Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 235 Legendary

Around noon, Ritas, who was heading to Spring City, sensed a resentful gaze in the academy's stables.

"She's been watching you."

"Um"

"If I had to say, it was definitely your fault this time. You clearly agreed that she would accompany you when you went out. In the end, you always ran off on your own. It's just that you didn't get hurt the last few times you ran off, otherwise she would definitely have a fight with you."

"It's unavoidable. I can't expect my students to take leave to accompany me when I take leave to go out. Besides, in my mind, the agreement should be that if there's a possibility of danger when I'm out, she should secretly protect me. So when there's no danger, like this time, I don't really need to call her."

Because the Tree Witch will be stationed at the academy throughout the magic academy exchange event, the area around Spring City is very safe.

"but."

Ritas turned his head slightly and saw an "elf" girl hiding behind the wall. Apart from the half of her face that she deliberately showed him, the rest of her body was almost completely blended into the shadows.

"Ah, Cadet Boudica, I wish to travel to Spring City. So, could you please guard my safety?"

"Yes, Professor!"

With a "whoosh," Boudica's figure flashed perfectly in front of Ritas, straightening her back and giving a standard shoulder-to-shoulder salute.

A short while later.

The black carriage that Ritas often used from the academy arrived in the eastern part of Spring City.

"Since your world already has magical railcars, wouldn't it be much more convenient to just run a few tracks through the city and academy?"

"It might indeed be more convenient. However, even if we don't make the proposal, there's a high chance that the academy will soon have all sorts of magical tools and facilities. After all, after seeing the magical airship at Arigold Magic Academy, the headmaster will definitely do something. It's just that construction takes time, and we don't know if we'll have a chance to use it."

For Ritas, his time as a tutor at Erles Academy would only last one term. Even now, a semester and a half later, his interest in the "Hall of Wisdom" remains undiminished. In fact, the many unknowns he has encountered during this period have only intensified his desire for the "Hall of Wisdom."

"Also, is the Elf Kingdom still urbanized?"

"It's hard to say."

Ritas and the goddess of bathing looked at Boudica inside the carriage and discussed this.

At this moment, Boudica's face was pressed tightly against the carriage window, contorted in a wide arc, as she looked with great interest at the bustling eastern district of Spring City outside the window.

This scene made Ritas and the Goddess of Bath realize that Boudica might not have had a proper chance to explore the surrounding area since arriving at Ers Academy.

Although Boudica claimed it was to ensure the best possible visibility and prevent any suspicious individuals from appearing around, her true intentions were crystal clear, given her composed demeanor when the carriage was outside the city.

After thinking for a moment, Ritas opened the front window and asked the academy's coachman to stop the carriage.

"professor."

"The roads in the East District are always congested, and there are quite a few people around. So, to avoid missing the appointed time, walking will be faster. If Cadet Boudica minds, she can wait for me in the carriage."

"No, no!"

Boudica waved her hands repeatedly, then quickly realized that she seemed a little agitated, so she suppressed her emotions and returned to a serious expression.

For the rest of the time, Ritas and Boudica, who was keeping a slight distance from him and "secretly protecting" him, walked through the bustling streets of the East District. Although Boudica was clearly trying very hard to restrain himself, he would still unconsciously glance at the various novel things on the street, occasionally revealing an expression of "how wonderful."

"Little Li~"

"."

Ritas sighed softly, cleared his throat, and said in a serious tone,

“Cadet Boudica, I think these stalls also need to be 'inspected' carefully. It’s all too common for dangerous individuals to disguise themselves as vendors.”

Seeing Ritas's expression, Boudica paused for a moment, then gave him a "makes sense" look, replied "yes," and excitedly ran towards the small stalls and shops that she had marked in her mind from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Ritas was relieved that he had left the academy early and wouldn't be late, while keeping a watchful eye on Boudica's figure.

Although Boudica differs slightly from ordinary people due to her background and upbringing, she clearly possesses a minimum level of common sense. Therefore, her interactions with the shopkeepers and others appeared normal. There was no instance of her simply grabbing someone's goods and leaving, or turning a stall upside down in search of "suspicious individuals."

