Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ecosystem Destruction (2)
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"Nineteen?"
Charlotte's eyes widened in shock upon realizing Rishir's startling(?) true identity.
Rishir flashed a broad, shameless grin.
"Why are you all so surprised? Doesn't it look that way at first glance?"
His appearance still carried traces of boyishness.
His youthful vigor hadn't yet faded, which justified his confidence.
The two young ladies had no complaints or doubts about that aspect.
They might have thought something like, "He's cute," if they'd met him at a social gathering.
Judging purely by looks, he was unmistakably a young master their own age.
But—
"...Nineteen?"
"Lady Charlotte?"
Charlotte was acting like a broken machine from the sheer shock.
Hainya watched her with a warm gaze from the side, seemingly thinking it was a perfectly natural reaction.
"...You're joking, right?"
"...What kind of joke are you referring to?"
"...There are spells like that, aren't there? Magic to preserve youth—"
"There are...?"
Hainya's own magic teacher, Marina, maintained the appearance of a woman in her prime through similar means.
"Teacher does it too, to keep her youthful looks. Right?"
Rishir's mouth opened and closed wordlessly.
He wanted to firmly say, "No, that's not it," but seeing Charlotte's reaction, he felt he couldn't.
'Oh, right—'
Rishir suddenly realized why Charlotte had always used the respectful title "Teacher" even while competing with him in a battle of wills.
'She thought I was some freak hiding my age with real magic?'
As their mutual shock deepened—
Hainya, unable to stand it any longer, intervened.
"Well, it's understandable that Charlotte would think that. If a new home tutor who looked like the current Rishir suddenly appeared before me one day, I'd react the same way."
"Someone like the current Rishir..."
Hainya's empathy.
And her meaningful remark.
Only then did Charlotte, somewhat composed, speak to Hainya.
"Does that mean Teacher Rishir wasn't like this from the start?"
"Right? When I first met him, he had just barely entered the 4th Circle."
"Ah."
Charlotte finally let out a deep sigh and relaxed her tense body.
"I see... Teacher wasn't a monster from the beginning either... He had a time when he was a normal person, like everyone else..."
Charlotte muttered as if convincing herself.
Hainya's expression grew complicated as she watched.
Ah.
I get it.
That feeling.
How much time passed like that?
Charlotte, now fully calm, looked at the two and said,
"By the way, Hainya. Unexpectedly, you and Teacher have known each other for a long time?"
"Well, it's not like we've known each other just a day or two. But 'a long time'?"
For some reason, Hainya felt an inexplicable discomfort at the phrase "a long time."
"You just said it yourself. Back when you first met, Teacher had just reached the early 4th Circle."
"Yeah?"
"So if you've known each other since then, that means at least a few years, right?"
Ah.
Hainya finally realized the source of her discomfort.
"Not quite 'a long time,' but we've known each other since before?"
"What does that mean?"
"I first met Rishir just a few months ago."
"?"
Charlotte's eyes darted to the upper left.
"???"
Then to the upper right.
"????"
The process repeated for quite a while.
***
Charlotte still hadn't recovered from her shock.
Hainya eventually left her be and resumed the conversation.
"Anyway, you're serious about that?"
"Even you're doubting my real age, Hainya?"
"Of course I am. Honestly, if your mask came off right now and some old man popped out, I wouldn't be surprised—I'd be relieved. Anyway, that's not the point. The Star Birth Festival. You're really planning to participate? You?"
Hainya's concerned gaze.
Rishir felt inwardly wronged.
'What, do I look like some immature adult crashing a kids' playground?'
A young person entering a tournament for youths to compete—
What was the problem with that?
'...Well, there is a problem.'
Of course.
Separate from his sense of injustice, Rishir tried to view himself objectively.
From the many incidents so far, he'd realized—
His innate power or abilities were far from ordinary.
It was an undeniable fact.
'If I join a tournament where earnest young people compete seriously, I'd really be that immature adult causing a scene at the kids' playground.'
Someone else might disagree—
But that's how he saw it.
Rishir nodded, having reached that conclusion.
"Ah! Just so you know, I don't have any strong opinions either!? I'm not planning to say anything if you enter the Star Birth Festival. I'm just curious. Because from what I see, you're not the type to care much about that sort of thing—"
"Fair enough. If I'd been interested in the Star Birth Festival from the start, I wouldn't have heard about it from you, Hainya."
"...You're not changing your mind because of me, are you?"
"Of course not. Why would I change my mind for Hainya's sake? I don't take orders from anyone weaker than me. Uhahaha."
