Book 3 Chapter 14
Episode 63
“Rain Ludwig said he was quitting his tutoring job?”
Yuren Page raised an eyebrow slightly.
Although he was a great general of the Grand Duchy of Archen, having married into the Page family, he naturally had to bear the Page family name.
Madellia, who had been elegantly carving her veal steak, dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Yes, he came and said that today.”
“—That brat, he didn’t like our Casena or something—”
“—What disrespectful remark is that to a benefactor? This was already more than we could ask for. He has his studies and student council activities… yet he came every single day without fail, so we owe him a great debt.”
“Of course, I know that, but I believe he promised to help Casena walk again.”
“Enough. If it were that simple, I would have done it long ago.”
While Yuren clicked his tongue regretfully, Madellia's expression was full of composure.
‘We can gradually find a way for her to walk.’
What's important now is that the child has taken an interest in magic. If that continues, a door will surely open somewhere, someday.
“I called you to the table to discuss how we should repay the child.”
The relationship between the two, which had been tied by political motives rather than love, was never good to begin with, but it had rapidly grown cold after Casena became physically disabled in her lower body.
One could say that this was roughly the first time they had eaten together in 10 years.
Yuren Page was not ungrateful either, so he nodded seriously.
“Since we don't know his likes or dislikes, how about simply giving him gold coins?”
“The Ludwig family is one of the wealthiest families. What meaning would gold coins have?”
The two seemed to be arguing, but the estate's employees could only watch their conversation with surprised eyes.
Were they not exchanging smiles while talking?
For 10 years, after a word or two, one of them would usually raise their voice, preventing any further conversation…
“My lord, my lady.”
At that moment, a third person spoke up. It was a middle-aged woman who had served the Page family for over 30 years and had also acted as Casena's nanny.
“May I offer a suggestion?”
“You may speak.”
“Is there a system for transferring into <Delighten> mid-semester?”
Perhaps it was an unexpected question, as Madellia slightly lifted her gaze from her tableware.
“Under normal circumstances, no. Although there have been a few exceptions in the university's history.”
“What kind of exceptions?”
“Cases where descendants of noble families or disciples of university factions couldn't take the entrance exam for some reason. For instance, if they had to attend a parent's funeral, or were confined to bed due to an accident.”
In fact, it was a question she already knew the answer to.
“Then, young lady Casena could also benefit from that, couldn't she?”
At those words, Madellia Page's eyes flashed sharply for a moment, then she shook her head.
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“The child is still immature. Not only is she immature, but she also cannot walk. Our family, as a leading magic family, has a certain dignity to uphold.”
“So, if the young lady isn't particularly immature, and can also walk, then it would be acceptable, you mean?”
As she persistently pressed the matter, Madellia leaned back in her chair with a soft sigh.
“I really don't understand. Why are we discussing Casena's admission issue, anyway?”
“It's because of the young lady's personality. As you know, she has strong pride. Even Young Master Rain, who is her age, had such a difficult time, so I wonder if she would truly get along well with students one or two years younger than her.”
“That's…”
Perhaps it was a fair point (it had to be), as Madellia hesitated for a moment, gazing into the air before frowning.
“Although that is a valid point, it's still not possible. Unless the child requests it herself, I suppose.”
The awaited words had come.
One could say her mission was now complete.
“That's what they say, young lady.”
Young lady?
When the nanny said that towards the doorway, Madellia and Yuren seemed to tilt their heads, then suddenly their eyes widened.
“No, this… this can't be…”
Watching Madellia's breath tremble rapidly, the nanny smiled.
“I had intended to tell you sooner, but she insisted on telling you herself.”
Thump, thump, thump, thump…
The sound of crutches hitting the ground.
Carrying that sound, her legs, which had gained some flesh but still lacked muscle, trembled slightly as she walked in with the nanny, slowly.
“Casena…?”
It was Casena Page herself.
Not only Madellia and Yuren, but also all the employees watching had turned deathly pale.
In the silence, Casena smiled innocently.
