I stopped walking and looked at Orlando. Then he looked at me with a serious look in his eyes and asked quietly.

“Do you really have nothing to tell me about your injury?”

“….”

In fact, thanks to hiding the reason for my injury at the academic festival, I was in a cold war with Orlando lately.

I knew very well that Orlando was sensitive to such things because he hadn’t caught the murderer who killed Sharl. But I couldn’t explain in detail.

To tell the whole story, I had to reveal Askan’s identity, which was something I couldn’t know unless I said I was possessed by a book.

And I had no confidence to handle the aftermath if I told him everything, not knowing how Orlando would take it.

I had no choice but to bow my head in thought.

“…I’m sorry, Father.”

I couldn’t even make an excuse. Orlando was not the type to accept flimsy excuses.

“But please believe me. It’s not the kind of thing you’re worrying about, Father.”

Orlando looked at me without a word. And then he sighed deeply.

Then he opened his mouth with a resigned whisper.

“I understand. Go on.”

“Yes. Please rest, Father.”

I cautiously closed the door to Orlando’s office and left.

I was not in a good mood, but I really had no choice.

I just hoped that my sincerity would reach Orlando.

Time had flown by and the laboratory was completed.

I headed to the lab with Askan, Barnen, and Matella.

I had some idea of what to expect since I had seen the blueprint, but the actual lab was even more splendid.

The lab was a multistory building, surrounded by high walls to prevent anyone from entering.

The landscape was also credible, with landscaping done with flowers and trees to prevent the surrounding scenery from being barren.

At the entrance to the lab, Robin and Tyler, who had been hard at work so far, were waiting.

I approached them with a pleased expression and opened my mouth.

“I’m very pleased with it, even just looking at the exterior.”

Robin smiled and pointed inside the lab.

“I’m glad. Shall we go inside?”

Listening to Robin’s detailed explanation, the lab was impeccable.

There was plenty of room for large magic engineering machines, a place to store items, and even a place to sleep if you were tired.

I pointed to two of the many spaces and said.

“This place should be used one each by the teacher and Ms. Matella.”

“Oh, really?”

Matella looked around the room with a happy expression, her hands clasped together.

Unlike her, Barnen did not reveal his emotions, but the twitching of his lips showed that he was quite pleased.

“Well, it’s usable.”

It was when I was watching Barnen, who was looking carefully despite his gruff words.

Tyler, who had been silent until now, called me secretly.

“Miss.”

When I turned my head, he made a gesture to follow him.

Since I was with Askan, I decided to go with him without hesitation.

Tyler looked at Askan who had come with us and said as if it was difficult.

“I have something important to tell you, but…”

“It’s my decision. It’s okay, you can just say it.”

Despite my permission, Tyler seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then he opened his mouth reluctantly.

“You may not know just by looking at it, but this building is lined with blithium all over, so it should withstand any decent attack.”

Remembering the solid blithium Tyler had shown me before, I nodded.

“While the others are focused on this place, I’d like to show you the bunker in the basement if you have a moment.”

I glanced at Matella and Barnen, who were listening to Robin’s various explanations, and replied.

“Okay.”

Askan looked slightly perplexed, but he followed me and Tyler without a word.

A vast space revealed itself as we descended the hidden stairs leading underground.

From a single glance, one could tell that the large space built like an iron door was entirely constructed of Blythium. It seemed like a different realm from above.

I knocked on the wall with my hand and examined it closely before speaking.

“This is the place. How robust do you think it is?”

“I am confident that even if directly bombed, this place will not collapse.”

“Can it withstand intense fire? Up to what degree?”

“Blythium is particularly resistant to fire. No matter how intense the fire, it will not melt or crumble. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering if we could conduct some experiments in here.”

“Experiments?”

Tyler questioned with a puzzled look, but I did not provide a detailed explanation.

Instead, I looked at Askan and winked one eye, letting him get a good look.

Seeing my face, Askan appeared surprised but soon furrowed his brow and smiled. His smile was always beautiful, no matter when I saw it.

Initially, I planned to use this place exactly as a bunker. A place where I could hide and protect myself in case anything dangerous happened.

But recently, my thinking changed.

Inside here, it seemed okay to let Askan unleash his power to his heart’s content. There would be traces left outdoors, and it would be a problem if there were witnesses.