Book 3 Chapter 23

Chapter 72

"Rain, did you see that?! You saw my magic, didn't you?!"

It was after the morning schedule of the final exams had all concluded when I met Kasena again.

"Yes. For a young lady, you did well."

"For me? What's that supposed to mean!"

Kasena had sold a total of 19 scrolls, so she would easily secure a mid-tier or lower-mid-tier rank in the final exams.

Generally, it takes a cadet 3 to 4 minutes to draw a magic circle on a scroll, and no matter how many spells there are, it's meaningless if one can't draw the magic circle quickly.

That's why, unlike top-ranked cadets, general cadets were only provided with 10 scrolls each, and assistants would bring more upon request.

'Given that Kasena isn't accustomed to quick-drawing magic circles, drawing 19 scrolls can be seen as a significant achievement.'

After all, Kasena can't use multi-processing like me.

"The method for using double runes, you taught her that, didn't you?"

Just behind, Madelia Page followed and asked.

"Don't deny it to praise my daughter. It's obvious without even looking."

"Well… I just gave her a hint. The young lady found the answer herself."

"No, no. You're truly amazing, Rain Ludwick. I don't know how many times you've surprised me."

At the awkward praise, not Rain but the two girls nodded with satisfied smiles.

"That's right, Rain is amazing!"

"Did you just realize how amazing my big brother is?"

Kasena and Seri.

No, why are you two making those faces? Were you the ones being praised?

"It's been a while, Senior Madelia."

It was a benevolent voice that was heard as I opened my eyes in disbelief, like a short-tailed bush warbler. It was Brim Ludwick, holding a drowsy Bran Ludwick in her arms.

"No, should I call you Your Excellency now?"

Then a bright smile spread across Madelia's lips.

"You can call me casually, like before."

Brim, who always shared the top and second places with Kaven Ludwick, had a deep friendship with Madelia as a promising junior in the student council.

When I heard that the two had broken the barrier of status and married, I was so surprised… perhaps even envious.

Watching Kasena and Seri cling to Rain, chattering noisily as if competing, Madelia tidied her hair, which was fluttering in the wind.

"The days of youth have now faded, and it is a truly cruel passage of time that we are now at an age where we watch the growth of our respective daughters and sons."

As Madelia chuckled, recalling the brilliant past that was as cherished as it was missed, Brim also smiled gently.

"That's nice."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a smile on your face, Senior. It feels like it's been a really long time."

My smile…?

Madelia looked at Brim in surprise, then let out a dry laugh and nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it seems there hasn't been a day I haven't smiled since your son came to my side."

"Right?"

"That's why it's quite regrettable. Even if I want to keep him by my side after he graduates…"

As Madelia murmured, she suddenly clapped her hands as if an astonishing idea had struck her.

"No, no. How about we arrange an engagement between Kasena and Rain while we're at it?"

The impact of the sudden bombshell was so immense that the eyes of all Pages and Ludwicks present widened.

"Se-Senior? I think I just misheard something?"

"You didn't mishear! Kasena is a Page. Even if she marries into the Ludwick family, there's no deficiency in her status, not to mention she's ahead."

"Th-that's true, but…"

"And her beauty is outstanding, like mine. She's a perfect bride candidate."

Then, she suddenly turned her gaze to Rain Ludwick.

"What do you think, Rain Ludwick? What do you think of my daughter?"

What in the world is this…?

Marriage? I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. Even in my Lyn days, I had never even discussed marriage proposals.

Perhaps thinking Rain was hesitating, Seri rushed forward.

"Ra-Ra-Rain oppa is only sixteen years old?!"

"Age isn't a problem at all. Your parents, for example, dated since middle school and held their wedding ceremony right after graduating from university."

"Ugh, ugh…!"

With her parents' case brought up, young Seri seemed to have lost the power to respond.

Seri looked at her mother as if asking for help, but Brim too was too confused to say anything.

Having easily dealt with one opponent, Madelia turned to Kasena.

"Since you're silent, Kasena, you must agree to the marriage proposal with Rain, right?"

If this were the case, this absurd marriage proposal would be invalidated without needing to beat around the bush.

Kasena doesn't really like me.

She always just yells at me… and since Kasena is the true power in the Page family with the decision-making authority, the moment she says no, it's all over.

