Deceiving the Kingdom's Envoy
The academy's air hung heavy and damp from the rain that had started falling early that morning. While some professors roamed about, sprinkling spells that released a pleasant aroma throughout the grounds, I launched my full-scale operation.
Even the professors eyed me warily without so much as a greeting, but I strode confidently into a classroom in the midst of a lesson. Screeech—I opened the door just like that day when I'd snuck in to eavesdrop. The frictional scrape echoed faintly, but with the lesson in full swing, no one should have noticed.
Yet the students all turned around in a rustle. They must have caught the sound during a brief lull in the lecture. Their expressions upon seeing me weren't exactly welcoming—some ignored me and refocused on the class, others looked puzzled about why I'd shown up, and a few wore outright sour faces like they'd just bitten into shit.
I ignored them all and slipped inside, pretending to monitor the students while listening in. "Today, we'll be covering the history of magic—ancient magic, in particular—."
Just being able to attend a class like this without a care for who was watching felt like pure bliss compared to the old days when I'd had to skulk around like a thief.
Being able to use magic is a stroke of luck.
A servant who didn't know the first thing about magic had awakened to it by chance while helping his master, and now he wielded it with ease. On top of that, he handled swordsmanship too, operating as the epitome of cool: a magic swordsman. It was exhilarating.
Not everyone can use magic, though.
My gaze drifted to the back of the classroom. There sat people who weren't mages: scholars gathered purely to study magic, and envoys from the kingdom. They lacked the talent for magic but were drawn to it, coming here to learn.
Do they have no mana at all?
Sena had answered that question once before. Every human born possessed mana. Even ordinary folk had the tiniest speck of basic mana.
That was why commoner mages existed.
But you can't just pit a commoner mage against a noble one on equal terms.
The fundamental difference between mages and commoners. Magic families bred mages generation after generation, so their baseline mana was vastly superior. They could wield a wide variety of spells with ease, having trained since childhood without much struggle.
Commoners were different. Their mana was so minuscule they often went through life unaware they even had it, let alone able to cast spells. Only rarely did one train their mana enough to become a mage—that was how commoner mages came to be.
Darian's one of those rare cases.
Of course, she was still weaker than natural-born mage stock.
The lesson was in full concentration mode. As expected, when I paced around, reactions came. Someone poked my side.
"Hey, Instructor."
His speech marked him as no student. Glancing back, I saw it was none other than a kingdom envoy. Seated in the back row, listening intently without disrupting the class, he lowered his voice to ask, "What's your name?"
He knew who I was but not my name. I answered politely. "Lee Hyun."
"Instructor Lee Hyun. A pleasure. I'm Cesare, dispatched as an envoy from the kingdom."
The man wore the wide, flowing robes typical of envoys. His face bore the marks of age, somewhere between middle-aged and elderly. His sunken eyes gave off a shady, villainous vibe. His skin was rough—splotchy, liver-spotted, with an oversized, hooked nose that evoked a penguin villain. His handshake was surprisingly firm despite his withered hand.
"Magic truly is magnificent, isn't it?"
"Yes, I agree."
Magnificent indeed. Magic was an unknown, wondrous power.
"To wield a force beyond human limits feels like borrowing the power of the gods themselves, doesn't it?"
"...Yeah."
"On that note, I've heard rumors about you."
Just as I'd hoped—my groundwork on his personality was paying off. He was walking right into my net without me lifting a finger.
"Rumors that a servant who couldn't use magic suddenly started casting at a mage's level."
I flashed a broad smile. "You've got it right. Surprisingly, the rumor is true. Until recently, I couldn't use even the slightest bit of magic."
"Incredible. Simply incredible."
Cesare feigned astonishment, starting to clap before remembering we were in the middle of a lesson. He stopped himself and lowered his voice again. "You're a beacon of hope for ordinary folk like us who can't use magic. Mind if I ask something bold?"
"Within what I can answer, sure."
