Chapter 74

“Nice to meet you. I am Liam, the Vice Principal of the Royal Academy. First, please follow the guide to check your accommodations.”

There wasn’t anything particularly special right after arrival. Since the main events wouldn’t start until two days later, we unpacked at the prepared nearby hotel and rested freely.

The hotel rooms were set up for two people, and my roommate was none other than Jeong Hansol.

Jeong Hansol, who had been looking out the window, let out a small sigh of admiration and spoke to me.

“Wow, it’s certainly quite large. The academy grounds themselves seem bigger than ours.”

“In Korea, there are a few places considered prestigious, but here, the Royal Academy stands alone.”

“Want to go look around the area?”

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to familiarize myself with the surrounding terrain in preparation for what’s to come. I nodded without much hesitation.

“Han Kangyoon and Jeong Hansol. Yes, confirmed. Please return by 22:00.”

Activities were free, but when going out, we had to move in groups of at least two and leave a report.

Even if academy students could easily protect themselves, unforeseen incidents could always happen.

So, after submitting the report, I left the hotel with Jeong Hansol.

“You brought your pass, right?”

“Yeah.”

“They said the training facilities are specially open too. I’m curious about that.”

The first place we headed to was none other than the Spanish Royal Academy.

Normally, we wouldn’t have been able to enter, but during the event period, identification was possible with specially issued passes.

After entering without issue, Jeong Hansol let out a small whistle, expressing admiration.

“The atmosphere is different, isn’t it? It feels surprisingly new.”

“……”

I was also curious, so I began observing the passing students one by one, checking their information.

‘Appraisal.’

【Ian Pope】

▶Level: 34

【Ángel Fernando】

▶Level: 32

【Alicia Bennett】

▶Level: 35

The students’ levels were generally excellent. Of course, they fell short compared to Jeong Hansol beside me, but Jeong Hansol is also one of the top talents at Cheonghwa Academy.

If the levels I casually saw were around this, they certainly had the right to boast of being a prestigious institution.

“I think I’ll go check out the training ground as I mentioned. What about you?”

“Go ahead. I’ll just take a walk around. Let’s meet at the main gate in two hours.”

“Okay. Don’t go causing trouble by hitting on someone or something, alright?”

“Not particularly interested.”

“Tsk. How boring.”

Jeong Hansol chuckled and checked the guidebook before heading towards the location of the training ground.

I, too, began walking around the entire grounds, surveying the surrounding geography.

‘The facilities are all modern, but it still feels like the first installment’s setting.’

Unfortunately, for me, who has already played all the sequels in the series, the sights weren’t particularly novel.

That was also part of the reason I didn’t follow Jeong Hansol.

After all, there’s nothing to be amazed by seeing it now.

‘Fortunately, I don’t sense any ominous signs.’

From a quick look, the students’ atmosphere wasn’t bad either. I couldn’t find any ill will towards Cheonghwa Academy, and as Adrian said, they seemed rather interested.

There were even students who looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked questions, so further suspicion seemed pointless.

‘So, does that mean there won’t be any discord among the students?’

Actually, this was what I had considered most likely, so it was quite a surprising result.

If an incident were to occur, it would likely originate from outside. It seemed safe to think that way.

‘…Have I checked everything inside the academy now?’

After perfectly mapping the surrounding terrain in my mind, I repeatedly simulated scenarios, finding suitable locations in case combat broke out during the event.

While doing so, I discovered a side path branching off from the walking trail and was about to check it when I unexpectedly encountered a girl shrouded in a mysterious aura.

“……”

The girl, unaware of my approach, was kneeling and staring intently at a spot on the ground where a slightly wilted sprout was visible.

‘That is……’

An oddly familiar shape. I used the Appraisal function on the pile of dirt she was looking at.

Ding!

【Golden Leaf Herb】

▶ A plant possessing powerful life energy within its body. When properly processed, it becomes a material for high-grade Spiritual Elixirs.

• Currently in a weakened state.

As expected, it was a material I had often seen in the game. Intrigued, I used the Interpretation Spell and approached the girl to speak.

“Are you trying to make it bloom?”

“Huh? This is, um, well. But who are you…?”

“Golden Leaf Herb is a very finicky plant. It’s better planted deeper than this, and in a place with more sunlight.”

The girl, momentarily flustered, asked me while tossing her characteristic platinum hair.

“Ah… Do you know a lot about plants?”

“About as much as others. If it’s not an imposition, may I check its condition?”

“Yes! Please, I’d appreciate it.”

Golden Leaf Herb requires a lot of energy to grow, so it doesn’t pair well with other plants.

Perhaps aware of this, it was placed separately in the flower bed, but with several large trees around, the situation was ultimately the same.

It was a common mistake made by beginners.

‘There’s a faint red aura circulating in the stem.’

Upon checking, it indeed seemed that growth had slowed due to nutrient deficiency. So, I used my Intracranial Spell Repository to find and deploy a suitable Cursed Technique I often used in the game.

Whoosh.

