The invention Kunon’s team had made ended up being linked—completely unexpectedly—to myth. Kunon had already been given a detailed explanation of that unbelievable affair. And yet, apparently, they hadn’t even gotten to the main reason Clavis and the shadow woman had called him out.
“As I said before, a very small-scale Creation took place, but that isn’t an everyday occurrence because of where dark spirits are found.”
“Where they’re found…?”
Kunon went back over what they had talked about earlier.
Dark spirits were said to prefer dark, cramped places. Evidently, they were partial to entering—or maybe getting caught inside of…?—environments like the Spell Vault, which had been sealed up very tightly to avoid any gaps or openings.
“Is that because dark spirits stay in the dark, and thus, under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t come into contact with light spirits?”
“Precisely,” Clavis replied. Kunon seemed to have hit the nail on the head. “We’re talking about the root of Creation here. If it had taken place at its usual scale, it wouldn’t have ended with some measly forest. This is how worlds are born. I expect it would have been an event large enough to destroy this universe and generate a whole new one.”
That sounds a bit hyperbolic, Kunon thought.
But then again, if he took the topic at face value, wasn’t that exactly what Creation entailed?
“So backtracking a bit—this Spell Vault. It’s ended up with an unintended utility…or risk, perhaps, beyond what you kids designed it for.”
Kunon nodded. Clavis had been right; this was what they’d really wanted to discuss with him—the part of the conversation that came after the explanation of the forest’s appearance.
“As use of the Spell Vault spreads, there’s a chance that dark spirits will take up residence inside them.”
And wherever light and dark spirits met, another incident like this would occur.
The collateral damage had been limited to a single school building this time. But who knew where the next such event would take place? Depending on the location, the results could be disastrous.
It was a matter of scale. The scope of damage was minor in this case…or, actually, Kunon wasn’t so sure about that.
He got the feeling that the Sacred Tree’s involvement had limited the effects—or was it the other way around?
He didn’t understand any of it. Since he was so befuddled by it all, the safest option was probably to prevent it from happening again. And that meant the Spell Vault’s marketability was in jeopardy.
“Do we need to suspend development?” Kunon asked with determination, steeling himself for the worst.
Though the Spell Vault was not yet complete, it was showing some promise of success. It was still far from practical use, but the team was committed to improving it in the future.
If he had to tell them development was suspended, he would prefer to do so right away. The sooner the better, really. All the experience and expertise they had earned would come in handy someday, so stopping the project now didn’t have to mean all their hard work was for nothing.
Above all, time was a precious resource. They couldn’t afford to waste it continuing a project that would only be suspended.
As a child of nobility, Kunon would have to return to his home country someday. His time at magic school was limited.
But things went a little different than he’d expected.
“No,” Clavis replied casually. “Unless there’s a serious need, we will not infringe on your rights as students. That goes double for Advanced class experiments.”
“We’re suggesting the opposite, in fact,” the shadow woman added. “Viewed one way, this is a box that could induce young spirits that haven’t yet developed a sense of self to stay put. We see value in that. Spirit guiding and summoning methods exist, but dark spirits are particularly challenging. The summoning part isn’t very difficult, but they scamper back to where they came from as soon as they’re able. That’s where this box would come in handy. With this, dark spirits could be temporarily confined.”
Kunon supposed that was possible. He didn’t know anything about spirits, however, so he couldn’t really gauge what that would mean.
Then again, if something as unbelievable as Creation had happened, then whatever the shadow woman was talking about had to be a big deal.
“But carrying on as before isn’t an option, either, right?”
Even if Clavis and the woman thought it was fine, Kunon had been made all too aware of the risks posed by the Spell Vault. He was already of the opinion that it shouldn’t be released into the world. At least, not in its current form.
It still wasn’t yet ready for practical use, however, so other issues had to be sorted out before the question of its release was even raised.
“What do you mean? All you’d have to do is make the inside less hospitable to dark spirits. That’s simple enough, isn’t it?”
“Oh, of course.”
It was indeed simple. Based on what Kunon had learned about dark spirits, they wouldn’t enter—or get caught inside of…?—a place with even a smidgen of light.
Engineering a gap in the box would be complicated, but making the magic circles inscribed on the interior luminescent enough to repel dark spirits would likely take no time at all.
“Besides, it’s an interesting magic tool. What does it do once you put a spell inside of it?”
“Oh, it’s intended to store the spell for a non-magical person to use.”
“Ah, I see! So that’s what you’re going for! I thought you might be keeping spells of other attributes inside for use as needed.”
