Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Transcendent's Preparation (6)
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"Do you remember me?"
Purple eyes stared back at him. For some reason, looking into them brought her little sister to mind. Ellis Bireta. Her hair had been a light lavender.
...
That wasn't the point.
She wasn't pressing for an answer, but her face held a faint glimmer of expectation.
"Yeah, I remember you."
"You didn't recognize me right away, did you?"
Of course he hadn't.
"I never imagined you'd be sitting in the front row."
And besides, who'd have thought she'd grown this much in just three or four years?
Sure, kids that age shot up fast, but she'd matured into someone almost unrecognizable.
"Are you still using the artifact I gave you?"
"Oh, the artifact? Why do you ask?"
"No reason... just..."
There wasn't any particular motive. He'd only asked because she smelled faintly of florin.
"As long as you're still using it...?"
The unexpected response caught him off guard.
"Guess it hasn't broken. The circuits must be holding up well."
"...Ah."
Elin clutched the book in her arms tighter as she spoke.
"Seems like it. If it's still working after all this time... don't you think it could go on the market? Women would love it."
"Hmm... I'll think about it."
In truth, he'd already made several similar items at home.
Among them, the healing therapy artifact he'd given Elin seemed especially appealing to noble young ladies.
But practically speaking, there were hurdles.
The cost was too high for ordinary folk without mana, and he lacked the manpower to target just a niche class.
He glanced at Professor Palrez. Normally, the man would have jumped at such a suggestion with sparkling eyes, but surprisingly, he stood there expressionless.
...
He'd have to talk to him about it later.
"So... how's your little sister doing?"
The conversation quickly shifted to her sibling.
To be honest, things had always felt a bit awkward with Elin, and back then, it was her sister he'd chatted with more easily. Ellis had been outgoing and full of youthful charm, melting hearts in no time.
"She went straight to the Magic Tower."
"Ah."
Already at a Magic Tower at such a young age.
If she had no intention of inheriting the family, deciding her path early was wise.
The Academy was great for broad exposure and building foundations, drawing in plenty beyond just future family heads. But if you'd already found your calling, there was no need to detour.
"She joined the Yellow Magic Tower as an apprentice. Young as she is, she must have real talent."
"Yellow Magic Tower?"
The girl who'd once begged endlessly for a single spell demonstration had entered the Yellow Magic Tower.
The Yellow Magic Tower specialized in support magic over attack spells.
He wasn't arrogant enough to think he'd influenced her, but connections were strange like that.
'Come to think of it, they invited me to visit the Yellow Magic Tower once.'
The tower lord was named Rozef. They'd crossed paths at a banquet.
At one point, he'd felt a kinship since they researched similar fields.
Suddenly, Anonymous (1)'s words came to mind.
He'd said it was best to clearly sever ties from connections made before becoming a Transcendent. Holding on would only bring trouble.
He'd interpreted it as those pre-Transcendent bonds becoming weaknesses afterward, since a Transcendent could end them with a flick of the wrist.
But now, reflecting on it, there seemed to be a deeper meaning.
He'd live decades, no, at least a century barring some untimely end. Yet not everyone he'd crossed paths with would ascend to Transcendent and walk that time beside him.
Whether bitter enmities or fleeting encounters, in the end, only he'd face the outcomes alone as years passed.
He alone would bear it all.
A sentiment he couldn't yet fully grasp stirred within him.
Regret, lingering attachment, wistfulness—whatever it was, ensuring no such emotions lingered unresolved.
Maybe that's what Anonymous (1) meant by tying up karmic bonds.
"What are you thinking about?"
Elin's voice snapped him from his reverie.
"Huh? Nothing. Anyway, want to continue this somewhere else?"
Standing in the hallway, he could feel students' curious glances as they edged closer.
They headed to a private reception room in the Palrez research building.
"How are your grades? Doing well?"
"Top of the class."
Professor Palrez answered from the side.
Top of the class.
He'd thought she was sharp back then, but top?
This cohort's Oz, huh.
"She was already at the 3rd Circle when she enrolled."
Wow... A bit behind Oz, but considering her prestigious background, it was practically on par.
The Empire never ran short on prodigies.
Joart had mentioned Transcendents overflowing these days, causing issues—and it wasn't empty talk.
