Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Mage Tower's Mage (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Five hundred gold coins were just the beginning.
"What a thief! You think you can take that for a mere five hundred gold? Six hundred gold!"
"Ha! You've got no shame either. I'll bid seven hundred gold!"
"Seven hundred fifty!"
"Eight hundred!"
The numbers shot up like mad.
"One thousand! We've got one thousand gold!!"
Before long, it hit four digits.
And even that wasn't the end.
Following 1,100 came 1,200, then 1,300...
The higher the number climbed, the more my head throbbed.
"...What the hell is that thing, anyway."
My sense of money was going haywire.
Just a few months ago, after crushing the wyverns that raided the village, the gold I got from the lord was three coins.
...And now, a scribble I jotted down in a little over ten minutes was turning into enough money to live off for life. It felt downright weird.
"Somehow... this doesn't feel right."
"What are you on about now? It's only natural. You've underestimated mages' thirst for knowledge, Lunaris."
Raymond, the department head, chuckled at my mumbling.
"Mages are the type to spare no expense if it means even a sliver of magical achievement or a glimpse further into the truth."
"If that's the case... why don't you seem all that interested yourself, sir?"
"Well, it's awkward to say, but honestly, I wouldn't mind having it myself."
He said that if he weren't my mentor, he'd have jumped into that mudslinging fight.
Raymond crossed his arms and gave a wry smile.
"Of course, I don't expect any real magical insights from it. Just based on its rarity as the first magic book penned by the youngest grand mage... fifteen hundred gold sounds about right."
Right on cue, the bidding broke past 1,500 gold.
Yet the frenzy showed no signs of dying down, with numbers still climbing relentlessly.
Gazing down at the frenzied mages below through the glass, the department head said coolly,
"What a shame. Staring at that won't let them wield natural mana or anything."
"..."
"I've watched from the sidelines the whole time, but your magic, Lunaris, isn't something you pick up from a few equations and spells."
"Well... if you had to pin it down, it's more in the realm of instinct and intuition."
"You get it. What could a bunch of untalented mediocrities possibly learn from that book?"
"Yeah, fair point."
"VIP Room 1! Sold for 2,153 gold!"
Finally, after one last change at the front, the mad race ended.
The messy, uneven number suggested they'd really squeezed every last coin they had.
As thunderous applause and cheers rocked the auction house,
my eyes were fixed below.
In a corner of the general seating on the lower floor.
I spotted the 145th bidder, who'd competed with me over the Nebula egg, quietly slipping out amid the commotion.
"...Department head, I'll be right back."
"Huh? Where are you off to all of a sudden? We have to settle up soon..."
"I'll be quick."
Truth be told, I had no reason to chase after that guy.
Black mage? Sure, they were this world's big bad.
For my comfy slacker life, it'd be nice if they vanished...
But that didn't mean I had to lead the charge in wiping them out, right?
Getting tangled up would just be a hassle.
Bounty hunters short on cash or glory-hungry adventurers would handle it anyway. Even the Imperial Mage Corps had them marked as prime targets.
Besides, I'd secured the monster egg key to a major episode. No need to stir up trouble.
...But.
-Found. You.
That lip shape he'd left behind.
It nagged at me for some reason.
If something bothered me, I couldn't sleep at night.
So, just a quick check-in.
Confirm and bail before it got annoying.
I focused mana under my feet and sprang up with a thud.
Ahead, the black robe hem vanished around the corner.
I kicked off the floor again and dashed down the hall.
"Hold up..."
My words didn't finish.
The mage I'd assumed was heading off had stopped right around the corner.
As if he'd known I'd follow.
"..."
I reflexively tore at the air, wrapping mana around my fist.
Ready to slam him with instant-cast magic if he tried anything funny.
"It's an honor to meet you."
His actions threw me off completely.
Instead of casting, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head to me.
Like a knight paying respects to his king.
The natural mana coiled around my fist drifted away like smoke.
"H-Have we... met somewhere before?"
"This is the first time we've faced each other."
"So you've been staring at the back of my head a few times before that?"
"Heh heh! I won't deny it."
As I narrowed my eyes, he laughed with his head still bowed.
"You're a black mage, aren't you?"
"You already knew that much before coming after me, didn't you?"
Shameless.
He didn't even bother hiding it.
Gutsy, or just nuts.
"Answer me. What are you doing here?"
"Oh~? As you can see, just handling some business. Snagged a top-grade monster egg, scoped out the Mage Tower..."
He trailed off and lifted his head slightly.
Under the deeply hooded cowl, I caught a smirking mouth.
"And figured I'd take out the future grand mage kid who's a potential threat to us while I was at it. Heh!"
