Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Reclusive Mage Leo (3)
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That evening.
The top floor of Erebos Royal Academy's main building.
A long table had been set with the dean's seat prepared.
"...So, how did it go."
Erebos Royal Academy Dean Cornelius asked Gray Tower Lead Professor Everett Ruttinger.
"He turned it down. Quite sharply, in fact."
Everett shrugged as he replied.
A few hours earlier, at the chapel on the western side of Erebos, Everett had proposed the position of Lead Professor at the Ivory Tower to Priest Leo.
A seat of honor that even criminals could only dream of.
Yet Priest Leo's response had been firm.
"He said he wasn't the kind of person worthy of it. Even after I pressed him a few more times, his answer didn't change."
"...I see."
Dean Cornelius nodded as if it were no big deal.
"So, that priest was the one who personally cast the highest-tier magic from the Ivory Tower?"
In truth, Everett had sought out Leo not just to recruit him as a lead professor, but first to gauge his skills.
"Well, about that."
Everett gave a wry smile as he answered.
"I'm not entirely sure myself."
"Not sure? You, Everett?"
"Yes. I tried to scan his body thoroughly when I offered the handshake, but I found nothing. His body was pristine, without a trace of mana."
"Doesn't that mean... the rumors going around lately are all fabricated?"
Cornelius's doubt was reasonable.
Everett Ruttinger was a giant poised to lead the continent's magical world—a genius endorsed by the Mage Guild as a chief mage. If even she couldn't detect a trace of mana, then this Priest Leo surely wasn't a mage.
But Everett shook her head.
"Not necessarily."
"Not necessarily?"
"A truly meticulous mage can perfectly control even their own mana. What you see might not be everything. Though, it's rare for someone so young to have reached that level."
"Hmmm..."
Cornelius let out a low hum.
"If someone of that caliber had been stationed in the academy's modest chapel, why hasn't he shown his talents until now? Reports say he's not even affiliated with the grand cathedral."
"That, I can explain for certain."
Everett smiled brightly as she spoke.
"You can tell just by looking at his face. He's got this intense weariness. The kind who avoids getting involved in anything that seems like a hassle. It's a common trait among mages who've reached a certain level. Most grand mages are reclusive hermits, aren't they?"
"...Heh."
"So, for now, there's no reason to win him over, and no way to put him in a key position at the academy."
The dean sighed deeply in disappointment at Everett's explanation.
"What a shame. We'll have to look to the Mage Guild to fill Gregor’s vacancy."
"Yeah, but they'll just send us more pieces of shit."
"Even pieces of shit have value that superiors must find."
"Out of the mouth of babes."
Everett gave a perfunctory reply and fiddled with her right hand.
During the handshake with Priest Leo moments ago, she had sensed another energy around his body—something distinct from the mana lingering nearby.
Holy power...
Faint, but unmistakable holy power was emanating from him.
It meant he either harbored holy power within his body or carried an artifact of equivalent sanctity.
What could this mean?
Combined with the testimony of him unleashing the highest-tier flame magic from the Ivory Tower.
Everett had confirmed the holy power surrounding Leo's body.
This could only mean...
An all-rounder, perhaps.
If that was the truth, then a peerless genius was living in seclusion.
But why?
She had no idea.
No idea, but...
"In any case, considering the major contributions he made in this incident, that priest is at least an ally of the academy. Best not to provoke him for now."
"...Everett, this is the first time I've seen you defend someone so staunchly."
"Well, I can't help how it comes across..."
Everett gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows behind the dean's seat at the academy's sprawling grounds as she spoke.
"If I were the shadowy group that attacked Erebos, I'd want to eliminate that priest by any means necessary."
"...Ho. So he's like a shield of sorts."
"Don't put it like that—you make me sound like a villain."
Everett shrugged.
One thing was clear: I was squarely on their radar now.
"Lead professor? What the hell kind of lead professor?"
Coming up to someone who didn't even know the first thing about magic and offering them a professorship in the magic department?
There were limits to skipping steps.