Not that Elin was a problem, but the sheer number of potential Transcendents.
She clearly had the talent to eye that threshold.
Assuming her growth didn't stall somewhere.
His genuine admiration drew a quick glance from Elin, who lifted the corner of her mouth.
But when their eyes met, it dropped sharply.
"It's only been a short while."
"Still impressive. What's your main magic?"
"Frost for me."
"Really?"
Just like him.
"But... you're only helping Professor today, right? Just for one day?"
...
Had she ever called him "big brother" before?
Puzzled inwardly, he replied.
"Today is the first and last."
"So, no coming back after this."
Probably not.
Palrez was retiring soon, and from what Rozellin had said while handing over to the chairman, she was in her senior year.
No reason or business to return.
"You used to visit our house sometimes. But after you left the graduate program, you never came by once..."
"Feeling neglected?"
"No. I was just worried something might have happened."
"You could've asked Professor Palrez; he'd have cleared it up."
"..."
He'd kept in touch with Lady Bireta even after leaving, so news of him shouldn't have been hard to come by.
"I... didn't think of that..."
Elin muttered, pursing her lips.
"So, no plans to build your own Magic Tower? ...Or take disciples?"
"Nope."
No such intentions.
Many took disciples upon hitting the 7th Circle as a limit, but that wasn't him.
If he ever settled within the Transcendent framework... who knows. For now, watching the hero took priority.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the reception room door.
Palrez rose first and opened it, revealing the chairman.
He'd expected the visit. After handing over the student with the assassination bug, he'd assumed an explanation on the aftermath.
Perfect timing, too—the catch-up with Elin was wrapping up.
"Let's meet again sometime."
"Sometime later?"
"Yeah. I want to visit Lady Bireta. That okay?"
"...Yes! Come anytime. I'll let her know."
After a brief farewell, Elin left, and the chairman smoothly took her place.
"Belated congratulations on reaching the 7th Circle."
"...You can speak casually."
Back in his Academy days, they'd exchanged passing greetings without such formality.
But the chairman smiled faintly and shook his head.
"Treating someone according to their station is only proper. I always do the same with alumni."
He said it like it was no big deal.
"I can't very well chat informally with the imperial chief mage, a long-time graduate, just because I'm chairman, can I? That's the idea."
Thinking about it, the Academy's history was ancient, with no shortage of Transcendents who'd passed through. Many held key posts across the Empire.
A misstep could harm his family, so perhaps it was the wisest course.
"That said, since you handled our matter, shouldn't the Academy offer some token of thanks?"
"No need."
"Still..."
"Really, it's fine. But I do want to know what happened."
The chairman gave a troubled smile before continuing.
"Rozellin... ah, the girl you helped then. Anyway, she's already a Sword Master—one of the Empire's top talents. We treat her casually as a student now, but post-graduation, things might change."
The chairman chuckled lightly in jest, but his smile soon soured.
"Rozellin has complicated circumstances. I can't explain it all, but similar incidents have happened multiple times."
"So, assassination attempts aren't new."
"We didn't want to ignore them. She just refuses help."
Why?
Confidence in her own strength?
Rozellin was a Sword Master. If it overwhelmed her, the Academy couldn't do much anyway.
...
Or perhaps she knew full well it was beyond them?
Rozellin had told Partan she'd lost both parents. She bore a grudge against Transcendents.
Partan died to Anonymous (3), but if he wasn't the end of it...
'Did Partan have his own faction?'
The questions lingered. If a separate Transcendent force knew of her, such crude attempts would be mere nuisances.
Partan had rampaged openly even after becoming a Transcendent, unconcerned.
Though maybe that was just his reckless personality.
"I thought a mage she'd seek help from had appeared, but she refused again. Seems she handled it elsewhere."
The chairman didn't know the details either, apparently.
"Not sure if it was truly resolved..."
He said worriedly.
She'd apparently found a powerful mage somewhere, yet attempts persisted—naturally concerning.
But that mage looked a lot like Cedric...
Was this "resolved" or not?
For now, Rozellin wouldn't seek Cedric until term's end.
That left a little time.
'Should I look into it beforehand?'
Knowing the full story would make deciding on Cedric easier.