“It’s certainly where I’d like to end up, though the product is nowhere near complete.”
“I can tell. From the looks of it, I’d guess this thing is only capable of maintaining a weak spell for one or two days.”
“Not to mention the power required to maintain the contents is probably nothing to sneeze at. It’s a long way from being useful.”
“That’s exactly right,” agreed Kunon. “The one you’re holding now, Professor Clavis, is an early prototype. But the newest model needs a ton of work, too. And it took us half a year of development to get even that far…”
Their conversation soon turned lively. Sorcerers were all the same at heart, after all. With a shared subject at hand, they couldn’t help but get excited.
Despite their spirited discussion, the three sorcerers had already discussed all the necessary points.
In short, all they’d wanted to talk about were improvements and requirements regarding the Spell Vault’s production. That was it.
“Can I ask just one more thing?”
Knowing there was no better time, Kunon had taken the opportunity to ask a variety of questions. Many things had been weighing on his mind, but there was one question he hadn’t dared to touch on. Depending on the answer, it may have been nothing but a waste of time. That was why Kunon decided he would save it for last.
As the conversation came to a close and he was given permission to leave, Kunon stood up and said it: “Can I ask just one more thing?”
“What is it?”
Beneath his eye mask, Kunon’s gaze shifted to the shadow at Clavis’s side.
“Is that lady there… Could she possibly be…the world’s greatest witch…?”
Several times during their discussion, Clavis had referred to the shadow woman as Gray. And every time, it made Kunon’s heart leap in his chest.
As that was happening, he remembered that he had seen something like the shadow once before—during his match with the Inferno Prince. He’d fought until every last drop of his magic was spent, and Kunon’s recollection of all aspects of the duel other than Gioelion was hazy at best. That was why he hadn’t thought of it until now.
Despite this, he’d refrained from confirming the woman’s identity up to this point.
If she was Gray Rouva, well. Well.
The thought alone made his pulse pound. His heart was racing at a full sprint.
The world’s greatest witch—also known as the best magic user in the world. The one every other sorcerer revered.
Kunon wasn’t confident he would be able to address her directly if he was cognizant of who he was speaking with. As it was, he had already committed a blunder unworthy of a gentleman: groping her body only moments after they’d met. He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
“That’s right,” Clavis replied easily, unaware of the way Kunon’s chest was throbbing.
And so, he was no longer able to forgive himself.
His body seemed disinclined to show him mercy, either, what with the way his ribs had started to ache. Even if his mind had been willing to pardon his behavior, his body was not.
“Introduce yourself, Gray.”
Now Clavis was demanding she introduce herself? To a first-year student who was still only floundering about at the entrance to the magical world?
Kunon wondered if his heart would explode. It was beating even faster than when he had gained his magical perception or invented the Glass Eye.
“I’m Gray Rouva. I usually disguise my voice and speak like a stereotypical old woman, but this is closer to how I naturally sound. I’ve already lived so long, you see—I have to stay young at heart or my age will catch up with me mentally.”
Voice and tone both brimming with youth, Gray Rouva, formerly known as the shadow woman, announced herself without hesitation.
“…Um, earlier, I behaved in such an ungentlemanly, despicable way…”
Kunon’s chest hurt. He had asked for verification, and now he regretted it.
To think he had groped the body of the world’s greatest witch because his curiosity had gotten the better of him. What in the world had he done?
Now he was breaking out in a cold sweat. He’d simply had to know before he could walk away, and this was the result of giving in to that desire.
“Earlier?” asked the witch.
“He’s probably referring to touching you,” said Clavis.
“Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. You could tell by touching, couldn’t you? My body isn’t here.”
Please tell me everything about that!
That was what Kunon wanted to say, but he bit the words back.
His heart had very noticeably skipped a beat, too, as if begging him to stop.
Even if she explained herself, he was sure he wouldn’t understand. After all, in that moment, Kunon hadn’t the slightest clue what that shadow was—not one. He didn’t even understand how it was possible, so he was sure it would be beyond his grasp.
Someday, if he acquired enough knowledge and skill to comprehend it, then he would ask.
He needed to acclimate himself a bit more, too. If he ever got more worked up than he was right then, he didn’t think his body could withstand it.
“Thank you very much.”
Feeling grateful on so many levels, Kunon gave his thanks and left the classroom.
He stepped outside in a mild daze. He’d just met the world’s greatest witch. He’d even spoken with her.
He didn’t know if he was overcome with emotion or merely shaken to his core.
Kunon stood, unmoving, until his heart calmed down.