By Zephyria 
《First, I would like to thank everyone here for attending. Some students may have participated in gatherings like this before, and some may be here for the first time. Socializing is one of the virtues necessary for living in society. Therefore, I hope that this event will be a valuable experience for your future….》
While the headmaster was speaking, I looked around. The children who were focused on the headmaster’s words were all dressed up in fancy clothes, and their hairstyles and faces were also made up.
I spotted a few familiar faces from Class A, and they exuded a more mature atmosphere than usual, now that they were all dolled up.
《Now, let the school ball begin.》
A round of applause erupted from the students. Soon after, the headmaster released the Amplification magic and disappeared down the stairs.
As the waiting orchestra began to play, the beautiful melodies of the instruments harmonized exquisitely and filled the lobby.
As if they had been waiting for it, the children went out onto the dance floor and danced to the accompaniment, while others gathered at the tables where food was prepared and chatted elegantly like nobles.
The atmosphere was so dignified that I couldn’t believe this was a school, and for a moment, I wondered if I had come to the wrong place.
However, since it was a school ball and there were commoners mixed in, there didn’t seem to be any actions like dividing into factions or looking down on others based on status, as actual nobles would do.
On the surface, it was a miniature version of aristocratic society, but in reality, if you looked closely at their conversations and actions, they were just ordinary students discussing how to make sure they had a good dinner.
“Hmm. Zeon and Tom are nowhere to be seen.”
I’ve been looking around since earlier, but I can’t find those two. With so many people, it’s difficult to pinpoint specific individuals.
“If it’s Tom, he might be over there.”
Herman, who was standing next to me watching the children dancing, turned to look at the table and replied.
Certainly… that guy is more likely to be drooling while looking for delicious food than choosing a partner to dance with.
That was the image of Tom that was etched in my mind.
“Ah, Ray.”
Herman called out to me as if he had just remembered something. I turned to look at him, meaning for him to speak, and he averted his gaze with a stiff face, then licked his lips once with his tongue.
I was staring at him, wondering why he had called me but wasn’t saying anything, when Herman, who had been hesitant and watching my reaction, soon took something out of his pocket.
And handed it to me. It was Eternity Fire.
“This is a Brooch.”
I can see that.
“So?”
I asked again to find out why he was giving it to me, and Herman grabbed my hand instead of answering, then made me open my palm and placed the Brooch on it.
I looked up at Herman again. His face was already flushed with a reddish hue.
“This is for you… to have.”
“Hmm? I don’t need it, though.”
If I needed it, I would have gone to catch a cat a long time ago.
“It’s not that… no. Just keep it anyway.”
Herman answered stubbornly with a very troubled expression, then said he had to go and hurried off somewhere. Even if he gave this to me, there’s nothing I can really use it for.
‘Is this a tribute?’
Usually, he’s so disrespectful, not befitting a servant, but in these situations, he’s unnecessarily loyal.
But well, it’s true that ‘Phoenix ember’ is very rare.
I think it might be quite valuable among enthusiasts. So, I decided to keep it for now and was putting the Brooch in my pocket when it happened.
“Kyaa!”
Not long after, a scream-like cheer erupted, and when I turned around in surprise, I saw a well-dressed couple among the children who were watching in a circle.
The couple was heading towards the center of the lobby, which was set up as a stage for dancing, and one of them was a familiar face.
It was Ardian.
And next to him was a human woman with an unfamiliar face that I had never seen before.
Just by looking at her, I could tell that she was someone who had acquired considerable elegance, so I was sure that she was a woman from a noble family.
“……”
For a moment, I thought it was unexpected. But when I thought about it, it wasn’t that strange. Ardian is a high-ranking member of the imperial family. It was only natural that there would be many people, whether nobles or commoners, men or women, who would try to approach him with the intention of forming a friendship.
Why did I… think it was unexpected?
As I was pondering in confusion, Ardian, who had reached the center of the stage, looked back at the noblewoman he was escorting by the hand and bowed. It was basic etiquette to face each other and greet each other before dancing.
