Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Mage in the Forest (5)
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“The former Captain Evermoon always regretted it. Even after devoting everything to the Empire, he always said it wasn't enough.”
“...”
“It would have been great if he at least had a family, but he spent his whole life devoted to magic and never even got married.”
The vice-captain's eyes grew a little misty.
“Ah... Aah...”
My eyes grew misty too.
Sure enough, a bachelor... There was a reason he became the Empire's greatest mage...
“Still, in his later years, he had a wonderful granddaughter and disciple like you, Miss Lunaris. I can't imagine how fortunate he must have felt. I'm sure the former captain was immensely proud.”
“Mm, I'm not sure I'm that exceptional of a mage.”
I tried to deflect humbly as best I could.
“Honestly, there must be tons of people in the Empire more motivated and talented than me.”
It was the same deflection I'd used last time to send the lord packing.
But my opponent was no pushover.
“Haha! Sure, there are plenty of motivated people. But I can confidently say that there are scarcely any in the Empire with talent surpassing yours, Miss Lunaris.”
He pointed out that the average new recruit to the Imperial Mage Corps could barely handle advanced spells.
That the fact the discerning former Captain Evermoon had chosen me was proof enough.
The vice-captain shot down every excuse I'd prepared in advance.
“Sigh. Vice-Captain, to be honest with you, I hate troublesome things like that.”
Seeing this wasn't working, I flopped right back down.
Well, if it bugs you that much, just drag me there by force!
“I understand how you feel. Everyone dreams of freedom in their youth.”
The vice-captain slowly looked around the room.
Books floating in midair, a cauldron bubbling lazily, and me sprawled on the bed—he gave a gentle smile.
“Living leisurely in this secluded forest, doing nothing but research... Honestly, I'm a bit envious.”
However, Miss Lunaris.
He paused, his gaze lingering on me meaningfully.
“You won't be able to stay comfortably in this forest forever. Something even more annoying might come up soon.”
“Something more annoying?”
“Rumors about you are already starting to spread.”
...Already?
“The Mage Tower and the palace mages are showing interest in the 'young witch who single-handedly wiped out a wyvern pack.'”
Soon, other mages, the military, or even the palace itself would come looking for me, he said.
Unlike him, they might be a bit more forceful—it was practically a threat.
Of course, it wouldn't work on me either.
“Worst case, I just go to another country or something.”
He burst out laughing at my half-joking, half-serious remark.
“I doubt you'd make that choice, Miss Lunaris.”
“Why not?”
“Because you hate it. Troublesome things.”
I couldn't help but burst out laughing too.
This guy knows me too well.
“That's why I'd like to propose a very practical compromise, Miss Lunaris.”
The vice-captain leaned forward with a slight smile.
As if to say this was the real point.
“Instead of working for the Imperial Mage Corps for life, how about spending about four years at Elterion Academy in the capital?”
Lifetime reduced to four years.
Considering how long I'd live, it was at least a 90% discount.
If I knew nothing, I might have been a little tempted.
But for someone like me who knew this world inside out, it was the worst possible offer.
Elterion Academy, of all places, where all sorts of incidents were bound to happen.
A whole building blowing up would be par for the course.
And in the late game, walking straight into a place rampaged by a cursed, berserk dragon?
Besides, Academy's Tenacious Mage was an unfinished novel.
There were surely all sorts of horrific events after the last installment I'd read.
“If anything, I'd take the palace over the academy...”
“Oh! Does that mean you'll really join the Imperial Mage Corps?”
“No, I was just saying.”
He looked puzzled at my firm rejection.
“That's strange. Is there a reason you dislike going to the academy? It seems like the best possible option to me.”
“On the contrary, let me ask you. Why send me to Elterion Academy specifically? What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing much, but...”
The vice-captain cleared his throat with a hem-hem.
“Actually, this year, the Third Princess will be enrolling at Elterion Academy.”
“The Third Princess...?”
“Princess Celestina Belhart.”
“Cough!”
The all-too-familiar name caught in my throat, even though I'd heard it before.
Celestina Belhart.
Known to readers as the princess senior.
How could I not know her? The main heroine of Academy's Tenacious Mage and a core member of the protagonist's party.
Her sweet-yet-sharp big-sister vibe had left quite an impression.
So this was the point when the princess enrolled at Elterion Academy.
The vague timeline suddenly snapped into focus.
Celestina was a year older than the protagonist Kyle, so this was about a year before the main story events.
As I sank into thought with a complicated expression, the vice-captain spoke up again.
“So, what I'd like to ask of you is simple. Please enroll at Elterion Academy.”
“...”
“Take whatever classes you want, pursue whatever research interests you freely. Just occasionally check if the Third Princess is settling in well at the academy and not in any danger—that would be more than enough.”
My head already throbbed.
In other words, protect the princess.
“Guarding the princess sounds a bit much for me.”
“Haha, not at all. She already has several official escorts, so you wouldn't need to take on guard duty.”
