Chapter 37
Chapter 37
“Even if she’s one of our allies, she’s frightening enough to show up in my nightmares.”
“What good is it to receive the highest medal as a War Mage? She’s still that ominous.”
As could be gathered from the soldiers’ conversation, the woman was a War Mage who had distinguished herself on the northeastern front. Yet no one welcomed her—not only was she denied the treatment due a hero, but nobody even liked having her around.
It was because of the instinctive revulsion she inspired.
She gave off a deeply unsettling feeling, like crows haunting a corpse, so they called her the Black Bird and kept their distance.
“I heard she’s leaving the battlefield soon, though. She’s supposed to become a professor at some place called Rubiness Academy.”
“The Black Bird, a professor? That really doesn’t suit her. Sometimes I wonder if she might actually be a demon.”
“You thought so too? I’ve had the same thought. Of course, there’s no way that could be true.”
The Demon race.
The name given to the race of darkness born in the Demon Realm.
Along with the Ran Republic, they were the Empire’s greatest enemies.
“But why is she just standing there, dazed among the corpses? Could she be offering them up as sacrifices to devils or something?”
“If it’s the Black Bird, she really might be. Yikes, let’s get out of here before she notices us.”
The area fell quiet.
Left alone, the Black Bird—Amanda—continued to stand among the corpses, her face still blank.
She wasn’t doing this because she meant to offer the bodies up as sacrifices, as the soldiers had said.
It was because of something she had heard not long ago.
—Go to Rubiness Academy.
An order from the Medicine Immortal, her benefactor.
—Find the ‘Master of Magic’ there.
The Master of Magic.
It was an absurd expression.
What human being in the world could become the master of magic?
Since magic had first been passed down to humanity, quite a few mages had become Transcendents and Ascendants, but not a single one had ever earned the title of ‘Master of Magic.’
Even so, she couldn’t ignore what the Medicine Immortal had told her.
If not for the Medicine Immortal, she would have become a hideous monster long ago.
—Only the Master of Magic may be able to lift the curse you bear.
The Medicine Immortal didn’t know who the actual Master of Magic was, either.
Fortunately, however, there was a clue.
“…The Master of Magic. It must be the Ascendant who supposedly appeared recently.”
It just wasn’t a very hopeful clue.
No matter how hard people searched, not even a shadow of that Ascendant could be found.
“Even so, I’ll find them. No matter what it takes.”
With that resolute vow,
the cast began to gather on the Ranchel Plateau.
As the training approached, I thought to myself:
‘I need to prepare.’
There was one preparation more important than any other.
‘I need to get stronger.’
I took a specially made case from inside my clothes.
Shaaah.
A beautiful gemstone, filled with a chill, emerged into view.
The Heartstone of the Frozen Sea.
It was an S-grade elixir I had requested from my former fiancée, Emily, and received a short while ago.
‘I’m strong, but I’m weak, too.’
I objectively assessed my own abilities.
‘My theoretical knowledge is at the Fourth Star Rank, but my mana is only around the intermediate level of the First Star Rank.’
The Grandmaster of Magic and Mana Insensitivity.
Because of these traits at opposite extremes, I could sometimes unleash an absurd amount of power, depending on the situation, and at other times become extraordinarily weak.
‘Still, objectively speaking, I’d have to say I’m weak.’
The reason I had defeated powerful opponents so far was that I’d been lucky enough to exploit their weaknesses every time.
If I set aside tricks and fought them conventionally, I’d be lucky to hold my own against someone in the Second or Third Star Ranks.
‘The problem is, I can’t overcome my limitations in a short time.’
That was why I had prepared this—the Heartstone of the Frozen Sea.
‘It can greatly improve my combat abilities.’
At my gesture, the spell pattern flared into being, and the Heartstone of the Frozen Sea began to tremble.
The Heartstone of the Frozen Sea was a perilously potent elixir that no one below at least Level 5 as an Upper Mage could endure, but I didn’t care.
It was time to get stronger.
Before long, the day of the training arrived.
People bustled about inside the mansion set up on the desolate Ranchel Plateau.
The crowd far exceeded the number of people participating in the training.