"…"

But something is strange.

The usually noisy young lady is glancing over, mouth shut, with a faintly flushed face, as if trying to read the situation. Is she sick?

"Cadet Rain Ludwick?"

It was a third party who forcibly ended the bizarre situation whose beginning and end were unknown. To be precise, it was the assistant instructor of <Delaiten>.

"The first round of the main tournament will begin soon. Cadet Rain Ludwick is number 1 in order, so please come to the office immediately."

Oh, come to think of it, the top-ranked cadet was always designated as number 1 in the main tournament.

Leaving Madelia, who was clicking her tongue as if disappointed, and Seri, who let out a sigh of relief, behind, I gave a brief bow to my mother and followed the assistant instructor.

Just as I was about to leave, Brim threw an unexpected question my way.

"Rain, how is school life?"

How is school life…? At that question, many events, from the entrance exam to today's final exam preliminary round, flashed through my mind.

"Before I came, I only thought there would be nothing to learn even if I came."

Every day is new. Student council activities are also a new experience, and above all, the most insight comes during exams.

"Now that I've come, it's pretty interesting."

Because life at school teaches me that there's still so much to learn, and it feels like it's telling me I can go higher.

"If I had to describe it, hmm, it's not bad."

At Rain's unconscious, gentle smile, Brim smiled back, feeling a quiet swell of pride in her heart.

"I'm glad to hear that."

* * *

In the cold wind unsuited for a summer day, the forest leaves rustled eerily. Into the midst of that sound, two sets of footsteps seeped in.

"Yes, you should have given up earlier. No one who catches my eye can escape."

Tyrintid, the female ace of the Special Operations Department, stepped forward, casually flexing her wrist, and behind her, the mustachioed man Lunen spread a vast barrier over the area.

One couldn't help but be overwhelmed and terrified by a barrier deployed so extensively and at such high speed.

That is, if the opponent weren't this man.

"Escape? This Rivadin?"

The man standing in the middle of the forest clearing burst into maniacal laughter, pushing back the deeply pulled-down hood. Tyrintid and Lunen raised their eyebrows in surprise.

'That face…'

'What is it? It looks familiar…'

It was certainly a face without any particular features, but it was strange. It felt like they had seen it somewhere…

"I merely lured you rats out of the city. So I can kill you at ease."

"Lured? You're talking big. Don't you know who I and this guy are?"

Even if Lunen didn't know, Tyrintid was quite infamous among black mages.

"Hehehe, originally I intended to kill you the moment you started tailing me. But one timid rat kept nagging me. Said not to cause a commotion in the city, you see."

Rivadin suddenly threw off the cloak he was wearing, then pulled out two iron staves from his side.

One was simply long, and the other was also long but had an evil crow-shaped metal piece carved at its tip.

It was a detachable staff.

As Rivadin combined the two iron staves and took a stance, an unknown sense of pressure prickled down the spines of the two Special Operations mages.

"Senior, it seems difficult to capture him alive."

"I agree. Before killing him, let's ask. Why are you targeting Rain Ludwick?"

Then Rivadin's face twisted into a terrifying grimace, and dark blue phosphorescence flowed from his two eyes.

"He's my sister's enemy."

My sister's enemy?

What kind of nonsense is this…?

"As expected, there's no reasoning with these crazy black mages. Lunen, you're left."

The moment Tyrintid formed hand signs while pretending to tie up her loosely flowing hair, a fierce explosion shook the forest.

* * *

The first theme of the main tournament, decided by drawing lots, was [Magic Combat].

"Oh, a magic duel…"

In the stands, the Vice Dean of the Tchaihak School stroked his chin, as if intrigued.

"It may appear to be a violent assessment method, but there is no clearer way to distinguish the good from the bad (lit. jade from stone) than a magic duel."

Logan and Illin, sitting rigidly next to the Vice Dean, nodded.

"That's right! The important qualities required of a mage are revealed starkly during a duel!"

The casting speed of spells, the ability to handle variables, and even the individuality of magic… At that moment, a huge shadow fell over the Vice Dean's face, who was disciplining his students.

"Well, it's truly been an awfully long time, Vice Dean grandpa."

