Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Olivia von Leonhardt (1)
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To create a new identity, I decided to ask for help from Cedric, the most approachable among the Magic Tower masters.
In this fantasy world overflowing with orphans abandoned by their parents, washing one's identity clean was all too easy.
Still, I figured that for smoother achievement hunting, my new identity would need some solid backing.
"Luna told me about you. You're her disciple, right? I'm Cedric."
"Oh? Rion, huh. A name similar to my master's. What a coincidence."
"Then I'll handle your entry procedures personally."
After my conversation with Cedric wrapped up successfully, I let out a quiet sigh of relief in my mind.
Cedric was undoubtedly the most friendly person toward me in this Magic Tower, aside from Lily—but that friendliness was limited strictly to 'Sion.'
I'd wondered how he'd treat me as 'Rion,' but it seemed his kindness extended to Luna's disciple Rion as well.
'I was honestly worried he might see through my disguise, but luckily, he didn't.'
If even Cedric, the one I'd interacted with the most in the Magic Tower, couldn't recognize me, then no one else would either.
'The plan for a new identity is a success.'
Now, when people saw me, they wouldn't think of the fearsome and eerie grand archmage—just an ordinary mage.
Of course, it wasn't completely ordinary; rumors had spread that I was the disciple of one of the masters.
But even that much would make earning achievements far easier than before.
Granted, tearing down the thick wall of being a grand archmage might draw more people to me, but that was fine.
As Lily said, this was something I absolutely had to overcome—
"Um, excuse me."
"Eek!"
W-wait a second...! I'm not mentally prepared yet...
Don't just talk to me out of nowhere like that...!
Please don't be calling me—let it be someone else!
-Thud, thud, thud—
I hoped desperately in my mind, but the footsteps grew louder, and I realized they were heading straight for me.
"M-me?"
I prayed it wasn't so, but it looked like they really were after me.
"Yes. I just wanted to ask one thing—"
Wait a minute, this girl looks really familiar.
No way, it's her?
"—do you know the way to Sion's office by any chance?"
"Olivia?"
What are you doing here?
...
Olivia von Leonhardt.
A high noble of the Leonian Empire and the vice captain of the Imperial Knights—a powerhouse in her own right.
With her stunning looks and exceptional skills, she was the envy of many: the epitome of someone with a great background and great character.
But to Sion, she was just Poor Subordinate A, stuck cleaning up after the hero.
They'd crossed paths a few times during subjugation party activities, but it was only enough to remember each other's names and faces.
"Olivia?"
"...Yes?"
Of course, as Rion rather than Sion, they had zero interactions.
"Oh, uh... that is..."
I messed up.
Sion had forgotten for a moment that she wasn't Grand Archmage Sion right now, but her disciple Rion.
People talking to her was unfamiliar enough, and when that person was someone she knew, her thoughts had blanked out.
How to explain this? Sion racked her small brain for the best answer—but
"It's fine!"
Luckily, she didn't need to.
"If I met a famous person I'd only heard about in rumors, I'd be flustered too!"
The Olivia in front of her wasn't nearly as normal as Sion had thought.
"...Yes?"
Eyes sparkling, hands confidently on her hips, Olivia pressed on.
"It's okay, I totally get it."
"N-no, that's not..."
"That ecstasy and thrill when you meet someone you admire—it's only natural to be at a loss for words!"
Looking at her confident posture and those endlessly shining eyes, Sion felt herself growing dumber by the second.
What is this girl...?
The Olivia Sion knew was clearly the pitiful subordinate who whined endlessly to the hero about work.
But before her stood a self-absorbed tomboy, and Sion couldn't fathom they were the same person.
As Sion's mind heatedly debated these two seemingly different yet identical beings,
"Anyway, I'll give you an autograph later, but first, could you help me out? I urgently need to meet Sion right now."
Hearing her own name from Olivia's lips snapped Sion back to reality.
"S-Sion? Why do you need... her...?"
Olivia wants me?
Why?
I still wasn't sure if this Olivia was the one I knew, but I was a little curious about why she was looking for me.
The distance between the Empire and the Magic Tower wasn't exactly far, but not close either.
For a vice captain of a knight order and the hero's adjutant to come all the way here in person, there had to be a good reason.
"Ah, well... that jerk K-Karl—er, I mean, our hero gave me this heavy responsibility!"
Uh... yeah.
"Ah... okay."
So you are the Olivia I know?
What the hell did that hero do to break her this badly...?
"That's why I came all the way here. To complete the mission, I absolutely need Sion's help!"
Olivia beamed while viciously trash-talking the hero as she got to the point.
Watching her, Sion felt a strange sense of kinship.
Their methods differed, but both were victims whose mental states had been utterly shredded by the hero.
"Hmm..."
Sion fell into thought.
Should I help her...? Or just ignore her...?
It was unfortunate for Olivia, but the Sion she was desperately seeking was right in front of her—the girl she was talking to.
Except right now, Sion was wearing the mask of Grand Archmage Sion's disciple, Rion.
If things continued like this, Olivia would miss her entirely and return to the Empire empty-handed.
'I don't have any obligation to help, though...'
In normal circumstances, Sion wouldn't even hesitate—she'd ignore it.
Considering how much she avoided interacting with others, it wouldn't even be worth agonizing over.
'Achievements related to Olivia...'
A few, huh.
'Alright, let's help her.'
Olivia was one of Rilteia's core NPCs in her own right.
Owing her a favor now could prove hugely helpful later—and make achievements tied to her a breeze.
I've already ditched my mask to get home, so what's one more thing?
Having made up her mind, Sion hesitated briefly before finally speaking.
"Um, excuse me... Olivia...?"
"Yes?"
"Sion... she's... not in the Magic Tower right now..."
"What?! Where did she go?!"
"I don't know exactly... she went somewhere really far away... and I heard she won't be back for a while..."
"Argh... everyone I ask says the same thing!"
Olivia drooped her head, unable to hide her disappointment.
It was a complete one-eighty from her energetic vibe moments ago.
"Sigh... total waste of a trip..."
'She looks completely wiped out.'
Of course, Sion had no intention of revealing her identity to Olivia.
The face beneath Sion's mask was to remain a strict secret until she returned to her original world.
Instead, Sion...
"I don't know the details or anything..."
"...Yes?"
"But maybe I can help with something..."
"...You?"
She planned to help in a different way.
"I'm... Sion's disciple..."
"...Whaaat?!"
...
"So, Rion, how'd you end up becoming a mage? Oh, by the way, I've wanted to be a knight since I was little!"
Ah...
"The hero thinks I'm his personal secretary or something! Sure, being an adjutant means that kind of role, but this is too much!"
...I shouldn't have offered to help.
"Resource audits, patrol route checks, supply inventories, cargo sorting—you name it, he dumps it all on me! Meanwhile, he holes up in a tavern 'investigating' by chugging booze?!"
I figured she'd quiet down if I didn't respond.
"So, what's Sion like? Is she a slacker like the hero who just slacks off—no, a loafer—no, whatever, that kind of person? Or—"
I never imagined she'd ramble solo for over 30 minutes...
"I want to go on an adventure to save the world like the other Seven Stars someday! Isn't that super romantic? Oh, right, Rion, have you ever thought about joining my party later—"
"Um... O-Olivia...?"
I couldn't take it anymore and was about to tell her to pipe down...
"Yes?"
But seeing her innocent face, like she had no idea what the problem was, I lost even the will to do that.
"N-never mind..."
Well, whatever...
...I'll let it slide since I unlocked an achievement.