Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 321
Chapter Title: A Fleeting Fissure (3)
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Shirone lay in bed, enjoying some well-deserved downtime.
He would be in the graduating class next semester, so he could skip the performance evaluations. But on the other hand, this vacation was also his last chance to polish his fundamentals. That was why Iruki and Nade had forgone any fun and returned straight to their families.
“First, I need to rest.”
Shirone laughed at his own words, finding them absurd. But he truly didn't want to do anything right now.
It was a first for him, which was a bit bewildering, but the absence of any urgency suggested there was a good reason for it.
“Come to think of it, I worked incredibly hard.”
Looking back on the year, he could hardly believe how he'd made it through. It felt like just yesterday he was at the bottom of Class Seven, and now he was already among the top students in Class Four.
“And I went through a lot because of it.”
All the students at the magic academy did their best, but Shirone, in particular, had been involved in many incidents.
He had grown stronger through life-and-death struggles. To be honest, he was confident he wouldn't be easily pushed around even in the graduating class.
Shirone got out of bed and approached the . Just seeing it standing perfectly upright without any support was satisfying.
With Stator Control, carrying it around wasn't a problem. But there would be no reason to use the sword while he was still a student.
As he unsheathed Armant, a clear, high-frequency hum emanated from the blade. It was shorter than a longsword but sharp enough for practical use and perfectly balanced.
‘Why is it so quiet? Could it be dead?’
It had sent him psionic waves every night, but ever since he returned home, it had been silent. The lack of response was so complete that he wondered if the contract had somehow been broken without his knowledge.
He hadn't activated the Diamond Armor since showing it to his friends. There hadn't been a need for it, but it also felt strangely awkward.
When you share a part of yourself with an object, it's hard to treat it as just a thing. He felt as if the sword would look down on him if he activated the Diamond Armor for no good reason.
Of course, he knew that was unnecessary. It was something he would have to get used to over time.
‘Should I try it? It’s my sword, after all…’
It was frustrating to have received an S-class Object and not even be able to use it. That wasn't to say he wanted to fight someone, but imagining himself in action with Armant made his heart swell with excitement.
Shirone watched the sword with a sense of pride, then recited the activation command.
“Diamond Armor.”
Putting aside his anxiety that nothing might happen, the blade split open without fail and engulfed Shirone.
The transformation was instantaneous. A hood covered his face, and a fibrous cape billowed out like flames. A glass orb popped out from the palm of the gauntlet, and finally, the artificial brain, Oe, circled rapidly around Shirone.
“Hoo!”
Shirone loved this feeling.
A sense of clarity he had never experienced before. A deep focus that made him feel like he could amplify any magic.
Armant, which shared a brain with its user, changed its abilities according to the situation. But since this was not a combat situation, no particular state change occurred.
Shirone walked over to the full-length mirror and looked at himself. With his face hidden by the hood of a worn-out robe that didn't look new, he looked like a proper mage. Moreover, Oe looked cooler than any other magical artifact.
His heart pounded at the thought of becoming a professional mage someday, exploring the world looking like this.
Shirone clenched his fists and pretended to draw up his mana.
I am a mage of the Immortal Function. One day, I will become an infinite mage and stand at the pinnacle of the world.
“Woooooah!”
As he shouted toward the ceiling, Shirone’s face stiffened when he saw the reflection of his door in the mirror. Vincent, who had just opened the door, was staring at Shirone with a bewildered expression.
“D-Dad!”
Flustered, Shirone stomped his feet.
He was glad the hood was on. If his face had been exposed, his blushing cheeks might have exploded.
“Your mother says dinner is ready. Come down quickly.”
“O-Okay.”
As Vincent closed the door, he threw one last comment over his shoulder.
“Aren't you a bit old for that?”
His face burning, Shirone lowered his head.
Only after hearing the door click shut did he finally take off the hood and clutch his head.
“Ugh! So embarrassing! That was the first time I’ve ever done that!”
As he thought, doing things that didn't suit him only brought trouble. Shirone deactivated Armant. The fibers and crystal orb were sucked back in, returning it to the form of a magic sword.
Placing it back in its sheath with Stator Control, Shirone put Armant away in a corner and went downstairs.
The smell of soup on the dining table melted his stomach. Suddenly ravenous, Shirone sat at the table and immediately grabbed his spoon. Olina smiled as she ladled soup into his bowl.
“You must be hungry. Go on, eat up.”
“Yes. Thank you for the food!”
The food at the magic academy was meticulously prepared with all the nutrients a mage needed, but nothing beat a home-cooked meal.
Olina watched with a pleased smile as her son devoured a bowl of soup, then poured him some more and asked.
“How are you going to spend this vacation? Do you have any plans?”
“I’m going to rest for a bit, then start training in earnest. But there’s something I want to do before that.”
“Something you want to do?”
“Yes. The regional festival is held in the Les Mountains every winter, right? Would it be okay if I went?”
Vincent chimed in.
“Oh, you mean at that old castle ruin. You’ve said you wanted to go there before.”
“Really? I don’t remember.”
“You were very young. It must have stuck with you somehow. Go ahead. We couldn't afford to take you sightseeing back then.”
Olina propped her chin on her hand and smiled knowingly.
No matter how much her son tried to hide it, he couldn't fool a mother's eyes.
“So, who are you going with?”
Shirone flinched as if he’d been hit by a surprise attack. He hadn't done anything wrong, yet his face grew hot.
“Well… Amy. I haven't asked her yet, though.”
“Oho, so it’s a date.”
“No! I just thought she’d be feeling down, so I wanted to help her clear her head… S-She might even say no!”
