Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Part 2, Chapter 2: Harmonia (1)
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Back in his office, Jamie requested the necessary items from his secretary, Hera.
"Hera, could you prepare the things on this list?"
"This is... a list of artifacts."
"I've been chosen for the dispatch mission. Better to have everything ready just in case."
"Then I'll come with you."
Jamie hadn't expected Hera to volunteer to join the dispatch. His eyes widened slightly, but he soon shook his head.
"No. It's easier to move alone, and who knows what might happen."
"Isn't it just a simple dispatch assignment?"
"It is, but there are some hard-to-explain tasks mixed in."
"Ah."
As Hera's face fell a bit in disappointment, Jamie hurriedly waved his hands to correct himself.
"It's not because you're lacking in ability or anything—don't misunderstand. I just judged it's better to handle this one solo."
"If that's the case, then."
She still looked a little regretful, but her expression had softened compared to before.
As a secretary, she was first and foremost a mage, so she must have been eager for a dispatch like this.
It tied into her record, and working alongside an Archmage was a huge opportunity.
But dangers lurked unknown.
Even with the sturdy backing of the Seldam Kingdom, their destination was a battlefield embroiled in fierce civil war.
Unexpected variables could arise anywhere.
'Still, that's unexpected. I thought she was pretty cold, but she shows disappointment too.'
Their relationship had always been formal exchanges, and with Hera's cool demeanor, he'd pegged her as someone with minimal emotional swings.
She probably was, mostly, but seeing this side today made her seem a bit fresher.
"What about those guys? They still slacking off?"
"The disciples headed to the lab."
"Those brats... Got it. Take good care of that list, please."
"Yes."
Jamie headed straight for the lab.
The lab was in the North Tower, connected to his office on the 73rd floor of the Central Tower.
Stepping onto the warp device, Jamie activated the spell.
The scenery shifted in an instant, landing him inside the lab.
And then, two familiar voices whispering reached his ears.
"...Won't Master chew us out big time if he shows up?"
"Damn that old fogey! Who in the world summons growing kids at the crack of dawn? He's just bragging about his own height!"
"Hey, that's a bit much. He's our Master."
"What's much about it? That guy's due for some cursing. Just the other day, he dragged me around like a rat for messing up that synchronization spell."
"......"
"I'm not even 5th Circle yet—how am I supposed to nail something even 5th Circle mages struggle with? Right?"
"......"
"Why the long face? Hey, Anne!"
"...Behind you."
Lennon furrowed his brow and glanced at Anne, who was staring rigidly behind him, before peeking back himself.
There stood Jamie, arms crossed.
Lennon and Jamie stared blankly at each other.
Several seconds of silence passed before Lennon screamed and toppled backward.
"Gaaahhh!"
Collapsing like he'd seen a ghost, he scuttled away backward like a crab—an impressive display of training.
Jamie chuckled.
"Keep talking. Pretend I'm not here."
"Th-th-th-that, th-that's......"
"What? You said he's due for some cursing. I'm all ears—go on."
"I-I-I didn't mean it like th-that......"
"Sorry for summoning us overgrown kids older than me in the morning—keep going?"
"......"
"Hahaha. So I forced synchronization magic on a punk who doesn't know his place and falls short. Should've picked someone who could actually do it. My bad for overestimating you~"
"S-sorry."
"Nah, nah~ What's to apologize for~ Your master's a jerk who summons you and flips out over botched spells—what's there to say sorry for~"
"I got nothing......"
"Down and planked!!"
"Anne, you did great. Unlike some, you handled what I asked."
"Hehe. Thank you."
"Still, no more tardiness from now on."
"......Yes."
Jamie patted Anne's head.
Girls grew faster than boys, it seemed. At fifteen this year, Anne was already past 160 cm.
Her maternal side was tall, apparently, and she'd inherited those genes well.
As she grew, her personality softened too, giving off a more mature vibe.
Lennon, on the other hand...
Jamie eyed Lennon coldly—arms trembling as he held plank position on the floor.
The ground was soaked with sweat; it looked grueling.
And he'd been at it for 30 minutes already.
"You blockhead."
"Yes!"
Lennon barked a crisp, disciplined response.
Jamie shook his head with a hopeless look.
"Get up."
"Hoo!"
The guy who dragged his feet like a slug on other tasks moved like lightning for this.
Tsking his tongue, Jamie scanned Lennon up and down.
After five years, Lennon hadn't grown as much as expected.
He was taller than at nine, sure, but half a head shorter than Anne.
Boys' real growth spurts were just starting, so he'd grow more, but piled-up issues with his height and more had loaded him with a negative mindset.
"So, you done learning magic from me?"
"No, sir!"
"What happened to the mindset when you begged me to teach you?"
"No, sir!"
"Then why badmouth me behind my back?"
"S-sorry......"
"Eh. Even kings get trashed behind closed doors—as long as they don't get caught. Am I wrong?"
"You're right, sir."
"Right? So you're planning more backtalk? You little—"
"No, sir!"
Lennon flinched into a defensive stance.
Jamie sighed.
"I get you're frustrated hitting a wall lately. But don't vent it weirdly. Smash through head-on."
"......Yes, sir."
"And I don't assign what you can't handle. Synchronization's doable, so I gave it to you."
"Yes, sir."
Seeing Lennon's pout made Jamie's chest tighten for no reason.
He understood the kid's feelings.
Lennon had endless potential at his age, but hitting a wall made the future irrelevant.
The immediate problem wouldn't budge.
In times like these, no pep talk from others helped—only grinding through it yourself.
"Anne."
"Yes?"
"Help your peer out more. You're the big sis, after all."
