Chapter 385

Harden, of course, also understood Morlay’s words to some extent, but just now, Morlay had really only said, “Thaaat.”

And Morlay also tilted his head two or three beats late.

‘I haven’t said it yet?’

He knew well that the foul-looking student understood his words, but wasn’t it strange to realize what hadn’t even been told yet?

Unless he had mastered mind reading or something.

Sion let out an exclamation.

“I knew you had mastered mind reading!”

‘He actually mastered mind reading?’

A misunderstanding that grew wider and wider with a single word from Sion.

Roan dismissed the misunderstanding.

“There is no such thing as mind reading. I simply heard the librarian’s explanation.”

So when did he explain…

Morlay, who was listening, also felt frustrated and tried to ask.

It went without saying, but making Morlay frustrated was also quite a feat.

“Meee…”

“Listen carefully. He says that if you utilize the librarian’s fur, you can use fire and ice freely. Of course, once the stored power runs out, you won’t be able to do so, but even so, it is a grand item.”

“Wow! Really?”

“Thank you very much, Librarian!”

Since Morlay’s words were hard to understand anyway, Yusina and Sion simply assumed Roan was right and bowed to him.

It was Roan’s wicked coping mechanism, thinking that since they couldn’t understand anyway, it didn’t matter how he interpreted it.

…Actually, his interpretation wasn’t wrong, so they couldn’t say anything more.

Naturally, Morlay was frustrated to death.

In any case, for Roan, this was no different from obtaining the best reward he could get from Morlay.

‘Because it is a chargeable item that does not use the user’s own holy power.’

Morlay’s fur contained the power of a fire elemental and the power of ice holy magic at the same time.

One could use both Beginner-level fire and ice, and the duration was roughly one month.

The strongest advantage was that it did not consume the user’s own power.

Having received all the rewards like this, his business at the library was finished.

Harden gestured to the three.

“You all did well today. It is already late, so return to the dormitory.”

“Yes, Principal.”

“Do not wander off elsewhere, and go straight to the dormitory.”

“…? Yes.”

Harden requested, looking particularly at Roan.

Under normal circumstances, Roan would have felt a bit guilty, but this time, he answered confidently.

“Of course. Where else would a student go at night if not to the dormitory?”

Since he really had no intention of going out tonight!

Harden still looked highly suspicious, but for now, he gestured for them to go.

Led by Roan, Yusina and Sion instantly moved away using spatial holy magic.

Harden asked what he had been curious about for a while.

“Librarian Morlay, by the way, was your speech actually fast rather than slow?”

“…Gheee…”

Morlay tried to reply, ‘What do you mean, Principal? Student Darc is just too strange.’

Harden listened to those words intently.

“Now that I listen, it does seem so?”

“Ahhh…”

Morlay tried to change what he was about to say to, ‘I’m telling you no, Principal. Student Darc is the strange one!’

“Anyway, since the book thief is gone, your work will be much easier. Congratulations.”

*Slide—*

The busy Harden did not wait for all of Morlay’s words and left.

In the long hallway of the Elont Grand Library, Librarian Morlay was left all alone.

* * *

The next morning.

Having roughly finished preparing to go to class, Roan left his room along with Bell and Charlotte.

[Huh?]

*Thud—*

However, in the living room, Demona and Hector were sitting quietly with extremely solemn expressions.

With their four divine and spiritual beasts gathered closely together, in a way, it resembled a family portrait.

A family that, if met as neighbors, would make one immediately move out again.

Furthermore, the original direction of the sofa had been facing away from Roan’s room, but for some reason, this time it was changed to face it.

…At this point, it wasn’t even very surprising.

Although the two would absolutely never do such a thing, Roan habitually thought this as he stared at the two pairs of eyes fixed on him.

‘What, are they planning to attack me after finding out my identity?’

It was a combination that any ordinary black mage would find terrifying.

A Wycronon and a Pabilto.

But the fact that they were Demona and Hector was more important.

‘Even if those guys attacked me with a whole carriage, they wouldn’t stand a chance against me.’

Roan put extra strength into the hand holding his staff for no reason, glared at the two, and spoke.

“If you’re going to fight, tell me in advance.”

[Tell us in advance!]

Bell let out a supporting cry, *Kyaoong!*

At that, Demona and Hector tilted their heads simultaneously.

“What do you mean by that?”

“What does that mean?”

They wore innocent expressions, showing they had never even thought of fighting Roan.

Bell looked at them triumphantly.

[Heh! They must have given up after hearing my voice!]

Although he had no confidence in losing, Roan patted Bell at the news that they didn’t have to fight.

Since the two of them being strange was not a matter of just a day or two anyway.

“Then, though it is extremely bothersome, I will ask… Why are you acting like that?”

Roan wondered if their brains could comprehend the meaning of this question, but fortunately, they weren’t at that low of a level.

“Well, today is Professor Uli’s pop quiz, isn’t it?”

“I cannot predict what task he will make us do.”

“Hmm.”

Roan thought it was a constructive worry, unlike them.

“Then you should have read a book related to holy item crafting.”

And he also thought it was a pathetic solution, very typical of them.

If you cannot predict what will be asked, shouldn’t you cultivate the skills to solve whatever task comes up?

At least, that was how Roan had treated so far.

