Chapter 50

A Helper Dispatched from the Magic Tower

When he first received the news that flew in from the Grace Viscountcy to the Magic Tower, Arthur Higgins thought it was an opportunity.

Although he had failed once, Arthur hadn't completely given up yet.

If he only had the opportunity, he wanted to somehow draw the young lady named Noel Grace, whose topicality was maxed out, into the path of Illusion Magic.

If he was going to completely give up just because he was rejected a mere once, he wouldn't have majored in something like Illusion Magic in the first place.

Anyway, at the news that Noel Grace was seeking advice regarding magic to make gifts for state guests upon the Crown Prince's request, Arthur Higgins stepped forward with his sleeves rolled up.

"No, a major in Artifacts should naturally step forward for something like this, so why is Illusion Magic...?"

"I'm telling you to break that perception!"

It was a matter related to none other than the Crown Prince, and an issue related to preparing gifts for international diplomacy.

Other schools, including Artifacts, tried to put a spoon in, saying they should naturally take charge of something like this.

Arthur Higgins, who somehow managed to speak with one voice and succeeded in taking charge of it.

Rather than a feeling of having received a concession or anything like that, this had a stronger feeling that it actually turned out well because it was a frantically busy period for other schools as well.

With the new semester at the academy, dealing with honored guests, the Magic Tower is originally busy around this time.

Especially in a situation where they had to make various magical preparations in line with the state guests' visit, it was tiring to even digest the request that came from the Grace Viscountcy, so they decided to push for it since the Illusion Magic School said they would do it.

To speak bluntly, it means they dumped the workload on him.

As time passes, many schools will beat the ground and regret this day's decision, but that is a matter for the future, so let's move on for now.

Arthur Higgins, who was able to bring the task of handling Noel Grace's request to the Illusion School without much difficulty.

Rejoicing, he belatedly checks the details of what kind of request it is.

He had just swallowed it first without even knowing what it was at the two letters of the name Noel.

Now he leisurely checks the detailed contents of the request that came from the Grace family, and──.

"This is..."

Two games that have recently become a huge fad in the world.

It's stating the obvious, but Magic & Servant and The Game of Life had infiltrated even the Magic Tower.

That fun.

That addictiveness.

It was truly terrifying, and the wizards of the Magic Tower were at the point where rolling dice and playing a game to cool their heads before or after troublesome research or training became established as a daily routine.

What is there to hide?

Actually, Arthur Higgins is also a huge fan of Magic & Servant, he just doesn't show it openly to avoid hearing that he lacks dignity as a school head.

He also bought a ton of card packs to build the combo deck he envisioned.

The sad part is that because there aren't many people who would enjoy the game with him, the school head, he doesn't have the opportunity to brag about 'the finishing move combo I thought of'... but digressions aside.

Like that, having encroached even the Magic Tower and become a hot topic among wizards, there are those who try to enjoy the two games by adding their own personal tastes, fitting for wizards.

For example, grafting magic onto the board to make it somewhat more visually appealing, or making a magic tool that automatically calculates what turn it is and how much cost there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is when dueling.

However, even such wizards ultimately couldn't follow the ideas of the person who created the games.

Admiration flowed out naturally, and his hands were itching with a wizard's desire to try making it together.

However... at the same time, his instincts sounded an alarm.

You could also call it experience.

His senses, further trained from eating humble pie while leading a minor school for many years, shouted.

Saying that if he took one wrong step, a quagmire he couldn't escape from seemed like it would unfold right before his life's path, which didn't have much time left.

Even so, he didn't want to just give up either.

It was also a matter of state, and he still hadn't completely given up on recruiting Noel Grace to his school.

Arthur Higgins, who wanted to unconditionally pitch Illusion Magic to Noel while cooperating, but found it burdensome to do it personally.

He wanted to directly participate in Noel's idea of upgrading games by grafting magic, but after agonizing over it, he decided to just pass this exploration to his disciple for the sake of future scholars as well.

"Therefore, go, Flora. Go to the Grace Viscountcy and open Miss Noel's eyes to Illusion Magic."

