Chapter 64
Chapter 64
64
EP18 - Christmas Bells Ring Over the Snowy Ruins (9)
“I have something to confess.”
“Frankly, [Illusion Magic] is for wizards.”
“Can a crow become a stork just by stretching its legs? Will drawing lines on a pumpkin make it a watermelon? Only noble wizards can wield [Illusion Magic], and we assassins are merely imitating it clumsily.”
“You must be wondering how Gray is ascending despite this. Don't worry. I understand everything. I mean, wouldn't I, as his Professor, be surprised by our kid's achievements? Like dog, like master. Like Student, like Professor. Then, surely, one of Gray's Professors must be a wizard, right?”
“But the saying 'like Student, like Professor' is a bit strange, isn't it? How poor was the lab in the past that the Head praised the potty pads? If the Student resembles the Professor, then the Head's advisor must have also praised potty pads, and the Head's advisor's predecessor must have also researched in such a poor environment that they praised potty pads. It's almost like achieving continental recognition with research done in a toilet. Indeed, it's understandable that only wizards are noble enough to wield [Illusion Magic] perfectly….”
“As I speak, Gray's ranking has risen another two places. How is Parhan, being taught by the great genius Head Galua, doing? Ah, unfortunately, he hasn't scored much. The gap is narrowing by half a point every two minutes. At this rate, the score difference will close by 30 points per hour, but it doesn't really matter, does it? After all, Gray must have learned Illusion Magic from a magic Professor. Because only wizards can properly wield [Illusion Magic], so all the glory will go to the wizards, right?”
“But the Head should also be nervous. One elixir for every 10 points, and with a simple calculation, the difference will likely be over 900 points, right? That's 90 elixirs, and that's the minimum. If you take 90 elixirs from the Head's vault, the storehouse will be emptied, but the bet is sacred, so what can we do? Surely, the Head doesn't want to back out of the bet now? No? Of course not. I've heard that the Head never backs down, no matter the crisis, even if the lie of plagiarism haunts Hiaka like a ghost. So, he can't back out of this bet either, and I sadly have no choice but to empty the Head's storehouse and take 90 elixirs…… Head? Head?”
“Head. Where are you going, Head! Head Professor Galua! Where is the examiner going during the exam! Are you running away using 『Teleport』 while I'm talking!?”
“…Draw your sword, Great Weapon (whisper)….”
“Aigoo!! Oh my god, what is going on! Are you alright, Head?”
“As expected of the Head, a Grandmaster-level wizard. He's unharmed even after such a collision! It seems something invisible interfered with the Teleport. Don't worry too much about it and come here. There are still 21 hours left until the exam deadline……”
“Hey! Catch Head Galua! Collider! Catch that old man running away!!”
That day, in the [Magic Forest], an old man's scream echoed.
⋮
───
1. Elise 1,012
2. Gray 992
3. Parhan 754
───
As night fell and the Students mostly left, the second day of the exam ended.
Now, only one day remained.
* * *
“Good work, everyone.”
“Good work, everyone.”
The Professors and assistants sighed and took turns. As they did, they gazed at the 'tree' the Students were creating.
At the edge of District 9. About 4,000 meters above sea level. A tree was being created.
Still buried in white mist, so the whole thing wasn't visible, but it was a truly massive and enormous tree.
A tree being created by a whopping 1,200 Students giving it their all.
Was this what the [World Tree] from ancient myths felt like? It was said that humanity went through an ice age when it burned and disappeared. With a tree this huge, it's starting to make a little sense.
“That's being made 7km away right now…?”
“Roughly? It's 4km high. The distance is about 6km, so it's 7.2km away.”
“Wow…. It doesn't feel real….”
The Professors clicked their tongues.
“Who is this Head Professor 'Cain'…? How did he create such an absurdly large [Illusion Magic] framework?”
“I know. It seems like even a decent [Challenger] wouldn't be able to do it.”
The Professors who didn't know 'Cain' could only admire him.
