Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: A Lesson in Humility
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317 years after the end of the Antarctic War.
The great mage Lin, now Rain Ludwig, had reached the age of fifteen.
In the middle of a bustling street where countless people rushed past in a frenzy, the boy let out a short but profound sigh of admiration.
"Wow, the view's really something."
The First Magic University of the Holy Human Empire, <Delaiten>.
Founded by the progenitor of magic, Emitas Page, <Delaiten> stood at the heart of [Golden Rose], the city of the leading magic house, the Page Marquess family.
The Magic Capital, [Golden Rose].
From above, the southern city sprawled in the intricate shape of a rose, forever teeming with ceaseless crowds.
"Magic tomes for sale! Reference books compiled by the pinch-hitter magic instructor—plenty in stock!"
"Magical tools to amplify your mana! Brought straight from the labyrinth by this silver-rank adventurer, Catt!"
Most were merchants and magic students, though adventurers affiliated with the Alliance dotted the crowd here and there.
The center of magic, hence the Magic Capital.
It was even said that all the world's knowledge flowed first to <Delaiten>—that is, [Golden Rose]—making the city's prestige self-evident.
"Young master!"
"Young masteeeer!"
"Young master!"
The problem was that this fifth-largest city in the Empire had a notoriously wicked temperament toward first-time visitors.
It was far too complicated.
Even the sharpest minds or those with the best sense of direction could lose their way and become strays in just ten minutes. And on a day like today, when crowds surged madly for <Delaiten>'s entrance exams, it went without saying.
"Young Master Rain!"
"Where are you!"
"Sob, Young Master!"
The family guards, who had parked the carriage at the roadside and were bellowing at the top of their lungs, were undoubtedly in the same bind.
"Whew, this'll take some effort to find him."
"Which house is it?"
"Ludwig Marquess family. One of the magic houses."
"The Ludwigs... Oh, the ones with that famously talentless young master?"
Where in the world was Rain Ludwig right now?
Dressed in black silk robes embroidered with the family crest in red thread along the back and sleeves like a work of art, adorned with ruby earrings and a necklace, the boy stood amid the throng.
"How much for this?"
"Ten silver coins, sir."
"Ten silver coins?"
At every passing stall, whenever something caught his eye, the boy casually inquired about the price, a faint smile playing on his lips.
- This is only ten silver coins?
In the year the beacon fires of war died down and the abyss was driven south, there had been a market by the river near the red city of <Shuriganaqius>.
Rista had been there in casual clothes, chatting idly with the vendors and asking prices for this and that.
When he'd asked why she bothered asking if she wasn't buying, her answer had stuck vividly in his mind.
- You can tell what era it is by the price of food.
- ...?
- Those grapes over there? In peaceful times, they'd cost less than two coins. Last year, they shot up to twenty. Down to ten now? Proof we fought hard, right?
For a boy whose interests had always been limited to magic and his own affairs, it was baffling yet fascinating.
She could think like that.
She could see the world that way.
Then Rista had added, with a suddenly sad smile,
- Lin, I won't live long. FakeWarrior body modifications, you know.
- ....
- So later, after you've lived a really, really long time... when we meet again somewhere in the heavens, will you tell me about it?
It felt like yesterday they'd had that talk, but he'd died before Rista, and she'd died waiting for him. Fate was truly ironic.
"Used to be at least eighty coins back then—now ten. Wonder what she'd say if she saw this."
As he peered curiously at the red gem, the stall owner ventured cautiously,
"Um, young sir?"
"Hm?"
"You'd best hurry. The clock tower's tolling. Exam's about to start. Might already be late...."
Those words snapped him back to reality.
Huh....
Come to think of it, when had he lost the guards? Since entering this street, he'd lost track of hours, lost in echoes of the past.
Racing frantically through the vast streets of [Golden Rose], grabbing passersby for directions, he finally reached the exam hall. The proctor at the gate said,
"I'm sorry, but even children of noble houses face strict disqualification for tardiness per academy rules. And the written exam's already been going five minutes...."
"Isn't there any way?"
What an utter fool he was.
He'd sworn to go meet Rista's note, and he'd botched the very first step.
"A way, hmm... There is a supplementary exam for written failures, held in the second exam hall."
"Do I qualify?"
"The supervising professor decides, but yes, it's possible. It's for those who failed the regular written exam. Though for a noble house heir, it might be a bit.... Hm?"
The proctor, scratching his chin awkwardly as he explained, blinked in confusion.
Wait, where'd he go?
* * *
The second exam hall was near the university grounds' third clock tower.
Hopelessly directionally challenged, by the time he found it, written exam failures were gathering, soon forming a dense crowd.
Naturally, most wore grim expressions. The boy watched them intently.
Being supplementary, few from the Eight Great Academies were there. A few from somewhat notable minor schools like Kashuta Academy, but no major or mid-tier ones.
"But supplementary exam, and this many people?"
The boy had long shed his family silk robe, folding it haphazardly under his arm. A maid or butler would have gasped in horror.
[Golden Rose] was sweltering.
This was the south, Sunsetland, land influenced by the Red Mountains dividing Dragonkin Republic and Holy Human Empire territories.
Unlike the blessed Richland with its eternally clear, cool climate, the temperatures here differed greatly.
