"Pendragon-senpai! Ah~ So handsome! Senior, I declare you——!"
"Senior! Take off your mask and let us see~!"
"Do you still need an assistant? Look at me—I'll do it for free!"
The black-haired girl, Akuta Hinako, was walking down the corridor. When she heard the cries of the girls not far away, she immediately knew that Aslan had come to pick her up again.
This junior was excellent in every way. He could give massages and cook. Moreover, as immortals, they had many shared interests. When she couldn't find a quiet place to be alone, spending time chatting with him was actually quite relaxing.
It would be perfect if this junior had fewer wicked thoughts. Because of him, my dream of remaining an inconspicuous figure in school has become utterly unattainable. Even though he wears a half-mask, it does nothing to conceal his temperament.
It's like a sun falling among a cluster of light bulbs—no matter how brightly the bulbs shine, they cannot overshadow the sun. And if you stand beside the sun, even if you're merely a dim star, you'll be illuminated and become a moon.
It's precisely because of this that I've become the subject of more and more gossip among the other girls. Of course, I don't care what these humans—not even a hundred years old—think of me.
But the fact that Aslan came to find me meant he had a new mission. Although I didn't want to accept, I still had debts to repay. Since I agreed at the start, there was no point in backing out now.
Aslan nodded to the girls surrounding him, said his goodbyes, and walked over to Hinako. "Let's go. We can talk on the way."
There was a hint of anticipation in Aslan's eyes. Akuta Hinako noticed it immediately and gave him a knowing look—it seemed he had more reasons for coming to see her this time.
"I've already told you why I came to the human world. It's mainly to investigate a potential crisis. I'm still not sure whether it's caused by humans or other immortal species, so I need to add some credibility to this fake identity. For now, I won't decline the Clock Tower's missions.
This particular mission doesn't involve the Botany Department, but the Archaeology Department. Apparently, they discovered the remains of an ancient magician in a cave. The magician might have studied gem-based magecraft, and since the site lies on a mineral vein, they've partnered with the Mineral Department for the excavation.
It also happens to be in an area where goblins were once active in Britain, so they invited me. When they heard my assistant was from the Plant Department, they invited you too. A bit of a stretch, right? I suspect this might be linked to the attack we encountered when we first met, but I'm not sure which side is behind it."
There was some excitement in Aslan's expression. After all, he had lived in a glorious era, and the modern Clock Tower was—frankly—a little boring. Now that someone seemed ready to cause trouble, and it might even involve him directly... wasn't that rather fun?
"Of course, I could choose not to bring you, but I'm sure whoever's planning trouble won't leave you alone either. Whether they'll have a 'later' after provoking me is another matter entirely. It's a rare farce—I couldn't possibly leave my dear senior behind, right?"
Hinako didn't quite understand why Aslan was so excited. As if reading her mind, Aslan smiled and added, "Our lives are long. If we don't find something to do or get involved in some chaos from time to time, we'd be too bored."
Aslan stretched and opened his arms, as if embracing the world.
In Hinako's opinion, the junior in front of her was her complete opposite. If she was someone weary of the world, then this blond boy was someone who embraced it with joy.
"We're immortals. We have to learn to adjust ourselves. Sure, I have some bad tastes, but I don't see myself as a god. We need to maintain perspective. Even though we've experienced many things, we're still living in this world—and we'll keep on living. As long as we're alive, we might as well vent our emotions and sweat it out a little.
So, in short—are you coming or not?"
Hinako sighed and pushed up her glasses. "You've said that much. How could I refuse?"
She rubbed her temples. Honestly, she'd never imagined being lectured like this—and by a junior, no less. She still wasn't sure she could enjoy this world. After all, a world without that person seemed colorless.
But she had to admit the younger generation in front of her made some good points. They still had to live in this world, so they needed to adapt. Compared to the world itself, even immortal beings seemed small. If they wished to continue living in this age, they'd have to gradually change how they lived.
The two walked toward the school gate, where a special vehicle was already waiting. Also standing at the gate were members of the Mineral Department preparing for the expedition. The doctor standing among them was neatly dressed, with pale yellow, lemon-colored hair and slightly sunken cheeks—an archetypal elite.
To be honest, when Aslan saw him, he was a little surprised. This Lemonhead wasn't some nobody.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, head of the Mineral Department, had shown prodigious talent since his student days. He was the youngest lecturer in the history of the Spiritual Evocation Department. His brilliance extended beyond research—he was politically savvy, had a strong family background, and numerous connections. Gradually, he became the favored leader of the Clock Tower's largest faction.
Still, wasn't this monarch best known for summoning spirits? Well, considering his role as head of the Mineral Department, he probably had good knowledge of the family's traditional industries. Besides, ancient ruins often involved concepts tied to advent magecraft. He was indeed the right person for this expedition.
"You're late. You've wasted so much time... As a magus, you should be punctual. If you can't even manage that, don't blame me for thinking you're mediocre. Let's go."
Kayneth said no more, turned around, and got into the car.
Naturally, Aslan and Hinako weren't upset. In their eyes, Kayneth was still just a child. What was wrong with a child being a little grumpy?
-End Chapter-
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