“But that’s studying…”

‘School is originally a place for studying…’

“Is studying a problem that can be solved by doing so?”

Roan stared pitifully at the two and delivered his honest feedback.

“Pathetic fellows.”

“W-What?!”

For some reason, the two bristled at the words ‘pathetic fellows.’

They didn’t seem to act like that even when they were hit by curse magic day in and day out.

…No, even when they heard worse things.

It was an unpredictable reaction, but they had always been that way.

Demona sprang up and shouted.

“Roan, you’re only that confident because your parents tell you the exam contents every time!”

“Indeed!”

The two wore extremely aggrieved expressions.

“Even if they tell you, can you two even handle it?”

“Th-That…”

“Why do you rub salt into an open wound like that…”

At that moment, Beanin came out of his room while yawning.

“What is all this talk? Parents telling someone about exams. Who?”

At Beanin’s question, Demona and Hector explained the situation like children telling on someone to their parents.

That Roan’s parents appeared in his dreams to help him with his studies.

And that he used that information to look down on them!

Having heard the whole story, Beanin also shared his honest feelings.

“You guys are really mean, aren’t you?”

*Gasp!*

Demona and Hector, who never expected to be abandoned (?) even by the kind Beanin, took a step back.

Unlike usual, Beanin scolded his juniors sharply with an extremely cold expression.

“I don’t know if his parents actually appear in his dreams, but Roan helps you guys really well. Yet you bring up his deceased parents and even tattle to me. If I were Roan, I would have thrown a punishment holy spell at you.”

But he is throwing them even now?

Demona and Hector wondered about that for a moment, but they knew that wasn’t what was important right now.

“If you understand, apologize to Roan quickly.”

“I’m sorry, Roan…”

“I am sorry.”

“It is fine.”

Since it wasn’t a matter of just a day or two from his perspective anyway, Roan nodded readily.

Seeing that, Beanin grew even angrier on his behalf.

“How much must you usually behave like that for Roan to not even get angry? It is only because Roan is kind.”

*Flinch—*

At Beanin’s words, Demona and Hector simultaneously trembled significantly.

Because even so, they didn’t think Roan was someone who deserved to be called ‘kind.’

Moreover, when Roan was displeased, he usually expressed it through actions rather than words.

The two exchanged glances.

‘Lately, rumors (?) that Roan is kind seem to be spreading a lot, right?’

‘Agreed. Those guys need to be hit by Roan’s punishment holy spell.’

They couldn’t go so far as to call him bad, but he wasn’t kind either!

The two decided to settle on that conclusion.

Still, since they were indeed the ones in the wrong this time, they couldn’t say anything.

Roan shifted the topic to something else.

“By the way, why did you turn the sofa around?”

“Yeah, why? Well, it doesn’t matter, though.”

Structurally, Roan’s room was separated on one side of the dormitory, while the rooms of the other three were clustered on the opposite side around the living room and kitchen.

As Beanin said, it didn’t matter much, but the original layout was indeed more stable.

Demona and Hector shouted confidently.

“To watch you come out!”

“Exactly!”

“…Why watch me come out?”

“Well, because it’s better than watching this fanatic come out!”

“Well, wouldn’t it be better than watching this heretic fellow come out!”

The two shouted in chorus.

Beanin grew highly confused by the sight.

‘Do these guys actually like Roan, or do they hate him?’

Judging by their usual appearance and behavior, it seemed they liked him.

Yet they didn’t seem to speak or act like that to someone they liked…

Roan spoke to Beanin, who was deep in thought, with his eyes.

‘Are you trying to understand the two of them?’

From experience, Roan presented the easiest solution in this situation.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Great!”

“Good!”

Demona and Hector prepared to go down to the cafeteria, laughing merrily as if they had never been solemn.

“Please come with us today, 300,000 Gold Senior!”

“It is 350,000 Gold, 10,000 Gold…”

“It is not 10,000, but 15,000!”

* * *

—Oh, Beanin~ You came to the cafeteria today?

“Ah, yes. I had some free time. Guys, I’ll eat with my friends.”

Beanin headed to the other second-years in the cafeteria.

Usually, eating meals with one’s senior mentor only lasted until the beginning of the semester.

In most cases, they would dine with their classmates after that.

“Roan!”

“Over here, over here~”

The female students who arrived in advance welcomed Roan, Demona, and Hector.

…Although it was doubtful whether they welcomed the two behind him as well, all was well that ended well.

Roan and his friends grabbed the bread they would eat and sat down again.

However, for some reason, unlike the other years who were as usual, the atmosphere among the freshmen was quite unsettled.

Everyone was silent, their eyes hollow as if they hadn’t slept, and their hair and fur disheveled.

Honestly, the reason they were in such an atmosphere was fully understandable.

Since Demona and Hector were similar right now.

But the reason the other students were so depressed was a bit more advanced.

—How could they cram Professors Uli, Gulba, and Pluvang into a single day…

The line-up of the three professors who had classes today was at a level where nothing but sighs could escape!

What was more, this week was pop quiz week, making it even more worrying.

—Then, who should have been excluded?

—That’s…

It was a difficult problem to choose even one to be left out.

—Hey, you should think about who would come in instead first.

—Hmm, Professor Timothy?

…

The students, repeating the hopeless conversation, soon decided it would be more comfortable to simply accept their fate.