Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Sudden Proposal
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“Rain, did you see it?! Did you see my magic?!”
I ran into Casena again once the morning schedule of the final exams had wrapped up.
“Yeah. Not bad for a young lady.”
“For a young lady? What’s that supposed to mean?!”
Casena had sold a total of 19 scrolls, which meant she’d easily snag mid-tier or even mid-low placement in the finals.
Normally, it took a cadet about 3-4 minutes to draw a magic circle on a scroll. No matter how many spells you knew, if you couldn’t draw the circle fast, it was pointless.
That’s why top cadets got unlimited scrolls, but regular ones only had 10 at a time, with assistants bringing more on request.
‘For Casena, who’s not used to quick-draw magic circles like me, pulling off 19 is a huge win.’
She couldn’t do multiple calculations like I could, either.
“You taught her how to use dual runes, didn’t you?”
Madelia Page asked from right behind me.
“Don’t deny it. I know you hyped up my daughter. It’s obvious.”
“Well…… I just gave her a hint. She figured out the rest.”
“No, no. You’re truly amazing, Rain Ludwig. I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve surprised me.”
At that awkward praise, two girls nodded smugly with satisfied smiles. Not me—Rain was the one being praised.
“Right? Rain’s amazing!”
“You finally realize how great my big brother is?”
Casena and Seri.
Wait, why are you two grinning like that? Did you get the praise?
“Long time no see, Senior Madelia.”
A warm voice cut through my disbelief as I blinked in shock. It was Brim Ludwig, cradling a dozing Bran Ludwig in her arms.
“Or should I call you ‘Your Excellency’ now?”
A bright smile spread across Madelia’s face.
“Call me the same as always. Nice and casual.”
Brim had always tied with Kevn Ludwig for top and second in their class, and they’d been close friends as promising student council juniors.
When I heard those two had broken class barriers to marry…… I’d been shocked. Maybe even a little jealous.
Madelia smoothed her wind-tossed hair as she watched Casena and Seri chatter noisily around Rain, competing for his attention.
“Those youthful days are long gone, and now we’re just mothers watching our daughters and sons grow up. Time is so cruel.”
Madelia chuckled softly, reminiscing about that dazzling past she missed so dearly, and Brim smiled back warmly.
“That’s nice.”
“What is?”
“There’s a smile on your face, Senior. It’s been forever since I’ve seen that.”
My smile……?
Madelia startled and looked at Brim, then let out a hollow laugh and nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. Ever since your son came to my side, I haven’t had a day without smiling.”
“Right?”
“That’s why it’s so disappointing. Once he graduates, I won’t be able to keep him close……”
Madelia muttered, then suddenly clapped her hands as if struck by a brilliant idea.
“No, wait. Why not betroth Casena and Rain right here?”
The bombshell statement hit like a shockwave, widening the eyes of every Page and Ludwig present.
“Se-Senior? Did I hear that wrong?”
“You heard right! Casena’s a Page. Marrying into the Ludwig family wouldn’t be beneath her status—anything but.”
“Th-That’s true, but……”
“And her looks take after mine—perfect bride material.”
Then she turned abruptly to Rain Ludwig.
“What do you think, Rain Ludwig? How do you feel about my daughter?”
What the hell……?
Marriage? I was too stunned to speak. Even back in my Lin days, I’d never dealt with marriage talks.
Seeing Rain hesitate, Seri jumped in frantically.
“R-R-Rain big bro is only just sixteen?!”
“Age is no issue. Your parents started dating in middle school and married right after university graduation.”
“U-Ugh……!”
Mentioning her parents left young Seri speechless and helpless.
Seri glanced desperately at her mom for help, but Brim was too flustered to respond.
Having dispatched one foe easily, Madelia turned to Casena.
“You’re quiet, so I guess you approve of marrying Rain?”
This would kill the ridiculous proposal outright—no need for detours.
Casena doesn’t like me much.
She’s always yelling…… And as the real power in the Page family, if she says no, it’s over.
“…….”
Something’s off.
The usually noisy girl had flushed cheeks, lips pursed tight, stealing glances at me like she was gauging my reaction. Was she sick?
“Cadet Rain Ludwig?”
A third party cut short the bizarre tension. An assistant from Delaiten.
“The first round of the finals is about to start. You’re number one, so head to the office right away.”
Oh, right—top cadet always gets first seed in finals.
Leaving Madelia smacking her lips in regret and Seri sighing in relief, I gave Mom a light nod and followed the assistant.
As I turned to go, Brim asked something unexpected.
“Rain, how’s school life treating you?”
School life…… From entrance exams to today’s prelims, a flood of memories flashed by.
“Before coming here, I figured there wasn’t much left to learn.”
Every day’s a surprise. Student council stuff was new, but tests taught me the most.
“Now that I’m here, it’s pretty fun.”
It shows me there’s still tons to learn, that I can climb higher.
“If I had to rate it…… yeah, not bad.”
Brim smiled back at Rain’s casual grin, her heart swelling quietly with pride.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
* * *
A chill wind unfit for summer rustled the forest leaves ominously. Two sets of footsteps approached through the sound.
“You should’ve given up ages ago. No one escapes when I’ve got eyes on them.”
