"...There."


    Even afterpletely releasing the pressure applied with Obsidian, I was certain as I observed the unchanged Dragon Heart.


    Mei had already stopped controlling the mana. In other words, what was before my eyes was a perfect mana crystal.


    "Now, shall we remove Obsidian?"


    I spread my hand and pulled Obsidian towards me. Obsidian had also been considerablypressed to contain all the immense mana, but like my own limbs, it was absorbed into my bracers and ne without much difficulty.


    And what remained was a clear crystal of light.


    "A Dragon Heart with not a single speck of dragon mana."


    It had a shape like a thin ring bent into a triangle. It was amazing that this thin stick could contain such a tremendous amount of mana.


    "...Is that a Dragon Heart?"Mei, who had been watching, asked.


    Come to think of it, this must be the first time Mei has seen this. No, even in this world, few people have witnessed a Dragon Heart. It''s hard to even see a dragon in the first ce.


    "It''s actually inside a dragon''s body, but I think the structure is the same."


    Although it seemed to bepressed in a simple and crude way, it was still made while maintaining the blueprint of Weaving. The function and properties should be almost the same.


    "What are you going to do with it?"


    "If I hand it over to the Imperial Pce, Philly will use it to solve the Emperor''s weakness."


    "Philly... Philly... Ah, that person."


    Mei nodded as if she had recalled her memory.


    And she asked another question.


    "How are you going to send it?"


    "...Huh?"


    "Youpressed that much mana, and you''re just going to carry it around?"


    "..."


    At Mei''s words, I looked at the Dragon Heart silently.


    Unlike me, this immense mana is not hidden at all in the Dragon Heart.


    Even more so because Ipressed all the overflowing mana into this small thing and stuffed it in.


    The room where the Dragon Heart was stored was specially treated with magic, so the mana was concealed, but this one in front of me waspletely different.


    If I take this to the Imperial Pce as it is, I have nothing to say even if I am mistaken for a bomb terrorist.


    "...You''re right?"


    "..."


    Mei''s cold eyes looked at me.


    * * *


    The next day, I went to Constel Academy as usual.


    There was only one way for me to send the Dragon Heart to the Imperial Pce now. To hand it over to Aten.


    However, I couldn''t bring the Dragon Heart to Constel, so I had to tell Aten the meeting ce in advance.


    "It feels like it''s been a while."


    From the mana injection incident to meeting Satan, my attendance at Constel Academy under the orders of the Imperial Pce had been indefinitely suspended, so it had been a long time since Ist attended school.


    "I heard the midterms areing soon."


    I remember how I struggled to get into the rankings around this timest year. It was a desperate struggle to avoid expulsion.


    I don''t need to do that anymore, but I still need to get some decent grades so as not to embarrass Enfer or Azier.


    Hmm, I guess I''ve gotten used to being a child of the Roach family.


    When I entered the school gate after a long time.


    Halt-


    "..."


    I took exactly one step and stopped.


    I looked around. Except for me, all the students were passing through the gate normally and continuing on.


    I raised my arm.


    Caw-


    A crow that was nearby flew andnded on my arm.


    [Why are you suddenly striking such a pose, Master?]


    Gregory asked in a yful tone. I guess it was too conspicuous in a ce with so many people.


    But there was something I had to check.


    I lowered my voice.


    "Gregory, did anything happen at Constel while I was away? You can just tell me normally."


    [...? Nothing in particr. Of course, watching you cause trouble here and there was my main source of amusement. But I haven''t neglected observing Constel. If there were any abnormalities that you could sense, all the students here would have felt them too.]


    "...I guess I was a little sensitive."


    In the scenery I see now, everyone except me is immersed in a peaceful daily life.


    In fact, even I don''t know what I felt and why I''m doing this. It''s not like I felt any particr malice, murderous intent, or even mana.


    It just felt like something was off with my ''sixth sense'', but now I don''t feel anything in particr, enough to call it my imagination.


    "Um, thanks. I''ll ask you againter."


    [Anytime.]


    The crow said that and flew away again.


    I swallowed my slightly uneasy feeling and walked towards the ssroom.


    * * *


    "...Hmm."


    Even when I reached the ssroom door, nothing had changed. Maybe I was just being too sensitive.


    I opened the ssroom door and stepped inside.


    "Oh, Frondier!"


    The first to greet me noticeably was Robald Lief.


    "You, you joined the pros and yed a key role in the mission, right? Thanks to that, you even went to the Imperial Pce. I''m envious, envious."


    "...Actually, you''re not really envious, are you?"


    "Of course! The Imperial Pce is just a hassle!"


    That''s so like Robald.


    "But there''s something I am envious of."


    "Huh?"


    "Your future is set."


    "Huh?"


    Robald said something I didn''t understand and then patted me on the shoulder and turned around.


    I felt like it was awkward to grab him, so I let him go.


    ''Set?''


    I didn''t understand what he meant, but I first greeted everyone who weed me.


    Then I found Aten, and since we had met at the Imperial Pce, I greeted her more casually than the others.


    "I''m sorry. I wanted to help, but I was practically confined to the mansion."


    "That was the right thing to do."


    There''s no way they would leave the princess alone after that incident. In Philly''s case, it''s the opposite because she''s in a position to handle power.


    I briefly observed Aten''s appearance. Aten was naturally wearing a school uniform. Aten, all dressed up at the Imperial Pce, was truly stunning, but I still prefer thisfortable feeling.


    "Aten, I have something to talk to you aboutter."


    "Is it something we can''t talk about here?"


    "Yeah. Not at Constel, somewhere where there''s no one around."


    "...Somewhere where there''s no one around...?"


    "Yeah. I have something to give you."


    "Something to give me...?"


    I nodded. Aten''s face hardened upon hearing my words. She seemed quite serious, so I added a word in case she misunderstood.


    "Ah, it''s not a serious matter. It''s actually good news. The thing I''m giving you is small enough to fit in one hand, so there''s no need to worry."


    It''s about restoring Bartello, Aten''s father. It would be truly joyful news for Aten.


    But Aten, upon hearing my words, opened her mouth slightly, then closed it, her Adam''s apple bobbing.


    "...How do you know beforehand whether it''s good news or not? How do you know what I''ll say? I might not like it..."


    "...Huh?"


    There''s no way. Of course she''ll be happy. In this case, there''s no need to judge whether it''s good or bad.


    "Don''t worry. It''s definitely good news."


    "...I see."


    Aten nodded as if she had made a deep resolution. Her white hair swayed.