Published at 20th of July 2026 12:32 am

Chapter 691: Treasure Tracker.

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

“Now then, Lucienne Arden, step forward.”

Arion had finally called out Roland’s sister’s name. The moment he did, Roland looked in her direction. The other students were not paying much attention, and none of her friends were present either, as she was the only one who had made it this far.

Her friends, Atasuna and Marlein, were not bad students, but they were more ordinary in terms of talent. Only the top two or three students from each class could ever hope to reach this competition. With multiple classes and hundreds of students in each year, earning a place here was no easy feat.

‘That girl Margaret could have probably gotten in, but she has not returned since Robert’s trial... neither is that prince here.’

The girl he suspected was a member of royalty or high nobility was absent. So was the prince who had caused the entire incident with Viola Castellane. High nobles seemed to have a tendency to create chaos and then disappear before facing the consequences. With enough wealth and influence to hire the finest private tutors, attending a magic academy like this was often little more than a formality.

Lucienne had grown considerably, and it was becoming clear that she was maturing into a proper noble lady. Roland could easily imagine a line of suitors eager to seek her hand in marriage. The only thing delaying such advances was her place at the institute, where she could continue living and studying.

He was not entirely sure what plans his sister had for the future. She never seemed particularly eager to marry, but with Robert’s disappearance, she had become the only unmarried member of the family. His older brothers and sisters had already wed. Some had children, while others were too occupied with their duties to start families of their own. That left Lucienne as the family's final bargaining piece if they ever wished to strengthen political ties through marriage.

‘I hope she can choose her own path... and if she ever wants my help…’

Roland had already done it once. If Lucienne ever decided she wanted to leave the family behind, helping her disappear was not out of the question. Still, he could not imagine her making such a choice because of her mother. Robert’s disappearance had already taken a heavy toll on her, and for the foreseeable future, they needed to keep his continued presence within the kingdom a secret.

Pushing those intrusive thoughts aside, Roland watched quietly as Lucienne made her way through the rows of students. Unlike many of the others who had stepped forward with confidence, she appeared noticeably nervous. Her shoulders were straight and her uniform immaculate, but there was a subtle hesitation in her movements that only someone familiar with her would notice.

The blonde girl reached the platform and stopped before the scanner. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Lucienne offered an awkward smile, as if she was unsure how to react. Roland resisted the urge to sigh and instead turned his attention toward Arion, who activated the scanner.

Just as it had many times before, the device began to move. Bright lights swept across her body as it scanned her status while concealing details such as her class from curious onlookers. Normally, such secrecy would not be permitted, but the trust placed in the academy was immense. Besides, a student's class could often be identified even without the machine's assistance.

Roland already knew what the results would be before they appeared on paper. Lucienne's class was that of a Clairvoyant, an uncommon class that was not considered particularly powerful. At first glance, some people might wonder what use such a class could have in a competition, but in reality, there were many.

Tracking spells existed and could be used by almost everyone. The same could be said of classes with tracking abilities, but all of them paled in comparison to the clairvoyant line of classes that could eventually become oracles. These mages could pierce even the strongest barriers and locate almost anything within their range. In competitions where finding hidden objects often determined the outcome, Lucienne's class was almost unfair.

A class like hers could uncover not only hidden traps inside a dungeon but also paths leading to treasure that most people would overlook. However, due to its lack of offensive and defensive capabilities, it lagged behind other mage classes.

She could not cast devastating elemental spells, disable opponents with debilitating effects, or summon powerful creatures to her aid. It was primarily a support class and, when it came to spelunking, often had more drawbacks than advantages. An experienced tracker could usually perform well enough while still maintaining far greater combat effectiveness.

Yet with enough preparation and a capable defensive force, an oracle could turn the tide of battle. They could predict ambushes or uncover hidden routes long before the enemy realized they had been exposed. Entire expeditions had survived solely because someone with such abilities had been present.

‘A valuable military asset... I wonder what Wentworth intends to do with Lucienne…’

As he reviewed his sister's results, his thoughts turned to his father, a military man who held the rank of Marshal. Lucienne could potentially be used to predict attacks from rival empires, something that became increasingly possible as an oracle's powers grew. An oracle could even listen in on private conversations and relay that information to their allies. It was much like a camera, except one that could not be detected until it was too late.

"Please, take this student, and be sure to return this paper after marking down your event. Now then, let us continue with the next!"

