Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Librarian Ernst (9) - The Difference in What We've Built Up
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A cool breeze blowing gently. Petals and grass scattering in the wind.
The sun partially obscured by clouds, making the sky a bit hazy, but not in a gloomy way.
Even in weather and scenery perfect for a stroll, Eris couldn't fully enjoy it.
Her mind was already in a state of chaos.
Why was Ernst here?
Was the talk of a walk genuine, or just a lie?
Did he see her crying? She hadn't shed actual tears, so maybe it was fine?
But she had been squatting on the ground—that much was true.
What should she say if he asked? Ignore him? Try to deceive him?
Come to think of it, she still hadn't properly returned that theory book from last time.
Her sullen brooding lasted only a moment.
As she stole glances at Ernst, Eris soon noticed something odd.
...But why isn't this guy even looking at me?
Whether Eris fidgeted beside him or stared outright, Ernst showed no interest whatsoever. He simply walked his own path.
Breathing in the fresh air deeply, taking in the surrounding scenery, gazing at the sky now and then.
He looked utterly content, enjoying the stroll to the fullest.
"……."
Eris's terribly complicated thoughts began to settle calmly.
And in their place, an inexplicable irritation welled up.
"...Hey."
Ernst's eyes turned to Eris.
"What's the matter?"
"Didn't you call me out here because you had something to say to me?"
At Eris's sharp remark, Ernst paused with a "Hm," then replied.
"No, I didn't have anything particular in mind."
Her anger flared.
Eris's cheeks trembled faintly.
It was a rage so intense even she couldn't understand why she was this upset.
She snapped irritably.
"Then what is it! Why call someone out if you don't even have a reason?!"
"I said I had nothing to say, not that there was no reason."
"So what is this reason! You have to tell me so I can accept or refuse it!"
"You're already accepting. You're walking with me, aren't you?"
At the completely unexpected response, Eris blinked in surprise.
Feeling mocked, she now sensed betrayal as well.
"What... is this just a waste of time...?"
"It's not a waste of time."
Ernst cut her off firmly.
His tone left no room for compromise, leaving Eris momentarily flustered.
"Moving your body, breathing fresh air, taking in the scenery. Discovering an unfamiliar path, encountering an unexpected person. Every one of those actions holds value and meaning. This is neither a waste of time nor pointless behavior."
"You could do all that alone."
"You could, certainly. But sometimes doing it with someone isn't so bad. Reading a book leisurely by yourself is enjoyable, but sharing impressions with someone now and then can be just as fun."
"……."
Eris fell silent.
Denying Ernst's words would have been easy.
I didn't do those things because I enjoyed them. Reading books and sharing thoughts—it was all just unavoidable for the sake of grimoires.
All she had to do was declare it.
But Eris couldn't.
Was it because openly hurting his feelings might jeopardize getting new books? Sure, that was part of it.
But was that really all?
Reading books she'd dismissed as impractical, sharing their contents with the man before her, debating them—had those times truly been nothing but torment? No joy at all?
No, they hadn't.
For Eris, plagued since childhood by the obsession to become a great mage worthy of her master's approval, those moments had offered brief escape from her anxiety and impatience.
"A mindset of constant effort and duty is noble. But I firmly reject a life that's 'nothing but' that."
"Why?"
"It's too sad. And no fun."
Ernst's voice carried deep sincerity.
Not mere flattery, but genuine belief he held in his daily life.
Perhaps hearing that honest sentiment...
Eris suddenly blurted out.
"You said you had nothing to say to me."
"That's right."
"Then, could you listen to my story?"
"Of course."
With that permission as a trigger, Eris began pouring out the words bottled inside her, one by one.
Her reverence for Delphinaris as both parent and master.
Stumbling upon her master's true feelings by chance.
Her efforts to become a mage extraordinary enough to change that evaluation.
And how those efforts proved futile with the appearance of a 'genius' incomparably superior to her.
Her reason scolded her for rambling to someone she barely knew, but once the words escaped, they chained together endlessly.
It was lamentation, agitation, anger, and despair.
A child's wail, devoid of the practicality and rationality Eris held so dear.
Ernst listened to the grating emotions without so much as twitching an eyelid.
"The perfect superhuman crown prince...? Hm, sounds like a misunderstanding. The crown prince I know is more of a slacker who loves lounging around than you'd think."
"A man so devoted to princely duties he won't even glance at other paths? The grand mage must be mistaken."
"No exaggeration—it's true. Rate him that highly, and you'll only feel the gap with reality."
He vehemently denied the crown prince talk in particular, but Eris didn't mind.
She figured the librarian wasn't truly knowledgeable about the crown prince but was just saying it to comfort her in his own way.
After all, who would trust a distant provincial librarian over a grand mage who'd met and taught the prince himself?
After her outburst ended.
Ernst, who had been glaring at his own shadow with twitching brows, finally spoke.
