When Kito entered the room, she found Semia sitting at a rge desk, her gaze fixed on Kito with a smile on her face.

  The room was meticulously organised, with no items cluttering the desk. It was the complete opposite of what one might expect from a researcher, yet it was clear that Semia thrived in this environment. She was much like Yulia in that regard.

  Kito first offered a polite greeting, thanking Semia for her assistance earlier in the day. After exchanging a few casual remarks, Semia asked the question Kito had been anticipating.

  "So, Kito," Semia said, her voice gentle, "I understand you have something urgent to discuss. What is it?"

  Kito took a steadying breath, realising this was the moment. Semia, while kind and considerate, was always composed, never offering unnecessary words and always maintaining an elusive air. To get anywhere, Kito knew she would have to take the initiative.

  Suppressing any lingering doubts, Kito spoke, maintaining an outward calm.

  "Madam Semia, I need you to take me to 'Spelunka' tonight. I am certain you know of it."

  At this, Semia narrowed her eyes slightly, a rare and curious reaction.

  "What do you mean by that? I don't understand what you're suggesting."

  Kito chose not to soften her words, believing Semia would listen without interruption.

  "I never imagined that 'Spelunka' would be located within the grounds of the Magic Academy," Kito continued. "But, in hindsight, its convenience is undeniable. It's a pce that members of the church cannot easily access, yet it's a location where those with magical connections can freely enter."

  She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

  "My guess is that 'Spelunka' is situated near the second student dining hall, where food and drink are served. Am I correct?"

  Kito's heart was pounding in her chest, yet when she gnced at Semia, the woman was simply looking at her with those clear, almost translucent eyes, listening intently without confirming or denying anything. The silence only made Kito more anxious.

  Yet, Kito pressed on with her hypothesis, unwilling to stop now.

  "Madam Semia, are you aware that there's a book in the library's closed stacks about the honorary staff of this school? According to this book, honorary staff members are issued staff IDs, which grant them access to the campus even at night. They can even bring one companion with them."

  Kito continued, her voice unwavering, though her stomach churned.

  "This rule pys a significant role in maintaining the secrecy of 'Spelunka'."

  She looked directly into Semia's eyes, her mind racing.

  "Now, as for who the honorary staff members are—strangely enough, there's a list that can be found in certain pces. One is the shelf in the magical chemistry prep room, and the other is the magical crystal storage room. Both are under your jurisdiction, Madam Semia."

  Kito paused, watching for any sign of a reaction from Semia, before continuing.

  "According to the list, among those named are Apiana from 'Pharma', the former Cardinal Primus, and my mentor, Yulia. There are also the names of famous mages, apothecaries, and magic tool specialists."

  She took a deep breath before concluding, "And, of course, your name is there as well, Madam Semia."

  Semia’s smile deepened, and her gaze became more focused, intrigued by Kito's bold deductions.

  "If all these individuals are aware of the location of 'Spelunka', I can’t say for sure," Kito continued, "but I’m certain you are. I also believe that Lord Primus will be there tonight."

  Kito steeled herself, her final request on the tip of her tongue.

  "Could you take me there, too? Do you think my 'trial' was sufficient? I would be grateful if you could tell me."

  With that, Kito bowed deeply, her heart racing. She could already feel the blood rushing to her face as anxiety threatened to overwhelm her.

  For a long moment, the silence was unbearable. Then, a sudden, unmistakable sound—a low, delighted chuckle—filled the room.

  "Fufufufufu..."

  Kito looked up, confused, only to find Semia gazing at her with an expression of curiosity.

  "You’re quite something," Semia said, her voice warm and full of praise. "You’ve pieced together the subtle clues we left behind so well. I would have taken you on as my disciple if you hadn’t already been Yulia’s. It's a shame, really. If Yulia hadn’t been here, I’d have loved to see where you would have gone."

  Semia’s voice softened even further, a gentle yet approving tone.

  "But, Kito, you're greatly mistaken."

  The sudden shift in tone startled Kito. Semia’s voice became more expnatory, almost motherly.

  "From the very beginning, I’d pnned to tell you everything. Once you presented the situation clearly and asked about 'Spelunka', I was ready to share what I knew. After all, you’re Yulia’s disciple, aren't you? If Yulia had been in this city, she would have taken you there without hesitation. Since she recognised your worth, I cannot refuse you."

  Semia’s eyes shone with sincerity, but there was a touch of mischief in her words.

