Episode 93. Entrance Preparation Materials (1)
One day, two years later.
“Okay, let’s really throw it?”
“Yes! Tina, I’m ready!”
The daggers left Tina’s hand at the same time as the shout. Kuze, who was watching the daggers flying towards him, opened a hemispherical dark smoke.
It was a dome of dark smoke that was created when a certain density continued to the outside. As the dagger entered the dome, its speed was noticeably reduced.
Thud thud.
This time Rubin walked leisurely into the hemispherical darkness.
He was not affected by the weightlessness, because he was emitting a dark smoke with the same strength as the gravitational field. This was also a fact that Rubin and Kuze had discovered during their research together over the past two years.
Swish, swish.
Rubin leisurely retrieved the daggers that were moving lazily in the air, one by one.
“This is enough. I can use it in real combat.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Young Master.”
It was a partial completion of the ‘Shadow Stationmaster’. It was not perfect yet, but it was sufficient for use.
“I’ll have to teach the other assassins someday. Let’s start with Tina first.”
“Huh? I’m Roinecrow? And I’m busy gathering information!”
While Rubin and Kuze spent most of their time in the camouflage annex, Tina made sure to walk around downtown Capotini at least once a day.
So, it was a network of information that Rubin had secretly spread. Since even wizards could not detect the transformation of the Phantom Tribe, Tina was able to move around Capotini as she pleased.
The information Rubin was trying to confirm through Tina was about Per Lorenzini and Chloe Witherspoon. But after two years, those names were nowhere to be found.
“Wasn’t it true that the Witherspoon family only came to this magic school two years ago?”
“I clearly said I was planning to transfer back then.”
“Wouldn’t you have been disappointed when you came back then? You might have changed your mind.”
“That would be a good thing. But when I think of Chloe, I don’t think that would be the case.”
“No, he probably went back… … .”
Kuze looked desperate.
“I really must… I don’t think I’ll be able to face Lady Celesne properly.”
Even after two years, Kuze still couldn’t forgive Tina for what she had done back then. He glared at her right away, but she had already left as soon as the Witherspoon story came up.
“Anyway, Chloe won’t recognize you right away.”
“I guess so.”
Kuze looked down at Rubin from head to toe with astonishment in his eyes.
Only two years. However, the changes in Rubin’s body seemed to have compressed four years. Even by the standards of well-developed noble children, his physique was noticeable as being three years ahead of his time.
It was thanks to the tears of Givenrath that were taken from Yorick’s skull and absorbed.
Although it wasn’t explosive, I was building my body to peak condition steadily and at a fast pace.
As his body developed, Rubin’s realm also advanced rapidly. Before he knew it, his aura had become a 3-star and his dark aura had become a 4-star. Of course, his dark aura from his previous life was not yet fully operational.
‘It’s growing fast enough. It’s not called Soul Innocent for nothing.’
‘Tears of Givenrat’ was Rubin’s second soul weapon, along with ‘Blood Frost’.
In addition, there were many soul weapons in the world that had to be taken over in the future. There were also many unknown soul weapons that even the returner Rubin didn’t know about.
‘I will find them one by one someday and make them my exclusive possession.’
All of this will serve as a springboard for revenge.
“Rosenthaler is coming.”
Kuze noticed first and got up from his seat. As he said, Rosenthaler knocked on the front door right away.
It had been two weeks since their last contact. Rosenthaler strode over and waved a piece of paper in front of Rubin.
“what?”
“Hey, Master Assassin. It’s time.”
“What time?”
“It’s the time when Luden Poinen enrolls as a Capotini magic cadet.”
At the top of the paper he handed me was written:
-Capotini Magic School Admission Guide
Along with the instructions for the entrance ceremony, there was a list of basic things to prepare. Since everything was divided by class, Rubin only had to worry about preparing things for the noble class.
“Now that we can enter the vicinity of the Magic Tower District, we should diligently purchase magic tools and books starting tomorrow.”
It was what Rubin had hoped for too. He wanted to enter the Matap District as soon as possible.
* * *
Lake Capotin.
The name of a natural lake located in the center of Capotini. Thanks to the huge mana stone buried deep under the lake, this place has always been full of mana.
The thirty-three high-rise towers surrounding this lake were called the ‘Matap District’.
The fifteen magic towers to the north of the lake are buildings belonging to the magic school. The nine magic towers to the southwest are used as administrative facilities for the city, and the nine magic towers to the southeast are used as private commercial facilities for the city.
The towers were connected by sky bridges. Since all the towers were connected, it was possible to start from one tower and return after passing through all the towers.