That was because reporters from magical publications had flocked there.
“Who would’ve thought the New Professor Training would draw so much attention?”
“I know. I was surprised. For such remarkable people to be appointed as new professors at the Rubiness Academy, which was practically on its last legs…”
“Exactly. Sir Ballas is especially astonishing. He could’ve gone to any of the Four Prestigious Academies.”
“Is it only Sir Ballas? There’s the Black Bird, recipient of the highest medal; the Prestigious Swordsmanship Family’s wastrel; and the Sky Island elder’s prized disciple. Not one of them is anything less than remarkable.”
“No, not all of them are remarkable.”
At someone’s observation, the reporters fell silent.
That was right. There was one.
A worthless nobody, like a duck with no sense who’d blundered into a flock of swans.
“Young Master Ban the Wretch.”
“We haven’t had much reason to write about Young Master Ban the Wretch lately. Let’s see what kind of amusing story he gives us this time.”
In the past, Ban had been a favorite subject for reporters.
Hardly a day went by without Ban’s pathetic antics filling newspapers and magazines of every kind.
“Really, what was Rubiness Academy thinking, appointing Young Master Ban the Wretch as a professor? And through a special appointment outside the regular quota, no less.”
“I heard he’s changed a little lately, though. There’ve been a few articles about it.”
“Oh, come on. You’re a reporter who knows better than that, and you believe those articles? They must’ve been paid off to publish false reports. Just like we were paid ‘support funds’ by the Klein Ducal House, the Prestigious Magic Family.”
“Shh, it’s starting! The new professors are here!”
Ballas, adopted son of a Prestigious Magic Family and a rising star of academia.
Kansir, the wastrel of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family.
The War Mage known as the Black Bird.
Rune, the prized disciple of Sky Island.
Each one appeared in turn, greeted by thunderous applause.
At last, it was Ban’s turn—
‘Well, now?’
‘Just how pathetic will he look this time?’
As mocking laughter filled the hall,
Step.
The quiet sound of footsteps rang out, and the people’s expressions shifted faintly.
The atmosphere Ban carried as he walked up onto the dais was completely different from what they knew.
“…What is this?”
And then—
“I am Ban Ecclesia.”
“!!”
Fwoosh!!
The Black Flame Dragon’s overwhelming presence swept over everyone in the hall.
It had begun.
Meanwhile, at that very moment—
There was a village in the woods near the training grounds.
Though it was a remote village, something about its atmosphere was strange.
The volunteer guards keeping watch had eyes that were anything but ordinary.
Their presence was on par with that of elite knights.
And there was something even more surprising.
“What are you thinking about?”
A middle-aged man with the strongest presence of them all politely bowed his head to a boy as he asked.
“Saint Yohen.”
He was the saint of the Rebel Army whom Ban had once treated!
As it happened, there was a Rebel Army settlement right near the training grounds.
“Just… thinking about this and that.”
Yohen answered, blinking his deer-like eyes.
The demonic energy he had displayed when Ban treated him was nowhere to be seen; he had a guileless, innocent air about him.
“Ah, you said you’ll be entering the Academy before long. You must be nervous.”
Yohen gave a faint smile.
“A little. I’ll take another walk, then head back.”
“Understood. Just be careful. The Monsters have seemed unusually on edge lately, for some reason.”
“Is something going on?”
“Haha, I doubt it’s anything serious. Perhaps because the Ranchel Plateau is where the Evil Dragon sleeps, the Monsters here do sometimes grow violent. Still, do be careful. You are our hope, after all, Saint.”
At the mention of “hope,” Yohen’s expression darkened slightly.
But he didn’t let it show, and smiled brightly.
“Yes, thank you.”
‘I’m not anyone that remarkable.’
Everyone around him looked up to him as a saint.
But Yohen knew himself well.
He was simply a being with the same selfish, ugly nature as anyone else.
‘Maybe the seed of a demon took root in me to punish me for being such a hypocrite.’
Yohen thought bitterly.
‘Who was the one who saved me back then?’
At Ban’s request, Lairan had claimed that Yohen had freed himself from the demonic energy, but Yohen clearly remembered what had happened.
