Chapter 355
Chapter 355
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: The Magic Association (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Leaving Reina's mansion, Shirone hailed a carriage bound for the Magic Association.
Rian’s withdrawal to pursue his training as a knight had moved his schedule up sooner than expected. He could have stayed at Reina's mansion for another day, but he chose to go to the Association.
The spark Rian had left behind ignited a fire in everyone's heart. Tess returned home, declaring she would begin training immediately, and Shirone, too, longed to soak in the energy of the Magic Association, the very heart of the magical world.
Arriving at the Association building, Shirone asked for Plu at the information desk. After the receptionist relayed the message through an internal communicator, Plu came down five minutes later.
The moment she saw Shirone, her face soured. With Kangnan also out at the moment, there was no one she had to be mindful of.
“Why are you back already? And after you made such a big deal about being so busy.”
“My business finished early. Would it be alright if I stayed here?”
Plu’s gaze toward Shirone was anything but kind. He wasn't even flustered, just brazenly asking for a place to stay.
This was the grand Magic Association, not some inn for homeless brats.
But she had her orders from Kangnan, so she couldn't turn him away cold. With many eyes on them, Plu led Shirone to the third floor, her designated area.
“The Chief Secretary specifically asked me to look after you, but from now on, you'll follow my instructions. If you disobey me or wander around, I'll have you thrown out. Got it?”
“Ah, yes.”
Shirone was bewildered by Plu's prickly attitude from the very start. He hadn't done anything to offend her, yet she'd looked at him unkindly since their first meeting.
“Here, you can stay here.”
Plu offered him the room she used when working overtime. Inside the small room, bunk beds were set against opposite walls.
Shirone cautiously began to unpack his things. But before he even had time to fully unpack, Plu called for him.
“Follow me. I'll give you a tour.”
Plu strode down the hallway with her magic staff held behind her back, her legs ramrod straight. Her chin was tilted up at a fifteen-degree angle.
“First, let me introduce myself. I am Rabid Plu, twenty-two years old. I graduated top of my class from the Royal Magic Academy and am currently a certified Grade 8 mage. Of course, I'll be Grade 6 in two years. My current title is 3rd Floor Manager of the Magic Association's Security Department.”
“Ah, I see. I'm…”
Just as Shirone was about to introduce himself, she stopped walking and turned to him coldly.
“I know who you are. Arian Shirone. Currently attending Alpheas Magic Academy. You can wield the Archangel's ability, Ataraxia, and you major in Light Magic. Your Unlocker's unique function is Mass Bestowal.”
Shirone was dumbfounded. A person who didn't even know his face the first day now knew every detail about him just one day later. The biggest mystery was why her attitude toward him was so hostile.
“There's a student at your school named Dante, right? He transferred recently.”
“Yes. Do you know Dante?”
“Why should I know Dante?”
“Ah, I just thought since Dante also attended the Royal Magic Academy…”
Plu's sharp glare made Shirone shrink back instinctively. He had no idea what to say to please her.
“When I was in my final year, Dante was just a distant junior. I know you beat him. But if you think that's enough to get a big head, you'd better think again. If I were just three years younger, I would have been number one in the kingdom, not you.”
*I haven't been acting cocky…*
Shirone swallowed the words that rose to his throat. He felt that no matter what he said, he wouldn't get a good response.
As Plu patrolled the third floor, she occasionally pointed out different departments. Even the graying guards would bow respectfully when they saw her. Each time, she would give a short, dignified nod.
Plu was trying to show him what a successful mage looked like. In the end, it was less a tour and more a process of taming Shirone by flaunting her position.
Just then, a disheveled man, soaked in sweat and clutching a file of documents, walked toward them from the end of the hall. A flicker of tension crossed Plu's confident face.
“Hello, Mr. Sakiri. Good morning.”
Shirone studied the face of the man called Sakiri.
*So that's Sakiri.*
Sakiri was the name of the investigator who had handled Alpheas and Canis's group when they were summoned to the Association after the Arcane incident.
He had the weary look of a middle-aged man, but his eyes were sharper than anyone Shirone had ever met.
“Right. And who's this next to you? I haven't seen him before.”
“Ah, he's on a tour. It's part of a special activity.”
Plu lied to cover for him.
The Magic Association was the core institution of the kingdom's magical society, so countless students applied for tours. Perhaps for that reason, Sakiri simply nodded and walked away.
Plu let out a small breath and glanced at Shirone. The atmosphere, where she had held her head so high, was suddenly reversed, creating an awkward silence.
“That was Mr. Sakiri, a certified Grade 5 mage. He's very famous in the Inspection Department. Any criminal who gets caught by him doesn't stand a chance.”
“Ah, yes. I've heard of him.”
“You have? Hmm.”
For the first time, Plu showed a satisfied smile. The revelation that she worked with someone known even to a mere magic academy student helped her recover some of the pride she had just lost.
*I think I'm starting to get a handle on how to deal with her.*
Just as Shirone was mulling this over, a man stepped out of the elevator at the far end of the hall.
He started walking toward Plu, but his eyes lit up with interest when he saw Shirone.
“Plu, is that boy Shirone?”
Plu's face brightened as she greeted him.
“Ah, Mr. Gando. Hello.”
The man's name was Klein Gando. Like Plu, he was a member of Gaold's Royal Guard.
A combat mage proficient in electricity magic, befitting his nickname 'Gando of Thunder,' his title was Captain of the Magic Association's Guard, and his rank was a certified Grade 4.
