Knowing Shiro Blanca

D-7

Only a week remained before the practical examination of second years at Khunlun Forest.

In a certain gazebo, a group of students were having their meeting. Two of them seemed to be fighting and arguing about their own stance while the other just simply watched them.

"Anyway, I didn't expect that I would be part of the team that composed notable characters," Yuston commented. "A successor of White Magic Tower, A prince, a duke's daughter and a count's daughter. With me in the picture, it will look weird to have me, a commoner."

"No, it doesn't look that weird," Johannes replied. "We aren't the notable characters, just our predecessor and parents hold that acknowledgement. Inside this academy, we're all just the same students."

"Well, well. What a convincing word from a quad mage like you."

"Quad mage? I'm just lucky to have a good environment and the majority of my elemental magic is just at beginner level."

"I see." He looked at Ryder. "But I didn't expect the Fourth Prince to seek help from Professor Shiro."

"Well, he has his reasons."

"Ah, that weird mana manipulation and his unstable mana control."

"You know about that?"

"Well, it's quite known to all students. A talented magic researcher, a competent alchemy apprentice but a failed practitioner. In this academy, knowledge and intelligence is just one side of the coin, if don't learn to have the two face, you'll never get acknowledged," he commented.

"That's harsh," Ellie said.

"It's really harsh but that's the reality. Well, if he meets Professor Shiro, he can be fixed."

"Fix? Is he some kind of damage goods?"

"By the way, how come you got curious about Khunlun Forest. I know you are obsessed with information but why are you too focused on going to that forest?" Johannes wondered.

"Ahhh... that? Well, I've just got a tip that that person is living in that forest."

"That person?" Ryder joined the conversation after getting tired of bickering with Sienna.

"Of course, the one and only conqueror of Khunlun Forest." They all looked at him and suddenly got excited. "The legendary mercenary, Code Zero."

"Huh? Code Zero?"

Yuston started to narrate every detail regarding Code Zero and as well as the information about the Khunlun Forest.

He shared to them that the Khunlun Forest was known to be a dangerous and high-risk area in the city because of the swarming of monsters and different threats. But most of all, the existence of three ruling monsters added fear and danger in the forest.

The Horned Fenrir, the Mystical Imoogi and the Hundred Beasts Chimera.

Those said monsters were given the highest level of threat rank in terms of strength and fatality rate. They were widely known as the, Uncrowded Conqueror of Khunlun.

Upon hearing that information, they couldn't help but to feel a bit of fear and doubt regarding their upcoming examination.

"Well, don't worry, we will only stay in the outer part of the forest so we won't be seeing high-ranking monsters."

"But Professor Shiro's lab was almost in the deep part of the forest," Ellie said.

"You don't need to worry about that. Actually, being in his lab is safer than any place in the forest."

"How are you sure about that?" Sienna asked.

"Huh? Well, I already went to his lab and interviewed him a couple of times. He's petty old man who charged a fee for his interview. If he's just not one of my target scoops." He felt annoyed.

"Really?!" The other three were surprised by his sudden revelation.

"Oh, what is it? Of course I would do an interview with him. He is a pretty known individual in our university. Well, don't expect too much from him. For me, he looked more like a mountain hermit than a researcher. A messy long hair, unshaved bird and he seemed to be cooping inside the lab more than anyone," he explained.

"No, we mean that you already met him?" Ryder cleared.

"Of course. Don't tell me you don't know his face or what he looks like." They all nodded in chorus. "Huh?! That's impossible. He ate at the cafeteria once a week. I even eat with him. Although I'm just using it as an excuse to get some scoop from him."

"Ehhh?!!! Why can't we see him?" Ryder said in disappointment.

"Hmmm..." Yuston thought hard about it. "Ahhh... he's using stealth magic."

"Stealth magic?"

"Yes, I just barely sense him because I also used the same magic. For your information, he's the one who points out the mistake in my stealth magic so I can improve it."

"Well, more than pointing out, he mocks my sloppy stealth magic so I just used it as a booster to improve it."

"Are you for real? We are struggling to find information about him but you already meet him and even talk to him."

"Well, if you really want to, then prepare a hefty amount because he's really a money driven devil. I remember wasting more than two months of allowance just to get a scoop on him," he explained.

"He's like a thug extorting money from a student. Is Ryder really going to ask for help from him?"

"Then, you also know the route to his lab?" Sienna asked.

"Of course. Even though the path is filled with illusion magic and traps, I already know the right way."

"Wait. Don't tell me, you also paid for that?" Johannes guessed.

"Oh, you've got it right." Yuston sighed. "I tried it so many times but I couldn't figure out the way to his laboratory even though I had the exact location of it. The illusion and traps on the way seem like ever-changing."

"An ever-changing illusion and trap magic. That's a high-level magic that can be found only in dungeons or labyrinths."

"Right. Is he amazing? I think he already conquered some dungeons or labyrinths."

"Then, we really don't need to trouble Senior Alexis about Professor Shiro Blanca's location if you already know the way," Sienna said

"I agree. I will just apologize to her later," Ellie seconded.

"No, let's all go. We gave her something to worry about," Ryder suggested.

"Alexis?"

"Senior Alexis. A third year student."

"Ahhh... that female senior, Senior Alexis Kassandra." Yuston understood. "Woah. You have a good connection."

"Well, not us but Sienna and Ms. Claudia. They're good friends with her," Ryder replied.

"No, I only met her through Ellie."

"Ah. She's only good at taking care of me whenever I have library duty. She's a kind senior."

"I didn't mean that. If you are already friends with her, meeting Professor Shiro would be easy."

"What do you mean?" Johannes asked.

"What do I mean... Did you all don't know? Senior Alexis is the daughter of Professor Shiro."

The other four turned silent for a moment with mouth gaped and widened eyes due to shock.

"Are you for real?!!!" The four couldn't believe it.

"Are you all that uninterested in the academy?" Yuston commented before sighing.

The four got something like a strong jolt of electricity in by the sudden revelations and surprise they got with talking to Yuston and getting information from him until they reached the day of the examination.

*****