Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Mage of the Four Seasons Society (3)
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“Look at this! What did I tell you!”
A professor suddenly pointed at me and shouted.
“I said you'd be sleeping in, not even knowing today was the Four Seasons Society gathering!”
What? Four Seasons Society?
What the hell is that... No, more importantly, what academy piles this much on freshmen?
“Head maid, didn't you separately inform Lunaris that today was the Four Seasons Society schedule?”
Another professor started needlessly grilling the innocent Odette.
This was starting to piss me off a little. Tormenting Odette is my exclusive privilege(?), after all.
“From three days ago, every morning while assisting the young lady with her preparations, I repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Four Seasons Society...”
Odette's gaze turned toward me.
“But it seems the young lady is quite weak in the mornings, so she must have dozed off, hearing it with one ear and letting it out the other.”
...Ah. Come to think of it, I do vaguely remember hearing something about an important schedule sometime.
Lectures about fulfilling my duties as top student, bearing the academy's long history and traditions to light the future—boring, pretentious stuff like that.
Of course, it was only now that I'd dredged it up from the depths of my memory.
How was I supposed to remember something I heard half-asleep, especially when I had zero interest?
I just figured it was the usual nagging, that's all.
“Still, it's good you made it on time. We can get her ready properly now and send her out.”
As I sat there blankly blinking, Professor Raymond, the department head, rubbed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“Then handle it, please. Time's short, so make it quick. And let us know if you need anything—we won't hold back on support.”
“Yes, Department Head. I'll get her ready in a hurry.”
Odette smiled gracefully and approached the bed with the other maids.
“Now, young lady. Time to get up.”
“W-Wait just a sec... I wasn't even asleep yet, this is cheating... Gyaaah!!”
*
I didn't even get to resist properly before being dragged to a place called Honors Hall.
Pushing open the old door revealed a hallway lined with countless portraits.
-William Nartelli
-Class of 5
-14th Pope
-Nim Belka
-Class of 9
-10th Mage Tower Lord and Archmage
All of them were illustrious alumni of Elterion Academy who had left their mark on history.
“They call it the Hall of Fame.”
Professor Raymond shrugged as he stuck close behind me with the other professors, just in case I tried to bolt.
“The glories of the past watching over the academy's pinnacles of present and future—how cool is that? Hohoho!”
“Ah... Yeah...”
Of course, none of it resonated with me in the slightest.
At the deepest end of Honors Hall was a spiral staircase leading upward.
Tilting my head back, I spotted a door to the attic room.
Did they really have to stick a room way up there? What a pain to climb.
“This is as far as we can escort you.”
Professor Raymond said, stepping back a pace.
“Everything above here is for the honored students only—the grade toppers' domain.”
“Just to check, if I bolted right now...”
“We'll be watching until you open that door up there, so don't even think about it!”
“Ah... Okay...”
No gaps in their guard, as expected.
I let out a heavy sigh and cast Telekinesis Magic, floating straight up to the door in the shortest path.
Opening it and stepping inside, large windows flooded the room with light on all sides.
Amid the soft glow of lanterns scattered about.
My eyes met those of three people seated around a massive square table in the center of the room.
To the left: the second-year topper, senior Miriel Adrian, with her striking fiery red hair.
To the right: the fourth-year topper, senior Gaius Leonhardt, with his short white hair and tanned skin.
And directly facing me.
“Right on time, Lunaris.”
The third-year topper, Student Council President Seraphina Clarensia, with her enigmatic aura, flashed her golden eyes and smiled with a soft chuckle.
“I was inwardly worried you might not show.”
For someone worried, her face was all smiles.
She clearly figured I'd end up here one way or another, whether I wanted to or not.
“Hmm~ Normally, the youngest junior should arrive first and wait at gatherings like this.”
Senior Miriel propped her chin on her hand, letting out a playful hum and chuckling teasingly.
It wasn't mockery.
Just the relaxed tone of someone eyeing a shiny new toy.
“What does age matter?”
