Forgetting to ask Ruri for more details about the Rosengards, Logan exited the living quarters after bidding farewell to the young girl, who clearly needed more rest.
With the help of a well-dressed butler guiding him outside, Logan soon noticed the sleek carriage waiting for him.
Its polished wood gleamed under the strong afternoon sun, but what truly caught Logan's eye was its unusual design.
The entire cart had been carefully carved to resemble the head of a dragon—a stark contrast to the more ordinary wagons he had seen in recent days.
Another striking feature was the beasts pulling the carriage: four-legged lizards that resembled bulls.
Their green, scaly hides shone faintly under the sunlight, as if they were oiled. In terms of appearance, each one bore two thick horns and a chained snout full of sharp fangs.
They looked fearsome, yet remained perfectly calm, standing motionless in wait.
The coachman tipped his hat respectfully as Logan approached.
"Welcome, Hero. I thank you for accepting my master's invitation. The Earl and young lady await your arrival with great anticipation."
Thinking a simple nod would suffice, Logan boarded the strange carriage, hoping none of the other students were paying attention to him.
Once inside, he immediately noticed that the interior was quite different from its fearsome exterior.
The cabin was elegant—lined with ebony wood, dark maroon curtains, and fine leather seats made from some dark red creature's hide.
The seats were surprisingly springy, an attribute Logan would later appreciate once the road began to shake beneath them.
As the ride began, Logan quickly realized how much more luxurious yesterday's floating carriage had been.
This one shook frequently after leaving the castle, and at times, the uneven terrain made him feel slightly nauseous.
To distract himself, he turned his gaze outside, doing his best to memorize the path in case he needed to return by other means.
After half an hour, the scenery began to change.
The carriage entered a more wooded area, yet the well-maintained black metal fence running alongside the road made it clear that this was still private property.
Occasionally, the carriage passed through dense clusters of trees, but as time went on, neatly arranged gardens and the occasional statue began to appear, adding an air of quiet grandeur to the woodland.
Soon, a tall ornate gate adorned with the Rosengard family crest came into view, signaling their arrival at the Earl's estate.
As the carriage came to a stop, Logan waited for the door to open, anticipation stirring in his chest.
He wasn't sure how he was expected to act in front of nobility. Should he bow? Or did they expect him to carry himself with confidence, like a true hero?
Stepping out of the cart, Logan was surprised to find no grand reception waiting for him.
Instead, only Rubina stood before the grand mansion to greet him.
The building loomed behind her, its tall arched windows catching the afternoon sunlight, while ivy crept along the stone walls in elegant trails.
Four massive columns flanked the entrance, supporting the structure like silent sentinels.
Beyond them, a large wooden door stood closed, its surface intricately carved with scenes of legendary battles and mythical beasts.
The mansion radiated power and refinement, an unmistakable symbol of the Rosengard family's influence.
Logan stood still for a few moments, unsure how to proceed.
His eyes wandered—not only toward the mansion but across the estate's expansive yard.
The grounds were so vast that they reminded him of his school campus, and even that comparison felt lacking.
Noticing his hesitation, Rubina stepped forward.
She walked gracefully toward the carriage, her long scarlet hair swaying with the breeze, radiating a glow like strands of fire turned into silk.
She wore a simple yet elegant green dress with soft frills that swayed at her sides.
A silver necklace rested delicately around her neck, the pendant's rare gemstone adding just the right amount of refinement to her appearance.
As she drew near, Logan felt sweat forming in his palms.
His nerves betrayed him as he struggled to keep his gaze focused.
The way her dress fluttered in the wind revealed just enough of her shapely legs to stir distraction, and the way the frills clung to her form didn't help matters.
Her presence was… overwhelming.
"Thank you for coming, Sir Logan," Rubina said, her voice smooth and pleasant. "I appreciate that you took the time to visit my family's estate. You must forgive my father for not being present; he had an urgent matter to attend to and will arrive shortly."
"Uhm, yes, it's fine, Ms. Rubina," Logan replied awkwardly, doing his best to manage both his nerves and the floral-sweet scent that now lingered between them.
