Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Meiko's Doubts
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"......"
Meiko recalled the illusion she had witnessed.
The illusion magic she experienced when she entered the illusion magic circle Max had created.
His illusion magic was so realistic that it blurred the line between reality and fantasy, making it difficult even for her level to easily find a way to dispel it.
Even though it was illusion magic reinforced by a magic circle, making it sturdily constructed and hard to dismantle, there weren't many illusions capable of fooling her eyes.
It was that perfected a piece of illusion magic.
Clearly, when she saw it, Meiko had witnessed an utterly absurd, lewd illusion.
A young Max.
The boy, who took the form of Max as a child, squirming and saying his penis felt strange, was stirring the dark desires buried deep within her.
She had been so shocked that even after escaping the illusion, she was tormented by it for a long while.
She thought it was due to her pent-up frustrations all those years.
Having devoted her life solely to research, with Max being the only man around her, she figured that's why such an embarrassing scene appeared in the illusion.
That's why she had fled to the Witch's Forest to suppress those desires, under the excuse of manifesting the physical force of illusion magic.
But what if, as the other deans claimed, the illusion itself was a magic circle that triggered and unleashed desires?
[Dangerous.]
Not that the magic circle's power itself was dangerous.
It was the backlash that would hit when it was discovered she possessed such a magic circle.
The church priests believed that indulging in too many lewd thoughts summoned demons.
[It could make us public enemy number one.]
Of course, it might just be a misunderstanding by the other mages.
But if Max had truly created the illusion with that intent?
In the past, when Max first made the magic circle, she had asked him about its purpose while helping him construct it from his side.
-What's this for? Haha, just for fun and enjoyment.
-Oh, hold on a sec, Master. Something urgent came up.
Every time, Max would brush it off and dodge the question.
Back then, she hadn't thought much of it.
[Suspicious.]
It felt like he was hiding something.
Still, she didn't want to suspect her disciple.
Her one and only disciple.
He was a year older than her, yet he had never once treated her as inferior due to age. He was a good disciple.
On the contrary, he respected her and did his utmost to receive her teachings.
How reliable he had seemed.
She thought he was someone who could lead the Illusion School alongside her.
-Master, you're amazing!
The image of Max cheering was vivid.
There was no way a disciple who smiled so innocently could create an illusion magic circle lewd enough to summon demons.
"......"
She clamped her lips shut, tormented by her inner conflict.
Because of that, she missed Aurora persuading the other six major faction leaders.
She didn't hear Aurora admit her speculation was a misunderstanding and acknowledge her mistake.
"Meiko."
Meiko snapped to attention at the voice calling her.
"W-What's up? Aurora?"
"Nothing much. I heard you came about the budget cuts. That right?"
"Yeah. No matter how I think about it, cutting our budget doesn't align with existing policies."
Aurora sighed at Meiko's words.
"What kind of person are you, relying only on the Magic Department's funding?"
"T-That's......"
"Sigh, whatever. Since you've started generating revenue, it's inevitable that regulations would cut back accordingly."
The other deans nodded in agreement.
"Aurora's right. What's decided can't be changed."
"Exactly."
"But if we have to cover the defunded amount with our own sales, then what we earn in a year won't amount to much!"
Everyone fell silent at Meiko's outburst.
Aurora smacked her lips at the remark.
"You're not wrong. But changing the Magic Department's directive now is impossible. It's not like the marginalized magic departments consist only of your Illusion School—they'd think you're getting special treatment."
"......"
"But it's true that we six major factions, starting with our Life Magic, have received Meiko's help. Many of our papers list her as a co-author."
At her words, the other faction leaders asked,
"What's your point?"
"Get to the main issue."
"What if the six major factions cover the budgeted amount that was cut?"
Silence lingered for a moment.
It wasn't something Aurora, who only looked out for her own faction, would say.
[......I can't agree to that.]
"Since Goldmoon received so much help, why don't they cover it?"
"Are you insane? By that logic, Darkness co-developed core shadow sorcery theories with Meiko, so they should foot the bill!"
[...Why drag us into this?]
The deans raised their voices at Aurora's declaration.
"Is this your thinking, Dean Aurora?"
Aurora shook her head at Ri Grant's question.
"It's Max's advice. He told me that when the suspicions were cleared."
"......"
"In the end, we did receive Meiko's help. And accusing a fellow magic department mage of demon summoning was rude to the Illusion School."
[Ahem, didn't Life Magic take responsibility for that?]
The other deans averted their eyes from Meiko and made excuses.
