Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Scene 021: Sage
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Every story has a protagonist.
The original novel Another World has one too.
Peter Wingfield.
A genius capable of wielding magic of all attributes, having inherited the hero's bloodline. He's also Wendy's older brother.
In the original story, Peter Wingfield leaves the empire as a child and sets off on an adventure across the sea to the continent.
Full of youthful wanderlust, he travels through countless countries and grows into a man.
One day, he realizes he is a descendant of the hero.
Having awakened to his destiny, Peter becomes the hero and returns to his homeland, the Meikahel Empire.
As a fan of the original novel, I liked the protagonist Peter too.
But now, he's just public enemy number onesomeone I need to avoid at all costs.
Why...?
Because I don't want to die....
In the original story, Tristan kills Wendy through relentless abuse.
Later, Peter finds out, flies into a rage, and exacts judgment on him.
In a way, Wendy's death is the first domino in my downfall.
That is, in the original story only.
In the online game's scenario, things play out a bit differently.
For starters, the original protagonist Peter Wingfield is set to be missing.
The hero who should gather companions and save the world from the demon king and monsters is gone.
Thus, someone has to step up as the protagonist in his placethat's the online game's scenario.
Naturally, the protagonists who replace Peter are the "players" from another world.
But before the demon king even shows up, the players bring about the world's destruction.
What a bullshit ending.
Wendy, as the protagonist's sister, has also inherited the hero's blood.
Thanks to that, she possesses the blessing of "all-attribute" magic, exclusive to the hero's descendants.
Wendy isn't just some random extra.
She's a talented gold spoon extra.
"No way...."
It was Mondri who stared at the multicolored golems in a daze.
He was in charge of the arena's barrier because Myohail had joined the exam himself.
A barrier sturdy enough to live up to the fame of the Great Sage of the Continent.
No one outside could possibly see inside.
Though he only held the title in name, Mondri was one of Sage Myohail's direct disciples.
He could be called one of the people closest to being a sage in this era.
Such a Mondri Cremont said in a trembling voice,
"The hero.... Has the hero appeared...!"
Nope. It's this old geezer.
"Wingfield...."
Wendy's golem shone like a rainbow.
Magic of every attribute shimmered around it like a heat haze.
Seeing it stirred faded memories in Myohail.
Back when he had a human body, not this current one.
Back when he was neither Myoil nor Myohailjust a wandering eccentric.
A weirdo among weirdos, roaming the world, researching magic to become what was called the pinnacle of mages: a sage.
That must have been around the time the demon king's emergence plunged the world into chaos.
He had no interest in the world's crises.
Let the world be destroyed or not.
As long as he had magic, he could live.
That's what he thought.
Until he met her.
I'm Grace.
To earn travel funds, he was mixing and selling potions at a roadside stall when a woman reached out to him and said,
The hero who'll save this world.
I see. A classic setup... But I don't handle drugs. If you're looking for something with strong hallucinogenic effects like that, head over to the tent there.
You pass. You're my companion from now on.
You're not listening to a word I say, are you?
At first, he thought she was just some crazy bitch.
He never imagined she was really the hero.
Never imagined she'd become a comrade he'd share life and death with.
Never imagined she'd be the one and only woman he loved.
Grace was strong.
Her divinely chosen talent, all-attribute magic, boasted overwhelming power.
Grace was also beautiful.
Her long hair whipping in the wind as she swung her rapier on the battlefield looked like she was dancing.
He was a man too.
It was hard not to fall for her.
But he couldn't love her.
She shone too brightly.
She didn't suit a weirdo wanderer like him.
He thought just watching over her from the side... that was enough.
After countless battles, on the eve of the final showdown with the demon king, Grace spoke up.
Druggy.
What is it, Grace?
Isn't it about time you told me your name? If we're fighting the demon king, I should at least know that much. I don't even know yours.
...Wingfield.
Your family name?
Don't have one. I'm an orphan.
Heh... Same as me. I'm an orphan too.
Is that so?
So if we get married, would my name become Grace Wingfield?
Pfft!? M-Marriage?! Wh-What are you talking about!
Kyahahaha! Wingfield, you can make that face too?
N-No? Then I'd be Wingfield Wingfield? Are you messing with me?!
Hehehe. Isn't it cute? Or Wingfield Grace, maybe.
Grace laughed.
Seeing her laugh, he laughed too.
The next day, having confirmed each other's feelings, the two defeated the demon king.
For saving the world, Grace was exalted as a saintess, and Wingfield as an archmage.
But he still had something left to do.
Become a sage.
You're really leaving?
Yes....
Can't you just stay with me?
I'm sorry.
What's so great about becoming a sage? Huh? Archmage Wingfield! Isn't that cool enough?
