Book 4 Chapter 6
Episode 80
“No!”
Serri quickly turned her head with a very sulky face, then paced back and forth in front of me, repeatedly shaking her head, as if telling me to notice she was upset.
She only learned bad things from Auntie…
When I stared at Ellin, who could be called the pioneer of such behavior, Ellin tilted her head.
“Why? What?”
“No, just because.”
I merely said, “Can’t we just go back without watching the decisive match?” but why are they like this? Mother asked in a worried tone.
“Just go back… It doesn’t seem like Rain would say something like that without any reason, what’s wrong?”
My words immediately failed me here. I couldn’t very well say, “Because a dark magician is targeting you all,” could I?
If I did, a massive investigation would immediately begin, but would Valensidis, who hasn’t been caught by <Delaite> or the special task force’s intelligence network until now, really be apprehended?
No, I’d just be perfectly framed as a weirdo. Then I’d get the nickname ‘Prince Liar.’
“Just… I lack confidence.”
So I gave a vague excuse.
Then Ellin narrowed her eyes as if dumbfounded, then smacked Rain’s head.
“Where is a man of the Ludwig family saying such weak words! You’re not just a member, you’re the legitimate successor! You’re going to be the head of the family later! But what, you lack confidence?”
“Ugh, it was a joke.”
As a result of the story progressing this way, they failed to send the family back to the mansion, and the morning of the next day dawned.
From today, the second-year final exams begin, so it is customary for first-year students to attend their respective faculty buildings and self-study during the morning.
However, as a participant in the top-ranking decisive match, I was summoned to the president’s office first. Along with the other two participants.
“Rain Ludwig, Christa Warden, Caden. The reason I called you here is one: to deliver the topic for the top-ranking decisive match.”
When Madelia nodded, Vice Professor Kyle, who was standing beside her, handed each of us a copy of the document in an envelope.
[Beauty (美)]
When I subtly pulled out the document, only that single rune was scribbled on the pristine parchment, with no further explanation.
“…?”
When I looked up and tilted my head, Kyle smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“The topic is ‘Beautiful Magic.’”
“Beautiful Magic?”
“300 years ago, during the period of turmoil, technical magic was briefly scorned due to its lack of practical utility, but now that an era of peace has begun, its importance is being highlighted again.”
That is certainly true.
It’s a well-known fact that among those who served on the front lines at the time, Northern mages were more welcomed than Southern mages, isn’t it?
Madelia continued the explanation with a nod of her chin.
“It’s also called magic craftsmanship. Through magic craftsmanship alone, one can accurately grasp the caster’s abilities—that is, their creativity, computational skills, and depth of magical power.”
Beautiful magic, huh…
For Rain, who belonged to the Northern mages that emphasized practicality from birth, this was truly a difficult challenge.
“The decisive match begins on Friday morning. Until then, do your best to think about what kind of magic you will present to the world.”
Madelia seemed to conclude her words, then cast a subtle glance at Rain and let out a small laugh.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
* * *
“What, why are you sighing like that!”
I was just looking at the envelope placed on the desk, with my arms crossed, when suddenly a loud noise, enough to sting my eardrums, rang out.
I didn’t even need to look to know who it was.
Still, I ought to show some sincerity, so I subtly glanced to the side. Cassena, whose features were dazzlingly sharp, was intently glaring at me.
“Just… my thoughts were a bit blocked.”
By the way, my seat changed. Something about it being the top student’s duty to help transfer students…
This is the very last seat in the central row.
No matter what, taking the window-side end seat from Christa felt a bit much, so I barely managed to persuade Cassena and compromised on this spot.
Now Gertrude sits next to Christa instead of me.
“Why are your thoughts blocked!”
“Because I don’t know what beautiful magic is.”
“Beautiful magic? What’s that?”
If I knew, would I be sighing? Think a little before you speak.
‘As it is, Valensidis is already taking up all my thoughts…’
And why does the test have such an inscrutable topic? The situation is serious, so even the test has become annoying.
“You’re struggling with something like that, and you think you have the right to be my rival?”
A shadow seemed to fall over the desk, and when I looked up, Christa was looking down at me, arms crossed, in her characteristic arrogant posture.
“What! It’s dark, I can’t see the letters!”
Then Cassena suddenly flared up. Christa glared back at Cassena and snarled.
“You weren’t even holding an open book, what are you talking about?”
“I’m about to open it now?!”
“You’re bullshitting! What kind of excuse is that!”
Oh, they’re on such good terms, dropping formalities regardless of social standing. It seems it’s easier to get close to people of the same gender than the opposite.
“Hmm, now that I think about it, since Your Highness didn’t attend a magic academy, this topic might be a bit difficult for you.”
Gertrude Fenton, who was at least capable of normal conversation, said in an understanding tone.
“You know it?”
“It would be strange not to know. It’s a question that comes up at least once a year in magic academies.”
“Oh… so what. Christa must also thoroughly understand this exam.”
As if even such admiration was laughable, Christa clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“It’s not just a matter of thoroughly understanding it, nor do I know it because of school.”
“?”
“Since I started magic, I’ve dedicated myself to this topic every single day without fail.”
The one who responded to Christa’s bold declaration was a person who had not been present until now. And someone who didn’t quite fit in this place.