But the good times didn't last long.

When Boudica, wanting to buy some snacks, pulled out something that looked remarkably like a gold bar, not only was the stall owner startled, but Ritas also couldn't help but rub his forehead.

Ok.

That really is just the "minimum" common sense.

Not long after, Boudica, who had visited almost all the shops in the area and was now covered in all sorts of colorful trinkets and had a small backpack stuffed full, respectfully handed the gold bars to Ritas with both hands.

“You don’t need to take the gold bars, Cadet Boudica. Although protecting me is your mission, it’s reasonable to have some compensation for field missions like this. Consider these expenses as my field allowance.”

Although Ritas was curious about the gold content of this arm-thick gold bar—whether the elven, or rather the dark elves', territory might possess a gold mine—he absolutely could not accept it.

"However, I hope that Boudica can keep this a secret from others."

Just like when he encountered Grenville and his childhood sweetheart at the restaurant, Ritas didn't pay their bill. He didn't want any financial ties with his students. Furthermore, without a specific reason, he didn't want to engage in any social interactions such as treating them to meals or giving them gifts.

Because it's not quite suitable.

It's not just that it's inappropriate for him to give gifts to the students; it would be even more troublesome if the students wanted to reciprocate by giving him gifts in return.

Boudica readily agreed to keep it a secret.

However, Boudica still seemed somewhat hesitant about the matter of "field work compensation".

So, in order to divert Boudica's attention, Ritas changed the subject.

"Student Boudica, aren't you wearing a lot of bracelets? Is this a custom unique to the Elven race or a specific region?"

Boudica bought about ten bracelets.

If she doesn't have five hands or intend to change her clothes daily, then there must be some other reason behind it.

"Professor, I also bought some for the other members of the guard. Hipper will prefer this lighter color. This one is for Boogie. And this one..."

Boudica began listing the decorative preferences of the elven guards currently at Erles Academy, as if reciting a familiar list. Hearing Boudica's tone, as if saying, "It's rare for us to go out together, so I need to buy everything for everyone," Ritas couldn't help but ask,

"Have the members of the Elven Guard not gone out since arriving at Erles Academy?"

Ritas's question received an affirmative answer from Boudica. "If necessary, I can apply to the Dean for fixed holidays for you."

Ritas frowned slightly as he spoke. He knew that Livis didn't intentionally exploit the guards she had brought from the Elven Kingdom. She simply wasn't interested in these more detailed matters and therefore couldn't see the problems that existed between them.

"No! No, no, no, no! We have no complaints or demands regarding the Commander! So... so please accept this, and please do not mention our matter to the Commander!"

"."

So, just how much did this person want to give away gold bars?
Ritas was speechless as Boudica bowed almost ninety degrees and then stretched out her arm to hand over the golden object.

Also, what exactly did Livis do to make the elves so afraid of her?
Ritas arrived at his destination around noon, approximately three minutes before the agreed time.

The headquarters of the Latras Merchant Guild.

At the entrance of the stronghold mansion, Ritas gave Boudica some instructions before going inside alone.

"Boudica, you're quite understanding~ I thought she would use protecting you as an excuse to follow you even to the bathroom."

"That's no longer protection, it's harassment or teasing, isn't it?"

Aside from her somewhat unusual identity and her lame excuse about getting a tan, Boudica is actually quite normal. And judging from the fact that she kept holding onto a cute, snowman-like pastry on a stick the whole way, reluctant to eat it, she also has a rather girlish side.
Before Ritas could finish his thought, he turned his head slightly and saw Boudica "crunch" as she ate the entire head of the snowman pastry.

Ok.

He retracted his previous idea.

Having come several times, Ritas was already quite familiar with the place. On this particular day, he was once again perfectly punctual, led by the butler, as he entered the reception room of the Latras stronghold mansion.

Inside the room was Platina Latras, who had been waiting for a long time.

Ritas sat down opposite Platina and exchanged a few pleasantries. During this time, Ritas noticed that Platina seemed to have opened her iron fan more often than usual that day. Moreover, she looked somewhat haggard.

