While I was working out, I was curious as to why the nobles had threatened the Podiems.
　I asked Meira about it, and she said she was given the same warning.
　She said she prodded the school for permission, but why would the nobles care about the back of such an unpopular school building?
　I couldn't understand it.

'It must be because I'm from a foreign country. It may be that being taught the culture of a different land in your own country is annoying to the nobles.

　Meira analyzed herself that way, but I had other ideas.

　If that were the case, the nobles would have long ago ridden in and crushed Meira and the others.
　But the reason why they didn't do so was not because of Meira, but because of that place itself.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　At one point, I went to the back of the school building and there was no martial arts field there.

　What was there was a clod of dirt that had been blown away without a trace.
　It was a more injured podium.

　I ran to the fallen little man.
　He seems to be conscious.
　I quickly activate the [Cleric] magic.

　[Great recovery]

　The wounded podium healed.
　A blush comes over my cheeks, which were slightly earthy in color.
　Your eyelids move slightly, and your dull eyes open.

''Ra, Lacelle-kun...?''

You okay, Podium?

Yeah. You know, you've been a big help to me.

'Oh..... More importantly, what happened?

　I stared at the crushed martial arts field.
　Podium was often stunned, and then stood up as if he was being played.

'Ta-oh my God!　The nobleman came in earlier!

A nobleman?

　After school, when the two of them went to the martial arts arena, they were already in tatters.
　Then a nobleman came there.
　Mayra choked out that the nobles might have done it, but they didn't know.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

　Podium was relentlessly assaulted and Meira, who was tied up in the wings, could do nothing but watch.

'If Meira isn't here, does that mean he took her away...'

'They said they were going to talk about it, but.... I wasn't in that mood. Please!　Lacelle!　Save Miss Mayra!

　Podium grabs me by both shoulders and pleads with me.
　He had tears in his little eyes.

'Calm down, Podium. Do you have any idea where those guys have gone?

I don't know. I have no idea.

'All right. Then you're going to go to the student government meeting room and give this to President Vael. As soon as you tell him it was given to you by me, the president will notice.

What's this?

　Podium wipes his tears and looks at what I gave him.

　It was a piece of a bottle.

'Do me a favor,'

Wait a minute!　How are we going to find Meira, maybe we should split up...

That's not necessary.

　[Searcher (Seeker)] activates its magic.

　[Blackhound]

　Then, as its magic name suggests, a black beast is born.
　I showed that beast the training sword I borrowed from Meira.
　When it senses something, the black beast suddenly starts running.
　I left Podium behind and followed it.

　Intermediate search magic.
　It's a magic that traces the scent, voice, or magic power of the search target.
　As long as the magician's magic power doesn't run out, he or she can continue to chase and attack.

'Stay safe, Meira.

　I muttered as I looked at the black beast running in front of me.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


　Meira was in a warehouse managed by the state.

　The warehouses were lined up in rows, where flour and other items collected from each territory as taxes were stored. In addition to being used as food for the palace and logistics, these warehouses were also released in the event of famine.

　Last year, they were also opened up when the rivers were flooded.
　As a result, several warehouses have been left vacant and less popular.

　One of them.

　The sounds of vulgar men laughing could be heard.
　At the center of it all was a girl with her hair tied up like a horse's tail.
　Even though she was surrounded by men laughing like crazy, the girl remained resolute.
　With her guarded eyes, she was asking about her surroundings.

''Well......... Would you like me to teach you?　Why did you do that?

　The men laughed at Mayra's question, turning up the volume even higher.

'Bwahahahaha!　Stupid, you girl!
I thought we'd come all the way out here and still be able to talk.
'What a congratulatory fellow!　Gehahahaha!

'Hey!　No way--!

We're not gonna have this conversation. It's all over the school and the law enforcement officers. So I figured we'd have fun in a public place.

"Enjoy...

　Haha..........

　Meira hurriedly cupped the collar of her traditional costume.
　Finally, she cursed herself for her stupidity.

　It was said that in other countries, they often assault unacquainted women.
　She had heard of it, but it was unthinkable in the country where she was born and raised.
　In Siphon, a woman is valued as a treasure for bearing children.
　It's a rare case of a man controlling a woman with all his might.

It's too late to realize that.
Be cool, man.

　The two men approached.

　That didn't mean Meira was weak enough to stay quiet.

　A thin arm stretched out.
　A fist plunged into a sharp point in her face.
　The two men scream and writhe in agony.
　In an instant, it incapacitated the two men.

''You b*tc*!''

　Another one tries to grab Meira.
　But when he dodges, cutting off his waist, he takes her hand and throws her off her feet.

　It's nothing short of brilliant.
　It's not surprising that the men were stunned by the brilliance of the technique.

　But ...!

