Volume 16 - CH 23

The Forbidden Zone of the Austin Academy of Magic―

Marilyn suddenly destroyed an artifact that was stored there.

「　...... Well, just because no one had ever harmed it before didn't mean that it was a stone that would never be damaged.」

It's a new discovery.

But since it was the one and only item in the world that was in the category of heritage of the gods, this might be a matter of someone's responsibility ...... if it's not done right.

「This is not good, It broken! Marilyn broke it!」

For some reason, Letty danced and looked happy.

「Ehh? Letty-sensei was also casting a spell to destroy it just now, wasn't she!?」

I frowned and warned the two who were shouting loudly.

「Just shut up for a second, you guys. The enemy could be anywhere in near us.」

It's also a nasty black Magician who summons white birds and black slugs that are immune to magic.

「Ah, I'm sorry, Alec...」

「That's right, Marilyn, in louder voice you must reflect on yourself!」

「You should be reflect on yourself too, Letty. You were the loudest one. Anyway, Nicole, how's the sensei?」

「Haah, I think he's fainted. ...... but he's breathing.」

「Yaay! That's our chance! While we're at it, let's punch Cherry Boy in the back of the head and bury him here, Alec.」

That's what Letty says.

「Idiot. That'll just make the problem worse. Hey there! Don't run away, Lumina. I won't put the blame on you.」

I say to the blue-haired Lumina, who was trying to sneak away by turning her back on me.

「...... But just the fact that I was here ...... is a huge ...... minus point for royalty.... ...」

「That's what they'll tell us later. Look, we've all got to come up with a solution here. You know,  Cherry-sensei gave us permission to do this. We were told to try it and we tried it. There should be no or little responsibility. On the contrary, we should be applauded for our new discovery.」

「I wonder about that. You took the trouble to keep it, didn't you? Cherry Boy was so shocked that he fainted.」

「That's because it's Cherry. I'm sure the Headmaster will forgive you with a "Meh!".」

「What if she doesn't?」

「Hmm.」

In that case, we'll have to pay for it?　

But, It's not for sale.

「Uehh, Aleeec, I don't have the money to pay for it! Wh-wh-what should I do?」

Marilyn, who was sweating profusely, looked pale and panicked, but she didn't mean any harm either.

「Calm down. It will only slow down your thinking if you panic. You can't help what's been done. Let's be honest with the headmaster when we get back. Honesty is the best. Don't worry, Marilyn, I'll make sure you don't get into any reparations.」

「Uh-uehh, thank you, Alec.」

If the value is unbreakable, you can say that it has no value when it is broken.

But if it has the added value of being a work of art or a valuable object, it is troublesome.

If a simpleton were to break a stone with a legend that even the heroes could not cut it, he or she would be in trouble.

...... No?

No, I don't think so.

She broke the stone that no one else could break.

That should be the mark of a heroes.

「Marilyn, break that stone with all your might.」

「Ehh!? W-Why? Are you trying to gathering evidence? That's terrible, Alec!」

I had to explain to the half-frowning Marilyn that she didn't understand my intentions.

「Okay-okay, you don't have to make a fuss about it, let's take a look here」

Letty applied levitation magic to the stone and turned it around.

Then, the tooth shape became the lower side, and the appearance was restored.

「Ta-da! What do you think?」

「...... Hou~, you're smart, Letty!」

It was a stone sphere resting in the shrine of a dangerous sealing area. It is unlikely that anyone would go to the trouble of entering this place and turning it over to check its condition carefully.

If there was a stone with a magical reaction on the spot, it was probably safe to assume that it had not been stolen.

Even in the unlikely event that a scratch is discovered, if you insist that it is a wonder that it was safe the last time, it could be a natural phenomenon, weathering or deterioration. This is the work of the gods.

You don't have to think too hard about it, because this is something that has been sealed up for a long time, it just needs to not be stolen.

「Fufu, I'm used to this kind of thing, and I'm old enough to know better.」

Letty said proudly, she must have broken so many things in her life that she lost count. That's the woman they call Crusher Letty for you.

She's an asshole as a person, but in this case, the outcome is okay.

「All right, we're on the same page. We're gonna pretend that Marilyn was just joking around and using illusoin.」

「I-I got it. That's just illusion.」

「Okay!」

「Eehh ......? I-I understand.」

「...... roger, for good intentions.」

I got the approval of everyone.

I woke up Cherry-sensei with a potion.

「Fugah! Ugh, what on earth......」

「I'm sooorry, sir, but I've been playing a trick on you with my magic. ......」

「Oohh, t-the stone is――Wheew, what,  that's suprised me, really」

Cherry didn't notice as he patted his chest. We all looked at each other and nodded with a black-hearted look on our faces.

「Now, Cherry-sensei, get on with your work.」

「Yeah, I will. Mmm!」

When Cherry held up his hand and exerted himself, he found that the magic power from the stone entered his body in such a concentration that he could (...) see it (...).

When Cherry held out his hand and exerted himself, I could see the magic flowing out of the stone and entered into his body in such a concentration.

「A-are you all right, Cherry-sensei?」

Nicole is worried.

「Yeah, this magic body is not cursed or stagnant type, so I'm fine. Some of them seem to be out of control, but that's not in the headmaster's instructions this time.」

Cherry said, but then I was curious about how to exorcise the magic of dangerous items.

「What about cursed objects?」

「That's ...... well, I haven't heard that much about it either. Well, maybe a high ranking Magician will come here and perform a difficult ritual.」

Perhaps once every few years, or every few decades, a team of specialist countermeasures is formed.

Well, they've been sealed up like this for hundreds of years now, so I'm sure they're doing just fine there without me having to worry about it.

「Is that it?」

「Yeah, I'm done.」

「Okay, let's go back.」

With that, I turn around and look at the stone.

The stone was still there, just as it had been when I first arrived.

『An ancient stone sphere from Kos-Turica.』

No one can break it, no one can hurt it.

I'm sure it will continue to rest here for a long time to come.

Nothing will change, only time will continue to pile up.

Hopefully, no one will turn it over.

All of us, except for Cherry, left the shrine with a mysterious look on our faces.