Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Stars and the Mage (5)
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Hazy white dust settled in its place.
A silence as if time itself had frozen permeated Linea Hall.
In the heart of the suffocating stillness, Edwin stood rooted to the spot.
A few steps ahead, Lunaris lay sprawled on the ground.
Limp and heaving out ragged breaths—phew, phew—she looked every bit the pitiful little kid.
...How could someone like that cast such magic?
The pillar of starlight that had ripped through the night sky and plummeted down still seared his retinas.
...Was it really right to classify that as mere advanced magic?
He had witnessed the magic golem's power up close—nothing below mid-level even scratched it.
To obliterate a thing like that in one blow? No ordinary advanced spell could manage it.
Yet calling it supreme magic felt off too—no spirits had been summoned.
Even if, by some one-in-a-million chance,
Even if Lunaris could unleash supreme magic without calling spirits.
Edwin couldn't accept it.
No—he wouldn't.
A mere academy freshman like him, same as Edwin...
Already teetering on the edge of Grand Mage status?!
Tension coiled in Edwin's fingertips.
Heir to the prestigious Belka magical lineage.
That unshakeable pride—he'd never once lagged behind his peers—was crumbling.
At the entrance ceremony, he'd chalked it up to a botched evaluation.
In the magic exchange match, he'd figured that even if outmatched now, relentless effort would let him catch that lazy mage someday.
"That... real talent?"
Now, no matter how he thrashed, a heavy premonition crushed him: he'd never reach her.
Edwin ground his teeth.
A metallic tang of blood bloomed inside his lip.
"Miriel! That was... so cool!"
"From those precise enchantments to the flawless magic barrier—everything had such elegance...!"
"Any injuries? What about the mana backlash...?"
The moment the magic golem disintegrated, students poured underground in a rush.
Some clustered around Miriel, making a huge fuss.
Amid the flood of concern and praise, she offered only a faint, tired smile.
"I'm fine. Been a while since I got a real workout."
Even as she spoke, Miriel's gaze never strayed from one spot.
Lunaris. The undeniable MVP who'd turned the crisis around.
Just looking at her tugged Miriel's lips upward unbidden.
'Not just magic prowess.'
Skill aside, she had this magnetic charisma that drew people in.
When everyone—even the princess, even Miriel herself—had been frozen in terror, Lunaris dove underground without a flicker of hesitation. Her resolve was no joke.
'If only I could introduce her to Father... No, straight to the Second Prince...!'
Lunaris was talent too precious to let slip.
'We'll be seeing a lot of each other.'
Miriel's smile deepened with hunger.
From upstairs, someone watched that predatory gaze in silence.
Princess Celestina Belhart.
The princess stood stock-still, as if time had halted for her alone.
Her violet eyes flicked between Miriel and Lunaris.
Emotions swirled: a dash of jealousy, a pinch of envy.
Sprinkled with admiration—a spoonful? No, a whole ladleful.
The golem had vanished ages ago, but the princess's—no, the girl's—heart still thundered out of control.
'What was that magic...?'
If a fairy-tale hero leaped from the pages into reality, would it feel like this?
Recalling that radiant, overwhelming beauty stirred a dizzying reverence.
Without thinking, Princess Celestina extended a tentative hand toward Lunaris.
One step, and she could reach her.
Maybe now was the golden moment.
Descend the stairs, steady those small shoulders, say good work, that was incredible...
But her feet wouldn't budge.
Did she even deserve to?
In that crisis, what had she done?
Amid the crowd's fearful stares, she'd scraped together some half-baked courage.
No solid plan—just lofty ideals shoved forward.
Far from quelling the chaos, she'd clashed with Miriel and dumped it all on Lunaris.
How could she face her like this?
How dare she approach so brazenly?
'No wonder she dodges me...'
Princess Celestina's arm dropped limply.
She was Belhart in name only—powerless to her core. The realization hit fresh.
Lunaris hadn't spared her a glance even when asking others for help.
Her pale fist clenched, trembling.
Too humiliating to approach, yet backing off felt like abandoning everything.