“If you supply Spiritual Power appropriately like this, its growth will probably be much easier than before.”

“…You’re skilled. Thank you. That was helpful.”

“Not at all. Well, I’ll be going then.”

“Ah…”

Leaving only those words, I left the spot without hesitation and continued with what I was doing.

The girl seemed like she wanted to say something, but I didn’t have much time to spare if I wanted to return on schedule.

‘Jeong Hansol will be out soon too.’

And so, the day passed without major incident.

“Kangyoon. You’ll come with me, right? Let’s go sightseeing together. Okay?”

The very next day, I averted my gaze from Sophia, who was clinging to my arm and looking at me with a pleading expression.

“Grace and Eddie too, really, it’s just going out to have fun, what’s so difficult about it…”

The origin of the situation was this.

Sophia, who wanted to go to an exhibition being held near the hotel, had been looking for a companion since last night due to the rule requiring at least two people to move together.

However, starting with Adrian and Grace, everyone had refused Sophia’s request.

“Sorry, but I’m curious about the training ground. Once you get fixated on something, you can’t let go, can you?”

“Sorry, Soph. I’ll pass too. I’m already exhausted from yesterday…”

“Ugh, you’re all so mean! I already finished all the reservations!”

After that, the students who knew Sophia’s usual temperament all quickly made themselves scarce, afraid of getting roped in.

Eventually, the turn came to me, leading to the current situation.

“They said there are several top-grade Cursed Tools! You’re interested in that kind of thing, right? I’m really curious. Please come with me just once…”

Certainly, that piqued my interest a little. In the end, I couldn’t refuse Sophia’s request and began preparing to go out again.

“…Then, I’ll come too.”

This time, it was Arietta who tagged along. She hadn’t left the hotel at all yesterday, but it seemed she was feeling restless today.

I immediately spoke up.

“That’s good. Then I’ll take this chance to bow out, and you two can…”

“Yes. It’s decided that all three of us will go together!”

I knew it.

Sophia was the type who inherently liked lively things from birth.

Since it felt awkward to refuse further, I ended up taking the subway with the two of them towards our destination, the Estadio Rosas Exhibition Hall.

“By the way, did you two know each other before?”

“Hmm. Considering we’re both top of our grades, wouldn’t it be more strange if we didn’t?”

No wonder they got along even with the sudden addition; it seemed they had been acquainted before.

Come to think of it, as the two who ranked first in their respective grades, they must have been busy being called out for every school event. They would have had many opportunities to see each other.

“Soph is a good kid. Except when she clings too much sometimes.”

No, you’re the same in that regard.

Having often been tormented by Arietta at the academy, I gave her a wry look upon hearing those words.

While engaging in such trivial chatter, we soon arrived at our target station, got off the train, and entered the exhibition hall.

Sophia, after glancing at a pamphlet, immediately handed it to Arietta as if she couldn’t read it.

“Ugh, the writing here is too difficult.”

The Interpretation Spell is fundamentally created for communication, so it’s not suitable for situations requiring translation like now.

However, Arietta read it without issue and guided Sophia to the place she wanted.

“Section B-3. It’s over there.”

“As expected of our senior. You’re a walking encyclopedia~”

When I looked at her with a surprised gaze, Arietta, for some reason, spoke with a triumphant expression.

“If you can’t read the original text, there are many inconveniences. I know most of the frequently used languages.”

I sometimes forget, but indeed, these people are geniuses incomparable to ordinary people. I keenly realize it in moments like this.

Following Arietta’s guidance, we walked around the venue.

During the process, I also used the Appraisal function to check the information of various Cursed Tools. Among them, there were fakes—whether intentional or not—and also items with greater value than known.

Ding!

【Dimazio’s Seal】

▶ A seal imbued with the energy of an Alraune.

The bearer receives a faint Forest’s Blessing, slightly increasing stats in related terrain.

‘…There are surprisingly many tempting things.’

This type of always-active Cursed Tool was among the rare ones even in the game.

At the very least, it wasn’t the kind of thing that would be left lying in a corner of an exhibition like this.

‘Well, it’s an era before Appraisal techniques were widespread, so it couldn’t be helped.’

However, watching it, I felt an indescribable regret, as if seeing treasure left to rot.

“Ah, they said it’s opening soon. The place with the top-grade Cursed Tool I mentioned earlier!”

Certainly, if there were such high-quality items mixed in, that national treasure-level Cursed Tool was something to look forward to.

Embracing the feeling of being a player for the first time in a while, I headed with the two of them towards the newly opened section with excitement.

“Thank you for waiting. Guards are on standby for safety and to prevent accidents, so we ask visitors to please enjoy its appearance with your eyes only.”

And there, I witnessed it.

【Lamp of Resplendent Night】

▶ The primordial light that illuminates the night. Only one with the qualities of a monarch can ignite the flame in the ring.

The equipment that was the core element of the Shikigami Sorcerer build I directly researched during my time as a Ranker. The Cursed Tool that was like a soulmate.