Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest (2)
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There exists one known as the Ancient Dragon Mage.
No one knows when or from what era that mage first appeared. From even before the times called ancient, long before the founding of Arcadia... from time immemorial, that mage has existed in the world.
Some call the Ancient Dragon Mage this way.
The Primordial Mage.
The first human to forge a pact with the stars.
He achieved immortality within a mortal body, became a friend to dragons, and ascended to a transcendent being equal to the stars themselves. The three hundred circuits he wove form the foundation of every circuit in existence today.
And so.
To any who delve into the study of magecraft, the Ancient Dragon Mage is akin to a living deity.
"What the hell is that senile lizard bastard doing here?"
And right now, in this very place, someone was blaspheming against that god.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
As the eyes of the Black Mage Tower Master and the ashen (former) Next Mage Tower Lord widened in shock, Cardi shrugged and continued.
"Stands by and watches while disasters unfold. Clings to his faith unchanging. And yet after tens of thousands of years, he's still chasing skirts... Not that he's even human. Half that blood is dragon."
Cardi twisted the corner of his mouth.
"That's why I call him a senile lizard bastard. What else should I call him? Beats me."
"...That's going too far."
The Black Mage Tower Master finally couldn't hold back and furrowed his brow.
"I respect your knowledge of magecraft and your skill in alchemy..."
"It's 'you,' not 'you lot.' Who're you calling casually when you're at least thirteen centuries my junior..."
Tsk, Cardi clicked his tongue.
Yetual pressed his brow and let out a sigh.
'What a boomer elf.'
Chewing over the word "boomer" in his mind, Yetual continued in a sigh-tinged voice.
"...I know your achievements in magecraft are profound. But that doesn't mean we can overlook insults to the Ancient Dragon Mage, does it?"
This was the Ancient Dragon Mage, no less.
Insulting that legendary figure in front of other mages could only be seen as a death wish.
"Lucky no one's around to hear it..."
Yetual shook his head slowly.
"Yeah, Cardi. That was too much."
Raniel, standing beside Yetual, nodded vigorously as well. She didn't disagree with him much.
"I've met him in person, and he's not the type to deserve that kind of trash talk? He's a bit eccentric, sure..."
"Wasn't that back when you were still a guy?"
"...Well, yeah? But what's that got to do with it?"
Raniel tilted her head.
She'd only crossed paths with the Ancient Dragon Mage twice: once during her time as Next Mage Tower Lord... and the second right after the black dragon subjugation.
"You've never met him in that body."
"Nope."
"Then go meet him this time and see for yourself."
Cardi shot Raniel a sidelong glance with his rotting eyes. It was the look of someone dredging up old memories.
"Wonder if the eye I gouged out is still there."
"What?"
"Didn't that lizard have a scar near his eye? Around here, probably. Like it got seared..."
Cardi tapped his own left eye.
Raniel narrowed her eyes, rummaging through her memories. Midway, she let out a dumbstruck noise.
"...Huh?"
"From your reaction, looks like it is."
"No, wait a sec..."
As Raniel floundered, Cardi turned to Yetual. Unable to follow their conversation, Yetual blinked in confusion.
"Black Mage Tower Master."
"W-What?"
"I owe you one, so here's some advice: when that lizard shows up, hide Chloe's identity."
"...Why?"
Cardi tsked again.
"He said she looks like his first love. If his first love hasn't changed in centuries, he'll be throwing pickup lines her way."
"What the hell?"
That refined gentleman, hitting on her?
To a girl thousands of years his junior, no less?
"No way that makes any sense..."
Yetual couldn't even picture such an absurd scenario. Just imagining it felt blasphemous.
"Right? Sounds insane, doesn't it?"
But for some reason.
"That's what I thought at first too."
The pitiful expression on the elf before him, staring right at him, felt all too vividly real.
"Just be careful. That lizard isn't the noble being you imagine."
"Especially."
Cardi turned away with a short sigh.
"He's no one worth your faith. A god who turns a blind eye to the hell unfolding in the mortal world and merely observes? Worthless. Don't waste devotion on something valueless."
As if there was nothing more to say, Cardi reached for his reagents. He meant to resume his alchemy.
"...I'll keep the advice in mind."
Realizing further talk was pointless, Yetual left the lab. Raniel, still in the room, approached Cardi before leaving.
"So what happens if I meet him like this?"
"Experience it yourself. Can't put that bullshit into words."
"No, seriously, what the...?"
What on earth had he seen to react like that? Unable to comprehend Cardi's reaction, Raniel just tilted her head.
2.
The Night of the Mages was being held.
Coinciding with the Ancient Dragon Mage's visit, no less.
