I Was Mistaken for the Tall Man (2)

Every autumn, when the first frost blankets the earth, the mages of the Empire gather in one place. It is for the Magic Academic Grand Festival, also known as the Arcane Olympiad—or, for the sake of convenience, the Autumn Academic Conference.

To the mages, this conference is far more than a mere venue for sharing knowledge. It is a place where geniuses from across the continent prove their achievements and vie for hegemony in the magical world. Furthermore, it serves as a stage to indirectly flaunt the national power of the countries they represent. To borrow Julian’s phrasing, it is the Olympics of the mages.

Countless mages from all over the world flock to the Imperial capital for this event. There is no particular reason why the Empire’s Autumn Academic Conference, out of all the others, became the "Olympics" of the magical world.

Because the Father of Magic lives in the Imperial capital. And because this conference is the only public event he attends. His existence alone has ensured that no other magic academic conference in human history has ever surpassed the authority of this Olympiad.

Having finished the first day of the Autumn Academic Conference, the Great Sage relaxed in a townhouse owned by the Merkur Merchant Guild.

After the attendant withdrew, the Great Sage, soaking his feet in a basin filled with floating herbs, recalled the day's events. It had been a truly decent day. He had seen the faces of his disciples for the first time in a while—

—and shared recent updates. It was enjoyable to see his disciples, the Tower Masters, looking healthy.

It was a decent day in many ways. Although the presentations by the rookie mages were boring, that was to be expected. There hadn't been any particularly groundbreaking presentations at the conference, but watching the passion of the promising young mages wasn't bad.

'But, truly, the most satisfying part of today's schedule... is the evening.'

The Great Sage closed his eyes gently at the scent of warm herbs rising from his feet. On the table opposite him, a calm and elegant melody flowed from the brass horn of a phonograph. The Great Sage exhaled a languid breath and looked around the room. On the floor lay a top-tier carpet that sank to his ankles. In the fireplace, a high-end mana-coal burned, producing neither smoke nor acrid odors. On the table within reach sat a 900-year-old brandy in a crystal decanter. It was the pinnacle of luxury, a peak of the era that even nobles could rarely enjoy.

'That kid... he must be making money hand over fist.'

The Great Sage chuckled as he poured the amber brandy into a crystal glass. The face of his lovely youngest disciple floated in his mind.

As he took a sip of the brandy, the rich aroma of the oak barrel lingering on his tongue was exquisite. Along with it, Louis thought about the merchant guild that provided this exceptional concierge service. 'The world is truly unfair. To give him that talent, that appearance, and even such business acumen.'

Recently, the name of the Merkur Merchant Guild had been the eye of the storm in the Imperial commercial world. According to the Great Sage's investigation, this guild had been on the verge of bankruptcy due to repeated sabotage and overly honest business practices. However, five years ago, the guild suddenly emerged as a rising powerhouse by introducing three types of medicine. And now, that guild had even introduced a vaccine.

'He released the patent like that, yet in the end, this guild is monopolizing the vaccine.'

The Schnabel Formula and the vaccine manufacturing method had no patents. Naturally, other guilds jumped into vaccine production. But the result was the Merkur Merchant Guild's monopoly. 'Perhaps it was a predetermined result.'

The reason was simple. The Merkur Merchant Guild had already finished its preparations before the vaccine was even made public. Production facilities. Distribution networks. Skilled personnel. While other guilds were scrambling to interpret the formula, Merkur was already churning out vaccines. On top of that, there was the sense of stability that comes from the original. A vaccine is something that goes directly into the body. No matter how cheap it is, no one wants to willingly use an unverified medicine. On the other hand, the Merkur Merchant Guild was different. They were a supernova that appeared like a comet five years ago, introducing miraculous medicines day after day. The guild had built up enough trust that a rumor was circulating in the capital that anyone who waited to use the Merkur Merchant Guild's new medicine was an idiot. As a result, people were seeking only the Merkur Merchant Guild's vaccine, even though the vaccine had been released to the world.

'It will be a 1st-class guild soon.'

The guild was currently the overwhelming number one among 2nd-class guilds, with no room for comparison. Considering the connections and capital power spread throughout the Imperial family and noble society, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was obvious that it would be promoted to a "1st-class guild," the pinnacle of the commercial world, within a year or two at most. And the Great Sage's youngest disciple had now become a major shareholder and co-manager, holding 15% of the guild's shares.

A groan escaped the Great Sage's lips. Even then, the satisfied smile on his face did not fade. Warm herbal water, top-tier brandy, the cigar scent lingering at the tip of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his nose, and even the nocturne tickling his ears. He had lived a long life and enjoyed all kinds of wealth and glory. However, this sweet luxury, carefully offered by his cute disciple, felt particularly special.

'He said he would give scholarships every year now, too.'

This year, Julian had sent 100 million Mar to the Great Sage. But the Great Sage remembered the promise Julian had made previously.

He had heard that the foundation was willing to invest 500 million Mar every year. When he heard that figure, the Great Sage couldn't help but chuckle.