She knew Amy had failed the graduation exam. Olina wasn't concerned. The Amy she had met in Kazura was a thoughtful and upright girl.
Besides, she had heard that the Carmis family also thought well of Shirone. Hadn't they gone to an island together during the summer?
“Alright, you can go. It takes about three days to properly look around the old castle ruins. There are plenty of places to stay, so you don't have to worry, but you must take good care of Amy. You're taking her to comfort her, not to be comforted by her.”
“…Yes.”
Olina’s last remark was subtly grating, but Shirone just agreed. An animal instinct told him it was dangerous to press the issue.
After clearing the dishes, Shirone went up to his room to pack. It was a long way to Creas, so he had to leave before noon.
He could get there faster than a carriage by using teleportation, but he didn't want to break the school rules over something trivial.
Shirone put on a winter coat and a wool scarf, then slung a backpack over his shoulder and headed for the door.
As he gripped the doorknob, his head suddenly buzzed with a low hum. He looked back, and sure enough, Armant was sending him psionic waves. He couldn't hear a voice, but the resonance was one of protest.
Shirone sighed and said.
“Sorry, but no. Commoners can't carry swords around. I don't have a weapon permit, either.”
For a commoner to carry a weapon, they needed a permit issued by a specific guild. Mages automatically acquired one, but as a student, Shirone couldn't even get that. The S-class Armant was a nuisance in many ways.
Armant didn't give up and continued to send out psionic waves.
Having a sense of self makes things difficult, because it comes with pride. He didn't know what kind of masters it had served before, but it seemed unable to comprehend why he wouldn't carry it around after making a contract.
Perhaps it had been in a state of resignation when it was Zion’s property. Was that why it had sent out its alluring light even while it had a master?
‘Thinking about it that way, I feel a little sorry for it. I’m not cherishing it as much as its previous master did.’
Shirone walked over to Armant as if he had no choice.
To be honest, carrying Armant would make him feel secure in any situation. Even if he were stopped for inspection, he had Stator Control, so he could just hide it somewhere else.
“Sigh, alright. Let’s go.”
Shirone opened his coat and called to Armant.
The sword flew to him in a flash and settled at his waist. Being shorter than a longsword had the advantage of being easy to conceal. When he closed his coat, only the very tip of the scabbard was visible. At a glance, no one would even know he had a sword.
As Armant’s psionic waves ceased, Shirone shook his head and left the room. They say there are plenty of magic swords that kill their masters, so he supposed he had to let this slide as a cute quirk.
***
Tormia Kingdom.
The Magic Association, located in the capital, Bashuka.
The Allog District was an area in the capital packed with major institutions, and passing through at noon would make anyone frown. This was because the countless high-rise buildings reflected the sunlight.
The Magic Association, one of the tallest buildings, looked as if it were made of burning gold.
At the main entrance of the Magic Association, a neatly dressed woman had been staring down the main road, waiting for someone for thirty minutes.
She had tanned skin and curly blonde hair tied back in an updo. She wore red, horn-rimmed glasses. Her nose was small but well-defined, and her pink lips were firmly closed, as if revealing her personality. The slight downturn of her eyes gave her a strong impression, but overall, her appearance exuded a strange charm not typically seen in Tormia.
The Chief Secretary of the Tormia Magic Association, Ahoya Kangnan.
The Southern Nations, located near the equator, are a confederation of numerous tribes. Kangnan was the last descendant of the now-extinct Wolf Tribe and a warrior trained in the ancient martial art of Lammuai.
She was also exceptionally intelligent; despite starting her studies late after coming to Tormia at fifteen, she overcame fierce competition to rise to the position of Chief Secretary of the Magic Association.
But the old, lecherous nobles of Tormia did not acknowledge her.
Their view of Kangnan was that of a commoner woman with an exotic appearance and a perfectly proportioned body. Countless men who, ignorant of her personality, had made advances on her ended up with ruptured abs from a knee strike.
Among them were high-ranking nobles, but the Magic Association never fired her. It was a classic case of talent trumping personality.
But for today, Kangnan planned to restrain herself. The person she was waiting for was none other than the chief envoy of the neighboring Yakma Republic.
When a house carriage with dazzling decorations appeared at the end of the main road, she straightened her clothes once more. By the time she had checked her high heels for dust and adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses, the carriage had arrived.
As armored guards opened the door, an obese man emerged. His neck was so fat his chin was buried, and his belly bulged out like a cannonball. However, his eyes, buried in their fleshy sockets, shone with a sharp light.
‘He is the chief envoy of a nation. I must not treat him carelessly.’
Kangnan walked forward with a determined, clicking gait. Tucking the file she was holding under her arm, she bowed a full ninety degrees.
“Welcome. I am Kangnan, the Chief Secretary of the Magic Association.”
“Aha! So you’re Kangnan. A pleasure. I am Ordon.”
Ordon extended his hand for a handshake.
For a chief envoy to offer a handshake to a chief secretary first was good manners, but in reality, he had an ulterior motive.
The stories of Kangnan laying out numerous nobles had spread even to the social circles of other nations. Her exotic looks, her commoner status, and the added title of an 'unbreakable flower' made it impossible for Ordon not to be intrigued.
When Kangnan shook his hand, Ordon slowly rubbed the back of her smooth hand with his thumb.
Kangnan’s expression didn't change. She had also heard the rumors about Ordon, so she had been prepared for some minor inappropriate advances.
“The Association President is waiting. I will guide you.”
Ordon entered the Magic Association, admiring Kangnan’s slender waist.
Seeing as she was fine even after beating up Tormian nobles, the Magic Association must have her back, but she wouldn't be able to be so rude to a chief envoy from another country.
‘I shall be the one to pluck that flower.’