--The Academy of Magic, an academic institution of the Kingdom of Rynor, is closed at night and the access of students and instructors is restricted.

　This is mainly for the purpose of preventing intrusion from the outside.
　Since the Academy is one of the centers of magic in the kingdom, there are certain secrets that cannot be divulged to the outside world.
　The gates are closed to deny intruders.
　The grounds are rigged to set off an alarm if an intruder is detected.
　The lecturer on duty has already completed his patrol of the building, and the only thing left to do is to leave it to the guards who guard the perimeter of the Mage Guild.


　In this supposedly deserted wizardry school, there was a girl.
　Claudia Cyphreys, daughter of the Dukes of Cyphreys.
　On this night, she was summoned by her grandfather, Egbert Cyphreys, to enter the Academy, which is forbidden to enter at night.


　Egbert had designated the courtyard as the meeting place for the students.
　When Claudia arrived at the courtyard, she found Egbert in front of the engraved fountain in the center.
　The head of the Cyphers family for generations has been the head of the wizarding academy here, and Egbert is the current head.
　He is already an old man, sometimes described as a withered branch, but his appearance shows no signs of decay.
　He is of a stature worthy of being called a great man, and his body is filled with powerful magical power.
　Dressed in white vestments, he gazes at the stars like Megas, who was said to be a great mage.


　Claudia made a graceful bow in front of her beloved grandfather.


"Grandfather. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

Claudia. I'm sorry to call you at this hour.

No, no. The fact that you've taken the trouble to call me here at this hour speaks volumes. As a member of the Cyphrus family, and as your granddaughter, I am honored.


　Claudia said, and smiled gently at Egbert.
　Claudia said this and smiled gently at Egbert, her words too condescending and ornate to be sarcastic, but perhaps it was because of her good upbringing.
　Egbert took his granddaughter's words as natural and got right to the point.


"There is no other reason I called you here today. There's something I want to show you.

"Yes?

You are to be the next head of House Cyphrus and I am old. It's about time.

Please don't say that. Your grandfather is still very much alive.

"Yes. I'm sorry you're worried about him.

No, it's not a concern. ......


　Egbert looked down at Claudia with compassion as she stubbornly tried to resist.
　Eventually, Egbert began to walk slowly.
　In response to her grandfather's quiet, unspoken "follow me" attitude, Claudia quietly followed him.
　They walked from the courtyard, through the corridor, and into the hallway of the building.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.


　...... It had already been two years since Claudia had entered the Academy of Magic.
　The structure of the academy is familiar, and there is no place that is not already familiar.
　She thought so, but the place she had just walked through was completely unfamiliar to her.
　The furnishings were placed upside down.
　I stepped not on the floor but on the ceiling.
　We stepped on the ceiling, not the floor, and the view out the window was the same, with stars scattered under our feet.
　It seemed as if we were trapped in an upside-down world.


"Grandfather, what is this?

"Claudia. Remember these directions. You can't come here unless you follow these directions.


　Egbert, as usual, did not say much.
　As usual, Egbert didn't say much, but what he did say was always important.
　Claudia didn't ask any more questions, but quietly followed Egbert.


　Eventually, a 'staircase to the basement' appeared in front of them.


It's a great way to find out what's going on in your life.　So there was a place like this in the hospital?

Yes. This is a secret place that only the head of the Cyphrus family knows the location of. Even the royal family is not aware of this place.

So something so secret exists in a place like this?


　It was a surprise that even the royal family did not know about it, but it was not impossible.
　The Cyphers have existed in this area since before the rise of the Kingdom of Rynor, and at that time they fought against invading armies of different races and other countries. It is recorded that they stubbornly did not leave this land even when they were outnumbered, and with the help of the Closerlords who eventually came to visit, they were able to repel the invasion.


　In other words, what Egbert was about to show Claudia was the reason why her ancestors had stubbornly remained in this land.
　Claudia's body tensed slightly with tension, but she was just as proud.


　As soon as Egbert stepped into the room, an ore-like object on the wall automatically lit up.
　It showed a spiral staircase.
　The design was different from anything Claudia had ever seen before; it was flat, with no ornate decoration. The material looked like metal, but it wasn't, but it didn't have any of the warmth of wood. Every corner is smooth, and it is hard to imagine how it was processed.


　Claudia followed Egbert, amazed at the remains of ancient technology.
　Plucking at the edge of her skirt, she carefully avoided stepping on the hem.
　But not without grace.
　I take the stairs slowly and quietly, keeping the sound of my heels to a minimum.


　How far have I climbed?
　When I reached the top, the lights came on all at once, revealing my surroundings.
　It was a large space. It was so large that it could have contained the entire grounds of the Academy.


I didn't know there was such a vast space under the Academy. ......



"It is said that this place was built by our forefathers in the time period depicted in the Mage's Minstrel.

"So it was built that long ago. No wonder it has such a distinctive structure.

Don't be surprised yet, Claudia. What lies ahead is even further back in time than that.


　Claudia gulped as she heard Egbert's words.
　The floor was made of a material she had never seen before.
　Lights that lit up with every step.
　A surprisingly vast space.
　I wondered what lay beyond.


　At the far end of the basement was a huge lump of ore, three meters high, reflecting glitter.


This is ...... crystal.

"Hmm. It's said to have been created by the Sage.

The Holy Sage?　The Sage, one of the three sages.

Yes. Look. See what's behind it.

Is that a black shadow, ......?

That's a servant of the devil, a being called a demon. You know about Groswell, don't you?

Yes. He's the one who fought the Sage that your grandfather mentioned earlier.


　Of course Claudia knew the story of the Sage.
　Of course Claudia knew the story of the Sage, for there are many fairy tales about him.


