Book 16 Chapter 25
Episode 87
Of all the black magic organizations reported to the Magic Alliance by the Special Operations Division so far, [Chilhon (漆昏, Lacquer Dusk)] was the only one whose danger level was 'Disaster (災)'.
'Disaster (災)' signifies a level of risk that affects not just one nation, but the entire continent, making related matters top priority issues that absolutely require the intervention of the Magic Alliance leader and the head of the Special Operations Division.
Lin caused a sensation in the magic world through this subjugation of [Chilhon]. As it was less than a year after he acquired Glados (4-star), the sensation was even more intense.
“……He single-handedly annihilated [Chilhon], whose members were said to be individually comparable to Glados's rank?”
“……Isn't he just turning fourteen now? How did such a genius appear from a school that had shown nothing remarkable until now?”
“……Osarius was a figure recorded to have had no rivals as a magician except for Ryuken Ludwig of his era; if you consider him a genius following in those footsteps, it's not particularly surprising.”
“……Come to think of it, the Osarius school's growth has been remarkably steep lately. I hear most of them use Bargante-type magic.”
“……Then, could that genius boy have possibly succeeded in interpreting the Osarius-style beast-man transformation?”
The full story of the Hosen Kingdom incident, where 60% of the territory was laid waste, was first reported to Archbishop Yosuhar of the Papal State and quickly spread across the entire continent of Acrad for propaganda purposes.
“Headmaster, lots of cows and pigs have arrived!”
Summer Wind, Shu, said.
It was a privilege of the Seven Great Schools and the fourteen intermediate schools beneath them, called the "Fourteen Middles," for tribute such as treasures and livestock to pile up at the entrance of the magic tower.
“Just like nobles and merchants. They've already caught the scent!”
Gizella said, shrugging her shoulders. Since she was wearing a school uniform and carrying a bag, it meant the summer semester was starting today.
“Scent? Gizella unnie farted?”
“It does smell like feces. It wasn't the pig's smell, it was unnie's fart.”
Autumn Wind Saruen wrinkled her nose in disgust and tightly plugged it.
“That's not it, you idiots! You're all just stupid fools because you resemble the original Lin!”
Then Shu whimpered and began to cry!
“Hooeeeengeeeeeng!”
Winter Wind Riki ran at Gizella, spinning her fists like windmills!
“Don't say bad things about Lin Oppa!”
“No, look! Lin keeps achieving extraordinary feats, so they're doing this now to get on our school's good side! That's the 'scent' I was talking about.”
“Thanks to Lin Oppa, can we eat meat every day?”
It was Headmaster Atlante who lovingly stroked Riki's head.
“Gizella, you should get going. And why are you so excited about something you didn't even do?”
“W-Well, because I can't say I had no part in Lin's growth like that, can I?!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Because I always played with him! Well then, I'll be off!”
After seeing off his disciples departing for the magic school, Atlante returned to the headmaster's office in the magic tower, where silence had once again fallen, and sat down.
For a moment, he sat still.
He wondered if the chirping of sparrows flitting between pine branches had ever sounded so peaceful before.
“Lin.”
Atlante took out a piece of letter paper from his desk drawer. The edges were crumpled from fingerprints, a sign of how many times it had already been read.
- From the Hosen Kingdom
Hello, Headmaster.
I defeated the strongest black magician I've met so far.
He was truly strong, and I really respected how he even paid attention to his entrance presentation. I hope to become a great person who has all three aspects—presentation, dialogue, and skill—someday.
The King of Hosen thanked me and gave me a map leading to the cave of the Ten Great Archmagi, so that will be my next destination. I'll interpret it carefully and secretly tell only you, Headmaster, later.
P.S. Don't tell gorillas like Gizella that I write letters every time. Gorillas tear letters.
Lin did not write about what happened in the Hosen Kingdom or what feats he accomplished.
What his disciple had accomplished came in first as awe-filled rumors, and later as those very treasures.
Like a spring breeze, whose arrival is known but fully understood only after it has come.
- Well, I heard he fought valiantly to save people on the canal steamboat! That young magician!
- And in the royal capital, I heard he even volunteered to infiltrate as a prisoner to rescue the king!
- And they say he didn't want any reward after all that, so it's no wonder the First Princess fell head over heels for him.
The exploits of his disciple, conveyed through rumors, were like a tale of growth, so satisfying that merely hearing them filled one's stomach…
Like an eternal rice cake, something one would never need to eat again for a lifetime.
Is that why he looked at this letter countless times, simply joyful and through a haze of emotion-filled tears… imagining what expression his disciple had when writing it.
‘He was so young when I first saw him… Ah, when on earth did he grow so big…’.