Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 3-Week Vacation - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sage
A wise and brilliant figure second only to saints.
The originator of all magic, the creator of the modern magic circle system.
Even setting aside these landmark achievements, a sage who nonchalantly accomplished feats beyond human capability.
The reason this man transitioned from Sage (Sage) to Hermit (Hermit) was,
Because he had gazed upon the world's pessimism.
[That checks out.]
Leo, who shared a similarly cynical gaze upon the world, nodded.
[[...You buy that right away? No follow-up questions?]
is rotten, after all.>
Leo had lived alone without his family's embrace since the tender age of ten. Having survived as a mercenary, feeling the law of the jungle on his bare skin, he couldn't possibly hold an optimistic view of the mundane world.
[[Well... since we're on the topic, go ahead and ask more. It's been ages; let me spin a yarn.]
[...Then, out of everything you've witnessed all these years, what was the most memorably filthy thing?]
<[Well, that would be... ]
Having a chance to dredge up old tales after so long, the Sage spoke with a well-oiled tongue, rapidly unraveling his story.
Of course, it wasn't a tale of beautiful adventure and fantasy, but a tragedy laden with heavy atmosphere and brutal twists. And precisely because of that, Leo found himself immersed in it.
[[Yeah... there was that too. I developed an explosion spell for mining operations, and those fools turned around and used it for terrorism and rebellion and all that nonsense. Talk about the end times.]
[It's still a shitshow now. They even stuff magic bombs into golems and detonate them remotely these days.]
[[Hah... those bastards. What the hell's the Magic Tower doing? Back when it was just 1-circle stuff, they came charging in frothing at the mouth.]
It had been two years since that incident, but the rampage of those two magicians was still fresh in his memory. He was heading to the Magic Tower for a permit precisely to prevent such chaos beforehand.
[Simple. I'm an easy mark, and those bomb-crafters are too scary to touch. That's how laws always work.]
[[If I head to the Magic Tower, first thing I'm doing is smashing the damn tower and knocking some discipline into them. Gone soft in just 300 years.]
[Before that, let's wreck the newspaper office. They were spewing bullshit again this morning.]
For Leo right now, the newspaper office edged out as his top destruction priority by a single sheet of paper. Especially the one who'd coined "Joking Assassin"—that creator deserved summary execution.
That was purity. That was justice.
[[Anyway, after centuries of watching that rotten crap, even my eyes started rotting. So I holed up in the mountains and kicked the bucket.]
Summing up his own death in a casual two lines was wisdom of a sort.
But there was something peculiar about his explanation.
[Then why leave the Sage's Stone behind?]
<[... ]>
This man who wasn't just disgusted but outright contemptuous of the world—why would he leave behind something tantamount to a legacy? It was deeply suspicious.
anything in a world that goddamned, right?>
[[...I still wanted to believe. That someone would change this cursed world. That's why I left it. Even while turning into this ghost.]
At those words, the one who came to Leo's mind wasn't himself.
The founder of his rotting family.
The savior who protected humanity.
'...Ruben Reinhardt.'
The first hero must have been the Sage's final hope.
[[...Don't get too hung up on it. Not expecting much from Ruben, either.]
[Then... why pick me?]
<[I already told you. ]
The Sage spoke curtly. There was no vulgarity, no pretense in those words.
<[You're a genius. ]
To that wise sage, it was simple truth.
[...Ugh...]
But damn, it was cringy.
<[Why the attitude even when I'm praising you? ]
[Sorry. Anyway, let's head to the Magic Tower like you asked.]
<[Ungrateful little shit. ]
Yeah, this was the Sage.
A satisfying conversation, in its own way.
[[So, how're you getting to the Magic Tower? Warp gate?]
[My salary won't cover that.]
Considering the distance from the mansion to the Magic Tower, the cost would be hefty. A black card would handle it in a snap, but for Leo—who had side errands—it was pure wasteful spending.
[Train it is.]
Warp gate alternative: the train.
<[...Train? What's that? Something you eat? ]
An utterance beyond anything Leo's intellect could conjure.
Come to think of it, the Sage had secluded himself over 300 years ago—no way he'd know modern conveniences.
[I'll explain on the way. So...]
"Leo!!"
Suddenly, someone bellowed Leo's name. Few in the household used such a familiar tone.
"Aria, miss?"
To call her rare would be an understatement—Aria was the only one.
"Today...! You're taking vacation...?!"
He'd just come from the head butler's office, Alfred's workspace for reports.
The purpose: notify about using his vacation.
"Ah, yeah. Was gonna tell you too, miss."
Of course it made sense to inform his charge. He'd just figured notifying the head butler first would streamline approval.
"...Why...?! Why vacation...! For three whole weeks?!"
But dumping two years of banked leave all at once? Aria had every reason to panic.
"Well... figured while I'm out, hit all the spots. Plenty to do this time of year."
Leo's train choice over warp gate wasn't just about saving coin.
Warp gates ruled for single stops—far comfier. But multiple destinations? Train won hands-down.
"...St...! Still...! This is way too sudden!"
"...You think? But yeah, lots to handle, and I can't bail abruptly."
