Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Invitation to the Royal Academy
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Extra Strategist's Royal Road - Chapter 161 (161/328)
Extra Strategist's Royal Road Chapter 161
The ship set sail. At my request to Kelly, we stopped at each island along the route to conduct investigations.
I figured these island villages would be sensitive to outsiders, so even simple inquiries would yield information.
'No luck.'
I couldn't find any information on the other retainers. All I could do was hope Gunter, who had headed in another direction, had good news.
The ship was now approaching an inland city. To clear my frustrated mind, I decided to go up on deck and get some sea air.
"Als? What are you doing?"
It was Kelly, the leader of the group.
He seemed to have something important to discuss with me.
"Just enjoying the sea breeze for a bit."
"Haha, you're a man who knows how to appreciate the finer things."
He approached me as if offering to lend an ear for my troubles and gazed out at the distant horizon.
"You're looking for someone, aren't you?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"From the look on your face, they must be very dear to you. I hope you find them soon."
"Haha... I'd like that, but it looks like it'll be a test of patience."
The number of people I needed to find exceeded fifteen. I predicted it would take at least a year.
Of course, there were priorities.
Mother, Yulia sis. Ymir too, but the top priority was none other than Erina.
She had come along on Estelle's invitation with a light heart, only to end up separated alone when the teleportation magic activated.
During the teleport, Mother had been with Aegert, Yulia sis with Olaf, Estelle with Master Ilyia, and even though Ymir was pregnant, her combat prowess gave some hope—but Erina was different.
'Teleportation magic, huh...'
I asked Kelly why we had to take a ship. In a world where magic was advanced, shouldn't long-distance spatial transfer be standard?
Kelly gave a wry smile, as if asking if I really knew nothing.
"The mana flow in this world is ridiculously unstable right now. It's all because of the Ma Continent. The unidentified barrier there has severed the proper circulation of mana around the world."
That instability affected spatial movement magic as well.
'So that's what happened.'
Now I understood why we had been scattered. It wasn't a flaw in the elves' teleportation magic.
For the same reason, communication magic was impossible. Short distances might work, but long-range was out.
This left a world with highly developed magic relying on carriages and ships for travel, and letters for news.
'The situation is pretty dire.'
I needed to figure out ways to find people. I'd hoped magic communication or spatial transfer could locate them instantly, but those avenues were blocked.
"Als, that's actually what I wanted to talk about. We can help with that."
"What do you mean...?"
"Join the Savior Alliance. With your skills, our Alliance Leader would welcome you with open arms. We can help you find people too."
That seemed to be the purpose of his visit.
'Savior Alliance, huh...'
The Savior Alliance was a force with a unique history.
Two hundred years ago, when most nations had fallen and only the Elan Kingdom in the West Continent remained.
The great sage Bandalin passed down the Salvation Teleport magic, creating a breakthrough.
Adventurers backed by that magic swept through dungeons, reclaiming land in a blaze of glory—until an unexpected turn.
Those adventurers turned their backs on the Elan Kingdom and declared independence.
Having reclaimed the central and northern West Continent from monsters, they formed the Savior Alliance, a union of adventurers who saved the world.
The Elan Kingdom naturally objected, but in the chaotic times, it was brushed under the rug.
Thus, the Savior Alliance seized the northern West Continent, expanded to the North Continent, and grew into a power rivaling the Elan Kingdom.
Their governance was typical tribal rule. Independent Alliance Leaders each held their own territories.
Most territories were reclaimed from monsters, but some were seized by subjugating other alliances.
Naturally, strengthening the alliance was their top priority.
That was why Kelly was scouting me.
"With your abilities, you'd get 4th-grade alliance member status right away. Even if not, you'd receive great treatment. What do you say?"
It was tempting, but with so little information, I couldn't accept rashly.
I politely declined. Kelly looked disappointed but curtly said to do as I pleased before heading back inside the ship.
Upon arriving at our target city, Dispan, I immediately parted ways with Kelly's group.
Kelly's attitude had turned cold after I rejected the scout offer, and perhaps because I'd been friendly to gather info, the mage Lunia requested a private meeting.
So in the port city of Dispan, after a quick investigation, we headed straight inland.
Our destination was Lambdamen, the largest city on the North Continent.
If any retainers had landed on the North Continent, they'd head to the biggest city like I did.
But apparently, no one else grasped the situation as quickly as I had—my inquiries in Lambdamen yielded no immediate results.
'No choice. For now, I just have to wait.'
Finding people is a game of patience. I steadied my anxious heart and looked for lodging.
*
*
*
Fifteen days in Lambdamen.
I frequented the city library, learning the language and gathering info on magic.
What I learned was that studying magic wasn't all that difficult.
There were five main institutions for formal magic education.
