Book 13 Chapter 39

Episode 22

Epilogue to the Prologue (1)

It was almost time for summer to end, but summer was returning. Yellow dust blowing from the Demon Realm covered the continent.

As a Glados (4-star) wizard, I did not achieve wealth and glory.

After the ranking examination, I was quite bothered by exclusive wizard offers from various great lords, regardless of the magic world, but that incident didn't even last half a month.

It was because of a national crisis.

This is the continent of Acrad, and beyond that sea, the continent of Adrion bordered the Demon Realm.

The frontline base with the Demon Realm was the great city of <Raftas>, and as this city fell to the demon army's great advance, the world situation was currently spiraling into chaos.

The Red Dragon Legion of the Red Mountains and the Yellow Dragon Legion of the Papal State immediately headed to the border, and the main forces of the Empire, the Republic, and various kingdoms were also mobilized and sent to the border. One month passed since then.

"Did you make up with the Dean?"

What was I doing, having become a Glados (4-star) at thirteen? My job was to tidy up the books that those gorilla-like guys had messed up in the magic tower library.

I had already read all the books in the magic tower, and I couldn't read "Osarius Vibone" when someone was nearby.

"No."

"It's not your fault. If it were me, I would've just killed him."

"Right, you would've torn him apart with those gorilla-like arms."

"Wanna die?"

"No."

"Okay."

Perhaps because I hadn't left the magic tower, the Dean spent more days away from it. It seemed I made him uncomfortable. I decided and re-decided to leave the magic tower soon, but where exactly would I go, and to whom? I had nothing… This magic tower was my everything, and the Dean was like family to me. In such an unfathomable despair, I had practically thrown away over 50 days.

When I received an apology from that old man Kern, I thought he might cheer up a bit, but he remained the same as usual.

Kent Sherman, that bastard who ruined my daily life, I will surely bring down the hammer of retribution on him someday.

"I'm on lunch duty, so I have to go."

"Looks like I'll have to skip lunch today."

"Wanna die?"

"No."

A gorilla could tear a person apart with both hands.

"I'll make it delicious, so come. And you know you're helping me study for my Limites (2-star) ranking exam after lunch, right?"

Gisella's cooking was the worst, tasting worse than pig feed. I wouldn't be able to get my sugar fix at lunch. Thinking that, I was sighing and tidying up the books my siblings had freely messed up, as usual, when it happened.

The library door opened. An unfamiliar yet lively, no, dazzlingly vibrant presence filled the entire room.

"Hello!"

In the sunlight streaming through the window, pure white hair fluttered, each strand leaving a clear trail.

Those eyes, a noble golden hue. They were not human eyes, but a dragon's. Eyes that peered into a person's inner self and soul, not just their appearance.

"They say you're a renowned genius wizard of the century, but you're such a cute little kid?"

As if to prove its existence, a calm yet heavy sword-light shot up enchantingly from the hilt of a sword majestically rising above its shoulder. The Holy Sword.

A being that harbors a dragon's soul within a human body, protecting the human world and heart.

"Um…?"

A being the world called a hero.

But so what? Should I kneel in awe? Normally, I would have been interested due to the background of being [Humanity's Official Strongest], but.

"Excuse me…?"

Because of the conflict with the Dean caused by Kent Sherman and my future, I had too much on my mind, so I had neither the energy nor the desire to answer.

Then, the hero's shoulders slumped, and their face wrinkled. Thinking, "What kind of hero is this?" and feeling a little sorry, I answered while shelving a book.

"I'm neither a genius nor a kid. My name is Rin."

I had only answered emotionlessly, but their face lit up brighter than the midday sun. For a moment, it was enough to make one stare blankly.

And then, throughout the library tidying, they followed me around like a puppy.

"Not a genius? A lie! You're a 4-star wizard at thirteen? They say there's no precedent in imperial history? That you've broken all the records of past Archmages."

"…"

"And you're so short, of course you're a kid! Why, should I treat you like an adult? But you still look like you're at the age where someone needs to change your diapers? If you join our party, I'll change them for you every night!"

This idiotic joke and giggling with their hand over their mouth is a bit annoying, isn't it?

It was quite surprising that there was someone with an even greater talent for bothering me than Gisella.

Therefore, I decided it would be best to get rid of them early on, so I spread my palm and wove three magic circles.

"Fireball."

Of course, this was also an action born out of interest. The opponent before me was clearly [The Strongest]. What reaction would they show the moment I deployed the magic circles? Would they instantly twist my wrist? Smash my main core? Which attack would be faster?

"Aargh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It was just a joke!"

But… what was this? Instead of launching a counterattack as a hero should, they covered their face with both hands and frantically stumbled backward, even hitting the back of their head against a bookshelf. Watching books tumble down on them, I couldn't help but let out a short laugh in disbelief.

This kind of thing is a hero? The world is ending. No, but why is it *really* the end of the world?

I had only chuckled a little, but the woman smiled brighter than ever.

"You're smiling now…?"

At that moment, for the first time — no, after the Dean — I became interested in another person. Interest is akin to inquisitiveness. Such a peculiar human existed; this was only the second time I had ever been interested in a person.

"Now, I'll introduce myself. I am Lista Alter Shirphein. A FakeWarrior (Fake Warrior) of the Orthodox Church of the Radiant Dragon."

