Chapter 2 (1/2)

And, when we finally reached the tenth floor,

「This here is the Headmaster’s room.」

Lania told me. The staircase has already ended at this level. There were many doors and rooms on the lower floors, but this floor has only one room ahead. How much time did it take to climb up here?

「I know you lived by the country side but here, the headmaster is the most important person in the academy. The headmaster was once a wizard of a great guild, a former adventurer, who fought and defeated Demon King. Sadly, the guild disbanded after Demon King’s subdual.」

「Eh…the demon king….defeated,huh…」

I have heard about this story. The great adventures of the heroes who toppled the Demon King’s reign and subdued him.

If not for them, we won’t have this peaceful life. Monsters who roamed about are really few compared to time when the demon king reigned.

But it doesn’t mean that when they defeated the demon king, all the monsters are gone, there are still demons in unknown lands, as well as those that live in unexplored dungeons.

By the way, a guild is an organization where different adventurers gather together, the so-called ‘Adventurer’s Guild’. Those that can graduate from the academy can join a guild and take up different missions called ‘quests’. There are quests such as monster subjugation, dungeon exploration, as well as collecting materials. It may be said that quests decide the world’s affairs and development. This is second-hand information I got from my master and foster parent, Eine.

「Therefore, I ask you to please show respect and be polite in front of the headmaster. Though you are little bit c.o.c.ky, I don’t like a person who gets angry easily.」

Lania knocked on the door saying,

「Excuse us, headmaster. I brought the adventurer cadet that I recommended.」

After Lania finished speaking, the door slowly opened by itself.

(Heee….to be able to use magic to open a door…)

It seems that the headmaster is fond of elaborate planning. I am quite fond of that youthful att.i.tude.

「Please excuse us.」

I followed Lania into the headmaster’s room. Sitting behind a long desk with his elbows on top of the desk was the discernible figure of an old man.

(ehh…so this old man is the headmaster, huh…)

Because i heard about him being being a great wizard, I imagined him to have a long beard and a robe instead of this healthy-looking grandpa.

He wears a black robe that stretched along his back. In his face was a fearless amile, filled with confidence, without any sign of his age. Doesn’t he have to had a white hair and a long beard if he is old? His bushy beard was trimmed beutifully, looking very clean, far from my image of a so-called ‘wizard’. It was very hard to discern his true age.

「Sorry to keep you waiting. This person here is――」

「Oh, are you Mars-kun? I am the head of this academy, Cadus Liner」

「I’m Mars Ruina.」

「Mars! Mind your language when speaking to the headmaster….!」

Lania was feeling helpless. Sorry, but I have not received education since I was born so I did not know the usage of honorifics in speech.

「No need, i don’t mind it. So, has Mars-kun already heard about the purpose of the academy?」

「About it being an academy that trains adventurers?」

「My Royal academy of jupiter is the only academy supported by ten countries to bring up adventurers in the continent. In other words, most of the people entering this academy aims to be an adventurer.」

When I first met Lania, she told me the same thing but,

「I never really wanted to be an adventurer. The only reason I came here because Lania invited me to.」

Actually, I spend everyday lazing around and if I ran out of money, I’ll just hunt a monster and earn some income for myself. I spent my days doing worthless things repeatedly, such was my life. But that doesn’t mean that I’m dissatisfied in my way of leaving. Simply I was bored when I accidentally saved Lania, so I decided to accept her invitation in becoming an adventurer.

That’s the only reason. Really—

「I already heard about the story from Lania-sensei. In your case, there is a special reason why we asked you to enroll at our academy. Of course, we won’t force you to become an adventurer. But isn’t there a reason why you decided to enroll in our academy?」

「A reason….」

Though I did lived through everyday just lazing around and being idle, there is one thing which I wanted. I won’t be ablee to get it if I continue to live alone in the mountains. Therefore, I had an expectation that my wish might be fulfilled when Lania asked me if I wanted to be an adventurer. So,

「One, I only have one reason.」

「And what would that be?」

Asked the headmaster, looking very curious,