Episode 50
* * *
The Academy is like a small kingdom.
In addition to the exclusive nature of the school, the hierarchy among students is absolute, and the order of precedence is usually determined by the power of the father and the family.
Even though it is a place where the children of the empire’s leading nobles gather, there is still a distinction between high and low ranks, and various situations, including factions, intertwine, causing all sorts of people to come together and disperse.
In that respect, Leonard Walter was a little king who reigned over the Imperial Academy.
He is one of the elders of the Red Tower, the eldest son of Count Walter, and the most powerful person in the 3rd Circle’s highest department.
He is the most elite of the Imperial Academy, having already reached the level of a 3rd Circle Master at the age of 20, and is on the verge of reaching the 4th Circle Master.
Passing the upcoming graduation exam is a given.
A talented winner who will walk the path to success by following the elite course of the Red Tower.
The expectations that the Red Tower’s elder, ‘Walter the Flame-Blooded’, had for his son Leonard were of an indescribable nature, and because of that, even the professors at the Academy were eager to please Leonard.
And under Leonard Walter’s rule, the Third Circle Faculty of the Imperial Academy maintained smooth order.
Until that very day, when Dale invaded ‘Leonard’s Kingdom’.
* * *
Some time after arriving at the zodiac.
Dale was there as a student invited for the ‘Red and Black Exchange’ and as the successor to the Black Tower.
The auditorium where the Academy professors teach classes, along with the students from the top departments of the 3rd Circle. Along with the young wizards who are about to take their graduation exams.
In a sense, it was a truly awkward sight. The sight of the young eldest son of the House of Saxony mixed in with the children of noblemen in their twenties and thirties.
“… … In other words, it goes without saying that the fire and water attributes are mutually exclusive.”
The Academy professor, who is the 4th Circle Master, continued speaking.
Even though the difference between the 3rd Circle students he taught and the 4th Circle students was only one circle, the wall between the 3rd Circle and the 4th Circle was incomparable to the previous circle numbers.
It is not as rare as you might think that after reaching the 3rd circle realm and becoming a full-fledged magician of the Magic Tower, you dedicate your entire life to not being able to reach the 4th circle realm.
Therefore, the 3rd circle realm is like a proper wizard, and the 4th circle realm is ‘a realm beyond a proper wizard’, and at the same time, it is like the final destination where most ordinary people get blocked and frustrated.
And the next realm is the 5th circle area where you can establish your own position on the top… … .
Only those who reach the 6th Circle area can be reborn as an elder of the Magic Tower, and there are only a few dozen 7th Circle magicians in the entire continent.
In addition, there is the realm of the 8th circle, which is said to be the highest level that a wizard can reach.
Five magicians, including the Blood-red Ball and the Black Ball. The five magic tower lords who reign over the five-colored magic towers: black, white, red, blue, and green.
The world of magic is a world where skill is the most important thing, and where the irony is that the standard for that skill is ultimately determined by bloodline.
“professor!”
It was just then. In the midst of the professor’s class, a man suddenly raised his hand. He was a blond, handsome man who caught everyone’s attention at first glance.
“Hey, Leonard… …!”
And just as he raised his hand, the 4th Circle Professor’s face turned pale.
“Anyway, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”
“Oh, that’s not it… … .”
To the professor’s question, Leonard quietly shook his head.
“The class is so boring. Can I take a nap for a bit?”
He just blatantly put both his legs on the front seat. Laughter erupted from all directions.
“Father, please do so… … .”
“Are you at a loss and bowing your head in response to the words of a single student?”
Leonard asked again mockingly.
“I think you need to reconsider our ‘Red Tower’s ideology’ again, Professor. Don’t you think so?”
“I will, I will make sure to pay attention to that point again.”
Dale was dumbfounded by the attitude of not caring about the eyes of those around him and kept his mouth shut. However, the 4th Circle Academy professor who was supposed to teach and guide the students only bowed his head in shame in front of Leonard.
As if this were his kingdom.
Even if it was between a student and a professor, it was no exception. No, rather, the professor’s cowardice in front of the student was the ‘intentional educational policy’ of the Red Tower to emphasize the importance of power.
The Red Tower worships only order by force. That is why the Imperial Academy is the very epitome of imperial society that painfully makes you realize that fact.
The weak can lose everything, and the strong can take everything. The Imperial Academy was nothing more than a laboratory for brainwashing the Empire’s elite into believing that fact.
Because the survival of the strong was the spirit of the times that the empire pursued.
