Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Villainess and the Mage (1)
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In Elterion Academy, the title of "top of the entire year" carried extraordinary weight.
It wasn't just an honor denoting the highest achiever in the year.
It was the envy of all academy students, granting all sorts of privileges.
And it was a form of power, allowing one to wield influence great and small.
It was only natural that these top students became celebrities within the academy.
Even Lunaris Evermoon, the top freshman, had become a household name among the entire student body shortly after arriving at Elterion Academy.
Never mind her penchant for outrageous antics and constant mishaps right from enrollment.
With her overwhelming magical prowess surpassing most professors, she was already being hailed as "Elterion's strongest mage."
Before Lunaris enrolled, Seraphina Clarensia—the third-year top student and current student council president—had reigned as the academy's premier mage.
Her skills teetered on the edge of advanced mage territory, impressive as that was.
But what truly captivated people was her exceptional administrative talent and impeccable character.
Thorough yet tactful in all things, she enjoyed deep trust from both students and faculty alike.
If Lunaris and Seraphina dominated magic, then Gaius Leonhardt, the fourth-year top student, ruled the sword.
With his enlistment in the Imperial Knights already pre-approved upon graduation, he was undeniably Elterion's strongest knight.
As such, the honor of year-topper often went to combat-track students from the Swordsmanship or Magic Departments.
The year-end selection process, held almost like an event, was inherently disadvantageous for non-combat tracks.
Exceptions did occur, though—rarely.
This year, the second-year top spot went unusually to the head of the non-combat Political Science Department.
Miriel Adrian.
The lady of the venerable imperial Duke Adrian family.
In truth, she possessed remarkable talent as a mage too.
Her proficiency with intermediate spells would have placed her in the top ranks even in the Magic Department.
Yet she dismissed it as nothing special.
When asked about magic, she would reply with a faint smile:
"Just a lady's accomplishment."
Her true brilliance shone not in spellbooks, but in human relations.
Charisma that captured hearts.
Insight that pierced to the core of any situation.
Cunning that turned every asset to her advantage.
In her presence, the teacup before you became a bargaining chip.
Her light smile morphed into an irresistible command.
Followers flocked to her like clouds.
The power to draw in opponents.
The skill to elegantly package her will and persuade.
Even the magnanimity to embrace adversaries.
Students called the born leader "Elterion's Hostess."
A reverent title acknowledging the academy as her managed estate and salon.
Ironically, at home, she was overshadowed by her elder sister—one of the empire's three great beauties—and her successor brother below.
A poignant second daughter, "lacking any standout traits."
At Elterion Academy, Miriel Adrian enjoyed a status akin to royalty.
Even with the enrollment this year of the true royal, Third Princess Celestina Belhart, Miriel's position remained unshaken.
If anything, the princess was fading in Miriel's shadow.
The princess seemed to be trying her hand at building her own faction by mingling with people, but it was hopeless.
Political Science and Economics students were already firmly in Miriel's grasp, and from second-year Magic upward, they effectively were too.
The sword-god zealots—no, sword-god worshippers—and the inept engineer nerds akin to the Magic Department's B-team weren't worth bothering with.
The only ones potentially aligning with the Third Princess might be the incoming Magic freshmen, still clueless about the academy.
That was precisely why Miriel had bothered coming to the Magic Exchange Tournament.
To gauge the new Magic batch's overall caliber.
And to check the princess's skills while at it.
Skipping a class or two wouldn't jeopardize her ironclad year-topper status anyway.
'Shouldn't have come.'
Frankly, it was disappointing.
Princess Celestina's magic was average at best.
Impressive among noble ladies, perhaps, but middling-low among Magic students. Miriel wondered why she'd even bothered being cautious.
No standout freshmen either.
Raymond Cloud, the Magic Department head, had hyped a "golden generation," raising expectations. This was it?
She figured attending class would have been far more productive.
Until the disheveled gray-haired girl, fresh from sleep, ascended the podium.
"...!"
The Magic Exchange Tournament's final bout.
The moment Lunaris unleashed her spell, Miriel's eyes sparkled.
A meteor shower poured from a clear sky.
Space warped.
Frost flowers bloomed in profusion.
'As expected of the year-topper.'
Miriel prided herself on advanced-mage-level discernment and theory when appraising spells.
But the phenomenon before her lay beyond her knowledge.
Outside her comprehension.
She vaguely heard excited murmurs about "drawing on natural mana directly," but couldn't even grasp the concept.
When she snapped out of her trance, Mage Tower wizards were shamelessly vaulting the spectator barriers, chasing after Lunaris.
A slight glance aside revealed Princess Celestina staring blankly at Lunaris.
Fidgeting, her gaze distant and wistful.
"Hmm~"
Regretting the trip? Canceled.
Good call coming after all.
"What incredible magic, right?"
"I've never seen such beautiful spells before!"
"As expected of an advanced mage, Lady Miriel!"
Her entourage, watching beside her, buzzed with uncontained excitement.
