Kiriel, an elf with striking pointed ears and emerald hair, tilted her head as she looked at me.
"What are you doing here?"
I remained seated and answered her question nonchalantly.
"What do you mean, 'what am I doing here'? I'm a student at this academy."
I pointed toward Eredor's Hall of Truth, visible through the window. As a student officially enrolled in Eredor's Alchemy Department, there was nothing strange about me being here. If anything, it was stranger to find Kiriel, who belonged to Voltimir, in this place.
"You're the one who shouldn't be here, Pointy-ears."
"Hey, I told you not to call me that!"
"Just answer the question. Why did you come all the way to Eredor?"
At my interrogating tone, Kiriel stammered as if she had something to hide.
"W-Why else? I came for a class. That's right! An elective."
Her suspicious reaction immediately raised some doubts.
"You didn't come here just to eat, did you?"
Eredor's dining district was famous for its excellent food. Even students from Ishtal and Seintea would occasionally visit for a meal, so I figured Kiriel was likely here for the same reason. In contrast, the food at the spirit academy, Voltimir, was notorious for being the worst among the four. The culinary culture of the elves and beastkin who lived in the forest lagged quite a bit behind that of humans.
"No!" Kiriel shouted, vehemently denying it, but I was already certain.
I decided to test her one last time.
"Why don't you wipe the sauce off your mouth before you talk?"
"W-What?"
Falling for the trick, Kiriel foolishly wiped her mouth with her sleeve—a dead giveaway. After finding nothing on her sleeve, she began to fume.
"Hey! You wanna die?"
"Lady Kiriel, please, maintain your dignity…"
"Please, stay quiet…"
As Kiriel's voice grew louder, the elven attendants accompanying her tried to calm her down. Even though there weren't many students on the tram, a nuisance was still a nuisance.
I chimed in to help.
"Your attendants are right. You should be quiet on public transport. Especially since you're a student council president." I brought a finger to my lips and grinned.
"Hey, you…!"
Kiriel flew into a rage, but thanks to the others holding her back, she couldn't do a thing. I quietly turned away from her screeching and pulled a book out of my bag.
Easy-to-learn Spiritology.
This was a basic required course at Voltimir, one Kiriel was likely taking herself. With her grades, she wouldn't be able to keep up with the intermediate or advanced courses.
After the commotion died down, a somewhat calmer Kiriel noticed my book, her eyes widening.
"What, you signed up for Spiritology too?"
"Can't you tell? It's not like I took the tram to Voltimir for no reason."
*
Each of the Union's academies had a territory with its own distinct character. Magical Eredor was like a classical Roman city built of marble, while steel-clad Ishtal had the cold, rigid atmosphere of a fortress.
But Voltimir possessed the most distinctive character of them all.
Clank— Clank—.
As the tram followed the tracks into Voltimir's territory, I closed my book and gazed out the window. Lush scenery blurred past as the car moved forward.
Swoooosh—.
In the distance, a massive waterfall cascaded into a great river. The clear water branched into multiple streams, providing a home for aquatic life, while a light mist drifted above, softly connecting the sky and the earth. Deer and rabbits played by the transparent riverbank, the riverbed clearly visible through the water. When a cool breeze blew, the cheerful sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves filled the air.
Voltimir was a jungle, lush with greenery. It wasn't an artificially manicured garden, but nature itself. This vast wilderness wasn't just for show; in terms of sheer size, Voltimir's territory was the largest of the Four Great Academies. It was an academy perfectly suited for those with an affinity for nature and spirits.
But where there were pros, there were also cons.
Being so close to nature meant its culinary culture was underdeveloped—leading its student council president to scavenge other academies' dining districts. And being "nature-friendly" also meant…
Psshht—.
…that there were a lot of bugs.
I took a can of insect repellent from my bag and sprayed it on my clothes. It was an essential item for any student visiting Voltimir. The duration and effectiveness varied by price, so I had bought the most expensive one—the gold spray.
As I sprayed my clothes, Kiriel shot up from her seat.
"Hey! Don't spray that!"
I knew that elves, being a forest race, hated the smell, but I had no choice. Bugs had a tendency to flock to humans more than elves. Moreover, my mixed blood must have been even tastier, as mosquitoes and flies swarmed me with a vengeance. A single bite meant itching for days, and I had no desire to suffer through that.
"Then get rid of the bugs for me. Does it not matter as long as you elves don't get bitten?"
"Well, that's true, but…"
"Then mind your own business."
With no comeback, Kiriel slumped back into her seat with a pout.
Screech—.
After traveling through the jungle for some time, the tram arrived at a station. It was a nature-friendly platform made of wood and entwined with thick vines. As I stepped off, I was greeted by hot, humid air, just like a tropical rainforest.
It's sweltering.
The area was incredibly humid, as if they were using spirit magic to control the climate on a massive scale. I fanned the collar of my shirt, trying to endure the heat.
I'll be drenched in sweat if I move even a little.
While the climate made me feel sluggish, Kiriel and the other elves stretched their arms wide, savoring the air.
"Haaah. This is it. I can barely breathe when I go outside." Kiriel smiled, looking refreshed, then turned to me to pick a fight. "Aha, but it must be tough for you, being human, right? Oh dear. You must be so hot~"
"…"
I said nothing and reached back into my bag for the spray.
"Ah, sorry! I'm sorry, don't spray that!"
She immediately backed down. I put the spray away and said, "Lead the way. You know the path to the lecture hall better than I do."
I could have followed the system map, but there was no need when someone taking the same class was right there.
"Why should I guide a guy like you?"
"Whatever, just walk. I'll follow. Idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot? I know all about your grades!"
"You know my grades that well? You must be very interested in me."
"Interested? Don't make me laugh. Everyone in the Union knows you're a lost cause when it comes to studying."
