Book 17 Chapter 25
Chapter 116
“Lynn.”
I hear the Dean's voice.
Had I fallen asleep in the study?
It felt like I had a dream, an incredibly long but pleasant one…
“It’s time to wake up now.”
It was a kind of trick, if you could call it that, but I often fell asleep in the study at dawn. Even when I had the energy to return to my bedroom, I just slept face down.
Because then, the Dean would come.
The Dean, who woke up before anyone else in the Magic Tower to light the lamps, would come looking for me and stroke my head.
“Master, this one is awake!”
I lifted my head, but something entirely different from the scene I expected overwhelmed my vision.
The Magic Tower was a stone building.
This place, on the other hand, was a wooden building, filled with the rich aroma of aged oak, and the scent of herbs deeply permeated everywhere.
“This place is…”
As I muttered that, I felt a pang of disappointment, yet also a sense of relief.
Ah, this isn't the Magic Tower…
And the meeting and journey with Rista, Friede, and Kiese wasn't a dream, I realized…
“Her skin is so fair.”
“Looks like a kid from the Empire.”
“What’s an Empire?”
And then five children were surrounding me, and when our eyes met, they began discussing me as if they'd seen some mythical creature.
Like Friede, they had coppery skin.
In other words, this was the territory of the Republic. Even if there were some confusing words, since the language was understandable, I probably hadn't come all the way to the southern seas.
“Where is here?”
I wanted to ask that, but [the Strongest Mage] must never panic in any situation, nor ask questions that might make him seem weak to someone he's just met.
“Hmph…”
So, I just smiled!
It would be best to wear a meaningful smile, as if even this situation was all according to plan!
However, perhaps due to cultural differences, my plan didn't seem to be working, as the children exchanged glances.
“An Empire-style joke?”
“Is it funny?”
“Then we should laugh too.”
And then they started laughing exactly like me? How dare these kids try to imitate [the Strongest Mage's actions]; they were 100 years too early for that.
“Hmph.”
“““Hmph.”””
“?”
“““?”””
What's with this reaction?
“Hngh.”
“““Hngh.”””
“???”
“““???”””
“Don’t, imitate me.”
“““Don’t, imitate me.”””
Those brats seemed to be enjoying it too, looking at me with eyes that expected me to lead the chant.
“Aow.”
“““Aow.”””
But as I did it, I started to feel that this echo wasn't so bad after all. It was like becoming the Strongest Mage commanding countless subordinates!
“It’s true, I tell you. He’s awake.”
Just then, the door opened, and an old woman entered the hut, leaning on a broom as if it were a staff.
As could be told by her blue robes and conical hat, this woman was a Blue Witch.
And the eldest of the children, who looked to be around my age, and whose voice had shouted “This one is awake,” was supporting her next to her.
“Who are you?”
The Strongest Mage never reveals their true identity. However, it's common sense to answer when asked a question.
“Just know this: Strongest.”
“““Just know this: Strongest.”””
The brats who had imitated my words as they pleased started laughing wildly. Are they laughing right now?
“You seem to be from the Empire, but how did you pass through the sea? The Tersh Archipelago is currently completely blockaded by the Black Rose Society…”
Tersh Archipelago? Huh, then is this the place Rista and Friede said they were going to?
That's strange.
I'm sure I fell asleep while scolding Friede, so how did I end up here now? And so quickly.
“Can't you say thank you to Master? It was Master who saved you when you were collapsed in the sea and healed you.”
The one who helped the old woman sit in a chair said.
As could be seen from the plain robes and the three-pointed star emblem he wore, he was a mage.
For reference, the witch ranking system is Mage - Apprentice Witch - Witch - Grand Witch - Shamaness.
“What are you talking about? That was your doing, Enizer.”
“M-me? I just did as Master told me! It’s true I brought him here… but that was just to experiment a bit with the new telekinesis spell I learned.”
“Sorry, but [Strongest] doesn’t say thank you.”
If there is a debt of gratitude, I will only repay it with action someday. The brats imitated my words again and cackled.
“The Empire has a strange accent!”
“And a strange way of speaking!”
“Master, do all people from the Empire really talk like this? It doesn’t even feel like reading a dictionary.”
The Blue Witch shook her head.
“No, I haven’t met many people from the Empire, but this one is a peculiar fellow.”
“Then he’s suspicious. Starting from his way of speaking, everything! How did someone from the Empire get here?”
“He’s not the only one who came, is he? Since the Nagas are destroying all ships on the sea lanes, many people are being washed ashore like this.”
Enizer flinched in surprise and stammered.
“Master, do you like this kid who only spouts incomprehensible words?”
“Look at this stone staff. You brought it, so you'd know better. This is not a staff made by human hands. This potent power… it belongs to the Dragon Clan.”
One of [the Strongest Mage's Bucket List] items was fulfilled: a situation where the other person revered me without me saying a word.
“Hmph…”
At that moment, I just needed to lean my chin on my fist and smile. If I shook my head, conveying a feeling of ‘Unbelievable,’ I’d get bonus points.
“He must have a reason for not revealing his identity, but if he’s blessed by the Dragon Clan, he’s certainly not suspicious. Rather, we should treat him with the utmost respect.”
Just then, a utterly useless fellow popped out from my embrace.
Its name was Sbal.
It's just a name, but if it sounds like an insult, then your brain is filled with the abyss.
“Wow, what is that?!”
The children cheered and ran towards Sbal, and Enizer's eyes were visibly wide with surprise as well.
“I’ve never seen a spirit like that before. It possesses an incredible spiritual aura… He’s certainly no ordinary boy. So Enizer, you guide him around this place.”
“M-me?”
“Isn't it the rule that whoever picks up a dog or cat is responsible for it? These are very dangerous times. If you don't guide him properly, who knows what might happen.”