The Professors who knew 'Cain' glanced at Dante.
Especially Galua, whose ears were bleeding.
'At only thirty years old, he's reached such a level?'
This wasn't just a simple final exam question.
At only thirty years old, he was presenting a new dimension to continental Illusion Magic.
“Would you like to see something? Professor Dante.”
“Yes, Dean.”
Then, Dean of the Faculty of Magic Ezekiel called Dante. The two headed to a secluded place.
“Things are working out better than expected.”
“Did the royal family approve?”
“It's not confirmed yet. But the agenda has been passed to the royal family's supreme council.”
Ezekiel had no intention of ending this new dimension of [Illusion Magic] with a final exam question.
It was too amazing to be consumed by a mere academy event.
So, he wanted to expand the scale.
But if he wanted to expand the scale, the half-destroyed academy wouldn't have enough power, so he needed the royal family's support.
“The supreme council meeting is tomorrow. I hear there are some opposing elders and ministers. I have to go and persuade them.”
“…Is that so. If possible, please take me with you.”
“No. I can't do that. Because 'Cain' must never appear in official settings.”
“Even if it's an official setting, it's the royal family.”
“I believe there are Kreutz spies even in the royal family. Don't worry too much about it. Leave the royal family's affairs in the hands of the royal family.”
“Please.”
If Ezekiel persuaded the royal family tomorrow, all the Illusion Magic users in this kingdom would participate in Dante's final exam.
'That would be quite a sight…….'
After finishing his thoughts, Ezekiel disappeared with 『Teleport』.
As Dante was about to return to the Professors' quarters, a soft fragrance reached his nose.
Dante turned and headed deeper into the forest. There, a mountain cabin he hadn't seen before had appeared.
Dante sensed that it was an invitation for him. And decided to accept it.
* * *
When I opened the mountain cabin door, my lab unfolded before me.
It was all [Illusion Magic].
As I sat in the chair, the door quietly opened. A Student tiptoed in like a cat. Walking on tiptoes seemed to be a habit. Then, he made eye contact with me.
“What business do you have with me?”
“…….”
It was Gray Habanero.
The eyes that were always full of anxiety and trembling were nowhere to be seen. He looked comfortable.
“…….”
Then, Gray moved, jumped onto the desk, walked over, and sat on the edge. He had come too close to me.
After a strange silence, Gray chuckled playfully. Even revealing his snaggletooth. But the corners of his eyes were somewhat sunken.
“…Are you using my sword well?”
He seemed to be talking about the 「Dagger of Swiftness」 I confiscated on my first day of appointment.
“I sold it.”
“It was expensive…. Did you get a good price?”
“I wonder. What's the matter?”
“No, well, do I have to have a reason to call you? I can call you just to talk about life….”
I cut him off.
“Let's not do that later. It's not appropriate for an exam supervisor to meet with a Student.”
“Eh? Why are you being so stiff….”
“If you have nothing to say, I'll be going.”
As I was about to get up, Gray got off the desk and sat on my lap.
With that slight weight, I ended up sitting back in the chair.
His hand holding my sleeve was covered in tattoos.
“…….”
The playful expression was gone.
He moved his lips.
But no words came out.
And so, in the subtle silence.
After a few seconds.
A sunken voice flowed out.
“…Wings.”
“Wings.”
When I asked back, he nodded.
“…I did that.”
His breathing lowered.
His eyes started to shake.
“…….”
I thought for a moment. What did he mean by this? I didn't look at the 【Script】 and just kept thinking. Then I answered.
“Yes.”
Slowly.
His gray eyes narrowed.
“…Is that right?”
“Right.”
“…Right? Not Professor, but this Gray did it, right?”
“…….”
“…Huh?”
“……Why? Why don't you say it's right…?”
It was meaningless to me. If it made someone's heart feel better, wouldn't that be enough?
“It's right. You did it.”
“…….”
Then Gray lowered his body. Then, he suddenly buried his forehead in my chest.