However, using the magic tower or moving between magic towers was only possible if you were a magician from Capotini or a magic student. That was precisely the reason why the Imperial Order had Rubin enter the magic school.
-Let’s go there too!
Tina’s voice rang in Rubin’s head. Right now, Tina was in the form of a small mouse, and was in a small pocket on Rubin’s chest.
-I want to see the lake.
It was Lake Capotin, also famous for its spectacular scenery. The water surface, which shimmered with colorful and splendid lights due to the influence of the giant mana stone, looked like a jewel. I understood why Tina was upset.
Moreover, today was the one day in the year when Lake Capotin was used as a marketplace for new magic students.
It was the so-called ‘lake market’.
-Look over there, that halo!
On a night when deep darkness had descended, a blindingly bright halo of light appeared where Tina had pointed.
Since it was the day the famous lake market was held, the magic school must have made the lights shine brighter than usual.
Of course, this was after taking measures to prevent damage to the surrounding towers and citizens. Because a huge, sky-blue curtain could be seen surrounding the lake. It must have been used to block out light.
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‘But still, light is leaking out.’
Beyond the curtain, I couldn’t imagine how dazzling the ‘lake market’ would be. If I went that way, I would probably completely forget that it was night.
-Let’s go! Let’s go to the lake market!
-Let me buy my stuff first, then let’s go.
-Oh? You said you were going?
-I wanted to see it at least once.
-Right? It’s so boring here. So ordinary. So boring.
Rubin stroked the squeaking mouse with his finger and looked around.
This is the ‘Matap Store’. It is a place that only nobles like Rubin can use. It is neat and stylish, but as Tina says, it is extremely petty.
‘The nobles go to the magic tower shop, the commoners go to the lake market.’
It was the unspoken rule here.
But this rule only applies to wizards. Rubin and Tina were assassins. So they didn’t necessarily have to follow it.
Groan, groan.
The Matop Store was also crowded with students.
All the students passing by, pulling carts to store supplies, were at least third-class nobles. They all seemed to feel awkward about having to pull carts with their own hands without any servants.
“Give me this, this, and this.”
The informal speech was rude.
“Did you see the commoners going out to the lake earlier?”
“Damn, our family should have at least become a master. I wouldn’t have heard of them going to school with the commoners! Why did they have to be born as Samhwi magicians?”
“Ha… That’s not the problem. I’m worried that they’ll think that all Samhwis are the same.”
There was an attitude of ignorance.
The rule that commoners must buy supplies at the lake market and nobles must buy supplies at the tower shop was considered natural by nobles, so their class-based thinking was strong.
From the perspective of the noble cadets, there was nothing more humble than taking a gondola into the lake to get supplies.
“Look over there. Is that the Ielos family?”
“That Ielos, the family of the Three Knights?”
“Wow, I see him here.”
I could hear the conversation of students passing by.
Ielos. How many times have I heard it today? I’ve heard it countless times while walking around the Magic Tower Shop, so much so that it’s become a familiar name to my ears.
Ielos, who can be said to be the representative of the three magician families.
Although he was the lowest-ranking member of the magical community, some say that he was able to maintain his status because the famous magical family known as Ielos was standing firm.
‘I said that we’re not on good terms with Capotini Magic School.’
According to the information provided by the Imperial Edict, it was so.
The only thing they had in common was the fact that they were both Samhwi. The Ielos family and the Capotini Magic School were completely different forces.
Ielos had his own territory in the southwestern part of the continent and openly ignored Capotini. Capotini, on the other hand, was wary of Ielos’ arrogance.
That’s the Capotini admission of the Ielos family. But is a custom a custom? Or is it an inevitable decision?
Of course, the Ielos family had no other choice. They couldn’t send the Samhwi wizards to another Hwisik magic school.
-Your name is Eric? He looks arrogant.
Tina spoke in a voiceover.
He was tall and handsome, a head taller than the other kids. He had orange hair and sharp eyebrows of the same color.
Like the other students, Rubin was also looking at Eric.
-Ouch, Rubin! I see you, I see you!
Eric’s gaze turned to Rubin. And soon he started walking toward Rubin. The cart that others pulled by hand followed Eric on its own. It meant that he was using telekinesis magic.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
Eric said this right away. His voice was refreshing, but at the same time, overbearing. He looked Rubin up and down. It was as if he was showing off his culture to a subordinate.
“I’m starting to get bored.”
“okay?”
“I see you’ve been to the 7th floor store too.”
“that’s right.”
The seventh floor store was where the school supplies were provided. Eric looked at the neatly arranged clothes on Rubin’s cart.
“It seems like we’re about the same height… How about giving it to me and going back?”
“… … .”
“What do you think? If we become close through your helping me out, wouldn’t that be good for you too?”
