Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 401 The Saintess's Palace
Upon seeing Wayne's appearance, Eileen's face naturally showed an embarrassed expression.

She now understood why some secrets, once slightly leaked, become common knowledge in a short time. Even if others don't deliberately spread them, one's mindset is like a punctured balloon, losing vigilance and resolve, easily "releasing" everything inside.

"There's no need to be so discouraged, 'sister'~ You can pretend that I can't hear anything when I'm in the book."

Viyn, who was less offering advice and more adding fuel to the fire, said with a smile,

"Speaking of which, 'Miriam,' 'Miri,' 'Eileen,' it seems my sister has quite a few names. So, which name should I use specifically?"

"That's where you'll have to improvise."

Eileen said with a tone that said, "I don't care about anything anymore," mixed with a sigh.

Compared to Eileen, who has many names but is essentially the same person, "Vayne," though her name has remained unchanged, has constantly shifted her persona.

Now, not only Ritas, but Eileen has also sensed this.

As for Wayne calling her "sister" without permission, Eileen didn't have the time or energy to correct her. After all, even Ritas couldn't dissuade her, so it would be futile for her to say anything more.

"Let's leave the small talk here for now. You should know that I summoned you not so that you could exchange pleasantries with Eileen."

Ritas interrupted Wayne's attempt to add "sister," and after the other woman shrugged, he turned his gaze to Eileen.

"Since we're going to test the power of your 'star pattern,' why not try something else as well?"

In the secluded stone chamber, Eileen faced the stone slab before her, took a deep breath, quickly calmed her mind, and temporarily banished all unnecessary thoughts from her head.

Only at times like these can Eileen truly feel that what she has gained in this year of college life is truly everywhere.

In a focused mode that she could switch into at any time, Eileen re-examined herself and then began to condense her unique star pattern.

In the past, Eileen's process of revealing the star pattern would have involved a strong desire to reveal it, after which the star pattern would appear.

But now, Eileen's process has become: first, she senses the existence of the star pattern and confirms her own state; then, she has the idea of ​​displaying it; next, she recalls the way she has summarized to display the star pattern; and finally, she presents it by following a series of steps.

Although the steps seem to have become much more complicated, and the carefree feeling of "wish fulfillment" is lost.

However, Eileen prefers the way she uses her power now.

Because it's as if she's using her power with absolute control and precision, not as if she's praying or hoping for something vague and unreal, something that will just happen to unleash the potential within her body, the dormant power she doesn't even know she possesses.

“I’m ready, Professor.”

Eileen, who had already clearly displayed the star pattern, spoke to Ritas.

Meanwhile, Ritas observed Eileen's star pattern and once again marveled in his heart that this star pattern was truly fundamentally different from all the other star patterns he had ever seen.

Because Eileen's star markings did not actually appear on her body, but rather floated vertically on her back without touching her skin, their size far exceeding that of other star markings and their bright, clear light made them appear as if they were a full moon carried by Eileen.

"King's Star Pattern".

Ritas couldn't help but think of the goddess of bathing, who had taken it upon herself to name the star pattern on the hero protagonist's star pattern in the "Star Pattern" game.

Even setting aside her abilities, Eileen's star mark possessed an aura that could command the submission of other star marks. Not to mention, her star mark itself also possessed such unique abilities.

So, the protagonist in the "Star Pattern" game is actually playing the role of Erin, who is also playing Miriam?
I still feel like something's not quite right.

After a brief, almost imperceptible, period of divergent thinking, Ritas conjured a book filled with ethereal colors in his hand. Meanwhile, Wayne picked up the book from the ground, the one she used as her refuge.

"Don't forget, we are ultimately just supporting players."

Although he didn't think Wayne would be mischievous at a time like this, Ritas still gave her a heads-up, just in case.

"Yes, yes~"

After Wayne responded, the three exchanged glances and began to circulate their own power.

Suddenly, the stone chamber was filled with light.

Changes began to appear in Eileen.

First, a silver star pattern with an ethereal color appeared on the back of her shoulder, and the next moment a single wing of the same color extended from the star pattern.

After the single wing appeared, some of the light from the books in Ritas and Wayne's hands began to converge on Eileen's hand.

The dazzling lights began to intertwine, then orderly transformed into a stream of light that swirled in Eileen's hand. Ultimately, it also formed a book.

Although this book currently has no content, not even a title, it presents an overall pristine blankness.

But
"We...succeeded?"

A flicker of joy crossed Eileen's face, but she quickly suppressed it.

"Yes, it should be successful if nothing unexpected happens."

It wasn't until Ritas's voice confirmed the fact that Eileen's joy was fully revealed on her face.

With Eileen's current power, even after absorbing a portion of the "Fairy Tale World," she still cannot use her original level of power. However, logically, she could use Wayne's star-pattern power.

So what Ritas and Wayne were doing was helping Eileen "devour" and master Wayne's star-pattern power.

"To write down your thoughts in a book that embodies your power, and then to a certain extent, to make them a reality. Is this your Star Mark power?"

After a short while, Ritas looked at the book in its initial state in Eileen's hand and asked Wayne for confirmation.

"Hmm, probably?"

Wayne tilted her head, not quite sure either.

Previously, when she used power, including primal power, there was no logic or understanding involved. She just used it, and didn't know why it was working.

"."

Okay, another one who relies on intuition.

Ritas silently turned his gaze toward Eileen, who merely tilted her head slightly.