Grace. Becoming a sage has been my lifelong dream.
More important than me...?
Because you matter to me, I want to become a sage no matter what.
Wingfield gently placed his hand on Grace's shoulder.
I'll climb the magic tower and face the sage's trial. I will... I definitely will return to your side. As a sage, I want to stand proudly beside you, Grace.
Grace took Wingfield's hand and placed it on her swollen belly.
You stubborn fool.... Can't talk you out of it. Apologize not just to me, but to the baby in here too.
I'm sorry....
By the time you get back, they might be so big you won't recognize them. Feel it now.
Our child.
She was right.
Through Wingfield's hand, he felt the fruit of their union growing.
Thank you for understanding, Grace.
Hmph. Don't forget. I fell in love not with Archmage Wingfield, but with wandering druggist Wingfield. So... come back to me. Or I won't forgive you. Got it...?
Of course.
And so Wingfield left home.
It was a long, long journey.
Perhaps even harsher than the one where they'd felled the demon king.
Wingfield overcame brushes with death and reached the magic tower at the continent's edge.
The trials there were no joke either.
He endured agonies that made him want to quit over and over.
All for the sake of returning to her.
A considerable amount of time passed.
He finally became a sage.
What he'd estimated would take thirty years took only three.
Possible only because he was a genius.
Having ascended the magic tower, Wingfield became the first sage in history.
Wingfield hurried straight back to his nest.
For a sage like him, it was easy.
In an instant, he arrived before the house where he'd lived with her.
Now she would welcome him.
Grace!
No reply.
Something was off.
The cozy home in the small village where they'd lived together was gone.
Had he come to the wrong place?
But Sage Wingfield wouldn't make such a mistake.
Grace!
Is that... Wingfield?
That voice... Hans?!
It was his neighbor Hans.
But Wingfield could only be stunned.
In a mere three years, his kind neighbor's face had changed drastically.
Wingfield! It really is you!
Yes, it's me. I'm back. But... where's my wife... Grace? And our house?
Y-You....
Through Hans's eyes, Wingfield saw it.
Anger, hesitation, sorrow flashing by.
Hans sighed and spoke.
Why did you come back so late......
...What happened?
While you were away, Grace was branded a witch.
A witch?
A witch?
No way.
Grace was a saintess.
Who would dare call her a witch?
It was the king's order.
What...?
After you and Grace defeated the demon king, the people grew discontent with the king, it seems.
What nonsense is that? What does that have to do with the king?
As you know, the people hailed her as a saintess... It must've irked the king. The royal army came to this village and took Grace away....
For such a pathetic reason... No, that's not important. Hans. Where is Grace... Where is she?
......Follow me.
Hans led Wingfield to a corner of the village.
There was a small, shabby stone.
Falsely accused as a witch, she was dragged to the capital... and burned at the stake there, I heard.
Wingfield said nothing.
His rage was silent.
Sorry. Couldn't even find a bone fragment, so this is just a makeshift....
Wingfield heard nothing more.
His despair was utter silence.
Sage Wingfield headed to the kingdom.
And erased everything there.
Screams, wailshe erased them all.
Even death itself.
Thus, an ancient kingdom's capital vanished from the world.
The man named Wingfield vanished along with it.
Or so it should have been....
Seeing the massive golem of light, Myohail felt joy.
Because the proof of the one who'd saved the world with her hadn't been erased.
Over a thousand years had passed, yet here they met again.
"I'm sorry it took so long to find you...."
Wendy's golem swung its arm.
Myohail's golem took the attack nonchalantly.
Still so immature.
Hero's bloodline or not, a rookie was a rookie.
Pitiful mana to face a sage like him.
No, the talent was there.
But the skill wasn't.
The experience wasn't.
She couldn't possibly beat Myohail.
He'd thought her a dangerous one with black mana, planning to kill her right here.
But....
Myohail looked at Wendy clumsily maneuvering her golem.
At the traces he'd thought vanished.
At her traces.
"......"
Damn....
He'd thought a thousand years had dulled him.
Thought nothing could shake him anymore.
But Myohail's golem had grown sluggish.
Mana was leaking out.
"This is troubling...."
At that moment, Wendy's golem swung a punch.
Scattering mana that gleamed like a rainbow after rain.
He couldn't dodge that obvious attack.
Boom.
The light golem's fist struck the golden golem's chest dead-on.
The ground shook.
Myohail's golem staggered badly.
In that instant, Myohail locked eyes with Tristan Ruelverta.
Seated on the bench, silently watching the exam, he gazed at Myohail with unflinching poise.
As if he knew everything.
'No way... Was this what you wanted, Tristan...?'
Myohail's golem collapsed with a roar.