Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 7 (Part 2)

“I’m investigating Slabon.”

“Slabon? What’s that again? I’ve heard the name somewhere.”

“Slabon? Isn’t that one of those conspiracy theories circulating in back alleys? The kind bards talk about in taverns. Right?”

Keline, an advanced knight, remembered ‘Slabon.’ He had mostly heard about it while drinking, and the stories were incredibly absurd.

“Right. Slabon. I’ve heard of it too. Slabon and what was it? Some Nova? There was something like that.”

“Slabon, Vallis Nova. Right? I heard they were searching for ancient things.”

“Yes, that’s the Slabon.”

Slabon and Vallis Nova.

It was a very old rumor. It had been circulating in the shadows for hundreds of years, and no one knew who first started it.

According to the rumors, both were groups chasing ancient relics. So no one knew the difference between Slabon and Vallis Nova.

The information varied widely depending on where the rumors were circulating.

A giant organization of millions.

Filled with 7th-circle mages and Tier 7 swordsmen.

Manipulating various royal families from behind the scenes.

There were so many unbelievable rumors that few people believed they were true.

“Is Slabon a real organization?”

“I don’t know. I’m just investigating out of curiosity in my later years. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Haha, but it would be interesting. There’s also a story linking them to the Monster Forest, isn’t there?”

Albrecht responded with a smirk.

Among the rumors, there was one that Slabon controlled the monsters of the Monster Forest. In ancient times, there was a magic that could control over a million monsters, and it was said that the Slabon organization inherited that magic.

“Let’s forget it. Let’s talk more about the first batch of trainees. The facilities for the first batch trainees…”

—

Rodin and the other three left the quarters. Hedler and Lant were yawning constantly, and Cory moved like a corpse with his eyes half-closed.

“What time did you go to sleep?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

Hedler answered Rodin’s question in a near-dead voice.

Last night, except for Rodin, the three of them had talked all night.

There wasn’t any particular topic. They repeated trivial stories and talked about their time at the training center until dawn before they finally fell asleep.

“Rodin, you sleep as soon as you close your eyes.”

“Yeah, that’s how I am.”

Rodin could sleep anytime, anywhere if he decided to. It didn’t take him even five minutes to fall asleep.

Moreover, he could wake up at the desired time with almost no error. He rarely tried to sleep more than necessary.

“There it is.”

Following the third group of children, they arrived at a classroom.

The four of them paired up and sat in the middle. In front of them was a lectern, and on it was a book as thick as the one in their quarters.

“That’s it, right? The dictionary.”

“Yes, it’s the same thickness.”

“Sigh, I hate this.”

Hedler and Cory had bright expressions all the way here. They didn’t seem to worry about the lessons. Only Lant had a bad expression.

“Cory, have you ever studied the common language?”

“No.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“I’ve always wanted to learn to read. Now that I have the chance, I’m actually grateful.”

Hedler didn’t need to worry since he already knew the common language, and Cory was excited at the prospect of learning to read.

On the other hand, Lant looked like he was going to die all morning. His lack of confidence in studying was evident from his expression.

“I hate this. I really hate this. Why do we have to study?”

“Hang in there. Do you think they’ll make us memorize all of that? We probably just need to study a few things.”

“Sigh.”

Lant sighed deeply. Despite Hedler’s encouragement, his expression didn’t improve.

“Rodin, are you okay?”

“I’m similar to you.”

“You wanted to learn the common language too.”

“Yes, I’ve wanted to learn it for a long time, but there was no one to teach me.”

Rodin had always felt a thirst for knowledge.

It wasn’t limited to letters but extended to the common language, math, agriculture, hunting, and many other fields.

But there was no one to teach him. It wasn’t just that there were no knowledgeable people around; the atmosphere of the village, which had a strong aversion to sharing knowledge, was more of a problem.

“Hey! Catch him!”

“Hmph! You think you can catch me?”

“Stop right there! I’ll get you!”

A few children ran around, playing. They hadn’t broken their habits from their village at all.

‘Is this okay?’

Creak!

Rodin’s question was answered by the instructor who entered, forcefully opening the door.

“Numbers 64, 67, 79, 92, 95, 96, 100, 101. To the back!”

“Huh? Huh?”

“Why, why?”

The children who didn’t understand the situation asked back with bewildered faces. They still had relaxed expressions, not knowing what was about to happen.

“Drill instructor! Take them out.”

Drill instructors entered through the open door. They forcibly pulled up the eight children from their seats and dragged them out of the classroom.

“Why? Why are you doing this?”

“We’re sorry! We’re sorry!”

“We won’t do it again.”

“We won’t talk again.”

The children begged belatedly, but it was no use. The instructor didn’t even look at them, and the drill instructors, expressionless, just dragged them outside.

After the children disappeared outside, the door closed. Then a voice was heard.

“Down on your stomach!”

“We’re sorry. We’re sorry!”

Thud! Thud!

“Aah! Please, save us! We won’t talk again.”

The children’s pleading voices grew fainter and then completely disappeared. The drill instructors had dragged them far away.

‘Sigh, I have to be careful.’

Rodin felt relieved that he wasn’t included in the group that would be severely punished. With the slave seal stamped, getting beaten would be truly miserable.

Hyung_Otaku2

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