“Oh, that was a request?”
Rubin smirked. He knew wizards were arrogant, but he never expected such a rascal. Even Witherspoon’s youngest daughter wasn’t like that.
“I think you’re saying this because you don’t know much, but this isn’t the time to use the word ‘please.’”
“what?”
At that moment, Eric’s eyebrows trembled.
He just wanted to check to see how far the Ielos family’s name had spread. He might have gotten the other supplies he had packed in the wagon this way too.
Anyway, Rubin had no intention of playing to that tune.
“Did I make it too difficult? I mean, I don’t like it.”
“Really? Got it.”
“If you know, could you please step aside?”
Eric took a step forward, his eyes wide open. As he was about to pass by, he called out to Rubin again.
“You, before you go, tell me one thing.”
“My name?”
“No, that doesn’t interest me. I divide my friends here into four groups. I was just wondering where you fit in.”
Eric’s classification was as follows:
A is ‘a person who is both noble and from a magical family.’
B is ‘a noble person who is not from a magical family.’
C is ‘a person from a magical family but not a noble.’
D is ‘a person who is neither from a magical family nor from a noble family.’
According to this classification, Rubin was a B. But there was no reason to tell him that. Rubin asked back.
“What are you?”
“what?”
“I don’t know who you are. I feel a bit uncomfortable because you are rude to me and I am seeing you for the first time. Maybe… are you D?”
“under…….”
That was the end of it. Rubin pushed past Eric, who didn’t move, and passed him. Tina’s laughter could be heard as she watched everything.
“That’s why I’m not coming to this crappy school!”
Behind Rubin, Eric’s mutterings as he shook his body gradually grew distant.
“I think this is enough.”
A wagon that was soon filled with supplies.
The notice stated that the supplies would be automatically placed in the dormitory room, with the emphasis that this automatic system was only available to those of noble birth.
-Now let’s go to the lake market.
-Oh yeah!
At Rubin’s call, Tina poked her head out from beyond her pocket. She began to dance, or wriggle around for a while.
Rubin re-boarded the gondola he had come in from. He placed his hand on the mana stone at the back of the gondola and began to perform simple maneuvers.
Sssssut, ssssut.
The gondola slowly moved forward.
Under the influence of the giant mana stone, the gondola naturally blended with the waterway, maintaining a stable flow rate and automatically avoiding collisions with other gondolas.
Of course, there were some people who felt the gondola was too slow and stuffy.
-Is the lake there yet?
-It’ll be right away, just wait.
-In this case, I’d rather turn into a fish and swim!
Rubin looked around. Ahead and behind, the canals were jam-packed with other gondolas heading to the lake like Rubin’s.
While the children of the nobles generally had a similar appearance, the commoners were diverse. Some came from the countryside or the mines, and some looked like the children of hunters.
Because they are all so different from each other in terms of their origins and social status, they give off such diverse impressions. They all tried to give off the feeling of being magic students, but it seems they failed to hide the traces of the places they came from.
‘I guess it’s because it’s Samhwi Magic School, but there are more people from commoner backgrounds than I thought.’
Rubin’s gaze soon moved upwards. Dozens of towers that looked like pillars supporting the sky.
Now, most of the floors of the tower had their lights on. People who came out to the windows were looking down at the gondola procession with interest.
That’s understandable, since the lake market for commoners was a famous event in Matap District.
-Rubin, Rubin, he’s here! He’s here!
As Rubin looked up at the towers and observed the people, Tina’s excited voice rang out.
As the saying goes, this is the moment when the gondola, which had been slowly and steadily moving forward, finally enters Lake Capotin.
First, exclamations of admiration rang out from the front gondola in order of entry, as if waves were crashing in. Everyone was amazed.
Rubin was no exception.
A huge curtain blocked Rubin’s path as he advanced. He thought he would crash into it, but he passed through the magic curtain and advanced.
There were four layers. Four layers of curtains were blocking the light from the lake from spreading. As each layer passed, the splendid light grew more intense, and the warmth surrounding Rubin seemed to become more delicate.
‘It doesn’t just block light, right?’
I was sure there would be some sort of defensive magic effect involved.
‘Anyway, it’s amazing.’
Rubin, who had never seen such an event in his past life, opened his mouth slightly without realizing it.
And the sound of a song ringing in my ears.
Rubin reached out, as if by instinct, and reached out to the outside of the gondola. The moment he reached under the water, a warmth enveloped Rubin.
I think I could say that it was a unique sense of peace that I felt for the first time in my life.
As warmth enveloped Rubin, the song of the magic lake became clearer.
And soon, the ‘lake market’ unfolded before my eyes.
