Chapter 80

"......Oh?"

Letting out a low voice, Barvrea turned around.

"Did you realize that the array etched on my arm is a magic circle?"

Feeling a somewhat similar aura to Owen from Barvrea, who seemed a bit pleased, I responded.

"Well, there's no other explanation. By the way, Eliza is also researching magic circles, so I think she would recognize it at a glance."

"Wh-What!? A-Ah, y-yes! I-I somehow figured it out!"

Eliza, seemingly surprised to be suddenly addressed, hurriedly replied. Not only Barvrea, but also Alabarta and Cameron turned their gazes towards her.

"I see. Considering the diversity of Fidic Academy, the research on magic circles must be quite extensive. No, this is becoming an interesting conversation. Then, I will prepare a place for a more detailed discussion later. We will conduct the formal negotiations there."

"Thank you."

I thanked her for her offer to make preparations. Barvrea then turned her eyes towards Alabarta.

"Lord Alabarta, thank you for such an interesting guest. I would like you to join us when we talk later."

"Very well."

Nodding in satisfaction at Alabarta's response, Barvrea then turned to Cameron.

"Cameron, did you hear that? We will use the west side rooftop as the venue. Please make the necessary preparations."

"W-West side?"

Cameron was surprised by Barvrea's words, but when Barvrea's eyes sharpened, he quickly fell silent.

"That's all. From now on, please follow Cameron's guidance."

After confirming that Cameron had fallen silent, Barvrea concluded the conversation. Then, we left the principal's office.

As soon as we stepped into the corridor, Alabarta let out a sigh of relief.

"Lady Aoi, that was nerve-wracking..."

Glaring at me, I turned to Strass and the others, wondering what he meant. Strass, with a half-closed eye, looked at Eliza, who seemed fatigued, and spoke.

"...Lady Barvrea and Aoi are quite similar. Especially in their assertiveness and their straightforward approach."

"Despite their contrasting ways of speaking, they somehow seemed like sisters."

Eliza agreed with a wry smile.

I tilted my head in confusion.

"I don't really see it. I thought they were completely different."

Not only in appearance, but Barvrea seemed like a very sociable woman, which was the opposite of me, who couldn't easily step forward. From my shy personality, I found it impressive that someone could speak up confidently in a gathering of many people. Barvrea was exactly that type.

I was thinking this, but apparently, the others didn't see it that way.

"No, it felt more like a confrontation between two very strong-willed women..."

Strangely, even Cameron, whom I had just met today, agreed. Alabarta also nodded firmly when I looked at him.

I realized I had no allies.

With no choice, I decided to avoid a futile argument and move the conversation forward.

"...By the way, Mr. Cameron. You seemed surprised when you heard about the west side rooftop earlier?"

When I asked, Cameron hesitated for a moment. But he soon sighed as if giving up and walked towards the window in the corridor. The view from the window showed a small courtyard, and the wall of the school building on the entrance side was visible.

Pointing to the white wall, Cameron began to explain.

"This academy is designed to allow injured individuals to enter easily, so there is a treatment building right at the entrance. Behind it are the intermediate and advanced magic lecture rooms, and this central building. All of these are considered the east side of the academy. The west side houses the faculty residences, library, and research facilities. The west side rooftop is not easily visible from outside, so it is used for the development and practice of magic that is under development or classified. In other words, the west side contains many important secrets equivalent to those in the Holy Capital's magic research laboratories..."

"That's convenient."

As I listened to Cameron's explanation, I couldn't help but let out a thought. After all, if I went there, all the materials would be available, and I could efficiently study healing magic.

However, Cameron and Alabarta exchanged glances with troubled expressions.

"Is it really okay?"

"I understand your concern."

Cameron nodded deeply in response to Alabarta's comment.

We passed through the courtyard and moved to the west side building. It seemed that Cameron had given up on thinking and was now explaining everything, including the important facilities, as he guided us.

"This is the library accessible to general faculty members, and the back is the research room for general faculty members. Next is the library for senior faculty members, and similarly, the research room for senior faculty members. In this academy, only one healing magic practitioner and one water magic practitioner are senior faculty members. Previously, there were also senior faculty members researching fire and wind magic, so the research rooms are currently a bit underutilized."

"Are there few faculty members?"

"No, it's just that there are few faculty members who meet the principal's standards. The number of faculty members hasn't changed. Therefore, there are currently no faculty members who can teach advanced fire, wind, and earth magic."

After candidly explaining the current state of the Holy Capital Magic Academy, Cameron glanced at me.

As I tilted my head in response to his gaze, Eliza clung to me.

"I'm not giving Aoi away, okay?"

Eliza's declaration made Cameron let out a dry laugh and point down the corridor.

"I didn't say that. Come, the stairs to the rooftop are this way. Please, this way."