“Then why drag me into it?”
“If I had to put a name to it, you'd be a form of insurance.”
An unnatural smile played on the vice-captain's lips as he said it.
Yeah, I definitely have to refuse this.
Attending Elterion Academy is bad enough—getting tangled with a lead character is way worse.
Novels are fun to watch from afar with popcorn.
Experiencing them firsthand? Not fun at all.
Above all, I couldn't throw away my bed life, which I'd defended for over six—no, seven—years!
Then, a scene from the original story flashed in my mind.
Among the incidents Kyle and his party faced, some were absurdly large-scale.
Times when even grit couldn't save them, when it was hopeless and you'd click your tongue in despair.
That's when a cheat-key character would pop up out of nowhere, resolving everything in one overwhelming display of magic.
People complained in the comments about such contrived plot devices, but that cheat key was secretly quite popular.
She never got an official name.
Instead, she was called 'Top Student' or 'Ashen Witch.'
A weirdo with few words and a prickly personality, barely exchanging glances with anyone.
Yet she occasionally spoke with Princess Celestina...
Hm?
My eyes caught the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
An advanced mage with ash-gray hair down to her waist stared back at me with a blank expression.
...And if I added the trait of being connected to Princess Celestina.
“Oh, crap...!”
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
I'd thought I was just some nameless village girl A who never even got mentioned.
I'd thought the academy's hopeless chaos had nothing to do with me...
Turns out, I was the academy story's cheat-key character who cleaned up after the protagonist's party.
No wonder magic felt like the easiest thing in the world. Guess I was born for it.
I squeezed my eyes shut and dragged my hands down my face.
If I weren't there.
The blowfish protagonist Kyle, armed only with grit and a sense of justice, would die to endless bad luck before he could even grow properly.
Then there'd be no one to stop the disasters in the story's late game.
I could already see a mountain of annoyances coming right back at me.
“Haa...”
I was done for.
“Hwaaaah...!”
I couldn't not enroll.
“Gyaack!!”
“...Miss Lunaris?!”
In the end, I never had a choice to begin with.
I couldn't remember the last time my eyes opened before sunrise.
The forest, just starting to brighten, was damp with dew.
The dawn breeze was quite chilly, but there was a faint hint of spring too.
“I'm really leaving, huh...”
A sigh slipped out unbidden.
I wasn't particularly attached to this cabin, but actually leaving left a strange emptiness in my chest.
“Wonder if I'll come back in four years.”
Sure, I could visit during breaks, but I doubted I'd bother with the long trip just to avoid hassle.
I slowly looked around the room one last time.
My gaze lingered especially on the bed. The mattress was deeply sunken in the middle from all my lounging, bringing a wry smile to my face.
“Wish I could take this to the academy.”
Bringing a personal bed to the dorm... Yeah, probably not happening.
Besides, how would I even transport something that big? No moving company out here.
I gripped the bag in my hand.
My luggage was just one battered travel bag.
Inside: a few changes of clothes and the classic literature book I'd been enjoying.
No daily necessities at all.
I'd buy whatever I needed with imperial funds.
Thinking of it as Grandfather's inheritance made my conscience feel perfectly clear.
The last thing I hugged to my chest was my beloved pillow, used for years.
I couldn't leave this behind, no matter what.
It accounted for 90% of my good sleep—a true treasure.
Turning my back on the cabin, I walked slowly along the forest path.
At the village edge, surprisingly many people had gathered to see me off.
Plenty of unfamiliar faces.
The familiar ones I'd only seen a few times.
Ones I'd actually talked to? I could count them on one hand.
“Luna, you're not really thrilled about heading to the capital, are you?”
Someone from the village ventured cautiously.
“It's just 'cause you protected us that things turned out this way...”
“Pfft, I'm not being dragged off anywhere. I'm going to Elterion Academy, the place everyone's dying to get into.”
This is basically a promotion, right?
I played it cool with some banter, and light laughter spread through the villagers.
Then, Lia approached from afar, leaning on crutches.
“I never thought you'd be the first to head to the capital ahead of me, Luna sis.”
Worry and regret mingled in her cheerful voice.
“Yeah. I never imagined I'd leave the village either.”
I tried to sound nonchalant, but regret dripped from my voice anyway.
“Honestly, it still doesn't feel real. I kinda wanna crawl back into bed right now...”
The villagers chuckled lightly at my whining.
But Lia stopped smiling midway and sniffled.
“I wonder if you'll eat properly without me...”
Seeing her on the verge of tears made my own nose tingle.
“If you're worried about me, come to the academy soon too.”
And make me some dessert.
Help out with my chores while you're at it.
“...Yeah.”
“Put the medicine I gave you on properly, and practice your swordsmanship hard.”
“...Got it, sis.”
Lia collapsed into my arms and finally burst into tears.
“Luna siiiis... Thank you, sob! I-I'm gonna miss youuu...”
I patted her back, forcing a bright smile until the vice-captain's carriage arrived in the village.