181-175 Past rumors and their results

But since it was spirit magic, it was a no-count.

Orford-san just stared at us like that in silence.

''Do you have a moment?''

Will I get guidance from Mr. Orford, who has a serious look on his face as he thinks about it?　Or so I thought.

But the words I hadn't expected to hear were.

It's almost lunchtime. After that, I will show you to your rooms where you will stay.

Before I knew it, a few hours had certainly passed.

But if you were told that without taking any form, much less being told by someone who hadn't given you any guidance, would you be able to nod your head honestly?　It's hard for me.

'.........what was that magical practice?

If you put too much into it, you will fail. They will follow you.

Mr. Orford says so and heads towards the door.

I, who has developed such a style of training thoroughly for the sake of the objective, whether it's my master or Lionel, freezes at Orford-san, who is aloof.

It was the same for Nadia and Lydia, who asked me for my opinion with a puzzled expression.

''Luciel-sama,''

What are you going to do?

I look at their faces and think.

If it weren't for the two of them, I'm sure I would have rebelled and looked for a factor that would prevent the magic from being activated.

I decided that just acting like that was something a child would do.

We may have to spend a long period of time in the same way from now on, but I hope you'll take care of us.

Yes, sir.

The conflict showed on their faces, and they looked at each other, then laughed and nodded in unison as they replied.

I nodded at that and followed Orford-san.

In the floor plan of the Mages' Guild headquarters, it was divided into the north and south sections, east and west, centered on the place where that simple reception area was located.

The south is the magicians' camp that leads to each country, the west is the cafeteria and lodging facilities we're about to go to, the east is the shops and library, and the north is the Mages Guild's lecture hall.

It seems that to go up the stairs behind the simple reception desk, you need to have a certain amount of authority in the Mages' Guild to go back and forth.

That's why there was a noticeable blank on the map.

As I descended the stairs, the institute facilities also became more and more unsavory, but it seems that entry and inspection is also carried out once every ten days.

Remembering this, I walked towards the west side cafeteria, but I felt uncomfortable.

'My question is, why don't we pass anyone?'

In order to avoid unnecessary clashes between countries, the cafeteria and accommodations are on separate floors.

It was stated so, but I never met up with the staff, let alone the researchers and mages who were supposed to come from different countries.

It's only natural that they come by a route that doesn't allow them to meet people. I'm sure you don't want to meet with people either, do you?

'So that's what happened. Thank you for your concern.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's just a joke. This floor is reserved for the St. Schuler's Cooperative Society, but there hasn't been anyone here for a few decades. There's no staff.

I'm worried about many things.

It is said that if a building isn't inhabited, it will soon be ruined....

But from the management's point of view, it's a reasonable explanation.

"........it's useless to allocate personnel to a place that doesn't have any visitors.

Hmm. Well, when I told the Pope that about ten years ago, it was a difficult time for me.

...I see.

I felt a little pity for its melancholy appearance and decided to stop prying further.

And the dining room that we were let in was large enough to accommodate about thirty people, but there was one problem here.

''Luciel-dono, I actually have all the equipment and food for cooking...''

It seems somewhat hard to say, so I ask.

'What's wrong?　I can do what I can, though?

Oh, I see. Actually, I don't have anyone over here who can cook.

Couldn't you have brought in the cooking staff?

''Hmm. There was a rumor once that the Mage Guild did not think well of St. Surreal's Cooperative Kingdom, the birthplace of the Healer's Guild...

You didn't think that was the rumor?

Hmm. As I said before, there were no more visitors from St. Surreal's Cooperative Kingdom to Nerdal.

Half a century ago, the creation of a labyrinth in the church was still affecting a lot of places.

But if it was a place where staff didn't want to work, that wouldn't usually happen without something to disadvantage them.

''........could it be that at that point in time, injuries and assessments led to a pay cut or promotion being passed up?''

I understand. Yes, I do.

'It will be. It was all bad timing.

Mr. Orford looked at me admiringly and nodded at me, but I am sure that if the same kind of thing happens anywhere in the world at any time, it will happen.

But how could that happen even if the staff member submitted a report of their own movement?

I felt like there was something malicious about it, but I had a feeling that he wouldn't tell me if I asked.

Well, as for the St. Surul Cooperative Kingdom at that time, there was a priest knight in the holy knight who was said to have a high ability to manipulate other attribute magic to the holy attribute magic, so it's no wonder that some country moved to disrupt that absolute balance of power.

When you think about it, it links to the time when the Healer's Guild disappeared from Yenis.

Well, I really hope that's just a coincidence, but........

I change my mind and ask him what he's going to do with the meal.

You can make your own meals, and the two of you seem to have come to love cooking for some reason or another.

'So we can make our own meals?'

I'd appreciate it if you would. The food itself is decades old, but the larder is frozen in time like a magic bag, so it shouldn't be a problem.

If there is someone who wants to use it as an ingredient, please introduce them to me.

But if it was something from before half a century ago, Gruger-san and Granz-san might have something to jump at.

''Well I'm a little hungry, so I'll start cooking tonight.

When I said that and took out the ready-made food from the magic bag, I saw that Nadia and Lydia were relieved.

It's a good idea. It's a pretty good looking dish.

...if you'd like.

Really?　In that case, would you like to join us?

Naturally, I thought again that this person who ate with us was, after all, the guildmaster of the Mages' Guild Headquarters.

Thus, after we moved to the dining room, the four of us ate together and then moved to our accommodations.

It has been cleaned up, but it hasn't been used for a long time. The rooms are separated for men and women, of course, so you can rest easy.

"...why are you looking at me and saying that?

I don't know.

You can't blame him for being annoyed by the teasing smile on his face, as expected.

'Come to think of it, the bed and other things must have been damaged by the passage of time, don't they?

'That's all changed when it's time to replace it, so don't worry about it.

Okay.

I'm firm enough to not be blamed for that kind of thing.

The room we were shown was a one bedroom.

It had a simple kitchen and dining room, a spacious living room, and a bedroom.

'It's bigger than the rooms I use in my church,'

Thank you for saying that. Well, that concludes our basic introduction to the Mages' Guild.

Thank you very much. By the way, how can I go out?　Once I'm out of the Mage's Guild, I'd like to see the city, east, west, north, south and south?

Well, I'll go with you at first. Nerdal is a bit hard to see at first glance because it's basically full of bigots.

I understand. Then I'd appreciate it if you could let me know when the schedule is set. From now on, I believe it will be a round trip between the magic training grounds and the grimoire.

Hmm. It would be nice to have a proper mead on hand.

After saying that, Mr. Orford left.

I will tell the remaining two men what to do in the future.

I told Mr. Orford-san earlier, and it will work as it should. Well, I'm sure they'll be watching me, and since Mr. Orford can change his appearance, I'm sure he won't have any time to relax.

Should I do something about it?

It's hard to deal with magic you don't know, indeed.

The fact that the two of them are so serious like this is healing for me now.

'If you're going to go gather information.........'

Feeling that way, he decided on a simple sign to take action.

'I understand,'

When you're done researching what you want to find out, I'll take you to the Mages Guild's courtyard, but I want you to be prepared for a battle at that point.

Yes, sir.

The two of them replied to me without asking me anything.

While thanking the two of them, they turned to the magic library again, since it was late afternoon and there was nothing to do.