After hearing that, the Great Sage decided to stop worrying about his youngest disciple's pocketbook. Who was worrying about whose pocketbook? It was clear as day that his disciple would soon become a tycoon who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Duke. Without exaggeration. If Julian were to propose a political marriage to a Duke's daughter whose family was a bit financially strapped, wouldn't the Duke accept without even a moment's hesitation?

'I heard even his father doesn't know Julian's current earnings.'

The only medicine in which the head of the Nihilit family held a stake was Quinine. The stakes for the subsequent medicines belonged solely to Julian. As a result, the family head only knew vaguely that Julian's income was high, and was in a situation where he couldn't even guess the specific figures.

'Tsk tsk. It's not Quinine, but Insulin and the vaccine that are the real deal.'

Anyway. Other mages were also grinning from ear to ear at the massive donations supported by this giant guild and the concierge service provided for this conference. The arrogant mages even went so far as to praise the Merkur Merchant Guild as a "guild that knows honor."

'He's already got them all wrapped around his finger, that kid.'

Thinking of Julian, who had secretly gotten the mages on a leash, the Great Sage clicked his tongue. That was when—

'Hmm?'

The Great Sage's brow twitched as he enjoyed the luxury with his eyes closed languidly. The nocturne from the phonograph that had been flowing calmly into his ears faded into the distance. Instead, a sharp pulse of mana flowed in from deep within his mind.

—Click.

A very small, sharp animal cry. The vision of the silk ferret he had left on the roof of the Nihilit Baron's mansion, tens of kilometers away, was clearly superimposed in the Great Sage's mind.

'What's going on?'

Fitch. His grimoire and familiar. Originally, he had intended to use a rat, but since it kept getting eaten by stray cats, it was a familiar he had to change to a silk ferret. The Great Sage set his brandy glass down on the table. Then, with his eyes closed, he fully accepted the visual information Fitch was sending.

A dark room. His youngest disciple, Julian, was visible, sweating profusely and holding a syringe beside his younger sister, Freya, who was lying on the bed and hovering between life and death.

Julian, having administered the medicine, continued to nurse his younger sister. But the world was merciless, constantly trying to take his sister's life. Then, Julian sent the priestess out of the room and took a gamble. He cast black magic on his sister. And a sight that was impossible to believe unfolded.

The Devil's Disease had been cured. By black magic, no less.

Laughter flowed from the Great Sage's lips. The joy of discovering what he had so desperately longed for. The chuckle at his youngest disciple's overwhelming talent. It was laughter in which countless emotions were complexly intertwined.

For the past several hundred years, the Great Sage had witnessed countless miracles created by magic. He had made carriages roll without horses, lit fires without matches, overcome the seasons, and made it possible to control indoor temperatures. But no matter how much the era developed and magic advanced, magic could not touch one single realm. Healing and life. That was a realm that, throughout history, only divinity could handle. But at this very moment, a boy was rewriting that history.

Black magic is magic that directly touches life. Because of this, small ignorance and mistakes often led to tragedies, and even a slight corruption brought about disasters that would remain in history. So, the world, including the Great Sage, had developed in a direction that guarded against and suppressed black magic this much. "Excellent." Julian had broken through that prejudice and written a new history. "Hahahahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent!"

The Great Sage's heart, which had withered away after living for nearly a thousand years, began to beat wildly. The long-cherished wish he had half-given up on. His disciple had achieved the miracle of healing through magic. By curing the Devil's Disease, which even that high-and-mighty divinity couldn't do! It was a feat that no other disciple had ever achieved!

Until now, his disciples had been busy following the path the Great Sage had walked. Of course, each of them had achieved feats that surpassed the Great Sage in their own fields, but in the end, they hadn't been able to break out of that mold. But Julian had broken that mold and flown up for all to see.

The Great Sage downed the remaining brandy in one gulp. The taste of the strong liquor going down his throat was bland. It was because the new history of magic his disciple had just written was far more potent and thrilling. He had been laughing, soaked in joy and delight, for quite some time. Since his disciple had achieved such a historic feat, it was only natural for him, as his master, to bestow a grand celebratory gift worthy of it. But while he was agonizing over what to give to make this lovely disciple happy, a realistic problem suddenly crossed his mind. The Great Sage's expression stiffened slightly.

Setting the empty glass down on the table, the Great Sage sat in his chair and rested his chin on his hand. 'Fifteen.' Julian von Nihilit. His age was fifteen this year. An age where, if he were a commoner, he would be helping with farm work. But in noble society, fifteen was the time to start arranging fiancés and scouting for marriage prospects for the sake of the family's future.

He didn't misunderstand. In a world where titles are influenced by magical talent, it wasn't strange for nobles to be scouting for marriage prospects at this age, as talent as a mage was actually influenced by bloodline. However, thinking that Julian was at that age— 'Tsk. It's a time when he should be running forward at full speed.' The Great Sage frowned without realizing it.

The Nihilit Baron's family. Although the head of the family, Hendel, is a brilliant bureaucrat, the family itself is far too minor to be called a central noble family. Furthermore, Julian is thoroughly disguised as the "dull eldest son with absolutely no talent for magic." If left as is, Hendel would surely try to find the "daughter of a mediocre noble family with appropriate wealth and power" and send Julian off as a son-in-law.