"Ugh, annoying. For a second there, I even thought it might be fun to face you as an opponent in the Star Birth Festival."
"Why would that be a stupid thought?"
"Obviously because I'd lose."
"Hainya, you've changed a lot since I last saw you? The Hainya I know would push up her glasses and say something like, 'I can do it. If it's me.'—"
"What are you talking about? I've never said anything like that. And what's with the glasses— Anyway, no need to worry about that."
Hmph.
Hainya snorted primly and flashed a confident smile.
"My personality hasn't changed at all. I only act like this in special cases—like in front of you."
"Heh heh. Special case, huh..."
"Anyway, so you're not planning to participate?"
Hainya crossed her arms, lost in thought.
"Then this... I might actually aim for the win?"
Arrogance bordering on confidence.
Hainya's face lit up with her signature smile.
"Rishir, remember what you just said?"
"You mean about learning something from me for the tournament? Of course I remember. But wouldn't it be better to seek guidance from the Magic Tower Masters instead of me? I know I'm somehow Charlotte's home tutor right now—but you know I'm not that great a teacher."
"I know. For geniuses like us, our warped senses become hindrances when sharing with others. Huh? What's with that look? You don't like being lumped in as a genius with me? Feeling mocked?"
"I didn't say a word."
"Anyway, the point is, we're both geniuses beyond normal standards."
"So, sparring with each other might lead to some mutual insights?"
"Exactly! Stop— Stop looking at me like that!"
"I really didn't do anything."
As Rishir considered Hainya's proposal,
He inwardly nodded.
'Instead of entering the Star Birth Festival myself and winning, help Hainya win—'
Though he'd abandoned his own greed, his interest remained, so Rishir took to Hainya's suggestion.
"Understood. I'll seriously consider it."
"Really!?"
Hainya bounced slightly in her seat with joy.
"Huh?"
In that moment,
Her gaze shifted sideways.
"She's still like that..."
It was toward Charlotte, who was still staring blankly into space.
The two felt a strange pang of guilt.
***
Home tutor Rishir's lesson ended quickly.
It was due to the mental interference(?) that had unfortunately caused student Charlotte to suffer study-related injuries.
"Hainya. Please take good care of Lady Charlotte."
"Don't worry. She'll get used to you through all this."
"I wonder."
As he left the room and closed the door,
"Hm?"
Sensing a gaze, Rishir turned his head.
There, a red-haired woman with striking crimson eyes was watching him.
'Is she trying to enter this room? Oh, right— Someone else was supposed to come.'
Someone to join the young ladies of the two great families.
Rishir immediately realized she was no ordinary person and offered a polite bow.
A courteous nod.
Curiosity flickered in the woman's red eyes.
She pointed at the door of the room Rishir had exited and said,
"Lady Mastien? Lady Bollard?"
'Asking if the two are inside?'
Rishir nodded.
"Yes. Both are inside."
Then, the woman brought the hand that had pointed at the door straight toward Rishir.
She left behind a meaningful smile before entering the room.
'Who is she?'
Rishir set aside his curiosity and departed.
***
Leaving the Bollard mansion, Rishir headed to the streets to gauge the city's atmosphere.
After a quick tour—
'The Star Birth Festival is really happening.'
It hadn't been publicly announced yet, so the streets weren't crowded with ordinary citizens or tourists.
However,
He noticed differences from the usual here and there.
That age group.
That out-of-towner vibe.
And that extraordinary presence.
People who seemed likely to participate in the Star Birth Festival were frequently visible.
'That one looks like a participant. That one too, and that one—'
Rishir felt a peculiar thrill.
Spotting hidden Star Birth Festival participants among the civilians was surprisingly fun.
'That one, and that one too—... Hm?'
In the midst of it,
Rishir sensed a strange tension between two presumed participants across the street.
Passersby glanced at them curiously—
Some even stopped to watch.
'That atmosphere... Is a fight about to break out?'
No sooner had he thought it than one side drew a sword.
Exclamations akin to screams erupted from the onlookers.
'Drawing a sword in the street? With crowds around? This city's too hot-blooded; it's gonna burn down.'
Rishir approached them swiftly, marveling in disbelief.
As he got closer, their conversation emerged from the street noise.
"I'll give you one last chance. Take back what you just said."
"I'd love to—but I have no idea. What mistake did I make? I only said what was true."
"...No helping it. Draw your sword. I challenge you to a duel."
"Kukukuku. Words don't get through to you, huh? As expected. A guy who only understands force. Just what I wanted."
The serious-looking man had drawn first—
But the provocation came from the rough-faced man.
Rishir's thought as he watched their standoff was simple.
