She Professed Herself The Pupil Of The Wiseman (LN) - Volume 14 - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON. Everyone had decided that it was time to eat. Artesia said she’d be eating at the orphanage, to no one’s surprise.

Solomon stood up and remarked, “All right, then perhaps I will, too.” He figured he might as well visit the orphanage and get a look at the children.

Luminaria agreed and suggested that they might as well all go. And so, it was decided that they’d all go to the orphanage.

Hopping into a carriage and making their way there, Mira and her companions returned to the orphanage alongside Solomon, who’d changed into more subdued attire.

It seemed they were just in the process of getting ready for dinner. The teachers who could cook were showing off their chops in the kitchen, but without their head chef, Artesia, it looked as if they had their hands full.

“All right then. Would you mind waiting a bit?” Artesia said, heading to the kitchen.

From behind her, Solomon piped up, “I’ll help.”

He was the only one to say this. There seemed to be no one else among Mira’s companions who had enough confidence in their cooking skills to volunteer. The rest simply answered, “Sure thing,” and watched the two of them walk off.

The kitchen was connected to the cafeteria and was big enough to easily seat a hundred people. The children had already arrived, and they all came running over the moment the group stepped inside.

Lastrada was particularly popular with the boys in the senior class…

But this time, however, he was only drawing half the crowds he usually did. He had a challenger in the form of Luminaria.

She was acclaimed as the most powerful sorceress, and so beautiful that half of the boys were instantly taken with her. In addition to being right around the age when boys hit puberty, the fact that they’d lived in a secluded village probably figured into their reaction. Regardless of what she might be like on the inside, her striking beauty seemed to enrapture them.

Kagura, meanwhile, was hanging out with the girls in the senior class. They were on the same wavelength, excitedly giggling while engaging in girl talk. Some girls now seemed to be interested in Solomon.

One could hear them saying, “He’s so dreamy,” and “He’s really cute,” as they peeked in the kitchen.

Mira was unsurprisingly surrounded by students from the junior class, to whom she was reading a book.

“And so, Luminaria appeared none too bothered after nearly managing to blow up her own friends…”

The book was a children’s book of stories about the Nine Wise Men. Since they’d come to the Kingdom of Alcait, one of the teachers had bought the entire series.

Continuing to read while substituting the truth from time to time, Mira also made sure to throw in details that glamorized evocation whenever she found an opportunity to do so. This seemed to pay off, as the popularity of summoning among the junior class had skyrocketed within the past couple of days.

“Old man Danblf is amazing!”

“His dark knights sure are strong!”

Hearing the children’s innocent voices saying such things, Mira happily added, “Right?! You aren’t wrong there!”

After they’d finished with dinner, it was time to jump in the bath. First up was the junior class. It’d been decided that it was necessary to have a chaperone accompany them. While the staff usually took turns chaperoning them, today, Mira was nominated again for the job. More specifically, nominated by the junior class.

Mira had realized the last time that getting twenty children into the bath was by no means an easy feat. “Jeez, guess I don’t have a choice.”

And despite saying this, she demonstrated just how nurturing she was by adding, “Have you all got clothes to change into? Great, then let’s go.”

How could she possibly say no to the children who loved her so much? Mira sauntered over to the bathhouse with the children, who were so openly affectionate toward her.

Once again, bathtime was a very lively affair. Unlike the day before, this time, the children mostly listened to Mira, and it ended up being easy.

“Aaah, this is the life.”

Having finished her task, Mira sank relaxedly into the tub. The nearby children all crowded around her and, imitating Mira, said, “Aaah, this is the life.”

Getting out of the bath, they discovered that dinner had been cleaned up. Now it was the senior classes’ turn to jump into the bath. Leaving the rest to the teachers, Mira and her companions gathered in the director’s room.

“All right, seeing as we’re all here, how about we have a toast?”

Mira, Solomon, Luminaria, Kagura, Artesia, and Lastrada were all gathered together. Solomon must’ve been overjoyed. He uncorked a bottle, saying, “I’ve been saving this for a special occasion. To our reunion today and to those in the future…”

The room filled with the sound of his voice and the clear clinking of glasses. Solomon looked at everyone in the room, and a rare expression danced across his face: a smile of profound joy.