Arthur saying he thinks it would be better in many ways for her to jump into this matter rather than him, who doesn't have many days left to live.

"Pardon? At your instruction, Master, I am currently researching the Fog Disease──."

Looking at him, his top disciple replied as if saying what kind of nonsense are you spouting when she's dying of busyness, but...

"Ah, did I? Then pass what you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were researching to someone else and go help with state affairs for a bit."

He was a master who indifferently cut off her words.

Arthur instructing without caring whether his top disciple Flora Kent glared with such eyes or not.

Who is there to blame.

She has no choice but to blame herself for choosing the path of a graduate student.

If she was displeased, she shouldn't have taken this path.

Tightly closing her eyes, Flora nodded her head.

"Exactly what... am I supposed to do?"

When Flora spoke in a voice where the emotion of resignation could be deeply felt, Arthur nodded his head as if he liked that she caught on quickly and explained.

"You've at least heard the rumors, right? The Crown Prince has instructed the Grace family──."

And as that explanation continued, Flora's expression turned pale.

Because she couldn't erase the thought that it was too undeserved a task for her to do.

To dispatch an inexperienced wizard like herself to such a major state affair, she was at the point of doubting what on earth was going on inside the head of Arthur Higgins, the school head.

If he was doing this half-heartedly, forgetting the frog's tadpole days so quickly just because the school's situation had improved a bit lately thanks to the Fog Disease research support, it was a disappointment.

At times like this, he, the school head, should step forward personally, produce results, and think of widely making known the excellence of the Illusion Magic School, yet to say he would send a disciple like her.

"No matter how I think about it, it seems like too heavy a task for me..."

Making a grim face, Flora strongly urged that now is the time for Arthur, the school head, to set an example.

"I will rather handle the miscellaneous tasks you have to do, Master, so wouldn't it be better for you to personally step forward for the request that came from the Grace family?"

Flora spoke with an earnest feeling, but naturally, it didn't work at all.

"No, no, this is a good opportunity. I was already thinking an experience like this is necessary for your growth, Flora, who will have to lead the school in the future."

Flora unable to erase the feeling that she was somehow being swept up, even though it wasn't a wrong statement.

But what could she do.

It wasn't something she could defy her master's instructions on, and since it was also a statement that stood to reason, despite feeling like she was being taken advantage of, Flora had no choice but to follow the instructions and prepare to go to the Grace Viscountcy.

Although she was a reluctant Flora at first, when she actually left the Magic Tower, her mood felt fresh.

"How long has it been since I went out. Has it been 3 years── no, 5 years?"

Flora is a typical wizard style who holes herself up in a back room and immerses herself in her research.

She also has a somewhat shy personality... simply put, she has a communication disorder temperament.

Because of that, she was all the more prone to holing herself up, but if she becomes the head of the Illusion Magic School succeeding Arthur in the future, she will have to go here and there as the representative of the school, which in a way is a fatal flaw.

Because if she wants to bring in budget and investment, she has to go around sweating her feet off like Arthur Higgins and amiably strike up conversations even with complete strangers.

Considering that, Arthur's words telling her to go thinking of it as doing a bit of a rehearsal taking this opportunity weren't wrong either.

Thinking what's good is good, Flora refreshed her mood and boarded the Magic Train heading to the Grace Viscountcy.

The symbol of the Magical Revolution.

The glory of the Artifacts School itself.

Sitting on such a Magic Train, she suddenly had such a thought.

Even thinking about it now, she wonders why she chose something like Illusion Magic when choosing a major school after graduating from the academy.

No, actually, she knows very well.

It was just an escape from reality.

In the first place, she had no intention of delving into magic to the extent of becoming the school head's top disciple and rising to the position of the next school head.

As long as you have the title of being from the Magic Tower, you don't have to worry about making a living wherever you go.

So she chose the minor school called Illusion Magic as the easiest way to enter and leave the Magic Tower.