Arion set aside the paper listing Lucienne's events. At the top was the treasure hunt competition, one of the academy's most sought-after events. The choice was obvious, as her ability to detect hidden objects made her exceptionally suited for it.

Groups of mages would be sent into a vast area filled with concealed treasures. Some would be hidden in chests, others tucked away in hollow tree trunks or buried beneath the ground. The team that recovered the most valuables would be declared the winner. A clairvoyant was perfectly suited for such a competition. Their ability to search was extraordinary, making them akin to a living radar capable of detecting almost anything within range.

The other two events assigned to her were different but not surprising. One was the reconnaissance exercise, a competition focused on gathering information while avoiding detection. Teams would be placed within a controlled environment and tasked with locating designated targets, observing enemy movements, and reporting their findings before time ran out.

For most students, it was considered one of the less glamorous events. Its purpose was to test stealth magic and intelligence-gathering capabilities. With Lucienne on the team, they would have someone capable of detecting enemy movement with ease. She would likely be able to spot ambushes and identify dummy targets before anyone else.

A clairvoyant's ability to gather information was invaluable. There were limits to what she could perceive, but even at Tier One, she could listen in on conversations as long as someone concealed her with stealth magic and brought her close enough to the target. As she advanced through her class progression, those abilities would only become more powerful.

The last one was somewhat similar to the first, as it involved a maze and item retrieval. A group would need to overcome various obstacles, solve magical puzzles, and recover an artifact hidden somewhere within the labyrinth. Their time would be measured, and the team with the fastest record would emerge victorious.

‘Which one will she go with...’

Roland saw Lucienne peeking over the paper before quickly covering her face like a child caught doing something she should not. He was not sure what she was thinking, but perhaps she was worried he would stop her from participating in any dangerous events.

Of the three, the treasure hunt was probably the most dangerous, followed by the maze. The reconnaissance exercise was likely the safest, at least on paper. In reality, any competition could become dangerous if rival academies decided to push the limits of what was considered acceptable.

There were other options as well. One event involved searching for ingredients in an enchanted garden, while another required participants to follow a chain of clues and solve puzzles. Neither was particularly popular, and both were generally considered rather dull. The selection system was designed to present participants with the more sought-after competitions first. Roland could have influenced the outcome, but he chose not to.

Lucienne lowered the sheet and read through the listed options once more. Her eyes clearly lingered on the treasure hunt at the top, the most popular one of them all.

‘Of course she would go for that one...’

Roland was not surprised. To be honest, it played directly to her strengths. With the right team of students, he could see her succeeding. Although the event centered on finding treasure, it did not mean there would be no magical battles involved.

There was also the matter of teams being able to steal merit points from one another during the competition. This was one of the reasons the event was broadcast on specialized magical crystals. Everyone could watch and cheer for their chosen team, while the smaller competitions received only limited attention from the audience. The treasure hunt was an academy favorite because it combined exploration, strategy, magical combat, and more than a little drama.

With Lucienne serving as the team's primary tracker, they would need a capable vanguard. Someone had to hold back opponents while she focused on locating targets. A durable earth mage or a combatant capable of using enhancement magic would be ideal, and there was someone fitting that description among the students gathered here.

The second key member would need to provide mobility. His sister's physical capabilities were rather limited, so someone who could summon beasts to serve as mounts would be valuable. Beyond that, they would need several mages capable of supporting the group from the back lines with defensive and offensive spells, along with a dedicated support specialist.

‘There is a strong team here. With these students, it's doable, and it's one of the events that awards a large number of points...’

Although he had not initially supported the idea, he was still here to secure a strong placement for their magic school. The competition would be fierce, but if he managed to accomplish what he was planning, he could not see himself losing.

For most people, creating custom runic accessories to enhance magical abilities would be a difficult task. With the help of this machine, however, crafting something perfectly suited to each student would be child's play. It would simply require a considerable amount of time.

“Professor Arion, could you continue here? I need to attend to something else.”

“Oh? Sure, Deputy Professor. Go ahead. Let's meet back at the Runic Department.”

Roland nodded. For the time being, he would not confront his sister about the choice, as the students had three days to turn in their papers. What he needed to do now was contact the Headmistress and ask about the rules regarding the competition.

People stepped aside when they saw him, though the halls were still crowded. By the time he arrived at the large park area, he noticed far fewer students relaxing, as most were probably busy packing. Instead of heading to the Headmistress's tower, he made his way to his own office beneath it. From there, he could contact Yavenna without any trouble.

