Book 1 Chapter 19

Episode 18

By the way, if you compare the biographies of Friede and Kies, Kies's was a little thicker.

It might be because it was a book published by the Empire. Friede would have protested in that way if she had been there.

Then Kies would have haughtily waggled his eyebrows.

And Rin would have taken Kies's side and teased Friede, and eventually Rista would have stepped in to…

He shook his head. Let's stop these sad, impossible delusions.

[1114, Establishment of the Imperial Festival.]

Kies seemed to have been revered like a saint of the bow, and after marrying, he reportedly opened a dojo and trained many disciples.

'Idiot. If he had taught how to drink well, he would have made a fortune.'

Kies seemed to have thought the same thing.

No, he went even further, teaching how to shoot a bow and how to drink alcohol simultaneously.

He was said to have founded a school called Drunken Archery (醉中射)… which literally meant shooting a bow while drunk.

'The world is truly ending.'

Those archers he saw back then…

Those people reeking of alcohol and carrying gourds, they were truly Kies's disciples, weren't they?

To think there's a crazy archery school that teaches how to drink at the precious time one should be learning archery.

'It's truly the end of the world.'

But surprisingly, the power of that school was so great that it shattered the two-pillar system of imperial archery, and three schools, including Drunken Archery, were said to dominate the archery world.

But there was something even more surprising than that.

It was Kies's marriage.

Marriage, a marriage, really. That drunkard old man became a father?

He had to cover his mouth, feeling as if laughter would burst out.

Because it was unbelievable, because it was funny, and because he was sad he couldn't be there with them.

'This scoundrel, he even married a noblewoman twenty years his junior and had descendants…'

His descendants seemed to have inherited the position of the head of Drunken Archery for generations.

He seemed to have lived happily and died surrounded by his family, which brought relief. He was happy. He thanked the gods.

Kies's life was that simple. Friede's, on the other hand, was somewhat strange. Her death was uncertain.

It was certain that after the expedition ended, she traveled between the Red Mountains and the Red City of <Shriganaqus>, leading the Republic as a priestess for a long time. However, she reportedly vanished suddenly in 1168.

[And since she did not reappear until 1200, the Republic's Witch Association officially announced Friede's death.]

It was puzzling that this flamboyant, attention-loving psycho had met a quiet death.

Did her personality change in her later years?

"Perhaps I should look for books from the Republic."

Just then, sensing a presence, he looked up to find the polite librarian offering another book onto the desk.

"If you're interested in Rista's party, you might want to read this too. It's a book I personally recommend."

Is it Rista's story?

If it's that, there's no need to look…

He scratched his head in embarrassment, and the moment he belatedly saw the book's cover, his mind went blank and his pupils trembled.

『The Life and Achievements of Turaina, Disciple of Rin and Friede, Priestess of Ash.』

Instantly, in a lingering image from the distant past, the face of a girl with sky-blue hair wildly fluttering as she ran through a flower field flashed through his mind.

- Master, Master Rin!

That snot-nosed tomboy kid became a priestess…?

If wizards exist in the Empire, then witches who control spirits with Dragon Tongue (龍言) exist in the Republic.

Witches are categorized into the ranks of Sorcerer, Apprentice Witch, Witch, and Grand Witch, and at the pinnacle of these ranks ruled the Priestess. Only two Priestesses exist in an era.

'What, did this kid become Friede's successor or something?'

Even more shocking than such a rapid rise to prominence was the sheer length of this kid's life.

[1094 ~ 1413]

Is this even possible? Can a human live that long?

Did she develop some kind of immortal spell? And 1413… that means she was alive until Rain was a baby.

His head spun and his fingertips trembled slightly. He swallowed a breath, and it was at that moment he was about to turn the page.

Dong… Dong… Dong…

The chime signaling 6 PM echoed from the clock tower. Normally, he would have ignored it and focused solely on the book.

"Sigh."

But today, he had a date scheduled with an impudent junior, so he couldn't help it.

Why did he get involved in something Rista would do, something so unbefitting… it's annoyingly bothersome.

Cursing his past self, he found the librarian who had been cleaning the bookshelves with magic earlier.

"Is that book quite popular?"

"Not unpopular. Though it's not borrowed every day."

"Could you hold onto it for a moment?"

First-year students cannot use the borrowing service. To be precise, it's available from the second semester.

"I have something to do. I'll be back soon, can't you manage it?"

The librarian glanced at the clock as if somewhat troubled, then reluctantly nodded after a short while.

"I can't hold it for too long. I'll only keep it until someone who wants to borrow it appears."

"Don't worry. It won't take long."

He waved his hand dismissively as if to say not to worry, then turned his body.

"Fifteen minutes, at most?"

* * *

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Idiot! They say the worthless Young Master and the Chaikahk muscle-head are fighting!"

The Dragon's Blood Arena was a massive dome-shaped stadium located in the northern part of the <Delighten> campus grounds.

It was a large-scale facility capable of accommodating up to five thousand spectators, and most festivals and practical ability tests were held there.

