Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest (4)
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EP.236 Uninvited Guest (4)
What is the Night of the Mages?
Lania didn't have particularly fond memories of the Night of the Mages. To her, it was nothing more than a tiresome event.
Mages from all over the capital gathered, and the event was hosted by the six Mage Towers. Given its long-standing tradition, skipping it was out of the question.
'That's not all.'
It wasn't just about attending.
The lords of the six Mage Towers were responsible for handling everything. In short, it was a mountain of annoyances.
Tiresome.
Truly, excessively so.
She had to compile the list of invitees, request cooperation from the knight orders stationed in the capital, send letters to mages from prestigious families... and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
And it didn't end with preparations.
She also had to finalize the research to present at the magi symposium and prepare her speech as the Mage Tower's representative.
"On top of that, if the event schedule gets set so suddenly, it'd be ridiculously busy, right?"
Lania asked with a wry smile.
The girl sitting across from her nodded.
"The schedule does seem tight."
"I bet. That's what being the Next Mage Tower Lord is like."
"Still, it's not overwhelming. If I cut back on sleep a bit, I can manage..."
The ashen Next Mage Tower Lord.
Resti Elena.
Lania tapped the table as she gazed at the girl with purple hair sitting opposite her.
"You look exhausted. Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine."
She said she was fine, but fatigue lingered around Resti's eyes. She was the type who already skimped on sleep to juggle research, studies, and Mage Tower management.
'Even that's a killer schedule...'
Adding preparations for the Night of the Mages on top would mean not just cutting sleep, but pulling all-nighters.
"...Honestly, it does feel a bit overwhelming."
"Yeah. When I was young, I once powered through ten straight days of all-nighters on research, and it wrecked me."
Good times.
She murmured nostalgically, gazing out the window with distant eyes—an expression ill-suited to her early twenties appearance.
"So here's the thing."
Lania set down the teacup she had been fiddling with.
"You can take a break during the festival. Making up missed classes afterward won't be too late."
In truth, there was nothing to make up.
Now into the second semester, Resti had solidified her position as top of her year. She aced most classes...
"Frankly, there's nothing left to teach her."
"To her, our classes are basically review. Can't be helped—she's the head of a Mage Tower representing an entire school of magic."
"Sometimes I learn from her. She's so sharp. After class, she'll quietly come ask questions, and they're always razor-edged."
Even the professors said there was "nothing to teach." In the end, the only classes where she could learn were Lania's and Rosel's.
"Plus, don't you need some personal time?"
Lania tapped under her own eye.
"Remember what you learned from Professor Rtia... I mean, Kelrhalrm?"
Resti nodded.
"I am Kelrhalrm, the mage they call a madman in the world. Sorry for the sudden introduction."
About a month ago, Resti had learned Professor Rtia's true identity straight from the source.
"Lania asked me to teach you."
"Summoner class, with Watcher talent too, right? Then I think I have something to share."
The madman, Kelrhalrm.
A mage who had reached superhuman heights.
But before that, as an educator, he shared various insights and advice on the Summoner class with Resti.
"I've taught a child with Summoner talent before. A wise one—you probably know her."
Celestia von Artanim.
The greatest spirit summoner in history, who commanded high spirits.
"What I learned teaching Celestia. What we researched together. In short, I'll teach you everything I know."
The master who had raised such a summoner, Kelrhalrm.
"One thing before we begin."
"Don't trust the stars. No matter what, don't rely on them. With that said, let's start."
His direct lessons on the Summoner redefined Resti's perspective. The problem was she hadn't had time to put them into practice.
"So, use this chance to rest, do some personal training, and handle event prep. Sound good?"
"...Yeah, that makes sense."
"I'll tell you something after the festival... but that's later. For now, want me to handle the leave procedures?"
"Yes, thank you."
Lania pulled out a quill pen.
She brushed back her stray hair and began writing on a sheet of paper. Resti watched her for a moment.
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of the quill on paper filled the room.
As the document neared completion, Resti spoke up.
"Professor Lania."
"Yeah? What is it."
"What did Lord Raniel think of the Night of the Mages?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I have to write a speech for it."
The upcoming Night of the Mages was like a debut for Resti.
As the Next Mage Tower Lord with almost no public appearances, it was her chance to reveal herself.
To show she was the ashen Next Mage Tower Lord.
That she had successfully ascended.
"Can't quite get a feel for it, huh."
"...Yeah. I heard even the Ashen Mage didn't prepare for the Night of the Mages until shortly after becoming Next Mage Tower Lord, so I wondered how it went..."
"She hated it with a passion."
Pardon? Resti blinked.
Lania shrugged and continued.
"Every time she came home, she'd tear at her hair, screaming she wanted to rip out all the geezer elders' heads... wailing about why she had to do this."
"...The Ashen Mage did?"
"Yep. Even Master was appalled."
Lania chuckled softly.
"But she got it done in the end. You seen that speech?"
Resti nodded.
"A mage must be a seeker of knowledge."
That famous line still got quoted often.
"She finished it the night before. Muttered something about knocking it out quick to get back to research."
"Somehow..."
"Not what you imagined, right?"
Lania propped her chin.
"That's just who she is. And the Night of the Mages isn't worth stressing over. I get what you're thinking."
She gave a faint smile.
"No need to force showing off your Next Mage Tower Lord side. Recognition comes naturally with results."
Forcing it just leads to backlash. Lania patted Resti's shoulder.
"Master mentions you often—says you're doing great. Just keep it up."
"Really?"
"Yep. You're doing plenty well."
