Book 16 Chapter 50
100th Chapter
Excluding the Fae Queller, the news of a truly "strongest currently in existence" Adamantite-grade mercenary being defeated swept across the continent in an instant.
"……The top Ain technician used the [King's Flesh] too?"
"……At this point, it feels like anyone who doesn't use it is a pushover."
"……By the way, Lysta's party is incredible. They're proclaiming victories wherever they go as if it's only natural."
That news reached the Magic Tower of the Osarius School through the Magic Alliance's intelligence network, but what Dean Atlante focused on wasn't "who the opponent was" but "what the result was."
- Over 100 children who had gone missing have returned to their families. When asked about Lady Rin, the children said the jingling sound of her monk's staff was impressive.
- Her monk's staff?
- And they also remember her making incredibly unappetizing food. Sprinkled with monster eyeballs… Ahem, this sounds like children's mischief, though.
Even now, the sight of her crying with tears streaming down her face on the day she left with the hero's party is vivid in my mind…
In my eyes, she's still a child…
For such a child to save someone and for that heroic deed to be praised by everyone is something inexpressible…
'Though the world is still in a summer born of turmoil…'
Spring was coming to the Magic Tower.
Whenever news of Rin arrived, the children of the school would chatter excitedly for days on end, as if celebrating a festival.
Even so, they pursued their magical training with even greater passion, likely thanks to the positive influence of Rin, who, at just fourteen years old, was active on the world stage.
- To Dean Atlante.
This time, I caught an Adamantite-grade mercenary.
I thought I had become much stronger and would be able to defeat him one-on-one, but it seems I still have a long way to go.
So I'm a little gloomy.
I'm gloomy and have no energy, so I'm going to stop writing the letter now.
No excuses, seriously.
Oh, by the way, I'm at the very end of the Red Mountains. They say the cross-continental journey across Akhrad is almost over now.
Goodbye then. Bye.
Atlante chuckled softly, fiddling with the letter from her disciple for what must have been the tenth time.
'I'm in no position to say the children are chattering excitedly…'
Ah, if it's the very end of the Red Mountains, it's truly too, too far away…
A distance so great that I can't feel her voice, her smell, or her body heat…
As I read this letter…
'For some reason, Rin's face, chattering with a demure expression, vividly flickers in my mind…'
That flickering brought both joy and a poignant sadness.
That sadness was surely…
The pain of absence, stemming from the powerlessness of not being able to be by her side.
"There's no way the Meister would have done that."
Meanwhile, the Three Kingdoms of Ain were plunged into shock.
The Ains, who had taken root on the island of Kindelantz, exercised dominance primarily through three nations, and Greta Vizer was a Meister whom every Ain technician, regardless of kingdom, respected without fail.
Thus, the position of Meister became vacant, and candidates for her successor were brought into consideration at the 'Council of Three Nations'.
"We must dispatch an investigation team."
The technical advisor of <Bahaltfurt> spoke with irritation.
"The Manuki (Manuki; meaning 'monkey' in the language of the Ains, used to disparage humans) must have incited this with strange information to insult the Meister."
<Bahaltfurt> is located in the southernmost part of Kindelantz, in a land where mountains and wilderness comprise 70% of its geographical features. The Ains, who dislike complexity, used the name of the royal capital directly as the name of the kingdom.
"That may not be the case."
The Head Steward of the Royal Domain of <Nibblehafen> pulled a letter from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"This is a letter sent to His Majesty the King by Nils Blantz, the youngest chief tinker produced by our kingdom."
<Nibblehafen> was located in the eastern part of Kindelantz, where the Rhynhilde River beautifully watered wide-open plains, and its size and influence were the largest among the three kingdoms.
"Nils Blantz, you say…?"
"The one the Meister personally took on as an apprentice…!"
"What does it say…?"
Despite the impatient urging from the ministers of other kingdoms, the Head Steward of <Nibblehafen> acted with leisure and indifference, as if to flaunt his kingdom's influence.
"The rumors circulating about Greta Vizer are not propaganda or incitement by the Manuki. Rather, it details even more thoroughly what deeds he has perpetrated. Out of respect for my Meister's final honor, I cannot bring myself to mention those matters here."
The Ains expressed their consternation with various postures and sounds.
"Then what should we do now?"
"We did not exert unnecessary force in this turmoil, following the decision of the Council of Three Nations."
"But haven't we ended up owing a debt to the Manuki this time? And an enormous debt at that."
At the Ains' murmuring, the Head Steward of <Nibblehafen> nodded with satisfaction, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Therefore, His Majesty our King wishes for all three kingdoms to nominate Nils Blantz as Meister."
The chamber instantly fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them, then the next moment, a clamor erupted.
The Meister is the pinnacle and leader of Ain technicians. One kingdom producing a Meister unbelievably expanded that kingdom's present and future influence.
Therefore, the Meister position was an honor bestowed only upon technicians who could completely overpower all political machinations in the process with 'pure skill' alone.
"Wait, please listen to me quietly. This isn't just for our kingdom, but for the entire kingdom."
"?"
"Nils Blantz has already forged a favorable connection with the hero's party. Who else among Ain technicians has a friendship with the hero's party?"
"!"
"Of course, we're not suggesting to immediately nominate Nils as Meister. Until then, we will only provide full support."
"?"
"If the hero's party's journey succeeds, we will then publicize the influence our Ains had on the victory of the turmoil, centered around Nils. His nomination as Meister could be said to be a device for the racial political stage."
The Ains, famous for their impatience and quick temper, were by then tilting their heads or nodding one by one. Their opinions were shifting from opposition to agreement.
"Above all, Nils has a great cause. He has the justice of having condemned a Meister, his own teacher, who had fallen into madness."
"!"
"If such a person accompanies the hero's party until the end… it will be considered legitimate to completely suppress this incident from the inferior minds of the Manuki and to gain credit for the victory. What do you think?"