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Sirim's, Head of the Department of Magic's office.
Sirims, having read through Liber's script, slowly nodded.
"Davian, you're right."
"Yes. It perfectly matches the 12 Traces of the Archmage that I confirmed in the secret library. The incidents, times, and order, all of them."
"Huhu. I see."
Davian tilted his head.
'Huhu I see, you say?'
The 12 Traces of the Archmage.
A legend about the relics left by the Archmage, who died 600 years ago.
The Archmage was a real person, but the traces and relics have already become legends.
The fact that it has become a legend means that no one has properly found the traces and relics so far.
Even Elton Academy only found evidence that this legend was true just 5 years ago.
But an academy freshman accurately identified the incidents, order, and locations related to the 12 Traces.
Then he made it into a play script.
'Is this something to just pass over with a "Huhu I see?" If I don't want someone else to take a five-star item, should I take a leave of absence and go find the 12 Traces of the Archmage first...?'
If Liber tells his family what he found, they might acquire the five-star item before Davian.
That's why he rushed to the office, but the Head of the Department of Magic, Sirims's reaction was so dull.
'But is there even a leave of absence system here?'
While Davian was thinking to himself, Professor Sirims spoke again.
"Davian."
"Yes?"
"What's Liber Specula's reputation among you guys?"
At the sudden question, only one thing came to Davian's mind.
'Gossip Liber Specula.'
But there was no need to tell him the nickname.
"He just likes to gather information and enjoys telling people what he found as if it's a great secret?"
Professor Sirims suddenly laughed heartily.
"껄껄. Really? Is that all Liber Specula's reputation is among his peers?"
"Yes?"
"The youngest of the Specula family, which has the best intelligence agency on the continent."
"I know that."
"And a genius who appears once every few hundred years."
Davian's eyebrows twitched.
'A genius? That gossip Liber Specula?'
"His ability to analyze information is already better than anyone in the Specula family. Rumor has it that he couldn't solve any ciphers when he was five years old."
"Ah... I didn't know Liber was such a great guy."
"And there's also a rumor that he memorizes the contents of a book as soon as he sees it."
"Ah...."
"He got perfect scores on the midterm written exam. His practical skills are terrible, though."
He had no idea that Liber was a genius who appeared once every few hundred years.
But after hearing Professor Sirims's words, the things he had felt about Liber over the past month came back to him anew.
'He may seem a bit light, but he has tremendous information and situation analysis skills.'
That was the case when he analyzed the spy incident.
Even then, he was looking at the situation with a fairly detached perspective.
Besides, it was Liber who found out the location of the Stone of Enlightenment.
Thanks to that, Davian was able to get a double experience gain ticket.
Of course, it was possible because he kept receiving information from his family that others couldn't get.
But it was always Liber who combined and analyzed that information to draw his own conclusions.
That goes for this play script as well.
"How did Liber say he wrote this script?"
"He said he received information from his family that the 12 Traces of the Archmage might not be just a legend. Then he seems to have locked himself in the library and researched almost all the ancient books that were allowed to be read."
"That's something Liber Specula would be capable of."
"If Liber tells his family about this...."
"He won't tell them for the time being. Liber would try to prove his own hypothesis himself."
Professor Sirims picked up Liber's script again and asked.
"So, what have you decided to do about the play?"
"I told him to remove all but two of the scenes since the script is too long."
"You did well. That shouldn't be a problem."
The Head of the Department of Magic, Sirims, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke again.
"I have a good idea."
"What idea are you talking about?"
"I'll give you and Liber the task of finding the 12 Traces of the Archmage as a group project topic for this summer vacation. I can just pretend that I was impressed by your play."
A summer vacation group project that requires exploring various parts of the continent.
If Professor Sirims specifically tells Davian's group to find and explore these traces and submit the results, an exploration team will naturally be formed.
"Then Liber won't tell anyone about this script until he goes on an expedition with you to prove that his hypothesis is correct. He'll have to start thinking about his position in the family now."
Professor Sirims didn't add any more detailed explanations.
But Davian could roughly understand what it meant to think about his position in the family.
Like most other families, the Specula family also seems to require proof of ability to rise to key positions.
'Finding the 12 Traces of the Archmage was also an event that first came out in the 3rd year in the previous round...'
Since he found the first trace only in the 3rd year in the 3rd round, there was no particular rush in this round as long as Liber kept his mouth shut.
"Thank you for your consideration."
"There's no consideration. It's something you would have had to do anyway, forming an exploration team with your friends. Nothing has changed. Besides, it's not strange for Liber to find out anything at any time."
"Yes, Professor."
