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Episode 45
Aftermath (1)
Two days passed after the screening test.
A temple outside Wilhelm.
A three-person hospital room with a gentle lavender scent.
Riley was dozing off in bed, basking in the sunlight streaming in from outside the window.
Perhaps because I had spent an entire day at the ruins, the aftertaste did not seem to go away easily.
Despite a full day of sleep, Riley complained of fatigue.
Well, it wasn’t just him.
When I looked around, I saw Becky and Olivia also nodding off.
[… … .]
okay.
You should rest while you can like this.
Smart─.
Suddenly, a knock was heard from beyond the door.
The group all looked startled and turned their gaze toward the door.
“Excuse me.”
An administrator opened the door and came in.
It was a familiar face.
The gray-haired high-ranking wizard I had seen in the management office of the selection test and in the battle of the ruins. She nodded slightly and continued speaking.
“I am here to tell you some information regarding the next test.”
“… … .”
“The final selection will take place in a week.”
A week?
It was quite a long preparation time.
Are we waiting for the recovery of other candidates who passed the second test?
“The test will be conducted in a one-on-one interview with each of the Magic Tower Masters. We will inform you of other details later.”
[It’s a one-on-one interview… … .]
Interview.
There was nothing wrong with us.
It was an opportunity to directly appeal to Riley’s strengths.
And above all.
[… … I can finally see that kid’s face.]
Jan Lantes.
I got a chance to see that fucking guy’s face for real.
“That’s all I have to say.”
“… … .”
“Oh, and those who have recovered can return to their respective quarters. That’s all for now.”
After giving a short notice, the manager immediately left the room. Becky muttered, taken aback by the unexpected and quick exit.
“What? Is that the end?”
“I think so.”
“It’s petty.”
She grumbled softly and jumped out of bed. Then she began to put on her robe that was hanging on a hanger.
“What are you doing? You guys, get dressed quickly. You can go out now.”
“ah.”
After hearing that, Riley also got out of bed and started changing her clothes.
Thanks to the dedicated priest’s continued treatment for two days, the injury had already completely healed. Not even the usual aftereffects remained.
Although we still felt some fatigue from the ruins, we could relieve it by going back to our respective accommodations.
Now that I was allowed to be discharged, there was no reason for me to stay in the hospital room any longer.
After completing all the preparations, we came out of the temple.
Squeak─.
Late afternoon.
The landscape of Wilhelm unfolded before our eyes.
The entire city was covered in pure white snow, as if a heavy snowfall had occurred overnight.
“Phew… … .”
Riley took a deep breath, her expression relieved.
The cold air entered deep into her lungs and then dissipated into white vapor in the air.
‘The outside air is really nice.’
[huh.]
After being in stuffy places like historical sites and hospital rooms, I felt much better after breathing fresh air for the first time in a long time.
Of course, I’m a grimoire, so I don’t need to breathe air. I’m just saying that’s how I feel.
It was while I was enjoying the outside air in silence with Riley for a while.
“hey.”
Becky, who was next to her, tapped Riley on the arm.
“I’m going.”
“Where to?”
“I’m going to go in and rest. I’m tired.”
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She said with a yawn.
His face looked unusually tired.
“Which side is your accommodation on?”
“I know someone who lives in Wilhelm, so I’m going to stay at his house for a while.”
Becky paused and looked back at Riley.
“Wait, haven’t I said this before?”
“Oh, yes. I think I’ve heard that.”
That’s what I heard the first day I met Becky.
He recommended the Sky Whale Inn to us, but said he was staying at an acquaintance’s house.
“Haaah, right. This time, you should definitely go to the Sky Whale Inn. It’s really nice there.”
“… … .”
When Riley glared at Becky, she smiled mischievously and walked away.
“See you at the final exam. Take care of yourself.”
“Yes, you too, Becky.”
Becky finished her greeting with a tired voice and turned her back without any regrets.
Riley, who had been watching her back as she walked away silently, soon turned his gaze towards Olivia.
“Where are you, Miss Olivia?”
“I, I, am staying at the Stingwood Grand Hotel.”
“It’s the same place.”
Olivia’s expression brightened.
“Oh, really? But I have to stop by Arcadia first. I have some books to borrow… … .”
Arcadia.
That means you have to visit Wilhelm’s central library.
“Miss Riley, would you like to go to the library with me? There are so many really good books… … .”
“I’m sorry. I’m just too tired.”
We’ve already been to Arcadia. We’ve already rented all the books we need and left them in our room.
More than anything, Riley was physically exhausted right now. She desperately needed rest.
“Oh, I see.”
Hearing that, Olivia nodded with an awkward smile.
“Oh, I understand! Then I’ll see you later at the accommodation! Get some rest!”
“Yes. Thank you for understanding.”
That was the end of the greeting.
Olivia walked towards the Arcadia Library.
Riley also started walking towards the Stingwood Grand Hotel.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Ppokdak.
Ppokdak─.
I heard the sound of footsteps in the snow.
Riley, who had been walking silently, spoke to me.
‘Your Majesty.’
[huh.]
‘Is there any way to bring forward the second awakening?’
It was a somewhat random topic.
You want to bring forward the second awakening?
[Ummm… … .]
Second awakening.
