Chapter 21. The Missing Ability Management Bureau Agent’s Notebook

The day before leaving for the Imperial Magic Academy.

Radel stood in the Secret Training Ground, holding a wooden training sword.

Swoooosh!

Staring at the waterfall, he seemed to have a thought and approached it, holding out his fist. Then, a griffin that had smelled a human from afar flew over like a shot.

- Kkieeeek!

The griffin confirmed it was the scent of the weak human it hadn’t seen for a few days, changed direction in mid-air, and rushed toward Radel in one breath.

The weak human, who would be sent flying with just one hit, was truly persistent. The griffin, as always, flapped its wings and struck the human.

Crash!

A loud crash shook the cave.

However, it wasn’t the human who was sent flying this time.

- Kkieeek?!

Radel, having deflected the griffin’s attack, had sent the griffin flying with a single blow from his wooden sword.

How could the weak human?

The griffin cried out, not understanding what had happened even as it was sent flying.

“The pattern is too obvious.”

Radel muttered as he sheathed his wooden sword.

It went without saying, but Radel wasn’t stronger than the griffin. He had just memorized its attack patterns after being hit by it so many times.

Of course, if he were to fight the griffin properly, Radel would have no chance of winning. But he thought it was worth a try for just one blow.

The fact that the griffin was off guard and Radel was prepared was also a factor in determining the outcome.

“Still, it landed cleanly.”

Was his Hunter instinct from his past life slowly returning?

Radel clenched his fist tightly.

Tiring.

Just then, a notification sound rang in his ear.

It was the skill upgrade Radel had been waiting for.

[The conditions for skill upgrade have been met.]

[Skill: Basic Swordsmanship(E)]

[Do you want to upgrade the skill? (Y/N)]

Radel pressed confirm and opened his status window.

Basic Swordsmanship had been upgraded to D, but Hayden's Normal Mana Training Method was not yet.

Of course, he knew why that was.

Hayden's Normal Mana Training Method (E)

The mana training method researched by Archmage Hayden throughout his life.

You can be reborn as a true magician.

Slash(20,000/20,000)

Thrust(20,000/20,000)

Lie Down(20,000/20,000)

Visit Marcellent's Bell Tower(0/1)

Marcellent, the city of magic.

It was the city where the Imperial Magic Academy was located.

He didn't know why his archmage ancestor had included a condition to visit the bell tower in the city where the academy was, but it didn't matter.

He had to go there anyway to enroll in the academy.

Radel decided to finish his preparations and set off immediately.

* * *

Radel, who had spent a day in the training ground, finished his simple preparations to leave for the academy.

He packed a minimal amount of luggage.

He could buy whatever he lacked when he got there. Because he had money!

Radel smiled as he carefully placed the Imperial Bank deposit slip, sent from the Emperor's Palace a few days ago, in his pocket.

It was true that the life of a platinum spoon was tiring, but it had many financial advantages.

“Your Highness.”

Radel was about to leave the 8th Prince's Palace when he paused. He had deliberately woken up at dawn to leave quietly, but the attendants were waiting for him.

The attendants looked at Radel, who seemed to have packed only a few pieces of clothing, with expressions full of pity.

‘He’ll only be back during vacation when he goes to the academy.’

‘To have so little luggage!’

‘No matter how frugal he is……!’

The attendants, who knew how much luggage other royals and nobles took when they traveled, were at a loss for words.

They no longer feared Radel as they did before.

It had been a long time since the incident where the 7th Princess came to see Radel on the day he went to the Emperor's Palace and looked down on him for not having a carriage, swept through the 8th Prince's Palace.

The attendants who saw and heard about the incident all trembled with anger. And they vowed to properly serve the pitiful 8th Prince, who didn't know the ways of the world and even avoided the attendants because he couldn't trust people.

‘I’m glad I prepared!’

As if they had anticipated Radel's reaction, the attendants hurriedly brought a travel bag and bowed their heads.

"I know your heart, Your Highness… but we couldn't just send you off like this."

What heart did they know?

Radel was flustered by the attendants' almost tragic attitude, but he didn't show it. He hadn't even thought they would come out to see him off like this in the first place.

“I didn't ask you to. Don't come out like this from now on.”

Radel added his farewell awkwardly.

“……Everyone, take care until I return.”

By the time the moved attendants raised their heads, Radel was gone, having left with the travel bag they had prepared.

“Thanks to them, I won't have to buy this and that when I get there.”

Radel, who had arrived in front of the Imperial Palace, put down the travel bag next to him and opened the academy entrance exam notice.

The notice contained guidance to come to the academy to take the entrance exam, along with the date and time. It also kindly added that if he did not arrive by then, he would be automatically disqualified.

“I have to arrive within ten days.”

Radel, calculating the remaining days, thought he should go as early as possible.

He needed to go in advance to get a feel for the atmosphere and stop by the bell tower to upgrade his Hayden's Mana Training Method.

There were several ways to get from the capital to the magic city of Marcellent, but the fastest was to use a gate stone.

Gate stones had large-scale teleportation magic circles carved into them, allowing people and goods to be moved in an instant.

