Nighttime Encounters - Chapter 38
“Hello.”
Accompanying Luperne, Rosia navigated her way into the main building and pushed her way into the unfamiliar office. Despite its spaciousness, the office appeared narrow and cluttered due to the densely packed desks.
Stacks of documents cluttered each desk, and the staff, buried under piles of paperwork, seemed oblivious to the arrival of visitors. Rosia, composed but sensing a frantic atmosphere, glanced around.
“Perhaps, I should ask over there?”
Approaching the nearest desk from the entrance, Rosia cautiously inquired, “Is this the admissions office for the Kantaea Academy of Magic?”
It was before the start of the new academic year, the busiest time when they admitted new students and processed paperwork for returning students.
The employee, wearing thick horn-rimmed glasses, maintained a strictly professional tone as their eyes scrutinized Rosia from top to bottom.
“Yes, that’s correct, but…”
The employee trailed off, giving Rosia a thorough once-over. Sensing the probing scrutiny, Rosia pressed her dry lips together nervously.
“It seems there might be an issue regarding admission.”
“What kind of issue are you referring to?”
Rosia tried to conceal her tension and pulled out a vibrant envelope from her bag, handing it over to the employee.
“I received an admission letter. It seems there might have been an error in the administrative records.”
The employee sighed, seemingly annoyed. “And your name, please?”
“Rosiana Delconda.”
“Delconda? If it’s Delconda…”
As the employee’s eyes widened, they hastily rummaged through the mountainous pile of documents. Skillfully locating a document, the employee quickly scanned it, adjusting their glasses.
“Miss Rosiana, right?”
Whatever they discovered, the employee seemed to beam as if meeting a long-lost friend.
“I’m relieved we reached you now. It would have been risky if it had crossed into the next year.”
“I, well…”
Before Rosia could finish her response, the employee poured out their words hurriedly, as if not allowing any room for her reply.
“Did you bring the documents mentioned in the admission letter? If you have them, I can assist you with the enrollment process right away.”
“But, I…”
Interrupting the seemingly excited employee, Rosia took a brief pause. After deeply suppressing her magical aura from leaking out, she cautiously voiced her thoughts.
“I don’t want to enroll.”
Expressing her opinion somewhat gently, the employee seemed not to perceive it that way. Their brow furrowed oddly, displaying an expression as though they had heard an incomprehensible language.
“Why not? Everyone’s going crazy trying to get in.”
Though the Kantaea Academy of Magic operated on a mandatory enrollment policy, the privileges granted upon graduation were substantial.
Because of this, there weren’t many who saw enrollment as an obligation. Instead, the staff struggled with the headache of dealing with fraudulent applicants trying to fake their magical abilities for illicit enrollment.
From the perspective of the Kantaea staff, refusing enrollment was beyond comprehension.
“I don’t have any magical abilities.”
Despite the eerie stare from the staff member, Rosia stated firmly, showing no wavering.
“What would someone without magical abilities like me do among the sorcerers?”
The staff member’s expression hardened.
“Just a moment.”
The employee turned to another colleague and whispered.
“Could that be possible? Both sides are sorcerers, and from the Delconda lineage?”
“Is that even possible? Sometimes sorcerers come out among ordinary folks too.”
“Well, what do we do then?”
“Then, we should request a magical power test from the Mage Oversight Bureau.”
“I’ve heard that’s incredibly painful.”
“We have no choice. If we want to cancel her enrollment, we need substantial evidence.”
The employee, who had been murmuring for a while, suddenly straightened up.
“Miss Rosiana, if that’s the case.”
Rosia perked up her ears, a glimmer of hope in her dry throat.
“You can prove your lack of magical abilities by going directly to the Mage Oversight Bureau.”
“Pardon?”
“If you bring proof from the Mage Oversight Bureau showing your lack of magical ability, you can cancel your enrollment.”
Rosia was speechless with disbelief. To prove her lack of magical power by going to the office that manages sorcerers. They would undoubtedly figure out Rosia’s identity as Trinity. This was no different from voluntarily walking into prison.
[Rosia.]
Ignoring Luperne’s call, Rosia was deeply lost in thought.
To avoid exposing the fact that she was Trinity, Rosia attempted to refuse admission to the Academy. But now, she had to reveal the truth about being Trinity to avoid attending the Academy.
Frustrated by her dilemma, Rosia exclaimed, “Why should I go and prove it myself? I never applied for admission.”
She felt like she was being accused of a crime and had to prove her innocence.
[Rosia?]
Despite Luperne tapping Rosia’s shoulder, she ignored him and continued, “I’m not the one who has to prove whether I have magic or not—it’s the school that wants to force me to enroll.”
[Rosia, I think we’re in trouble.]
Despite being exasperated, Rosia wondered why Luperne kept calling her. She waved her hand through the air, pushing Luperne away, then directed her frustration toward the staff.
“Isn’t it cruel to ask someone who doesn’t want admission and lacks magical ability to prove their powers?”
At that moment, a low, ominous voice echoed, one that should never have been heard. “Why does Rosiana ‘Delconda’ wish not to enroll at Kantaea?”
The name ‘Delconda’ was uttered with such emphasis, each syllable sharply resonating in her ears.
Stunned by the unbelievable circumstance, Rosia froze in place, slowly turning to face the source.
Why is he here?
A giant of a man was slowly approaching, dwarfing everything in sight. Could this be the look on the giant’s face when he realized his singing harp had been stolen[1]? As Rosia remained frozen in the severe man’s presence, the staff of the admissions office stood up abruptly.
“Master Calskronin.”
However, Master Calskronin paid no heed to their attention, fixating his deep, dark eyes solely on Rosia. He moved closer to her and asked her a question.
“Why don’t you want to enroll?”
¹ From the fairytale of Jack and the Beanstalk, where Jack steals the giant’s singing, golden harp.↩
