Book 16 Chapter 4

Episode 76

Beyond the era of turmoil, the wheels of everyday life, protected by those who moved towards the turmoil, continued to turn.

"Dean! Senior Disciple!"

Giselle, the top student of <Winter Horizon> Municipal Magic School, returned from the dormitory to the magic tower with her fellow students after finishing the winter semester.

"Did you hear?"

Originally, winter in the North lasted fiercely from November all the way to May.

Because it was fierce, despite the wicked changes in seasons across the world, the North retained the biting cold of early winter even in this May.

Giselle, who had breezed through the cold in the hanbok gifted by Rin, had rosy cheeks. Whether it was from laughter or the cold, only she would know.

"They say Rin did something again!"

"Giselle, shouldn't you say 'achieved' rather than 'did something wrong' at this time?"

"He *did* something wrong! Everywhere I go, everyone's only talking about Rin! Even the kids at school keep asking me all sorts of things!"

The incident in the Chamtul Archipelago quickly spread across the entire continent.

It was only natural, as the hero party, whose whereabouts had been unknown, had made their first appearance.

The rumors focused on the exploits of Rin, the magician newly joined to the hero party, and wasn't it said that Rin had protected the citizens from the abyss in a tearful struggle!

"It seems none of you are particularly surprised."

Dean Atlante smiled gently, warmly greeting each of his disciples.

"Why would we be surprised?"

"That's right. Everyone knows Rin always protected us."

"Thanks to Rin, the Dean and the Senior Disciple were able to travel far and wide!"

Everyone knew. Though Rin himself seemed to think he had completely hidden it.

At night, he would leave behind an illusion of profoundly embarrassing quality (Rin, later called an Elemental Master, had almost no talent for illusion magic, bordering on terrible) and disappear, only for the magic tower to be overflowing with money or ingredients upon his return. And after waiting a few more days, rumors would even spread like, 'The rampaging monsters or bandits suddenly all disappeared.'

"I wanna see Rin oppa…"

Winter Wind Riki, who was scattering feed to the chickens and chicks, sniffled. Then Atlante skillfully pulled a letter from her pocket.

"It's a letter from Rin. He sent it when he departed for the Chamtul Archipelago, and it just arrived. Riki is learning language these days, so why don't you try reading it yourself?"

Rin's handwriting was famous in the magic tower for being as beautiful as a sculpture.

It would be perfectly adequate to be adopted as a standard font (the handwriting of Cheongseong Mirngardia, who later inherited and refined that script even more gracefully, would eventually become the continent's standard font).

Of course, that handwriting was also a perfect imitation of Atlante's handwriting, achieved through grueling effort.

Rin had a pathological habit of wanting to follow Atlante's ways in everything, whether it was how to use magic or anything else.

"Ch, Chamchol-edo-eseo."

As Riki stumbled over the words, Atlante corrected her with the proper reading.

"In the Chamtul Archipelago."

"W, w-will they think it's c-cool if I use the s-strongest m-magic?"

"Will they think it's cool if I use the strongest magic?"

Giselle, taking off her hanbok coat, couldn't bear the frustration and reached for the letter.

"What is it? Give it to me, Unnie. Let me read it all at once!"

"No! Riki will read it!"

"Argh, why are all the Wind Series so stubborn, just like the original!"

The full text of the letter was as follows:

- Dean, I heard the Chamtul Archipelago Naval Duel Arena is famous, so will people think it's cool if I use the strongest magic there?

I'll pretend to be weak on purpose.

So, when I enter the Naval Duel Arena, everyone around will start laughing.

"Hey, isn't that guy weak?"

"Pfft, a weak kid like that came here?"

"He clearly looks weak, but he probably came thinking he was someone important."

As soon as I hear such remarks, I plan to cast a 4-star magic of the Yorhen type, knock down the opponent in one hit, and then nonchalantly read a magic tome.

"Wow, that's insane! He's using 4-star magic of the Yorhen type."

"No, at that level, isn't he the strongest magician?"

"What kind of guy is he to have such supreme skill yet remain unknown?!"

Amidst such cheers, I plan to reply briefly.

"I belong to the Osarius School. Revealing my real name is difficult."

I think then the name of our humble Osarius School might rise a bit.

Anyway, the next destination is the Chamtul Archipelago.

It's a hassle before departure, but I'm sending this letter. Running out of paper, so I'll stop here. Bye.

The magic tower immediately erupted in laughter. It was truly a Rin-like letter, leaving no doubt that he was doing well.

"He seems even more excited than usual."

Senior Disciple Pomas chuckled and said. Atlante also laughed.

"Of course, wouldn't anyone be excited traveling with such a beautiful hero, both in body and spirit?"

At that, Giselle yelled back.

"Rin isn't a guy who's into women!"

Everyone looked at Giselle and tilted their heads.

"But why is she so irritable?"

"Indeed."

"Shut up!"

Though he wasn't physically there, thinking of the disciple who brought laughter to the entire magic tower, Atlante smiled, a hint of tenderness behind her contentedness.

'Rin, I'm writing a letter too.'

Every time your letter arrives…

Since your whereabouts are not fixed, I can't send a reply, but…

'The day you return, I'll give you all the replies I've written.'

What kind of expression will you make then?

I'm curious.

And so… I might miss you even more.

'Where are you now, with whom, doing what, and what are you seeing?'