Reborn as the Head of the Stolen Mage Family

Chapter 71

A few hours ago.

All the students, who should have been asleep, came out of their tents and gathered in the campsite plaza.

Faint irritation was visible on their sleepy, disheveled faces.

Having just woken up, they had no idea why they had been roused in the middle of the night.

A moment later.

Fred and Brenda walked up before the murmuring students.

The two professors' expressions were so grave that the students, who had been merely annoyed, gradually woke up.

“This is a real situation, so I will get straight to the point. The grade vice president, Eddie Summerson, left the campsite during the night and headed for the ruins.”

“Footprints leading from Mr. Summerson’s tent to the ruins were found, and an appraisal magic investigation confirmed they were indeed Mr. Summerson's own footprints, not a case of abduction or kidnapping.”

“He really left?”

“Alone? At this hour?”

The news completely woke the students.

The somewhat absurd news caused hollow laughter to erupt here and there, which soon escalated into harsh reactions like, ‘Is he insane?’

“It’s true. Look at those footprints.”

One of the students pointed toward the entrance.

Everyone’s gaze turned in that direction.

Footprints, still shimmering with a golden aura from the traces of appraisal magic, led out of the campsite.

The students' gazes upon the footprints were not kind.

Just how much did he covet the mana of the ruins to have left in secret, not even thinking to erase his footprints?

The fact that he, who was already strong enough, would break the rules to covet more power did not sit well with the students.

“I guess he wanted to try and overcome the barrier of his status, even if it meant doing this.”

The upper-class students nodded at one student’s sarcastic remark.

It seemed that no matter how outstanding a tail was, it was still a tail.

To display such greed so soon after receiving attention as the vice president proved he was, after all, an incorrigible commoner.

So he was just a predictable guy after all.

An opinion critical of Eddie quickly took hold among the students.

But the professors’ investigation results were not yet finished.

“It seems that while heading to the ruins, Eddie Summerson… encountered a magical beast.”

“……!”

“From the halfway point to the ruins, Eddie’s footprints were found alongside the tracks of a magical beast. From that, it appears he wasn’t dragged away, but went with it.”

The students’ brows, which had been narrowed in ridicule and contempt, widened.

They gaped, mulling over the words they had just heard.

A magical beast, last seen over 50 years ago.

The very beast said to appear only before mages with extremely powerful mana had appeared.

And it was before a mere first-year academy student.

But what was even more shocking was that the beast hadn't devoured or harmed Eddie, but had headed to the ruins ‘together’ with him.

The students had learned from the morning’s lecture what it meant for ‘a magical beast not to harm a mage.’

Their astonishment grew even greater as they recalled one of the examples, the story of King Phoenix of Embas.

“Th-then what does that mean… that Eddie Summerson guy has enough mana to summon a magical beast?”

“And he left such clear footprints just like that because… he was too preoccupied following the beast……?”

“But why did the magical beast come all the way down here instead of staying in the ruins? Don’t tell me… Eddie’s mana is that powerful?”

The murmuring students shivered with an unidentified, chilling sensation.

The information left in their minds was no longer that of a ‘presumptuous tail trying to overstep his bounds.’

A strange sense of awe for the power Eddie possessed, along with the fear of the magical beast, captivated them.

At the same age of 14 as them, he had not only attracted the attention of a magical beast but had even accompanied it to the ruins.

They knew he was outstanding, but this was a level they couldn't even begin to fathom.

Gulp.

The sound of swallowing could be heard from here and there.

The two professors observed the students' reactions and nodded to themselves.

One of the main objectives of the plan had been smoothly achieved.

‘The atmosphere and buzz among the students have been well-established.’

‘Then we should prepare for the reaction from elsewhere.’

The next thing to deal with was the external reaction.

The most urgent was the city hall, which would react as soon as it heard the news.

Before them stood Blake and the Lacania city hall employees, who had rushed over with ashen faces upon hearing the news.

The two professors discussed the situation with the city hall side, their faces filled with genuine worry.

But soon, their faces hardened at Blake’s successive questions.

“S-so… for now, is it certain that the missing student is the Kirhausen family’s tail, no, attendant?”

“Yes, it is certain. Fortunately, he wasn’t dragged away by the magical beast……”

“Are you absolutely certain? That it’s the attendant and not the Kirhausen heir.”

“…Yes. It is certain.”

A sigh of relief followed.

It couldn't have been more obvious what Blake was thinking right now.

Only Fred and Brenda knew about the plan, so for Blake, this disappearance must have been a real situation.

He was so disgustingly pitiful for asking such a cruelly transparent question.

“Haa… This is driving me crazy. For a magical beast to appear, of all things……”

“Aide, the mayor said he will be coming here immediately. And he has ordered that the missing student be brought back safely as soon as possible.”

“…We must. Professors, what are your plans? By any chance… has the academy already been informed of this situation?”

After muttering with a city hall employee, Blake looked at the two professors with a rather desperate expression.

As long as no harm comes to me.

While even the mayor was expressing concern, at least with his words, his inner thoughts were truly transparent.

At such a sight, Fred’s face reddened with anger, and Brenda quickly stepped forward in his stead.

“Of course. The dean should have been reported to by now……”

“Professor!”

“Professor, we’re in big trouble!”

It was then that Joy and Alexein’s urgent voices were heard.

Their faces were ashen as they returned from checking the number of students.

“What is it?”

“Besides Eddie… two more are missing.”

“What…?”

