Chapter 106 - 8

A week has passed, today is the time for the academy students to go on a study tour to the Dwarf Kingdom. Right now the students were already inside the magic train. The carriages used were less than the ones they used to the Alba Mountain Range. Their classes were mixed. The teachers and principals in the second carriage, Class S and class D in the 3rd carriage, class A and E class in the 4th carriage, B and F class in the 5th carriage, and C class in the last carriage.

The trip from the academy to the Dwarf Kingdom using the magic train took approximately 3 days. The distance was 3 times longer than their trip to the Alba Mountain Range.

Even though class S and class D mix in one carriage, class S students prefer to sit with their classmates. Sitting with students from a class lower than them would lower their class self-esteem.

But not all class S students are like that. Some students still want to sit together with class D students. As usual, Ziel chose a seat by the window. The people sitting in front of him are Princess Iris and Clara. The people sitting next to him are Lilith. While enjoying the ride of the magic train, they heard the chatter of the person sitting in front of Clara's seat.

"Freya, where did you buy that pendant? Why do I feel weird every time I see it." Princess Aishia asked after seeing the pendant her childhood friend was wearing right now. She had always worn it since getting it from Ziel that night, but she had hidden it under her uniform. Now that she was wearing casual clothes, they could see the pendant with the sun pattern hanging around her slender neck.

"Uh... This... a gift?" Princess Freya didn't know how to answer. Ziel gave it to her even though she asked for it. The eyes of Princess Iris who was sitting behind them twitched upon hearing Princess Freya's answer.

"Why are you even asking?" Princess Aishia became confused after hearing her answer. She felt the vibration from the pendant and her bracelet.

"Ahaha...yes it's a gift." Princess Freya chuckled and fixed her answer.

"Ooh, who gave it to you? It looks like an ordinary pendant." Hikaru who was sitting not far from them overheard their conversation.

"True, we can even buy better than that." Sintaro also responded to Hikaru's words.

"You can't say things like that! It's not the price of the pendant that matters but the person who gives it. Isn't that right, Freya?" Megumi joined in on the conversation. His voice invited the other students' gazes on them.

"Yes... What you said is true." Princess Freya smiled at Megumi's words. This makes Hikaru and Sintaro both fascinated and jealous. Because the person who gave it could make her smile like that.

"Then I will give the same for you later, Aishia." Hikaru feels he will find it difficult to approach Princess Freya. So he spoke to the girl sitting next to Princess Freya.

"Thank you, lord hero. But you don't have to bother doing that for me." Princess Aishia smiled at him. Since Hikaru keeps talking to her in class, she doesn't feel good if she doesn't respond. Over time, they eventually became friends. Princess Aishia responds to all his words without being bothered.

"It's not troublesome at all. After all, it's just a pendant..." Hikaru didn't have time to finish his sentence because Princess Rinne cut him off.

"Hmm...as I thought. Isn't that also an artifact!? Yesterday you made a dagger didn't you?" Princess Rinne spoke excitedly after seeing the pendant that Princess Freya was wearing.

"Eh? The pendant is an artifact? Why can't I feel mana fluctuations from it?" Kyouka looked at the sun pendant around Princess Freya's neck. She was sure that it was just an ordinary pendant.

"It has the function of hiding mana or aura fluctuations. Isn't it very coincidental that Princess Freya also has a camouflage spell? Where did the artifacts appear one after another?" Princess Rinne explained her observations just from looking at the pendant.

(This pendant has such a function? I even forgot to ask last night because I was too excited)

Princess Freya was shocked after hearing what Princess Rinne said. She had no idea her pendant could help the effectiveness of one of her special spells. Ziel didn't make that function especially for her but the pendant itself had the function of adjusting to the ability of the wearer.

"It was just a coincidence." Princess Freya smiled and didn't talk about it any further. Because it will invite suspicion from Princess Aishia.

Meanwhile, Clara who overheard their conversation became jealous of what Princess Freya got. She couldn't possibly ask Ziel to give such an item. Isn't that a love confession? After all, he had already given her such a precious hairpin.

"Lady...my lady..." Ziel called Clara repeatedly. But she was still deep in thought. Finally, it was Princess Iris who helped wake her up.

"Aah... what are you doing, Iris?" Clara shouted cutely. She was in pain because Princess Iris pinched her waist.

"Ken, calling you." Princess Iris pointed back.

"Ooh... What's wrong, Ken?" Clara's face reddened after remembering what she was thinking earlier.

"What are you thinking, lady?" Ziel looked at Clara's blushing face.

"Ahaha...nothing. That aside, Iris said that you called me. Is there something?" Clara turned her face away from him. She didn't dare look him in the eye. Ziel was silent for a moment seeing her strange behavior then he took out a brooch in the shape of a lily and gave it to her.

"You should always wear it, lady. It's a magical communication device I made. The signal can cover tens of thousands of kilometers. If anything happens, you must notify me immediately." Ziel explained the use of the brooch to her. Not only Clara but Princess Iris and Lilith were shocked by the wide range of the brooch.

