Chapter 91
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Honored Guests
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“Akail. This is your final warning. If you cause any trouble in the VIP seats, I won't hold back. This is your last chance.”
“Got it. I'm not crazy enough to mess with the high-ranking mages. Even an Archmage Duke would have my head in an instant, so why bother.”
Asher warned him with a very angry expression after receiving the report that Akail had messed with a cadet named Ian.
Causing an incident at the imperial palace was one thing, but stirring up trouble at Merhen Academy was on another level entirely.
Right now, the Archmage Duke families were deeply involved in Merhen.
Messing with any other mage might be overlooked, but touching an Archmage Duke or someone of equal standing...
That could force the imperial family to suffer massive losses.
“Halba. Who's attending as the major VIPs this time?”
Asher sighed and changed the subject.
The opening ceremony had ended, and Asher and Akail were heading to watch the subjugation battle.
A separate lounge had been prepared for the VIPs to observe.
Since the subjugation battle lasted 24 hours, they'd set up amenities for the long viewing session.
“From the Mage Guilds, guild masters from eleven guilds including the master of are here. The Magic Tower sent their deputy tower lord, and a few from the Archmage Duke families showed up, but no big shots. Probably because professors from the Archmage Duke families are already at Merhen.”
“It'd take a bigger incident to get one of those esteemed Archmage Dukes to move personally.”
“Yes, but... one of them did come.”
Asher raised an eyebrow at Halba's cautious words.
“An Archmage Duke?”
“Yes, the Illimost Archmage Duke... is here.”
Illimost Archmage Duke.
The most peculiar woman among the eight Archmage Dukes.
The Illimost family was questionable even as a 'family.'
But she clearly held the seat of an Archmage Duke, so Illimost reigned as one of the eight great Archmage Duke houses.
“Illimost? That lady doesn't give a damn about worldly affairs more than most Archmage Dukes, doesn't she?”
Even the wastrel Akail reacted with surprise.
It was shocking enough that an Archmage Duke had shown up as a VIP.
But the only one to attend was Illimost Archmage Duke.
“They say it was a sudden decision. And among the new professors this time, the Illimost family has the most hires. Though it's iffy to even call them from that family...”
“Hm... the Archmage Dukes are definitely up to something.”
Ever since the Silent Dragon appeared, the Archmage Duke families had been acting strangely.
Asher had been keeping that in mind, so he wasn't as surprised as he might have been.
“That lady isn't trying to snatch one of the kids, is she? Ugh, shit.”
“Akail. Mind your language.”
“Fine. I won't say a word once we're inside.”
Asher gave Akail another warning, but he harbored similar suspicions.
The reason the Illimost Archmage Duke house was so unusual was that it wasn't really a 'family' at all.
At least the other Archmage Dukes had married and raised children to form a family structure.
But Illimost Archmage Duke hadn't even married.
The Rimgoft Archmage Duke, who raised only the strongest direct heir, at least had family.
Illimost had no family at all—just herself.
It was hard to call that a house to begin with.
Instead—though that was putting it mildly—the Illimost house consisted of those who followed her.
Of course, an Archmage Duke house transcended a mere family; it was akin to a nation.
If that was the case, she could have just made her own independent organization like the Magic Tower lord.
Illimost was full of mysteries in many ways.
A moment later, the three arrived at the lounge entrance.
A luxurious lounge broadcasting the subjugation battle's status on massive screens.
It was practically a grand banquet hall.
Inside, the VIPs were mingling socially.
But unlike an imperial banquet,
this was a gathering of mages, so the atmosphere was a bit more subdued and academic.
Especially since so many high-ranking figures from mage society had shown up unusually this time.
“Let's go in. Akail, one more time...”
“I got it. Don't worry.”
Asher warned Akail once more,
and the banquet hall doors opened.
The two princes stepped into the mages' den.
-......
The lounge fell silent the moment they entered.
The VIPs stared straight at the princes with haughty poise, not even glancing sideways—like they were openly looking down on them.