When heroes stopped being born, humans began to create them. This woman was one of them. Created heroes, or fake heroes, received the middle name Alter. In ancient language, it means proxy or representative. Shirphein, the last name, is not a surname but the name of the Holy Sword. In other words, it means Lista, proxy of Shirphein.

"As you know, summer has begun in the world now; the Abyss has erupted in the South Pole. I'm gathering a hero party under the Papal State's expedition order. I need companions to go to the ends of the earth with me."

"I'm thirteen."

"I know. Originally, when I first heard about you, I thought you were too young and it would be too dangerous, so I planned to just glance at your face and leave. But I can't do that. You're stronger than any wizard I've ever met. They say you've beaten up bandits and monsters alike since you were little?"

Being recognized by [The Strongest] isn't a bad feeling for someone who dreams of becoming [The Strongest Wizard].

"How many have you gathered?"

"Two besides you and me. Both of them are celebrities no less famous than you."

"Who are they?"

"One is Kiess, the Bow Star, one of the Hwangha Office of the Holy Human Empire! And the other is Friede, the Oracle of the Fire Dragon, known as the greatest priestess in the history of the Dragonkin Republic!"

The summer born from the Abyss is different from the summer that comes and goes with the change of seasons. It is the season of death. A season of extreme heat where bodies burn up and countless demons swarm like insects; the madmen who aim for the end of that season could be called the hero party.

"I don't want to die."

"No one wants to die."

"Are the other two as interesting as Lista?"

In response to that question, Lista touched her cheek with a finger, gazed at the ceiling, and then suddenly gave a strange answer.

"Those two are also as crazy as I am… but there's something even more interesting."

"What is it?"

Something that could pique my interest even more than Lista? Who could it be?

As I immediately showed interest, Lista smiled meaningfully, like a girl telling a secret behind others' backs.

"The world."

Since being taken in by the Dean from the slums, I had always lived in a narrow world by my own will, but why was it? The world. It was just two syllables, a word I'd always seen, yet how could it spread throughout my body with such a mysterious resonance?

"The Demon Realm must be hot, right?"

"Yeah."

"It must be dangerous with so many demons, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then there must be plenty of sandbags I can beat up to my heart's content, right?"

"Huh?"

"If we can't stop them there… those demons might come all the way here, right?"

"This is the far north, extremely distant from the Demon Realm, so I doubt that would happen… but if it were the worst crisis, putting humanity on the brink of destruction, then yes."

"That's a problem. The kids here, even though they're in the magic tower, are closer to gorillas than wizards. They're better at using strength than magic."

I tried to put the last book on the shelf, but even on tiptoes and straining, I couldn't reach.

Then Lista put her hands under my armpits and lifted me straight up. All Fake Warriors had increased height through body modification. Lista alone was 5.5 cheok.

"Shall we give it a try then?"

I was surprised that I had come to such a conclusion myself. Perhaps, since I had been thinking of leaving the magic tower, I unconsciously decided this was a good outcome.

Then Lista twirled me around in the air and met my gaze.

"Yes, let's go together! It might be strange to say this in troubled times, but it will definitely, definitely be fun!"

* * *

"Dean."

Of course, to do that, I needed the Dean's permission. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it a farewell, a "thank you for everything so far, I'll be leaving now," rather than permission. But, by chance (I would later learn that his return with Lista was no coincidence), the Dean, who had been away, had returned to the magic tower.

"Um, I'm thinking of leaving the magic tower for a while."

"Oh?"

"A really funny woman named Lista Alter Shirphein came… She says she needs my help, and it just seems interesting. I think I'll be able to do magic experiments to my heart's content, so can I go?"

The Dean smiled brightly, then beckoned me closer with a gesture, as he always did.

"Yes. Take this opportunity to go out into the world, Rin."

Only then did I realize. The Dean wasn't avoiding me.

"There are countless things in the world that aren't in books, Rin. Beautiful things, terrifying things, joyful things, sorrowful things…"

It was me, knowing that I had hurt his feelings, that I had made him sad, who had been subtly avoiding him in my heart.

"It's not just things. Among people, there are also strong people, weak people, interesting people, pitiful people, all sorts."

From the start, the Dean had never put up a wall against me.

He treated me with love, as he always did. I was the one building the wall. Because I was ashamed of being stained by filth, I thought it wasn't right to approach the Dean, who was so pure and clear.

"As you see those things with your own eyes, hear them with your own ears, and touch them with your own hands, you will gradually come to understand without even realizing it."

As always. Just as he had always been during our 5 years of companionship.

"What magic is, and how to use the power you were born with."

As he gently held my face and pressed his forehead against mine, I felt like tears would burst out if I let my guard down even a little.

"That's how a wizard learns truth from the world, Rin. Not just by reading books in a secluded room."

So, I defended my childish pride with such wordplay.

"But Dean, you don't know the truth either."

Expecting the Dean's fist to land on the crown of my head as a consequence, I instinctively gritted my teeth.

"Oh, come on! If I knew that, would I be watching over this crumbling magic tower? I'd be living lavishly in a magnificent one, wouldn't I?"

But it wasn't. All the Dean did was gently stroke my head then.

"So, I hope someday Rin will teach it. To me, and to other wizards too."

I wish I had known at that moment, at that time. That this conversation…

…was the conclusion of the prologue to my life story and a tale situated on the threshold of a long, five-year journey.

"Because Rin, you will surely be able to reach the truth."