Chapter 6

"Really, it didn't move at all, did it?"

Following the kind gatekeeper's instructions, I crossed the mountain range and arrived at the Kingdom of Rhodes, the destination.

An acquaintance of Grandpa's, named Maribel, apparently attends a school in the capital.

"That's the capital, huh?"

It was quite a large city.

Searching blindly would be a daunting task, so I asked the guards at the capital's gate.

"Where is the school where someone named Maribel is?"

"Maribel? That would be the Hero School."

"Hero School?"

"It's a school created to train the next generation of heroes. Every year, outstanding young people from all over the country, and even the world, gather here to enroll."

"Wow."

"Are you perhaps an applicant? Unfortunately, it's not the enrollment period right now."

"No, I just came to meet someone named Maribel."

"Maribel? Ha ha ha, unfortunately, even the students of the school rarely get to meet Maribel. I don't think it will be that easy."

"Is that so?"

Still, Edel had no other leads.

If he couldn't meet her, he would be in trouble.

"Well, I'll just go to this Hero School."

Following the directions from the guard, he saw a long, imposing wall stretching out.

It seemed to have a vast area.

"Is this the Hero School?"

Finding the entrance gate, he tried to enter, but an alarm started ringing.

Soon, men who looked like security guards rushed over.

"You're not a student of the school, are you?"

"Huh? Yeah, that's right."

"Entry is prohibited for non-students."

It seemed that an alarm would sound if someone who wasn't pre-registered tried to enter.

"I came to meet someone named Maribel."

"Maribel, the principal? Do you have an appointment?"

"An appointment?"

"Do you have a prior arrangement to meet her?"

"No, I don't."

"Then there's no point. Go back, go back."

"Then, can I make an appointment now?"

"No, that would be difficult. The principal is very busy. I hear that the schedule is booked solid for more than half a year."

"Half a year?"

Of course, he couldn't wait that long.

"In that case, could you pass this letter to her?"

Since she was an acquaintance of Grandpa's, if she read it, there might be some kind of response.

"Hey, you know..."

But the security guard sighed in exasperation.

"As you know, the principal is a hero that this country, and indeed the world, is proud of. Letters and gifts come in by the mountain every day. Naturally, it would be too dangerous to hand over something from an unknown sender."

It seemed that even passing the letter would be difficult.

"Hmm, what should I do..."

Edel stepped back from the gate and folded his arms in thought.

Unfortunately, Grandpa hadn't taught him what to do in such situations.

Still, it was certain that Maribel, an acquaintance of Grandpa's, was here.

"Entry is prohibited, huh?"

Looking closely, he noticed that not only the entrance but also the wall had magical treatment.

If he tried to force his way in, the alarm would sound again, and the security guards would come running.

"But this isn't much of a big deal. I can easily get past it."

Analyzing the magic, he quickly realized it was very simple.

This level of security could be bypassed with a light stealth spell.

Edel leaped over the wall and entered the grounds.

The alarm did not sound.

Edel, who had tackled numerous "castles" and dungeons with Grandpa, found this to be a piece of cake.

"Now, the problem is where Maribel is..."

There were several similar buildings on the grounds, and he had no idea where to start.

But after wandering around for a while, he noticed something.

"Hmm? ...That building, is it more heavily secured than the others? I have a feeling that's where she is."

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