Book 13 Chapter 37

소년등과(少年登科),

마법계 출두 (6)

On the day the northern preliminaries for the [4-star Selection] concluded, Ulan Page called Atlante aside.

The Page family, as befits the lineage of the Great Sage, is the most historic lineage of mages and the ruler of the southern magical order.

The South shares a border with the Republic of Yongin, facilitating active exchange of goods, and thus its clothing culture has also developed most splendidly in the Empire, influenced by the Republic.

"It's truly been a long time since we met privately like this."

Ulan Page said, taking his hand out from beneath his extremely elegant and flamboyant wizard's robe.

"It feels like just yesterday I was observing the exam where you became an Atlas (3-star), and now so much time has passed that I'm observing your disciple's exam."

Atlante, neatly dressed in a hanbok gifted by her most precious disciple (which was in no way inferior to Ulan's robe), offered a wry smile and bowed deeply.

"Truly, truly thank you, Grand Master. Thanks to you…"

"No need to thank me. I merely acted with impartiality. But… I called you because I'm very worried."

The magic Rin used to torture Ken was an application of the magic that had impressed everyone in the first preliminary round. It was as if she personally demonstrated that magic is a double-edged sword.

"There's a saying, '少年登科 (Soyeondeunggwa),' which means achieving success at a young age can be a misfortune in life. It's because before one can mature in the face of life's anguish and trials, it's easy to fall into arrogance and debauchery."

"…"

"Since she's already displaying such talent, she'll now become an object of both envy and jealousy. And Rin will act that way every time she's in a similar situation."

There is a secret known only to the Grand Masters of the Mage Alliance and the deans of the Osarius School.

The truth about the 6th Great Archmage, Zernix.

As a disciple of the 5th Great Archmage, Lyuken Ludwig, he displayed exceptional talent from a young age, leaving behind several significant mathematical theories, including [Zernix Geometry]…

"As you well know, shortly after being promoted to Archmage at a young age, he fell into the abyss."

"Yes, our school is therefore more wary of youthful corruption than any other. We have taught Rin… to prevent that… or so I thought…"

"It might be different while you're alive. But what about when she becomes an adult, after you're gone? What if a situation arises where there's no one left to envy her, and she can reign solely by her own power?"

"…"

"If I hadn't intervened earlier, Rin would have killed Ken. I felt a palpable murderous intent in the sudden surge of magical energy. If she believes an act is justified, she'll have no compunctions about taking a life. And she's so young."

Atlante sadly bit her lip.

"Grand Master, I tried to raise that child as a person before making her a wizard."

Could it be that giving her more love and spending more time with her than the other children in the magic tower actually had a negative effect?

Atlante dreamed.

That the most precious child in the world would become a spring breeze-like presence in this world, not only with her magical talent but also with her kind heart.

"Even when she secretly went to subjugate monsters and returned, I thought it was out of consideration for me and the magic tower family and felt proud, but perhaps it was merely an outlet for her violent tendencies."

That's why she always kept her close.

Close by, she had Rin directly observe how Atlante used magic and also imitate it.

"It's all my fault. I was greedy, wanting to keep her by my side no matter what. As Professor Kern said, I should have let her mingle with talented children in a larger place."

Ulan Page shook his head.

"No, that child would have been solitary in any magic tower in the world. It might even have turned out worse. It seems her fundamental character could be properly established thanks to your, Master Osarius's, teachings."

"Grand Master, what should I do now?"

"First, there must be an opportunity and a process for that fundamental character to grow properly…"

The teenage years are the most crucial.

From the early 20s, one's values become completely fixed, and by the late 20s, they become unchangeable.

However, during the teenage years, changes in thought are rapid, making it the most suitable period to properly establish one's character and values.

"I intend to allow that child to achieve rank promotion if she demonstrates the capability to become a Gladous (4-star) wizard in the main competition. Don't they say the position makes the man? We'll have to take a chance on that."

* * *

I became the northern representative for the [4-star Selection]. The entirety of <Snowstorm> was in a festive mood.

My mood was very uncomfortable.

On the day I returned after being slapped by the Dean, I couldn't sleep a wink. I wondered if I was being abandoned like this again.

What did I do wrong?

From the next day, the Dean smiled as usual, as if nothing had happened, but behind that curtain of smiles, there was something like sadness.

There was a wall.

I felt as if an uncrossable wall had been erected between the Dean and me.

Ha, that bastard Serman…

I utterly detest my daily life being destroyed. I like my daily life in the magic tower.

"As usual" is the phrase I like best.

That scoundrel, Ken Serman, shattered it completely.

Later…

After some time had passed, I vowed to secretly kill him somewhere, disguised cleverly as an accidental death.

"Sbal, what did I do wrong?"

A ball of fur emerged from my clothes.

"Gyu, gyugyu, gyugyugyu!"

Since I had warned Sbal not to come out when I was in the city, it had always just squirmed inside my or the Dean's clothes.

"Is it wrong to use power recklessly? How could a lowly creature like you understand a person's thoughts?"

"Gyu, gyugyu, gyugyugyugyugyu!"

"Oh~ a lowly creature's thoughts aren't important."

If, because of this incident, I had to leave the Osarius Magic Tower after the 4-star rank exam…

Before that happened…

It seemed right to give the Dean a final gift before leaving. That was the Gladous (4-star) wizard's emblem.

"The main competition of the [4-star Selection] will now begin."

According to the lottery results, the main competition was held in North City's <Snowstorm>.

For me, who finds traveling anywhere utterly bothersome, this was a very fortunate development.

