Chapter 182 : Chapter 182
Chapter 182. Meeting a Direct Senior (2)
“My c-capacity is lacking……?”
Hearing Leon’s harsh words, the senior staggered and braced himself against the desk. He seemed dizzy.
THUD.
Then, a pouch tied to his waist fell to the floor. It was wrapped in cloth and looked like a bundle of herbs.
Leon glanced at the bundle on the floor and spoke.
“What is that crude thing?”
Crude?
Once again, the people in the Alchemy classroom murmured.
“Since I was meeting my direct junior today, I prepared a gift in my own way to give to my junior…….”
The senior mumbled weakly with a shocked expression. At those words, even Radel had no choice but to drop his jaw.
Was there a reason to say such harsh words to a kind and good senior who thought of his junior to that extent……?
However, Leon’s mouth did not stop.
“I do not need it.”
“……Oh my.”
A surprised word from Anesha flowed out quietly. The atmosphere in the classroom, which had sunk to the point of suffocation, had nowhere lower to go.
It was around then that Leon sensed something was amiss.
‘What is this?’
He felt like everyone in the classroom was focusing on him. Furthermore, looking at Radel’s expression, he felt an indescribable mood.
‘What is it. That look in his eyes, as if he is looking at trash.’
Leon sensed the changed atmosphere and shut his mouth without realizing it. Perhaps it was because his followers were not taking Alchemy, but it was different from usual.
Normally, Leon’s followers would have taken care of any uncomfortable situations on their own. However, Alchemy was one of the subjects unpopular with the Magic Supremacists.
Magic Supremacists tended not to consider subjects that did not properly use magic power, such as Alchemy or Cryptozoology, as real magic. They took it unavoidably when it was a required subject, but from the second semester, they did not even think about putting it in their timetables.
As a result, only Leon, an Integrated Major, ended up in Alchemy without a single follower.
“I-I just wanted to get along with my junior.”
The senior, who had heard the harsh words from Leon, spoke while trembling his shoulders.
“……But I can't take it anymore! This isn't the image of a junior I had in mind!”
Tearing up, he kicked his seat and ran out. Left in the spot where the senior had passed were the herb bundle and a book he appeared to have brought with him.
Radel picked up the book that had fallen on the floor.
“108 Ways to Become a Kind Senior……?”
When Radel read the title of the book, murmurs were heard from here and there.
“Oh my god. He even read a book to meet his junior today?”
“Look at that herb bundle. Where can you find a senior who prepares to that extent?”
“Even if he is a prince, that is too much.”
Leon stiffened his face at the unexpected reaction of the students. Why were they examining someone else’s business instead of doing their own work?
In particular, Radel’s reaction was subtly infuriating. When he tried to say something to him, Radel sighed ostentatiously, and Leon almost took out his staff to cast a spell.
That look asking what to do with him. Radel’s gaze, looking at him like a half-witted brat, continued to bother him.
Unaware of Leon’s feelings, Radel gathered the items the departed senior had left behind. He intended to deliver them via Senior Anesha.
Even if they were brothers who did not interact, he could not help but feel a slight sense of responsibility. It was a perfect situation for people to question how he was raised at home. Still, he was his twin brother, so it felt a bit wrong to completely ignore it.
Sure enough, Tunia came to Radel and said a word.
“Your brother…… seems to have a problem.”
“Yeah. He has a lot of problems.”
Radel nodded. He knew that personality would cause an accident someday.
Moreover, he had a feeling that the problems were only just beginning.
***
Next was Cryptozoology time.
The 1st-year Cryptozoology majors were gathered at the foot of the mountain.
Even before the meeting with the seniors began, the 1st-years were full of anticipation. They seemed nervous at the thought of meeting seniors overflowing with passion for magical beasts.
A large friend who took Mana Training with Radel was also a Cryptozoology major.
“It is good that the Prince is an Integrated Major. Because we can take Cryptozoology together.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I was always curious watching you quickly find traces of magical beasts every time we climbed the mountain. Do you have a secret?”
When the large friend asked Radel, other 1st-years also gathered near Radel, perhaps curious as well. Radel thought for a moment before speaking.
“Hmm, I assume that I have become the magical beast. And I imagine where I would have passed through if I were it, and what I would have tried to do here.”
Sparkling light flowed from the eyes of the 1st-years. They found it very interesting and were drawn into Radel’s story.
“The stride length is different when inside their territory versus when they come outside their territory. Whether there are young in the nest or not is also important. If it is a furred magical beast, it would be good to consider the shedding season as well.”
“As expected of the Prince. Then what should we be careful about when smelling the scent left by a magical beast?”
“Wouldn't figuring out the intention of leaving the scent come first?”
Like a disciple picked out early by Professor Donton, Radel answered the 1st-years' questions without getting stuck.
Leon’s expression crumpled as he watched that scene from afar. To him, magical beasts were merely existences to be subdued and hunted.
What was so fun about such talk? However, the 1st-years who would become Cryptozoology majors seemed to think differently.
It was the moment they were focused on Radel.
SCREEECH!
The sound of a magical beast was heard from the sky. It was the Rock Eagles they had tamed during Cryptozoology class.
