Chapter 155
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Chapter 155
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: But You Did Everything with Chayuri
Honestly, this feels like it warrants a ban.
Author: SubsidyRiceEater
FlameFanatic, wasn't this too direct of an assist to Mammathong this time?
At this point, it's basically breaking the peace treaty (enraged researcher vibes).
All the heroines should be competing under the exact same conditions.
Us chatting about it among ourselves in the gallery? Fine.
But straight-up assisting Mammathong like this?! Where's that even at?!
Then when I crossed dimensions, Red got her assist too!!!! (researcher yeets a flask)
Jootak, ban FlameFanatic! Ban him!
Lol yeah, Red's cut.
Peace treaty? Where lolol
For real, why only push Mammathong? This kinda intervention ain't right.
Then I would've jumped in way earlier.
The Top Student secretly hogging it all alone without anyone knowing? That's where it's at!!
No, the Top Student pulled that off herself. No one helped her.
I agree. Top Student handled hers solo. But this Mammathong thing? FlameFanatic puppeteered Kim Muggle to make the chance. Pretty unfair.
No, I was just helping out Kim Muggle;;
The result gave Mammathong a shot, but that wasn't the plan... (wronged FlameFanatic vibes)
Exactly lol Kim Muggle begged for help first, so what's the problem?
Now it's Mammathong's time.
But tbh, Mammathong made her own opportunity too.
Mammathong saw Top Student and Kim Muggle vanish and asked first.
Strictly speaking, Mammathong leveled up her own points.
Whatever, is the Mammathong banging scene finally dropping?!
The summer sun's scorching rays had passed their peak.
On a day when the cicadas burned through their final chorus and the sky was dyed a deep blue.
About a week before the end of vacation. The day had finally arrived for my promised date alone with Hisenna.
"Hmm. Hot."
I lingered near the women's dormitory, wiping the sweat trickling down my cheek.
I wasn't sure if the sweat was entirely from the heat.
For some reason, I felt a bit tense.
I'd been waiting since morning to go out with Hisenna.
It was early morning, when most cadets were still asleep.
We were leaving the academy this early to avoid being spotted by anyone.
It wasn't anything shady.
But if Elrim or Chayuri caught me, we'd end up going out as a group again for sure.
Today was supposed to be just me and Hisenna.
I honestly had no idea how it had come to this.
I'd just followed FlameFanatic's advice from before, and before I knew it, here we were.
"Ian~"
Moments later, Hisenna emerged from the women's dormitory.
The sight of her trotting over with light steps left me dumbfounded on the spot.
"Cough... Hisenna?"
"D-Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Nah, I just got here. But..."
Hisenna crossed her arms, her gaze darting away oddly.
She was twisting her body bashfully, as if embarrassed.
And for good reason. Her outfit was drastically different from her usual style.
"Th-The weather's so hot, so I tried dressing light and cool."
This was devastating firepower.
Exposure levels rivaling Chayuri's, right up to her chin.
"D-Do I look weird...?"
"N-No? It suits you great."
"Really? Hehe..."
I wasn't lying—it really did suit her.
There was some skin showing, but not overly so like Chayuri's.
It was a pure, innocent look that perfectly matched Hisenna's image.
"Shall we go then?"
"Y-Yeah. Let's."
Hisenna and I headed out of the academy to catch a carriage.
The academy's morning was serene and still.
"I had no idea a place like this existed."
"Our family home is nearby, so I used to visit often as a kid. I like the vibe here too."
The spot Hisenna suggested for our outing was unexpected.
A town called Hysterical, reachable by carriage from the academy in about two hours.
"Hysterical is said to be the birthplace of magic. Legend has it the first mage settled here long ago."
"It's got a mystical feel to it."
"They've found ruins and ancient texts nearby in the past. It's a normal village now, but because of its history, there are lots of shops selling magic-related artifacts."
Hisenna said she enjoyed browsing the shops in Hysterical.
Lots of magic history books and antiques, apparently.
It looked ordinary at a glance,
but adventurers and magic practitioners stopped by occasionally.
"I wanted to come here with you, Ian. Is it too boring?"
"Nah, sounds fun to me."
Magic history piqued my interest too.
It was one theory among many, but this place might really be magic's origin.
In a world where archmage dukes were the pinnacle mages,
learning how magic history was recorded here seemed worthwhile.
From the gallery folks' chats, human magic history in this dimension felt off somehow.
"We'll poke around Hysterical a bit, then head to the nearby city. Lots of summer fun there."
"Sounds good."
Sightsee the historic rural village, then hit the city for more action.
Not a bad plan.
Hisenna and I ducked into a bookstore first.
While browsing ancient tomes, I pulled out a worn book.
The Legend of the First Mage.
The cover showed signs of multiple repairs, like it'd passed through many hands.
"Oh? Ian, gonna read that one?"
"Yeah, caught my eye. Come to think of it, didn't you mention the first mage before?"
I recalled Hisenna, Elrim, and Chayuri talking about the 'first mage'.
"Right. Elrim and Chayuri treated me like an idiot for it though..."
"Elrim and Chayuri said the first mage is just a legend, not a real person. Something like that. But you believe he existed?"
