SMMA C39

Chapter 39

There was a saying that when a person loses one sense, their other senses develop further to make up for the lost one.

But even considering that, the warehouse keeper’s senses were astonishing.

Despite being blind, he had managed to catch Ihan and Ratford.

“Hearing? No, that can’t be it—we didn’t make a sound. Smell? Impossible—with all this junk piled up here. Don’t tell me… does he perhaps have the ability to detect magical power?”

As Ihan hesitated, unsure whether to fight or flee, the warehouse keeper spoke again.

“So it was the Headmaster. Forgive my mistake.”

“…???”

The warehouse keeper didn’t approach them at all. Instead, he simply turned his back and walked away.

Ratford was half-faint with terror, but Ihan stayed focused, trying to figure out the situation.

What was this?

“Why did he mistake me for that crazy skeletal headmaster?”

If it had been any other student, they might have panicked under the pressure and acted rashly or blundered in confusion.

But Ihan persisted in thinking it through.

“It’s because of my magical power!”

The ability to sense magic.

If the warehouse keeper found Ihan and Ratford because he could detect magical power, then it made sense.

Ihan’s mana was said to be tremendous, far beyond normal—just as the professors had commented.

So when a blind warehouse keeper detected it, it might have felt similar to the Headmaster’s magical power.

“But wait—does that really make sense? To mistake me for the Headmaster…”

Although Ihan couldn’t fully believe it, he decided to assume it was correct for now.

They couldn’t stay here much longer anyway.

“Hey. Snap out of it.”

“H-huh? What just happened? How did…?”

“That’s not important right now.”

There was no time to explain, and besides, Ihan himself wasn’t entirely certain.

But Ratford took Ihan’s words in a very different way.

To him, this boy from the Wadanaz family* had even prepared a method to deceive the dreaded warehouse keeper!

(*Footnote: The Wadanaz family is established within the story as a prominent and powerful household. Ratford reveres Ihan because of his family name and reputation.)

“A g… giant! Truly, this man is a real giant!”

At this point, the rumors about Ihan seemed to have been understated.

For a freshman to fool the warehouse keeper—it was incredible magical skill.

“U-understood.”

“?”

Ihan was puzzled when Ratford suddenly began speaking in formal, respectful speech, but he had no time to pursue the matter.

“Let’s move. Don’t touch anything here.”

“Of course… If we touched anything, we might get caught. Besides, that guy memorized the numbers of everything earlier.”

“Right. And there are alarm spells set as well.”

It pained Ihan not to be able to lay hands on the items stored here.

But remembering the Headmaster’s sinister schemes, Ihan was sure this warehouse was a trap designed to lure unsuspecting freshmen who had strayed too far.

In a week or two, some poor students would surely end up captured here and dragged away!

“We mustn’t be fooled. We keep moving, find the path out.”

Ihan let go of any attachment to the warehouse’s treasures and instead resolved to find an exit.

If only they could find the way out…!

“This way!”

Ratford pressed his ear to the ground, following faint footsteps he heard in the distance.

Despite being called a warehouse, the sheer scale made it feel more like a vast labyrinth.

And in such a situation, Ratford’s skill of catching sounds was indeed invaluable.

“Impressive.”

“T-thank you.”

“But why the formal speech…?”

“Please follow me.”

Ratford hurried forward with quick steps.

The longer they remained, the greater the possibility of running into danger again.

Ihan showed no fear, but to Ratford, each moment here was a nightmare.

“This was definitely the direction…”

But then Ratford froze, bewildered.

Though he had followed the sound, instead of a corridor there stood only a solid wall.

“Was this really the way?”

“Y-yes… it was…”

“I think I know.”

“!?”

Unlike Ratford, who was only experienced in picking trivial locks, Ihan came from Earth, giving him a far broader horizon of imagination.

“Look. There are smudges of human touch here on the wall. If you push here, it should open.”

“…!”

Once again Ratford was astonished.

He was shocked not only that the wall truly concealed a secret door, but also by how easily the Wadanaz boy noticed it.

How could he…!

Clack!

When Ihan pressed against the stained spots, bricks slid aside, revealing a passage.

The corridor stretched on endlessly into the darkness.

It was wide enough for two or three carriages to pass abreast. Shimmers of light reflected off its walls and ceiling—this had to be the path.

“Finally!”

The workers who transported goods for the magic academy abided by several strict rules.

Never reveal the way into the academy.

Never speak about what they saw within the academy.

Never speak first while inside the academy.

Other smaller rules existed, such as “Be careful not to break glass containers” or “Don’t misplace scrolls,” but the ones above were the most important.

And the workers upheld these rules more seriously than anyone.

None of them wished to be locked in a sorcerer’s workshop and turned into frogs for a mistake.

This was no joke. One wrong move, and they might find themselves trapped in the academy forever.

That was the true fearsome nature of the academy.

The nearby villages respected and feared the academy alike—and clearly for good reason.

So, when on the other side of the passage a priest and a beggar suddenly appeared, the workers didn’t say anything.

They merely thought—Oh, they’ve arrived!

“……”

“……”

Ihan and Ratford were equally surprised.

At the corridor’s end, workers were diligently loading and unloading carriages.

