Book 13 Chapter 20

Episode 11

Mercenary Request (3)

A punitive expedition's encampment was set up half a day's journey northeast of Beijing, <Snowstorm>.

I followed Nils, subtly observing the main figures of the punitive expedition.

The man with countless feathers attached to a tall iron pole rising from his back armor must be an executive of the Phoenix Knights. And that noble-looking robe… a wizard, perhaps?

Will there be the [Strongest] here?

Seeing them all sharply condense and emit mana, their entire atmosphere is indeed different. Truly, the elite of the North.

"Hey, look at me. Aren't I awesome?"

Mana that seems to say exactly this… meaning these guys are aiming for the [Best].

Their very identity is different from mine.

Why? Because the [Strongest] does not show off.

"Hey, you weakling, do you even know where you are, acting so presumptuous?"

only to witness the power of the [Strongest] and then,

"What in the world are you?!"

that thrilling reaction is a pleasure that only the [Strongest], who cares nothing for status or fame, can obtain.

I learned this from the Headmaster.

Because I still can't forget the sight of that fraudulent shop manager's attitude doing a 180-degree turn the first day I saw magic.

…That was a joke.

No, really, I'm serious, it was a joke!

It's just that the world's attention is bothersome.

For me, the time to explore my magic is the most important thing in the world.

To become the [Strongest], there's no time to waste on showing off.

"We'll pitch our tent here. I have an executive meeting, so I need to go to the command tent. Wait patiently here with my lackeys."

After Nils left, Link and the mercenary lackeys started pitching the tent, and I leaned back on the sled and opened the manuscript of *Osarius Vibon*. It was then.

"Are you a wizard?"

I glanced up, and my gaze met light blue eyes, reminiscent of early winter frost. Her neatly tied-back hair and hanbok *dopo* were the same color.

"Wizard, wizard, wizard."

Sitting on her left shoulder… an extremely cute creature flapped its wings, repeating its owner's words.

It was a phantom beast, a Sun Parrot.

Sun Parrots are mythical creatures that can cloak their bodies in flames, and it is said that only a few exist throughout the entire world.

"…Look, it's Cecil Duren."

"…She's the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Duren. The Sun Parrot is the symbol of the Duren Grand Ducal family."

"…They say she's a leading candidate for the next generation of the North Sea Ice Palace."

From the whispers around me, I realized that the person in front of me was an incredibly important figure.

Therefore, I was a little disappointed.

No matter how much she suppressed her mana, the power of this wizard named Cecil Duren would not fall into either the [Best] or [Strongest] categories.

"Do you even know what kind of place this is? It's not a place for a weak wizard like you."

"Feeble, feeble, lame."

But the moment the crazy… master and beast looked down on me, I felt my heart pound hotly.

Had it come?

Had it finally arrived?

Had one of the situations a dreamer of the [Strongest] anticipates appeared so easily? And from such an important figure, right from the start?

"Ha."

A sigh escaped me, whether it was laughter or annoyance from having my studies interrupted, I couldn't tell myself.

"What's so funny?"

Incredible.

Even if one were to compile a book titled *Guidebook for Role-Playing Situations for Those Who Dream of Being the Strongest*, there wouldn't be a more perfect script than this.

"It can't help but be funny."

In that case, I have no choice but to respond with my full power! As one who equally dreams of being the [Strongest Wizard]!

"And are *you* a strong wizard?"

My opponent is Duren. A great family that rules the North.

In other words, she's practically royalty in the North, but since my current setting is an unknown mercenary wizard, I should act arrogantly towards everyone.

Not submitting to status, that is what the [Strongest Wizard] does.

"I am a wizard of Limites (2-star) rank. What is your rank?"

"No rank."

"I knew it. I've never seen you before. There's no way you'd have a rank."

"Is rank that important?"

"Rank is a wizard's honor and a measure of achievement."

"Honor, honor, achievement, achievement."

"No, rank is the exclusive possession of snobs who think of it not as the purpose of studying magic itself, but merely as a means to advance their careers."