"Look who's talking."
"Look who's talking… what's that supposed to mean?"
"…If you don't know, forget it."
Bickering with Kiriel, I walked along the forest path until we stopped in front of a massive, ancient tree. This was Alfheim Hall, where the Spiritology classes were held.
I couldn't believe a tree this unrealistically enormous actually existed. Its overwhelming presence was incomparable to what I had seen in the game. Even looking at it with my own eyes, it didn't feel real.
It's practically the size of a skyscraper.
No wonder elves carved out homes inside them.
"What are you staring at like a tourist? Come on in."
I nodded and followed Kiriel and the other elves into Alfheim Hall. Upon entering the tree, I was greeted by a wide-open, plaza-like space. It was a cylindrical hollow that stretched from the base of the tree almost to its very top. A huge spiral staircase coiled around the central trunk like a whirlwind, connecting the entire space. Doors leading to various classrooms and research labs lined the staircase, with many elves coming and going.
I took in the otherworldly sight as I followed Kiriel to classroom 109.
"Ah, it's Kiriel!"
At Kiriel's appearance, the students gathered in the classroom greeted her warmly.
"Hello, hello~"
But when they saw me enter behind her, their expressions soured.
"What, is that really Roen?"
"Why did he sign up for a Spiritology class?"
I ignored the murmurs and scanned the room. The lecture hall was unique, with tables arranged in a semicircle around a central podium, resembling a parliament building. I took a seat at a table in the outermost circle—the very back row.
Kiriel also sat down in a similar spot near the back. She was clearly planning to coast through the class without drawing attention, just like me. That explained her grades.
Noticing my gaze, Kiriel frowned. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
"…?"
"Class is starting." I gestured with my chin toward the podium, telling her to shut up and look forward.
Just then, the Spiritology professor stepped onto the stage.
Clack— Clack—.
The sound of heels echoed off the wooden floor. No, the sound of hooves. Four elegantly moving legs came to a stop on the podium. Then, the deer standing there opened its mouth.
"A pleasure to see you all again today. I am Isley Ahibalt, head of the Spiritology department and its chief professor."
"…"
A deer wearing spectacles was speaking. It even gave a slight bow to the students, its etiquette seemingly perfect. Not a deer-person or a centaur—just a deer. I had seen it a few times in the game, but to see a deer giving a lecture right before my eyes… You really do see everything if you live long enough.
Ah, right. It hasn't been that long since I was hit by that truck.
Anyway.
The other students didn't seem to find a deer professor particularly strange and immediately opened their textbooks.
"Well then, let's begin with attendance. Miss Kiriel?"
"Here~"
After calling on Kiriel and about a hundred other students, Isley finally called my name.
"Mister Roen?"
"Here, Professor."
As I raised my hand, Isley flicked his head, adjusting his glasses.
"Hoh. So you are the rumored Mister Roen. It is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with you."
Professor Isley the deer gave me a little wink.
I've heard a water deer scream like a banshee while on night watch, but I never thought I'd live to see the day one would wink at me. As Isley offered his welcome, the other students stared at me with curiosity. They weren't entirely without hostility, but it was much weaker than at the other academies. It was likely because the original Roen hadn't been very active in Voltimir until now.
"In any case, it seems everyone is here. Let us begin the lesson immediately. Please open your textbooks to page 12."
"Aww, Professor~"
"Booo~"
As Isley tried to start the class, the students raised their voices in protest. Isley feigned defeat, nodding his head to lighten the mood.
"Oh, dear. I suppose I have no choice. Then, I shall tell you the story of my first love."
"Woooah~"
"…"
Only after listening to a deer's first love story for about five minutes did the actual lesson begin.
"As I've mentioned before, this class is easier to understand if you have taken Easy-to-learn Spiritology I, but it is not a prerequisite. Spiritology is not a rigid discipline like mathematics or magic that must be learned sequentially. For example…"
Isley looked at Kiriel as he continued.
"Miss Kiriel, sitting over there, is called the greatest spirit user in Voltimir based on her outstanding talent alone, without any theoretical achievements to speak of."
"Hehe."
"That's our president~"
"So pretty~"
Cheers and teasing voices filled the classroom. Kiriel's ears turned bright red as she shouted in embarrassment.
"Hey! Stop laughing! Dammit, Professor!"
"Well, what of it? It is the truth. Even I am envious of your exceptional spirit affinity, Miss Kiriel."
The atmosphere here was different from Eredor. It felt like they were all classmates in the truest sense, laughing and joking together. You could tell just by how casually everyone treated Kiriel.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Miss Kiriel. In any case, let us get to the main point…"
After offering a smiling apology, Isley turned his head toward me.
"All the other students here have already completed the Spirit Affinity Test. Only one remains: Mister Roen."
At Isley's words, everyone's attention turned back to me. Roen had been bedridden from his inauguration until the beginning of the semester, so he had missed several classes. The Spirit Summoning Affinity Test must have been conducted during that time.
"Therefore, before we begin the lesson, we will conduct a simple Spirit Summoning Affinity Test for Mister Roen. The method is simple."
Thump—.
Isley stomped his hoof, and suddenly, vines shot up from the floor.
Shhhlick—.
The vines grew to an immense size in an instant, stopping right in front of me. At the end of one vine hung a transparent crystal orb. It was an artifact used to determine one's affinity for summoning spirits. I thought this was just a simple theory class, so I hadn't expected anything practical.
"Now, Mister Roen. All you have to do is place your hand on that crystal orb."
Isley adjusted his glasses again and prompted me to take the test.
"Sigh. Understood."
I let out a small sigh and clicked on the notification window that had just appeared before my eyes.
[Would you like to begin the Spirit Summoning Tutorial?]