Book 13 Chapter 31
Boy Genius (少年登科),
Appearance in the Magic World (3)
And so, my first rank examination ended ridiculously easily.
It was utterly incomprehensible that wizards would stake their lives on such a trivial examination.
Achievement? What a load of crap. Rather, after the exam, I even felt annoyed by the crowd that swarmed me, demanding to know my identity, what had happened, and various other questions.
“Ahem, if you want to ask Lynn a question, please do so through me!”
Gisela even acted so playfully. I really didn't like it.
Still…
The memory of the Headmaster personally pinning the Bandoran (1-star) rank insignia on my chest after receiving it from the office, right after the exam, never faded from my memory throughout my life.
“Lynn, you see this? It's a symbol that Lynn has become a proper wizard.”
“The material is just ordinary metal, and it's not particularly rare, so it doesn't seem valuable.”
“Should we recite the [School Creed, Our Resolution] here so you can learn what humility is?”
“I will cherish it for life.”
The Headmaster gently pinched my cheek and said.
“Do you remember a question I asked before? What Lynn wants to achieve with magic.”
“I did. And my answer is the same.”
“For now, it's fine to give the same answer as before. But someday, when Lynn becomes a wizard not just in skill but also in spirit, I hope you can give me that answer.”
“……?”
“And then someday, when Lynn passes this question I asked to Lynn's own disciple… Ah, I'll be truly happy.”
How could I have known the weight of that question at such a young age?
At that time, it was simply amazing that the Headmaster was so happy just because I had earned the lowest rank.
I wasn't particularly happy, but if the Headmaster liked it this much, I figured the process of reaching Glados (4-star) wouldn't be unbearable.
“From now on, I will supervise the Limites (2-star) abbreviated examination. Although there is a recommendation from Professor Kern, a Glados (4-star) wizard, I will not tolerate any special treatment. I will judge solely on skill.”
“Skill.”
“No, how… what on earth is this? How at that age, such a thing?”
And so, Limites (2-star).
To be Limites (2-star) at thirteen is said to be one of the few unprecedented geniuses.
Hmm, is it that much?
“I am Sylviet Kepel. I am a Glados (4-star) wizard dispatched from the Mage Alliance to supervise your Atlas (3-star) examination. Now, let's begin the exam. Let's see your skill.”
“Skill.”
“Huh!”
The Atlas (3-star) examination was just as easy.
This old woman, Countess Kepel, one of the five great magical families, holds a very high status, not just in rank but also in social standing.
Unlike the other two exams, the Atlas (3-star) examination was much better because there were no fussing spectators. Since the number of applicants was very small, it was conducted privately.
“After receiving Kern's recommendation, I was half in doubt, but you truly are amazing. Atlante, how many years has this child studied magic?”
“Five years.”
“Five years? Only five years of study and now an Atlas (3-star), one of only 150 in the Empire? Hahahaha! Your master became a 3-star at twenty-three, so you truly surpass your teacher!”
It just felt like even in the favorable words spoken by the other person, there were thorns directed towards the Headmaster.
Slowly, no, I was definitively realizing it. The Glados (4-star) examination was no longer just my own fight.
This contest was not originally meant to prove my talent. If that were all it was, I wouldn't have bothered to come and take such a rank examination.
“I will also write you a letter of recommendation. You are now an Atlas-rank wizard, qualified to participate in the Glados preliminary selection.”
This is a fight. A fight to prove the Headmaster's greatness.
I am great.
The Headmaster who raised such a person as me is even greater than I am; perhaps I simply wanted to tell the world that.
“The preliminary selection is one month from now. The Mage Alliance office will soon send a letter with detailed information.”
Because that was everything.
Because it was the only repayment I could offer the Headmaster.
Only by becoming skilled in mathematics, by becoming a wizard more powerful than anyone else, could I prove their greatness.
“See you in the main competition. Of course, you'll make it.”
Fifteen days later, I headed to Beijing <Snowstorm> for the Glados preliminary selection.
Since the Empire is ruled by five Electors, its administrative regions are divided into five areas.
Each of those five regions has a capital. The capital of the North is, of course, Beijing. It was a metropolis of 1 million people, and also where the Glados Mage preliminary selection took place.
Beijing, <Snowstorm>.
The fortress shone with dazzling light, immediately bringing to mind its nickname, Snow City (雪城).
The overall shape of the fortress was modeled after a snowflake, boasting a beauty closer to a work of art than a mere structure.