At this answer, which I often used to tease Giselda while she was studying for Bandolan (1-star), a flicker of bewilderment crossed Cecil's eyes.

"What in…"

But I quickly grew tired of it. Even if such a situation was fun, it wasn't even one-tenth of the pleasure of solving another math problem.

In fact, back then, I felt no particular interest in anything other than magic.

The situations faced by the [Strongest Wizard] are merely a momentary amusement, nothing more and nothing less. Again, to become the [Strongest], there is no time to waste.

Still, I understood the difficulty of this mission.

Just like at the mercenary guild, I should convince them with power. Like the [Strongest Wizard], I would end this situation with power, not status.

Since she's a Limites (2-star), a 3-star spell should be enough.

"I can't just keep listening."

Someone interrupted the argument I was about to conclude.

He was a man with dark red hair that amplified his cruel aura.

The wolf-head brooch, fastening his *dopo* of the same color as his hair with dignity, briefly caught my eye.

The Headmaster once asked me if I had any intention of attending a magic academy.

Its name, <Winterhold>.

One of the Empire's three greatest magic academies, where the intellectuals of the North were nurtured, I believe? The Headmaster also said she graduated from there.

The top graduate of <Winterhold> was said to receive the middle name 'Wolf' and a wolf-head brooch.

The Headmaster also had that middle name and brooch. So, I remember contemplating it for a moment.

"…Oh, shit!"

"…Delkin Wolf Blado has intervened!"

"…What in the world is that kid, for all the next-generation giants of the Northern magic world to show interest in him?"

And Blado…

One of the Five Mage Houses, famous for their combat-specialized arcane magic, blood magic.

"You can just leave this lowly kid to die without even leaving a name, for acting presumptuous without knowing his place."

"I cannot do that. All the people of the North are those who must be cared for."

"Care, care, care for, for for."

"Hmm, then if I drive that brat out of here, the Princess will be at ease, won't she?"

The instant Blado winked at the Princess and then turned to me, the mana around him began to tremble.

This was an obvious threat.

As I thought about the optimal magic I could use at this moment, my heart began to pound with joyous excitement.

Immediately resorting to a show of force, this guy must be among the [Strongest]?

So what should I do?

What should I use to block him, and what should I use to beat him?

I decided. It would be optimal to instantly electrocute that body with the lightning magic Flash Piercing Star (閃穿星).

With this optimized 3-star spell, honed for such sudden situations, I can compress its casting within 5 seconds using the Jorgen type, or 3.6 seconds using the Osarius hand-seal.

In short, an instant kill (初殺).

"Link! Link! Link!"

Just as I was closing the *Osarius Vibon* manuscript and considering getting serious, a giant figure, large enough to obscure my entire vision, stepped between us.

His height, roughly 8 *cheok*.

The aura he emitted solely with his physical body was close to coercion.

Even Blado's imposing mana release was brought to a halt.

"You, you are…"

Perhaps, if humanity were a species that couldn't use mana and had to rely solely on physical strength, Link would undoubtedly be the strongest among them.

In other words, Link is close to the [Strongest of Humanity] in terms of physical strength alone.

[Strongest of Humanity], what a magnificent nickname, comparable to the [Strongest Wizard].

Furthermore, I've never seen Link's bare face. Only during meals does he slightly open the bottom part of the special helmet Nils made.

He is always heavily armored, and his intimidating presence would be utterly terrifying for anyone seeing him for the first time.

"Even if you're Platinum rank, a mere mercenary, are you trying to stand in my way now?"

I was very disappointed by Blado's reaction. I felt ashamed of my earlier excitement.

As it is said, if one dreams of being the [Strongest], one must break through any situation using 'power', not try to compromise using 'status'.

In other words, this guy only had an imposing aura; he is not the [Strongest].

He likely wouldn't be able to withstand my magic. I decided to just scare him off.

Whirr…

On my palm, a magic circle blossomed with dazzling presence.

The combination of runes and mathematical formulas overlaid on it soon interlocked three layers.

As they interlocked, wind pressure swirled, sending snow flying across the area.

"…Three magic circles?"

"…A 3-star mental calculation wizard!"