He was tall and wore tight-fitting leather pants and studded boots. His purple hair was swept back, with a single strand left hanging down. His attire suggested he'd been quite the rogue in his youth, but in contrast, his face was as kind as an angel's.
Plu led Shirone over to greet Gando.
“The Chief Secretary asked me to look after him. Hey, hurry up and greet him.”
Gando extended his hand first.
“I see. It's a pleasure. My name is Gando.”
“Oh? Yes, hello.”
Shirone, who had been about to bow, hurriedly shook the offered hand.
This resulted in the comical posture of bowing and shaking hands at the same time, and Gando laughed.
“Well, you're much younger-looking than I expected. I thought you'd have a more intimidating presence.”
*Is that my image?*
As someone who had rarely ventured outside his usual circles, Shirone had no way of knowing. However, recalling the contents of his published papers, he figured he could see how such a misunderstanding might arise.
“Are you on your regular patrol?”
“Yep. I'm making my way down from the top floor. How's the third floor? All quiet?”
“Yes. It always is, hohoho!”
Plu laughed, covering her mouth with a hand, full of pride as the 3rd Floor Manager.
“I see. It seems Mr. Kangnan was summoned by the Association President. They'll probably be back together tomorrow. So just know that and make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Shirone desperately wanted to tattle, ‘This woman is bullying me,’ but knowing it would only be to his detriment, he firmly suppressed the urge.
As Gando headed back to the elevator, Plu's face, which had been beaming as she saw him off, changed in an instant. And once again, she became a nag, starting to bombard Shirone with words.
“He oversees all the security at the Magic Association. In other words, he's my direct superior. Gando of Thunder—you've heard the name, right?”
She assumed that if he knew Sakiri, he would naturally know Gando of Thunder as well.
“Ah, yes. I've heard of him.”
In truth, it was the first time Shirone had heard the name. He wouldn't have even known Sakiri's name if not for the major incident at Alpheas Magic Academy. But in a situation like this, it was best to just say he knew.
Plu was satisfied with Shirone's now-obedient attitude.
Thinking he had been sufficiently tempered, she slowly brought up the topic that had been on her mind.
“I know why the Association President wants to meet you. It's related to Heaven, isn't it?”
“…”
Shirone's expression hardened, and he kept his mouth shut. Even if she was someone Kangnan trusted him with, he had to maintain security.
As his gaze sharpened, even Plu couldn't treat him carelessly this time. While she thought he wasn't a pushover, she also felt annoyed, suspecting his behavior until now had been an act.
“In any case, assisting the Association President is my role. I will definitely go to Heaven. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't get a big head just because you were invited once.”
Not only had he never been arrogant, but the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. But from her words, he could now guess the source of Plu's hostility.
“You must really admire the Association President.”
Plu's expression flickered like a fish just pulled from the sea.
“Of course! Mr. Sakiri and Mr. Gando, whom we just met, are incredible people, but honestly, they can't compare to the name Michea Gaold.”
“I suppose so. She is a certified Grade 1 Grand Mage, after all.”
“Hohoho!”
Plu let out a condescending laugh, and a surge of irritation rose in him.
“You really don't know anything, do you? Listen carefully. There are currently four Grade 1 Grand Mages in the Tormia Kingdom. But the position of Association President isn't something you get just by being strong. It requires political skill and resourcefulness to deal with high-ranking officials. So why do you think Ms. Gaold was appointed President?”
Shirone thought about it. But he couldn't grasp what level a Grade 1 Grand Mage was at, so an answer didn't come easily.
“Um, is she competent in many different fields?”
Plu shook her head.
“No, it's quite the opposite. It's not that she's merely strong—it's that she's *too* strong.”
“Too… strong?”
“Yes. She possesses an overwhelming strength that sets her apart even from the other Grade 1 Grand Mages, which is why she can hold the position of President despite the stigma of being called a 'madwoman.' Might makes right! For a combat mage like me, she's both an idol and an ideal. So how could I not admire her?”
Hearing Plu's words, he realized she was a far more incredible person than he had vaguely imagined. This only made him more curious as to why such a person was seeking him out.
Plu turned away without a second thought and said,
“Anyway, I have to get back to work, so go to your room until dinner. The tour is over, so don't you dare wander around without my permission.”
“Ah! Wait…”
As Shirone called out urgently, Plu twisted at the waist to look back.
“Before I go… could I just ride the elevator once?”
Plu looked at Shirone and her eyes crinkled into a smile. But her face quickly turned cold again, and she sneered as she said curtly,
“No.”
Shirone stared blankly at her retreating figure.
“What on earth did I do wrong?”
* * *
After a day of mind-numbing boredom, no different from life in a prison, the next morning dawned. Shirone took the opportunity to sleep in. After all, he couldn't take a single step outside until Plu arrived for work.
As he was about to doze off again, he heard a commotion outside. In his drowsy state, Plu kicked the door open and barged in, shouting abruptly.
“Hey, rookie! Are you still sleeping?”
Shirone sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes.
“Ah, good morn…”
“You're completely slacking off! Do you think this is your own bedroom? Get up, now!”
By now, Shirone was starting to get annoyed too.
“Excuse me, but is there anything for me to do if I get up?”
“Of course there is. Did you think you were getting free room and board? Today, you're going to follow me and be my assistant. I'll give you ten minutes. Get washed up and come out!”
Shirone felt like he'd been bombed in his sleep. Facing a morning where it was hard to get his bearings, his upper body slowly tilted and fell back onto the bed.
But he couldn't even last ten seconds before curling up and then climbing out of bed.
“Ugh, this is too much.”