“… … .”
Dale turns his head, leaving behind the laughter echoing from all directions. For a moment, his eyes meet Leonard’s.
“Oh, who is this?”
As soon as Dale’s eyes met Leonard’s, he gave an exaggerated shrug, oblivious to the fact that the professor was teaching a class.
“Isn’t that the ‘Black Prince’!”
“… … .”
“At that age, you’ve already reached the level of the 3rd circle? And on top of that, you’ve won a great victory in the black and white rotation, and even defeated the ‘Orc Warboss’ by yourself!”
Dale did not respond to the taunts blatantly directed at him.
“As expected, he is the successor to the Duke of Saxony!”
All he can do is remain blandly silent. This is not the North. And no matter how notorious the Saxon family is among the Imperial nobility, here at least they are nothing more than the arch-princes of a northern backwater.
For those hiding behind the Emperor’s name and the shield of the Red Tower, there would be nothing to fear. No, it would be closer to recklessness and arrogance, as they cannot easily bow their heads as ‘proud magicians of the Empire’.
It was a really stupid idea. But it would be unreasonable to expect a hot-blooded kid in his twenties not to be stupid.
‘All kids are like that, you know.’
Anyway, to Dale, he looked like a kid with blood still on his head.
“People’s stories are always exaggerated.”
He just turned his head blankly and remained silent.
Not even paying attention to Leonard’s expression that was obviously distorted behind her back.
* * *
Magic classes can’t be without practical training. And it was during the following classes that the first commotion occurred.
“Do I really have to do this?”
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“So, you can’t follow what I say?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it. Even so, the eldest son of the Saxon family… … .”
As Leonard tilted his head, one of his peers quickly lowered his head in confusion.
“Yeah, so that’s what you do.”
Leonard burst out laughing at the sight.
And after a while, a place was opened where they would pair up and exchange the sum of their attacks using fire magic. And Dale, who had no expertise in fire magic, was watching their demonstration from afar.
“professor!”
Leonard raised his voice again at the polite professor. At those words, the professor shrugged his shoulders and swallowed his breath.
“The Prince of Saxony has come to exchange ideas with the Black and Red Towers.”
As if he couldn’t stand the laughter.
“Shouldn’t there be a ‘magician’s exchange’ that is appropriate for that?”
The exchange of wizards. In the current situation, those words could only mean one thing.
“No, but even so, isn’t it still too dangerous for Prince Dale?”
“great.”
Dale didn’t hesitate to offer something different in response to the blatant provocation. Instead, he stood up, determined to fix that damned brat’s bad habits.
“then…….”
It was just then.
“I, I will deal with it!”
A student, cowering in fear, raised his hand hesitantly, claiming to be Dale’s opponent.
‘Oh my, look at this.’
Only after realizing the situation did Dale swallow his words in disbelief. What a truly pathetic way of doing things.
In a sense, he must be acting in his own way out of fear of the notoriety of the Saxon Dukes.
That’s why its incompetence was even more unbearable.
“Hey, Dale. You know the rules for attacking and defending with magic, right?”
Dale nodded at the professor’s question. The two wizards took turns attacking and defending, then switching roles again. It was an action that Dale could not have been unaware of.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t have to wear the life point necklace?”
Nodding, Dale asked back.
“Bird, life point necklace?”
Life Point Necklace. A protective device that is destroyed at the same time as the shield magic is activated when receiving a ‘valid hit’ that is close to a fatal wound.
It is rare for a single student to use such equipment. Even if an emergency situation occurs, there is a skilled magician who can control the situation.
“If by any chance there are casualties in this workshop, and lives are lost.”
“… … ?”
But Dale asked back, his ‘shadow cloak’ disguised as a black surcoat fluttering.
“Who will bear the responsibility?”
“… … !”
“Can you really use magic with the intention of killing someone?”
Creates a ‘Shadow Blade’ in the darkness beneath your feet, and scatters cold frost as if it will strike at any moment.
“Professor, when the time comes, can you really block my blow?”
“Oh, no! Wait, that’s not it!”
At Leonard’s threat, the expression on the face of the student who had claimed to be Dale’s opponent turned pale.
Not everyone ignores Dale like Leonard. No, the situation itself stems from Leonard’s incompetence in fearing the possible infamy of the Saxon family. Even if their pride does not allow it, there are quite a few who believe in the reputation of the ‘Black Prince’ without a doubt.
In addition, the academy’s professor was also a magician who had reached the level of the 4th circle, so there was no way he wouldn’t know the true nature of the pressure Dale was showing now.
