The Mysterious Black Magician

Before their talk reached the end, he asked, "Right, headmaster, why me?" Though his growth was beyond normal, he won't claim that he was the strongest in the guild.

There were lots of stronger and veteran adventurers who he hadn't met yet, he was still new in the guild. And it isn't like he was on par with those high-ranking top adventurers.

He stared at the headmaster with a curious face.

The headmaster's red lips extended and formed a smile. "It is because of your abilities and looks," Yman was puzzled from her reply. He understands that at the moment he looks like a handsome Encan male. Though these looks were the effect when he used the modifying ability on himself. His height, hair and eyes color, and even his ears, he could modify them, but it was very taxing on himself to maintain it in a day.

Seeing the doubt on his face, the headmaster leaned her back on the soft leaning back of the sofa and put her right-thigh on top of her left, then she continued saying, "It is easy for you to sneak in the academy as a new student. With your age and looks, you can admit there as a sophomore or even as a freshman student.. In that sense..... you can guard her even inside the academy," she said.

He finally understood, however, he doubted that the reason was only like that.

If he wasn't wrong, probably, she chose him because if ever he tried to make some foul move, it was easy for them to hunt him.

And maybe she based it on his performance in every mission he completed recently, and on how he mostly used defensive spells only.

So probably, for her, he was more harmless than those stronger adventurers. Looks like the headmaster had a trust issue. And so for her, he was the most suited person in this job. Not too strong and not weak either, and had the fittest abilities to act as a bodyguard.

"....."

But what?! Academy?! Yman suddenly took notice of her words. Did the headmaster want him to attend the Academy?

"A-Academy.....?" Yman repeated in a mutter.

Clink!

Laura placed the fork on top of the small plate which caused a slight scraping sound, then she nodded and said, "Mhm, the Encantasia Academy."

E-E-Encantasia Academy?! Isn't it for nobles only?! And if what he heard these past days of staying here were true, that academy was where most of the royals from different kingdoms attended! Yman was astounded. 

There were 5 Kingdoms under the Encantasia empire. These 5 kingdoms, although not as big as the four leading kingdoms of these worlds, they both have strong armies and are rich in different resources.

Nonetheless, most of their royal family members went to the Encantasia Academy to learn both magic and academics. Because this academy was special and only members of royalties and high nobles could attend.

So basically, Miss Ella was not an ordinary noble?! Yman exclaimed under his breath.

He was stunned for a moment before he went back to reality, "Wait, wait, wait, headmaster, isn't that academy for super nobles and royalties only? You see I'm a nameless individual and an orphan to boot. In spite of that, I do not own a handful of land," Yman immediately affirmed.

(A/N: In this empire, 'nameless' means peasant. Because only nobles had the right to own a name — for the nameless, they were called with nicknames and no actual surname.)

Actually, it was also one of the reasons why he got in trouble the first time he went to the adventurers guild. Because they thought he was a noble and those guys seemingly had enmity towards them. So when they saw him, they tried to pick a fight on him. 

In front of Yman, Ella also had an unbelievable face. More-on when she heard him saying that he was a nameless orphan. Ella could not believe it. How could it be possible? He looks like a noble no matter how anyone saw it. On top of that, he has unique abilities! She wondered.

Anyhow, it was impossible for him to attend the Encantasia Academy with that background, and besides, isn't it embarrassing that someone would be tailing her? Not even her cousin the princess of Encantasia Empire did that. 

"Right, Aunty, is it not awkward that there is a guy following you all around? And besides, could he even be qualified there?" Ella followed up.

Laura found their reactions very amusing. She took a sip of coffee before answering both of their worries, "Fufu," she chuckled. "You don't need to concern yourself with such things. I will do the rest of the work for it to become possible," said the headmaster.

Regardless, she was telling him that she would do something about it right? Well if that's the case, then he needed only to win against his opponent in a first match to get the favor of Miss beauty in front of him.

He noticed the girl in front took a spoon of cake and pushed it in her mouth with a pout.

Yman scratched his face and said, "Don't worry Miss Ella, I don't need to be at your tail. As long as the distance between you and me didn't pass 50 meters, I will do what I can to make you safe," Well, he needed the money and that Rank A Soul of Advancement. That's why Yman had to do it. But he cannot guarantee that he could give 100 percent protection to her.

Ella raised a brow from his words. Yman felt he just spoke something embarrassing. This was so out of his character to boldly claim to protect someone. Looks like, money shrouded his logical thinking.