"Blaster would love to help, but we're big spenders on grants ourselves. Sorry, Meiko."
[...I think Life Magic should take responsibility.]
All the deans targeted Aurora and passed the hot potato.
"Then we'll cover the shortfall of 20 gold. Plus an extra 40 gold as an apology."
Why is she doing this?
Meiko couldn't comprehend Aurora's words.
Aurora would never offer to fund them.
Especially not to her and the Illusion School?
Even if 40 gold a year wasn't a huge sum for Life Magic.
"But there's a condition."
"What is it?"
"From now on, only our Life Magic gets exclusive access to Meiko's advice. That work?"
"What?"
"No, that's not right."
"Monopolizing academic exchanges? That's outrageous!"
Aurora remained unfazed.
"Are you all refusing over a mere few dozen gold?"
In that moment, Meiko realized Aurora's intent.
[She wants to monopolize me.]
Meiko's help wasn't absolutely essential, but few mages were as knowledgeable across various magics as she was.
Advice from a mage with diverse perspectives was invaluable for developing new spells.
That was why Meiko was listed as co-author or consultant on so many magic books and papers.
"I'll accept Life Magic School's proposal."
"W-Wait a minute!"
"Meiko, if you settle it like that......"
[...The meeting time isn't over yet......]
In that instant, control of the conference room shifted.
In the end, the meeting concluded with the six major magic schools, including Life Magic, agreeing to each cover a portion of the lost budget to maintain collaboration with Meiko.
The advice and help Meiko had provided out of goodwill now had a price tag.
It was a win-win for both Life Magic and the Illusion School.
The Illusion School received funding from the other factions, including Life Magic, while Life Magic minimized the risks from their own blunder.
But this wasn't Aurora's style—she was too stubborn for that.
[This isn't Aurora's doing......]
What on earth happened?
As she left the conference room, Meiko glanced at Aurora walking beside her.
Noticing her gaze, Aurora smiled and said,
"I've received a lot of help from Max. I visited him this time and had a little chat...... He's a better mage than I thought?"
"Advice from Max?"
"Yeah. You raised a good disciple?"
[......You took someone else's advice?]
It was hard to believe.
But at the same time.
[Max might be capable of it.]
He was a mage as exceptional as she was.
"You can listen to others too?"
"I tasted failure by being stubborn, so I have to reflect."
"......"
"Don't thank me too much. I didn't do it for you."
"I know. That much."
Meiko stopped in her tracks.
"But there's one thing I want to ask."
"What?"
"Why did you think our magic summons demons?"
"......"
Aurora gave an awkward smile at Meiko's question.
"You want the truth? Or a fabricated lie?"
"The truth."
"I was jealous. I thought mere illusion magic couldn't steal my clients. Obviously, right? It couldn't possibly be better than our recovery magic."
"Is that all? You hounded us without evidence?"
Aurora shrugged.
"I was confident that if I went to the site, I could fabricate evidence somehow."
"You don't mean...... you planned to plant evidence?"
"Even without fabricating evidence, I could've pushed that bottom-feeding illusion magic off the cliff by drilling perceptions deep."
"......"
[...That's what I thought back then. Not anymore. I received some guidance......]
Aurora, who had been about to say more, shook her head.
"Anyway, it all worked out, so let's end it here. I don't want to talk more. I'm tired—used up a lot of energy today."
Aurora stretched languidly and left.
Meiko bit her lip, watching her retreating figure.
[Pushed us without evidence?]
See, there's no way my disciple did anything shady.
Right.
Of course.
Max was such a diligent and upright mage.
No way he'd create something perverse like that.
Meiko knew, having examined his magic circle multiple times.
But still.
[Why does it feel so uneasy?]
She felt that her seeing such an illusion wasn't mere coincidence.
Herself, heart pounding as she gazed at the boy Max.
That illusion stained with desire.
There had to be a reason.
[I need to investigate once.]
But first, she thought she should share the good news with her disciple—that she had secured funds to replace the budget.
The sun illuminating the empire had set, and night had fallen in darkness.
An empty street, save for the occasional passing guard patrol, with no one else in sight.
In the shadowed street, a single figure moved swiftly.
Rustle.
"Huff, huff. This is exhausting."
A blue-haired woman in a hood and mask crept stealthily through the shadows.
Hiding her appearance with illusion magic to evade the guards she encountered, she tiptoed along.
And she arrived in front of Max's Fantasy Shop.
"It's, it's just to check."
Adjusting her mask, she grasped the doorknob of the empty shop, long since closed after Max had gone home.