions.

Just then, Yusina recalled hearing that Roan had joined the Holy War Club as a guest member.

‘…So he didn’t join because of Yongyong-ie and Spiky?’

Yusina, who had assumed it was naturally because of the two divine beasts, corrected her thoughts.

With that level of knowledge, it was no wonder Professor Vulcan, who was probably trapped somewhere by now, had coveted him so much.

Even Vulcan’s grumbling that Roan liked the Holy War more than anyone else while pretending not to.

If Roan had heard it, he would have jumped in outrage, asking if he was still spreading such rumors.

At any rate, in that awkward atmosphere,

“Now, over there is the Gilsberg Guard Headquarters!”

Espard pointed at a rather large stone building.

Indeed, the sight of numerous guards clad in armor made it worthy of being called the Guard Headquarters.

Espard spoke to Roan.

“Roan, I don’t think I told you how to release people from the Bell of Eternity…”

“Ah, I know.”

“Uh… of course, right? Since you already knew how to put them in.”

He recalled Sion’s story about his deceased parents appearing in his dreams to teach him various things.

‘But even so, would they teach him the usage of the Bell of Eternity in such detail?’

It had only been a few days since he obtained it…

Espard and Yusina paused for a moment and stared at Roan’s retreating figure as he walked into the Guard Headquarters, their expressions filled with puzzlement.

***

Roan entered the Guard Headquarters.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, the interior of the guard post was very quiet.

Sitting at the counter, a burly guard with a thick beard and an impressive scar running across his eyes reacted upon seeing Roan.

“Hmm? What brings an Akerandir student to the guard post?”

The face asking with a twitching eyebrow was of a kind that would startle most ordinary people.

*Glare*—

However, when Roan glared back, the guard instead flinched and pulled back.

‘Was he dragged in?’

It was an impression perfectly suited to cause such a misunderstanding!

Of course, being an experienced guard, he quickly corrected his thoughts.

‘Ah, no, why would an Akerandir student… and if he were captured, there’s no way he would walk in alone on his own feet…’

While the guard was busily scanning him, Roan spoke in a calm tone.

“I have brought in heretics.”

“D-Did you come to surrender?”

“…?”

Roan looked at the guard with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Is it that obvious that I am a black mage?’

Come to think of it, wasn’t this False Divinity a total liar?

Had everyone known that Roan was a black mage all along and only pretended to be fooled?

[Maybe it’s because city folks are really smart?]

Bel also spoke in shock, perhaps recalling the incident with Hans earlier.

*Hum*—

As if that’s possible, you idiots!

False Divinity complained in grievance, as if asking what was wrong with these guys.

A master who doubted it every time a slightly absurd situation occurred, no matter how hard it tried!

And now, even his divine beast was joining in.

As Roan ignored the words of the authority and contemplated whether he should run away right now,

the guard hurriedly waved his hands and apologized.

“Ah, no! It’s not that! I made a slip of the tongue to an Akerandir student. It’s just that you came alone, so without realizing…”

Only then did Roan understand why the guard had said such a thing.

Roan’s face was prone to causing misunderstandings in many ways.

“Ah, the heretics are here…”

Just as Roan was about to pull out the Bell of Eternity, Espard and the rest of the group filed into the guard post one after another.

“Guard Homel, long time no see!”

“Ah, Saint Espard! Professor Tirmy and the other students are here as well! What a relief!”

The guard, Homel, rushed toward Espard as if he were about to shed tears.

Like someone who had been stranded alone on a deserted island and finally spotted another human being.

“Yes, I accompanied the students for their voluntary service this time. We stopped by to hand over some heretics we arrested on our way.”

“Ah~ So it was voluntary service! Come to think of it, today is the weekend. No wonder I was wondering why the student came to the guard post! Kuhahaha!”

Meeting someone he knew, Homel could not have been more boisterous.

Homel burst into loud laughter as he shook hands with Espard!

Then Espard suddenly tilted his head and asked:

“But wouldn’t the only reason an Akerandir student would drop by here be for voluntary service anyway?”

“Uh… well, that is true.”

“Didn’t Roan state his business?”

“Ah, so that student’s name was Roan. He definitely said he brought in heretics…”

Homel looked back and forth between Roan and Espard, wearing an extremely awkward expression.

If it were found out that he had asked an Akerandir student, ‘Did you come to surrender?’, he might not only be kicked out of the guard but also end up in prison.

Not only was Akerandir’s standing immense, but false accusation of heresy was also a very grave felony.

Roan clicked his tongue quietly once and gave a vague excuse.

“He seemed surprised that I came in alone. After all, I am just a student.”

“T-That is correct!”

“Oh, I see!”

Only then did Espard clap his hands as if he understood.

Indeed, a student arresting heretics was a story hard to believe.

…Although Roan had been subjected to a completely different misunderstanding, what’s good is good.

Just then, Homel bustled about frantically.

“Look at my mind. I will go bring the Guard Captain immediately! No, the Mayor as well…!”