Chapter 282
Chapter 282
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: Eden (1)
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"Lady Maronie, how about researching magic with me once?"
"Lady Maronie. Let's study the ancient Brittany Magic Tower spells together."
"Lady Maronie, why not try using your authority in combat?"
"Lady Maronie's spirit arts have potential! The Yoshino Family would be happy to—"
"Lady Maronie—"
There were so many.
In the third trial of the preliminary round, the mentors participating also had a chance to expand their young networks, so their eyes were usually fixed on the national trees who only appeared at long intervals.
Becoming a mentor for a national tree added a prestigious career milestone that others admired.
Maronie sat on the nearby stairs, kneading her calves while holding a handful of recommendation letters.
"This is exhausting... Why is paper so heavy...?"
She lacked stamina. She desperately felt the need for exercise.
Maronie sighed as she examined her body.
'Lately, it feels like I've put on a bit of weight around my thighs.'
There were times when she dreaded stepping on the scale. It wasn't a huge gain, just a little. But for a female national tree, even that was fatal.
41kg.
Compared to 35kg when she had just earned her national tree title and endured training, it was a significant increase.
She was the face of France. Weight management and body maintenance were among the obvious duties.
'...Whatever.'
Exercise was too grueling.
Partly due to her innately weak stamina, but more than that, her body wasn't healthy.
It was better to hole up in a room and research magic.
"Now, which mentor should I choose?"
Maronie dangled her legs as she scanned the pile of recommendation letters.
The pages were filled denser than corporate job applications.
They politely explained how training and trials would proceed. Were these mentors or job applicants?
'Among these, I think they said to pick someone from France.'
Her government had suggested forming a mentor relationship with a French hunter if possible.
Choice was free, but no need to unnecessarily attract attention.
As she sifted through the letters with that in mind...
"Maronie, the participant?"
"Yes?"
She set down the recommendation letters at the woman's voice and stood up.
Seeing who was before her, Maronie immediately swallowed hard.
The Sage. She was standing right there.
"...Um, are you the Sage by any chance?"
"Oh? Yes, many people call me that."
She was so shocked she nearly choked on her breath.
The god of magic! A living fossil of the magic tower world! Mana would follow in her footsteps.
Any superlative fit this genius of our era standing before her.
"Why is the Sage in a place like this...?"
The Sage was rumored never to appear at the Forest Keeper preliminaries or world events.
When asked who the most mysterious hunter was, she always topped the list. A workaholic immersed in her research.
The Sage smiled brightly at Maronie's question.
"This time, I couldn't sit it out."
"Pardon? Why?"
"Hmm, maybe because of you, Maronie participant?"
She nearly fainted.
For real this time.
Maronie blinked rapidly, feeling her heart pound.
Her hair floated up above her head and bobbed.
"B-Because of me?"
"What do you think? It's not much, but would you like to learn from me?"
"R-Really? But I'm a national tree. My country has a spot picked out for me, so..."
"Hmm. There's also Lee Si-heon."
Lee Si-heon.
"What does that mean?"
Amid her pounding heart, the sudden name made her tilt her head.
Why did that name pop up?
"Nothing at all."
The Sage smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly for a moment.
"Think it over carefully, and if you're interested, come find me."
She lightly bowed to Maronie without pressure and vanished.
Maronie just placed a hand on her chest and blinked dazedly.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew, scattering the recommendation letters beside her.
"Ah! Nooooo..."
Fortunately, she cast a spell in time to freeze the flying papers and gathered them back into her arms one by one.
The Sage's tutelage. The dream of mages worldwide.
Even for a national tree like her, it was impossible to refuse outright.
As she collected the papers, Maronie fell into deep thought.
'...Lee Si-heon.'
Grip.
Her hand tightened on the paper, wrinkles spreading across it.
'I-It'll be fine, right?'
Even if they took the same class, it would just be coincidence.
*****
I heard the Sage was among the mentors.
The rumor spread instantly, reaching every participant in less than a day.
While everyone pondered their recommendation letters in restaurants, cafes, or bars, her mentees—us—were already gathered elsewhere, exchanging greetings.
Maronie and Cornus.
Plus me, making three mentees and one mentor.
"Hello? You're Cornus, right?"
"Yeah."
Cornus nodded curtly at Maronie's greeting.
In the awkward atmosphere, Maronie kept glancing at me, while Cornus stared straight at Maronie.
Having just the two of them use formal speech felt too stiff, so I stepped in.
"Just speak casually. You're the same age anyway."
"Sh-Should we?"
"I like that."
Despite the noble talk, my name value had risen lately.
I'd been feeling treated like any other wood person recently.
When I first arrived, the looks were just dismissive human glances. But after the buzz, it felt like I'd become nobility.
"You look like a cat."
"...Huh?"
Maronie stiffened at Cornus's words.
