Chapter 97
Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: It Seems I've Hooked the Wrong Fish (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
『There's nothing like real combat when it comes to learning something.』
Those were the words of Kuntel, the sword transcendent—Uncle Kuntel.
I'd always loved that one line. Not because I had any particular experience roaming battlefields myself.
'When it comes to enlightenment, there's nothing like real combat.'
It was spot on. People have to move their bodies to truly get it. Ever since my days as the Next Mage Tower Lord of the Ashen Mage Tower, I'd lived by that creed.
Drawing circuits on paper only satisfied me so much.
Developing spells to shatter or incinerate something? I had to actually smash and scorch things for real to feel content.
'Which is why I had to gut the Mage Tower's spell lab once and rebuild it...'
But that wasn't my problem. Isn't that what budgets are for—fixing and reinforcing stuff like that?
'Honestly, how could anyone hold back from doing it?'
In any case, nothing holds as much value for learning as real combat and experimentation. So, my answer to Rak, who'd come to me for advice, was the same.
'Experience real combat.'
And as far as I knew, the quickest way to do that was the battlefield. Rak had a rough grasp of it now.
A faint thread of insight.
Weaving that into a proper skein wasn't theory's domain. It was the realm of real combat. Rub shoulders with the Demon King's Army, work up a sweat, and it'd naturally sink in.
So, one problem remained.
'How do I get him battlefield experience?'
And at a moderate level, where he could come back with all his limbs intact.
"Hmm..."
I pondered for a moment.
If I were still Raniel, the sage of the Hero Party... it wouldn't have been hard at all.
'Just toss him into some backwater skirmish and pick him up after three or four days.'
But that wasn't possible now. What connection would a mere professor have to the battlefield?
"Hmmm..."
I pondered a bit more.
"Ah, right."
Then it hit me.
The answer was much closer than I'd thought. I clapped my hands with a smack and pulled a single letter from my pocket.
The First Princess, Leryuel.
As a reward for successfully completing her escort mission not long ago, I'd received this letter.
'She said to ask for anything.'
I'd taken it but figured I'd never use it. If ever, it'd be way down the line.
'Didn't expect to cash it in so soon.'
I wrote on the letter right away.
I cut out all the fluff and got straight to the point. That headstrong princess would prefer it that way.
"Ahem, cough, hack."
"...What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Cough."
I finished the letter, ignoring Rak who was hacking away like he'd choked on his coffee.
The paper glowed blue for a moment.
A sign the recipient had read it.
-Wait a moment.
True to form, her reply was short.
I nibbled on the crust of my remaining bread, wondering how to kill time. Even for her, it'd take a little while to reply, I figured.
'Maybe chat a bit.'
I turned to Rak, mouth opening—just as blue text appeared on the paper. Less than five minutes, subjectively.
-You're a bit late.
-I asked the Knight Commander in charge of training, which delayed my reply. Waking a passed-out middle-aged man by shaking him isn't easy. But he answered politely once I asked nicely.
'Nicely?'
Even as I puzzled over her use of "nicely," the text kept coming.
-Apprentice knights have scheduled training.
-Seems to fit the conditions you mentioned, Professor. The Knight Commander's rushing off to write a recommendation. Wait just a bit.
...Why would the Knight Commander know about that?
'Isn't the Knight Commander unrelated to battlefields?'
I scribbled my sudden question onto the paper and sent it. The reply was curt.
-He agreed to the request.
"..."
-Someone in the Knight Commander's position hears all sorts of things. Washing his face with cold water jogged his memory of one story.
"Hmm."
-Water always knows the answer, Professor.
I see.
'Guess that's that, then.'
I decided not to pry further.
"Rak, any scheduled classes?"
"Well, no Combat Magic Department major classes for now. The others are still in prep..."
"Yeah, normal classes are tough until next week anyway."
We had some leeway until then.
"Want to swing by my office in a bit?"
"Pardon?"
"Gotta fill out an off-campus experiential learning form. Three or four days should do it."
"Off-campus experiential learning..."
"Found a spot good for building real combat experience. You hunted in the snowfields up north, right? It's no different."
Except it's hunting Demon King's Army troops.
As I muttered that, Rak swallowed hard and shut his mouth. He looked reluctant.
"Hm?"
I tilted my head at the sight.
"What, you don't want to?"
It was a genuine question.
Rak flinched at my words. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth with a resolved expression.
"No... Thank you..."
"Good, glad to hear it."
I downed the rest of my coffee in one gulp and set the cup down with a clack.
"Was the advice helpful?"
"...Very much so."
It took him a second to answer, but I brushed off the minor detail.
"Right. Do your best."
I flashed a big smile and patted his shoulder heartily. Counseling students is part of an educator's job, after all. Even I thought I was a pretty decent one.
'Feels kinda rewarding.'
Is this the pride of teaching my master talked about? I wasn't sure, but it felt like I'd taken a step toward being an ideal educator.
2.
Resti Eleanoa.
The Next Mage Tower Lord of the Ashen Mage Tower sat in her office. The tower's mages expressed surprise at the sight.
The Next Mage Tower Lord, sitting in the Mage Tower Lord's office.
