Book 13 Chapter 11
Episode 6
“I’m going to give Ryn a very special assignment. If you pass this assignment, you’ll grow several steps further.”
Is it truly possible to teach mathematics to a gorilla? In the winter of my eleventh year, I, who aimed to become the [Strongest Mage], faced this dilemma.
“What is it?”
“Guide Gizella so she can achieve the Bandoran (1-star) rank.”
“Huh? Me? Why?”
“There are two reasons. One, because when you teach others, you realize what you’re lacking. The other, because it’s a golden opportunity to win over your childhood friend.”
?
“Girls immediately feel attracted when a smart guy teaches them something, you know? Where else would you find such a lovely childhood friend?”
Huh.
“Ryn needs to quickly stake his claim before someone else snatches her up. Women become more cunning as they get older. You have to capture their hearts while they’re still pure.”
Hmm.
“Since Ryn is still young, you don’t know that adult men are absolutely smitten with childhood friends, do you? Listen to me. Don’t regret it later.”
Hybrids between humans and gorillas had surely not yet been reported to any academic society. And I had no desire to be the first experimental subject.
“Tch, I rushed over thinking you’d give me something delicious, but you’re just spouting nonsense. I’ll be going now.”
The Dean made a very sad face.
I, who aimed to become the [Strongest Mage], pursued gender equality in its true sense. I would absolutely not be swayed by a woman’s tears.
Then the Dean pulled out an old book (古書) from a desk drawer.
“Sniff, sniff, in that case, I won’t be able to show you this…”
The paper was old and discolored yellow, but the preservation magic was wonderfully cast, so the condition of the leather binding was quite good.
“What’s that?”
“Sniff, sniff, this is a book left by the First Dean. Ryn isn’t qualified to read this book, so you’ll never be able to read it, but…”
The moment I heard that, I felt like fire ignited in my eyes.
I want to read it.
I want to read it!
The First Dean’s book, I had heard from my senior that it was a type of secret book (秘書) that only the next Dean could read.
“Why am I not qualified?”
Perhaps reading the true nature of the question rising in my eyes, the Dean wiped away tears that weren’t even flowing.
“Sniff, sniff, this book, sniff, sniff, sniff, it holds a teaching that says it should be read by someone who can joyfully and easily interpret and share all the contents written here with anyone…”
“That’s quite a description, completely contrary to my values.”
“Hee hee hee, so Ryn, who doesn’t even want to teach a close friend, naturally can’t read this…”
Right, I see.
I figured out the true nature of this game.
“Haha, I wonder when it was… that I began to harbor the dream of wanting to teach magic to someone? Hahaha, I truly want to achieve that dream by having Gizella earn the Bandoran (1-star) rank.”
Again, my goal was to become the [Strongest Mage]. The strongest does not compromise to become the strongest. If I had to roll in mud or filth, I would roll.
Right.
If someone were to say, ‘Do you want to become the strongest mage? Then drink a glass of diarrhea,’ I would be prepared to drink up to ten glasses.
“My earlobe is hot?”
Ugh, my will to become the [Strongest] is firm, but I can’t help the ‘shit-poisoning’ from rising…
The Dean, who had been pulling my earlobe, suddenly stroked my cheek warmly.
The Dean sometimes, in such a playful atmosphere, would suddenly leave a quiet resonance in my soul.
“I know how hard Ryn works for the magic tower members.”
“Not really…”
“My understanding of magic was insufficient, so it was even impossible for me to interpret the First Dean’s teachings. But Ryn, you will be different. You are a child chosen by magic.”
And whenever such a resonance occurred, it became impossible to even resist the Dean’s words.
“On the day you teach magic to your friends, I’ll let you read this book. However, you must read it only here. And don’t tell your friends yet that I showed it to you.”
I’ve even thought that magic itself might be the Dean’s smile.
It’s wondrous.
That smile, which seemed to gently embrace all of time and space… perhaps it was a realm of magic that I dared not yet touch.
“You’ll do that, won’t you?”
It was the moment a nightmare presented a contract. And I ended up signing it.
The contract was concluded.
To become the [Strongest Mage], I would have to teach magic to a gorilla.