Special Forces ace Tyrintid cracked her wrists and stepped forward. Behind her, mustached Lunen spread a vast barrier over the area.
Such a wide, ultra-fast deployment was overwhelming. Terrifying.
If your opponent wasn’t this man, that is.
“Escape? Me, from Ribadin?”
The man in the forest clearing laughed maniacally and threw back his deep hood. Tyrintid and Lunen’s eyebrows twitched.
‘That face…….’
‘What? It looks familiar…….’
Nothing special about it, but weird. Like I’ve seen it before……
“I just lured you rats out of the city. So I could kill you without worry.”
“Lured us? Cocky bastard. Don’t you know who we are?”
Even if Lunen was unknown, Tyrintid was infamous among black mages.
“Heh heh heh. I planned to crush you the moment you tailed me. But one scaredy-rat kept nagging—don’t cause a scene in the city.”
Ribadin shrugged off his cloak, drawing two iron rods from his side.
One was just long; the other had a vicious crow-shaped metal at the tip.
A separable stone staff.
As Ribadin joined them and took stance, an inexplicable pressure prickled the two Special Forces mages’ spines.
“Senior, capture might be impossible.”
“Agreed. Let’s ask before killing. Why target Rain Ludwig?”
Ribadin’s face twisted grotesquely, dark blue glow leaking from his eyes.
“Avenger for my little sister.”
Avenger for his sister?
What nonsense……
“See? Can’t reason with these crazy black mage bastards. Lunen, you take left.”
Tyrintid tied up her loose hair as a ruse while forming seals—then a fierce explosion rocked the forest.
* * *
The finals tournament’s first theme, decided by lots, was [Magic Battle].
“Oh, a magic duel……”
In the stands, Chaihak Academy’s vice-dean stroked his chin intriguingly.
“It might seem violent, but nothing separates the gems from the junk like a duel.”
Logan and Ilin nodded sharply beside him.
“Exactly! A mage’s key qualities—casting speed, adaptability, personal flair—lay bare in battle!”
As the vice-dean lectured his students, a massive shadow loomed over him.
“Damn, it’s been ages, Vice-Dean geezer.”
The vice-dean’s eyes narrowed—then the shadow’s upper body ballooned, ripping his shirt to reveal hulking muscles.
The vice-dean flexed instantly, his shirt shredding as colossal muscles erupted.
“O, oooooh!”
Logan and Ilin’s eyes sparkled with envy, admiring the sunlit muscle majesty.
“Grrrah! The muscle salute true mages share!”
“Truly moved, sir!”
Ignoring their young disciples’ fuss, the two muscle men solemnly assessed each other before shaking hands.
“Still prime muscles, Owen. Worthy of next dean.”
“You too, old timer—how’re yours still so ripped at your age.”
Onlookers edged away from the lunatics, but Professor Owen sat beside the vice-dean.
“See him?”
“Rain Ludwig?”
“Who else?”
At the name, Dragon Hole Field’s east and west gates opened amid roaring cheers.
“Oh, he’s out!”
“Rain Ludwig! We’re counting on you!”
From the east gate strode black-haired pretty boy Rain Ludwig confidently.
From the west danced chestnut-haired beauty Nora Reden with playful steps.
“Nora Reden.”
Chaihak’s vice-dean eyed the rival academy’s successor, arms crossed.
“Melev Academy’s index, famed since childhood for violent talent in their secret art.”
Melev’s secret: Mortology—making magic power act as internal force, not external.
“Magic optimized for slaughter……”
Hmm, wonder how Ludwig’s heir handles that.
“What say you, Logan? You’ve faced the genius (disaster) young master. Who wins?”
Logan straightened awkwardly. He wanted to root for muscle comrade Rain, but……
“Rain was insanely strong, but honestly, I dunno this time!”
“Dunno? Explain.”
“You know Melev…… Looks way too favorable for Nora!”
Meanwhile, from Rivendel Academy’s stands, Dean Datan Karain offered counter-view.
“But Ludwigs focus bloodline limits on magic combat from the start. Not an easy foe.”
Amid such speculation, the two finalists faced off at center.
“Hmm, sorry about this★”
“Hm?”
“Top cadet dropping in the first finals round, in front of everyone♪”
“Me? Why would I?”
“Because of me.”
“You? We’ll see about that.”
Cold light flashed in Nora’s smiling eyes.
“Know this? Magic researched for learning versus killing—it’s fundamentally different.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Then this too★”
Nora leaned close to Rain’s ear, whispering.
“Desk-theory magic and Osarius copycats? Even reborn, you can’t beat me♪”
Rain spun his staff onto his shoulder and smirked. Nora smiled back.
“Why laugh?”
“Me? Fighting slaughter-optimized magic users was daily routine.”
Absurd joke cracked her perpetual smile. But it was true—300 years ago.
“And I won them all.”
Except one last guy.
No clue who.
“So no worries beating you either.”
Rain tilted his head; Nora’s eyes iced over, smile vanishing to reveal chilling real face.
“……♪”
Chief Professor Marhena nodded, and Professor Kyle announced via amplification magic.
[Now, the magic duel between top cadet Rain Ludwig and third-seed Nora Reden begins!]