“Mom, can I go to university too? With Rain.”
Madellia just stared blankly, dumbfounded, watching her daughter walk, then suddenly sprang from her seat and rushed to embrace her daughter tightly.
“Now, what am I seeing? Casena, it looked like you were walking…?”
Yuren exclaimed blankly.
He wanted to cry, but his bewilderment was so overwhelming that he couldn't even shed tears. Instead, his characteristic dignified voice stammered out.
“I did walk! Rain helped me walk!”
“Rain Ludwig?”
“Yes! Rain is incredibly amazing! It's not just psychokinesis!”
Casena shrugged her shoulders as if boasting about herself, wearing a satisfied expression.
As Yuren looked at the escort magician with eyes desiring an explanation, the magician cleared his throat and began to speak.
“There's no need to worry. I was surprised myself, so I went and asked directly, and it seems to be an application of the marking spells used by Wing-type mages.”
“Body-strengthening magic…?”
“Yes. Typically, Chihark mages engrave magic circles onto their bodies and channel magic power into those circles to activate their abilities. You can consider it the same principle.”
“But couldn't that lead to problems if something goes wrong?”
“He said there's a method for beginners that acts like an insurance, so there's absolutely no need to worry.”
Madellia stared blankly at the markings on Casena's legs, then suddenly waved her hand.
“Could you all leave us for a moment? You too.”
The nanny and the employees bowed and withdrew. As soon as the banquet hall door closed, Madellia and Yuren embraced Casena and began to weep quietly.
“Casena, our daughter…”
They wished for nothing. If only their daughter could walk again, if only they could see her smiling and running towards them once more…
"I desire nothing else in the rest of my life," they had prayed and begged the gods for this.
That wish had suddenly come true.
Had that earnest wish reached the heavens? Even if this was divine guidance, Rain Ludwig was clearly the instrument used.
—Your Excellency's daughter and our son, the one who hatches from the egg first will help the other. Wouldn't that work?
Ah, yes.
It truly turned out that way.
Cavern, Brim. We owe your child a debt that can never be repaid in a lifetime…
* * *
Monday morning, it was time to check his progress so far. He had collapsed right after implanting the markings on Casena yesterday…
“…It went up again?”
His unique magic progression was now an astounding 47.9%. He didn't know when it had surpassed 45%, but thanks to that, the success rate of Yuryang Sejon's magic combinations and his power amplification rate had both increased by 5%.
‘Is it because I diligently researched marking spells?’
His questions could only intensify.
Or is it that the progress isn't just from fighting monsters, but also from fighting women *like* monsters (he didn't say Casena)?
“Heh heh, no need to trouble my head thinking about it.”
Since good is good.
Isn't it just that if I keep living like this, the progress will increase on its own?
The headache-inducing thoughts should be directed towards Balencidis, so there's no need to unnecessarily disperse my focus.
“Heh heh, heh heh, heh heh.”
As Rain chuckled, Pipi, who had been dozing on his shoulder, chuckled along. Pipi's sleep had significantly increased compared to 300 years ago.
“Pipi, you've gotten old. All you do is sleep.”
“Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.”
After gently scratching Pipi's head for a few minutes, the bell from the campus clock tower rang, signaling time for school.
“Pipi, rest comfortably. I’m off to school.”
“School, school, school.”
“If you get bored, fly over and come play.”
He couldn't be late today, as it was the day of a tremendous big event. While he had spent nearly 40 days working as a tutor, 'that' had finally approached.
“From now on, I will explain to all first-year students about the first semester's final exams, which will begin in two weeks.”
Dragon Wheel Hall Auditorium.
Once all the first-year students were seated, Associate Professor Kyle ascended the stage and announced the prelude to the big event.
“The final exams are only similar to the midterms in their essence as tests; everything else is different. You must be clearly aware of that.”
The judging panel for the final exams included not only <Delighten> professors. Prominent mages from across the empire were invited to take on the role of judges.
