The Magic City Silas is, as its name suggests, a city dedicated to the study of magic.
Researchers and young people striving to master magic gather here from all over.
It is the second-largest city in this country.
We arrived at night…
“It’s so bright, it doesn’t even feel like nighttime.”
The city was extremely dazzling.
Even from quite a distance away, before we even left the highway, we could see the town, and I thought there might be a fire.
We were slightly delayed on the road, so we ended up arriving at night, but thanks to the light emanating from the city, we were able to reach it directly without getting lost.
“The bookworms here don’t care about day or night. It’s pretty much like this all night long. Because of this city, magic researchers have the image of being night owls.”
That’s according to Lyall.
It seems that Neil and Fina are visiting this city for the first time.
Apparently, if you head straight from the Raza territory to the Royal Capital, you don’t pass through here.
We ended up on this route because we stopped by Tobal, but we weren’t originally planning to visit this city either.
“By the way, what’s your business here, old man?”
By the way, Fina, who just spoke, isn’t carrying any luggage.
Lyall is carrying it all, but he volunteered to do it, saying it’s good training.
Neil and I declined, but Lyall is still carrying the shared items for us.
Hmm, Lyall’s business… It shouldn’t concern us, but I am certainly curious.
“Ah, I owe someone a favor. They told me to come around this time, but they’re usually asleep if I go at night. I’ll visit them tomorrow.”
“No, I mean, who are you going to see?”
“Oh, it’s Lumia of the ‘Staff’. You know her, right?”
Lumia of the Staff.
Like Lyall, she has a title, and she’s at the top of the magic users in this country.
However, I heard that she’s quite old…
We’re walking around looking for an inn, but it’s hard to find a vacancy.
There are so many people that it’s hard to walk, it’s unbelievable that it is nighttime.
“Come to think of it, my dad said he’s met her.”
“Ah, he did say that.”
“Gale-san did?”
The two’s father, Gale, is the lord of the Raza territory.
He probably had opportunities to go to the Royal Capital, so it’s not surprising that he met her then.
“But, he didn’t tell me much about her… He said, ‘If you meet her, you’ll be surprised. It’s no fun if I tell you, right?’”
Neil speaks, imitating Gale.
Yeah, as expected of his son, he’s similar.
Their voices are exactly alike, which makes it even more so.
“Bwah!? Neil, stop it, you’re too similar, it’s creepy!”
It seems Fina found it particularly amusing.
She’s holding her stomach, laughing.
However, is she someone who surprises you when you meet her?
Is it her appearance, her words, or something else…?
“You know… I guess I won’t tell you much either.”
“Eh, is it okay for us to go with you?”
I was surprised by Lyall’s words.
I thought we would have to wait while he met her.
“Yeah, come with me. I’ll definitely be saddled with something troublesome.”
“…Um, I suddenly don’t want to go.”
“Wait, wait. Don’t say that, share the burden with me, okay? Please?”
So we’re going in knowing something troublesome is guaranteed… Well, I do want to meet her, so it’s fine.
I’m already used to something happening everywhere we go.
After that, securing lodging proved to be extremely difficult.
It seems that many people are heading to the Royal Capital for the Martial Arts Tournament during this time, and basically everywhere is full.
The soldiers’ lodging was also full, and in the end, we had to stay at a much more expensive inn than we usually use.
It was a high-class inn with a good view on top of a hill, and the food we had earlier was also expensive.
We have two double rooms.
The men and women will stay in separate rooms.
I open the door made of high-quality wood and iron.
“Wow, the room is spacious and the bed is big.”
“Katia, we’ve already paid, so we have to enjoy it, or it’s a waste, right?”
“I know that, but…”
I’m a commoner at heart, even including my previous life.
If I’m suddenly thrown into a high-class inn, it’s only natural that I’d feel hesitant.
Ah, I’m so stingy.
“Diiiive! Whew, I’m feeling tired.”
“Fina-san, you need to change your clothes or you’ll get the sheets dirty.”
“Don’t be so stiff. By the way, this room is supposed to have a great view. Katia, open the window.”
“Okay, okay.”
When I open the wooden window, some cool night air comes in.
Although it’s already early summer, the nights are still chilly.
“Ooh!”
Fina stands up and looks excited.
Hmm, indeed.
“What a beautiful night view.”
It’s simply breathtaking.
It’s a different atmosphere from the night view of my previous life.
A soft, gentle light is leaking from all over the city.
Perhaps because it’s the light of magical fire, the scenery is softly swaying.
The scenery is reflected in the nearby river.
“See, see! You’re glad we stayed at this inn, right?”
“Yes. This alone is worth the high price of the inn.”
“Talking about money again? Come on, this is a night view you’d never see in the Raza territory. Let’s take a good look.”
“Yes… This is a view I wouldn’t have been able to see if I had stayed holed up in the mountains.”
My cheeks naturally relaxed.
I just stared at the city scenery for a while.
My hair flowed smoothly back in the night breeze.
A quiet time passed.
I just happened to glance at Fina’s expression… huh?
She’s not looking at the scenery, but at me?
Her eyes are a little moist, and her face is red.
Wh-What’s wrong?
“Fina-san?”
“N-No… It’s nothing, yeah. Really? I’m not into that, I just thought you looked picturesque, that’s all?”
“Into what? …Your face is red. Do you have a cold? Should I close the window if you’re cold?”
“Eh, no way!? I’m going to sleep! I’m going to sleep!”
“Wha-, Fina-san!? You haven’t taken a bath or changed your clothes yet! Fina-san!”
She burrowed into the bed.
…What on earth just happened?
I shook Fina, who had become a caterpillar in the futon, but there was no response.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
I had no choice but to leave Fina for the moment and answer.
“Yes?”
“Kaaatiaaa-chaaan. Let’s have a battle fight!”
“Go AWAY!”
I closed the door.
I thought I saw a large, lion-like beastman standing there, but I must have been mistaken.
It’s only been three days since our last fight.
He asks me every day…
The next day, Lyall took us to Lumia-san’s place.
It seems Lumia-san is the director of the magic school.
At first glance, it seems like Lyall’s position, but it seems that she is properly managing the school as the director.
Although, it’s just that Lyall is strange.
“Is this it?”
“Yeah, this is it.”
The school building is made of brick, and there is a training ground surrounded by an earthen wall, which is standard in this world.
It seems to be convenient because it can be easily repaired with earth magic.
Is the size about the same as a typical university in Japan?
I can’t grasp the whole thing from here, so I’m guessing.
There are guards standing there.
“Lyall-san, you’re a familiar face here, right?”
He spoke as if he had been here several times.
“No, the guards have changed since the last time I came… Did that old man retire? Well, there is no helping it, shall we break through!?”
“What!? Why, you muscle-brained idiot!”
“Just kidding… Just tell them Lyall is here, it’ll be fine.”
Well, no matter how much of a Lyall he is, he wouldn’t do such a thing.
Fina shouldn’t react so dutifully every time, though.
“Wait a minute.”
Lyall goes to talk to the guards.
The guards rushed inside in a panic.
Oh, as expected of a celebrity.
The other party’s reaction is dramatic, for better or for worse.
After a while, a staff member came to guide us.
When we were shown into the director’s office, there was an elf girl with deep green hair.
…We’re not in the wrong room.
It certainly says “Director’s Office”.
A girl sitting in a magnificent chair.
Where is Lumia?
I heard she was an old woman over eighty years old.
The girl opens her mouth.
“It’s been a while, Lyall. It’s rare for you not to be late for an appointment.”
“Shut up, Lumia. As you can see, I have a guide, sorry about that.”
!?