That was precisely why Logan had chosen this place for the Magic Duel.

"Today, I'm here to show everyone the sight of Logan here beating up the young master of a magic-using family."

Logan gently loosened his joints and smiled. Veins and muscles vigorously twitched in his thick, bull-like neck.

"But with Logan and the worthless Young Master, the outcome is obvious without even watching. Is there any reason to see this?"

"Of course there is. When else will you get to see a young master of an influential family, who lives for his own self-importance, getting beaten up?"

"The outcome is obvious without watching? Then want to bet? I'll bet three silver coins on Young Master Rain."

"Are you crazy?"

"You'll see who's crazy when you watch."

Unusually, not only students but also professors' faces could be seen scattered throughout the stands. Caroline and Owen were prime examples.

"Who have you come to support, Professor Owen? Is it Logan, who's from the same school of thought? Or Rain, whose homeroom teacher you are?"

"Regional ties, blood ties, academic ties, none of that matters. I've come to support the ridiculously strong one."

"Hoo-hoo, of course you have."

Finally, Professor Theon began the ceremony in the center of the Dragon's Blood Arena.

"This Magic Duel is officially recognized by the school and will be conducted at the school level to ensure that the conditions set by both parties are fulfilled according to the outcome."

Professor Theon, who was presiding over this Magic Duel, was a middle-aged man with a perpetually cold expression and few words.

"Contestants from both sides, step forward."

First to walk out was Logan. He had his school uniform cape loosely draped over both shoulders, and when he dramatically threw it off, gasps erupted from the audience.

This was because his body, with its rugged, healthy twitching muscles, was almost naked.

His upper body was covered only by rough bandages, and his lower body by crudely woven leather pants.

"Wow, he really came prepared."

"Isn't that a bit excessive for a genius young master?"

"Well, Logan will barely manage even with that."

And magic circles were intricately etched all over his body like tattoos.

Wing-type mages enhance their physical abilities by activating those magic circles depending on the situation.

"You're here after all, young lady."

A secluded corner seat.

As Gertrude Fenton giggled, Krista, who was in a strange disguise, flinched violently, then cleared her throat and composed her voice.

"I didn't come because I was worried. I came to see that nasty guy get a good beating."

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you did~."

"One more cheeky remark and you'll get hit?"

On the other side of the stands, Professor Caroline narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin.

'Wing-type mages are known as the natural enemies of apprentice mages…'

Apprentice mages, whose skills are still unrefined, inevitably have slow spell casting times.

Wing mages, who engage in close-quarters combat without even giving such individuals a chance to cast spells, were formidable adversaries.

'How will he really deal with that?'

And finally… the moment Rain walked out, there was a very brief but strange silence. Then, uproarious laughter burst out.

"What is that!"

"You're not kidding, are you?"

What Rain brought out to face Logan was… a broom.

Not a broom with any magical devices like those used by witches, but just a broom.

Even students from <Livarden> Academy of Magic couldn't help but tilt their heads in confusion, and it must have been an even stranger situation for the presiding professor.

Professor Theon, who had been staring blankly at it, gestured with his chin as if demanding an explanation.

"Oh, this? I borrowed it from the library for a moment. It just so happened that they had finished cleaning, so it worked out."

"You're going to use *that*… in a Magic Duel?"

"Can't I use it?"

"No, it's not that…"

Other students burst into even more laughter, and Krista and Gertrude's eyes lost their sparkle.

Logan also let out a hollow laugh, then arrogantly placed his hands on his hips.

"What, is this a sign for me to go easy on you? After all that boasting? Enough, Young Master. Just concede instead of getting hurt."

Clear contempt.

Then Rain sighed and scratched his head.

"Ha, ever since I came to university. As a senior, it's just lamentable."

"Senior? What senior?"

"Why are young people these days so long-tongued? Mages aren't witches who chant incantations, since when have they been a talkative lot?"

What… as Logan was about to flare up, Professor Theon immediately stepped in to mediate and separated the two, moving them far apart.

"Have both parties understood each other's conditions?"

If Logan loses, he will become the champion of the Local Development Magic Club until graduation. If Rain loses, he will withdraw from <Delighten>.

"Yes."

"Will you not object to the judgment?"

"Yes."

Professor Theon nodded, then stepped back a pace, and then cast a wide barrier centered between the two individuals.

"Then begin after a 10-second grace period."

* * *

<Delighten> Faculty Office.

Elin Ludwig's assistant, who was organizing academic schedules and checking students' assignments, asked with a puzzled expression.

"Professor, aren't you going to watch? I can index and organize everything, so I think it would be fine for you to go."

"Go? What for? There's nothing to see. You just want to slack off after sending me, you rascal."

"Oh, no! What do you take me for!"

As the spring breeze blowing in through the open window gently rustled Elin's black hair, she closed her eyes and let out a soft chuckle.

- Big brother, Rain might be a vessel for a sage!

Hmph…

How immense must that talent be, that it was enough for that stubbornly obstinate father and brother to reconcile? Is there any need to watch?

"No need to watch. The outcome was decided from the start."