“Two more are missing, you say. Who are you talking about?”

“Marcel Kirhausen and Hendricks Dean.”

“Heok……!”

Along with Blake’s gasp as if he were about to stop breathing, the faces of the Lacania city hall employees turned deathly pale.

The disappearance of the next head of the Kirhausen family, the very thing they had been so worried about, had occurred.

A magical beast preys on those with weaker mana than itself.

It would be great if Eddie Summerson was overwhelmingly strong and could protect Marcel Kirhausen as well… but what were the chances of that?

The worst-case scenario automatically popped into the minds of Blake and the city hall employees.

‘Marcel Kirhausen might be killed by the magical beast.’

Blake’s lips trembled with fear.

He looked at the two professors with a complexion that suggested he was about to faint.

But this was an incredibly bewildering moment for the two professors as well.

There was no place for Marcel and Hendricks in the play they and Eddie had prepared.

Could the plan have been leaked?

No, no matter how they thought about it, that wasn’t it.

Even if the two students had found out about Eddie’s plan, it made no sense for them to go out themselves to stop it.

“Professor Jin, just a moment…”

Fred moved to a spot a little ways away with Brenda.

The two whispered quickly in low voices, exploring the cause and effect of this unexpected situation.

‘It can’t be a tailing. There’s no way His Excellency wouldn’t have noticed such a clumsy tailing.’

‘It must mean the two students’ departure is unrelated to our plan.’

‘Right. It’s unrelated to the plan. But it will cause a setback in the plan.’

‘For now, we must find the three students, including His Excellency, as quickly as possible.’

‘Yes. A variable has appeared, but since there’s nothing we can do about it right now, we must stick to the plan.’

The two professors whispered quickly without breaking the silence.

Despite the bewildering variable, their analysis of the situation flowed without obstruction.

But Joy was different.

It was her first time participating in such a plan and her first time encountering a variable, so she was still busy being flustered.

‘What happened, Eddie Summerson! And why did Marcel Kirhausen and that freckled guy disappear with you!’

Joy clenched her fists, damp with nervous sweat.

Noticing Joy’s state, Brenda looked back at Blake and spoke.

“Let’s form a search party and head to the ruins right now. I ask that the city hall side also gather personnel.”

She came to her senses.

A variable had arisen, but for now, pushing forward with the plan was the best course of action.

And above all, they were professors responsible for the students’ safety.

With three students out in the open where a magical beast roamed, it was their duty to find and bring them back.

Fred also nodded his head in agreement with Brenda’s decision.

But just then, Joy took a step forward and shouted.

“I’ll go too! Please let me join the search!”

“What?”

“No, it’s too dangerous.”

At her words about joining the search party, the two professors stepped forward one after another to stop her.

But Joy’s will was firm.

“I may be a probationary member, but I am still part of the student council. I too have a responsibility for the safety of my fellow students.”

Frankly, it wasn’t a very persuasive argument.

While fulfilling one’s duty as a student council member was important, it was more important now not to create another safety issue.

But this was all an act according to the planned script.

Joy, who had been flustered by the variable, had regained her composure and was reciting her originally agreed-upon lines.

The professors’ dissuasion was also intended to make her joining seem more natural.

In the end, after a few well-scripted arguments, it was decided that Joy would also join the search party.

“Instead, you will stay in the rear of the search party and only provide support. Under that condition, I permit you to join.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Alright. Then go change your clothes, grab your wand, and come to the professors’ tent.”

“Yes!”

The moment she got permission, Joy immediately ran to her tent.

Brenda’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her retreating back.

‘Indeed…….’

For now, she has passed.

Even if it was an act, her eyes showed sincerity and her actions held no hesitation.

It would be nice if she continued to show a good response.

Meanwhile.

The students who had witnessed the argument between Joy and the professors were struck dumb.

Situations that unfolded, escalated, and were decided in an instant.

On top of that, Joy’s swift decision and action surprised everyone.

Unlike themselves, who were busy being surprised and flustered, she quickly found what she could do and put it into action.

Whether Joy joining the search party was an overreach or not didn’t even cross the students’ minds.

A responsible attitude befitting the title of a grade executive.

Joy’s image was once again strongly imprinted in the students’ minds.

And on the other hand, another grade executive clenched his fists in anxiety.

‘…Damn it.’

It was Alexein.

As time passed, the color drained from his face.

He wanted to step forward and say he would participate in the search, but he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth.

Because he was scared.

‘A magical beast devours those with weak mana… then this is like prey walking right up to the beast on their own feet……!’

Alexein couldn’t comprehend Joy’s fearless attitude at all.

If the magical beast decided to attack, the professors might be fine, but he would surely die.

Was her sense of responsibility as a student council member so great that she would risk such a tremendous danger!

“Keuk……”

A groan-like whimper escaped through Alexein’s clenched teeth.

He was ashamed and anxious that while Joy, who wasn’t even part of the executive committee, was stepping up like that, he, the actual president, couldn’t even say a word.

The fact that this hesitation was actually a response appropriate for his age didn’t matter.

His group around him was saying something to him, but Alexein’s ears just let it pass.

‘If I do nothing here too… I’ll really become a nobody……!’

As if having made up his mind, Alexein took half a step forward and opened his mouth.

But.

“Then let’s go into the tent and have a strategy meeting.”

“Yes, let’s.”

The adults had already entered the professors’ tent before him.

In the end, Alexein’s resolve never made it out of his mouth.