However, he didn't ask any further questions, assuming that she was just a high-ranking heir of the Latras family and was usually busy with business.

Since they were already quite familiar with each other and their relationship had become closer, Ritas didn't rush into the main topic with Platina this time. Instead, after drinking a few cups of black tea and briefly discussing some recent anecdotes, he found an opportunity to naturally introduce the subject.

"Regarding your organization's 'Star Chosen Candidate' student, Langna, I have had some contact with her. The reason she has recently resisted communication with the organization, closed herself off, and hidden herself is basically due to her suddenly developing 'Demon Loss Syndrome'."

"'Amania'."

She must have sensed something amiss, because when Platina heard Ritas's conclusion, her expression was more serious than surprised.

"But I've encountered a troublesome illness."

"My advice is not to provoke Langna in the near future. So, unless there is a compelling reason to disclose information, I hope Ms. Platina will keep her situation confidential as much as possible."

"Of course. Langna is someone who could guide us back to the stars, and we don't want anything bad to happen to her more than anyone else."

"Platinum said solemnly. Then, as if she had thought of something, she asked a question,"
"By the way, Professor Ritas. I remember 'Loss of Magic' is supposed to be a condition that causes a sudden inability to use magic to some extent. So, does the power of the Star Mark also get affected after contracting 'Loss of Magic'?"

Ritas shook his head as he listened to Platina's question.

He wasn't denying it, but rather expressing that he himself wasn't entirely sure.

"Since Langna's star pattern is currently only 'emerging' at most, it doesn't even qualify as the 'first stage' after awakening. Therefore, there has been no opportunity to test the effect of the magic loss syndrome on the power of the star pattern."

What Platina thought of, Ritas had naturally thought of before as well.

Rather, he wanted to know more than anyone else whether, under the influence of the Loss of Magic, Langna's Star Mark could function normally once it fully awakened.

Regardless of whether the answer is yes or no, it will greatly help Ritas's research, allowing him to further understand the similarities and differences between magical power and star pattern power.

Incidentally, Ritas gave Platina a lesson on the star pattern stages he had heard from the goddess of the bath.

Platina was stunned by the first, second, and third stages of the information. After this information was supplemented and confirmed by the information already possessed by the "Star People," Platina was even more convinced that Ritas was indeed a "successor of the starry sky" like them.

"If possible, we would like to continue to entrust the professor with the follow-up matters of Langna. Of course, we will also actively look for ways to treat 'Demon Loss Syndrome'."

“Of course. Since Langna is currently Erls’s student, I have a certain obligation to help her with any problems she encounters in her study of magic.”

Ritas nodded in agreement.

Platina seemed to pick up on a hidden meaning in Ritas's words, sensing that Ritas was emphasizing Langna's status as a student. However, she didn't currently think this phenomenon was worth paying attention to.

After Ritas "delivered" the previous commission, he received some intangible but real "rewards." He then accepted the follow-up tasks.

Ritas then brought up his second purpose for visiting Platina that day.

“Well, it’s like this, Ms. Platina. I have a friend.”

"Oh? A friend?"

Platina smiled politely and teased.

"My friend wants to sell his work."

As Ritas spoke, he took out a slightly worn wooden box from his waist pouch.

After taking the box, Platina gave it a quick look and her expression turned serious when she saw the number "9" in the corner of the wooden box.

"May I open it and take a look?"

Ritas shook his head.

"Because the works with old serial numbers cannot be recycled, once they are opened, their contents will remain here."

"I see. It's a work that's 'one-off' in some way. So, if it's managed properly, it should be able to sell for a fairly high price."

Platina said this, thought for a while, and then a smile that was somewhat different from before appeared on her face.

Confident, adept, eager to try, and a bit cunning and fanatical.

Unlike the previous discussion about "star patterns" which required some restraint, being a businessman is Platina's true "main job."

"However, a high price alone lacks a certain legendary quality. So, Professor Ritas."

"I wonder if your friend, Master Yicai, has any plans to pass away?"

(End of this chapter)