“What are you talking about, Arthur?”

Surprisingly, the one who spoke with a tone bordering on hostility was none other than Juan.

“Are you saying we should disregard Roman’s achievements?” “What’s this now? Weren’t you the one badmouthing him for being a demon warlock?” “...That was a long time ago.”

He’s completely changed, hasn’t he?

‘Not that I can blame him.’

They all saw it, didn’t they? They experienced it firsthand.

Roman’s devotion to them.

Spatial magic. Even for a regular mage, repeatedly using such magic is enough to cause immense physical strain. Roman, despite using the power of a demon, still poured out everything for them.

He had saved their lives. Burned through his own life force to save them.

It’s only natural that they’d want to ensure he gets the recognition he deserves.

But Juan and Amaia aren’t the only ones who feel this way.

Of course, Arthur felt the same.

“This is the best way for Roman.”

Is this Arthur acting on his own? No, it wasn’t.

Fiona agreed with him as well.

“This attack, the target was me.”

The necromancer had explicitly targeted Fiona first. Maybe it was because she was the most troublesome to them, but Fiona, having experienced similar incidents multiple times before, instinctively knew that she was their primary objective.

Arthur and Alejandra were probably also targets, but their priorities were lower than hers.

However, if this incident becomes public knowledge… If word spreads that a mage using spatial magic disrupted the cultists’ plans…

The Abyss-worshipping cultists would go after Roman before anyone else.

“It’s not just the cultists. Other mages would target Roman too. Whether it’s to steal his spatial magic or to summon the same demon he does.”

Arthur and Fiona’s concerns were perfectly reasonable. Even Juan, who had initially opposed the idea, couldn’t come up with any objections and had to accept it.

“…Sixteen people know about Roman’s magic: the fifteen of us and Instructor Davenport.” “The commander saw it too.” “Then that makes seventeen. Isn’t that too many to keep a secret?”

Alejandra had a point.

While Fiona could use her status as the Grand Duchess to keep the commander and instructor quiet…

What about the other trainees?

They were citizens of Les Rimen but still free individuals. They paid taxes to the city and were bound by its laws, but they could leave at any time. Fiona, as the Grand Duchess, didn’t have the authority to order them around.

“We’ll have to rely on their conscience.” “Or instill fear in them.”

The one who spoke up this time was Dustin Challoner, number 8 among the survivors from the underground. A member of the prestigious Celsus School, Dustin wasn’t particularly sociable, which meant he hadn’t built the kind of factions Arthur, Alejandra, or Fiona had, but he wasn’t without influence.

“A promise of certain retaliation against anyone who leaks the information. If we make that clear now, fear of the consequences will keep their mouths shut.”

Dustin cast a menacing glance, as if daring anyone who might consider leaking the information to show themselves.

But everyone here had survived the underground, a near-death experience. They weren’t so weak-willed that a single glare from a fellow trainee would scare them.

In fact, some even met Dustin’s gaze head-on, engaging in a silent staring contest.

“What do Roman’s teammates think?”

With Alejandra’s question, the room’s attention shifted back to one point.

Normally, if all those eyes had suddenly turned toward her, Leif would have yelped and shrunk back. But right now, she was oddly unresponsive. Ever since they’d emerged from the underground, she had been like this. When Roman collapsed, she had reacted, but after that, she had frozen up again like a doll.

“Besides Arthur, who shares a room with him, you two are the ones closest to him, right?”

Seeing the silence from both of them, Alejandra pressed again.

There was no helping it.

The truth was, from the start, Ray hadn’t been all that interested in this gathering. She’d only bothered to come because everyone else was gathering.

Ray spoke indifferently.

“It’s all fine. It’s for him, so it’s fine. But…”

The reason for Ray’s disinterest in this discussion came out of her own mouth.

“Shouldn’t we hear what he thinks first?”

In the end, everything depended on Roman’s will.

Everything said here could be taken as advice, but it could never become a demand placed on Roman. It shouldn’t, and it couldn’t.

That was Ray’s perspective.

“Leif and I are heading back. Finish your meeting and let us know what you decide later. He’ll make his own decision.”

My eyes opened.

I was sure it had been night when I’d last been outside, but it was still dark outside the window. I guess I didn’t sleep as long as I thought? But then my stomach growled loudly, and I realized I’d probably slept the entire day.

“I’m hungry.”

I must have muttered to myself, but responses came from both sides as if we were having a normal conversation.

“Want me to bring you some soup?” “We’ve got bread too.”

Hearing Ray and Leif’s voices from either side told me I was in a safe place.

So it really was over.

I’d been a little worried that I’d wake up and find us all imprisoned, but that was just my paranoia.

Realizing I was safe made me feel a bit more at ease.

All the tension from the battle and the weight of being in training melted away like snow under the sun. With my mind so relaxed, my mouth slipped before I could filter my thoughts.

“Where am I? Who am I?”

“…What?” “Roman? Is… is he okay?”

Oh, they don’t get it.

This is just a silly joke.

I was about to brush it off as nonsense when Ray suddenly climbed on top of me and grabbed my shoulders tightly.

“Hey! Snap out of it! Look at me! Look! You remember me, right? What’s my name? Tell me, quickly!”

“Roman, you didn’t lose your memory, did you?”

Ray looked absolutely pale, shaking me intensely, while Leif, trembling, was muttering something under her breath.

