Chapter 228 (1/2)

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Chapter 228 – Spirits Acting Strange

By the time Mikhail returned from the station and met up with Claude, everything was over. The Professor was surprised by how fast the problem was resolved.

「Well, Hikaru's here, so I guess it's understandable!」

Mikhail laughed heartily. He was in favor of moving to Scholarzard as well. Hikaru, however, couldn't quite grasp why him being here was enough of an explanation for the Professor.

Hikaru and the others arrived in Scholarzard by the end of the day. Mikhail, Claude, and Luka would be staying at the academy. Preparations for Ludancia's potential attack would begin tomorrow.

「The dorms would be a good place to stay at, but it's a small two-story building, so it's not really suited for defending.」

They were gathered in a lecture hall, with Mikhail standing at the platform, while Hikaru (together with Drake), Lavia, Paula, Claude, Luka, and Ivan listened. League was not around as he had to discuss their next plans with his attendants.

「So are we staying at an ordinary inn, then?」Ivan asked.

「Are you serious? We'll be even more defenseless. The academy can shelter Luka. There's a barrier around the place and people can only enter through the front, rear, and west gates.」

「In that case, the dorm is better…」

「Relying too much on the barrier might become our downfall. We must come up with a number of plans.」

A military personnel, Mikhail excelled at devising strategies. Hikaru listened attentively too.

「But we can use the dorm. The enemy will attack there first.」

「A decoy, huh?」Hikaru said.

Mikhail nodded.「We'll set up a binding magic item there. Reducing their numbers would be great for us.」

「Professor. I don't have any objections about that. But where should Luka stay then?」Claude asked.

「Hmm. Let me ask you, then. Where would you make her stay?」

「Uhm, let's see. A place where she could sleep… I guess the sleeping quarters in the admin building?」

「The enemy would think of that as well. There's not a lot of places a person can sleep in, after all. This is all about outwitting your opponent. Think of a place where the enemy wouldn't even consider that someone would stay there.」

「Does such a place even exist?」

「It does. Hikaru, any ideas?」

「I don't really wanna say it.」

「Oh? If you have something with mind, then please share it with us.」

Hikaru sighed.「Lecture building C.」

「Bingo.」Mikhail said with a smile.

Lecture building C was where Professor Mille Crepes van Quad taught her Short Sword cla.s.s. To be more specific, cla.s.ses started inside, but the actual lessons happened on the vacant lot out front. The reason being, Mille slept there after getting drunk.

In an effort to reform the professor, Hikaru helped tidy up the place, but blankets and the like were still left inside, making it a good-enough location for Luka to stay at. They would have to think about food and baths, though.

Moreover, Mille basically made the place her own, so the academy might not even mind if they turned it into a fort.

Mikhail sure knows his stuff, Hikaru thought.

「But why am I the one doing this?」

Hikaru trudged towards lecture building C. Mikhail asked him to check if the place was safe since he was familiar with it; in fact, no one else but him knew what it was like inside. He even knew the place better than Mille. Unfortunately.

Hikaru stepped out of the building. It would be much faster to cut through the front yard, but even though it wasn't snowing, the cold breeze made him s.h.i.+ver.

「Ugh… so cold…」

Times like this, he was grateful he had Drake with him.

『Hikaru, something's strange.』

Drake, who was always asleep besides eating time, woke up, creating an opening for the chill to get to Hikaru's neck.

「Why are you up? You know you have to stay put when we're outside. So cold.」

『What? I'm doing you a favor by coming with you despite the cold. What's more, I can't even get any mana from you.』

「Man, I didn't know scarfs complained and removed themselves from one's neck.」

『Am I just a scarf to you?! You've been treating me poorly lately!』

「Freeloaders who only eat and sleep have no right to speak.」

『So mean! Wait, I said there's something strange—』

Drake's persistence made Hikaru think that maybe something was wrong.