"Hey, it's good to see you still safe and sound. Have you finished everything?"
Before I even stepped out of the open door, I was greeted by Teacher Gulu's familiar greeting.
"Don't even mention it, so many things have happened these past two days..."
I was about to complain when I looked up and saw many students bustling about in the academy square, seemingly carrying something. I was momentarily stunned: "What's going on?"
"Several city-states near the central region of the continent have sent requests for assistance, saying that a large number of beast tides are roaming the area outside the city and they are having difficulty dealing with them." Gulu turned half his body to look at the square as well, and answered in a calm tone, "The teachers in the academy discussed it and felt that this was a very good and rare internship opportunity, so they decided to organize students who volunteered to participate to go and provide assistance."
"Send apprentice mages who haven't fully mastered what they've learned to the front lines?" I was stunned. "Are they crazy?!"
"Who knows? Anyway, every single one of you mages here is a bit off." Gulu pointed to his head.
I really find it hard to refute its statement.
"I tried to persuade them, but in the teachers' words, this is called practicing their skills and mental fortitude in advance, and they are confident that they can protect the students. There are too many of them, and I couldn't argue with them, so I could only let them be."
"Besides, if we're talking about madmen, do you think you can exclude yourself?" Gulu glanced at me sideways. "You know, there are many people in there who look up to you."
"...But I had a tutor watching me, and it wasn't entirely voluntary..."
"It's no use talking to me about this; everyone only believes what they see." It spread its hands, no longer looking in that direction, and instead scrutinized me carefully, asking suspiciously, "Why is your cloak overloaded?"
"...As I just said, a lot has happened recently."
With a long sigh, I briefly explained my encounter and speculations at the Sacred Tree Stronghold, as well as the reason for my special trip back. I saw Gulu ponder for a moment, then suddenly leave behind the words "Wait for me a moment," and then half of his body disappeared into the courtyard wall.
As expected of a gargoyle, as long as there are stones at hand that are not imprisoned or restricted by others, it can move quickly and freely. Even after being forcibly sealed inside the courtyard wall for so many years, it has not completely forgotten its old profession.
A moment later, Gulu reappeared in its original position, nestled between the hard abyss and its embrace, where a familiar figure with a bewildered expression stood. This was none other than the expert (beginner level) in the field of monster research whom I had hoped to find help with on this journey.
"Huh, Yumi...?"
Arlie instinctively raised his hand to push the monocle frame, but missed—Gulu must have left it somewhere during the transport of him.
"I was just trying to communicate with those hunting dogs, how did I end up here all of a sudden..."
Placed securely on the ground, Arie still looked around blankly, as if she hadn't yet figured out where she was.
However, I noticed a phrase in his words: "Are you still trying to get along with those hounds?"
“Ah, I let it slip.” He realized belatedly, but still nodded honestly. “Yes, I’m still curious. What kind of environment did these strange creatures, who can move freely between the void and the surface of reality, originally live in? How did they evolve, and how are they tamed? I’m really curious, so I want to learn more about them.”
Familiar rhetoric.
I'm speechless when I recall how this guy was repeatedly taken to the vet three times for trying to get close to hunting dogs shortly after the start of last semester. No one but him would actually try to examine the reproductive glands of a strange creature out of curiosity. Everyone else would be running away as fast as they could, but this idiot was stuck there, covered in dog bites, completely baffled. I almost laughed out of exasperation when I went over to smooth things over.
"I took all the necessary precautions before going," he tried to argue, "even though it was just a chance encounter."
I glanced at him sideways: "Where's your full protective gear?"
Ale remained silent for a while, but Gulu, who had been watching the commotion, chuckled and interjected, "He was just chewed up by those little guys. When I got there, I saw them plotting to bite his limbs. If I hadn't arrived in time, he would definitely be in the emergency room by now."
Yes, very good, as expected of you.
"In short, no more excuses like 'taking a walk,' 'accidentally,' 'not paying attention,' or 'just passing by' to go looking for those hunting dogs." Although I was sure the other party would soon forget about it, I still solemnly reiterated the statement I had repeated many times before, "If you really have to go, it must be me, or Xi... never mind, that stubborn guy isn't reliable either. Anyway, remember to bring me along, at least they won't go too far with me there."
Ale nodded, looking dazed, as if still thinking about something in the distance, and it was unclear how much of what he had actually heard was being taken in.
There's something else that I'm curious about: "How come you had time to provoke those guys today instead of going to discuss things with the little princess?"
"It has been temporarily suspended."
He pointed to the busy crowd in the square and gestured for me to walk and talk: "Because this time we need to mobilize most of the teachers in the academy and some students who volunteer to join the battle, the rescue team that has been on standby in the school will also have to go along, including the teacher in charge of maintaining the short-term lich transformation - the one who sunbathes all year round."
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