Running into them so openly was one thing—but stranger still, the workers deliberately avoided looking at them.

What was going on?

“Could this be part of their rules?”

Ihan quickly guessed the situation from their studied nonchalance.

A place like this magic academy would naturally be heavily guarded.

Therefore, it made sense that the workers would feign ignorance, considering it their duty not to take interest in anything unnecessary.

“Stay calm. As long as I stay calm, they won’t notice.”

It was exceedingly rare for freshmen to succeed in escaping the academy.

The chance of the workers suspecting “Huh, are these students sneaking out?” was very low.

As long as Ihan didn’t get nervous and slip up…

“The more critical it becomes, the bolder I must act.”

With a steady face, Ihan spoke calmly.

“Can we leave now?”

“Forgive me, Father. Just thirty minutes, please. We still have some cargo left to load.”

“I see. May we accompany you then?”

“Of course, gladly.”

The worker thought Ihan, as a priest, was truly refined and courteous. He could have simply taken the front seat of the carriage without asking, yet he was polite enough to request it.

Who would possibly imagine that Ihan was actually a brand-new student of the academy?

He appeared far too natural, and his demeanor carried such nobility that none could doubt him.

Not a single worker suspected him.

“……”

Ratford gazed at Ihan with an expression of awe.

If Ihan had used brute force or a magical spell, it wouldn’t have impressed him this much.

To deceive others so smoothly and obtain exactly what he wanted—

No lengthy words. No heavy bribes.

Only by posture and gaze could a true rogue deceive men.

“I still have so far to go!”

Ratford was grateful for this new insight into thievery.

Sometimes, a single moment of real experience could teach more than ten years of training.

Such was the moment now.

Clatter—

Work completed, the carriages finally set out. Ihan and Ratford rode in the last of six.

Even after finishing, the workers spoke no unnecessary word. From their cautious silence, Ihan felt once more the fearful vigilance of this academy.

“If even outside workers are kept this strictly in check…”

An imperial academy for training gifted talents might sound wholesome and grand, but Ihan knew life was never that simple.

This magic academy was the very symbol of both the Empire and its magicians. And symbols, inevitably, had enemies.

To those enemies, the academy must have been a hateful sight.

And even without such foes, there were surely plenty who coveted the treasures stored inside.

When seen in that light, such extreme security was only natural.

“Of course, none of that explains why the Headmaster keeps freshmen imprisoned inside. That much is plainly just his own twisted hobby.”

The carriage ahead suddenly paused. Curious, Ihan leaned his head carefully outside.

“…!!!”

A familiar face sat aboard the lead carriage.

It was Professor Garcia Kim, the troll.

“Did he discover me?”

Ihan’s heart lurched.

But thinking again—it couldn’t be.

Had they been exposed, their carriage would already be surrounded and Ihan and Ratford forced out with hands raised.

So what made the professor mount that carriage…?

“Damn. What rotten luck!”

Ihan began to piece it together.

Professors were people, too—they would sometimes leave the academy. It just happened that today, one of those outings coincided with their escape.

“Outside… don’t tell me…?”

“Shh.”

Ihan gestured for Ratford to maintain his expression.

“Not yet discovered. Stay as we are. The village is wide, and it’s dark outside. If we disembark carefully, they won’t notice us.”

Ratford nodded.

And then, in sudden realization, grew confused.

“Wait, but who here is the thief?”

Shouldn’t he, as the actual thief, be giving Ihan these instructions?

The carriages jolted forward again with a rumble.

Ihan sharpened his focus, memorizing every detail.

If the worst came and they failed…

“I will never give up.”

He clenched his fist, then felt self-conscious.

…Sneaking out of school at night, and here he was, acting so dramatic…

Meanwhile, Professor Garcia carefully held a bundle both hands.

—“Outside, the Emperor’s chamberlain* will be waiting. Please hand over this completed artifact.”

(*Footnote: A “chamberlain” refers to a high-ranking attendant directly serving the emperor, often entrusted with delicate deliveries.)

Professor Garcia wasn’t heading to the village for leisure.

The magic academy looked peaceful from outside, but within, it burned like a smelting furnace.

Forcing together the Empire’s most brilliant mages naturally gave rise to such an atmosphere.

Part of the academy’s duties was to create artifacts demanded by the Emperor and deliver them quietly.

This time, the role of handing over the finished piece had fallen to Garcia.

Naïve folk might ask, “But why do it quietly if it’s for the Imperial Household?”—but that was a foolish question.

Making a loud, pompous display would achieve nothing but draw attention from pests.

The practical mage thought only of efficiency.

Thump—

“Eek!”

“Urk!”

When a couple of workers bumped against him, they froze instantly and straightened their posture.

It was terrifying enough that he was a professor of the academy—but to be a troll as well?

Who could say which was worse?

Garcia chuckled faintly. He saw this reaction often, but it always amused him.

“…All of you, weapons ready!”

“??”

Puzzled, Garcia turned toward the worker’s sudden cry.

Surely this was an overreaction, no matter how frightened they were.

“Professor! Suspicious figures ahead! Please return to the carriage!”

“…!!”

Only then did Professor Garcia sense the shift in the atmosphere down the road.

“What sort of people are these?!”