The Great Sage's only blue pupil sank coldly. Of course, as a master, he had a heart that wished for his disciple to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enjoy ordinary and comfortable happiness. But, Julian bowing down to some mediocre noble daughter and entering as a son-in-law? And that daughter becoming Julian's shackle? "It must not happen." That would be a loss for humanity, and furthermore, a tragedy for the Great Sage himself. He wanted to see the bird fly. Not be trapped in a cage with shackles that didn't even fit.

The Great Sage clicked his tongue and shook his head. He wanted to find a partner worthy of Julian somehow. However, there was a fatal contradiction here. 'But I can't reveal Julian's identity to the world either.'

If it were revealed that Julian was the actual owner of the Merkur Merchant Guild and the creator of the Schnabel Formula? If it were revealed that he was the Great Sage's youngest disciple? Furthermore, if it were known that he could cure the Devil's Disease? Not only the Imperial family, but kings and Tower Masters from all over the continent would be knocking on the door of the Nihilit mansion, offering their daughters and granddaughters. But excessive interest is the way to wither and kill a flower. Julian had not yet grown enough to fully handle the greed and interest of that vast world. Moreover, he was a child who couldn't even protect himself because he had no talent as a mage. Burdening him with all that was not something a master should do.

'What should I do...'

Finding the best fiancé worthy of his disciple while thoroughly hiding his identity. It was a very difficult problem even for the Great Sage. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Great Sage buried his chin in his clasped hands and fell into deep thought for a long time.

After a long silence, the Great Sage's closed lips slowly curled up into an arc.

The Great Sage tapped the table lightly and nodded. Just one person. When Julian's talent blossomed. A figure worthy of him flashed through his mind.

Whom he had thought of, a very mischievous smile spread across the Great Sage's lips. But the Great Sage did not dare to utter the name of that young lady. Instead, he simply lifted the empty glass that had held the brandy and pretended to lightly toast the air.

The Great Sage was already feeling tired just thinking about having a battle of wits with that person who came to mind. What should he offer that sly fox this time? He had taken on the position of Imperial Magic Advisor because of a single slip of the tongue. If he were not careful this time, he might become the Prime Minister for life. However, it was a trouble worth enduring for his youngest disciple.

Stopping his thoughts, the Great Sage turned his gaze to another problem. 'That aside, I should solve other problems too.'

By now, it was morning outside the window. While the Great Sage was agonizing over his youngest disciple, the moon had set and the sun had risen. Since sleep was a luxury for an 8th-circle Archmage, he did not regret the night that had passed. Instead, he focused again on Fitch's vision connected in his mind.

'Since my disciple's finishing touch is clumsy, it's the master's duty to take care of it.'

In his view, his youngest disciple was a naive kid who didn't even know how to protect his own rice bowl. He was too naive, too kind. Much like that saint recorded in the scriptures. But the Great Sage, who had lived for a thousand years, was not.

'I'm sorry, young lady.'

Fitch's vision connected in his mind. Through that vision, he saw the low-ranking priestess leaving the front gate of the Nihilit mansion. It seemed she had been summoned by the head of the family, Hendel, warned, and then released. She was hurrying out of the mansion, clutching a pouch of gold coins to her chest. Watching her back, the Great Sage quietly instructed Fitch. 'Follow her.'

The Great Sage tended to believe in human potential. However, he did not unconditionally believe in human good will or the tightness of their lips. 'There's no guarantee that this priestess will keep her mouth shut for the rest of her life after she returns home.' Although there had been a cold threat from the noble family head, fear tends to dull over time. She would keep silent for now. Replaying that warning over and over again. But human lips are treacherous, so she might make a mistake while swept up in the drunkenness of a drinking party, or she might not be able to bear the secret and seek out a confessional. And that small deviation would spread the secret like a dam collapsing. In that sense, Hendel Nihilit's method was too soft. Fear alone cannot keep a person's mouth shut forever. It probably wouldn't last even a year.

The most certain way to seal lips is not fear, but to provide an interest that makes it impossible for them to open their mouths themselves. The Great Sage's gaze slowly scanned the table. Academic conference-related materials, piles of invitations sent by nobles. And stacks of documents sent regularly by the Merkur Merchant Guild for reporting. Among them, one document caught the Great Sage's single eye.

The Great Sage's eyes narrowed like a snake. 'Come to think of it, I heard that priestess had two daughters.'

Swish. The Great Sage picked up a fountain pen. His neat handwriting glided across the high-quality scroll. Two letters of recommendation. One was a special scholarship recommendation for the Sun Sect Monastery's direct-affiliated seminary. The other was a recommendation for admission to the Imperial Academy's high school division. The sender was the Merkur Merchant Guild Talent Development Foundation. The sponsor was anonymous.

The Great Sage looked down at the two completed letters of recommendation and smiled deeply. If even a master can be this sincere for his disciple's future, how much more so would a parent be?

Originally, the more a golden rope shines, the better it is to wear around one's neck. The Great Sage repeated that maxim, folded the two letters of recommendation, and placed them in an envelope.