Once seated at his desk, he activated the spell connecting him to her. The wood began to shift, and a small flower emerged from the surface. A voice soon drifted from within it.

“Deputy Professor Wayland? It's rare for you to contact me directly. Is something wrong? Are the students not to your liking?”

To his surprise, she responded immediately. Of course, she could have been feigning surprise. The runic monitoring system was at her fingertips, and she possessed her own methods of keeping tabs on people like him. Within the Garden, there was probably no one who could entirely escape her notice.

“It’s not about the students. I just wanted to confirm some of the rules for the Quinquennial Arcane Institute Convocation.”

“The rules? If you want the rules, you can consult the guide. Nothing has changed.”

“I know. I just wanted to confirm something. There doesn't seem to be a limit on the support items students can use. Magic potions, high-level enchantments, and even single-use scrolls all appear to be permitted, provided they fit inside the school-issued spatial bags. Is that correct?”

“I believe so. Is there a problem?”

“No, but would something that functions like a mana recovery potion, except in the form of a bracelet or another accessory, be allowed?”

“Oh? Does such a device exist?”

“Yes. It could be provided to students and, in theory, would offset their mana consumption far more effectively than a standard mana potion, all without the side effects associated with mana toxicity.”

That was the main reason he had contacted her. After reviewing the Convocation's rules, he had found them surprisingly lax. Nearly all forms of enchanted equipment were allowed, provided they did not exceed a student's tier. A Tier One student, for instance, was restricted to Tier One runic equipment.

Because of the extensive research he had conducted on his disciple Millie and her bracelet, he was confident he could reproduce similar equipment for others. Mages relied heavily on mana, and their options for sustaining it were generally limited to mana potions or items that increased their mana reserves or regeneration.

Roland, however, could provide something far superior. Bracelets powered by runic batteries. Such devices could absorb a significant portion of a spell's mana cost, granting students a tremendous advantage in competitions that relied primarily on magic. It was an advantage that other schools either had not pursued or, more likely, could not produce on a large scale. Perhaps they could secure similar items for a handful of elite students, but the average young mage would never receive such treatment.

Roland, on the other hand, had already begun scanning every student, cataloging their strengths, weaknesses, and mana patterns. With that information, he could craft versions of Millie's bracelet tailored to each of them.

“That’s an intriguing idea. Could you tell me more?”

He could tell that the Arch Magus was interested in what he was planning, so he quickly explained everything to her. While the rules did not forbid it, he wanted to make sure he was not dragging the institute into some kind of scandal. He knew the other schools might protest if they saw this type of technology.

“What do you think, Headmistress? Would the other mages be offended?”

“Offended? Hah. Let them be. I give you my full permission, Deputy Professor.”

Roland was not sure what Yavenna's expression looked like on the other side of the call, but her tone sounded rather cheerful.

“Then I shall do it.”

After confirming that he had permission to proceed and that there were very few restrictions, he felt relieved. The golem was one thing, but winning only that single event would not give him what he wanted.

“You’ve given me something to look forward to, Deputy Professor.”

“I’ll try not to disappoint you, Headmistress.”

“I know you won’t.”

He was not sure where her confidence came from, but he chose not to respond. Soon, the flower faded back into the wooden desk. He was preparing to leave when he noticed someone entering the park. It was his sister.

“Does she want to talk to me?”

Lucienne looked both nervous and excited as she approached the tree that concealed the path to his office. Few people visited this place, and even fewer knew it existed. Roland remained where he stood for a moment, watching his sister move through the monitoring system outside.

“Come in.”

His voice echoed beyond the office, and the path opened before her. His sister nearly stumbled and fell to the ground, but she managed to recover and soon disappeared inside.

“D-Deputy Professor... I...”

“You can just call me by my name here.”

“Brother Roland, I wasn’t trying to hide anything. It’s just...”

It seemed she was worried about how he would react to her gaining a position in the Convocation.

“You don’t need to worry. I’m not angry, and it’s not as if we can speak freely under these circumstances.”

He stopped her before she could work herself into a nervous mess. Instead, he asked a simple question.

“So, which competition interests you the most?”

“Which one?”

She seemed surprised that he was not trying to convince her not to participate. It was understandable. Both Robert and their mother were quite protective of Lucienne, which had left her with little freedom and made her hesitant to share anything that might worry others. It was one of the main reasons the Viola incident had occurred, but he would not let something like that hold his sister back. He was prepared to help her achieve victory and help her gain more trust in her own skills.

Share