"No surprise. What is <Delaiten>?"
A boy answered Rain's mutter. Neat impression, wearing an Epikuro Academy robe.
"Empire's top magic university—entry odds aside, even graduating is like plucking stars from the sky."
"?"
"Get that diploma, and life's set. Any magic tower welcomes you, or rake in gold as a family tutor. No shame in supplementary exams."
The boy grinned, extending a hand to Rain.
"I'm Rimjo, from Epikuro Academy. You?"
Rimjo. Definitely not noble— no surname.
"Rain Ludwig. No academy. Learned family magic."
At that, Rimjo's face twisted in contempt, his bright smile vanishing.
"Hah... So you're the Ludwig young master."
"?"
"This isn't a place you enter on family name or blood alone. Only those with genius magical talent belong here."
What the hell? Why the sudden attitude shift after hearing his name?
"See that guy up front? Tolay Academy disciple. That one's Rentami Academy's ace."
Hmph....
A magic house heir in supplementary?
Either zero talent... or connections? Rimjo sneered and turned away as a female student said,
"Bold move, picking a fight with the Ludwig heir."
"With that incompetence? Deserves the disdain."
"Incompetence? Please. I graduated <Ribarden> Magic School—when we were students, he was our TA...."
Just then, two female mages entered the second exam hall.
"Examinees, welcome. I'm Carolline, professor at <Delaiten>. Call me Cat."
Young but radiating profound experience. More striking, though, was the girl beside her.
Beauty with mud-after-rain brown bob, left temple boldly open with a hairpin. Pure allure blooming from ruggedness.
Girl bearing the natural beauty of eastern mountain folk, yet oddly familiar.
'<Delaiten> uniform....'
The boy tilted his head.
Surely same age as me—why's she already in uniform?
Cat smiled faintly.
"Truth is, my TA fell suddenly ill yesterday, so she can't assist with your exam."
"......!"
"So this girl will help judge your supplementary exam. Christa."
The girl stepped forward. Not aristocratic arrogance, but innate confidence.
"She's Christa Warden, this year's recommended admittee. You all know her, right? Official school permission granted—no worries."
Ah, so that's it....
Warden.
Warden Marquess family.
As the marquess title suggests, Warden was one of the Five Great Magic Houses alongside Ludwig, rooted in the Empire's east.
'Met her once at seven, I think.'
At a magic house council.
Before recovering Lin's memories.
- Try harder!
- Living like an idiot—happy with that?
- You're a magic house heir! Eldest son! Not ashamed?
First meeting, and she'd unloaded that— he'd brushed it off. No interest in the world then.
"Christa Warden...?"
While the boy nodded in realization, examinees whispered in fear.
"Fifteen and already Limites rank (2-star), eyeing Atlas (3-star)...."
"Once-in-a-century magic genius...."
"Got quasi-Battle Mage certification last month, they say...."
Ignoring the familiar murmurs as trivial, Christa Warden scanned the examinees, arms crossed.
"Right. Duel Christa in Iluweden-style magic combat. Land one effective hit, and you're passed immediately. No fatal blows—that's disqualification."
"......!"
"As you know, supplementary practicals work this way. No need to win—just graze with an effective hit. Focus on casting, no pressure!"
Cat chuckled softly.
As examinees gawked between her and Christa, she flipped through the roster lightly.
"Then, from now, supplementary exam number 200, please step forward?"
All swallowed tense breaths as 200 hesitantly mounted the platform.
As she opened her grimoire to cast... Christa's spell struck her chest, sending her tumbling disgracefully.
"Fail."
Instant ghostly verdict. The 200 shook, pleading with trembling lips.
"No way... One more chance, please! Years of prep....!"
No mercy from <Delaiten> proctors, who admitted only the Empire's elite.
"No. 201, to the platform."
Again.
This one cast, but miscalculated coordinates—fireball hit wrong spot. Christa's spell to the chest: fail.
"Fail."
Next.
Even Rimjo earlier.
"Fail. 216, come up."
"Fail. 244, come up."
"Fail. 267, come up."
Called, ascended, left stunned.
Many failed, but even more forfeited after sensing the gap.
Each judgment: about twenty seconds.
After thirty minutes, nearly a hundred examinees ebbed away like a tide. Christa sighed, shaking her head.
"Dressed like great mages, but strip it away—nothing there. How'd they even get Bandoran (1-star)?"
"Proof of your excellence, Christa. Empty carts rattle loudest, as they say."
"So, done now? Can I go study?"
Amid drooping examinees shuffling out, a wry smile tugged at Rain's lips as he watched Christa.
Yeah.
I used to be like that.
Insufferably arrogant, no approachability, blind to others' plights, fixated solely on self-improvement... With that skill, she could afford leniency.
- Lin.
- Lin?
- Lin!
Without those three, he'd have aged into that youth. What an eyesore. How to handle this? Teach her the world's vastness?
"Just overwhelm with magic, right?"
At the arrogant remark, Cat and Christa's eyes widened simultaneously. With nearly a hundred gone, they finally noticed the remaining boy.
'What did he...?'
Below raven hair, ruby-red eyes gleamed elegantly. Rain Ludwig stretched lightly, beckoning with a hand.
"No need to study. I'll give you an important lesson."