After asking around, they finally found the Demisor Magic Academy's reception office in Hargeon.
As a special guest of the academy, along with his three "genius" kids, the academy had booked rooms for Kira and the trio at Hargeon's most famous five-star hotel, ready for immediate check-in.
Two hours later, the four of them were still wandering around Hargeon.
This city was much bigger than Magnolia, and even after all this time, they'd only explored less than a quarter of it.
"Hey, Big Bro Kira!" Ika called out.
"What's up?"
"I'm hungry…"
"Didn't you just eat not long ago?"
"I'm a growing boy!"
Ika's words left Kira with no comeback. These kids were his responsibility, and as their guardian, he had to make sure they were fed, clothed, and housed properly.
So, they headed to the most popular restaurant nearby, diving into a feast while discussing the info they'd gotten from the reception office.
"Demisor Magic Academy's registration for new students ends the day after tomorrow," Kira said. "Three days after that, the entrance exams start. I don't know the specifics of the tests yet, but I hear they're tough. So, do your best, alright?"
"Big Bro Kira, you really don't know the exam questions?" Ika pressed. "You're a special guest!"
Kira rolled his eyes. "Even special guests don't get that kind of info! It's like the competitions back in Magnolia—neither the reporters nor the mayor knew what we were competing in!"
"But it's such a big deal, and all you've got for us is 'do your best'?" Akas whined, clinging to Kira's arm with a pout. "Teacher Kira, don't you have a ton of magic items? Let us borrow some! I want the kind of super-cool summoning beast cards Kanna used in the Grand Magic Games!"
Kira chuckled and tapped her little red hat with his chopsticks. "Don't get your hopes up! Those cards drain a ton of magic and mental energy. You're not ready to handle them!"
"Teacher's right!" Sanmaru boomed, his voice full of vigor, probably from the hearty meal. "Magic items are just tools. Real mages fight with their fists, not some fancy gadgets! As long as we stay true to our convictions, we'll pass the exams!"
"Well said!" Kira gave him a thumbs-up. "Sanmaru, your mindset makes me proud!"
Akas muttered under her breath, "Nonsense! Kanna and Erza don't fight with their fists, and they're amazing mages!"
Kira burst out laughing. "Haha… that's the first time I've heard anyone compare Erza and Kanna like that."
The kids were about to keep bickering when the restaurant kicked off its evening performance. Like some taverns that hire singers, this place had a similar vibe.
Unfortunately, the performer wasn't some sweet, charming young lady but a burly teenage boy.
He looked about 15 or 16, tall and muscular, with thick green hair. Shirtless, he showed off his chiseled muscles and black tattoos on both arms. A tiger-skin skirt wrapped around his waist, giving him a don't-mess-with-me aura.
A guy like that wasn't about to sing a soft ballad. The moment he opened his mouth, his booming tenor sent the whole restaurant into a frenzy.
Akas covered her ears, horrified. "What was the owner thinking, hiring this guy to sing?"
Ika grimaced. "Seriously! If you're gonna have a singer, it should be someone like Mirajane to draw in the crowds!"
Sanmaru, however, had a different take. "I think this guy's got style! Real men should be like him—doing what they want, no matter what anyone thinks!" His eyes practically sparkled.
The other two spun around, staring at him like he'd grown a second head, their faces screaming, Dude, you need a doctor!
Kira's focus wasn't on the kids' banter but on the boy on stage. "What a coincidence…"
"What'd you say, Big Bro?" Ika asked.
"Nothing."
Orga—one of the future top five fighters of Sabertooth—and his magic? God-Slaying Lightning Magic.
"First Rufus, now this guy in the same day? Talk about a coincidence!" Kira mused.
He referred to Orga as "this guy" because, frankly, he'd forgotten his name. It wasn't unusual—Orga was a minor character, after all. Calling him the "Lightning God-Slayer" or "Thunder God" was enough. Just like those random female dragon slayers from Mermaid Heel—who remembered their names?
Rufus and Orga both ended up in Sabertooth, and more coincidentally, both wielded Lost Magic. This caught Kira's attention. The manga never explained where their magic came from, but with Demisor Academy's 400-year history and its legends, Kira had a theory.
"Could they have learned their Lost Magic at Demisor Academy? But… it can't be that convenient, right?"
Lost Magic was called "lost" for a reason—it was incredibly hard to learn, and not everyone who tried could master it.
In Fiore, kids with magical talent start training young. Orga looked mature enough to already be a mage, but whether he'd learned God-Slaying Lightning Magic yet was unclear.
As Kira pondered, Orga did something unusual on stage, clearing up the mystery. He released a white light, touching the microphone, and suddenly his voice boomed louder, carrying far. Kira figured you could hear it 50 meters away.
Ika groaned, "Gods, does this guy have no self-awareness about his singing?"
Kira's eyes locked on the white light. Thanks to Laxus's relentless pestering, he'd studied lightning magic for a while and could identify its properties.
"That's… electromagnetic magic? So he's tweaking the microphone to amplify the sound?"
Sound comes from vibrations, and a microphone works by vibrating a diaphragm that moves a coil through a magnetic field, creating an electrical signal. Higher vibration frequency, stronger signal, louder sound. Orga was directly manipulating the electrical signal to boost the volume.
"What a ridiculous way to use it!" Kira marveled, then added, "But very magical. My head's full of useless knowledge now…"
Orga's trick suggested he likely hadn't learned God-Slaying Lightning Magic yet. Why? Kira figured the guy's brawling personality meant if he had that magic, he'd ditch electromagnetic tricks and join a guild for more dangerous work.
Of course, it was possible Orga was just doing this singing gig as a job or because he genuinely liked it, even if he had God-Slaying Magic. But most mages don't use two types of magic at once.
So, Kira reasoned, Orga was probably like Rufus—using a different magic before acquiring Lost Magic, then switching to the stronger one.
"Might as well ask around."
Kira flagged down a waiter and inquired about Orga. The waiter said Orga had been singing there for about six months, wasn't part of any guild, and only used electromagnetic magic.
After the waiter left, Ika couldn't help but blurt, "Six months of that singing, and this place hasn't gone out of business?!"
Kira didn't approach Orga, just like he hadn't with Rufus. The timing wasn't right.
Registration was done, and now it was a waiting game for the academy staff to show up and the exams to begin.
Over the next few days, Kira kept wandering Hargeon with the kids. "Wandering" was a cover—he was actually looking for someone. Ultear, to be exact.
Three days passed, and he still hadn't found Ultear or anyone tied to Grimoire Heart. Kira was certain he hadn't imagined seeing her that day, and it left him uneasy. His gut told him this entrance exam at Demisor Academy wasn't going to be smooth sailing.