And so Princess Celestina lingered, lost in a daze, lips twitching wordlessly.
Lunaris had lain there on the cold floor long after the golem's demise.
Her whole body throbbed. See? Pushing magic too hard always ends like this.
Still, compared to months back—after that forest frenzy where she couldn't even twitch a finger—this was manageable.
Real combat experience was key. Daily maid WWE sessions and weekly spars with the Magic Department Head had toughened her up.
She watched the assistants and maids finally descend, buzzing about, before hauling herself upright.
Couldn't stay down forever.
Part of her craved a full day's sleep, but reasons against it piled high.
Dozing off here meant dust-clogged lungs. Stone floor's chill? Her back would be toast.
Worst, cleanup awaited.
Why else endure this mess?
She scooped up scattered crystal shards from the floor—ejected from the golem's core.
Pebbles at best, but enough to siphon the lingering mana dregs.
Staggering after the mana trail, she soon spotted Estelle Myers collapsed amid the rubble.
"Haa..."
As suspected. Estelle senior was behind it.
The silver lining: no malice. Just a 'regular' magitech whiz whose grand artifact backfired.
No wonder it felt off. Her personality screamed no villain.
Obviously, the backstory stayed buried in the original.
Too focused on protagonist Kyle—no room for exit-stage-left side characters.
Squeezing her last mana scraps, she used telekinesis magic to gently levitate the senior.
Good she'd recovered a sliver lying there. How long it'd last? Questionable.
Estelle felt heavier than usual.
Lunaris's fatigue? Or the burdens senior carried? Hard to say.
Soon enough, floating Estelle groaned "Umm..." and cracked her eyes.
"...Luna...?"
Too drained to answer, Lunaris just trudged on in silence.
"Wh-what happened...?"
"Nothing... big."
Senior managed a weak smile at the half-hearted reply.
"Nothing my eye. You look like hell—clearly a lot went down."
Lunaris quickened her pace without a word.
Whining about the ordeal? Then came the explanations. Too much hassle.
Awkward silence stretched.
Only night breeze and distant murmurs hummed in her ears.
Soon, Estelle spoke again.
"...Ahh. Failed, huh."
A self-mocking sigh leaked out, laced with regret.
"Wanted a killer golem... to show everyone off. Especially you, Luna."
Senior smiled faintly, staring blankly at her hands.
"I get it. You're leagues ahead. Hell, finishing this? Drew tons from your magic arrays and circuits."
Lunaris sighed inwardly.
Yup. This blowing up a year early? Her doing.
Landing in Magitech over Magic Department.
Then stirring pots with 'comfy lazy life' modern gadgets.
...Still, senior went overboard.
Referencing her work to fast-track the golem by a year? Insane.
Her talent was legit.
"Still... I'm your mentor, yeah?"
She'd wanted to stand tall as artisan—at least to her.
Estelle murmured like a whisper.
"No need for stuff like this. You're plenty amazing, senior."
"Ahaha. Cut it, Luna. Don't bother consoling me."
"I don't do empty flattery. Not my vibe."
Estelle flinched, eyes locking on her.
"Those magitech tips—the practical stuff missing from books and theory? Game-changers."
"Pfft, anyone's got that in 'em..."
"Biggest thing? You got me hooked on magitech."
Boring? She'd have bailed halfway.
But damn, it clicked—way more fun than expected.
No wonder magitech labs ate her time alive.
"Wanna build loads of stuff."
Too lazy solo for it all.
"So no more solo-secret weird golems. Team up with me."
"..."
"I need you, Estelle senior."
A sob erupted beside her.
"Luna... hic, Lunaaa..."
Dammed emotions burst free—she couldn't string words together.
Choked voice repeating her name, nothing more.
Finally, Estelle bawled like a kid, loud and messy.
Still airborne, she flailed into Lunaris's chest, face buried.
"W-wait, senior... air... can't breathe..."
Estelle only clamped tighter—then tackled her backward.
Lunaris sighed low amid the wails.
"Look... all good, but don't snot on my clothes..."
"Pffft!"
"...Haa."