“That would be right♬ The bloodline limitation of the Warden family is to summon inanimate objects, and the external details of the summoned beings are all influenced by the caster★”
The owner of the singing-like voice was none other than Nora Ledon, a late-stage disciple of the Melev school.
While the three young ladies glared at Nora with caution and dismay, Rain waved his hand as if pleased.
“Oh, Nora. You know quite a lot, don’t you?”
“Hehe, knowing the prey’s information is an essential virtue for a hunter, isn’t it♪”
“Do you know a bit about beautiful magic?”
“Simply put, even if you use similar magic, it gives a more flamboyant and magnificent feeling, perhaps? It’s not difficult at all♬”
What? Since when were they so close that they’re greeting each other so affectionately? Was the talk of him being a ladies’ man not just empty words?
‘While I wasn’t looking, he’s really been playing the field…’
Christa, who had quelled the doubts surging in her mind, shook her head.
“It’s not necessarily good just because it’s flamboyant and magnificent. The most important thing is precision. No matter how much you amplify the splendor, if the runes and mathematical formulas don’t precisely interlock, it often looks shoddy.”
“…!”
“And for the combination of runes and mathematics for beautiful magic, considerable experience is needed. It’s not something you can understand just by hearing it once.”
Recombination of runes and mathematics?
If it’s that, isn’t it one of my specialties? I was starting to get a grasp of it.
“Like this?”
Several rays of light flowed onto Rain’s palm and merged into the form of a magic square.
The form of the magic square was a combination of circles and sectors, and the inscribed runes were ‘Jeung’ (蒸, steam) and ‘Seo’ (逝, pass away).
Then even Yubel, who had been glancing over since Nora’s appearance, had a twitch in his eye.
‘That magic he used on the first day of admission…’
Christa also showed a mixture of welcome and caution, but soon crossed her arms with a relaxed demeanor.
“That’s also true, but it’s not enough. If you want, shall we determine who’s superior right now?”
“Superiority? How?”
“Like this.”
Then a feast of light beams also unfolded on Christa’s palm.
The speed at which the magic square was formed, that is, the mental calculation speed, was about three or four times slower than Rain’s, but even just seeing her perfectly construct the square without errors shows she’s an amazing junior.
With that, a setup was formed where the top student and the second-place student faced each other, making magic squares orbit above their palms.
“Let’s get it evaluated. Fairly.”
It was Christa who broke the magic square first.
Jeung (蒸, steam), a hazy mist of steam rose like droplets, scattered like cherry blossoms, then Seo (逝, pass away), it spread in all directions as if unfurling a pure white curtain, and suddenly vanished.
Rain also broke the magic square and manifested the ability… but something was different. Something indescribable.
“Miss Warden’s was somehow more…”
“A lingering impression, perhaps? That was stronger, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah…”
As the classmates whispered, Cassena wore an unconvinced expression.
“What?! It’s the same magic square and the same runes, so what’s the difference?”
On the other hand, Gertrude, invigorated by Christa’s victory, let out a “Hmph” and a haughty smile.
“That, you see, can be attributed to the difference in how the mathematical formulas are solved.”
“How the mathematical formulas are solved?!”
“A single math problem can be solved with a simple formula like a linear equation, but it can be solved much more simply with advanced formulas such as differential\/integral calculus or cubic functions.”
“…?”
“What does this mean? Depending on which formula is used to solve it, the visual outcome of the magic shows what seems like a slight difference, but is actually a significant one.”
For example, Sir Rain just used ‘Fresen’s matrix multiplication’ for the core solution of the magic square, whereas Miss Christa used ‘general matrix.’
“‘General matrix’ is several times more basic than ‘Fresen’s matrix multiplication,’ so the formulas that need to be used are also longer and more numerous.”
“Th-that I know!”
“This applies directly to magic, making the scattered steam spread wider and longer. That’s the difference it causes.”
Ugh, I don’t know what you’re talking about…
Unlike Cassena, who was biting her nails, completely unable to understand, something dazzling flashed through Rain’s mind, and his eyes opened wide.
“Aha, so that’s where the difference comes from…”
This could be much more disadvantageous than expected. Rin and Christa’s eras of living were too different.
‘Because I always had to face practical combat, I only haphazardly mastered advanced formulas that could solve problems several times faster than basic ones…’
I had been educated that way from the very beginning of my magic training. Northerners always emphasize the practicality of magic.
“I know it all. Which mathematical formula to use to change the visual effect of magic… whether it disappears faster or disappears slower.”
“…!”
“Rain, you might have a higher understanding of runes than I do, but in this, I will never lose. Because I’ve built a lifetime of experience solely on this.”
Christa then glared alternately at Cassena and Nora as if displeased, then lightly tossed her head and turned away.
“So this time, keep in mind the rule of ‘boys and girls don’t sit together after seven’ and come to the exam properly prepared. It’s not a test where unexpected variables like in the preliminaries will work.”
As Christa left like that, Rain’s feelings became even more complicated.
Nothing is easy, huh…
Then Nora smiled brightly and looked back at Rain.
“Hehe★ You seem to be quite cornered, would you like me to introduce you to someone who might help?”
“Who?”
“Caden.”
“Caden?”
“Why, that guy who advanced to the decisive match with Your Highness, you know♪ A late-stage disciple of the Harimoon school.”