As if to say that the notoriety and cruelty of the ‘Black Prince’ is by no means an absolute lie.
“Ah, no, that’s not it… … !”
The professor waved his hand in shock.
“Le, Leonard’s offer is cancelled! I’ll cancel it!”
“what……?”
Leonard’s expression froze as he looked at the professor who dared to go against his words.
“What are you saying now… … .”
“I will cancel Leonard’s offer! Please do this!”
The professor who should have been at his feet was desperately begging in front of Dale. Not Leonard.
As a wizard of the 4th Circle Master, I could sense it when I saw Dale’s artifact. That malice was not something that a mere child could stop. No, it was a power that even I myself could not dare to do anything about.
And if any damage is caused by Dale, it will ultimately be the professor’s responsibility to take responsibility.
It was an unacceptable situation even for him, who was desperately trying to please Leonard.
The professor’s head bowing in the first place was not because he was afraid of Leonard. After all, it was Leonard’s father, Walter the Flameblood, an elder of the Red Tower and a magician of the 6th Circle.
“Father, could you please just reject the offer I just made?”
Instead, he was bowing his head towards Dale as if begging.
“great.”
At the professor’s plea, Dale nodded calmly. The shadows that had been running wild along his feet stopped.
Suddenly, Leonard was seen clenching his fists and shaking. Dale turned his head without paying attention.
The dark sword disappeared into the shadows of the cloak’s hem once again.
A terrible evil wriggles there.
Dale simply unfolded his ‘shadow cloak’, and everyone could sense it as soon as they saw him. In any case, they too were magicians who were walking the path of magic, and were said to be the best in the empire. There was no way they wouldn’t know.
The fact that Leonard doesn’t challenge Dale to a duel right away is because of the ‘difference in class’ he unconsciously feels.
It was never something that a mere wizard could handle. However, seeing him handle the dark artifact so freely as if it were a part of his body, only one thought crossed their minds.
The fame trumpeted about the eldest son of the House of Saxony may not be all a lie.
* * *
It was impossible.
That morning, outside the Imperial Academy, Leonard Walter raised his voice as he gulped down alcohol among the women of the red-light district.
“This f*cking kid!”
“Ahhhh!”
He beat up a student who should have been trading magic tricks with ‘Dale of Saxony’ on his behalf.
“Please, forgive me!”
“Forgiveness?
puck!
Leonard kicked him without paying any attention as he lay there in pain. However, even his classmates and prostitutes, who were terrified at the sight, tried to keep their composure.
Walter of the Blood Flame. He is an elder of the Red Tower, a red magician who has reached the level of the 6th circle, and a nobleman who holds the title of Imperial Pfalzgraf. And Leonard is the eldest son of the Walter family.
At least in this kingdom, no one could dare to defy him. That was how it should have been.
‘The Shadow Sword shown by the eldest son of the Saxon family, it seems that the stories of the nobles were true!’
‘Well, he’s the son of the Black Duke, so he might really have the greatest talent in the Empire.’
‘That’s right, even the world’s greatest Leonard was too scared to do anything.’
‘Surprisingly, Leonard might not be as great as I thought. Even though he’s the son of an elder… … .’
‘Well, I guess I can’t do anything in front of the son of the Lord of the Towers.’
The whole academy began to gossip about the events of that day. Even the professors who should be eager to please him are afraid of ‘Dale of Saxony’ rather than Leonard.
“You f*cking bastards!”
I couldn’t stand that fact.
An elite magician who became a 3rd circle master at the age of 20 and is on the verge of reaching the 4th circle level.
From a young age, everyone praised Leonard’s talent, and so he believed without a doubt that he was the most talented wizard in the Empire.
That was until one day, from the northern backwaters, the name ‘Dale of Saxony’ was heard.
At the age of 8, he created his first mana circle, at the age of 9, he created his second circle──and at the age of 10, he achieved the level of the third circle.
The ‘Dale’s talent’ that I heard every year was like a complete denial of Leonard’s existence. That’s why I desperately denied it again and again. I couldn’t believe it. No, I didn’t want to believe it.
That’s just an exaggerated and inflated story told by the rich.
There is absolutely no way that he could have achieved that level of accomplishment at that age. There must be only one wizard with the greatest talent in the Empire, Leonard Walter.
“……grow.”
After he stopped kicking, Leonard muttered like a drunkard.
“I, I am the greatest genius in the empire.”
To desperately affirm one’s own existence.
