“Are they all gone?”

Ian Duwayne looked at the empty corridor where the students had left.

The instigators had fled, so the onlooking accomplices also dispersed one by one, glancing around.

Philip expressed his gratitude to Ian.

“Thank you for helping me. You’re the heir to the Gerwer Duke family, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. I’m Ian Duwayne Gerwer.”

“You don’t have to speak so formally to me……?”

Why would someone as noble as a duke’s heir speak so formally to me?

Ian slightly lowered his head at Philip’s uncomprehending face.

“It’s because, at the academy, we are all equal regardless of family or status. And you’re older than me, aren’t you?”

Everyone is equal in the face of learning.

It was a rule set when the first emperor established the imperial academy.

That’s why students were called by their names rather than their family names inside the academy.

Over time, there were often abuses as before.

“Ah, I’m not that old. I’m twenty this year. I must be younger than you think, so please speak comfortably.”

Philip, pleased with Ian’s words, spoke jovially.

The conversation continued with questions and answers. Although Ian occasionally spoke to Liche, who was hiding behind Philip, it was Philip who responded.

‘Why is our lady behaving like this?’

Although he wondered while responding.

Philip tried to guess why Liche was acting this way.

Surely, she is shy to talk to the Gerwer heir?

After all, he was as handsome as our lord Deon. Plus, the vibe from a guy her age is different.

‘I’ll have to brag to Jedd that Lady Liche was shy around him. He’ll certainly get a stomach ache. Silly lady.’

Thinking about a sulking Jedd, Philip felt delighted. Being happy made the words flow.

Philip questioned Ian.

“The Gerwer family’s Eye sees the essence, doesn’t it? If you use your ability, can you see everything? Like what those students did earlier?”

Even as he spoke, it seemed unbelievable.

With such an eye, one could accomplish any task[dash].

“Ah, I can’t use my ability right now.”

“You can’t use it?”

As Philip asked in surprise, Ian put his hand inside the collar of his school uniform shirt.

Clang. A necklace came out, making a clear sound.

“I’m physically weak, so my father told me to wear an artifact that seals my ability. So my eyes are black now.”

“Ah……. I asked something unnecessary. I’m sorry. I thought the Gerwer Duke family’s ability users’ eyes only turned gold when using their abilities.”

“Everyone thinks so.”

Ian smiled, saying it was fortunate that the students were deceived.

At Ian’s statement that the artifact was a secret, Philip apologized again, claiming he had a loose tongue.

“I won’t tell anyone. About the necklace, I mean.”

‘Necklace?’

Judging from their conversation, it must have been the necklace given by Duke Gerwer.

Liche peeked her head out at the real object of the necklace she had only heard of through the mirror.

“Hello.”

As Ian waved his hand, Liche nodded in greeting.

Philip was convinced that Liche was shy by her uncharacteristic greeting.

However, Liche had a different reason.

‘Ian Duwayne knows my voice.’

Even if she had hidden her face with a scarf, there was no way to hide her voice.

Just as she recognized Ian’s voice, he would undoubtedly recognize hers.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen his face properly.’

The first time Liche saw Ian Duwayne through the mirror was when she spoke to the mirror after Pythons was dealt with by Hikanka.

She needed to confirm that the child beyond the mirror was an ability user, namely Ian Duwayne Gerwer, as Pythons had said.

So, she checked the child’s energy from a distance where she was not reflected in the mirror. It was a bit difficult since the mirror only worked when touched, but still.
Seeing Liandwein was all there was to it. Even in his previous life, when he lived in the house of Gerwer Duke, Riche never had a chance to encounter Liandwein, because of the Gerwer Duke who was restraining his son.

‘That’s what his face looked like.’

Riche stared intently at Ian’s face.

Specifically, he checked his complexion. Whether he had been eating well and was not lacking in nutrition, whether he had any illnesses.

His golden hair was not dry and had a luster.

The eyes, which had turned black under the influence of the artifact, looked like a calm night sky twinkling with stars, perhaps because of the golden eyelashes.

There were no dark circles, and his lips of a pleasing thickness were smooth and not cracked.

The cheeks that had grown flesh were flushed, which was the part Riche was most relieved about.

‘I’m glad. His blood color is good.’

A black energy was flickering around his chest, but it was in good condition.

Proud of the healthy appearance of Liandwein, who had recovered apart from Hikenka’s condition, Riche chuckled.

‘Ah, I have to go now.’

Anyway, since it’s not a situation where he can talk to Ian, what’s the use of staying here?

Riche tugged on Philip’s arm and made a gesture for him to lend an ear.