"Indeed."
Miriel nodded, subtly lifting the corner of her mouth.
"That girl's a winner."
The smile on her lips gleamed dangerously.
-Knock knock.
The familiar rhythm echoed through the room.
...Oh, come on.
Today's the one day it shouldn't ring.
No classes, perfect happy-happy Friday to sprawl out till lunch... Why on earth...!
"Miss, pardon the intrusion."
I hadn't locked the door, never dreaming she'd pull a WWE today. It slid open silently.
"Ugh... Odette, what is it..."
I burrowed deeper under the covers, frowning.
"I'm truly sorry. But with the influx of letters and gifts for you these past few days, we can't store them separately anymore."
No sooner had Odette finished than maids filed in.
Dolly carts they pushed brimmed with boxes large and small.
I blinked vacantly at the sight.
What... what the hell is all that?
"And these are letters addressed to you."
Thick bundles rivaling the gift piles thudded onto the table.
Five stacks in total.
"Half are academy invitations from the Mage Tower, four-tenths are patronage offers from noble houses, and the remaining tenth from academy students."
I stared blankly at the stacks, then sighed deeply.
The Mage Tower's the real issue.
Those tenacious magic addicts. At it again.
The nobles too.
Thinking they can flash some gold, take credit slyly, and dump chores on me. As if I wouldn't notice.
"Fine, Mage Tower and nobles aside... What's with the academy students?"
"Mostly from young master Edwin Belka. Perhaps love letters?"
"Love letters? Please. Duel challenges, more like."
"Is that so? I saw him writing letters in his room sometimes, face flushed red—I thought he was composing poetry."
Flushed red from rage, not love.
I shook my head and asked Odette,
"Anything else? From someone named Lia?"
"There was one."
Odette rummaged through the stacks, producing a plain white envelope sans ornament, and handed it to me.
I took the letter gingerly, then flipped the covers back over.
"That's enough for the rest. I can guess the contents without reading—consider them read."
"What about the gifts?"
"...Gifts?"
I peeked out just my head, eyeing the mountainous boxes.
...The thought of unwrapping each one made my head throb.
Sorting them darkened my vision.
"I'd like to share them with the maids. You all work so hard for me."
Silence fell briefly.
Then trembling voices seeped out here and there, as if moved.
The young maid by the dresser teared up, touched.
"Miss."
But Odette remained ice-cold.
"They're all tokens meant for you. We can't accept them."
Odette signaled her subordinates, then bowed to me.
"And foisting them on us because they're a hassle to handle is unacceptable."
...Damn, caught.
Lately, I've been hounded by stalkers.
Or can I even call them that?
-Miss Lunaris, magic debate call?
-Just once more! Show us one more spell!!
Walking the streets, Mage Tower wizards tail me openly now. Life's exhausting.
The tournament's over—why are outsiders still lingering? Turns out they've all snagged temporary lecturer gigs.
These folks are dead serious about magic.
Dodge the magic fiends, and Edwin or whoever pesters me for another duel.
Precious few safe havens left for a breather.
One being this old library building, now the Ghost Story Research Club's annex.
"I'm dying of exhaustion, seriously..."
I slumped over the table, sighing gustily. Claire beside me giggled.
"Should've held back a bit. You were insane at the tournament, you know?"
"No... I wanted to wrap it quick and rest. But they kept dragging it out. I got pissed, that's all."
Yawn—Claire abruptly switched topics.
"Speaking of, you're consistent with club? Thought you'd just sign up and ghost."
"No other chill spots."
I propped my chin, sighing.
"Plus, ghost-hunting's kinda useful."
"Right?!"
Claire's eyes sparkled intensely.
"Knew you'd dig it, Lunaris~"
Less "fun" than securing that Imperial Mage Corps-stamped external activity form via black magic mentions.
No need to spill that, though.
"VP Sylvia and sub-VP Thomas are late, huh."
"Pre-scouting a haunted spot, I think?"
"Yeah. But it shouldn't take this long... Ghosts don't pop out midday anyway..."
As Claire checked her watch and muttered, the door creaked open.
"Ah, you're back? Senior—"
In strode a group of unfamiliar girls.
A red-haired one at the front caught my eye.
"Here you are."
A soft smile played on her lips.
"Took a while to find you, Miss Lunaris."
"...?"
No memory of her.
But instinct screamed it.
Someone this distinctively featured? At minimum, a named character.
Red-haired girl in the original... who was it?
Wait, no way?
"Lunaris. That's her. Senior Miriel. Second-year topper. Academy's biggest celeb!"
Ah, right.
The duke's lady who got bagheld at the peak from late protagonist privileges.
"...No clue."
Of course, I only know post-progress Miriel.
Not much on current her.
Don't particularly care to.
Especially not to get involved.
"If you don't know, time to learn, no?"
She smiled, eyes crinkling.
"I'd like to learn about you too, Miss Lunaris."
An elegant, flawless smile implying refusal wasn't an option.
"So, mind sparing a moment?"