After that, as they began to dance to the accompaniment, the surrounding children watched them with eyes full of envy and admiration. The professors who had been enjoying their leisure on the outskirts were also watching the stage as if they had found something to see.
“I’m so jealous…. I want to dance with the prince too.”
“I guess if families are close, their children are too?”
“I guess so? They must have seen each other often since they were young.”
I overheard the small humans who were watching in front of me whispering to each other, and soon I left the area and headed towards the Maze Garden. I didn’t like the hustle and bustle, so I wanted to rest in a quiet place.
I even brought a magic Treasured Book in my Hyperspace pocket in preparation for times like this.
As I went out into the garden, the quiet night air touched my cheeks. Haah, I breathed out lightly, and my mind calmed down, making me feel much better.
‘Then shall I take some free time now.’
All the other humans are enjoying the ball, so the garden is deserted. There was no one to disturb my time.
I moved again and headed to the gazebo where I could sit and rest. I sat in a spot where I could see the night sky well, took out the magic Treasured Book from my Hyperspace pocket, and turned the pages, using the moonlight as a lamp.
‘Let’s see.’
I had already finished reading the basic volume, so I’m currently reading the applied volume.
Of course, I’m almost done reading this too, so it’s almost like I’ve read it all, and I can say that I’ve acquired most of the theoretical knowledge about Necromancy… no. The overall knowledge of Spiritism.
‘Hmph. I’m still amazing.’
My dazzling acquisition ability is still the same as ever.
‘Now all that’s left is the family’s Treasured Book.’
I wonder what kind of content is contained in the family’s Treasured Book. Since it’s a Treasured Book that’s only passed down within the family, there might be content that I’ve never heard of before.
The desire that stemmed from curiosity welled up.
And that’s when I was about to concentrate in earnest.
“Raymond.”
I lifted my head when I heard a voice calling me at an inopportune time. I frowned without realizing it, but soon relaxed my expression when I saw the approaching face.
It was Zeon, who recognized me and was happy to see me, and came straight here.
“Has my lord also come out to enjoy the night air?”
He checked again that there was no one around and asked in a calm voice. I chuckled softly at the title I hadn’t heard in a while and lowered my gaze back to the magic Treasured Book.
“Yes.”
“I am honored. May I sit next to you?”
“Do as you please.”
Zeon smiled brightly at my permission and quietly sat down next to me.
That was all.
He was only warming my side, suppressing his presence as if he wasn’t there, so as not to disturb me.
I was probably like that for a long time. I reflexively turned to look at Zeon when I suddenly felt a fidgeting movement.
Zeon, who had gotten up from his seat, stared intently at the sky, then went out of the gazebo a little and suddenly turned to look at me. His face looked very excited, like a child.
“My lord! Look at that.”
I couldn’t see it properly because Zeon was blocking it, so I closed the book and got up, then went out of the gazebo and looked up at the sky.
‘Ah.’
I wondered why the sky was sparkling so much, but it was a Meteor Shower.
“It’s beautiful.”
I nodded at Zeon’s murmur. The Meteor Shower that was gorgeously decorating the night sky was truly beautiful. It’s a rare phenomenon, and I never thought I’d get to see it like this.
“Did you know? It is said that if you make a wish when a Meteor Shower falls, it will come true.”
“Hmm. Do you believe in such superstitions?”
“No. But… it would be nice if it came true.”
I turned to look at Zeon.
He was staring at the falling Meteor Shower, which was scattering light, as if he didn’t want to miss a single one, like a stone statue… he was just staring blankly like that.
Was he even making a wish?
If so, I’m curious as to what wish he’s making that he’s staring so intently.
“My lord.”
Zeon suddenly turned to look at me, and our eyes met.
The starlight of the Meteor Shower was flickering and sparkling in his reddish-brown eyes, which were reflecting my image like transparent glass beads.
“Would you listen to one of my unreasonable requests?”
Unreasonable.
I tilted my chin, meaning for him to tell me what it was, and he quietly lowered his eyes, which were rippling even more deeply, and said.
“I want to… hold you in my arms.”