"Not exactly the first mage, but I do believe there's a grand mage from an even earlier era—on par with or surpassing the archmage dukes and tower lords."
In this world, 9th-circle peak like archmage dukes and tower lords were the accepted top tier.
No mages beyond that had ever appeared, after all.
Of course, I knew that was manipulated history by the archmage dukes.
This book suggested some traces lingered.
Even in this falsified history, Hisenna had once said there might be greater mages out there, like in the legend of the first mage.
Chayuri and Elrim dismissed it as myth.
Elrim might've changed her tune after seeing SubsidyRiceEater during the subjugation festival, though.
Either way, pre-archmage era grand mages were treated as fairy tales here.
I knew Hisenna was onto something.
The gallery hinted at a GoNick-level mage called 'that guy' in this dimension.
Archmage dukes sought the 'reincarnation of the great mage,'
and the tower lord mentioned a 'master.'
Whatever the truth, there were GoNick-tier mages behind the tampered history.
Assuming the tower lord was honest,
it meant the archmage dukes killed their master and rewrote history.
Even if not, 'that guy' existed for sure.
Something big went down, no doubt.
But that raised a question.
For whatever reason—archmage conspiracy or not—the history of 'great mages' had vanished.
At best, dismissed as fanciful legend.
So why did Hisenna so firmly believe in mages beyond archmage dukes?
"Why do you believe that, Hisenna? Everyone thinks no mage tops archmage dukes or tower lords, right?"
"Sure, that's the orthodoxy. No one's ever shown up stronger, either. But..."
Hisenna fell silent for a moment.
Her expression was like she was reminiscing fondly.
"Truth is, I saw one myself. Greater than any archmage duke. A truly incredible mage."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. No one believed me, of course."
FlapFlap maybe? Nah, didn't seem like it.
"A bit younger than now, I got lost once. Fell into this mystical space. Met him there. Could've been a hallucination... but it felt real."
"Whoa."
"My maid said I must've eaten hallucinogenic mushrooms or something. The family scolded me for wandering off alone. But I believe no illusion could replicate magic that grand."
"I see."
"Hehe... silly, right? Clinging to faith in some childhood vision. Got chewed out hard by the family. Direct descendant of the great archmage house, claiming a mage greater than the family head exists. Been watching my mouth ever since."
She'd mentioned before meeting a great beast tamer who handled beasts kindly.
That was the same mage, apparently.
An archmage house direct couldn't say that lightly.
She'd clearly kept it hidden all this time.
"Nah. I buy it."
"Really?"
"Totally. I think there's magic beyond 9th circle too."
"Th-Then, Ian..."
Hisenna hesitated, then asked.
"Are you... a disciple of the 'First Mage'?"
"Huh?"
Her question left me blank for a second.
So, she thought I was a disciple of that great mage she'd seen as a kid?
"Your magic skills are insane, Ian. Even a direct archmage house heir couldn't grow this fast. So maybe you have an even greater master? Been thinking that since we met."
"Ah..."
That was her take.
Explained why she accepted my skills so readily.
Technically true—I learned from gallery folks.
But my rapid growth was partly my talent too.
They'd called my pace ridiculous.
Couldn't reveal the gallery, so I fibbed a bit.
"Nah, not that. Guess I just gotta say I'm that good."
"Oh... Okay. Thanks for listening to my dumb story."
"Don't call it dumb. I think it's plenty plausible."
"Hehe. Thanks."
Hisenna brightened up instantly.
We wandered Hysterical a bit more, then left the village.
"Whew, that was fun. This place has tons of attractions."
"Right? I always come here when visiting home."
The sun was starting to set.
I'd had a blast in the city near Hysterical with Hisenna.
This city was close to Perryhill Archmage Duke Castle.
Packed with entertainment, thanks to its proximity to the castle boosting development.
"Guess we should head back? Need to catch a carriage now to reach the academy without it being too late."
Regrettable, but time to go.
Four hours by carriage back to the academy.
Leave now for a timely arrival.
"Mmm... Yeah? But, um..."
"What's up?"
Hisenna showed no sign of getting up from the cafe.
Did she want to do more?
She was fidgeting, and with today's revealing outfit, the visual impact was intense.
"Um... Wanna hang out more and crash here? Lots of nice hotels."
"That okay? Vacation's not over, so no biggie, but..."
"I wanna. Feels like homecoming, makes me crave more fun."
"Alright then."
She hadn't gone home at vacation start?
No reason to rush back, so I agreed.
We enjoyed the night city too.
Lights aglow, it had a whole different charm.
Late now—time to book a room.
We headed to a swanky hotel Hisenna recommended.
"Two rooms, right?"
"..."
At check-in, Hisenna went quiet.
She'd been subdued earlier; now she looked dissatisfied.
Then she pouted and spoke.
"O-One room's fine too..."
"One? You sure? Won't it be cramped?"
Zzap—
And for some reason, Hisenna glared at me.
Her Frost Tiger instincts kicking in? Her stare made me shiver.
"With Chayuri... you did... everything..."
"...What'd you say?"
"You did everything with Chayuri...!"
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