On his shoulder, Sistela wasn't bothered by their conversation. At the moment, she was browsing the online market, checking for the limited edition item that was being posted there. There was a list of 100 different kinds of Wings being posted. Every hour, 1 wing was taken out of the list when some unknown people in the world ordered it. She seemed unrest and having a sad face whenever the icon of the Wing she had interest turned gray color — signified that it was being ordered. Her tiny face darted back and forth to his owner and to the item posted in the online market.

Unaware of her predicament, Yman wanted to take back what he just said. But it was already too late as he already spoke it.

Regardless, he must take advantage of the offer. The headmaster said that it would only last for several weeks. As long as he could make her safe in that long, everything would be fine. He could even return to the city much sooner.

Now that Yman thought about it, It might also be a great chance to spy in the prestigious academy of super magic, the Encantasia Academy.

"Fufufu, you heard him," Laura said to her niece. Then she added, "In that case, good luck for your first match Crimson," Laura cheered him.

"Well, let's see first if he can pass the challenge," Ella muttered. It wasn't like he disliked him as her guard, it was just weird that someone would be following her.

She came here because her Aunt the current Empress of Encantasia Empire and former Queen of the Mangrove Kingdom sent her here to ask for protection from Laura. 

Since the adventurer guild was famous in this empire for having many high-level members that were experts in special missions such as stealthy, reconnaissance, and ambush missions. And vice versa, they are also good at counter-attacks. Laura was the sister of Ella's father, and her mother was the sister of the current Empress.

So her situation was kind of special, not just that, she was a popular artist. Most people in the empire knew about her as Ella the artist. But only a few knew her for being a princess. And these past days, she noticed some people who she thought were stalkers.

The situation in the Mangrove Kingdom wasn't good at the moment. Currently, her grandfather retook the throne after her Aunt became the Empress of Encantasia. Since her mother has been suffering from an illness for a long time. And she was still too young to rule the Kingdom, at that time. 

Before the talk ended, he asked them, "Who were the people that after the life of Miss Ella? Regardless, why was she being targeted anyway?"

Laura and Ella explained to him the situation.

About 7 o'clock pm that their meeting had ended. He first went back to the guild bar to eat after the meeting.

Afterward, he was strolling the street together with Sistela towards the Inn where he was staying. The Guild Hall was located in the northern part of the main city. Whereas the inn where he was staying was at the Flamingo Town. It was located on the east side of the empire.

The place has only a total of 1,500 population and it was the smallest out of all towns in the empire.

In order to arrive here, from the main city, Yman has to ride a carriage for as good as 5 hours. Since it was located 250 kilometers away from the main city. Whereas, if he rode on a transport bird, it only took him 2 hours and 30-50 minutes. Good thing that he had his own Hell Chaser bird, so he arrived at the town before 10 pm.

When they arrived at the inn, it was already 10:30 pm.

But Yman did not immediately go inside. Instead, he proceeded to the near forest, about 200 meters away on the back of the Inn.

The surroundings were unperceivable by ordinary people. But even without using his trusted Map Section to illuminate the place, it seemed like the darkness was nothing to him as he proceeded walking without a hitch to the forest.

Actually, after his contract with the demon, his perception ability had increased to an unimaginable degree.

In this forest, some low ranking hostile beasts were lurking. But they mostly didn't go to the town because they were afraid of lights. That's also the reason why Yman did not choose to use any lights at the moment.

After 20 minutes of walking. He arrived at the center of the forest.

In the center, there was a swamp. The residents of the town were afraid to come near this swamp. They even called it the Cursed Swamp.

Many residents went without a trace in this swamp.  

Rumors about this swamp were common in the town.

About how a person who was resting nearby suddenly went. And how some people swimming in that swamp were pulled by something towards the deepest part. Their bodies didn't even float even after a couple of days. Not only that,  but many other bad rumors about the swamp were also common in the town.

After that, the town residents didn't dare to come near this forest again.

But at the moment. Yman was here.

Finally, after a couple of minutes walking, he finally reached the swamp. He walked and stopped beside it. If he made an estimation, probably the swamp had a total of 30 meters radius. However, it has a shape slightly identical to an hourglass.

He stared at the replica of the full moon on the water. The sound of insects and nocturnal animals reached his ears. Even the slight brushing of leaves did not escape on his perception.

The slight breeze of chilly wind caressed his skin. And it caused ripples at the replica of the moon on the swamp.

Yman's countenance was tranquil while staring at it without averting his eyes. A moment later he noticed the ripples became bigger and wider.

Then his mouth broke into a grin, "It's here," he whispered.

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