Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Elder (2)
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Lennon couldn't believe his eyes even as he stared at the emerald-haired boy standing right in front of him.
Why was this guy here?
It had been about ten months earlier, at the party hosted by the Simon family for the eastern nobility.
Word had spread that the eldest son of the Welton family—one of the two pillars of the eastern nobility alongside the Simons—was attending.
At the time, Lennon's older brother Alf had boasted that this was his chance to bring the Welton heir under his wing and become the king of the eastern nobility in the next generation.
Lennon had found it laughable. His brother, always used and abused by others without even realizing it—a complete fool.
What made him think he could control anyone?
Still, Lennon had been a little curious. The Welton family was one of the world's premier swordsmanship clans. What kind of person would their heir be?
But he had no intention of doing anything himself. That was when Alf got properly burned.
Lennon grew intrigued. He planned to use Alf to watch and see if his brother could handle it this time too. But things spiraled out of control.
Not only did the Simon Count uncover everything, but he even ordered Alf to publicly apologize to Jamie Welton.
It bruised his pride, but Lennon could stomach that much. The real problem came after.
'Damn... It's been barely any time since I escaped that nightmare.'
Cold sweat broke out on Lennon's skin as the memory resurfaced unbidden.
He had faced a massive eye in an endless abyss.
He didn't know how it was done, but it was an incredibly advanced illusion spell.
He suffered for months. Every time he slept, he was trapped in that dream abyss, with the giant eye always staring at him, laughing.
He grew so afraid of sleep that he forced himself to stay awake, only to fall deathly ill.
That was when the Simon Count visited him. He offered to teach Lennon magic.
The man who had never treated him like a son suddenly speaking up was bewildering, but deep down, Lennon was thrilled.
Around that time, the nightmares began to fade.
Not often, but whenever the Simon Count had time, he taught Lennon magic.
It demanded a high level of skill, so keeping up wasn't easy, but Lennon enjoyed it.
That was when he was learning magic.
-Go to the Magic Realm.
At first, Lennon thought the Simon Count was abandoning him, and his heart sank.
But the follow-up words brought relief.
-Learn more there. If you stay in the Magic Realm, you can receive my guidance more often. Depart immediately.
Alf hadn't been chosen by the Simon Count, but that was none of Lennon's concern.
He arrived at the Magic Realm in high spirits and spent a fortnight familiarizing himself with the area.
He submitted his application to Phoenix Academy, where he was scheduled to enroll, and had just come for the entrance ceremony today.
'I have to compete with a monster like this?!'
Jamie Welton.
A genius boy who had achieved the impossible, just a year younger than him.
And now he was at Phoenix Academy.
"Hey, who are you?"
He didn't even recognize Lennon.
Lennon didn't know how to respond to Jamie, who looked at him with clear annoyance.
"Weird guy. You called me first, so why aren't you answering? I'm leaving."
Jamie turned away dismissively, as if there was nothing more to see.
Finally snapping out of it, Lennon blurted desperately.
"Lennon. I'm Lennon."
"Lennon?"
Jamie tilted his head at the name.
It stung Lennon's pride, but he couldn't let himself shrink back now.
He enunciated clearly.
"Le-nnon. Lennon Simon."
"...Ah! That arrogant brat?"
'You're even more of a brat than me!'
...The retort didn't make it past his lips.
To Lennon, Jamie Welton was simply too terrifying.
'Why is this guy so big?'
He was only eight, yet only slightly smaller than his older brother Alf.
Last time they'd met, he'd been about Lennon's height.
Could someone grow this much in the meantime?
"Wow, long time no see? When was that? About a year ago?"
"Ten months..."
"Right, right. So, where's your brother?"
Oblivious or not to Lennon's turmoil, Jamie cheerfully scanned the surroundings.
Amid all the strangers, seeing a vaguely familiar face felt a bit nice.
"My brother's in Rizen."
"Why didn't he come?"
"...Father gave the opportunity only to me."
"Aha."
Jamie recalled what he'd told the Simon Count before leaving Rizen.
That Lennon had talent worth nurturing.
The Simon Count had been skeptical then, but seeing Lennon now confirmed Jamie's judgment hadn't been wrong.
'He's improved quite a bit.'
At the cusp of 3rd class.
No peer could match him.
Phoenix Academy was a mage training institution, and everyone around was a child learning magic.
Their levels were laughably low—nonexistent, really. The gap between Lennon and the others was like heaven and earth.
"You've worked hard."
"...Thanks to you. But."
"Hm?"
"Are you enrolling here too?"
"The prickly kid's cracking jokes now..."
"Hey!"
Jamie furrowed his brow, about to tease if he was joking, when Ann's voice came from behind.
Interrupted again.
Jamie sighed and turned around.
Ann was running toward them with a bright smile.
"Did you find your seat?"
She planted herself in front of Jamie and asked.
Lennon eyed the suddenly appearing girl suspiciously. Who was she to talk to Jamie Welton so casually?
"No."
"Why? This is the eastern line, isn't it? Who's this guy? Made a friend already?"
"Well..."
"Good. You need lots of friends for academy life. I was so shy at first, I didn't have any."
Ann made a dejected face as she said it.
Where was the shyness in her?
Jamie was genuinely curious but needed to correct her first.
"No, I'm..."