During the conversation between the three, Eileen keenly noticed that as she used her power, changes occurred on the Saintess Slab.

On the front of the stone slab, the strange patterns that were previously indistinguishable as either pictures or words began to light up gradually from the bottom up, as if they had been infused with energy.

The moment all the patterns on the stone slab lit up, the slab emitted a strange buzzing sound.

"professor?"

"You can try reaching your hand over."

Recalling the opening of the ancient doors beneath the academy, Ritas offered his advice.

Then, Eileen grabbed Ritas's sleeve with her left hand and touched the door with her right.

"?" Everything happened so smoothly, so swiftly.

The powerful suction from the door instantly pulled Eileen inside. Ritas, who had been grabbed, and Wayne, who had nimbly grabbed one of Ritas's legs, also entered the other side of the Saintess Slab.

"Actually, you don't have to bring us along."

Soon after.

Eileen, Ritas, and Wayne found themselves in an unfamiliar space.

"Sorry, Professor, it's just a habitual gesture."

Eileen scratched her face, explaining somewhat embarrassedly.

She didn't know how she developed this habit. There was certainly an element of subconsciously wanting to rely on Ritas. But more likely, it was out of fear that Ritas might disappear without a trace.

"Brother, don't you want to find out the truth about the Holy Maiden of the Western Frontier?"

Vayne, who was no longer clinging to Ritas's leg, dusted off the dirt on her long dress and asked.

It's not that I don't want to.

"So, it's because you're worried about Sister Eileen. You don't want to pry into more of her secrets? Well, it's just that things have come to this point, haven't they?"

Wayne bluntly pointed out Ritas's concerns.

Although Eileen was a little uncomfortable with being called "older sister," she found that with Wayne present, many things were easier to talk about.

If it were just her and Ritas there, they would likely be looking at each other strangely.

"Now that you know everything you should and shouldn't know, Professor, are you only now starting to think about leaving?"

"."

Ritas, unable to honestly say "that's really true," could only keep quiet.

In his mind, the ideal situation is to get help from someone without paying any price, taking no responsibility, or even being noticed by the other party.

But clearly, given his current close relationship with Eileen, his hopes are no longer valid.

Having given up on his last struggle, Ritas and the other two began to observe the space on the other side of the Saintess Slab.

Just as he had guessed, the Saintess Slab and the door beneath the academy were of the same nature.

The doors beneath the academy can only be opened if they relate to anything related to the "Ark." The condition for the Saintess's Tablet is most likely the special star-marked emblem on Eileen's body.

As for where they are now.

If the two are indeed similar in nature, then although there is a significant difference in their size, the place led by the Saintess Slab should be the same as the World Tree Maze—an alternate dimension that does not exist on the surface of the world.

Overall, this alternate dimension is in the style of a palace.

Perhaps due to years of disrepair, although the palace's decorations are exquisite, they do not have a magnificent or opulent feel.

"What a wondrous place! Where does this light come from?"

Wayne, looking around curiously from the back of the line, asked.

"Indeed. There is no clear light source here, but it is bright enough."

Ritas also felt a strange sensation from the light emanating from the field.

Before entering the fairytale world, Ritas would have imagined that this space was filled with faint light sources. A strange balance was maintained, the lighting neither too bright nor too dim.

But now, he suspects that the "rules" of this space are different from those of the ordinary world.

There is no need for reason or logic; this space is inherently required to be sufficiently bright.

Arriving at the center of the palace-style building, the three found nothing of use except for the ubiquitous furnishings, so they turned their attention to the doors connecting the hall.

Including the path they came from, the hall has three rooms or corridors connected together.

"There are exactly three doors. Should we split up?"

"It's better not to separate. We can't be sure if there are any dangers lurking in this space."

As Ritas spoke, after sensing that magic could be used normally in this space, he created a clone and walked towards the leftmost door, where he erected a magical barrier large enough to enclose the three of them.

"." "."

The two girls who were being protected didn't know whether to say that the figure in front of them was reassuring or that they were making a mountain out of a molehill.

After the clone scouted ahead, Ritas and the others entered the first room.

It looked like a storage room, with cabinets and boxes, but it was mostly empty.

Ritas gazed thoughtfully at the various traces remaining in the empty storage room.

He didn't immediately reveal his discovery, but instead led the other two towards another door.

After going through the same process of exploration, the three of them went inside.

Inside was a long corridor, but the corridor did not connect to any other space; in other words, it was a dead end.

The only thing worth mentioning is that at the end of the dead end, there is an exquisite treasure chest that has been opened and is completely empty.

"What kind of design is this?" "An empty box."

Wayne was completely bewildered, while Ritas and Eileen exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat subtle.

While the goddess of bathing generally doesn't provide much useful information, she usually provides a large amount of useless information.

Therefore, the two people who were quite close to the goddess of bathing had both heard this passage from each other.

"Even if the maze design involves many branching paths and dead ends, you still need to place rewards like treasure chests at the end of these incorrect paths!"

After retreating from this strange dead end, the three of them still did not discuss anything for the time being, but instead headed towards the last door.

Upon opening the door and seeing the interior, Eileen couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
"Professor! That...that could be!"

In the center of the third room, there lay a very antique-looking lance.

Although it was different from what she remembered, Eileen, who had personally "used" it, immediately recognized the ancient weapon as dark in color and surrounded by a bunch of translucent crystal-like objects.

"Holy Lance Lor".

(End of this chapter)