　[Lightning strikes]

　I could hear the magic chanting.
　Meira jumped back to the side, but she was a step too late.
　A blue-white lightning bolt pierced Meira.
　The output was suppressed, apparently.
　It didn't burn that pearly, beautiful skin, but only reaped consciousness.

''Ku----!

　Easily, the exotic girl crumbles down.
　Her beautiful black hair is disheveled like ink placed on half a piece of paper.

　A man grabs her hair.
　His name is Raihil Shuha Kehlman.
　He's the youngest son of the Kehlmann Marquis family.
　He was a rambunctious boy who was more than even the Marquess family could hold, and he was accepted into the Adventurer's School because of his family's name and connections, and he was almost forced into the school.
　He was a so-called problem child.

　No wonder he was growing.
　His physique is so blessed that it's hard to believe he's 13 years old.
　Furthermore, he was a man who seemed to have been born to be an adventurer, whose profession was 【Mage (Wizard)】.

　However, no matter how talented he was in physical skills, his distorted mind was completely unsuitable for an adventurer.

　Raihill grabbed Meira's hair and pulled her up.
　With his three white eyes, he stared at her from toe to head, licking her from foot to head.
　Eventually, she opens her uneven teeth with a nii.

'When I heard you were a woman from a small country, I wondered what kind of barbarian you were, but you're quite a nice woman.

　Reichl laughs.
　The others laughed as well, following suit.

　Meira tried to force herself to move, but she couldn't get her strength to do so.
　The only thing she could move was her powerful eyes.

''Your eyes are quite defiant, hey.... But I don't hate you. I don't want to eat a woman like that.

But you know what, Mr. Raihill? That guy is the daughter of the Siphon ambassador. I don't like when things start getting out of hand.

　[Lightning strikes]

　A moment later, a pale light falls on one of his companions.
　The lightning strike lasted for a full ten beats or more.
　He was exposed to extreme heat, and his skin began to burn and blister.
　Eventually, it charred to black, and that's where the magic power finally broke off.

　The man who had turned to black charcoal collapsed.
　He was barely breathing.
　However, it looks so miserable that it's a miracle that he's alive.

　Oh.........

　There's a rumbling.
　The smiles disappeared from the men, and they turned pale for a change.

'Don't tell me what to do!

　The person in question turned his eyes away disinterestedly.
　He stared at the pearly white girl's limb again.
　She trembled.
　When he could see that she was terrified, Reichl moved his face closer.

　He sniffed and eventually licked her pale cheeks with his tongue.

'Kyaaaaaah!

　What finally came out of his mouth was a scream that ripped through the silk.

　Raihill laughed in amusement.
　He ran his hand over the rampaging woman's collar.
　The siphon's traditional garment was woven in a rather special way and would not tear easily.
　But Raihir tore it off easily.

　What appeared was a pure white limb, more beautiful than a jewel.

''Don't!　Somebody!　Somebody!

'Heh heh heh.... It's no use calling for help. There's no one here.

'No!　No!　Oh no!

"Hahahahahahaha!　Shout!　Shout!　I like women screaming more than anything else in the world.

　He stuck his tongue out again.
　Then he brought it closer to Meira's lips.

　Zzzzzzzzzz!

　Suddenly, what sounded like an explosion rang out.
　Instantly, the thick wooden door was blown off.
　That's not all.
　Even the brick walls were popped, and part of the ceiling was also half destroyed.

　A light shone in the dimly lit warehouse as if to expose the men's misdeeds.

''What happened!

　Debris falling from the ceiling.
　Smoke billowing up in a haze.
　Cleaving them off, Reichl shouted.

　The one who appeared from behind the smoke was a short boy.
　He seemed to be a student of the Adventurer's School.
　On his shoulders is a 'cherry blossom (serigia)' blooming, indicating the primary school.

''Lasser.........................''

　A single teardrop flowed from Meira's eyes.


　◆◇◆◆◆


　A group of men gathered together.
　A large man with a woman's hair pulled and suspended.
　Meira in her torn traditional costume.

　You don't need to understand the situation to know.
　You don't need an answer to that.

　I just said one word.

"Prepare yourself.... You.

　Ta-tah and kicked the ground.
　Activating magic at the same time.
　【Strengthen muscle mass】 【Leg strength increase】 【Agility increase】 【Acceleration】.
　In addition, the training sword I was holding is given 【Sharpening】 【Hardening】 【Lightening】 【Hardening】 【Lightening】.
　Sevenfold chanting.
　But with this degree already, I can activate my magic like I'm breathing.

　Then I took a stance.
　Right foot forward, left foot back.
　I open my legs just enough to make it easy to move.
　I cut off my waist and grabbed the hilt of the sword in its scabbard.

　Shank!

　Without a moment's pause, I drew my training sword and let go.
　A fierce wind blew.
　An invisible blade struck the men.

　Instantly, arms scattered like flower petals.