Resti's lips twitched at the praise. She covered her mouth with her sleeve.
No one treats the Next Mage Tower Lord of a school like a child. Only a rare few could.
'It'd annoy anyone else.'
But praise from Professor Lania felt good.
Resti bowed her head slightly, hand still over her mouth.
"Thanks for the talk."
"No problem. Good luck—you're busy."
As Resti rose to leave...
"Oh, right."
Lania clapped her hands.
"Resti, one favor?"
"Yes?"
"The Ashen Mage—my brother—left some near-complete magimechanics research, right?"
"The research docs in the vault?"
"...They're in the vault? Why?"
"Magimechanics stuff especially—too many people after it."
"Huh. Really?"
Lania made a strange face.
"Anyway, there's augmented magimechanics among them... thinking of finishing it."
"Making the finished product... yourself?"
Resti blinked.
She knew the augmented magimechanics research. It was under 'restoring ancient magidevices,' frozen just before completion when Raniel left magi studies.
But finish it?
It stalled because they couldn't crack the ancient kingdom's magidevice principles.
'...How?'
As Resti eyed her curiously, Lania looked away and muttered.
"...Picked up a useful relic lately. Went to some ruins on vacation and 'happened' to find it."
...Picked up? Happened to?
Dubious, but Resti nodded slowly.
"Want the related materials?"
"Yeah, if you can. Check for gaps."
"Vault-locked, no loans... but you can read in the tower."
Coming with? Resti asked. Lania nodded.
"Professor Lania."
As they left the office and headed to the tower, Resti asked.
"Where'd you vacation?"
"Hm? Oh, the Land of Ashes."
Resti's steps halted abruptly.
She stared wide-eyed at Lania.
"...You vacationed in the Land of Ashes?"
"Yeah. Great view. Air was a bit hazy."
Vacation... in cursed lands?
Was this a joke? But did Professor Lania joke? Resti's mind reeled.
'...There must be a reason.'
As always, Resti decided to not overthink. Understanding Professor Lania's actions was rare.
2.
"This time, I'll have my revenge on the Ashen Mage. A brutal, miserable, dark revenge...!"
Black Mage Tower Lord Yetual eyed his chattering old friend.
"I've endured years thinking of that damn brat who ruined my business. Now my will bears fruit."
Blue Mage Tower Lord Brick Geoan.
A few years older but aged far worse. Yetual sighed inwardly. More alumni than friend, really.
"What are you on about, Brick."
"You know the humiliation I suffered from the Ashen Mage. The disgrace of that day my business collapsed...!"
Wasn't that just your negligence?
Swallowing the retort, Yetual listened. It boiled down to this.
"The duel challenging the Ashen Mage was for 'mage honor'... and it belongs to House Trias. So Lania van Trias must stand in."
Yetual summarized Brick's rant and pinched his brow.
"Got it right? Brick."
"Spot on! You catch on quick."
Brick's eyes sparkled.
A grown man's eyes twinkling was grotesque, so Yetual kept eyes closed.
One thing to say as a friend.
"Give it up."
"...What?"
"I said give it up."
"Even you!"
Brick's breathing grew ragged.
"Heard you've been chummy with that young mage Lania lately. Protecting her, telling me to quit?"
"Not at all."
"Liar! Favoring some kid over decades-long friends. Disappointing!"
Ha, Yetual chuckled dryly.
"You're misunderstanding, Brick."
Yetual narrowed his eyes at Brick.
"I'm saying give up for your sake, not hers."
"...Saying I'm lesser than her?"
Yetual answered with silence.
Brick took it as insult and raised his voice.
"Ridiculous! Watch, Yetual—I'll prove you wrong and me right."
Yetual shook his head as Brick slammed the table and stormed off.
"...Good luck."
He'd done his alumni duty.
If Brick insisted on hellfire despite advice... Yetual wouldn't stop him.
3.
Most of Ashen Mage Raniel van Trias's research was strictly managed in the Mage Tower.
Documents and materials mostly intact in her old top-floor lab... except magimechanics, stored separately in the vault.
Too many eyed those files.
Raniel's magimechanics work was frozen just shy of completion—missing one piece each.
"Once, dozens of mages wanted copies to finish it."
Of course, none succeeded.
That one piece eluded everyone.
"Then theft attempts surfaced, so all magimechanics went to the vault. Hands off."
"...That happened?"
"A while back."
Chatting with Resti en route to the vault, Lania felt odd.
'...Avoiding eye contact?'
Last visit, subtle glances; now mages bowed heads passing.
Like eye contact was forbidden.
Reminded her of students facing her end of first semester. But this wasn't Aphria.
'They're scared not of me...'
Lania glanced aside.
Mages feared Resti, smiling faintly as she chatted.
"Resti."
"Yes, Professor Lania."
"What'd you do?"
Why're they like that.
"Who knows."
Resti smiled thinly.
"One corrupt elder clung on retirement, caused issues."
Her eyes narrowed.
"His faction protested."
Mages flinched, heads dipping lower.
"But it's sorted now."
Lania got it.
The mages' brooches showed mid-to-high rank—not for lower floors.
'At least mid-level managers.'
Why lower floors? Obvious.
'You danced the blade dance, Resti.'
Rumors checked out—academy Resti vs. Next Tower Lord Resti differed.
"Shall we go, Professor?"
Seeing Resti's smile, Lania recalled her own words.
"Mages, especially Ashen Mage Tower mages..."
"Have foul tempers, twisted somehow."
No exceptions.
Author's Note Packed it full...! Last episode was average length, but felt light... So today, extra full :D