The gate stones connecting major cities were efficient, but they were also expensive.

‘The cost doesn’t matter.’

Fortunately, Radel had a lot of money.

He could walk all the way, or he could take a public carriage. There were many ways to get to Marcellent, but none were as convenient as using a gate stone.

Just as Radel, having made his decision, was about to set off, he saw the Grand Temple in the distance.

Come to think of it, he did need to stop by before leaving the capital.

Radel decided to stop by the Grand Temple first and started walking.

* * *

The Ability Management Bureau became busier when it was time for the royals to enter the Imperial Magic Academy.

They were busy contacting agents already active at the academy to find out the internal situation and selecting new agents who needed to infiltrate.

“There are three royals scheduled to enter the academy this year?”

“That is correct.”

Ivan was discussing with other agents who to send to the academy.

“Who are the agents available to infiltrate the academy now?”

“We have narrowed it down to agents who are academy alumni and agents with outstanding magical talent.”

“Agents with high mana sensitivity would also be good.”

Ivan, who received the agents' reports, frowned. It was because the name written on the very first page of the document was familiar.

“Wait. Armandy Stein?”

Although Armandy had recently failed a mission, the reason for the recommendation was that he was suitable to infiltrate the Magic Academy.

It was true that he was an excellent magician and his skill in Illusion Magic was so high that even the academy professors couldn't detect it.

“When it comes to Illusion Magic, you can’t leave out Armandy Stein.”

“……That’s true.”

Ivan had no choice but to admit it.

Moreover, since three royals were scheduled to enter the academy this time, the more agents who could infiltrate, the better.

Ivan suspected that the 8th Prince might have magic nullification, but even if he did, as long as Armandy didn't cast Illusion Magic, he wouldn't be discovered.

The purpose this time was to infiltrate as faculty or staff and stay near the royals to monitor them.

What was important here was having outstanding magical skills to be able to enter the academy.

One could use disguises with human-skin masks or artifacts for their appearance, but magical skills could not be faked.

After a little thought, Ivan soon nodded his head.

“Let's add Armandy Stein to the list as well.”

And that news soon reached Armandy’s ears.

“I’m on the candidate list for academy infiltration?”

Armandy was engulfed in a shock as if the world was collapsing.

Armandy also knew about the 8th Prince’s admission to the academy. Armandy, who had been secretly pleased at the news that the 8th Prince was leaving for another city.

He hoped he would go far away and never see him again.

But the 8th Prince was determined to drag him into the academy!

“What sin did I commit to go to the academy?”

And the academy where the 8th Prince is?

His vision went dark, but nothing was decided yet. He was only on the candidate list, so it could still change.

“No, wait……”

Armandy remembered something he had momentarily forgotten.

He still hadn't gotten back the notebook given to the Ability Management Bureau agents from the 8th Prince!

He had to retrieve the notebook before the 8th Prince left for the academy.

He could request a new one from headquarters, but he felt he wouldn't be able to bear it if it became known that he had lost his notebook on top of failing his last mission.

It wasn't that he couldn't carry out a mission without the notebook, but it was also true that it was inconvenient without it.

It was the moment Armandy reluctantly decided to sneak into the 8th Prince’s Palace.

“……You’re on the academy infiltration list this time?”

His colleague, who had become noticeably darker since the 8th Prince surveillance mission, spoke to him.

He was from a now-defunct assassin's guild and clashed with Armandy on every occasion, a guy who spouted nonsense like hidden weapons being faster than magic.

“Don’t say such dreadful things! I’m still just a candidate!”

Armandy shuddered, thinking he had come to pick a fight again.

He had even given him a hint out of a sense of camaraderie when he said he was going to surveil the 8th Prince last time, and now he's repaying kindness with enmity?

“Don’t misunderstand. I just spoke to you because I feel sorry for you, who might run into the 8th Prince.”

“What?”

“I hope you can avoid the academy infiltration mission. I mean this sincerely.”

The colleague smiled bitterly and passed Armandy by.

“I appreciated your advice. Although I lost my soul……. No, should I say I sold it……”

Armandy didn't understand his colleague who disappeared while leaving behind incomprehensible words until the end, but he could tell one thing.

That guy had also been through something with the 8th Prince…….

Armandy felt solemn at the strong sense of comradeship he was feeling for the first time. But that was that, and first, he had to get his notebook back.

And Armandy, who infiltrated the 8th Prince's Palace in the early morning, could only be enraged at the reality that confronted him.

It was because the 8th Prince had already left for the academy.

At this rate, he might really have to go all the way to the academy to get it back.

Armandy's despair deepened.

As expected, the 8th Prince was a devilish fellow.

Armandy had never been caught using Illusion Magic on a surveillance target before.

Thanks to his excellent magic, he had never been in serious danger.

Above all, as a Magic Supremacist and an elite, he was the object of envy of other agents.

Not only had he been brought down to the ground and made a laughingstock of by the 8th Prince, the best elite agent, but now he was being made to sneak into the 8th Prince's Palace and commit theft.

And to fail even at that.

Armandy cast a soundproofing spell and screamed like a madman.

"You should have at least given me my notebook back, you crazy bastard!"