♢ A Year Ago ♢
“Good work, Eugene! I’m impressed you buttered up that Demon Queen!” the headmaster exclaimed after I returned from my night with Eri. He’d agreed to exempt me from tuition until I graduated rather than for a single year. “She asked to meet you at regular intervals, so she must have really liked you. How did you do it? If you don’t mind letting me in on your secret, of course.”
“Wh-Who knows? I sure don’t,” I replied awkwardly.
“Hmm... I’m dying to know, but I suppose that can wait. I’m sure you’re exhausted, so get some well-earned rest back in your room. When you have time, there’s a student I’d like you to meet. Here’s my letter of introduction, so go meet her at your leisure.”
“Uh, sure. Understood,” I replied with a nod, and the headmaster patted me on the shoulder.
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, I went to the giant round building at the back of the school. The words “Biology Club—Sixth Sealed Prison” were written on the door. It was a different building from the Seventh Sealed Prison, where the Demon Queen was confined. I looked down once again at the memo attached to the letter of introduction from the headmaster.
♢ Memo ♢
The First to Seventh Sealed Prisons of Lykeion Magic Academy are maintained by the Biology Club, of which I am the adviser. To make things easier in the future, I’d like you to join this club, as well as inform the president of this. I’ve written this letter to explain things in more detail.
The club president’s name is Medea, and she lives in the clubroom within the Sixth Sealed Prison. I’m counting on you.
Headmaster Uther Mercurius Pendragon
I looked up from the letter and sighed. “So where is the clubroom?”
The inside of the Sixth Sealed Prison was a rainforest, and the humidity had turned the ground muddy. It was hard to see and walk.
Grr...
In the distance, I heard the growling of some massive creature—likely something belonging to the Biology Club. Now that I think about it, I don’t know what they’re keeping inside the Sixth Sealed Prison. The headmaster hadn’t given me any details.
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, Eugene! After all, you entered the forbidden Seventh Sealed Prison without suffering any ill effects!” he’d said before throwing his head back and laughing.
I wished I’d thought of pressing for more details, but there was no point in dwelling on regrets. I’ll hide my presence, then. Camouflaging myself with Barrier Magic, I ventured deeper into the Sixth Sealed Prison. The headmaster had drawn a simple map on the letter of introduction, showing me how to get to the clubroom within the prison.
Why do I need a map to navigate a school building? It hammered home just how extraordinary this academy was. The military academy had been spacious as well, but it was nowhere near Lykeion’s scale.
Boom! A gargantuan creature suddenly appeared right next to me. I hadn’t sensed its approach at all; it had fallen from the sky.
Oh, what the hell? I hid myself in a tree’s shadow and held my breath.
Rustle rustle rustle...
A giant dragon was shuffling about mere spear lengths away. I slowly backed away and beat a hasty retreat. After walking in the opposite direction for a bit, I came across an artificial pool; although I was still inside a building, it was the size of a lake. In the pool, a water dragon and its baby were swimming happily. On the shore, an earth dragon was warming itself in the sunlight. Apparently, this prison even let in natural light.
✦ ✦ ✦
That was when I finally realized what this place was. The Sixth Sealed Prison is a dragon’s nest?! He could’ve warned me in advance! I hated that irresponsible headmaster.