If it had gone according to plan, she should have left the Magic Tower long ago, snagged some wealthy territorial noble, and lived comfortably playing the role of an affiliated wizard for their family...

"Haa... to think I'm the successor to the head of the Illusion Magic School..."

If it had been the era when Magic Towers were indiscriminately sprouting up before the integration and abolition of Magic Towers proceeded in the past, she would be becoming the Lord of a Magic Tower.

As a wizard, in a way, it could be said to be a tremendous honor.

No matter how minor a school it is, just the fact that it survived until now without disappearing means it has tolerable power.

It was true that becoming the head of such a school was an honor.

It is an incredible thing as a wizard walking the path of magic, but for Flora, who only thought of magic as a means to earn a living, it was ambiguous.

She was pointlessly talented in Illusion Magic, and because of that, she caught Arthur's eye, and when she came to her senses, she had no choice but to blame her fate of having become a top disciple.

Because she has a bit of a communication disorder and is weak to being pushed, she couldn't flatly refuse, and while going "Huh? U-Uh?", she even ended up becoming a successor.

In her heart, she wishes someone else, anyone, would please take the school head position.

Even in that sense, Arthur's instruction to pitch Illusion Magic to Noel Grace is something that aligns with her interests.

However, she was skeptical.

"What would a wealthy, successful noble young lady lacking nothing have to regret?"

Arthur hasn't given up, but when Flora looked at it, she was skeptical.

Let alone, she wondered how she, who had a communication disorder temperament, was supposed to make a pitch... but still, well, she could at least try.

While she was trying hard to organize her dizzy head with such a light heart, the Magic Train arrived at the Viscountcy.

Flora, who carefully gathered her luggage and got off, moved her steps to the Grace mansion while asking pedestrians.

Then,

"A delicious smell..."

She discovered a street stall giving off a smell that made it impossible to suppress her exploding appetite, and approached as if possessed.

"Oh, are you a traveling wizard lady? Come, come, why don't you have a taste of the specialty of our Grace Viscountcy before you go."

"U-Um, excuse me, w-what is this?"

Seeing an unfamiliar snack that felt similar to a donut but was a bit different, Flora, who had an empty stomach anyway, couldn't take her eyes off it.

"It's dough made from wheat grown in our territory, deep-fried and then sprinkled with sugar, and the taste is excellent. Because the dough is twisted and fried, it was named Kkabaegi."

The street vendor generously handing some out to such Flora, telling her to have a taste.

"Ah? Th-Thank you..."

Flora, expressing her gratitude hesitantly, put the Kkabaegi in her mouth.

"Mmm...?!"

It's delicious.

The flavor of the oil and the taste of the dough made using good flour.

And the moment the flavor of the sweet sugar filled her mouth, Flora completely lost her reason right there and began inhaling the Kkabaegi like a storm after ordering it.

Originally, because the time was ambiguous, she had intended to roughly skip the meal and be treated to a meal at the Grace Viscountcy, but she ended up filling her stomach with Kkabaegi here.

Flora frantically tasting a snack she was eating for the first time.

As a price for that, when she came to her senses...

"Th-The time?!"

It was long after the time she had promised to visit the mansion.

Flora running in a panic towards the Grace mansion, freaking out and even enhancing her physical abilities with magic.

Seeing her running with terrifying momentum, the gatekeeper who was standing guard while yawning was startled.

"I-I'm so sorry...! No, that's not it...! Is this the Grace mansion...?"

"Y-Yes, it is, but..."

"I'm sorry I'm late──! I am Flora Kent, who promised to visit today! I came from the Magic Tower..."

Although it was a gibberish Flora, he understood what she meant.

"Ah."

The gatekeeper nodding his head as if saying he knew because he had heard the story beforehand.

"The Miss is waiting. We will attach a guide for you, so you can just follow them and go to the drawing room."

She made the client wait because she was distracted by snacking.

At that fact, Flora sweated profusely with cold sweat.

So it was a moment when she became incredibly resentful towards her master Arthur Higgins, who dumped it on her when she said it was unreasonable, and her own stupidity.