The tragic Milhis-Philbs keeps talking to me.

"Brain's family wasn't the only one at the villa that day. There were servants who had been with the Marquis for a long time, and soldiers who guarded him in case anything should happen."

"What happened?

"... it's all gone. Except for Brain."

Rich. End of the mighty sorcerer. Certainly that won't be the case when it comes to escort soldiers.

"What happened at the villa? Why is only Brain alive?

You'll get an easy explanation.

My thoughts were splendid. [M]

Brain's the only one who knows that.

Huh?

"Brain won't tell anyone what happened that night. There are only two things he said. They're all dead. Rich killed me."

Philbus sighed.

"This is the situation. Only one survivor - a boy whose loyalty and relatives have lost everything. No one can hear him if he keeps his mouth shut. That's where I ended up."

And Philbus ended his story like this.

"This is the full story of the Millhiss family of tragedies. He lives with such a past. That's why you're a normal nobleman, but you're not thinking the same way. The heart of his life is revenge - that's all."

"That's right...."

Phyllis echoes his words.

"At your age, Brain has learned more than 100 magic tricks, but he's too biased against attack magic."

"... that's what I think..."

Now Philbus met Hulin with a melancholy expression.

"My head is full of revenge... that's what I can't let go of him - that's dangerous..."

Is that so?

Brain has been running a race against me. I tried to measure my attack magic by aiming for an indicator called me who contributed to the previous battle.

"That's why... Brain is so free from the nobility..."

I snapped as if I were talking to myself.

I don't think you're interested in the house anymore. Increase your strength - all he has to do is defeat Rich.

So you can throw away everything else.

Its purity - it seemed to me now.

"... after all, aren't you a little worried?

That's what Philbs said when he saw me like that.

Huh?

"Nobles at the academy found out. Besides, it was very effective in the previous battle. --I know Kirillia's approach is pretty hot."

Looks like Philbs is on the lookout.

I couldn't talk about it in the previous exam. Would it be better to spit out some bitter thoughts here?

"... it's true that I'm confused by an environment different from the first semester..."

Philbus and Hulin didn't say anything.

He's staring at me. Waiting for my word.

"I need to get along with the nobles - I think so, but I don't feel like I'm blending well..."

I opened my mouth to push dark emotions deep inside my chest.

Philbus opens his mouth.

"No, of course not!

With such a loud voice as if you were blowing my mind off.

"You may have forgotten, but you're over ten years older than them. You don't usually talk about it, do you?

Philbus pointed out sharply.

"Ready? It's tough talking to teachers like me and 10 different students, right? Besides, you've been living quietly, haven't you? You can't do it right from the start!

I also struggled with Philbus, a wartime teacher.

The fact lightened my mind a little.

"Alberto, don't feel the crack. Do what you can. It's not going to work that well from the beginning."

Then Philbus went on like this.

"Besides, you don't have to ask Kirilla every time. You have something you want to do. Take care of that."

What I want to do...

When I shut up, Foulin talked to me.

"Alberto was found to be a nobleman, but is Laura and I already sayonara?

I replied reflectively.

"That's not true!

I myself was surprised by stronger words than I thought.

"I'm sorry, Hulin...."

"Yeah, it's okay. Because I know how Alberto feels."

Hulin smiled a little happily.

"... I think I'm a little scared."

"Are you scared?"

"I don't want to disturb you with Alberto, who is busy with his duties as a nobleman -"

That said, Hulin pulled the intersecting index fingers away in the opposite direction.

"Even though I've gotten along so well, I guess I'm still somehow alienated."

"That's..."

I almost said no, but I couldn't talk.

I haven't talked to Laura since I got tangled up with Kirilla in two semesters. No, I haven't even met him.

When I thought about it...

I noticed a wet feeling in my chest.

I'm sure it's lonely.

Oh, did I miss you?

Hoolin told me to lose my word.

"Alberto. Nobility is important too - what is really important? Don't lose sight of that."

Philbus continues after Hoolin.

"... don't hold me alone. Because we're teachers. I'd be so happy to talk to you!

It was a concern from both of us.

It certainly warmed my heart, which was cold.

I'm not alone.

Thank you, Dr. Phyllis.

Important as Alberto Luminas - just important as Alberto.

Apparently I have to face it.

I thought so.

I didn't have to face it.

What should I never let go of?

What struck me was Laura's smile.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

That night...

There was a shadow in the corner of the school yard of the Magic Academy.

That shadow is what Lugard called a "student."

The student's figure is wrapped in a black outfit that melts into darkness from head to leg. Only the eyes are bare. Maybe it was a man or a woman.

Why are you dressed like this?

The answer is because today is "the day of the sale of goods."

Buying and selling goods - seizing dark marks.

A sign of darkness appears on the facade of the Academy because it will be lent to the Academy's treasure exhibition.

I'll have it tonight.

And I'll have Lugard retrieve it tomorrow.

That was the plan of darkness.

Under the student's feet is a magic team drawn with a red line. The student turned his hand to the center and said the trigger words.

Immediately after.

--On....

A darker ellipse appears in the center of the magic circle than at night, with a low sound of air swaying.

From there...

Stagger.

Bone-formed monsters - the corpses of rotting people - the shadows of the dark - are pouring out of nowhere.

Skeletons, Zombies, Ghosts.

Immortals.

The students summoned the undead using summoning techniques.

A large number of undead will emerge, and the academy will be in great chaos. Take advantage of the confusion and give me a sign of darkness.

The students burst into laughter and disappeared into the darkness of the night.