Book 15 Chapter 24
Chapter 61
After executing Ken Selman, who dared to illegally act like a cool older brother in the Red Mountains, which were like a sanctuary, we descended the mountains and crossed the border.
Our next destination was said to be the academic city, <Vedinaim>.
To enter here, we had to wear school uniforms and use pseudonyms, but I actively agreed, despite the inconvenience.
As an academic city, wouldn't there be an incredible amount of books?
Thus, we arrived at <Vedinaim>.
In this city, which abhors violence, there are no city walls or the like.
Believing that knowledge is their shield, they stacked books and scrolls like barricades to define the city's boundaries.
The maintenance cost for these walls required hiring mages and witches every month to maintain preservation and management barriers, and this cost was astronomical, truly the pinnacle of throwing money away.
“Hmph, that’s truly the kind of idea only stupid liberal arts students would come up with.”
“Wanna die? Are you disrespecting liberal arts now? Hey, you! While science students only ever become cogs in society, it’s always been liberal arts students, well-versed in philosophy, theology, and history, who’ve ruled the world. Even imperial nobles only receive liberal arts education from a young age, don’t they?”
“Yeah, next liberal arts student.”
“Liberal arts has its own unique power. Keep messing around like that, and your arrogant pride will get crushed someday.”
While bickering with Friede like that, we eventually arrived at the gate.
The academic city’s guards used a peculiar weapon called a Book Hammer. The iron part of the hammer was replaced with books.
As the guards crossed their Book Hammers to block the way, the gatekeeper checked our IDs.
“Hmm, winter semester exchange students, I presume. Welcome to the academic city. Two of you from mid-to-low-ranking imperial nobility, and one from the Republic, is that right?”
“Uh, got a problem with me being from the Republic?”
“No problem, but it would be best not to cause any trouble. Unless you want to be ‘reprimanded’ by my ‘Book Hammer’.”
“?”
“Hahahaha! Oh my, gatekeeper! My belly button’s about to run away! Oh my belly button! My intestines are about to spill out through my missing navel! Medic!”
As the guards burst into laughter, the gatekeeper nodded contentedly and opened the way.
As a result of interpreting this situation by rotating my brain at 31 times per second, my mouth fell open in astonishment.
To be able to make people roll on the floor with just a single sentence, is this one of the advanced techniques of liberal arts, wordplay?
“So wordplay is actually similar in nature to a witch’s spell. To think anyone can use such an amazing technique… did I underestimate liberal arts too much?”
At that brilliant interpretation, Lista’s eyes also widened significantly.
“Wow, so that’s what it was! Truly amazing. Is this the power of liberal arts Friede talked about?”
Friede shook her head frantically.
“Uh, no, that’s not it. Absolutely not. Those poor guys are just doing their social duties. Hey, I said it’s not! Hey! Stop nodding as if you understand. Stop it!”