The 1st-years cheered as they watched the Rock Eagles flying in the sky.
“It's the Rock Eagles!”
“The seniors are riding them!”
Soon, the Rock Eagles carrying the Cryptozoology seniors landed on the ground. Venus was there as well.
Venus, who came down to the ground, calmed the Rock Eagle, approached Radel, and spoke.
“……Get on here. You are my direct junior.”
“I see. I look forward to working with you.”
Like Anesha, having a senior he knew become his direct senior made him feel at ease. Radel answered happily and climbed onto the Rock Eagle.
***
The Rock Eagles carried the Cryptozoology students and cut through the sky as they flew. When the valley where the Cryptozoology Workshop was hidden revealed itself, screams of admiration burst out from the juniors' mouths.
“Oh my god, there are magical beasts everywhere!”
“Isn't this place heaven?”
“Look over there! Isn't that a Hippogriff?”
The juniors could not close their mouths upon seeing the magical beasts roaming freely in every valley. It was a sight that could not help but make the heart of a Cryptozoology major tremble.
Radel, seeing a Hippogriff strolling in the valley, asked Venus.
“That Hippogriff, isn't it the Hippogriff you are raising, Senior?”
“That's right. It is taking a walk right now.”
It meant it was wandering outside because it was free walking time. He said that if the owner was busy, the seniors took turns looking after the magical beasts raised in the Cryptozoology Workshop.
Thanks to that, Cryptozoology majors could comfortably care for the magical beasts they raised.
Hearing that story, the Griffin came to Radel’s mind. How would it be if he brought that guy who was in Raviedel?
‘Still, it is strictly a guy with a territory, so is it a bit improper to raise it in an unfamiliar place?’
While Radel was thinking deeply, Venus quietly opened his mouth.
“……When are you coming to our house?”
“To your house, Senior?”
Radel wondered if he meant the 5th Prince’s Palace where Venus resided, but soon realized it meant something else. He remembered the fact that he had been invited to the Esven Marquisate before.
It was a place he had to visit at least once, if only for the deal with Ivan, the head of the Ability Management Bureau.
“Ah, I will go sooner or later.”
“……Okay. Everyone will like it.”
Everyone will like it? Did he mean the people of the Esven Marquisate would like it?
Why would the Esven Marquisate, famous for having no interaction with the outside world……? Radel did not understand, but he nodded obediently.
“That is a grateful thing. I will visit soon.”
He would find out when he went.
***
The Cryptozoology seniors and juniors who arrived at the valley toured the Cryptozoology Workshop together. Since it was the first day, they planned to simply look around the stables and have time to care for the young magical beasts.
“This is a place where high-grade or large magical beasts are raised. It might be dangerous, so do not get too close.”
When they went to the largest stable, the seniors gave a separate warning. There were dangerous magical beasts that were hard to catch, such as Saber-toothed Tigers or Giant Salamanders.
The seniors glanced at Radel as they walked around the stable.
“Ahem, come to think of it, there is exactly one empty spot in this stable.”
“Hmph hmph, indeed. It happens to be a place suitable for a large monster with wings.”
“Ah, I know. Like one with the upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion……?”
At the words that anyone could tell were referring to a Griffin, Radel looked at the seniors.
“Cough, did we mention that juniors can bring monsters they tamed at any time?”
“Shouldn't we mention it starting now?”
“Suddenly my nose tickles! G-G-Griffin-choo!”
When the seniors noticed Radel’s gaze, they acted even more unnaturally. If that was acting, it was truly pitiful acting skills.
Watching their clumsy yet desperate acting, Radel could tell that the seniors were more sincere about the Griffin than he thought. It seemed it would be okay to ask Professor Donton if he could bring the Griffin.
The place they headed to next was the small stable. It was also the place Radel had toured before.
“This is the stable for raising young magical beasts. Today, let's try feeding them directly, one by one.”
The faces of the 1st-years brightened instantly. They had been glancing around wanting to touch the magical beasts since earlier, and to think such an opportunity had arisen.
Following the seniors' guidance, the juniors began to feed them with careful movements.
“Wow, it's really cute.”
“Senior, is it okay to feed it like this?”
It was then that an incident occurred in the amicable atmosphere.
“What, what are you doing right now?”
One senior covered his mouth and stepped backward. As if asking how such a cruel thing could exist in the world, the senior raised a finger and pointed at someone.
There, Leon was holding a leg of a baby magical beast and lifting it up. The Cryptozoology seniors who saw that sight were startled out of their wits.
“How could you do such a cruel……!”
“S-Stop it! That child gets scared if you hold it like that!”
“What are you doing to a frail child?”
Leon was flustered by the seniors' reaction. What he had lifted was a baby spider, an entity capable enough of attacking a human. Leon could not understand who on earth was scared of whom.
“Oh my god, this makes no sense…….”
“It's so pitiful. What do we do.”
However, seeing even the 1st-years stomping their feet in distress, Leon felt that things were going strangely. He felt like he had become a criminal in an instant.
Furthermore, looking at Radel, was he not cherishingly holding a baby spider, which was nothing but hideous, in his arms with a calm expression?
For the first time, he thought.
‘Am I doing something wrong?’