'Mages get more insufferable the stronger they get.'
Akail thought to himself.
He wasn't enough of a wastrel to screw up in a situation like this.
“It's been a while, Your Highness the Crown Prince. And the Second Prince is here too.”
A woman approached the two princes first.
Rekini, guild master of the Mage Guild .
Mage Guilds generally had good relations with the imperial family.
Their guild structure kept them more connected to general society.
“It's been a while, Master.”
“How fares His Majesty?”
“As healthy as ever.”
Starting with Rekini, Asher exchanged greetings with the VIPs.
Akail ignored the phony smiles and wandered into the lounge alone.
For someone like him, who held no political importance, it was just boring.
Asher signaled Halba, who followed to keep an eye on Akail.
“Let's see how good that guy really is.”
Akail plopped down on a sofa with a good view of the screens.
The subjugation battle hadn't sent the cadets to the field yet.
They were broadcasting the basic rules again.
Once that finished, the subjugation festival would begin in earnest.
“I hear this graduating class has a direct heir from Whitepost.”
“Rimgoft's in second year, and first year too— even without direct heirs, there are some cadets worth watching.”
Next to him, people who looked like guild members were chatting.
They seemed to be guild scouts, reporting to their guild masters while neatly reviewing charts.
The subjugation festival was the biggest event of the first semester.
Guilds wanted to mark promising talents early.
After all, guilds were one of the most common paths for academy graduates.
There were cadets aiming for the Magic Tower too, but
it required higher skills.
That was why the deputy tower lord was watching the battle so leisurely.
Of course, the Magic Tower coveted talent too. Their standards were just higher.
If someone met those standards, even the deputy tower lord would act.
“For first years, that team's the one, right?”
“Perryhill and a collateral branch kid. And Isaac? A commoner?”
“A commoner in A-Class?”
And then the scouts started talking about the first years.
Naturally, Ian's all-first-year team drew the most attention.
“Worth keeping an eye on.”
“Skills look solid? Written exam's score is weird for some reason, though...”
The scouts interested in Ian.
Akail listened silently, then smirked.
He cleared his throat and raised his voice.
“Scouts these days have no eye for talent. What skills could that commoner have? You can tell he'll drop out right away just looking at him.”
“Ahem. Ahem.”
“Khm.”
The scouts coughed awkwardly.
Rumors of Akail's wastrel antics were well-known even in the guilds.
A mere scout couldn't challenge a prince who wasn't even a guild master.
No matter how offensive his words.
But a guild master could engage him.
Especially one from the crown prince's faction who resented the wastrel prince.
They'd naturally bite at his bait.
“It seems Your Highness the Second Prince thinks those kids lack skill?”
Rekini from , having finished talking with Asher, approached Akail.
Akail and Rekini didn't care much for each other.
Akail snorted at her arrival.
“You'd better step it up. The mage guilds seem to be declining by the day.”
“Our scouts are doing their best. Surprising, though. That team stood out most to me among the first years. Honestly, I thought they'd take first-year top score.”
“Hahaha! That commoner? I've already bet they won't get top score.”
Akail laughed exaggeratedly loud.
Draw ing eyes from around the room.
But it wasn't enough.
Most VIPs were focused on the third years.
To draw more attention to mere first years, he needed to stir more chaos.
“Guild master seems confident. Maybe we should open a bet. Gotta have some fun.”
'Bet.' Merhen Academy usually allowed VIPs to bet on subjugation festival winners.
Like sports gambling.
Not something an educational institution should do, but common among nobles.
It gained legitimacy by donating part of the proceeds to academy operations, so the academy encouraged it, and VIPs enjoyed it.
“The condition is that team fails to get first-year top score. Lightly put down 100,000 gel. Could go higher if the pot grows.”
Akail opened the bet.
Suddenly, more VIP eyes turned their way.
First-year top score prizes usually got little attention.
