Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Looking for a New Job (3)
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"But professor?"
"Don't I teach at an academy?"
>
I nodded.
>
She'd been going out frequently these past few days, so I'd asked about it. I remembered it being called Aphria Academy.
>
"The dean there asked me if I knew any decent teachers nearby. So I thought I'd recommend you."
"Me?"
"You're not planning to return to the Mage Tower right away anyway, right? You've turned down every offer that's come in."
"That's true."
>
Several Mage Towers had sent letters over the past few days. Things like wanting to meet me, offering high positions, and so on...
>
'I turned them all down.'
>
I'd rejected every single one.
There were two main reasons. First, the nature of those Mage Towers. Unlike the Ashen Mage Tower, their high positions were basically poison.
>
'If I took one, I'd end up saddled with every responsibility under the sun.'
>
That was exactly the kind of thing I hated.
>
And the second reason was obviously this body of mine.
With rumors about me spreading like wildfire every day, if word got out about my current appearance...
>
"Ugh."
>
Just thinking about it was horrifying.
It was far better to stay a bit mysterious like this— a hundred, a thousand times better.
>
"And didn't you say it yourself? That this body is your second life or whatever."
"I... did say that."
>
I trailed off, breaking into a cold sweat.
>
-How did you end up back in a body like that?
> -Yeah, Raniel. You've always got some plan.
>
-Got another clever idea this time? If you do, convince me.
>
Back then, to avoid getting roasted by lightning, I'd bluffed a bunch. Build up achievements in this body, return to the Ashen Mage Tower...
>
Yeah, something like that.
It was a hasty excuse, but not entirely empty words.
>
I couldn't live as Raniel anymore.
>
More precisely, as long as I was Raniel, I couldn't return to the Ashen Mage Tower.
>
I'd already left it of my own accord once. I'd stepped down from the Next Mage Tower Lord position.
Even with the grand cause of 'Demon King subjugation,' from the Tower's perspective, it was nothing but betrayal.
>
The elders who'd trusted and supported me.
The current Tower Lord who'd willingly handed me the future seat.
>
It was a betrayal of their expectations.
>
And now, to return without even slaying the Demon King and demand the Next Mage Tower Lord spot?
>
'That'd just make me trash. Something a guy like Kyle would do.'
>
They already had a successor lined up anyway.
Declaring at this point that I, as Raniel, wanted to return to the Ashen Mage Tower... it'd be a huge nuisance in every way.
>
'Even if I go back to the Ashen Mage Tower, it'll be under a new identity. As someone who's built achievements from scratch.'
>
I had no intention of living this second life as Raniel. Enduring tedious responsibilities and forced duties was enough for one lifetime.
>
Not as a member of the Hero Party, Raniel.
Just as a single mage.
>
For that, I was prepared to discard even my name. Who needs a name on the path of magic?
>
'So Master recommends the Academy's letter instead of the Mage Tower's... Huh?'
>
As I gathered my thoughts, a sudden question popped up.
>
"Come to think of it, you said you're a professor there?"
"That's right."
"Is that academy big enough to have someone like you on staff?"
>
An elder of the Ashen Mage Tower.
A mage recognized as a sage by ancient dragons.
That's what my master was.
>
Thinking about it, she wasn't the type to just teach at some academy. A dean, maybe.
>
At my question, Master let out an exasperated chuckle.
>
"Well, five years ago, that would've made sense."
"Pardon?"
"If you recognize any of these names, speak up."
>
Master spread her fingers wide, then folded them one by one as she continued.
>
"Zickbelt of Creation Flame."
"Ah, I know that guy. Famous on the second front lines."
"Lucifel of Illusory Horror."
"Ah, that shaman? Thanks to him, we took down the Black Knights easier. You know him too, Master?"
"...Rox of Turbulence."
"Ah, the one who caused the landslide."
>
Somehow, I knew all of them.
At minimum, I'd faced each on the battlefield at least once, and they'd been a big help, so the names stuck.
>
"You must've followed the war closely, Master? You know all their names."
"...They're all graduates of Aphria. Kids who passed through my hands at least once."
"Oh..."
>
Indeed.
>
"Sigh..."
>
Master shook her head with a sigh.
>
"Sometimes I feel like I'm more worldly than you. Raniel, if you don't want to be called an old fogey out there, you should read the papers."
"Huh? Old fogey? What are you saying? Back in my day, the academy was..."
"That's exactly what makes you an old fogey, Raniel."
>
Way too harsh.
>
"Anyway, those graduates' battlefield feats, the rising prestige of mages... all sorts of factors combined have made Aphria Academy's reputation nothing to scoff at now."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Even the royals are sending people there. The Fourth Princess has expressed interest in enrolling."
>
The Fourth Princess...
No, wait a minute.
>
"That Stella...?"
"Yes, the one born with mana loved by the stars."
>
I widened my eyes.
If even that princess was applying...
>
"Hm."
>
I felt so out of touch with the times.
Had I turned into an old geezer in just five years?