Please, let me go… You need to let go before I can talk… I’m still exhausted.

With all the strain from the battle and the hunger gnawing at me, I had no strength left, and with Ray shaking me so violently, it was hard to form words. But somehow, I managed to gather enough energy to say something.

“Hey, hey! It was a joke! Just a joke!”

Ray stopped instantly.

Phew, finally.

“What?” “I was just making a dumb joke. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously. Sorry.”

“….”

Leif had stopped shaking, but why was Ray still trembling?

“Ray?” “…It better be true.” “Huh?” “If you’re lying just to make us feel better, then… if that’s the case, I swear I won’t forgive you…”

Ray muttered with her head hanging low. Because she was smaller than me, even though I had only half-sat up, I couldn’t clearly see her face.

“It’s true. What’s the point of lying about something like that?” “…Alright, then.”

Ray pushed me back down onto the bed and climbed off, turning her back toward me.

“Rest. I’ll go get you some soup.”

And with that, she left the room.

But there was still someone else in the room.

“Um, Leif…?” “That was too much.”

Her voice, laced with emotion, made me think of her face hidden under her hood.

If I hadn’t seen her face before, I wouldn’t have known. But since I had already seen what was under that hood, I could easily picture the look on her face.

I should apologize.

But before I could even say sorry, Leif spoke up again, just a little faster.

“But still, I’m relieved.” “…Thanks.”

At daybreak, Instructor Davenport came to see me. The commander wanted to have a private conversation with me, apparently.

As I followed Davenport, I took a quick glance at him.

“Don’t worry. I’m all healed.” “Oh, okay.” “Thanks. I’ll never forget what you did for me.”

For a man who usually didn’t speak much, that was the longest sentence I’d ever heard him say since I joined.

“We’re here.” “That was quick.” “We’re in the same administration building.”

Davenport said I had to go in alone and disappeared, saying he’d see me later.

As I was about to knock, the door opened as if on its own.

I guess I’m supposed to come in?

When I walked inside, I saw the man already seated in the reception area.

I looked at him. At the same time, he looked at me.

“I’m Skyler Martin, the training center commander.” “I’m Roman Seon.” “I know.” “……”

What’s going on?

This doesn’t feel normal.

“Sit.”

As soon as I sat down, the commander immediately bowed deeply.

“First, let me thank you. Thanks to you, not only the trainees but I myself survived.”

It was a bit startling how quickly he bowed, but I understood. If anything had happened to Fiona, the blame would’ve fallen entirely on him.

“So, it’s only right that I repay you.”

Straightening up, the commander pushed a book across the table toward me.

“It’s called the Blank Grimoire.” “What is that?”

A grimoire is a grimoire, right? What’s a “blank” grimoire?

“It’s a grimoire from which the original contents have been erased. It takes a linguist, a magic scholar, and an alchemist working together to make it.”

A lot of effort → expensive. He’s just explaining in a roundabout way that this is a valuable item.

Is this the wisdom that comes with age? People who’ve lived in society really are different.

As the commander explained further, I came to fully understand what the Blank Grimoire was.

You know how in games there’s a system for reincarnation or inheritance? Where your level resets, but you get stronger stats and more skill points?

The Blank Grimoire works on a similar principle.

It erases the existing contents, but the accumulated power and mysteries within the book remain, passing them on to whatever new knowledge is written in it.

If you get a powerful grimoire that doesn’t match your specialty, you can erase its contents and keep the power, transforming it into something you can use.

“I don’t have any grimoires related to demon magic. They’re rare, after all. And grimoires related to spatial magic are even rarer.”

Instead of using a subpar grimoire, it would be better to make one that suits you perfectly, the commander added.

I accepted the grimoire. Honestly, considering I already wield demon magic without needing any resources, I wasn’t sure if I really needed it. But it’s always better to have something than nothing.

I’ve secured my connections through Fiona. Maybe I should secure something tangible here.

As I took the grimoire, the commander spoke again, his voice more serious than before.

“What this means, though, is that there have been very few mages who’ve dealt with demon or spatial magic.”

Time, space, creation. The ultimate mysteries still not fully understood.

I had already stepped into one of them.

To be honest, it’s not that different from using an artifact from the Abyss. It’s less my own ability and more like borrowing Seir’s power.

But unlike artifacts, which are limited in number, a demon contract is a free resource. There will undoubtedly be mages who come after me, seeking to make a contract with Seir.

“If your magic is revealed, it will draw immense attention, both good and bad.” “I’m aware.” “…Good. The longer your magic stays hidden, the better. So, I won’t be reporting anything about your magic to the higher-ups. But if you wish otherwise, I’ll comply.” “No, I agree. It’s better this way.”

The commander smiled approvingly, nodding in agreement.

“And here, take this.”

This time, instead of a grimoire, he handed me a small rectangular badge.

“It’s a temporary license. The survivors of this midterm exam have all passed.”

“This is…”

A permit allowing me to enter the Abyss.

Finally, I had officially earned the qualification to enter the Abyss. Although it was conditional.

“I won’t congratulate you. As you know, this is only temporary. It’s a half-license that won’t even allow you to enter the Abyss alone. Only after completing the practical training in the Abyss and passing the final exam will you become a full-fledged explorer.”

“Yes, I understand. This is just the beginning.”

“Which brings me to a proposal.”

A proposal, huh. At this timing, what else could it be?

“How about completing your practical training with the City Army?”