"Got it."
"Lennon. Help Anne if she's struggling."
"I am helping."
"Backtalk again—"
"I'll help!"
Puberty was something else.
Jamie itched to smack Lennon's head. Just once.
"Anyway, behave while I'm gone."
"Huh? Where you headed, Master?"
"Yeah. Business trip."
"Where to?"
"None of your business."
Jamie stood.
Hera should have everything ready by now.
"Slacking off while I'm away gets you......"
Jamie glared fiercely at Lennon, eyes narrowed.
Lennon snapped to attention, rigid.
Anne, trailing after Jamie, spoke up.
"Can't you take me too?"
"You don't even know where I'm going."
"Anywhere. I wanna see the outside world."
"Next time. It's dangerous."
"Dangerous?!"
Lennon's eyes lit up at the word.
Fantasies exploded in his head.
Action-packed heroics on perilous grounds, stylishly overcoming crises!
And a beautiful girl watching him shine...
The risky romance no boy that age could resist bloomed like a flower field in his mind.
"Master! Take me too!"
"Take me~"
"Have you two lost it? What's with this?"
"We won't get in the way~!"
"Think of it as a field trip!"
"You little......"
Veins bulged on Jamie's forehead.
"Both of you, attention!"
"Attention!"
"Attention!"
They reacted like programmed, Anne and Lennon snapping to.
Jamie eyed them.
"I'd take you if I could, but this mission's a battlefield."
"Battlefield!"
"Lennon, quiet."
"Yes, sir."
"Battlefields have unknown variables. Can't be responsible for you two. Worrying about you ties my hands. One slip, and it's over."
The kids didn't grasp war's dangers.
They'd never experienced it.
Lennon especially—his temperament guaranteed a big screw-up.
If Jamie wasn't there...
Unimaginable.
"We can handle ourselves."
"Anne, you think so, but to me, you're still green."
"What about me, then."
"You're too dim. No."
"......Harsh."
"Then I'll look after the disciples."
Then the warp device glowed behind them. Hera stepped out.
"Hera?"
"I'll make sure they don't cause Elder any trouble. Battlefields are huge for mages. You know that, Elder."
Battlefields meant real combat magic.
Academy theory or mentor lessons couldn't match field experience.
Hera was right, but their spot was the fiercest war on the Continent.
"You wanted to go that badly?"
"Yes. I really want to witness your magic up close."
"Me too! I swear I won't interfere!"
"Master! When have we ever begged like this?!"
"You've done it plenty."
Jamie cut off Lennon's bluff and looked at Hera.
She never chased personal gain, but mages gonna mage.
'Pushing this hard—feels wrong to say no.'
Anne and Lennon would face the world's brutality eventually.
Too young emotionally now, but Hera was right—no better chance.
'They're the ones losing out anyway.'
Mages often took disciples to battlefields.
Overprotection seemed off.
And with Hera along, worries eased.
'Worked with her three years—no issues there.'
Business-sharp; she'd rein in the kids' nonsense.
Planned to send them out once ready anyway...
"Alright, for now. I'll think about it."
"Yay!"
"Awesome!"
The kids cheered openly; Hera clenched a fist subtly.
Jamie smirked helplessly.
Vast forest.
A space ringed by trees scraping the sky, with only a single ray of sunlight piercing through.
There sat a nude woman with long sky-blue hair cascading down, back turned on a wooden chair.
She carefully turned the pages of a worn ancient tome when someone rustled through the underbrush.
"Isis."
The woman called Isis didn't turn, asking:
"You killed Harmonia's Master, right?"
A man in pitch-black robes and a white mask replied.
"Got lucky."
"The liberation army kids must be thrilled."
"They were—said they'll take the capital soon."
"But Harmonia sent a support request to Seldam Kingdom?"
"News travels fast. Don't know who's coming yet, but they staked a national treasure, so someone's bound to show."
"Who do you think? Baylor, any guesses on the Master?"
Isis glanced sideways at the knight leaning on a tree—Baylor Onix, one of Seldam's five famed Sword Masters, the Gale Blade.
He pondered, then eyed the white mask.
"Probably Jamie."
"Jamie Welton?"
"Why think that, our dear Baylor?"
"Jamie's the only Master free to move in Seldam now. Sword Masters are at the eastern continent border; Spatial's Siegfried joined them. Magic world's First Elder Offen Jin's been secluded forever, Eighth Elder Richter Simon's tied up with territory issues. Other Elders mind the magic world... Leaves only Jamie, inactive externally for five years."
"Hm. Makes sense."
Isis nodded knowingly, and the white mask spoke.
"Will he interfere with our plans?"
"No clue."
Baylor shrugged indifferently, gazing skyward again.
The white mask glared through his eyeholes before turning to Isis.
"If we clash, what then?"
"Hmm."
Isis drew her legs in, pondered with a grin.
"Handle it yourself. Future's unpredictable, right?"
"Got it."
With that, the white mask vanished into the brush.
Alone with Baylor, Isis said:
"Jin's strong. You good?"
"......Don't think Jamie's losing."
"Heh. That so?"
Eight-year-old kid hit Archmage rank; five years passed.
The boy unseen since might reemerge now.
No one could gauge his growth.
Isis laughed delightedly, rising.
She gripped the blue sword plunged beside her.
Rumble!!
Thunder roared; blue lightning streaked everywhere.
Dragon Slayer, Thunder Dragon Sword Gram.
"Feels like we'll meet soon."
Before that.
Isis shouldered Gram—taller than her—and headed off.
"I'll prep my way. Let's go, Baylor."
"Sure."
With that, the two vanished into opposite brush.