After seeing what the marker actually was, some people's wishful thinking fell through—Elliot actually required everyone to hold out one hand while he personally dabbed each person's hand with a potion.
They had originally thought the marker would be some object, intending to throw it away after entering the trial grounds. Clearly, that was impossible now.
After finishing, Elliot said, "This marker will give off a special scent that attracts Magic Beasts. It will remain effective for one month. You may try to remove it; that is permitted by the trial rules. Of course, whether you can manage it is your own problem."
Afterward, Elliot kept following Adam around with a sly, ingratiating look, as though waiting for Adam to come begging him. They had nearly reached the foot of the laboratory building, yet Adam still had not spoken. Elliot could not help asking, "Adam, don't you want me to help you remove the marker?"
Adam looked at him and shook his head. "No need."
Elliot was disappointed. The academy allowed apprentices to remove the mark through their own abilities, but those abilities did not include asking someone else for help. Elliot had wanted to wait for Adam to ask him, then tease him a little. Now there was no chance of that.
The devil cackled grotesquely at the side. "Childish human, how could the great Master fall for something like that?"
Adam had no need for it, but someone else had set their sights on him.
They all knew, more or less, that Adam and Elliot were on good terms. Yet Adam's fierce reputation made them afraid to approach him directly with such a request, so they could only convey their intentions through William.
Thus, after Adam returned to the laboratory, William came before him, hemming and hawing. "Adam,