It should have been the most natural thing. Nothing to be shocked about.
Yet for the past few years, Resti hadn't taken her seat. She'd left the office abandoned under the mages' gazes.
Now, Resti sat there.
A few mages murmured. Resti ignored the buzz. It held no value worth hearing.
Tap.
Her finger brushed the desk.
A cubic magic tool caught on her slender fingertip. It rested neatly atop organized documents.
Left by the former Next Mage Tower Lord.
Raniel van Trias's documents.
Obtained via Professor Lania, this magic tool contained data that could shake the Mage Tower. Resti pondered how to use it.
'Can't just use it raw.'
Resti had no faction. No power base.
Unleashing it herself wouldn't yield much impact.
'It could shut the elders up for a bit...'
But only that.
The elders might quiet down temporarily, but they'd gnaw at her from behind.
Resti knew her shortcomings.
She had no supporters, no influence.
Knowing the problem made craving a solution simple. You don't fill lacks yourself. Seek what you miss in others.
Resti closed her eyes.
'I've turned a blind eye until now...'
Knock knock. She opened her eyes at the sound. Pale purple irises half-lidded.
"Come in."
Resti spoke.
'Time to face it.'
She voiced her guest's name.
"Elder Zilleon."
An elderly man entered through the open door.
He'd retained his dignity through long years. His back wasn't bent. His staff wasn't for support.
'A symbol of his elder status.'
Zilleon, the longest-serving elder of the Ashen Mage Tower, halted before Resti. He looked down at her seated form.
"Why have you summoned me, Next Mage Tower Lord?"
His voice differed from usual.
His gaze, too. Because she'd called him as the Next Mage Tower Lord, not Resti.
A chilling voice, a chilling gaze.
Facing what she'd always avoided, Resti spoke. Her voice didn't waver.
"Elder Zilleon."
She said.
"Have you never thought there are too many elders?"
"...What are you saying?"
Resti touched the magic tool.
Documents she'd compiled from the data projected above it. Elder Zilleon's brows furrowed as he viewed them.
"..."
But only briefly.
"...This is."
Zilleon's eyes widened.
The chill vanished, replaced by bewilderment.
Resti didn't miss the shift.
"I think there are too many."
Tap. Resti touched the desk again.
Platinum shimmer entered her purple eyes.
To her, the Ashen Mage Tower had too much excess.
In circuit terms, pointless restrictions binding the lines. Restrictions should yield returns, but here? Nothing.
'Unnecessary constraints.'
They cluttered the circuits.
She wanted to dismantle and excise them at once, but it was impossible. Entwined with other lines, she had to uproot them from the source.
How to uproot them?
The answer stood before her.
Resti's eyes faced forward.
"Do we really need six?"
Her first step as Next Mage Tower Lord.
The first one could be bold. Resti enunciated each word firmly.
"I think half would suffice."
Don't want to be halved? Ally with me.
I need your faction.
"What do you think, Elder Zilleon?"
Her platinum-shimmering eyes met the oldest elder's. Even before a man weathered by time, they held no retreat.
A gamble.
Resti had no intention of backing down further.
3.
In charge of apprentice knight training.
Instructor Feig faced the dilemma of a lifetime. He was a simple man, faithful to his duties.
'Fulfill the instructor's role.'
Opinions on that faithfulness varied, but Feig believed properly drilling discipline into apprentices made a great instructor.
To that end, he'd bulked up.
To cow the apprentices, he always wore a fierce scowl to project intimidation.
But now, no time for such thoughts.
'What in the world is going on?'
Feig's eyes shook.
His mask-like scowl shook too.
'Why is that one here?'
How could it not shake?
Who wouldn't falter seeing that face mixed among the apprentices? Even in the line, that one stood out.
Snow-white hair.
Blood-red eyes.
Feig recognized the iconic look. The handaxe at the youth's waist confirmed it.
'Rak van Grace.'
Son of the Northern Duke, Eryahl van Grace.
'Why is the young master here?'
Unable to contain his curiosity, Feig called Rak from the apprentices into the barracks.
"Wh-Why is Young Master Rak in a place like this...?"
"For experiential learning."
"...Pardon?"
"For experiential learning."
The answer was the same.
Even using honorifics toward him. Feig couldn't grasp how to handle this.
"What do you...?"
As Feig blinked, Rak pulled a paper from his pocket and held it out.
"I'd appreciate your signature."
Experiential Learning Report.
So it read.
'What the hell is this?'
The situation grew more baffling.
Fifth year as training instructor. His greatest ordeal yet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Author's Note
Lately, I've been thoroughly enjoying the author with alcohol addiction's 'Agree to Terms Carefully'.
I don't know Genshin, but it's still fun to read.
Every time a new character shows up, I end up searching for their Genshin PV. The graphics are gorgeous. Watching PVs got YouTube's algorithm shoving Genshin videos at me. Like I was possessed, I watched a 'Beginner Genshin Guide!' despite no plans to play.
Watched it all.
Installed Genshin.
After 2 hours of play, I did a 10-pull.
No pretty characters, just 10 weapons.
Learned my lesson: Enjoy Genshin as a novel only.