Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Luciel and Gillard looked at each other at the same time.

“I think we’d better look into this place.”

“I agree too.”

“Because a fire usually doesn’t destroy it at all.”

“Yes.”

“It’s a space where the Rose of the Phoenix used to be, so it would be good to see if there are any traces of it left. But I think it would be difficult to ask my friend for more.”

“I think it would be better for us to move on our own. If there’s a way to wake Evelyn from sleep, I’ll have to find it.”

Gillard seemed to have made up his mind. Luciel asked,

“If we leave Madam Evelyn as she is, when will she be able to wake up?”

“I don’t know that either. A dragon’s sleep lasts from several tens of years to hundreds of years.”

“Then we may not be able to see each other forever.”

Luciel had never heard of Bellstein’s Dragon Madam before returning, so she probably would have slept for a very long time if she wasn’t forced to wake up.

That was so sad.

For grandpa Gillard’s sake, Luciel decided to wake up Evelyn’s sleep.

“Luciel, first of all, let’s ask that friend where the academy’s forbidden zone is and whether he is sure.”

“That would be nice.”

Luciel nodded her head and smiled broadly.

* * *

[Thank you so much for letting me know. The forest in the forbidden zone where the botanical garden was destroyed by fire. Can you tell me the exact location?]

Kizef’s eyes fluttered as he received the letter.

‘Asking about the location? Are you going to go there yourself?’

Kizef was worried about Ted. The forbidden area was strictly closed off from the academy. If caught, you could be expelled from school. Kizef was always curious too. What is hidden there? That the academy tried so hard to not let people near it.

Soon after, Raven appeared as a black mist blew over Kizef’s side.

[Why are you so serious?]

Kizef thought this guy was fine, so he asked Raven.

“Have you been there? The Academy’s Forbidden Forest.”

Raven flinched at the question and Kizef’s eyes narrowed.

[Why are you asking about that place?]

“There used to be a botanical garden there, but it was destroyed by a fire.”

[So what?]

“I am looking for the Rose of the Phoenix. It’s a magical plant.”

[If there was a fire in the botanical garden, there would be nothing left to look at, right?]

“I think so too, but it might be worth investigating. Besides, I wanted to visit the forbidden area at least once.”

Raven asked as if something was wrong with Kizef’s words.

[It’s rare. For you to be interested in something.]

“The owl owner, we may meet soon.”

[Oh, really? Can I go see him too?]

At Raven’s bright smile, Kizef shook his head and said,

“I never said it was all right for you to go.”

Raven pursed her lips.

[It’s too much. I’m always bullied by my one and only friend.]

“Friend? Who?”

Hearing this, Kizef was disgusted.

[Then do you want a family? Call me Elder Brother.]

A pillow flew over Raven’s face.

“I told you not to cross the line.”

Kizef said with a cold expression. But Raven didn’t stop teasing Kizef as he hugged the pillow.

[There, there. It’s because you are the cutest when you have a temper.]

“……I’ll kill you.”

Kizef exclaimed in a low voice. Raven, who was laughing out loud, hardened for a moment. He seemed to feel the energy around him.

[Wait a minute. I can feel a strange aura from somewhere nearby.]

“……What do you mean nearby?”

Kizef asked, squinting his eyes, but Raven turned into a black mist and disappeared without answering. Feeling somewhat ominous, he chased Raven’s energy out of the dormitory building.

After borrowing the power of the Ripper, when Raven disappeared, a dark energy like a thread would be connected with Kizef’s soul. Concentrating on his mana, Kizef was forced to stop his steps as he followed the thread of darkness.

It was a dead end. A temporary log wall blocked his eyes.

Beyond the wall was the forest designated as a forbidden zone. However, it was evident that Raven’s aura was felt nearby.

“This is…….”

Whoosh!

He summoned embers and looked around, but there was no other way inside the forest.

Then a bright light flashed from inside the wall and then disappeared. At the same time, the cries of the beasts were heard.

“What the hell is going on?”

As he was thinking about how to get over the wall, he heard someone’s footsteps. Not one, but many. Kizef quickly hid himself in the nearby bushes. About four children came out through a small hole by the wall. Then, without looking back, they started running away.

“……Hey, can we leave like that?”

“I don’t know, it will work out somehow. Just run away!”

I knew who they were. It was the voice of Norma and Maximus.

“That…… What if we get in trouble?”

“It’s okay if we just keep our mouths shut.”