"Speaking of, my little brother's entrance ceremony is today too. I mentioned it earlier? He's over there with our parents, but then I got worried about you. Hehe."
"Actually, I'm here because..."
"First-years don't learn anything too hard, so don't worry. If you don't know something, just ask me..."
"Kid, listen when people talk!"
Jamie finally lost his patience and yelled.
Ann jumped in surprise, eyes widening.
"For starters, I'm not a student enrolling here..."
"Young master! There you are."
Interrupted yet again, Jamie glared at the interrupter. Siegfried was approaching, waving happily as if thrilled to reunite.
"What are you doing here? I told you to look around, not come to my school..."
"M-Master!"
At that moment, Ann's eyes sparkled, and she dashed to Siegfried.
"Ann? Why are you here..."
Mid-sentence, he spotted the 'Entrance Ceremony' banner over the platform.
"Ahh—today's the ceremony, so you're helping out."
"Yes!"
"Haha. Such a good girl."
Siegfried chuckled and patted her head. Ann wriggled happily.
"Hehe. For you, Master, this is nothing!"
"That 'master' thing is a bit burdensome."
Siegfried smiled awkwardly at her enthusiasm and stepped back.
"But you're my eternal master!"
"I've never taken a disciple, you see. Haha... Anyway, Young Master Jamie."
Quickly changing the subject, Siegfried beckoned Jamie.
"Everyone's gathered. Let's go."
"Where to now? And why is that kid..."
"You'll find out later. Take care, Ann."
Siegfried placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder.
Just before leaving, Jamie said to Ann.
"Hey. I get you're talkative, but listen to others next time. Like I said, I'm not some enrolling student here."
"Eh?"
"You're a good kid, so no punishment."
"Young master."
Siegfried shook his head helplessly and snapped his fingers. The two vanished completely.
Ann stared blankly at the spot they'd disappeared from. What just happened?
She'd thought he was a Phoenix Academy enrollee.
But why was he going with Master Siegfried?
Come to think of it, he'd called her a kid. He looked the same age, but maybe he was older?
"Damn. Unreasonable bastard."
Then Lennon clicked his tongue from behind.
Ann turned and asked.
"You know that guy?"
"You don't know him?"
Lennon stared at her like she was unbelievable.
"Jamie Welton. The monster praised as the continent's top talent—that infuriatingly lucky freak."
"Jamie..."
"He's not enrolling, right? Phew, good."
Lennon sighed in relief and returned to his seat.
Left alone, Ann muttered 'Jamie, Jamie...' before suddenly snapping her head up as memory hit.
"Jamie Welton?!"
The emerald hair and eyes!
Impossible not to recognize those features!
Realizing who she'd been meddling with, Ann's face flushed beet red.
The Magic Realm had eight elders.
Excluding 8th Elder Simon Count and 7th Elder Siegfried, the remaining six had gathered.
Assembling like this was never easy, yet here they were again, just a month later.
All for one person.
"He's coming right here?"
4th Elder Raymond Floris Shan said.
His face was flushed with excitement for the Jamie he was about to meet.
"7th Elder is bringing him."
5th Elder Luke Frizel replied, scratching his goatee. His expression was much the same as Raymond's.
An eight-year-old kid with standout nicknames like 'the greatest talent in history' and 'saint of the Pyro Church.'
The rumor of him reaching 6th class had long been accepted as fact.
"Hmph. It's all hype anyway. Keep expecting, and the disappointment will just be bigger."
It was 3rd Elder Serpent Gerol.
He sat with arms crossed, exuding negativity.
6th Elder Adelhart Beben sneered at him.
"What? Scared your position's threatened?"
"You vulgar bitch, watch your mouth!"
"Better than an old fogey's stinky one? Word is your realm's been stuck forever."
"You wench!"
"Enough."
As Serpent lunged toward Adelhart, 1st Elder Oppen Jinja intervened.
"Jamie Welton arrives soon. We elders shouldn't show such ugliness."
"Damn it."
"Hehe."
Unlike the fuming Serpent, Adelhart smirked leisurely.
Luke chimed in at her.
"Do you have to pick fights even here?"
"Shut it. You reek of bad breath."
"That's too much."
Luke turned away with a pout, getting no comeback.
"Calm down, everyone. They're almost here."
It was 2nd Elder Linmel.
He smirked at the two presences in the hallway beyond the door.
'This kid... incomparable to back then.'
Just sensing the aura from outside showed vast growth since their first meeting.
The other elders noticed too. Their varied expressions unified into one.
Tension.
Knock knock-
"May we enter?"
Siegfried's voice followed the knock.
Oppen spoke as representative.
"Come in."
"Very well."
Siegfried's voice carried a hint of amusement.
The door opened, and an emerald-haired, emerald-eyed boy entered alongside him.
Serpent ground his teeth at the sight of the boy. Adelhart beamed like she'd seen something wondrous. Luke let out a short gasp. Raymond's eyes widened. Oppen gently stroked his long beard. Linmel burst into hearty laughter.
Diverse reactions.
But one emotion overlapped in them all.
'Insane!!'
It was the six elders' shocked gazes upon seeing Jamie in person.
Jamie greeted the six elders eyeing him variously.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jamie Welton, eldest son of the Welton family. As you can see, my realm is around 6th class."
The atmosphere froze at Jamie's provocative introduction.