"Eh, it can reach you? From that far away?" Clara who woke up from the shock saw Ziel and Princess Iris alternately. He was both shocked and confused by the absurd function of the magic tool given to her. Usually, magic communication devices can only be used with a maximum distance of a thousand meters. But his magic tools could cover the entire territory of a kingdom. That's because Ziel has changed its grade to saint rank by adding other mythological components.

"Ken, that's..." clara wanted to say something but it got stuck in her throat.

"What's the matter, lady? Ah...if you're afraid it'll stand out, it also has a disguise function that will blend into the clothes you're wearing." Ziel thinks Clara is worried about other people's eyes when she sees the device attached to her shirt.

"That's not it! Can you give it to Iris too?" Clara glanced at Princess Iris. She had previously seen Princess Iris's face look envious when she received the brooch from Ziel.

"Of course." Ziel gave an Iris brooch to Princess Iris and a rose to Lilith.

"I got it too?" Lilith received the brooch in bewilderment. She didn't ask for it but Ziel gave it to her.

"It will also be useful for your task." Ziel whispered to her. After hearing what he said, Lilith understood what he meant by giving it to her. When Clara can't reach him, there's still Lilith to help her.

"Thanks, Ken." Princess Iris smiled happily and put the brooch on her clothes. Clara and Lilith did the same.

(Have you given it?)

Suddenly Kalya's voice sounded in Ziel's mind.

(I just gave it)

Ziel answered her curtly.

(I've known since you made 7 magic communication devices, you intend to give them to someone else)

Kalya had asked him about it before because she was curious about the 7 pieces of communication devices he made.

(Aren't you the first to get it?)

Ziel had already given the Cattleya flower brooch to Kalya after having dinner together that time.

(Are you going to give it to her too?)

Kalya suddenly remembered the golden-haired girl who had dinner with them.

(If she doesn't ask for it, I don't intend to give it)

Ziel wouldn't have given the communication device carelessly if it wasn't for something important. After that, they chatted until late at night and without realizing it Kalya fell asleep first.

***

Three days later, they finally arrived at the Dwarf Kingdom's territory. Of all the kingdoms on the Clorius continent, the dwarf kingdom is the country with the most advanced civilization. The roads around the kingdom are concreted to make it easier for magic cars to pass. Residents' houses were built very solidly and neatly lined up.

The academy's magic train landed in a large area that was used as a landing place for flying transportation equipment. Apart from their magic train, there was also a large magic boat parked.

The academy students one by one got out of their carriages. Apart from the teachers and Merlick as the principal. King Gustave also accompanied their study tour to the Dwarf kingdom. Dozens of magic cars were already waiting for them. The magic car they were referring to was a large carriage pulled by an engine powered by magic stones. Their shape is similar to the buses that existed in Ziel's original world.

A middle-aged man with yellow hair walked over to Merlick and King Gustave. He was rather short and muscular with a tan skin tone. He was wearing a luxurious all-black outfit that looked like a noble's attire. The clothes he was wearing were a magic tool.

"Welcome Piqmentia Grand Academy students to the Dwarf Kingdom. I'm sorry that the king has work to finish today so he asked me to pick you up. I am the prime minister of the Dwarf Kingdom, my name is Dioq Gauriz. Long time no see King Gustave, Merlick." Dioq bowed his head to king Gustave. He greeted them not with the royal guards, but with dozens of golems showing off their progress in alchemy and blacksmithing. This left the students who saw him amazed.

"Long time no see, Dioq." King Gustave smiled back at him.

"Ahaha... we haven't seen each other in almost a decade." Merlick laughed out loud and hugged Dioq. He and Regza are Dioq's old friends. Because Merlick used to be an adventurer, so he had traveled to various places in the Clorius continent.

"Long time no see Mr. Dioq." Regza greeted him politely.

"Ooh, Regza! Are you well!? How was your job as a teacher there?" Dioq has known Regza since childhood. They are both great blacksmiths. Unfortunately, Dioq is more famous than Regza. This is because Regza is a half-breed.

"I'm fine. Everything is going well." He didn't dare to speak too casually with a prime minister. Dioq smiled bitterly at his attitude towards him.

"Okay, the sky is getting cloudy. We'd better go to the palace. I'm sure the king is waiting for you." Dioq immediately invited Merlick and King Gustave to get into the magic car. Merlick and King Gustave nodded and went inside. The students followed them and started to get into another magic car.

On the way, the students were presented with a neat and modern view of the city. They were amazed by the commercial buildings that lined the streets. This is similar to the buildings in Ziel's original world, but with a slightly classic model.

Their trip from the magic train stop to the royal palace didn't take long because the magic car was going very fast and the smooth concrete road was free of obstacles.

When the students were informed that they had arrived at the palace, the students started to get out of the magic car. But they were stunned when they got outside. What was in front of them was not a castle that normally existed in the human kingdom, but a very tall skyscraper. Then the students were startled by a boy running towards them.

"Princess Rinne!" The boy unexpectedly called out the name of one of the Princesses.

"Eh?" The students were shocked in unison upon hearing that.