Maximus’s last words bothered his heart for some reason. Shortly after the children disappeared, Raven appeared as a black mist. He slumped over and collapsed, leaning against Kizef.

“Raven……? Are you okay?”

[Kizef. I have to leave here right now.]

“What’s going on inside? I just saw Maximus and his gang coming out of there after doing something……”

[I do not know. There was a very powerful burst of energy in the forest. If I go in there, my strength strangely weakens. I don’t know what it is.]

Kizef took Raven at once, got out of the area, and put him on the dorm bed. Raven, whose face turned pale, covered himself in a blanket and murmured,

[Kizef, I’m sick. Buy me some chocolate.]

Kizef opened the chest of drawers and handed him a piece of chocolate he had bought in advance. It was the first time he saw Raven so restless. His attribute is darkness. Apparently, there was something in the forest with the opposite attribute to darkness.

Kizef went to Maximus’ room and knocked on it. The gang shared the same room.

“You guys. What were you doing in the forbidden area earlier?”

They were surprised for a moment, but Maximus answered with a smile.

“……What. You were there too? We just played there.”

It was unlikely that Maximus would be obedient and tell what exactly happened there.

“Then why did you run away like that?”

“I just went back.”

“Something happened. At that time I saw a light over the wall……”

At Kizef’s words, the children all made surprised faces.

“……Hick.”

Then Norma, who was next to Maximus, blew everything with a small voice and a frightened face.

“That… There was a strange magic circle. I think we touched it.”

“Hey, why are you telling him? That guy will snitch on us.”

Maximus kicked Norma with his feet as he lost his temper.

“What do you mean by touching the magic circle?”

“…….”

At Kizef’s urging, Norma began to confess.

The whole story went like this.

The children, who recently moved their hideout to the forbidden area, played in and out of the forest.

Then they discovered an old ruin, and when they entered the place, the magic circle on the floor was activated. At that moment, the whole forest rang with a strange light, making them frightened and run away.

Kizef felt he had to see with his own eyes what was going on there.

Before that, I have to tell Ted about this…… But before the child comes, I must first check whether it is a dangerous place or not.

“Tell me exactly where it is. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like you’ve touched something that shouldn’t be touched. I know how to dismantle magic circles.”

Norma asked with a smile,

“……Can you really fix it?”

“I’ll try it. But before that, I have to tell the teachers first…….”

Maximus jumped at Kizef’s words.

“Are you crazy? If we get caught, we will all be expelled.”

“Then wait a minute…..”

Kizef quickly went up to the room and sent the owl away with a note stating that he would check the prohibited area first. However, Maximus secretly ordered another child to hold the owl, and the message was never delivered.

“Shh, this shouldn’t be known to anyone.” (random kid talking to the owl)

Unaware of this, Kizef joined Maximus and the children and left for the forbidden zone.

* * *

‘Why is there still no answer? Did something happen to Kizef?’

Luciel went back and forth in the room all day, waiting for the letter. But Bell never arrived, neither that day nor the next day. She rolled her eyes in nervousness and couldn’t even touch her favorite snacks.

“I can’t believe our Little Madam refused strawberry cake. She must be sick.….”

“My lady…… Maybe I did something wrong, sniff, sniff.”

“Sister doesn’t want cake, there’s no way ….”

Rumors that Luciel didn’t eat the strawberry cake spread throughout the Duke’s Castle that day, causing everyone to worry. It even reached the ears of the Duke, Ellington, and vassals during a political meeting.

“She might have been eating strawberries for too long.”

When the Duke started,

“Of course. She might get tired of it.”

“What about a blueberry cake?”

“This guy. Isn’t that changing berry for berry?”

Everyone started to say something one by one. Ellington, who thought everyone was crazy, still insisted on strawberries.

Gillard, unable to stand it, knocked on Luciel’s door. He had a strawberry cake on a plate he was holding.

“Luciel, are you really not going to eat? I think a bite will bring peace to many people.”

Luciel, who had found Gillard, grabbed the lapel of his clothes and said anxiously,

“Grandpa, there is no reply.”

Luciel’s eyes fluttered like candles. He stroked Luciel’s head to calm the child.

“Are you worried about your friend?”

“Yes……”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Shall we wait until this evening and go out with this grandfather to help your friend? For now, let`s be relieved, huh?”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

At the comfort of her grandfather, Luciel calmed her heart a little.

But in the end, the owl did not come.