—I declare it in the name of … .
The voice had come from beyond the oppressive darkness.
—I will never let you die.
‘What on earth are you? I want to meet you.’
Yohen let out a sigh.
It wasn’t simply because that person had saved his life.
The nobility in that voice.
The selflessness of someone who had tried to save another without a thought for their own danger.
They had to be truly noble, unlike a fake like him.
‘Maybe if I meet them, I’ll find the answer to what’s been troubling me.’
Yohen turned his gaze.
‘They were probably a mage… but surely they’re not one of the mages at the training grounds over there?’
Looking toward the training grounds, brightly lit near the settlement, Yohen made a wish.
That he would, without fail, meet the benefactor who had saved him back then.
After the training session began—
Everyone in the hall gave a hollow laugh.
It was because of what Ban said next.
“I was appointed to teach Magic Theory, and I’m currently at the intermediate level of First Star Rank.”
“……”
Intermediate First Star Rank.
There probably wasn’t an Academy’s Magic Faculty anywhere that had ever appointed someone like that as a professor.
‘As expected, Ban Trash is still Ban Trash.’
And that wasn’t even the end of the things that left everyone dumbfounded.
“My goal for this training session is to take first place.”
In the end, laughter burst out.
A reporter suddenly raised his hand, his eyes gleaming.
“Master Ban, are you serious about what you just said?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“W-well, because there’s no way Master Ban could take first place…”
“What a foolish question. I’m more worried I’ll be bored by how tedious my competitors are.”
“!!”
The hall fell silent.
Looks that asked if he had gone mad poured down on him, but Ban didn’t so much as flinch.
He merely looked down at everyone with an utterly arrogant expression, as though he meant every word.
‘They said Ban Trash went from being a trashy delinquent to a delusional liar. So the rumors were true.’
‘As if being trash wasn’t enough, now he’s gone mad, too.’
That was when it happened.
Bam!
With a loud crash, someone strode forward.
“Ban, are you finished? We’re tedious?”
It was Kansir, one of the newly appointed Temporary Professors and a member of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family!
He was an expert in combat arts that combined swordsmanship and magic.
“Our Prestigious Swordsmanship Family of Malvern doesn’t just let an insult pass. Apologize for what you just said. On your knees. Now.”
Shing!
Kansir drew his sword as if to threaten him.
“If you don’t apologize, I’ll formally challenge you to a Duel right here. Don’t imagine the name of the Ecclesia family will protect you in a Duel.”
He wasn’t bluffing.
Kansir had already been itching to teach Ban a lesson.
He couldn’t stand the thought of a piece of trash like that being a professor on equal footing with him.
‘Ban Trash couldn’t possibly be a match for him. Should we stop them?’
‘Ban Trash will just cower and tuck his tail between his legs. He’s always been known as a coward.’
But then—
“No. I won’t Duel.”
“Are you scared? Then get on your knees and—”
“Shouldn’t you be on my level before you can Duel me? You’re not in my league when it comes to a magic contest.”
“!!”
Ban lifted the corner of his mouth.
His expression was unbearably smug.
“Not a Duel. A lesson.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t this a training session? You’re a sword-swinger, so I’ll show you what real magic is. You should be grateful.”
The hall turned cold and still.
Kansir burst out laughing.
“Haha!! I misunderstood you. It wasn’t that you didn’t know your place. You were just insane.”
Kansir’s eyes flashed sharply.
“There’s a saying among the people of the Ran Republic that the cure for a mad mutt is a club. I’ll make sure you learn your lesson properly.”
Fwoosh!
Kansir leapt up onto the platform where Ban was standing.
His movements were as nimble as any knight’s, drawing gasps of admiration from here and there.
“Prepare yourself.”
At the sudden Duel, the reporters’ eyes gleamed.
The outcome was obvious either way, but this would make for a good story, too.
Everyone loved the old standby of Ban Trash getting into trouble, after all.
I wonder how spectacularly he’ll embarrass himself this time.
A headline along the lines of Ban Trash, Now Suffering from Delusions of Grandeur, Gets Treated with a Club! ought to do nicely.
Everyone watched the duel with keen interest.