Rubina's eyes sparkled with amusement as she tilted her head, letting out a soft giggle. "It seems today's Logan is not the same as yesterday?"
Logan suddenly straightened his back, unsure what he had done to give her that impression.
"Don't worry too much—Ghostbrew is pretty strong. I doubt I would fare any better," Rubina said with a knowing smile. "Just to clear things up, I only walked you to Mr. Alric after we spoke yesterday. There's no need to be on guard. I mean no harm, and I was sincere when I presented my proposal. Anyway, let's go inside. We should drink some tea while we wait for my father to arrive."
Not knowing what to say, Logan nodded and followed the young woman inside.
The interior of the mansion was just as refined as its exterior, decorated with tasteful arrangements and intricate furnishings.
Rubina led him to a sunlit room where large windows bathed the space in natural light.
A maid had already prepared a polished silver tray with several cups and an assortment of sweets, neatly arranged for two.
Both youths took a seat on a plush sofa.
Logan instinctively wanted to sit elsewhere, but seeing Rubina settle herself comfortably beside him, he decided not to risk offending her.
"Now then, Hero," she said with a small smile, "if I remember correctly, you said this world is very different from your own. I think I should begin by answering any questions you might have. Where would you like to start?"
Seeing that she genuinely wanted to help, Logan considered what knowledge he needed most.
At the top of the list was a better understanding of how magic worked in this world.
"Yes... What exactly is magic, and these 'cores'? And why do we all have different classes?"
Logan asked, lifting a delicate porcelain cup filled with red tea.
"Ah, that's actually easy enough to explain." Rubina nodded, crossing one leg over the other with grace. "Mana is like water—everyone can absorb it, thanks to the Great Spirits. They allow us to refine it, and once refined, it's stored in a core inside the body. With enough mana, we can call forth special powers unique to each person."
She took a sip from a nearby cup filled with light green tea, then dabbed her lips with a towel before selecting a cookie from the silver tray.
"As for classes," she continued, "they're like special roles or professions, decided by the Great Spirits themselves. They see our talents—our nature—and choose something that best matches who we are. For instance, I'm gifted in fire magic and also have strong telekinetic powers. That's why I was granted the class of Arch Mage."
Rubina set down her cup and smiled gently.
"My abilities come from two sources: the Great Spirit of Fire, who blessed me so I can summon and radiate its flames at will... and the Great Spirit of Darkness, who granted me a second power. That allows me to do this—"
Within seconds, the young lady before him manifested short horns, a tail, and small wings. Logan stood up in shock but sensed that the girl was just as afraid of him as he was of her.
"Are you possibly…" Logan began, but Rubina quickly cut him off.
"A demon? Yes. I'm half-demon," she answered calmly. "My mother was a full-blooded demon, and my father is human. I've never met any other demons… and my mother has been gone since I was a child."
Her voice softened, and sadness flickered in her ruby-like eyes.
"So why did you tell me this? I'm a hero," Logan asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Because I want you to trust me. I feel something familiar when I talk to you…" she replied, her tone sincere. "By sharing this secret, I hope we can help each other—before you're tainted by this world's ideology. Also, my father is obsessed with monsters. He was the one most eager to meet you after the oracle revealed your class."
Logan glanced around the room. No maids had entered.
He returned his gaze to Rubina, who remained seated, watching him carefully.
He took a deep breath, forced his heartbeat to settle, and sat back down. Despite her otherworldly form, she didn't seem dangerous, at least not right now.
Seeing that Logan didn't panic or call for help, Rubina quietly concealed her demonic features again.
Even she didn't understand why she had revealed herself, but something about Logan felt... safe.
The way he kept himself out of view, away from others, reminded her of herself—a misfit in this world.
"Well then," she said with a warm smile, "I hope we can enjoy our tea and sweets before my father arrives. He's very eager to meet you, Logan."
As Logan picked up a small cake from the tray, his eyes drifted toward the girl beside him.
Her smile was radiant—so genuine it made him feel as if, somehow, she had drawn closer to him.
Suddenly, a loud commotion broke the calm atmosphere.
The door swung open with force as a tall, lean man burst into the room, carefully cradling an egg in his arms.