His face lit up with excitement, a mix of manic obsession, pure joy, and eager anticipation in his grin. Despite his aged features, his eyes sparkled like a boy's.
"What was the trigger that let you start using magic?"
"Ah, straight to the point, huh."
I pretended to rub my forehead regretfully. Cesare leaned forward anxiously in his seat. "Why? Is it hard to share?"
"Sorry, but the academy director specifically asked me to keep it secret."
"The director?"
Cesare nearly shouted, clapping a hand over his mouth and glancing around. Realizing our spot was awkward, he fidgeted restlessly. "D-Damn it. The director's keeping something like that under wraps? Hoarding vital info and not sharing it with us?"
"Oh no, did I misspeak? I'm sorry. Forget I said anything. As a lowly servant, I slipped up."
As I moved to leave, Cesare grabbed my wrist desperately, nearly toppling over. Another envoy next to him steadied him.
"Whoa, whoa."
"Careful, sir. You're not as young as you used to be."
"Ahem, I made a fool of myself. Don't go. You're no pitiful servant—you're an outstanding one."
Hook, line, and sinker. Even the smartest people get jittery when bait dangles right in front of them. Especially when it's about to slip away.
"Truth is, I've had my eye on you since you first arrived as a servant."
This guy's talking shit without even blinking!
"You stood out from the other servants. I figured there was something special about you."
"Oh, what an honor."
I tossed in some casual agreement, and he grinned wider, his butt practically wiggling in excitement. Lowering his voice, he continued, "The moment I saw you awaken as a mage, I realized it: you'd become the new benchmark for the magic world."
"M-Me, a benchmark for mages? I don't know what to say, but I'm just a lowly servant."
"No need for false modesty. You're more than qualified."
Cesare slipped a hand into his robes and subtly pulled out a parchment. "Know what this is?"
"N-No idea, sir."
"A letter of recommendation in my name. With this, even a lowly commoner can rise to noble status—a heavenly ticket."
It might make other commoners' eyes pop, but I couldn't care less. Still, I mimicked his earlier anxious expression. "A r-recommendation? Y-You're giving me something that precious?"
"Heh heh heh. Interested?"
"How could I not be? But things like this don't go to just anyone. Are you a big shot in the kingdom, sir?"
I buttered him up, and his nose shot straight to the clouds. "Of course. I'm the king's right-hand man, favored above all."
"N-No way. Just talking to you is an honor I don't deserve."
"No need for that. I like you, that's all."
He tucked the parchment away, and I feigned deeper regret. Delighted, his mouth stretched ear to ear. "If you want, I'll put your name on it. You'd go from servant to noble."
"Really? But what about my bond with my master?"
"The magical contract can't be broken, but your master would accept you as a noble. Who's your master, anyway?"
Phew, lucky break. As expected, he didn't care about commoners enough to know my master was Sena.
Time for a little white lie. "Director Helena."
"Perfect. Here's the deal: we'll coordinate with the director to recommend you as a noble. You can graduate as one."
"Whoa! For real?"
"But nothing's free."
Cesare cut in sharply, tilting his head and glaring. "We're people who crave the power of magic for our kingdom. We'd love to borrow the academy's strength, but the director refuses."
"I-I see..."
"Would you share the secret to how you gained your magic?"
"But that'd break my promise to my master..."
I hemmed and hawed, seeming tempted but hesitant. Cesare spat out in frustration, "If I recommend you as a noble, you won't have to obey the director. Or just tell me on the sly."
"...So I'd become a noble and get close to you, sir?"
"Yes! We'd be thicker than thieves. What do you say? Tempted?"
I averted my gaze as if conflicted, then angled my face just enough for him to catch a subtle smile. Seeing it, Cesare mirrored me before trying to suppress his own grin.
"G-Give me a little time to think."
"Take all the time you need. I'll be around the academy."
I slipped out of the classroom quickly. Right by the door stood Ignil, waiting as planned. She watched me silently, and I winked as my signal. She smiled and stepped aside. I hurried off.