More directly than expected, Cornus stroked Maronie's hair. It really felt good.
Touching it was so fluffy and pleasant.
"So poofy. Like tteokbokki."
"Tteok...? What's tteokbokki? Wait, what?"
"My favorite food. Siheon can make it."
"I-I see. I'd love to try it sometime."
Maronie's attitude toward Cornus was like speaking to a noble lady, but the tteokbokki mention ruined the mood.
"You two are from the same academy, right? How'd you get close?"
"Somehow? We met in the training room, talked, and hit it off."
"I see..."
It didn't take long for Maronie and Cornus to warm up.
After ordering food and sharing bites, conversation flowed easily, soon turning to magic and swordsmanship.
Unlike friends from El Academy, their similar backgrounds made talk click.
Munch.
I set down my half-eaten bread and looked at the Sage.
This person had been quietly enjoying our chat without mentioning the trials. What was her deal?
No clues on age or personality.
"Excuse me, Sage."
"Yes?"
"I have a question. You're a mage, right?"
"Of course."
As the Sage answered, Cornus asked,
"Um, I only know basic magic."
"That's fine, Cornus participant. I'm not really planning to teach magic."
"Huh?!"
"Of course, if you want to learn, I'll teach you anytime. So don't be too surprised, Blanche."
"Th-That name is a bit..."
"Then what are you going to teach?"
The Sage immediately smiled at me.
"How the world works, perhaps?"
How the world works?
Addressing me specifically stirred suspicion again.
People in this world sometimes knew more about me than I did.
Even Bead, whom I met recently, knew all about my relationships.
Sun and Aori knew I was the Wood Spirit King. They knew best about it.
The World Tree of Time knew I'd come to this world, and Flower and the World Trees were preparing for the Wood Spirit King's descendant.
It was amusing.
This wasn't The Truman Show, yet I knew nothing while others saw right through me.
Not common, but it happened sometimes.
Shrewd corporations or politicians hit prophetic accuracies. I'd witnessed it.
With such superhumans existing, it would be weirder if the world's wisest Sage didn't know me.
'Even Maronie can read minds.'
Not to mention prophecy or fate powers.
Meanwhile, I could only rely on physical prowess. I had to outthink politicians purely with my brain.
Why else would Bead dismiss me?
If upper powers got serious, they'd crush me instantly.
I adjusted my thoughts and looked at the Sage. The woman with excessively pale skin gazed at me with beautiful eyes.
"I know what you're thinking."
The Sage's whisper in my ear.
"No hostility, so don't worry."
Maronie and Cornus tilted their heads at the out-of-nowhere words, but I couldn't smile.
Don't worry. Nothing scarier.
It meant she was so above me she could effortlessly read my mind.
"Ah, yes."
I casually replied and popped more bread in my mouth.
The slightly stale bread after time didn't sit well.
"Shall we start classes tomorrow?"
"That soon? Mentor selection ends in three days."
Maronie was surprised by the Sage's words.
Nothing odd. With mentors set, start teaching ASAP if much to cover.
The third trial tied deeply to the fourth.
The fourth was where growth from prior trials shone. Earlier classes benefited mentors.
"Lots to prepare. Probably in my lab."
"Your lab?! Really!?"
"What's that about?"
I asked the startled Maronie, who flailed her hands excitedly.
"You don't know? The Sage's lab! You're a mage. How don't you know!"
"Not everyone does. What's with the reaction..."
"Where all the world's magic converges. Eden!"
Eden?
First time seeing Maronie this excited.
"...No such name, but others call it that. Where I keep my magic and ancient spells from ancestors."
Magic.
Even hearing it repeatedly had a nice ring.
Fun manifesting the impossible with your hands.
Reason I entered as a mage.
Felling foes with magic flicks was less tiring, cleaner, and more fun than physical combat.
"First time seeing you this hyped."
"Wh-What! Can't help it. It's Eden! Eden, you know?"
"Got it."
Tomorrow, off to the beloved Eden.
Unclear what I'd learn, but one thing sure: smart folks rarely had pure hearts.
I thought as I watched the Sage.
For now, don't drop guard.
*****
The very next day.
One spell from the Sage sufficed to reach Eden's door.
No one knew the lab's location or coordinates, so only she could bring us.
I subtly spread mana to check, but coordinates were obscured.
Thus, we arrived at Eden.
Wondering what it'd be like, I peered from behind the Sage.
"Lee! Si! Heon!"
A long-haired little girl burst from a pile of books to greet us.
Her eyes truly gleamed like moonlight.
Shiba's size. Among kindergarteners, the tiniest, barely past toddling.
The Sage's daughter?
The girl tried standing, tripped, and pointed at me accusingly.
"The king has appeared—!"
The giggling girl shrieked.
In front of all four of us, I clamped my mouth shut, speechless.
"Tree king~!"
My identity hung on the brink of exposure.