This fortress, said to have been built by Olen Duren, one of the great figures of the mythical era, with the help of Emitsa, the first wizard, is reportedly protected by the power of snow.
They say that when an enemy attacks, a snowstorm rises and swallows them? Fantastic. What kind of magic was used?
As I continuously looked around in admiration from outside the fortress to inside, I heard people chattering.
“Wow, it's this and that!”
“Wow, there's also such-and-such!”
“Kiya, even grumble-grumble has arrived!”
Perhaps because only figures who were somewhat prominent in the magic world had gathered, the city was annoyingly noisy.
Of course, I wasn't interested. After entering the fortress, I walked through the city with my head buried in a book, in [Reading a Grimoire to a Cow's Ear] mode.
Just then, as I was diligently exploring magic in that mode, didn't the Headmaster suddenly grab me by the back of the neck?
“Hmm? Huh? Where is this?”
When I came to my senses, wasn't I inside some clothing store?
It wasn't an ordinary clothing store; the silk clothes were so exquisite that even I, with no expertise in clothing, could tell just by the fabric's material, 'This must be truly expensive.'
All silk clothing in the North is Hanbok (Winter Clothes).
This was the capital, and with renowned wizards gathered, indeed many people were wearing Hanbok. Most of them were high-ranking individuals, though.
When I bought Hanbok for my fellow students, I didn't buy one for myself. I didn't want to spend money on such cumbersome clothing.
I hardly ever go out to public events anyway, so why would I really buy one?
“Welcome, what are you looking for?”
“I'd like to tailor a Hanbok suit for my disciple.”
“Oh my, Hanbok for such a cute child! There's a saying that clothes make the man. It will be truly splendid. Please choose the fabric material, the suit's style, and the color, and we will make it for you within three days.”
The Headmaster, who could be amiable with anyone upon meeting them, and the fabric merchant immediately struck up a lively conversation.
I subtly glanced at the price tag.
I had seen it before, but it was really damn expensive.
An adult suit cost 2 gold coins, and a child's suit cost 1 gold coin.
One Golden Dragon gold coin is 100 Black Tortoise silver coins. One silver coin is considered an average worker's daily wage.
“I don't need clothes like this.”
That means a normal worker would have to save money for over half a year without eating, drinking, or sleeping, just to buy this.
“What's so important about clothes?”
I never prioritize clothes. I want everything in life to be spoken through skill alone.
And this was also a realistic judgment. The Headmaster would bring back orphans every time they went out, as if picking up stray cats, so the school's population grew to nearly 100 people.
The money it took to feed all 100 people was beyond imagination.
I even wished for public safety to worsen so that major incidents, like [Bandit Incursions], which barely occurred once or twice a year, would become more frequent.
“Someday, when Lynn falls in love with a woman and has a child, perhaps you'll understand my feelings.”
“I'm not interested in marriage.”
“Because you are precious to me, I want others to value you just as much… that's why I want to give you only the very best things.”
The Headmaster, who had been holding various suits against my body, smiled brightly and exclaimed, “I'll take this one!”
“What color would you like the Dopo (outer robe) to be?”
“Our Lynn deliberately pretends to be dull, so what color would be good?”
“Then black would be good for the Dopo. It will create a cool atmosphere. And if the half-durumagi is purple, it will also exude dignity.”
The suit the Headmaster had tailored for me that day was an all-black Hanbok.
The garment that wraps from the right shoulder to the left side is a half-durumagi. It had an inner pocket, making it very practical.
The color scheme was similar to what I had bought for the gorillas before, but the specific form and fabric were quite different. Since the Headmaster chose it for me, it truly felt like a garment made just for me.
“Indeed, clothes make the man.”
On the day I finally received the completed Hanbok, I think I wore a sulky expression while looking in the mirror.
All clothes are the same…
Such a waste of money…
However, the Headmaster, who was pinning the Atlas (3-star) rank insignia onto my chest while I was in Hanbok, smiled with an extremely joyful expression.
“If I had known you'd look this cute, I would have bought it for you sooner.”
I had been small-framed since childhood. Even after embarking on the hero party's journey, I didn't grow much taller.
So, that made me happy.
Because I could wear this outfit, which the Headmaster bought for me that day, until the end of my journey.
That outfit was one of the treasures of my life.
- Because you are precious to me, I want others to value you just as much… that's why I want to give you only the very best things.
Not because of the fabric's material.
But because of your heart contained within the clothes.