First: the Elan Kingdom's Royal Academy. An elite institution for those born with magical talent or proven achievements.
Second: the Savior Alliance's Union Academy. Also elite, attended by the alliance's skilled mages and talented youth.
Both were state-run academies, with students ranging from 10 to 90 years old.
The rest were affiliates or private institutions.
Third: independent academies in small cities.
Fourth: private academies run by adventurer groups or mercenary mages under their own names.
And fifth: part-time academies for the general public.
Small academies allowing working civilians to learn magic in their spare time—a sort of welfare for those short on time or money.
As such, their facilities were terribly inadequate.
"Wow..."
I wondered if I'd come to the wrong place.
The "academy" was a crumbling two-story building.
Thinking this couldn't be it, I opened the door—and an old man who looked at least 80 greeted me warmly.
"Welcome~. Here to learn magic?"
"Uh... yes. I'd like to know the basics. If I may ask, who are you...?"
The old man introduced himself as the academy's manager, then suddenly started coughing as if he might collapse.
"A-are you okay!?"
His coughs sounded fatal, so I rushed to support him.
"I'm fine. Happens all the time. Anyway, you want the basics? Where do you want to start?"
He continued calmly. I suspected he might be more than he seemed.
With trembling hands, the old man pulled a book from the shelf.
"Magic is, you see..."
He began a lengthy explanation of magic. Most of it I'd already read in library books.
Magic in this world consisted of various attributes.
Main ones: fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, time, space. And sub-attributes beneath them.
For example, lightning under wind, ice under water.
Combined, there were about twenty attributes, and most people were born with 2-3.
But even good attributes meant nothing without talent.
A mage with outstanding potential had both fitting attributes and exceptional aptitude for them.
The old man said,
"No talent? No worries. Just learn enough to protect yourself."
That was this academy's purpose: teaching civilians basic self-defense magic.
Even so, few enrolled.
For a welfare academy for the poor, it was subtly expensive.
Better to self-study with books, apparently.
I'd planned to self-study anyway, but came to gauge my innate attributes and potential.
"Shall we check your attributes, then?"
With that, he began casting a spell.
A faintly glowing orb of mana floated before him.
"Touch it."
I placed my hand on the orb as instructed, and it writhed in response.
"Oho, strong reaction. Let's interpret it."
He closed his eyes in concentration.
Soon, he let out an exclamation.
"This is... light! Such brilliant, powerful light! Unbelievable!"
Probably the protagonist Als's innate attribute.
"Just the one?"
"Hmm, seems so."
A bit disappointing.
I'd hoped for several.
Of course, more attributes aren't always better. Single-attribute mages achieve mastery more easily.
Jack of all trades, master of none. Multiple attributes often lead to mediocrity.
'But light magic...'
I couldn't grasp how to incorporate it.
"Amazing... such radiant light... rivaling a Saintess..."
Sensing my mana with eyes closed, the old man furrowed his brow.
"What? Something else in the light...?"
He grimaced in focus, sweating profusely. It was mentally taxing.
"This is... forbidden magic! Incredible! Such concentrated forbidden magic hidden in that radiant light!"
Probably my innate attribute.
If Als had light, I had forbidden.
"This is just... whoa!"
Even with eyes closed, he squinted as if blinded, face twisting.
His expression turned ecstatic, like he'd seen a vision.
From my view, it was quite the show, but he remained deadly serious.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze toward me had completely changed.
"You... what are you?"
"Even if you ask... so, my innate attributes are light and forbidden magic?"
"Y-yes."
"Thank you. I'll leave the fee here."
Now that I knew my attributes, I could self-study.
As I rose to leave, the old man urgently stopped me.
"Wait!"
Smacking his lips, he said,
"I'll write you a recommendation. I'll put in a word for a scholarship. So, how about the Royal Academy?"
"The Royal Academy...?"
The largest comprehensive academy in Byeon, capital of the West Continent's Elan Kingdom.
It aligned perfectly with my plan to use Byeon as a base with Gunter—very tempting.
But I wanted to search the North Continent more before heading to Byeon. And I could earn money quickly if needed.
Noticing my hesitation, he hurriedly added,
"No worries! Take your time. No need to decide now. Just... promise not to go to other academies. Like the Savior Alliance's."
Obviously a kingdom man. No idea why he worked in alliance territory.
"...Got it. I'll think about it."
An academy, huh.
After Pensilon Academy closed, I'd thought no more academy life for me.
Even there, as Wade, I wasn't a normal student.
Classmates kept their distance, never approaching.
Hardly proper academy life.
Now, somehow entering one like this.
Here, I wasn't Wade or even nobility. Just an ordinary student.
A magic academy, no less.
I couldn't even imagine what would happen.