'Challenging to a duel and accepting right here, right now?'
A duel in public.
It clearly violated Bondales city law.
'They look like nobles from their sloppy attitudes—'
Rishir recalled the average young noble he'd forgotten about and shuddered.
"Hey, what's going on here!"
Bondales guards arrived just in time.
They immediately surrounded the two and shouted,
"Drop your weapons!"
"You fools! Do you know who this is!"
It was a shout from the man beside the rough-faced one.
In turn, the woman beside the serious-looking man yelled defiantly,
"This concerns the young master's honor—don't interfere!"
"..."
Confusion appeared on the guards' faces.
From the two men's auras and their companions' responses—
They recognized them as nobles.
High-ranking ones at that.
That was why they could rampage so brazenly in broad daylight on a city street.
Of course,
The city guard had the authority to subdue them.
Yet the guards hesitated, fearing backlash if they intervened.
The rough-faced man, satisfied, shouted,
"This isn't a disturbance! It's merely self-defense to protect my honor!"
"That's not the issue."
That was when Rishir stepped forward.
"I am Rishir, Honorary Mage of the Gray Magic Tower. In Bondales, violence in the streets is strictly prohibited. I'm not trying to interfere, but if you respect the city's will, how about moving elsewhere?"
"..."
The arrogant noble group faltered at Rishir's intervention.
'A Magic Tower mage...'
No matter how high-ranking the nobles, they couldn't trifle with them lightly.
And then—
"Mr. Rishir."
A familiar voice.
Someone approached and spoke to him.
It was Maisie, Dray's secretary.
"There you are. Lord Dray is looking for you."
Her gaze was directed at the noble group as she spoke.
"...!"
The previously arrogant nobles showed clear agitation.
The rough-faced man suddenly began glancing at Rishir and said,
"Ahem. Lord Rishir...? Out of respect for you, I'll withdraw from this spot for now—..."
After that, the situation resolved absurdly simply.
The nobles scurried away from the scene.
"Lord Rishir!!! Thank you for your help!!!"
For some reason, the guards thanked him instead of Maisie.
'This works.'
It was unimaginable from his bastard days.
A noble backing down after considering his connections, instead of picking a fight.
Feeling some emotion, he said to Maisie,
"Ms. Maisie. Thank you. I managed to avoid an awkward situation thanks to you."
"No need. Actually, they were the ones who avoided awkwardness.
Right?"
Maisie cast a meaningful glance toward them.
Rishir smiled wryly and replied,
"By the way, is this okay? Because of me, even Lord Dray's name—"
"Not at all. Even for your sake, Ms. Maisie, I wouldn't misuse his name. It is true I came looking for you on business."
"Pardon?"
"To be precise, I was on my way to the Bollard mansion to greet you. I thought you'd still be fulfilling your duties as tutor at this hour—nearly missed you."
"Ah, circumstances— Anyway, what is this business?"
***
"...So, you want me to participate in the Star Birth Festival?"
Rishir arrived where Dray was, following Maisie.
There, he received an unexpected request from Dray.
"Yes. As I said, we obtained information that demon worshippers have planted spies among the participants. I thought no one was more suited to rooting them out than you, so I'm asking cautiously."
"I ask the same, politely."
Then, the person seated beside Dray spoke.
Kordan.
Dray had introduced him as a Star Birth Festival organizer who brought the spy intel.
'Rooting out spies planning to sabotage the Star Birth Festival... undercover as a participant...'
How did it come to this?
Rishir recalled his conversation with Dray's sister Hainya and let out a wry chuckle.
Pushing aside all thoughts, he said to Kordan,
"Do you have any information on the spies?"
"Hm."
Kordan looked at Rishir and Dray as if he'd been waiting and said,
"From the clues gathered so far—the target is likely hiding abnormal power unfit for a Star Birth Festival participant. Do you two know the participation requirements?"
"Age twenty-three or under, right?"
"Exactly. Then, imagine this: a Star Birth Festival participant at the 7th Circle."
Kordan already anticipated their reactions.
They'd surely express disbelief, saying it's unimaginable.
Thus, he continued, expecting as much.
"I can imagine it."
"Indeed. It's utterly unimaginable—..."
The conversation halted.
They exchanged odd looks.
"...Yes. Utterly unimaginable."
Kordan proceeded as if nothing had happened.
"How could someone that age possess such power? Thus, I say clearly: If you find such a person among the participants, subdue and bring them immediately. I guarantee they are the demon worshippers' spy we're seeking."
Kordan spoke with conviction.
"Hm?"
Confirming their reactions, he added,
"Any issues?"