"…Crazy, what?"

The magic circles that had created a blizzard vortex across the entire area scattered into brilliant particles of light as I waved my hand.

"Even after this, do you object to me being here?"

The whispers around me vanished as if cut by a knife. Blado's eyes had only widened; he gave no answer, which seemed to indicate he had no objection.

This is why being the [Strongest] is good.

The [Strongest] and magic are consistent. They are transparent. They work everywhere. Like numbers, there is a universally applicable correct answer.

"Just who… are you?"

The [Strongest Wizard] is the [Strongest Wizard] because they do not reveal their glory. Therefore, the answer to this question was predetermined.

"Hmph… I have no name to tell the likes of you."

Then, turning around coolly and disappearing somewhere, leaving the whispers of the crowd behind, would be perfect.

Hmm…

But it's crowded everywhere, where should I go? Ah, it's cold. My nose tickles, I'm going to sneeze.

"Achoo."

* * *

After Rin left for <Snowstorm>, a stir arose in the rank examination of <Winter Horizon>.

Normally, after the exam is finished and the results are announced, examinees can return home.

However, Atlante, the headmaster of the Osarius school, had to remain in the city until all the exams were concluded. This was because the rank examination supervisors had politely requested a meeting.

"It is a pleasure to see you like this, Headmaster Atlante."

The young examiner bowed his head.

The gray-haired examiner pushed up his glasses and said.

"I wondered what you were up to after disappearing following your acquisition of the Atlas (3-star) rank, but I never imagined you'd be holding the headmaster position since such a young age. You, who were once called the genius magic girl."

Atlante gave an embarrassed laugh.

"I am much happier now than when I was called a genius. Though my master, the previous headmaster, is no longer with me."

Atlante received considerable attention in academia from a young age.

The Osarius school had long prioritized character over skill, and thus hadn't produced any remarkable talents for a long time, until a talent like Atlante appeared.

Many hoped she would become a clue to the school's revival, but she actually disappeared from the magic world after acquiring the Atlas (3-star) rank.

"Headmaster, you can probably guess why we summoned you here, can't you?"

"Yes, of course."

"The 'Osarius-style hand-seal' (手印), which has been half-regarded as a legend, you've finally deciphered it! There are even unofficial histories saying that in combat, you were a match for Sir Ryuken Ludwig, one of the five great archmages of his time…!"

The young examiner began to babble in an excited voice.

This was because Giselda, who had entered the Bandolan (1-star) rank examination from the Osarius school this year, had concluded the exam with the Bargante type.

The elderly examiner raised an eyebrow, looking at Atlante.

"When do you intend to announce it to the academic world? Of course, no one would criticize you for keeping it as the school's secret, but I'd like to witness that history with my own eyes before I die."

"Wouldn't it be possible to announce the preliminary findings right now? The school would be flooded with countless students! Especially since the situation in the border regions is unusual these days, there are many talented individuals aspiring to be battle mages."

"Not just students, but patrons will also increase. It seems it's time to leave that countryside. The former headmasters would be delighted."

Amidst the examiners' clamor of expectations, Atlante wore a supremely joyful smile.

"I'm truly sorry to say, but I'm not the one who can give that answer."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means it wasn't I who deciphered the Osarius hand-seal, but my student."

How can one express or record the trembling of the heart when saying, 'It was my student'?

Even if I could have said, 'I did it,' I wouldn't have experienced such joy.

This thrilling vibration throughout my entire body, from head to toe—is it emotion, or a shiver?

"A student? Yours? Ah, surely not the child who took the exam this time…!"

"No. Giselda is also a wonderful child, but it's not her."

"Then is it your first student, who acquired the Limites (2-star) rank before?"

"It's not that child either."

"Then who is it?"

"Someday, perhaps soon, you will come to know about that child without me having to explain."

When that child is ready…

When they are ready to emerge into the world, ready to step out into the world, ready to embrace the world…

Warming the frozen world and announcing the season of fresh greenery, an individual whose name everyone will know without anyone needing to explain…

"Like, the spring breeze (Rin)."