As I stared blankly into space with a hollow gaze, Master cleared her throat and continued.
>
"Well, this incoming class has several talents lined up besides the princess. Kids from noble families, and ones with exceptional gifts."
"Hm."
"Teaching them should naturally boost your own reputation, right? And you could build connections useful for the future."
>
It made sense. Aphria really was a good stage for a fresh start.
>
"Will you do it?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
>
I nodded.
>
"Then let's get it done quick."
"Huh? Get what done?"
>
Master smiled.
>
"We need to give you a new identity."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
>
"Pardon? What did you say?"
>
The Fourth Princess, Aila, blinked.
>
"Professor Rosel adopted a daughter?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Suddenly?"
>
Aila tilted her head.
>
Of course, mages adopting heirs wasn't rare. Given magic's heavy reliance on talent, adopting and raising gifted children was common.
>
The issue was that the adopter was 'Rosel van Trias.'
>
An elder of the Ashen Mage Tower.
The master of that illustrious Ashen Mage, Raniel.
>
Such a person taking an adopted daughter wasn't something to brush off lightly.
>
"What's her name?"
"Not publicly known, but the paperwork lists 'Lania van Trias.'"
"Hmm..."
>
Something smelled fishy.
>
"Appearance?"
"No one's seen her yet."
"That's not how it's usually done so quietly."
>
The adoption ceremonies Aila remembered from mage families were excessively lavish. They weren't just adoptions—they declared heirs and warned rival families.
>
'But they did it quietly, without telling anyone...?'
>
Her fingertips prickled.
Aila lightly bit her index finger—a bad habit she'd been warned about countless times, but unavoidable.
>
This was the stars' signal to her.
>
'Lania van Trias.'
>
She repeated the name inwardly.
The stars whispered in her ear.
Remember that name.
>
"Hmmm."
>
A faint smile curved Aila's lips.
Her prickling fingertip burned hot. It had been ages since she'd gotten such a strong 'signal.'
>
"This is interesting."
>
Aila narrowed her eyes.
Lania van Trias, Professor Rosel's adopted daughter.
She had a feeling they'd be deeply entangled.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 3.
💬 Whispers in the Tower — Mage A Professor Rosel adopted a daughter, they say. — Mage B ...Really? — Mage C The one who showed no interest in Resti? — Mage D ...This could get big... — Mage E Still no word on Raniel-nim's whereabouts? Maybe... It was noisy.
— Mage F So what happens to Resti? — Mage G Don't call her by name. She's the Next Mage Tower Lord for now. — Mage H ...Not set in stone yet. — Mage I That girl... well, for now... It was noisy.
— Mage J She'll be at Aphria Academy for a while, so no worries? She wanted it herself. — Mage K Besides, if we're talking pure talent... — Mage L Looking forward to this adopted daughter Professor Rosel took in. — Mage M Wonder what kind this time... The Next Mage Tower Lord of the Ashen Mage Tower.
The girl slated for that position, Resti, plugged her ears.
— Mage N ...Nothing special. — Mage O If we're talking talent. — Mage P Rather, Raniel-nim. — Mage Q Even now. She walked through the noise seeping past her plugged ears. No one even glanced at Resti as she passed.
>
Pretending not to see her.
Or maybe truly blind to her.
>
It had dragged on so long that Resti had given up distinguishing.
>
'Annoying.'
>
Resti scowled.
>
'Better if he never came back. Just died there.'
>
She swallowed the execution-worthy words and walked through the Mage Tower.
>
'Why come back now? Why?'
>
His traces lingered everywhere.
Not a corner of the Tower escaped that Ashen Mage's touch.
>
Resti hung her head a bit lower.
She couldn't escape his shadow.
>
Whatever she did, she was compared to him. Whatever height she reached, she was belittled against him.
>
-He did it at thirteen.
> -Raniel-nim reached that realm years before you.
>
-Five years since he left, and you're still...
>
Voices echoed like hallucinations in her ears.
Resti bit her lip hard.
>
"......"
>
Would it get better at Aphria Academy?
She hated this suffocating Tower.
As she walked on, Resti suddenly stopped.
>
'Lania van Trias.'
>
The name the mages had mentioned earlier.
The one Elder Rosel—who'd shown her no interest—had adopted as a daughter.
>
'You're pitiful too.'
>
Resti chewed on the name, letting out a bitter smile.
>
'You'll be compared to death. Belittled endlessly.'
>
Just like her, compared to the former Next Mage Tower Lord.
She'd be measured against Rosel's first disciple, that brilliant Ashen Mage.
>
Walking in the shadow of that great Ashen Mage, forever compared.
>
Resti felt an odd kinship toward this girl she'd never even seen. Enough to want to meet her face at least once.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ✎ Author's Note I wrote this chapter like an introduction to the characters. It got a bit expository, but I felt like we needed one like this before diving into the main story. *The princess uses 'nim' with Raniel not due to status, but out of pure respect. *Kept the 5 chapters per week...!