It was the third night since I'd heard the news. As I lounged in the mansion's parlor fiddling with odds and ends, my master approached me.
"Raniel. Do you remember the Blue Mage Tower Master?"
"Mm, uh..."
Blue is such a pain in the ass.
That thought hit first, followed belatedly by his face. I clapped my hands and answered my master's question.
"The hunched-over boomer?"
"...His back is hunched. Looks like you remember what he looks like."
"Hard to forget when he picks fights at every Mage Tower meeting."
The Blue Mage Tower Master.
I remembered him as the one who'd spout all sorts of nonsense: too young, doesn't know humility...
'He backed off after I folded his back like origami at one meeting, though...'
He was a nosy old fart who nitpicked everything.
"But why the Blue Mage Tower Master?"
"He sent a letter."
I took the letter my master handed me and unfolded it. Neat handwriting, utterly obnoxious contents.
「Raniel van Trias, Ashen Sorceress, answer the postponed duel. If you're a mage, I trust you won't dodge this. Rematch. Ashen.」
...Rematch?
I blinked at my master.
She gestured lightly, as if to say read it all first.
「I clearly remember you using 'cowardly' and 'underhanded' tactics to ruin the Blue Mage Tower's magic tool business. And the day I came to confront you about it, you said this.」
"Ah."
Right.
「Prove it with skill if it bothers you. What can I do if I'm better than you?」
Not particularly cowardly or underhanded, but yeah, I said that.
'Probably around when I wrecked their magic tool business.'
Each colored Mage Tower has its main field of research.
They rarely overlapped. I'd heard it was etiquette not to encroach on each other's domains.
But bluntly, that wasn't my problem.
The Ashen Mage Tower was built to restore ancient kingdom tech, so it didn't specialize. In short, we dabbled in everything: magic tools, alchemy, spell engraving...
So I'd tried my hand at magic tools too.
"It was just a blue ocean, so I jumped in."
Nothing major.
The magic tool market was basically the Blue Mage Tower's monopoly, but their stuff looked like crap next to what I could make...
'I researched it.'
Succeeded and mass-produced.
'Dumped it on the market.'
Cheaper than Blue Mage Tower's.
Result? The Blue Mage Tower took a huge hit after gorging on monopoly gold. But wasn't that on them?
"If it bugs you, make better ones."
Blame the complacent Blue Mage Tower.
Idiots thinking the market was their rice bowl.
'What'd I say back then?'
The answer was in the letter.
「Prove it at the Magic Conference if you're so mad. Mage society is all about competition, right? If you hate me and can't stand the Ashen Mage Tower succeeding, prove it in front of everyone.」
Written in handwriting pressed hard enough to dent the paper.
「The Blue Mage Tower's magic tools are far superior to the Ashen ones. Prove that, and it's done. Or are you scared?」
...Did I really say it that rudely?
"Did I say all that?"
"If anything, it was worse."
"Oof..."
Still, Blue deserved it.
Admiring my past self's attitude, I finished the letter.
「You said prove it at the Magic Conference. Anytime works, and you'd gladly accept the challenge.」
Yeah, I did.
About six years ago, I think.
「You've been on the battlefield these past years, but not anymore. You're retired. So face me in our rematch.」
A few more lines followed, but nothing substantial.
'TL;DR: if I don't duel, something about mage honor...'
Honestly, no reason to accept. I set the letter down and looked at my master.
"Kinda out of nowhere."
"Seems like he's got ulterior motives."
My master sighed.
"He's sure the real 'Raniel' won't show if he calls like this, so he's stirring things up. Probably plans to call you out at the Magic Conference."
"Me?"
"Yes. Didn't the letter mention the honor of House Trias? With Raniel gone, you'll have to inherit it, or some nonsense. Refusing wouldn't hurt you anyway."
I agreed.
I'd already retired from the Ashen Mage Tower. Skipping the duel wouldn't tarnish my rep.
"It's just him throwing a tantrum."
"Pretty much."
"So, what'll you do?"
"Hmm."
Click. Clank.
"Master."
I handed her the "something" I'd been assembling. She took it curiously, then her eyes went wide.
"...What's this?"
A bluish glow from her hand.
Magic tools I'd scavenged from Arcadia with the homeowner's permission not long ago. More precisely, modernized versions I'd improved based on them.
"Wh-where did you get something like this, Raniel?"
"A friend gave 'em to me?"
"...A friend?"
"Yeah. Kinda weird personality, but a good friend."
Ancient Kingdom Arcadia.
Magic tools preserving ancient magitech beyond current capabilities.
Clank.
I gathered the scattered magic tools and beamed innocently at my master.
"What should we do?"
Author's Note
Finished quicker than expected, so here it is early :D