At that moment, senior Gaius—who'd been sitting with arms crossed and eyes closed—spoke up in a low voice.
“It's natural for the strongest to make their entrance last.”
“Ahaha! True enough.”
Unlike President Seraphina, who readily agreed with a refreshing laugh, senior Miriel raised an eyebrow.
“Sir Gaius, you're so humble. You can't tease a distant junior when you're already set to join the Imperial Knights right after graduation.”
“Hm?”
“Sure, Lunaris is the greatest freshman ever, but compared to you, Sir Gaius...”
“What elevation? If anything, I feel like I could learn a thing or two from her.”
“...Pardon? Learn? What do you mean by that?”
Senior Gaius slowly lifted his eyelids and turned his head toward me.
“Well, sword and magic are different beasts, so direct comparisons are pointless...”
His gaze burned with competitive fire.
Now that I looked, he was a Sword God's Disciple too... no, Sword God's Prodigy.
“I'm just a rookie barely scraping into the Knights, but that monster could walk into the Mage Corps today and be an ace.”
Before senior Gaius even finished, senior Miriel's eyes locked onto me.
Like she was saying, She's that good?—and those eyes were downright menacing.
“Sir Gaius's seal of approval... Heh, heh, heh...”
A chill ran down my spine in that instant.
Ah, that look. The most exhausting one in the world.
Unable to bear the fatigue, I let out a big yawn and headed for the empty seat.
“Anyway, I just sit here, right?”
“Yeah. Take a seat already. We can't start the Four Seasons Society without you.”
The moment my butt hit the hard chair.
The air in the room, the mana, seemed to subtly quiver.
Then suddenly, my vision was bathed in four brilliant colors.
Red, blue, golden, and pure white.
The mingled lights stretched toward the walls and windows all around.
Soon, a massive illusion conjured of magic unfurled beyond the windows.
Behind me bloomed a vibrant cherry blossom tree in fresh pink.
Behind senior Miriel stretched a lush forest under midsummer sun.
Behind President Seraphina blazed autumn leaves in fiery reds.
And behind senior Gaius clung noble winter snowflakes to every branch.
The scenery of four seasons gathered in one place beautifully adorned the academy's night.
Watching this mystical, breathtaking scene...
Ow, my eyes sting. My head's throbbing too—dizzy.
Ugh, this insane eye candy. Screwed. No sleep for me tonight.
“This sight never fails to amaze, no matter how many times.”
Senior Miriel dropped her manic expression and murmured in quiet admiration.
“Even after a year, it still sets my heart racing.”
“No wonder it's Elterion's pride. Must be even grander from outside.”
Senior Gaius said with a wry smile.
“Of course, you wouldn't know, Miriel—you've held top spot since enrollment without a break.”
“Oh right, Sir Gaius, you joined the Four Seasons Society for the first time last year, just like me?”
“Yeah. I'd always gazed up at those lights from outside, dreaming. Vowed I'd enter that glow someday, swinging my sword with that promise.”
Senior Gaius's eyes drifted into the distance.
“Well, now that I'm in... it's a bit anticlimactic.”
President Seraphina cleared her throat to shift the mood.
She turned to me and began explaining in a gentle tone.
“Lunaris, did you know? The name Four Seasons Society comes from likening Elterion Academy's years to the four seasons.”
According to the president.
Growing second years symbolize verdant summer.
Fruit-bearing third years, autumn's colorful leaves.
Fourth years, ready to face the world, represent snowy winter.
“And...”
The president reached out toward me with a beaming smile.
“Freshmen, where it all begins, are the academy's flowers blooming in spring sunlight.”
Her violet hair mystically fluttered on mana currents.
In this moment.
I finally got why the original protagonist Kyle admired the student council president so much.
Why he chased after her back.
A little. Just a tiny bit.
She was undeniably cool.
...The problem was her inscrutable, exhausting vibe.
“The brightest, freshest master of spring.”
Her fingertip pointed at me.
“First-year topper, Lunaris Evermoon. We sincerely welcome you to Elterion Academy—and to our Four Seasons Society.”