Report
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
------------------
Chapter 44: The Ancient Tree Forest and the Girl (1)
"...?"
Hamel, who was riding his horse, tilted his head.
He had heard something.
Listening closely, it was a human voice.
Hamel looked back at Daniel and Ono.
They simply nodded, indicating they had heard it too.
This was already the land of the Colorless Magic Tower.
They couldn't miss even a small clue.
Since gathering information was their top priority, Hamel dismounted without hesitation.
"...There... I saw it."
The voice was heard again.
It was coming from within the forest, off the road.
Hamel and Daniel left their horses with Ono and walked towards the source of the sound.
The voices gradually became clearer, and soon Hamel and his party found a group of people.
"Lena, I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay."
A robe with a blue dragon embroidered on the chest caught his eye.
It was easy to recognize what it meant.
They were students of the Colorless Magic Tower Academy.
What were academy students doing in a forest like this?
Hamel hid his presence and listened to their conversation.
"I really saw a cluster of Blue Moon Flowers around here. It's strange."
A girl with yellow hair said with her arms crossed, looking troubled.
The students behind her chuckled as if amused by something.
The black-haired girl, squatting on the ground and rummaging through the grass, replied with an expressionless face,
"Telling me is enough. They must be nearby."
"You understand? You're so kind, Lena. If they're not here, try the Ancient Tree Forest. They'll definitely be there."
"Okay, thank you."
The black-haired girl nodded calmly.
"We'll be going now. I hope you find them."
"Yeah, see you."
The yellow-haired girl finished the conversation and walked towards Hamel with the children behind her.
Hamel moved silently and hid to avoid them.
The students didn't notice him and walked past, whispering and giggling amongst themselves.
"He he. She really seems clueless, doesn't she?"
"I don't know if she's stupid or just pretending to be bold."
"I don't think she's acting. You can tell by the magic she specializes in."
"Ah, that's true."
As the yellow-haired girl nodded, a freckled boy asked curiously,
"But why the Ancient Tree Forest?"
"Ah, because you said you liked her face before."
"Oh, then...?"
"Confess to her or whatever, do as you like."
"Yay! Thanks!"
The freckled boy was delighted, but the yellow-haired girl who had brought it up frowned with a disgusted expression.
"Crazy... Is he really going to confess?"
"Why not? She's pretty. If she's naive, he can easily win her over if he sets the mood right. She's perfect to play with."
"Well, then go pick it up again. I'll be happy if you give it to me."
"Eww, how can I pick up something I threw in the trash?"
"Ugh, seriously."
The male and female students giggled and left. Hamel slowly emerged from the bushes.
Deeper in the forest, the black-haired girl was still squatting and rummaging through the bushes.
Hamel approached her, making his presence known.
"Hello."
"...Oh, hello."
The girl's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Hamel, then she replied curtly.
An awkward silence fell between the two, and Daniel, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward.
"Are you a student of the Magic Tower? We're from the order."
The student, staring intently at the suddenly appearing Daniel, nodded.
"Yes, I am."
An indifferent response with an expressionless face.
'Who does she remind me of?'
Daniel looked at Hamel with a dumbfounded expression.
Her behavior was a carbon copy of Hamel's.
Daniel swallowed a chuckle and continued,
"What are you doing here alone?"
"I lost the herbs I need for class."
"Lost them?"
"Yes, I had them prepared, but they were gone before class."
"That's... strange."
"It is strange."
The student nodded calmly.
Daniel was a bit flustered.
It was a clear case of bullying, but she seemed completely unaware of it.
Just as he was wondering how to tell her,
"My name is Hamel Gilmore. What's your name?"
"...?"
The student was silent for a moment at Hamel's sudden question.
But she soon replied in her usual monotonous tone,
"I'm Lena."
"Nice to meet you, Lena. There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"You're being bullied by other students."
"...?"
Lena tilted her head, puzzled.
Daniel, watching the two, was so surprised that he could only gape.
But Hamel didn't seem to want to stop talking.
"The Blue Moon Flowers you lost, they took them."
Lena, silent for a moment, retorted,
She was still calm but seemed slightly irritated.
"...But Melina told me where the Moon Flowers were."
"That's a lie. They just want to see you struggle in vain."
"..."
"The Ancient Tree Forest too. They are luring you there and to play a prank on you."
"How can I believe that..."
"The trash can in the classroom where you had your academy class. You'll find your Moon Flowers discarded there."
Lena was speechless at Hamel's confident words.
Then she slowly nodded.
"I'll see for myself."
"Yes, let's go together. We're on our way to the Magic Tower anyway."
"I'll lead the way."
Daniel was baffled by the unbelievable conversation.
As Lena walked ahead, Daniel whispered to Hamel,
"You... weren't that insensitive, were you?"
"Ah, well..."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hamel nodded as if he finally understood.
"I think she resembles my past self. She'll probably understand better if I tell her this way."
"...I knew she resembled you."