"Well, the conclusion is simple. You'll fight him in the academy skirmish anyway, so just smash him thoroughly then."
Eris made a bitter face.
"Easy to say, not so easy to do."
Back then, impulse had driven her toward a duel, but now, with a clear head, she knew better.
The overwhelming talent to copy and cast a spell on first sight. And the mana reserves to amplify it several times over and unleash it casually.
Her opponent was a genius in a realm she couldn't touch.
"Even if I honed my skills nonstop until the duel without a single break, I couldn't reach that level. And he'll only grow stronger under my master during prep time—the outcome is obvious."
"No need to train without rest. You'll win even taking it easy."
"Pardon?"
To Eris, who couldn't comprehend, Ernst declared flatly.
"Let me prove it to that 'genius' and your master. The results of your efforts so far."
Marik's birth parents were merchants.
Self-made ones at that, rising from nothing to tycoon status without inherited capital or backing.
Rare for merchants, they valued honor and loyalty over profit, earning good reputations. Their employees and servants respected the couple.
But they had one blemish: their wastrel son.
He hated studying, was selfish and stingy, treated inferiors poorly—a complete reversal of his parents' character.
Subordinates shook their heads: How could such a child come from those fine parents? Was he swapped by fairies?
The couple tried to guide him right, but Marik's remorse was always temporary.
Not true regret, but crocodile tears to soften them, followed by more trouble.
The parents grew weary, employees exasperated, but Marik never shrank back.
On the contrary, he got annoyed.
"Mom and Dad already made a ton of money, right? So just use that—why make me do all this annoying stuff?"
His parents had created him.
They bore responsibility for his life, so claiming their legacy was only natural.
A mindset that might shock them to collapse, but Marik felt no guilt.
He even resented what he lacked.
"Why were Mom and Dad born commoners? If they'd been nobles, I'd be one too!"
"Why waste money on donations and junk? If you've got cash for beggars, give it to me instead!"
"Man, kids with great parents have it easy. If I'd been born a prince, no nagging—just fun every day!"
Personality forms heavily from environment.
Yet sometimes, without misfortune or hardship, grotesquely ugly people exist.
And as if drawn to that ugliness, the 'demon' appeared before Marik.
"─Kekeke! Lots of gripes about life, huh? Want me to help? Yeah?"
The scrawny demon, exuding a thuggish vibe, granted Marik a 'special' power.
"You can really use magic without practicing at all?"
"Just a tiny trick—pour in a bit more mana. That's it! The rest? Just watch them cast and you're good."
The demon gave Marik two abilities.
The power to replicate any spell seen with his eyes, and overflowing vast mana reserves.
Copy the opponent's spell, amplify output with superior mana, and crush them—invincible against mages.
Even non-mages were no issue.
Just blast them with copied spells from before.
Spells others sweated blood to learn, Marik acquired effortlessly.
Begging his parents for various mage tutors, he copied their spells, becoming a 'genius' mage in the lord's eyes.
He abandoned his devoted parents in the process, but felt no regret.
It was only natural for the superior him to rise higher.
Naturally, he held no respect for his current 'master' teaching him.
"Tch, damn old geezer. What'd I do wrong to make him demand apologies? Those guys started it! Argh!"
In a count's villa, some distance from Delphinaris's mansion.
Marik kicked furniture in his room, venting frustration.
He turned to the demon beside him.
"Hey! Balzareth, does it have to be this way? Why bother learning magic step-by-step from that old man? Just fight once and steal all his spells—faster, right?"
At Marik's thoughtless words, the demon, Balzareth, burst laughing.
"Tricky! Copying spells is fine, but overwhelming a grand mage's mana? Impossible! She's stronger than me to begin with!"
"What?"
Balzareth's candid admission of weakness surprised Marik, confusion crossing his face.
"If that old hag's stronger than you, doesn't she know about my power—and you?"
"Whoa, friend. Relax! No chance!"
Balzareth giggled on.
"Even top warriors can't match a hound's nose. A receptionist remembering hundreds of guests won't distinguish chicks in a box one by one! Detecting us demons is that level for humans!"
If Delphinaris seriously used 'demon detection' spells or artifacts, she might find traces on Marik.
In other words, unless she suspected him as a demon contractor and investigated, Balzareth's traces stayed hidden.
Marik sighed in relief at the explanation.
"So humans can't find you guys?"
"Well, your '7th Hierarchy' are exceptions. Not really human anyway. Otherwise... another demon might spot me easily."
"Uh, that's fine, right?"
"Kekeke! Chill, friend! We watch the famed 7th closely, and even if others are around, they can't touch me with my lord's 'mark'!"
Balzareth proudly showed the eerie serpent tattoo on his arm.
"My lord, the 'Deceiver,' rules demon realm as one of three absolutes! Lesser demons tremble at this mark's aura alone. So relax!"
At Balzareth's confident assertion, Marik grinned again.
Yes.
He was the victor.
No one would ever stand in his way.