A magical device that levitates and displays objects. In front of the jet-black wand set in it, the mages of the academy were gathered.

There are two main types of mages. There are two main types of mages: those who stay indoors and research with the aim of establishing theories of magic, and those who don't care about theories and want to practice magic and use its power.
Most of them are the latter type of magicians. Knights and treasure hunters are the best examples.

And yet, most of the mages who stayed at the academy for a long time were the former.

When they heard about the new research materials Lucia had brought in, the mages who had gathered there observed the wands and whispered to each other in secret.

'Oh, ...... this is the Sword Saint's treasured ...... wand, I've never seen anything like it.

'I heard that Thorn Lowell once traveled around the world to train as a warrior and conquered several treasure halls. If we can confirm where he got it from, his abilities--'

'A plant-based magic wand? But this color, this shape...'

'That hard-headed Sword Saint has managed to snatch a treasure that he's been holding onto for a long time, as expected of the brother of the All-Powerful...'

In the event that you've got a lot of time, you may want to take a look at this.

'But how can I check without touching him--should I wear gloves or something?

'No, you can't. You don't know what's going to happen, so don't do anything you don't want to!

The reason no one has touched the wand in the crowd of mages who love research more than anything else is because Lucia has blown away all the ruffians who have tried to touch it.
The mages of the research school are inferior in practical skills. Few people would be able to take advantage of Lucia, who had absorbed plenty of mana and materials on a regular basis and was used to the trouble her party members caused.

After making sure that there are no more undesirables, Lucia looks at Anna.

'Anna? What part of this do you keep?

''Hahahaha, I can't help it. There's no way the mages in this tower wouldn't gather if they heard about the treasures of the Sword Saint. It's just that the treasure of the staff doesn't come around to us.

The treasure of the staff is not only a valuable research material but also a powerful weapon. And most of them that are rarely found in the treasure halls don't make it to the academy because of financial problems.
The fact that a new wand treasure has been brought in is such great news that mages from other laboratories have gathered here.

'Besides, if you hide it, it will attract even more people. Wouldn't it be safer if we all kept a close eye on it like this until the professor returns?

'Well, ............ that may be true, but ......'

Don't underestimate the researchers who are more fascinated by theories than the great power of magic. They are passionate about their own research, but at the same time, they are always keeping an eye on the research of their colleagues. In this institute, which advocates friendly competition, all kinds of actions are allowed for the sake of research. The law is only half-functioning. Some of them even break into locked rooms, and some of them conduct experiments on human subjects with their colleagues in the same laboratory. It's nearly impossible to control them all.

'Especially Lucia--she's a hunter, so she's got everyone's attention. She even has a brother who is a famous treasure collector and is proud of it.

'.................. Muu......... ...'

It seems that Lucia is not very good at receiving praise for her brother.

I'm sure you're proud of your brother being a level 8 hunter, but what's wrong with that? I'm not sure if you're really worried about being taken?
It's a ...... futile effort. Although your face is not yet widely known, you are famous enough to be a level 8 hunter.

But even so, Lucia seems to be too nervous when it comes to her brother. It's hard to believe that Lucia, who's always been an intelligent person, is saying things like the wand that's in the Kensei collection is cursed and that her brother is after the treasure of the academy.

'If anything, I think it's more likely that Lucia gave the treasure wand she got from the Sword Saint as a gift to apologize for upsetting the professor by skipping the exam.

I was quite surprised when Lucia was absent from the examination for the qualification to possess an advanced compound spirit staff that she had been studying for. It is one of the most difficult examinations among the qualifications for mages, requiring a history of study at the academy and a recommendation from a professor.
I heard that there were various reasons, but if you took the exam and couldn't pass it, you might as well have ruined your professor's face by not attending.

'No, my brother is not someone who would do such a normal thing!

''But I'm sure the professor would be in a better mood if he was given the treasured items of the Sword Saint.

In the first place, a man as mean as Lucia said would never pass the high-level certification exam. The high-level certification exam for hunters also checks your personality.
Besides, the study of magic and danger are inextricably linked. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

'.................. too!


It seems like she's been up all night for days creating a new technique, but she's also very cute. Even if it wasn't Anna, she would want to make fun of her.

A girl from another laboratory, who may have given up because she was too late to see the wand, talks to Lucia.

'Hey, Lucia. Aren't you coming, big brother?

'...... He's not coming. I'm busy with ............ level 8, so!'

'Well, you said you were following me before--'

'I'm not following you!

At the sound of her complaint, Lucia gave her an icy stare.
The story that Lucia brought her brother with her when she became an apprentice is well known. And now she's wondering about it, too. It seems that he was forced to follow her, but at this rate, it's hard to tell how much of it is true.

The cold voice and the air of rejection attracted the gaze of the mages who had lost interest in the untouchable wand.


--At that moment, a short scream came out of nowhere.


Lucia hurriedly looked towards the scream.

A jet-black staff hovered above the table. Part of the ivy that made up the staff had grown long and was entangled in one of the arms.

'Sa, I told you not to touch it--what did you do!

'...... Nothing, I didn't touch--'

The voice trailed off halfway through. The tangled ivy grew noiselessly, climbing up her arms and over her upper body.
The blood drained from his face, which was twisted in astonishment. The jet-black wand was enlarging. The ivy was no longer as long or as thick as it had been when he had first brought it in.

During the commotion, a portion of the ivy grew and attacked another mage who was frozen and standing still. It moved with an agility reminiscent of a snake catching its prey.

The first mage who was caught was flung away and rushed towards him.
There were no noticeable wounds on his body. His heart was beating, but his face was pale and he was completely unconscious.

Sweat like a waterfall is pouring down his face. This symptom--a lack of magic power.

'You're ...... sucking up ...... magic power! What's with the wand?

The lower part of the wand splits into two halves and is used like a leg to sneak down from the display device. The mages who had been observing the wand with shining eyes took a step back at its creature-like gesture.

The ivy that makes up the wand becomes even longer and thicker. The appearance was no longer that of a wand, but of a plant monster.



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The grounds are vast, the school building is solid, and protected by several warding spells, making it one of the safest places in the Imperial City. It can't be attacked and destroyed by a demon. It's safe from dragons, you know.

You're probably misinformed. There are many high level hunters there, not to mention high level sorcerers. It's on a different scale compared to Thorn Lowell's swordsmanship school.
In the first place, there was no way that a huge demon could enter the Imperial Capital. Sitri and Kyrkir rolled their eyes.

Ava came close to him, gasping for breath, and slammed the desk vigorously, and was about to say something when she looked at the page of the illustrated book she had just opened and shouted out in a crazy voice.

'Here ............ is this one! It's just like it!

I can't understand you. What the hell is he getting excited about?
The sympathetic stone is trembling all the time while I'm doing this, and it's very noisy. You're persistent too, Franz. I'm busy.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down, then made a serious expression and said.


'Eva, it's not a demon, it's a curse.

'I don't care about that! Look, over there--!


Eva turned around and pointed out the window. I have no choice but to get up and look out the window alongside Sitri.
Beyond the building, far off in the distance, I see something jet-black that had never been there before. It must be quite large to be visible through the building.

As I rubbed my eyes, Sitri poked me on the shoulder.

'It's no big deal. Hey, Mr. Cry!

'............ Yeah, yeah, yeah.'

It's no big deal, and besides, I'm completely irrelevant.
What? What? Do I have to go? ............ Well, Lucia might be there.