"...So the magic train terrorist attack a few days ago was your doing too."
"Oh yeah. Though it failed."
He chuckled and continued.
"Honestly, I'm glad it did. I had no idea the grand mage candidate was you."
"...?"
"Well, against you, failure was probably inevitable anyway."
My eyes scrunched up involuntarily.
His oddly chummy attitude toward me felt off.
Made me sound like this world's big bad boss or something.
"Same with the Nebula egg."
Tilting his head, the black mage smacked his lips regretfully.
"If I'd known you were the one bidding against me, I'd have handed it over no problem."
"...?"
"That beast would shine brighter under you than me anyway."
With that, he pulled a heavy leather pouch from his robes and set it gently on the floor.
"As my apology... please accept it."
The clink of coins.
Gold.
"Sorry it's not more cash on hand. About a hundred gold, roughly."
...Dude, where's the other hundred.
If you're giving, give it all.
"I'd love to chat more, but given the place, I should get going."
He dusted off his robe and stood.
A black magic stone was suddenly in his hand.
As if he'd palmed it while pulling out the gold pouch.
"Hoping next time we can greet properly, somewhere quieter."
As the magic stone in the black mage's hand cracked,
dark mana rose like smoke, enveloping his body.
-Beeeep!!
Detection spells embedded throughout the corridor triggered, blaring alarms everywhere.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I reached out hastily, twisting space toward the black smoke, but I was a step too late.
"Hey, you there!"
"C Sector exit, black magic detected! Requesting backup!"
The auction guards were a good ten steps behind.
By the time the black smoke cleared, the black mage was gone without a trace.
"Ah! Aren't you Lunaris Evermoon?"
"Are you alright?!"
The security chief came running up, pale as a ghost.
"We detected black magic use nearby just now... What happened?"
"...Found a cockroach hiding in the Mage Tower. It scurried off."
I stared into space for a moment, then casually pocketed the gold pouch on the floor.
"W-Wait, that guy was a black mage?!"
I nodded silently, and the chief's face drained of color as he bellowed.
"You! Report this to the host immediately! And you, notify the elders—a black mage has infiltrated!"
In the midst of the bustling guards in the corridor, I stood still, mulling over the black mage's parting words.
-It's an honor to meet you.
-Honestly, I'm glad the terrorist attack failed.
-Hoping next time we can greet properly, somewhere quieter.
That attitude, treating me like the superior.
I'd chased him to shake off the unease, but now my head was even more muddled.
I thought I knew everything about this world.
Maybe not.
"...Damn. There goes my sleep tonight."
"Your Highness, a letter from the palace."
"From the palace?"
Princess Celestina set down her book and looked up.
The envelope handed over politely by her guard captain bore the crisp imperial seal.
Was it a forced recall order?
Or... His Majesty was on his deathbed?
She swallowed dryly and slit the wax with a paper knife.
Her initially tense expression gradually relaxed as she read on.
By the end, a faint smile played on her lips.
"She did it after all."
She neatly folded the letter and placed it on the table.
"Luna passed the Mage Tower's verification."
"That means...!"
"Yes. The palace plans to hold her grand mage investiture soon."
Even her usually stoic guard captain couldn't hide his admiration.
"Incredible. To ascend to grand mage at that age. Unprecedented in history, isn't it?"
"It is. A record that'll stand for centuries."
Princess Celestina beamed as if it were her own achievement.
"So the letter must ask if you'll return to the palace. Will you go?"
Her fingers twitched at the guard captain's question.
Her gaze lingered on the letter, then shifted to the window.
"...No. I don't plan to."
Princess Celestina shook her head.
"I'd love to hand her the robe myself and congratulate her, but that'd be trouble."
"Your Highness..."
"You know why I couldn't even go back during break."
A bitter smile crossed her lips.
To avoid the cutthroat power struggles, she'd chosen this place—Elterion Academy.
"If I show up acting chummy with Luna... they'll definitely get suspicious."
She'd used studies as an excuse, but it was really hiding from her siblings.
"I'll congratulate her later, after the investiture when she returns."
Princess Celestina rose and walked to the window.
Opening it wide let in the mild summer night air, brushing her cheek.
Elterion Academy's night sky was exceptionally clear.
Stars sparkled like jewels.
She reached tentatively toward the night sky.
Starlight slipped through her open fingers.
"Is it... really too fast?"
Her eyes wavered.
She was caged in the academy, holding her breath.
Luna—no, Lunaris Evermoon—had already soared high into that sky.
A moon shining brighter than the stars, beyond her reach.
"I wish you'd slow down just a bit..."
Princess Celestina clenched and unclenched her fist in the empty air, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
"I'm a little scared... that even your back will disappear from sight."