There were as many tales to tell as there were years that they’d been apart. And so, even though they were simply chatting, they did so into the deep hours of the night.

Given how long they talked, they covered an equally exhaustive range of topics. They shared stories of getting their hands on rare items, funny anecdotes, tales of adventure, how they were all currently doing and the situation in each country, and shady rumors.

Never running out of things to talk about, they occasionally laughed and sometimes exchanged news. Before they knew it, the next day had dawned. Taking the hint from a big yawn that Mira had let out, the group decided to call it a night.

“Thanks for everything, Kagura. Make sure to relay my thanks to all your friends as well.”

“Yeah, you really saved the day. Thanks!”

Having been thanked by Artesia and Lastrada once more, Kagura bashfully replied, “No worries.” Then, with a smile, she added, “All right then. Good night!” before switching places with one of her shikigami familiars and returning.

Artesia and the others extended their thanks to Solomon. He replied that he was only doing what a friend should before adding that he planned on discussing matters relating to the return of the Nine Wise Men when things calmed down.

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Since we’re back, it’ll all be fine.”

Hearing Artesia and Lastrada say this, Solomon nodded contentedly. Then he let Mira know there was something he wanted to give her, telling her to pop in the next day, and returned to the castle.

What could it be that he wanted to give her? Perhaps it was more funding? Hoping as much, Mira said good night to Artesia and the others and went to bed.

“Big Sis. It’s morning. Mooorniiing.”

Still half asleep, Mira heard the children calling out to her. As if being invited by these voices, Mira roused herself.

“Nmmm… Morning, huh…?”

Opening her eyes, Mira saw the smiling faces of the children, who’d been up and full of energy from first light. Slowly sitting up in bed, the children called out, “Big sis is awake!” They happily jumped up and down and managed to knock Mira back over again.

After sitting up and getting pushed down again several times, Mira said, “Come on now. Lemme go to the bathroom,” while gently tossing the children off of her bed.

Suleiman had picked out all the furnishings, and the bed in the guest room was quite nice. As a testament to its elasticity, it bore the full weight of the children as they bounced up and down. They must’ve quite enjoyed being tossed by Mira, as they kept begging to be thrown one more time. After doing so, Mira went to the bathroom and took some time to unwind.

“They sure are energetic for this early in the morning…”

It might’ve been the most boisterous morning for Mira on record. Smiling as she considered that, Mira finished up her business and spent the rest of the time until breakfast reading the book from before to the children. Their energy levels declined rapidly.

“This might be a problem…”

Once they were done eating breakfast together, it was time for the children to go about their studies. But it was also time to say goodbye.

She’d succeeded in getting the children safely to the Kingdom of Alcait. Her mission complete, Mira planned to see Solomon just like she’d agreed the night before and then return to the Tower of Evocation, where Mariana was waiting for her.

Mira’s time looking after the junior students was over.

Upon telling the children to take care, the junior class all erupted in tears. They threw a fit, and clung to Mira while whining, “No, don’t go.”

“I’ll come back to visit. Come on…”

Hearing their heartfelt and candid words, Mira hugged them, then patted them on their heads to calm them down. Despite only being with them a short time, they seemed to have taken a strong liking to her—enough to mourn her departure. She couldn’t break free of them by force, so she just stayed put, smiling bitterly to herself as she wondered what she would do.

“Hey, everyone. Your Big Sis Mira has a lot of work to do. She really has to go. But don’t worry because she’ll be coming back to visit. How about you all give her a nice send-off? How does that sound?” Artesia suggested, witnessing Mira’s plight. She’d been waiting for the right moment to speak. 

The moment she did, the chants for Mira not to go were silenced. Then one of the children said, “Will you really come back?”

That question was repeated by the rest of the children in an attempt to stave off their sadness with the hope that they’d see her again. Surely, there was no one who could say no to such pure and innocent voices.

“Hrmm, I’ll come back. How about I bring back a bunch of souvenirs for you next time? If I do, you’ll all behave yourselves, right?” Mira promised the children, who seemed so overcome with emotion that they had tears in their eyes. She hugged them one more time.