“The final exams are also an opportunity for you to make your name known to the world. In fact, during the final exams, the magic tower you will join after graduation is sometimes decided.”
A silence where dry saliva was swallowed.
But this was also a double-edged sword. Leaving a bad impression on those prominent figures… it was terrible just to imagine.
“Now, I will explain the examination method.”
Snap. As Kyle flicked his fingers, the teaching assistants who had been waiting nearby began to post large notices on the wall behind the stage.
Group A:
・Rain Ludwig.
・Krista Warden.
・Nora Redon.
…
…
Group A consisted of the offspring of magic families and skilled individuals belonging to the Eight Great, Sixteen Middle schools. All of them reigned at the top of the academic rankings within the school.
‘<Delighten> may have a merit-based education policy, but it doesn't mean they completely deny opportunities to lower-ranked students.’
Krista Warden rested her chin on her clasped hands, alternating her gaze between her own name and Rain Ludwig's name listed above it.
‘That's always plainly revealed in the final exam format: higher-ranked students compete under a disadvantageous structure compared to lower-ranked students.’
Group A was formed by calculating admission scores, midterm scores, and all performance evaluation scores to select the top 30 students.
The remaining students were then randomly mixed into groups of around 30 each (ensuring the average scores of the total members were equal) to form Groups B, C, D, E, and F.
“First, the preliminary selection for the final exams will begin in two weeks. Only the top four students from each group will get the chance to advance to the main competition.”
So, ultimately 24 students will advance to the main competition, huh…
‘This is the second challenge I need to overcome to meet Lista.’
Kyle, looking at Rain's eyes, which shone with interest, smiled inwardly.
‘As expected, he shows no sign of nervousness.’
And in the main competition, the winner would be determined through a tournament-style competition via drawing lots, to select the ultimate victor (the top student).
“Now, I will announce the judging theme for the preliminary round to all students.”
As soon as the magic circle shattered on Kyle's palm, an illusory string of characters appeared in the air, brilliantly flickering.
[Scroll]
Scroll? Unlike other high-ranking students, lower-ranked students, including Rain, had to blink and tilt their heads in confusion.
And no wonder, as 'scroll' was quite a vague topic.
“You are all talents who will one day become supreme mages, capable of helping many people by creating scrolls. This can be seen as training for that day.”
“…?”
“This year's theme is ‘Magic Suitable for a Scroll’! You are to think and research thoroughly for two weeks and bring back your best results.”
Magic suitable for a scroll?
Rain gently stroked his chin, unable to grasp the meaning.
‘Are they telling me to create magic for civilian relief?’
On the other hand, the higher-ranked students, who had undergone such examination methods quite often since childhood, were already beginning to sparkle their eyes, wondering what to create.
‘Heh heh♪ I'll do it like that again this time.’
‘This time, I'll have to test that out.’
‘My specialty field has come up.’
However, what equally dumbfounded and confused every student present was the next announcement.
“That concludes the explanation of the final exams, and we will now conclude this briefing by introducing our first-year transfer student.”
A transfer student? Only a very select few could utilize that system, couldn't they?
Either an overwhelmingly talented individual whom <Delighten> absolutely wouldn't want to miss, or someone who receives endless support from a noble family or a university faction.
Amidst everyone's murmuring, thump, thump, thump, thump… soon the sound of crutches hitting the wooden floor of the podium was heard, and the moment their owner appeared, everyone's eyes widened.
“Huh?”
“Oh?”
“Hmm?”
Her light purple hair, inherited from the progenitor of magic, cascaded dazzlingly under the lights, and her perfect features left a powerful impression on the hearts of everyone, regardless of gender.
“Page…?”
“Is it Page…?”
“It’s Page…!”
Among the students, the one who was most shocked—or perhaps least shocked, depending on how you looked at it—was Rain Ludwig.
“Casena…?”
To Rain, Professor Kyle added with a slightly apologetic smile:
“And according to long-standing tradition, the top-ranked student will assist the transfer student in adapting to the school for the next month.”
Huh?