Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Right Way #4
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Is this what a pressure interview is really like?
A bunch of people sat around me in a circle, arms crossed, humming and putting on grave airs as I sat in the chair.
In the cramped room, bearded Gandalf-types glared at me with stern expressions.
Among them, an old wizard in a white robe directed a question at me.
"So, you read this text? The characters on this magic circle say Agalares?"
I nodded at the old man's words.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Agalares. Indeed, Agalares. Then, can you read this text written here? On this brick."
The brick the old man held out to me had letters stamped on it like a factory logo. Etched there were the letters for Halphas.
"Halphas."
「You take a step closer to the mysteries of the world.
You gain job experience for 'Wizard'. +50」
「Amazing magic trick!
Job: Wizard level rises.
Wizard Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
You're a novice wizard now too!」
Reading the text granted me experience points, and my Wizard level went up.
At the same time, I felt a tingling current-like sensation flow from my fingertips to my toes. I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't a bad feeling.
As I glanced around, I saw the old folks whispering among themselves.
"Good heavens— it was Halphas."
"Yeah, no wonder the Hajoo ritual wasn't working. The calculations were off from the start!"
"Knowing the exact name is crucial. The barrier patrols will love this."
It wasn't exactly a pleasant sight, watching the old men surround me and cluck their tongues with "oh dear, tsk tsk," so all I could do was furrow my brow deeply.
"What on earth is going on? Can't someone explain? I think I have every right to hear it."
Then, the old man in the brown robe and pointed hat spoke up to me.
"Angmar's scribe, Sir Theo Gospel. This is all new to me too, so I'm not sure how to explain. These are characters that aren't supposed to be readable. The language of the dead—dead tongue."
"Dead tongue means a dead language?"
"The writing of the deceased. Undead speech."
The mention of undead writing brought something to mind. It was the young lady of the Draco family, Mirna, whom I'd met a few days ago, and her entourage of undead dragon soldiers.
Back then, the undead lich had opened its mouth and said something.
I'd thought it was just a spell since I couldn't understand it. But now it seemed it was the dead tongue, the language of the dead.
"Normally, the living can't read it. And shouldn't."
Reading the writing of the dead. Wasn't this a classic horror movie cliché? Reading what you shouldn't read. Seeing what you shouldn't see.
Was I cursed or something?
Shaking off the fear and anxiety, I asked the old men.
"Why can I read it? What happens if I do?"
"We'd like to know that too. Gracia's Highland Society—the 5th Circle Grand Wizard Association—might conduct some research with Sir Theo Gospel here."
"I'm not here for a research club; I want to be a student at Arc."
"We can enroll you. We're the Highland Society and Arc's board of directors. In exchange, join our group and climb Highroad—Gracia's sacred mountain—once a week."
"Climb the sacred mountain? Why?"
"It's good for your health. Reading books in labs all day ruins it. For wizards like us, poor health is the worst enemy. That's why we double as a mountaineering club."
Oh, so hiking's optional.
But special admission was a pretty good deal. My stamina and magic skills were both way below the threshold to even step into the school.
Getting a shot at Arc just by reading weird letters by chance? Not a bad offer.
The brown-robed old man said.
"Sir Theo probably has special eyes. The kind that sees things others can't. It happens sometimes."
The blue-robed old man who'd been listening quietly stroked his beard.
"First since the Saintess? After her eyes changed like that, I thought research was done for. This must be divine guidance."
Saintess probably meant Priga.
That's when it happened.
The black-robed old man who'd been silent coughed loudly, "Ahem—."
The noisy old men stopped talking and looked at him.
"Sir Peltor. Do you have something to say?"
At the brown-robe's question, the black wizard slowly parted his lips.
"Theo Gospel. Parents. Family. Siblings. Murder! Copulate!"
What.
As I tried to make sense of it, the brown-robed old wizard interpreted for me.
"He's asking if you have family, parents, or siblings, Sir Theo."
"My ears heard murder and copulate."
"...That's just his tic. Sir Peltor has a slight one. Anyway, any family or siblings?"
I wanted to know too. If I had family or siblings.
"No. I'm an orphan from the Gospel family."
As I said that, my eyes were fixed on the black wizard, Sir Peltor.
"Ehehehe."
The black wizard's eyes were glassy like a drugged man's, drool dribbling from his mouth.
Senile? Babbling murder and copulate so loudly and oddly.
His hair was pitch black, and his face looked the youngest among them.
The brown old man hummed thoughtfully and explained softly.
"Sir Peltor got too close to the abyss of truth reaching 6th Circle. His mind wanders sometimes. But he's not bad. Actually the best among us."
"So higher magic power causes mental issues?"
"Generally. Trying to hold truths too much for a human body. Like a bowl cracking under a heavy rock."
"Ah."
"You've probably seen it plenty. Heard you've had a 7th Circle witch right beside you daily."
The brown old man's words brought a woman to mind.
I see.
Aira seemed a bit off because her magical prowess was too high.
She really was mentally ill.
People said in her ignorant princess days, Aira was pure like a Disney princess.
Then ascending the throne, her magic skyrocketed, and her personality shifted drastically.
Maybe the way to revert Aira to her kind, gentle girl days was here.
With some earnest desire, I said.
"Then teach me how to control it. I'll pay if needed."
"We're researching that too. And Sir Theo Gospel, you can help us. Seeing those letters ties into our research."
Me reading this dead tongue linking to magic and Aira's mental treatment research.
"Ahem."
"Hmm."
Before I could demand explanation, I felt the old men exchange glances. Newbie here, but I've navigated court intrigues.
I could tell they were quickly debating "Should we tell him or not?"
