It was a place where the sunlight did not shine in at all, even though it was still daylight.
　The destination that Noel led me to was the first area that I stepped into in the basement of the school.

[General students are strictly forbidden to enter]

　One thing that I couldn't help but notice from a while ago was the nameplates that were placed at regular intervals.

　They are placed very strictly.
　I'm not sure what the intention of the "general students off-limits" is, but I have a feeling that this is not a good place to enter without permission.

I'm not sure if this is the right place. I'm sure this is the right place, right?

............

　I asked, but there was no answer.
　Instead, Noel seemed to give a small shake of his head.

　
'Here.'

　With that, Noel abruptly stops in the middle of the hallway.

　Hmm.
　This is also quite a classic device, isn't it?

　It seems that this is a hidden door ahead.

''Wait there.

　After preamble, Noel took out a shiny stone from inside his uniform pocket.

　If you look closely, the stone Noel took out seems to have a bit of workmanship on it.

　Noel reached out his thin hand and framed the key stone into the stone statue by his side.

　Clink!

　The next moment.
　At the same time as the stone was being framed into the stone statue, I heard the sound of a lock being unlocked from behind the wall.

　Even in the era of 200 years ago when I was there, there were many such devices.

　This kind of item was called a 'keystone' and was valued by some nobles and merchants with power.

...... Here's my lab.

　
　Waiting for me inside the hidden door was a room that held what must have been thousands of books.

　Inside, it was too large to be called a student's laboratory, but not enough to be called a library. It had that kind of atmosphere.