The Magic Tower permit could wait. No hard deadline—week or two of slack was fine.
But
"Gotta visit the ancestral gravesite—no real wiggle room there. Down to my hometown inside a week."
"...Graves? To Doron?"
He rarely mentioned it, yet she'd remembered that backwater name somehow.
As expected of a genius.
"Parents' graves. Went last year too."
"Last year...?"
Yeah, no surprise if she didn't know.
"Warp gate last time—round trip in two hours. Wallet was bone-dry after."
Last year, warp gate slashed a day-plus pilgrimage to two hours. Personal errand, so he footed it himself.
<[Ah, that hometown trip last time? ]
The Sage had no choice but to tag along. Annoying chatter aside, it wasn't half bad.
"Then warp gate again this time...!"
"Can't. Spending's too steep, and..."
Leo's face grew a touch somber.
"Village chief's not well. Got a telegram a few days back. Might need to stick around awhile."
"...Ah..."
<[Laying it on thick, huh? ]
Parents' graves. Friend's illness.
Blocking that took some real malice.
Even trying was inhuman.
"...Th...then... have a safe trip..."
Leo didn't notice, but Aria was barely holding back tears with her aura—both her state and her heart.
Leonardo, never apart for two years straight, vanishing for three weeks? Cruel beyond measure for Ariasfil.
"Ah! How about you come with?"
"Come... with?"
Her proposal yanked the tears right back in.
"Train ride solo's no fun anyway. Wanna introduce you to the villagers... that okay?"
In that moment, Aria's mind had already boarded the train.
The station teemed more than a warp gate. Built for middle-class and low-income folk barred from gates, the crowds were inevitable.
<[...Ooh, this the train? ]
It resembled a massive cylinder sliced and chained end-to-end. Its shadow evoked an eastern dragon.
<[...Hmph... ]
The ancient beheld the train for the first time with surprising detachment, eyeing its grand form.
[What's up?]
<[Looks like something I sketched up ages ago. ]
[...For real?]
Normally he'd snap at the nonsense, but those past feats lingered too vividly—a sliver of faith welled up.
<[Couldn't build stations back then, no funds for nationwide rails—shot down. World's come a long way. ]
[Then isn't this ripping off the Sage's invention?]
<[Oi, over 300 years old. Nitpick that? Petty as hell... ]
[The mage who built this patented it, turned it into a business—raked in over 300 billion gold. Now married to a beauty 25 years his junior...]
<[Can I kill him? ]
Hold off till the Magic Tower permit.
"Leo! Over here, I think!"
Aria waved wildly from the platform. Such outings rare for a noble lady—excitement inevitable.
"Tickets first at the counter! C'mon!"
Leo hollered; Aria flushed crimson with embarrassment and dashed over.
"...S...sorry."
"No worries. Two, then."
Leo placed the order with the clerk, who glimpsed his hefty pouch and promptly handed over two first-class tickets.
"Keep 'em safe. Staff'll check midway."
"...I... I knew that much..."
Her shaky confidence only fueled doubts, but Leo let it slide.
Sometimes, shielding your lord's gaps was knightly devotion.
"Let's board. Train leaves soon."
Porters ushered passengers at the doors. Leo's group climbed aboard.
<[Feels worlds apart from a carriage. Way roomier, comfier. ]
True to the Sage's word, the interior outclassed any coach—luxury incarnate. First-class spend paid dividends.
Pricey seats earned their keep.
<[Be right back. ]
[Huh? Where to?]
<[Scout the train guts. Gotta suss the build to spot plagiarism vs. homage. ]
Still salty about that? Before Leo could ask, the Sage zipped off.
[Mana drain spikes like this, y'know.]
Leo griped, even as he linked with the distant Sage.
<[Tough it out. Builds tolerance. ]
He'd learned it upon hitting two mana cores and circles: more cores/circles meant greater range.
Doubled now.
'Eh, it'll be fine. Kinda sleepy anyway... short quiet nap won't hurt...'
Recent grind with no break? Leonardo's lids drooped. Even sleep evaded him fully, thanks to the Sage.
First-class bliss? Vacation loosening him up?
Leonardo slipped into slumber unnoticed.
"Leo, snack cart comes midway—want anything..."
Aria, train-smitten and sightseeing,
thud
Something settled on her shoulder.
Heavy, yet warm
Ticklish, yet soft
"...Hm...? Wh...!?"
Leo's head nestled softly against her.
'...Should I... wake him..?!'
As Aria reached for his cheek,
'...Hold on...'
Did she have to? In this setup?
Leo, her dedicated knight, rarely got easy days.
Daily strength drills, weapon practice, mana training—never skipped.
Magic studies nonstop too.
Proof: en route to the Magic Tower for his 3-circle permit.
Wake her precious knight?
Absolutely not!
Selfish enough to make anyone shake their head!
'...So then...'
Pure 'goodwill.' Friendly 'consideration.'
Ariasfil resolved to nobly sacrifice her shoulder.
She swore: no hidden agendas.
No hopes of savoring his scent, or a slight shift burying his face in her chest as a bonus.
Thus, Aria immersed in contemplation.
A blissfully happy contemplation, laced with the boy's fragrance.
```