This crystal is said to be the one that sealed the wizard.

I can only see a black shadow, but I would never have thought that a fairy tale demon could be enclosed in a place like this.

No wonder you're surprised. But it's true.


　Egbert said, turning to Claudia.


"Claudia. This is what I wanted to tell you. "This is what I wanted to tell you. Even before the kingdom rose, at the distant end, the founder of the Cyphers was entrusted by the Sage to be its guardian. We were told that we must never release it from its seal until the Sage had destroyed it.


　Claudia understood about the guardianship.
　But there was one sentence in Egbert's statement that she could not miss.


"Grandfather. I understand you want to protect it. But what do you mean when you say the Sage will destroy it?

"Hmm. It is said in the prophecy of the kraki that it says. The unhurt demon can only be destroyed by the left hand of the Sage.

But the Sage is no longer with us, is he?

Yes, he is. The Sage, as you know, is from the time period depicted in the Age of Spirits.

"Then how?

"............


　Egbert did not answer Claudia's question.
　Claudia touched the crystal in front of her as her grandfather stopped answering. The mineral, said to have been created by a sage, was cool to the touch, giving her the illusion that the touch might chill the soul deep within her body.

In the fairy tales of the Never Hurt Demon ......, it is said that he sold his soul to the devil and gained invincible power.

It's true. It is said that the demon gave the demon its power and never suffered any injury. That's why the Sage was forced to seal them like this.

So they were as powerful as the fairy tales say.

That's right. That's why the Sage will descend upon this land again and unleash this evil to destroy it. Until then, we, the Cyphers, must obey the words of our Lord, the Sage, and protect it from everyone and everything.

"Lord ......, isn't it the royal family that we're crowning?

You're right, too, but we have an agreement about that. You're right, too, but there's an agreement about that. The first king said that the Cyphers may have two sovereigns.

The first king allowed such a thing?

Yes. He said it was in consideration of our situation. "In times of peace, follow the royal family. When the Sage appears, follow the Sage. If the first king said it, even the current king can't change it.


　To Claudia, this sounded like a tremendous story.
　Allowing the dukes, the most powerful family in the country, to have two sovereigns. It would be an admission of betrayal and disobedience, and no ruler of any country would ever allow it.
　The events of the Age of Spirits have a weight that no ruler can ignore.


"Claudia. "Claudia. The magic that has been passed down in our family was given to us by the Sage. He took pity on our ancestors, who were lamenting the disadvantages of natural selection, and gave them a great task. It is the true purpose of the Cyphers to repay the great favor bestowed upon us by the Sage, as well as to serve the Crosselords who protected our family in times of crisis during the war.

Yes.

"There will come a time in the near future when I will hand this over to you, along with the Academy. Claudia. I expect you to have the dignity and decisiveness befitting the head of a wizard academy.

Yes. I swear to you that I will do my best to live up to the fathers who left this to me.



Claudia.

Grandfather. My heart is trembling with emotion. It means that I am now worthy to be the head of the Cyphrus family.


　Claudia's gaze on the crystal was one of joy. It's the joy of having the confidence to be entrusted with such a large role.


　Suddenly, Egbert's eyes, which had been stern until now, took on a gentle glow.
　It was not directed at the next head of the family, but at his granddaughter.
　It is a light filled with compassion to face the only family member who is a family member.


"...... Claudia, don't be overwhelmed. There are many tricks here. No one ever gets this far.


　But Claudia shook her head.


"No. Grandfather, I'm going to work even harder. Eventually I'll have to become the head of a wizarding academy like your grandfather. So I won't be able to spend my days in idleness.

"But you're still young. You don't need to push yourself. It is necessary for a superior to learn to let others do their work.

No, I know that as the next head of the family, I will have to do more than anyone else. ...... Your father and mother are no longer with us.

What happened to your father and mother was an unfortunate accident.

Yes. As the next head of the family, you will have to work hard.

"Claudia ......


　Egbert's words of compassion did not reach the sparkle in Claudia's eyes.
　It was partly because her parents were no longer with us.
　But also because her parents were no longer alive.
　The fact that she was a descendant of the family that had protected them all these years.
　These factors made Claudia aware of her responsibility.
　To work harder as a member of the Cyphrus family.
　As a descendant of a proud family, she had to be more noble.
　In order to do so, he had to be even harder.
　To myself and to others.
　Egbert continues to speak, with a hint of apprehension, as Claudia burns quietly.


Only the left arm of the Sage can destroy the demon that never hurts ....... When this demon descends into the world again, the world will be swallowed up by the sea of flesh and will once again follow the path of desolation. The people will be in agony and cling to the tin plate soldiers. Be mindful that all the world will be covered by the crimson sun, and the panting of people's suffering will never cease.

"Grandfather, the story is at .......

"Many of the prophecies told in the prophecies are pessimistic about the future of the world. The prophecies that have been handed down to us allude to this.

But it doesn't sound like it's suggesting that the Sage will destroy the demons.

No, it doesn't. This prophecy is about the end of the world.

Then why in the world did you just say that the Sage will come down to earth again?

"............


　Claudia could not hide her dismay at Egbert's sudden silence.


"Oh, Grandfather?

This is my wish, my family's wish. "This is my wish, my family's wish, that one day the Sage will destroy it.


　Claudia thinks.
　Claudia wondered if what Egbert had just said was just a way of deceiving himself in order to avoid accepting the reality of what was about to happen.
　But that's understandable. We have not been told the solution.
　That's why we have to make sure we keep it.
　I think that what I said earlier implies such an intention.


"To prevent this prophecy from becoming a reality, no one must touch the seal.

Yes.


　This fact made Claudia, who had a fire in her heart, more excited.
　Whether it would be for the better or for the worse.