The next moment, just as the Vice Dean's eyes seemed to narrow, the upper body of the shadow swelled as if to burst, ripping apart its outer garments and revealing bulging muscles.

Immediately, the Vice Dean, not to be outdone, tensed his body, and muscles that could only be described as gigantic protruded, tearing his upper garment to shreds.

"Oh, oooooh!"

Logan and Illin, their eyes sparkling with admiration, instantly looked up in awe at the majesty of the muscles that appeared under the sunlight.

"Kuh-woo! The muscle salute that only true mages can share!"

"I was truly moved, sir!"

Regardless of the young disciples' fuss, the two muscular men, who had been carefully assessing each other's muscles, finally exchanged a solemn handshake.

"Still magnificent muscles, Owen. Truly worthy of being considered the top disciple to become the next Dean."

"And you, old man, at your age, how are your muscles still so damn lively?"

People around them, thinking, 'What are these crazy guys…' gradually put some distance between them. Professor Owen then took a seat next to the Vice Dean.

"Did you see?"

"Rain Ludwick, you mean?"

"Who else could it be?"

No sooner was that name uttered than the east and west gates of the Dragon's Blood Arena simultaneously opened, and fervent cheers erupted.

"Oh, they're out!"

"Rain Ludwick! We're looking forward to it this time too!"

From the east gate, the black-haired handsome boy Rain Ludwick walked out confidently, and from the west gate, the brown-haired beautiful girl Nora Redon walked out with a dancing gait.

"Nora Redon."

The Vice Dean of Tchaihak looked down at the late-blooming talent of the rival school, arms crossed.

"As a late-blooming talent of the Melev School, she was famous for showing violent talent in the school's secret arts from a young age."

The Melev School's secret art is Thanatology (術法學), a secret art that makes magical power act as internal force rather than external force.

"It's truly no exaggeration to say it's magic specialized in slaughter…"

Hmm, I wonder how the Ludwick successor will deal with such a person.

"What do you think, Logan? Having personally faced the 'Heavenly Calamity' Young Master, who do you think will win?"

Logan straightened his back with a troubled expression. Normally, he would want to side with Rain, his fellow muscle-enthusiast, but…

"Young Master Rain was certainly incredibly strong, but honestly, I'm not sure about this match!"

"Not sure? What exactly does that mean?"

"As you well know about the Melev School… from my perspective, this match seems too advantageous for Nora!"

Meanwhile, in the opposite stands, Dadan Karain, the Dean of the Rivendell School, expressed a different opinion.

"However, the Ludwicks are a lineage of mages focused on magical combat from their bloodline limits, so he won't be an easy opponent."

While such speculative conversations were ongoing, the two cadets who would adorn the first match soon stood face to face at the center point.

"Hmm, what should I do? I feel so bad for you. ★"

"Hm?"

"You're the top cadet, but you're going to be eliminated in the first round of the main tournament, aren't you? ♪ In front of so many people."

"Me? Why me?"

"Because of me."

"Because of you? Well, I wonder if that's even possible?"

A cold glint flashed in Nora's smiling eyes.

"Did you know? Magic researched with the goal of 'learning' and magic researched with the goal of 'killing' are fundamentally different."

"Oh, I know that well."

"Then you'll know this too, right? ★"

Nora suddenly brought her face so close to Rain's ear that her breath touched him, and whispered like this:

"That a Young Master who only knows armchair magic and mimicking the Osarius School can never defeat me, even if he dies and comes back to life ♪"

Then Rain twirled the staff he brought as his weapon, slung it over his shoulder, and chuckled. Nora smiled back and asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You see, it was my daily life to fight against those who used magic developed with the goal of slaughter."

Perhaps taken aback by this ridiculous joke, her usual smile faltered slightly. But this was the truth, even if it was a story from 300 years ago.

"And I won every time."

Except for that very last one.

Though I don't know who that one was.

"So, I'm not worried about losing to you at all."

As Rain tilted his head, Nora's eyes gleamed coldly, and for a moment her smile completely vanished, revealing a chilling true expression.

"…♪"

Just then, Head Professor Marhena nodded, and Professor Kyle shouted through a megaphone spell.

[Then, from now on, the magic duel between Top Cadet Rain Ludwick and 3rd-ranked Cadet Nora Redon shall begin!]