「Calm situational judgment!
Gain experience from Talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
See.
Finally deciding, the big-nosed brown-robe wizard spoke.
"Those letters are King Solomon's legacy."
"You mean Demon King Angmar."
"Yes, you're Angmar's citizen. You should know better. Texts born from wisdom reaching the gods, beyond human intellect."
The blue wizard trimming his nails added.
"Deciphering the only one to reach 10th Circle's legacies. Wouldn't that reveal how to embody truth naturally?"
The white wizard picked up.
"We're called Highroad Sages too. 120 years isn't nothing. Sir Theo Gospel, we can guess why you came to Arc."
"Not testing, but can I ask what?"
"Queen Aira's a finished vessel. Honestly, our order has nothing left to teach. If anything—"
The white old man, tapping his head, now poked his chest with his thumb.
"—this. Wisdom and a kind heart. Teach her that to make a wise sage-king, right?"
"......"
Humans clam up when caught off-guard.
My best plan exposed instantly, I couldn't speak, flustered.
They saw through my hard-thought scheme so fast.
Deserved to call themselves sages.
Then white sage Hainax continued.
"Sir Theo, you don't seem the villain rumors paint. We respect you."
Respect? First time hearing it face-to-face, I fidgeted like hot water on my butt.
"Great sages respecting me? Too kind."
"Bringing that queen here. No one thought of it, or could do it. But you did. Only you could."
"Yeah, we sent Arc invites yearly, she ignored even enrollment."
"Wonder how you got her here."
"Hate!"
"Sir Peltor says you're amazing too."
The four colorful old men praised and encouraged me.
Affirming my deeds were right.
My prickly hedgehog heart softened a bit.
Swish.
Then the blue pointed-hat wizard offered me something. Arc's male student robe and dark brown uniform.
"Suits you. Nymphs have style. Our board sincerely welcomes you and Queen Aira."
Various things happened, but now I'm a student too!
* * *
"Theo, you're later than I thought."
Exiting the boardroom, Aira sat waiting by the door.
"Making your queen wait. This disloyalty might need punishment."
"Sorry. Circumstances. Nearly didn't get in."
"Reject you, Theo? Then this place has no taste. Nothing to learn there. I'd refuse too. Better back to Angmar."
Back to Angmar?
Horrifying.
"No need. I got in somehow."
"Of course. I, Aira, never doubted you'd pass."
Aira encouraged me nonchalantly.
She probably never doubted me once. In her head, I'm the ultimate loyal, amazing retainer.
Because I've acted that way till now.
Sometimes I feared if exposed as ordinary and worthless, she'd be disappointed.
━You've deceived me till now? I'll skin you alive—leather to rug, finger bones to nymph wand—!
......
Nah, even Aira wouldn't.
Just then, the boardroom door burst open, pointed-hat old wizards filing out.
━Let's hike.
━Good. Creek water sounds nice. Oh, coming with the Great Forest witches?
━Yeah. Sing with witches after ages.
━Hainax, look.
They spotted Aira in the hall and stopped.
Highland Society head, white wizard Hainax, removed his hat and bowed slightly.
"Isn't this Witch Queen of Angmar? I'm Hainax. Last saw you three years ago at Anti-Ec Council."
"Ah— right. You colorful grandpas. Now I remember. You questioned me a lot."
"Yes. So, Your Majesty Witch Queen. Any progress to 8th Circle?"
Curious about the exceptional witch's level. But Aira just hummed long.
"No duty to answer liars."
"Haha, indeed."
Watching 150-year-olds fawn over barely-teen Aira felt oddly sad.
This is society?
"I have business with Theo, so scram."
"Yes, of course."
Arc's board smiled, no protests, murmuring away down the hall.
━Witch Queen's beauty grows otherworldly....
━Like her mother.
━Temper like her father Tarantella VII, though.
Now alone in the empty hall with Aira.
Aira rose, ignoring the ones she'd just met.
"Theo, pack your things."
"My things?"
"Yes. Must house you in my private room. Packing's natural, no?"
Private room after all.
Now I saw a Roman numeral II brooch on Aira's shoulder. Meaning her rank was 2nd from enrollment.
Expected yet surprising.
"Already 2nd place? Impressive."
"True effort would've made 1st easy."
I see.
If Aira's 2nd, who's 1st?
Not important now.
"But, Your Majesty. Private room means personal space. How can you and I share? This is church grounds—no co-ed dorms."
Aira smiled slyly. A beauty, even more when smiling, stirring my heart despite knowing her.
"Theo, so much you don't know. Rare."
"Something I don't know?"
"Yes. I checked—private room holders get perks. Details here."
Aira handed me something.
A small scroll.
'Dorm Premium Room Service Guide.'
It listed private room perks, like luxury hotel services.
Private pool?
Royal training room access?
But Aira's black-nailed finger pointed here.
"Pet registration allows consultation for entry and care...? This?"
"Yes. Register you as my pet at admin, we dorm together."
No way, even then.
It didn't work.
"What? Your Majesty Aira. Registering a person as pet?"
Dorm admin woman's brow furrowed in disbelief. Her flushed, shocked face screamed "Are you kidding?"
Aira didn't back down.
"I'm queen. Disobeying? Angmar's the church's biggest patron—you know."
"But rules are rules. Pets only four-legged beasts. Two-legged only if winged."
"No issue. Theo excels at anything. Walks on four legs fine."
━Heard? Walks on four.
━Scary. What'd he do with the queen?
━Plain-looking, huh. Fox monk rumors true?
My vision went dark.
Thought enrolling Aira would fix everything.
Felt the real start now?
Yes.
It was just beginning.