  "Your true 'trial' wasn’t convincing me—it was getting Yulia to acknowledge you in the first pce."

  "Huh?" Kito’s mind raced, and she blurted out in shock, barely believing what she had just heard.

  Semia chuckled softly, as if thoroughly entertained.

  "All this time, you’ve been worried about getting my approval, but the truth is, that was never the real challenge. As for Primus, I know there are some complications because of him, but in truth, 'Spelunka' itself is simply a private gathering pce for friends. There’s no need to be so tense about it."

  Kito blinked in confusion, trying to process what had just been said.

  "But," Semia added with a pyful glint in her eyes, "it’s probably best if you keep this quiet among your friends. I have a feeling you’ll witness something truly fascinating tonight. Look forward to it."

  With that, the meeting concluded. Kito made a note of the time they were to gather and left the room, her mind still spinning.

  While Kito was usually composed, the absurdity of it all made her want to run down the hallway, scratching her head and crying out like a cat. But she quickly composed herself and headed to the Adventurers School to inform the others that she would be joining them at 'Spelunka' that evening.

  There were no further questions from them, so the group broke up and agreed to meet again at the designated pce ter.

  ...

  After the Sunset

  After Seneca left to meet Apiana at 'Pharma', Maiol made her way towards the Adventurers School’s gate. Grey, who was taking a carriage to 'Spelunka', would be waiting for her on the main street.

  From a distance, she could see the carriage approach. Though pin in design, it was made of durable wood with a beautifully finished grain. The carriage stopped right in front of Maiol, and Grey popped his head out with a cheerful greeting.

  "Oi! Maiol, hop in!"

  Grey seemed as lively as ever, youthful in spirit despite his age. Inside the carriage, the furnishings were simple, but the seats were comfortable, with minimal swaying. It was even of higher quality than the one Maiol’s family used.

  During the ride, Grey regaled Maiol with stories about the best eateries in the capital, which Maiol listened to with interest. But the journey didn’t st long before the carriage came to a stop.

  "We’ve arrived," Grey said. "Let’s get out."

  Maiol quickly adjusted her clothes and hopped out, only to find a guard standing at the carriage gate. Something about the design of the gate seemed oddly familiar to her.

  Grey walked up to the guard, taking out a metal tag. He infused it with magic, and seven rainbow-colored orbs appeared from the tag, slowly revolving in mid-air.

  "Welcome," the guard said with a respectful bow. "Is this your companion?"

  "Ah, yes," Grey replied, and upon hearing this, the guard opened the rge gate, allowing them through.

  Maiol was stunned by the overly polite manner of the staff.

  ...

  Inside the gates, after taking in the surroundings, Maiol realised they were in the Royal Magic Academy. Grey noticed Maiol’s awe and decided to expin.

  "Did you see those rainbow orbs earlier? Each one has a slightly different hue. The distance and rotation speed between them are meticulously calcuted, and the guards can easily distinguish these variations."

  Maiol had simply thought them beautiful but now realised the significance.

  "The tags used here," Grey continued, "can only be crafted at the Royal Magic Academy. It’s a symbol of an honorary staff member."

  Grey sounded proud of this fact, but Maiol wasn’t surprised.

  "So, no surprise there," Maiol muttered, not entirely shocked.

  "But the fun's just beginning!" Grey said, walking ahead toward a small shack near the gate.

  The door to the shack had a square window, and Grey held up the tag again, infusing it with magic. With a click, the door unlocked.

  Inside, a staircase led downward into a hidden underground passage.

  "Do you believe there are special underground passages beneath the royal capital?" Grey asked, grinning.

  Maiol nodded, her curiosity piqued.

  "I believe so. If I use my [Detection] skill, I sense an odd flow of magical energy underground. There's something strange in that area, which could very well be the passage you’re talking about."

  Grey ughed heartily.

  "You’re sharp! This passage, however, is made of special materials. It's practically a magical tool in itself. Try using your [Detection] again."

  Following Grey’ instructions, Maiol cast her [Detection] skill. She could sense the flow of magic along the surface, but whenever she tried to probe deeper, the magic seemed to resist.

  Then, she noticed something peculiar about Grey’ own magical aura as it intertwined with the passage’s magic.

  "Who are you really...?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

  Grey simply chuckled and waved her off.

  "All in good time, my dear. Just a little more patience, and you’ll have all the answers."