"It's also good to completely bring Liber Specula over to your side at this opportunity. No one can keep up with the Specula family's information. Liber, in particular, is born with the best brain for information analysis and memorization."
"Yes, I understand."
A week later.
Davian's group's play rehearsal room.
Nubes shouted, stretching his arms forward with an exaggerated gesture.
"I, Perendo Hudson, will not leave the Archmage's side until my heart is torn to shreds! No matter how much you tell me to go!"
Everything about it, the actions, expressions, and tone, was too exaggerated and unnatural.
Davian Naone stood in front of him.
His eyes fixed on the script, he recited his lines in a bland voice.
"It's just an unnecessary sacrifice, Perendo. Take Princess Beatrice and leave before it's too late."
It was Luna's turn this time.
Still, she made quite a fiery voice, unlike her usual shy self.
"Master! I'm going with you too! I, Beatrice, am your disciple before I'm a princess!"
This time, Latia, who had been standing a few steps away, naturally approached Davian.
She casually placed her hand on Davian's shoulder.
Latia, who had left her hand on his shoulder, went straight to Davian.
The two's faces came close, leaving only about a hand's breadth between them.
"Fabian, my love. You won't tell me to leave, will you? We promised to be together until death."
Clap clap clap.
Liber clapped and approached.
"As expected, Latia. Your acting is like a real actor? That look in your eyes just now was really the eyes of someone in love."
"I just imitated a play I saw when I was in the family. What eyes of someone in love. I've never even done that."
"No. You're really great. I mean it. And...."
Liber turned his head and looked at Nubes.
"...Nubes. Please be more natural. Okay? Everything about your actions and intonation is too exaggerated. Just do it like you usually do."
"I can't help it!"
"Yes! Now! Do it like that! Please."
Liber's gaze turned to Luna this time.
"Luna... um. It's good, but I think it would be better to lower your voice tone a little. What should I say about your tone... you're the disciple, but it's like the tone of someone who likes the main character? Something like that. Be a little more calm. Got it?"
Luna's cheeks turned red.
"Huh? U-um. Sorry...."
Liber's gaze finally turned to Davian.
"And Davian! Can you please read your lines with some sincerity? You sound like someone reading a textbook in class."
Davian raised his head and looked at Liber.
"I'll do well in the actual performance. Don't worry."
"No, who wouldn't worry after seeing you read the script right now? No, it's not just you, Davian. Everyone is a mess except for Latia!"
"You're the one who said we should do a play, Liber. What can we do? We're not actors."
"But you have to try! You have to try!"
Nubes, who had been listening to Davian and Liber's conversation, scratched the back of his head with his large hand.
"This is me trying."
"I'm going crazy!"
Time passed, and it was already the third week of May.
The festival period was three days, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
To celebrate the festival, the eighth district of Elton Academy, the common area, was opened.
Although it was not possible to enter the districts of other grades, all students of Elton Academy and outsiders invited to the festival could freely enter and exit this common area.
Bellum, who was constantly looking around, said.
"Wow, the common area is really big too. And the atmosphere is completely different from our 1st grade area. Liber! Today is the day the grade demonstration teams perform, right?"
"Yeah. It's the day only 4th grade and higher grades perform. We lower grades just have to watch today."
"Aigo, you gossip. It's really nice to hang out with you at times like this. You've memorized the festival guide brochure, right?"
"I can memorize things like that after seeing them just once."
"By the way, quite a few citizens have come too."
"It's the only time in the year you can come into Elton Academy. Well, that's only for this common area, though."
The large Nubes squeezed in between Bellum and Liber, who were talking.
He raised his forearm, which was now as thick as Bellum's waist, and pointed to one side.
"Hey guys! Look over there. An outdoor buffet!"
"Ugh, you big guy. You only see food."
"What! Isn't there still time until the demonstration performance? Let's go there first. Huh? What do the other guys think?"
Bonita, who was walking behind, shook her head.
"I'm going straight to the demonstration performance venue. I have to get a seat in the front row. It's a swordsmanship demonstration by the upperclassmen, so I have to see it from the front, even if it's just one row."
"What about the others? Are you going to the buffet first?"
Latia answered briefly.
"I don't like eating food outdoors."
Nubes's desperate gaze turned to Davian this time.
"Davian, what about you? You're a gourmet. You're going to the buffet first, right? By the way, Davian. What are you looking at so intently?"
Davian, who was constantly staring at one place.
After a while, he nodded slowly as if something had come to mind.
'If I hadn't seen his disguised appearance in the last round, I would have just passed by. A familiar face has come in. To the academy.'
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