"She's similar to how I used to be."
"...Not now?"
"I'm different now. I'm more human than before, aren't I?"
Hamel said, sounding somewhat proud for some reason.
'Is being human a compliment?'
Daniel simply nodded, looking completely clueless.
***
One of the reasons why the Colorless Magic Tower was called the pride and origin of the Empire's mages,was that it produced many outstanding mages.
And in one of the academy classrooms,
Lena muttered with an indifferent expression,
"It's true."
"..."
In her hand was a handful of Blue Moon Flowers she had just taken out of the trash can.
Hamel asked Lena,
"What are you going to do now?"
"Hmm."
Lena frowned slightly and pondered.
Then she asked Hamel,
"Why am I being bullied?"
"Reflecting on oneself is admirable, but sometimes the answer doesn't lie with you."
Hamel replied calmly.
He didn't know why she was being ostracized.
But,
Whether it was because she was blunt,
Or a bit eccentric,
Or for any other reason,
Hamel believed that bullying was difficult to justify.
Hearing his words, Lena rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought.
Then she bowed her head to Hamel and thanked him.
"Thank you."
"Why?"
"Because I realized it's not my fault."
"That's good."
"Yes, thanks to you, I've decided what to do."
Lena nodded confidently.
He didn't know what choice she would make, but he had a feeling she would do well.
It was then.
Slide!
Someone opened the classroom door and entered.
"Lena? And who are those next to you...?"
Hamel, Daniel, and even Ono.
The woman in the white pointed hat looked wary upon discovering the three strangers in arms.
Lena stepped forward and said in a monotonous tone,
"Vice-principal, these are people from the order."
"Ah!"
The woman, called the vice-principal, brightened up and smiled.
"Hello, I'm Agnes Lowell, the vice-principal of the Colorless Magic Tower."
"Greetings, we are Hamel Saint Gilmore, Ono Paulo, and Daniel Tyrian, dispatched from the order."
"Welcome. I've been waiting for you."
The vice-principal seemed genuinely pleased, not just saying it out of courtesy.
He hadn't heard the details, but it seemed the situation wasn't good.
"It seems Lena guided you. Thank you."
"It was nothing."
"Hmm? That in your hand is a Blue Moon Flower, isn't it? Is it for a different class?"
"..."
Lena's expression turned strange.
Then she tilted her head and asked back in a flat tone,
"No, it's for the Intermediate Curse Herbology class."
"Hmm? Aha, another one of Lena's jokes?"
The vice-principal chuckled and then turned to Hamel.
"Follow me. I'll guide you to the Tower Master."
"...Yes."
Hamel looked at Lena, who was left behind.
Lena was tilting her head as if something was strange.
Something felt off.
But he didn't know what it was.
"Hamel?"
As Daniel called out to Hamel, who was standing still, Hamel came to his senses.
"Let's go."
He felt uneasy, but he couldn't just stand there.
Meeting the Tower Master was the priority now.
Hamel hurriedly followed the vice-principal.
***
In the Tower Master's room, Hamel was greeted by an old man with a long white beard.
"Greetings, members of the order. I am Siegberg, the Tower Master of the Colorless Magic Tower and the headmaster of the academy."
"I am Hamel Saint Gilmore."
The eastern part of the Empire was called the home of magic, and as such, the influence of the Colorless Magic Tower was significant.
This also meant that Siegberg was a very important person to Hamel, the lord of Heidern.
But Hamel got straight to the point.
"What's the situation?"
"Not good. I'll explain right away."
The Tower Master slowly stroked his beard and then took out a map and unfolded it.
It showed the Magic Tower and its surrounding areas in detail.
"Three students from the academy have recently disappeared. They were last seen here, here, and here."
"When did they go missing?"
"The first was a week ago, the second two days ago, and the third just yesterday."
"Yesterday."
Hamel briefly pondered the word and continued his questions.
Commonalities between the missing children.
Any traces they had found so far.
And finally, the extent of the search area.
"Based on the locations where the children disappeared, the most suspicious place is here."
"The Ancient Tree Forest. Yes, that's where I looked first, but there was nothing unusual."
"Then the next place to investigate is..."
"The mandrake farm south of the Magic Tower is the next most likely."
"Yes, I agree."
Hamel nodded briefly and rose from his seat.
The Tower Master's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you going right away?"
"Of course."
"As expected, exorcists are truly devout. That puts my mind at ease."
"Thank you. Then we'll be on our way."
"Very well. Professor Agnes, who returned today, will guide you."
As Hamel approached the door, the vice-principal, who had been listening to the conversation, opened the door and said,
"I'll guide you. Follow me."
"Thank you."
As they stepped outside, silence fell over the Tower Master's room.
The Tower Master, who had been stroking his beard with a benevolent expression, suddenly stopped.
"Hamel Saint Gilmore, the priest of the Azure Flame... This is unexpected."
The Tower Master stared at the door Hamel had left through for a long time, his eyes cold and sharp.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
