Well, I'll leave you to it. I hope it works out for her.

　Seagal and I broke up and I went to the rumored "Ice Queen".

　I see.
　Once again, looking at her up close, she's a pretty high-level beauty.

　The color of her eyes is blue, which is good at water-based magic.

　Perhaps her name, "Ice Queen," is partly derived from the color of her eyes.

　And.
　It was good that I stepped in front of the booth, but I didn't get any response from the crucial "Ice Queen".

　She was so absorbed in her book that she seemed to be saying, "My heart is not in this world.

　On the desk where I was sitting, there was an apologetic pole with the words 'Ancient Magic Study Group' written on it.

　Hmm.
　The Society for the Study of Ancient Magic, huh? I can't even begin to examine what kind of activities it's about from the name.

　In contrast to other study groups that are enthusiastically recruiting, this one looks unwilling to do so.

"Hey,

　He doesn't respond too well, so I call out to him.

'What,'

　Noel said as he peeked out from between the books.

'I'm interested in the study group you belong to. I've come to ask for an explanation.

　
　At first I thought about using the honorific, but upon closer inspection, I saw that the color of Noel's uniform was indicative of a first year like us.
　There would be no need to bother using honorifics for students of the same grade.

''Hm. Then unpack this.

　Saying that, Noel held out a small box with an intricate pattern on it.

　Ho. Is it a labyrinth circuit?
　It's quite a nostalgic thing to bring out.

　The labyrinth circuit is an item that is used to test your ability to analyze complicated written magical syntax.

　Well, to put it plainly, it's like the 'Wheel of Wisdom' that uses magic.

　If you understand the drawn magical syntax and channel the magic power to the correct route, the box will open and you will be able to open it.

　Hmm. Let's see.

　This elaboration isn't ready-made.
　It's probably the original labyrinth circuit she created.

Here. Solved it.



　I hold out the open box and Noel's eyes widen for a moment, as if he's looking at something he can't believe.

'...... maybe it was broken?'

That's impossible. I solved it.

　I assure you, Noel was still skeptical.

'No way. It's going to take me an hour to solve it, no matter how fast I solve it.

　Huh. Good grief.
　I've been licked by this kind of problem for an hour.

　But it was a very good problem for a student.

　At the very least, I don't think Ted would have been able to solve it in his lifetime.

Anyway, a promise is a promise.

...... All right. I'll take you there.

　As he said that, Noel picked up the parasol that was propped up on his desk.
　Huh. You must be really bad at sunshine to hold up a parasol on such a cloudy day.

'Follow me.'

Yeah.

　This is how I successfully completed the task Noel gave me, and I was led to the laboratory of the Ancient Magic Research Group.