Representatives from each region gathered in one place. Central, Western, Southern, Eastern… some were young, some were old, but most exuded considerable experience.

"Only one person will ascend to the position of the tenth Gladous (4-star)! Who will be promoted will be decided by the majority vote of us Gladous (4-star) wizards."

Kern, who exercised his right to recommend, and three other wizards were excluded from judging qualifications, meaning five Gladous (4-star) wizards would serve as judges.

Anyway, it was fine.

I didn't care who my competitors were or who the judges were. From the start, I had no great desire for the rank exam, given that I might not be able to see the Dean's happy face anymore.

I merely repeatedly vowed, over the 20 days between the end of the preliminaries and the start of the main competition, that I would perform my best magic as a final gift.

"Here's the situation. We want to construct a road on a forest path with poor soil that easily turns into mud. Bring us a satisfactory solution. The time limit is 30 minutes."

As I dipped my quill pen in ink before the drawing paper, I suddenly recalled the question-and-answer session I had with the Dean on that distant day when I was eight years old.

- What do I need to do to make light come out when I use magic, like the Dean does?

- You'll know the secret when Rin becomes a true wizard.

The Dean had only offered such an unclear answer.

Instead, from that day on, I was assigned cooking duties more often.

The Dean's excuse, whose level of making me work had reached its peak, was this:

- Magic and cooking share similar principles.

- So you mean I should meticulously organize cooking recipes mathematically?

- No, that's not it. Cooking, you see? It becomes more delicious when the cook puts their heart into it for the person eating. Magic is the same. Try to put your heart into your magic.

That was "ki-hap theory" (spirit theory), which I hated most in the world.

I abhorred such anti-intellectual attitudes, like "it's because you lack spirit," or "if you only have spirit, anything is possible."

But magic was different.

Magic is honest.

Magic is clear.

Magic is transparent.

That's why I liked magic.

And because of that…

It must be that my exploration of magic was still insufficient. I desperately clung to magic with that one thought, but I couldn't reproduce the light the Dean had shown me on the day we first met.

Magic is a discipline of reason.

There's no place for emotion.

I recalled the Dean sitting silently in the Dean's office chair after Sylvie Kepel, the Atlas (3-star) rank supervisor, had left.

Staring at the emblem Sylvie had given as a token of the Atlas rank.

Not just the Bandoran (1-star), but all wizard emblems are engraved with the real name and the name of the magic tower (or family).

Rin.

Osarius School.

The Dean also possessed an Atlas rank emblem.

As someone who disliked showing off, he didn't wear it, but kept it carefully in his office.

He kept alternating between looking at that emblem and my emblem, chuckling softly, then wiping away tears. It was clear something was wrong with his brain.

- A long time ago, already 15 years ago, when I received this emblem, my master cried for a long time. I didn't know what I'd done wrong. I thought something was amiss.

- I'm feeling that way now, too.

- It's only now, 15 years later, that I fully understand his feelings. I'm so happy, so happy that… there are moments when only tears come out. Knowing that my master felt this way makes me even happier, yet also sadder. It's all thanks to Rin.

This time, memories of the day I ran away came to mind.

- Every day since meeting Rin has been so, so joyful.

The Dean said this, pressing his forehead against mine:

- It's as terrifying as it is joyful. Because what I can give Rin is disappearing far too quickly, day by day…

Why, Dean, do you…

…always speak like that…

Even though you've already given me everything. You've given me something irreplaceable in this world.

You know.

That I had nothing. No parents, no name, no environment to learn magic.

- Come, follow me.

That I lived a life worse than a wild animal on a desolate mountain, worse than a roadside weed.

- You're going to be a wizard's apprentice.

But after meeting the Dean, a new life began. I got a name, a place to belong, a family, and the confidence that I could do anything.

Hope was born into a hopeless life.

A life without hope found hope.

On that day, from the moment you found me, my world changed. You gave me the name Rin, telling me to be a spring breeze, but you were the spring breeze (Rin) of my life.

- Because you are the most precious in the world.

That's why I couldn't bear it.

- I wish others would cherish you too.

I absolutely could not tolerate or forgive anyone who dared to insult the Dean like that.

- Rin.

Magic is a discipline of reason.

There's no place for emotion.

That thought remains unchanged even now.

- Rin?

But now, in this very moment as I pour everything I have onto this drawing paper… I vow this.

Everything I have now.

My gratitude for all the love the Dean has freely given me over these past five years… I will pour it all onto this drawing paper now.

"Time's up! Put down your quill pens and bring your answer sheets forward!"

There are no regrets. No lingering attachments.

Because I've poured the best I can do onto this.

With such thoughts, I walked onto the stage, when suddenly loud voices erupted from beyond the audience seats.

"Here she comes, it's Rin!"

"Rin, good luck!"

"Rin oppa!"

I couldn't believe my eyes. Occupying an entire section of the audience were none other than the gorillas of the Osarius School.

Their intelligence levels are quite regrettable, but they're not bad guys to keep around.

Anyway, how could they all be here? Everyone was here. Even the younger siblings.

"What? What are you doing here?"

Gizella said, proudly crossing her arms.

"Why, of course, we came to cheer you on!"

The eldest senior disciple gave a benevolent smile.

"The Dean said he really wanted everyone to attend and cheer you on."

The Dean wants me…?

I stared blankly at the Dean, who smiled warmly and gave a thumbs-up.

"Go, Rin. Tell them with your magic that the Osarius School is a school that will become a great school."

I still felt a wall, but it was okay. It wasn't a bad place to say my final goodbyes.

"Well… I'll just do it roughly and come back. Though I have no intention of saying that to their faces, even if I die."