Zero no Tsukaima:Volume1 Story2 Chapter5

Chapter 8: The Staff Of Destruction

The second morning… At the Tristain Academy of Magic, there was much commotion since last night just as though a wasp’s nest have been stirred.

Why? Because the staff of destruction has been stolen.

And it was brazenly stolen by using an Earth Golem to break through the wall of the vault.

The teachers of the Academy of magic, gathering inside the vault was speechless when they saw the gaping hole on the wall.

The inscription on the wall etched by Fouquet the Dirt Crumb says it all: [I have acquired the Staff of Destruction. Fouquet the Dirt Crumb]

At this point of time, all the teachers at the academy could do was to gripe and whine “It’s that thief that has looted the nobles clean, Fouquet the Dirt Crumb! How daring of her to target the academy! “ “What were the guards doing?” “Even if the guards are around, they’re useless! They’re only peasants! Speaking of which, which noble was supposed to be on duty last night?”

Miss Chevreuse felt anxious. She was supposed to be on duty last night. “But who would steal from the academy?”, so she thought while sleeping soundly in her own room instead of being next to the vault door like all nobles on watch duty must do.

One of the teachers immediately pointed out and said, “Mrs. Chevreuse! You’re supposed to be on duty last night! Am I right?”

Mrs. Chevreuse broke into tears and said,” I’m very sorry… Very sorry…” “Even if you cried you heart out, would it come back? Or are you going to pay for it?” “But…but I just finished paying for my house” Miss Chevreuse knelt down on the floor and wept.

Just then, Old Osman arrived. “Erm….This is not best time to be hard on ladies right?” The fellow teacher who reprimanded Miss Chevreuse retorted, “But Osman, Miss Chevreuse failed in her duty! She was sleeping soundly in her bed when she was supposed to be on watch!”

Old Osman gently stroke his long beard while looking at the very shaken and stirred teacher. “Erm… What’s your name again?” “It’s Gimli! Have you forgotten?” “Oh, right! Gimli! Well, Mr. Gimli, don’t get angry. Honestly speaking, how many of you here can say that you’re always vigilant throughout your tour of duty?” Old Osman replied The teachers looked at each other and hung their heads in shame (1). There was silence.

“Well, that’s the situation that we’re in now. Talking about responsibility, I think all of us, including myself; have to be held accountable for this incident. Why do we think that a thief could never infiltrate the academy? It’s it because of the number of magicians we have in the academy here that gives us the assurance that we won’t be attacked? This type of thinking is wrong from the start.”

Old Osman gazed at the hole on the wall and continued saying, “It’s because of our complacency that has given Fouquet the courage to trespass, and steal the staff of destruction. We’re all at fault.”