The weight of his shallow head pressed against my chest.
It was an embarrassing position that could easily be misunderstood. A voice flowed out from his head buried in my clothes, saying, ‘…Uh.’ In that short nasal sound, we knew that several languages had passed between him and me.
Immediately after, he got up and sat back on the desk.
“You asked what I needed earlier, right? I have something to say.”
“I'm listening.”
“Our Habanero family. We're a prestigious Illusion Magic family.”
“I know.”
“We're one of the top three on the continent. In the old days, the Empire and Kreutz and other places tried to take us away for a lot of money.”
“That's right. It's history I know too.”
“Yeah. But now, a lot of people have died, and the technology is almost cut off. The family decided to give everything that's left to one genius, they said? Selection and concentration. That's it.”
I know.
“…It would be an honor to teach such a kid, right…?”
He glanced at me.
“Is that so?”
“Of course~ Because it'll be the best Student in your career history? You can go anywhere and say you taught me, ate with me, went to the sauna with me, did everything. You can brag about it. Wow, it's a privilege. Right…?”
“…….”
When I didn't answer, Gray glanced at me again.
“…Do you know this too? What I'm saying?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know? …No, I mean. You should know it's an honor. Because if you teach me, I'll be the best Student in your life.”
So, he was going around in circles asking me to teach him Illusion Magic. I paused for a moment and answered.
“If you want to learn from me, take first place and apply.”
Then Gray frowned.
“No, I can definitely get first place…. But that's just teaching one skill….”
“Isn't that enough?”
“It's not enough, no, it's not necessary…. Ah, what I'm trying to say is, don't you want to teach me? Gray.”
“I don't know.”
“No, why are you doing this…? You know everything….”
“I don't know.”
The word 'I don't know' poured out continuously.
Gray bit his lip at the feast.
“……Say it again. Carefully.”
“What?”
He took out a knife and pointed it at my neck.
“Say it. I want to teach you. I don't want to teach you.”
I knew it was [Illusion Magic].
Clang-!
I [Interference] with my fingertips and shattered it. Gray's shoulders flinched in surprise.
“I don't know.”
He frowned again at my words.
“No, why are you doing this? I just explained everything from the great past history of Habanero to who the genius who inherited that history is. And you still don't know what I'm trying to say…?”
“I don't know.”
“Why…? Why don't you know, why…?? Are you stupid, Professor? Did you become stupid from only researching Illusion Magic…? Why don't you understand?”
“I don't know.”
His mouth twisted as if he was dumbfounded.
“…Okay, then…. I don't know either. …I don't know!”
“…….”
“I'm not the type to cling pathetically. I don't want to learn from a Professor who doesn't want me either…? It's ridiculous, really…. There are so many people in the world who like Gray, what are you that you don't even know how precious I am―”
He started muttering on and on.
Actually, I was teasing him because his reaction was funny.
I needed Gray in the 「Betting Table」.
So, I decided to stop joking here.
“It was a joke.”
“I was just getting my hopes up and ruining my mood……, …Huh??”
His surprised eyes turned to me.
“…What?”
“It was a joke. I want to be your advisor too.”
“…….”
His shoulders flinched again.
Then he slowly turned his head away.
“…You don't like me?”
But, his snaggletooth stuck out.
He doesn't like me?
“Then I'll quit.”
His head turned back around quickly.
“Ehh? No, why does it turn out like that…??”
“I was rejected, so what can I do?”
“…Me saying I don't like you doesn't mean I'm rejecting you…. No, but why are you so lacking in persistence as a man? You should hold on at least once even if I say I don't like you……??”
“Why should I do that?”
“Professor!”
Gray frowned.
“Professor, you have no experience with women, do you? You only know how to act cool, but you're actually a virgin, a loser, a nerd, your hands shake when you talk to women……”
⋮
Anyway, in such a strange push and pull.
We had reached some kind of conclusion.
Now it was time to say goodbye.
“…I'll get first place.”
Gray waved his hand with a cautious face.