Turning around while on the road that led from the school to the castle, Mira waved back at the students, who were still waving at her. At the same moment, she glimpsed both Artesia and Lastrada. Two of the nine had finally returned to the Kingdom of Alcait.

They’re growing up just fine. Kids really are great.

Dealing with them could be tiresome, but it strangely also made her feel full of energy.

Satisfied by having completed her mission, Mira reflected on this apparent contradiction as she kept going a bit farther before turning to wave once more. She kept doing so until the children were completely out of sight.

Arriving at Solomon’s office, she discovered that she was the only one who’d come this morning. On his desk, she laid out all the souvenirs she’d gotten for him during her travels. She hadn’t had a chance to give them to him the day before.

“Wow, this is incredible. They’re even selling stuff like this, huh?”

Despite having gone all the way to Haxthausen, the main souvenirs she’d brought back were desserts that were slightly different than the ones in Alcait. But, as she’d expected, Solomon’s eye was drawn to the gas mask, camouflage cloak, and night-vision goggles that she’d purchased from Dinoire Trading.

“And since they’re made for adventurers, they’re all pretty high quality.”

Mira took out the set she’d purchased for herself and put it on, instantly transforming into a member of the special forces.

To a military nerd like Solomon, it must’ve looked especially cool. He donned his gear and ran over to a large mirror. He smiled, proclaiming, “Siiick!”

The two then took some time to enjoy the gear and its capabilities.

“Okay, there are more souvenirs, like I mentioned to you before. Have you got a place to store them?” Mira asked once they both calmed down, still garbed like a member of the special forces. The way she asked seemed to indicate that it was time for the main event.

“I certainly do,” Solomon answered. He’d mobilized a whole host of servants to sort out a space the day after he’d spoken with her about said souvenirs.

Leaving the office, the pair headed to the big underground vault beneath the castle. Due to the prior arrangements he’d made, a huge space stood completely empty.

“Hrmm…a space this wide should work just fine.”

Mira began unloading things from her item box into the space before her.

“To start, take these,” she said, handing him a metallic plate and an old, worn diary. She’d gotten them from defeating the Machina Guardian that lay at the very bottom level of the Ancient Underground City. One had been held by a mechanical doll that’d come out of the Machina Guardian, while the other was discovered among its broken wreckage.

“Ah, this is what you mentioned, huh? I see… It is odd, isn’t it?”

The jet-black metallic plate was covered in mysterious shapes that they were unable to make heads or tails of. Then there was the diary, which was largely indecipherable. However, the presence of the word “Japan” made it incredibly intriguing. Chances were important information lay within its pages.

They might be able to unravel some of the secrets of the world they were now in.

“We should probably send this over to the Hinomoto Committee. They’ve got people that specialize in this kind of stuff,” Solomon continued, carefully putting the metallic plate and the diary into his item box.

He then looked expectantly at Mira. They weren’t the only souvenirs that Mira had brought back from the Machina Guardian.

Sensing how high his hopes were, Mira took what it was he was waiting for out of her item box.

“Look and be amazed.”

One after another, giant chunks of metal piled up in front of her. They were none other than the precious remains of the Machina Guardian. It wasn’t like iron or mithril but rather a mysterious and unknown metal. In order to make the best use of the pieces, they would need to determine the metal’s specific properties. It was unlikely that they’d be able to craft anything anytime soon.

This was the metal that the Machina Guardian had been made of. If they could find a way to use it, it would most definitely be a boon to the Kingdom of Alcait.

“Seeing it all like this, it really is incredible,” Solomon said in astonishment As he looked upon the mountain of metal that’d taken half an hour to simply unload from her item box.

On the surface, it looked like nothing but broken debris. But amidst the broken chunks of it lay machinery constructed using unknown technology. Were an expert to look at it, they would no doubt determine that it was all extremely valuable.

“This looks like it’ll be worth examining,” Solomon said, adding that it’d be a waste to simply use it like they would any other metal. Happy to have received such a magnificent souvenir, his eyes shined brightly.

“I went out of my way to bring it back, so put it to good use,” Mira said haughtily, as if expecting he’d be impressed.

Solomon simply answered, “I certainly will,” before adding that it was probably a good idea to contact the Hinomoto Committee about it as well. But then he smirked, saying that he’d be keeping his hands on all of it.