"Am I crazy enough to accept that?"
I'm not dumb enough to chase a position without the skills to back it up.
High seats come with equally heavy responsibilities.
Besides, taking a key role in an academy that's about to go to hell in a handbasket would be pointless.
In the end, I refused flat out. I know nothing about magic, I'm just a lowly priest, the rumors are fake—yada yada.
- 'I see. Understood. Looking forward to our next meeting, then.'
Yet Gray Tower Lead Professor Everett left with those cryptic words.
She didn't look like she'd lost interest in me at all.
If anything, her expression suggested her curiosity had only grown.
"...I wish they'd all just lose interest."
This one and that one.
Even the princess.
Why were they all so obsessed with me?
"Haa..."
Lost in thought, afternoon rolled around.
I finished cleaning the chapel courtyard early.
I scarfed down a bread stuffed with meat and slathered in sheep's milk cheese for lunch.
Just as I was about to savor this rare afternoon of peace...
"Master."
"Hah..."
An uninvited guest arrived.
It was Sophia.
Apparently, there had been an awards ceremony today—she had her hair neatly tied up, and even her cadet uniform, usually worn with a few buttons undone in a slovenly manner, was impeccably dressed.
"...Sister, what brings you here today?"
I forced a smile and asked.
"I have time today."
"...Hm?"
But Sophia wasn't here for confession or to brag about her award.
Her green eyes brimmed with anticipation.
As I put on a puzzled expression, Sophia hesitated before cautiously speaking up.
"...Master, that promise from last time... Did you forget?"
A promise?
I racked my brain.
One thing came to mind.
- 'Miss Sophia, once this incident is over, let's finish that outing we started.'
- 'Yes. I'll praise you as many times as you want.'
"Ah."
I suddenly recalled the promise I'd made to Sophia during the Predator incident.
"...Ugh."
Meanwhile, as I fell silent, Sophia's shoulders began to tremble faintly.
Her eyes welled up as if a single poke would make her burst into tears.
This was dangerous.
I shot up from my chair in a panic.
"O-Of course I remember! The outing we missed! Praise! Lots and lots!"
"Yay!"
Only then did Sophia's face light up.
"...Sh-Shall we go?"
"Yes! Sounds great!"
"..."
I'd hoped for a bit of rest.
Sophia's outing.
Round two.
Helena, a maid at Ophelia Hall, had lately found more opportunities to put her special skill to use.
To put it simply: tailing.
"...That thug's out playing with another girl from the knight department."
The recent changes in Lady Elise all stemmed from that man. There was no room for debate.
Thus, Helena continued tailing him, gathering every dark detail about him to present to her lady.
If Lady sees the evidence herself, she'll finally let go.
And today, she had captured decisive proof.
Not content with stealing her lady's heart, now he was out on a daytime date with the academy troublemaker—the traitor's daughter.
What more perfect evidence could there be?
The priest was even using the donation from her lady to buy snacks for another girl.
"...The shameless scum."
Helena felt her stomach churn just watching.
That was when it happened.
"...Hm?"
She suddenly sensed a strange incongruity.
There was another presence besides her own.
Helena instinctively hid and used her signature stealth to completely erase her presence.
Someone's there.
Unmistakably the presence of a tail.
But it was so clumsy.
Helena climbed a tree and focused all her senses.
...Over there.
On the rooftop of a building across the way. A small figure cloaked in a magic department robe was watching the two through binoculars.
Black hair, twintails braided down, skin so pale it was ghostly, a diminutive frame.
"And who the heck is that?"
Helena didn't know who she was.
But one thing was certain: that magic department cadet was straight-up stalking.
The stalking target was the blond, tanned thug strolling the streets arm-in-arm with the crimson-haired cadet.
"...Unbelievable."
Her lady, a saintess candidate.
The rabid dog from the knight department.
And now a creepy girl from the magic department.
What did they see in a priest who looked like a common thug?
"Just how many women does that guy have?"
Helena felt dizzy and nearly fell from the tree.