“...This could be fun. Can't pass it up. Our guild will bet too.”
Rekini joined with the same amount.
Other intrigued guilds chipped in small amounts.
The pot grew.
Akail didn't miss the chance, doubling his bet.
“...Isn't that too much money?”
“Gotta bet big when the pot's growing. That's how you win big. What, guild master scared?”
“Hm...”
Rekini hesitated, then matched it.
“Then I'll raise too. Things are getting interesting.”
The lounge buzzed as the pot swelled.
Strange to bet so much on a mere first-year team.
Just then, cadet deployment began.
The main subjugation battle kicked off.
“Heh. They dropped into the volcanic field. First years surviving there?”
“......”
Akail laughed first at the start.
Those who'd bet on Ian's team for top first-year score stiffened.
Ian's team was the strongest first-year contender overall.
With money piling up, most bet on them—but a volcanic field start changed everything.
“It's not over yet.”
Rekini forced calm.
But inwardly, she cursed her mistake.
Falling for a wastrel's provocation and betting big on a trivial issue.
They could've waited until the battle progressed properly.
But the mood flipped again right away.
“Flying? First years?”
“...On a broom?”
“Carrying three and controlling output that well? How is a first year even flying that ridiculous thing...?”
Ian took off on his broom.
His team escaped the volcanic field in a flash mid-flight.
The crowd cheered louder at first years flying—on a broom of all things.
Attention surged, more bets poured into Ian's team for first-year top score.
The pot soared past a million gel on that absurd flight alone.
“Even I didn't expect that. This commoner cadet Ian has impressive skills. Makes me wonder who his master is.”
“...Ridiculous flight.”
Akail played it cool.
But moments later, another reversal.
“Oho? Another team brought a flying mount?”
“Second years attacking first years?”
“Wait, if they get eliminated by second years there, my money's...!”
A clash with second years mid-flight.
No matter how talented, first years couldn't match second years—that was common sense.
Tension spiked; bettors clenched fists.
Eyes gathered, pot grew.
Akail threw fuel on the fire.
Betting 200,000 gel more.
“They'll drop right now, huh?”
Akail grinned leisurely again.
Rekini stayed silent.
But,
-Ooooooh!-
Cheers erupted moments later.
Ian's team shot down the seniors instead.
Not purely raw skill, but great teamwork.
Not just Ian's flight—the other two were top-notch too.
The collateral cadet aptly used 4th-circle magic and mana stones.
Fireworks burst as they eliminated the second years; cheers rang out.
Even those ignoring the antics stood up.
“Deputy tower lord?”
“Magic Tower interested in first years?”
The Magic Tower's deputy tower lord, watching quietly from a corner, placed a huge bet on Ian's team.
500,000 gel—not huge for the Tower, but way too much for first years.
Lounge bets later served as appeals for cadet scouting.
Big winning bets granted priority contact, and cadets viewed it favorably.
The deputy lord's intent was clear.
More than just winning money.
“The pot's getting fun now.”
Akail laughed instead.
At the center of the focused attention, he watched.
Ian's team safely reached the forest field,
and as they racked up points, an incident occurred.
The second-year cadet drawing the most attention alongside student council president Harisha Whitepost.
Karindol Rimgoft's team encountered Ian's.
And then, someone bet a million gel on Ian's team.
Not enough—they added another million, raising the stakes.
It came from one who'd shown no interest until now.
Watching silently from the lounge's upper level, reserved solely for her.
A being far beyond these VIPs.
The greatest woman in the room descended and joined the gamble on Ian's team.
“We see you, Your Grace the Archmage Duke.”
-We see you, Your Grace the Archmage Duke!!
All mages knelt and bowed in unison at her appearance.
Illimost Archmage Duke. She ignored their obeisance entirely.
She simply focused intently on Ian's team on the screen, looking intrigued.
And right after Illimost Archmage Duke descended,
on the screen showing Ian's team facing Rimgoft,
something astonishing began to unfold.
