Chapter 64: The Mayfield house
Clap, clap, clap.
The applause sounded one beat late. It was a reluctant applause. Seeing their bitter faces made me laugh.
The applause stopped, and Professor Karen spoke again.
"Did you all think this was the end? But there's still time left, isn't there? The test isn't over yet."
The reaction was as if they were saying, isn't this too much without actually booing.
Professor Karen laughed.
"Anyway, those students don't even qualify, do they? The only ones qualified to take on this problem are the students from these two groups. Shouldn't we determine the true full marker?"
The true full marker.
That's right. The full marks Professor Karen had in mind were up to the fourth problem.
Although it's not mentioned in the family tree, the game also mentions that Elaine's group solved the last problem and became the only ones with full marks.
And it will flow just like that in reality.
Why?
Because our group has no answer.
"Ah, I should have dropped out at the third one."
I clicked my tongue. Even if the score might be a bit higher, I didn't like the image damage at the end. I've been on a winning streak, showing only perfection, but now there's a blemish.
"Shall we go then?"
Snap.
Suddenly, Professor Karen snapped her fingers.
And then
The world changed.
"Where, where is this?"
Panic stricken voices were heard. Among them, unbelievably, was the voice of a teaching assistant. It seemed they hadn't been given any prior notice either.
"It's spatial translocation."
A calm voice I heard for the first time.
It was Elaine.
Like a genius, she seemed to have grasped the situation at a glance.
"Spatial translocation?"
I looked around.
Outside the window, a dizzying cliff was visible. It looked like a building precariously built on top of the cliff. Somehow the scenery felt familiar.
"Could this be"
"Excellent. Yes, it's spatial translocation magic."
Professor Karen's words turned the teaching assistants expressions sour.
"Pro, Professor! Spatial translocation magic is too dangerous..."
They were right.
Spatial translocation magic was a very high level and dangerous magic. A small mistake could result in the body being torn to shreds and death. So their reaction was understandable.
But,
'That monster wouldn't make a mistake.'
'The Red Eyed Inquirer' Karen Mayfield A genius magician recognized as the most talented even within the Mayfield magician family. Such a monster wouldn't make that kind of mistake.
"It's okay, it's okay. That's why I connected to the safest place in advance."
Professor Karen said with a slight smile.
"Welcome. To the Mayfield house."
'I thought so.'
The feeling that I had seen this place before wasn't a mistake. This was Professor Karen's family home. The Mayfield house, famous for its castle on the cliff.
"The, The Mayfield house?"
"Gasp... That far?"
"This is the famous..."
Everyone looked around the interior with eyes full of wonder and surprise.
Located at the very end of the northern continent, it was a place difficult for even professionals to reach, let alone students and teaching assistants. That's why their reactions were full of wonder.
"But why suddenly this place?"
One of the teaching assistants asked with a puzzled look.
It was a question on everyone's mind.
Honestly, I was curious too. Because this was an event I hadn't experienced in the game. Professor Karen's eyes looked at the students.
"You've been invited here because you're qualified. And..."
Her words continued.
"It's also because of the prize."
"A prize?"
This was news to me.
But the teaching assistants seemed to know something about it. Yet, their expressions suggested that things were going differently than they had thought.
"Yes, it's an item that can't be casually taken out of the family home."
Can't be casually taken out?
By Professor Karen?
Who is she?
She may not be the head, but she holds an absolute position in the Mayfield house. And yet she can't take it out?
'Something's up...'
I felt a strange premonition. The others seemed to feel it too, as their expressions became odd.
'No way.'
I dismissed the one assumption that came to mind. Because it was an item that, no matter how much money you had in the game, you couldn't obtain.
Why? Because it's not something sold for money.
"What is the item?"
In the atmosphere where no one dared to speak up, the only male in Elaine's group, the leader of the Royals, took the initiative and asked with a tense face.
Instead of answering, Professor Karen simply clapped her hands lightly. Then, a maid looking woman came with something in her hands and carefully handed it over to Professor Karen.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Not at all, miss."
The maid smiled.
Then she whispered in a low voice.
"I hope you'll bring the person who will become your husband next time you visit. Oh, is he among them?"
"...You have no filter in front of the students."
Professor Karen shook her head slightly.
"Hehe, sorry."
The maid winked. Then she bowed to the visitors and left. Even from the maid's attitude, one could guess that the Mayfield house was not an authoritarian place.
Is it because they have characters who speak honorifically in the family?
I even thought that. Anyway, that wasn't important.
Everyone's attention was focused on the item wrapped in an elegant cloth. That item must be the prize Professor Karen mentioned.
"Shall we open it?"
Professor Karen unwrapped the cloth.
And then...
A transparent glass bottle with a blue liquid appeared. Just looking at it, one could feel a clean, refreshing color.
"That is...?"
Most of them seemed to be seeing it for the first time, tilting their heads curiously.
But...
My eyes widened. That precious item is popping out here? Elaine's eyes also widened. Riviera swallowed his saliva.
"The Tears of Frost..."
Elaine murmured.
At that moment.
"What, what did you say?!"
"The, The Tears of Frost?!"
The faces of the others were also filled with shock.