So, it was a blessing that came on the day a wizard came of age, and the final stage of awakening where “attribute blossoming” took place.
And it was also the time when the level of magicians rose most steeply.
Riley wanted to bring that timing forward.
I already knew why.
[Did you feel the limit?]
‘……yes.’
Riley nodded and admitted honestly.
[Well, that makes sense.]
During the second test, we met many wizards.
From nameless rascals, to the ashen-haired woman, to the descendants of Crombel Stingwood, and even Garon Theobald.
Competing against so many opponents, Riley must have naturally come to feel her limits.
‘Of course, I think the utility part is sufficient. But… … .’
[It’s frustrating because the means of attack are very limited, right?]
‘yes.’
Riley nodded slowly at my words.
Well, that was something I had guessed before I started teaching.
Compared to other magicians who deploy their own unique “vision magic,” Riley’s offensive capabilities are very limited.
Her special abilities, Pathfinding and Dispel, are merely means to assist in attack.
In fact, the only direct attack Riley could use was the “Magic Missile”.
It was not possible to stay like this forever.
And as Riley said, the best way to break through this wall was to hasten the second awakening.
[Well, it’s not an impossible method.]
After many years of study, I have finally completed my quest into the mysteries of magic. In doing so, I have also discovered some ways to manipulate the laws that govern this world.
Of course, this also included a method to bring forward the second awakening.
but.
[The problem is, it’s incredibly difficult.]
“… … .”
This act, commonly called “early awakening,” was an act that went against the flow of magic. As such, it was bound to be a difficult and complex process.
Well, I guess that says it all, since there have only been a handful of disciples who have successfully awakened early so far.
[It’s going to be very painful. It’s really hard and arduous work.]
“… … .”
[Early Awakening is a much harder task than you, Riley, can imagine. In terms of difficulty, Pathfinding and Dispel are incomparable, right?]
The elements we’ve been familiar with so far are based on Riley’s innate affinity for mana.
But in the case of early awakening, the story is different.
[Your talents are of no help whatsoever.]
“… … .”
It is a task that depends entirely on persistence and effort.
Talent does not help in early awakening.
Therefore, the progression will be a little different from “Dispel” and “Pathfinding,” which Riley easily achieved.
[Think about it carefully. There is no reason why you must choose the method of early awakening.]
“… … .”
[You’ll awaken naturally after about 5 years anyway, so why bother doing this? It wouldn’t be bad to spend that time leisurely training in something else.]
I said it with a subtle sarcasm to Riley, as if I was dismissing her and saying she couldn’t do the job.
[Well, if that’s what you want to do.]
“… … .”
[I won’t stop you.]
And Riley, who heard my provocation like this… … .
‘I will do it.’
As always, he answered without a single moment of hesitation.
[… … .]
I got caught.
At times like this, Riley was a really easy girl to deal with.
If you scratch the inside, it will fill you with anger and you will want to do anything.
[Well, if that’s what you want to do, then there’s nothing I can do.]
In fact, even if Riley didn’t want to wake up early, I was going to force her to do so.
It was for that reason that I had borrowed the book “Understanding Second Awakening and Attribute Blooming” from Arcadia in advance.
I also wanted Riley to grow up quickly.
Her talents were too valuable to be wasted on sitting around sucking her thumb until her second awakening came.
I had been meaning to bring up the topic of early awakenings sooner or later, so I was just grateful that Riley was the first to take the initiative.
[Then let’s try hard.]
‘yes.’
Riley nodded.
Her eyes were burning with enthusiasm.
‘I will definitely succeed.’
* * *
How much longer did we walk? Finally, the exterior of the Stingwood Grand Hotel came into view.
‘We’re finally here.’
As soon as she found her destination, Riley’s steps began to get faster.
‘I want to go and get some rest.’
[… … .]
‘I want to relax in the bathtub, fill it with warm water, and eat ice cream from room service.’
Through the power of bonding, I could feel Riley’s desire for this very thing.
okay.
Early awakening and all, rest is the most important.
[Okay. Let’s go quickly and rest.]
Rest is a step back for a step forward. Getting enough rest like this will help you achieve success in your future training.
As Riley suggested, let’s fill the bathtub with warm water, eat some ice cream from room service, and just lie there and relax for today.
It was a very good plan.
Squeak─.
[……uh?]
but.
Unfortunately, our plans were derailed from the start.
“… … .”
“… … .”
As soon as I opened the door, I saw familiar faces.
Flowing silence.
It was only after about ten seconds that the other side broke the calm flow.
“Oh, right. You stayed here too.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Of all things.
As luck would have it, the moment we opened the door and came in, we ran into Garon Theobald.
“uh…….”
Riley’s expression hardened.
She whispered to me.
‘Those people… … They failed the selection test because of us.’
[huh.]
I too felt out of breath.
Although I didn’t watch them until the moment of elimination, it was clear that they failed the second test.
Because it was virtually impossible to recover from that injury and find the golem’s core in a short period of time.
“… … .”
“… … .”
No matter how competitive the selection test was, Riley was the direct cause of Garon Theobald’s group’s elimination.
But, it was inevitable that an awkward atmosphere would arise because he was right in front of us.
It’s ruined.
Why did we have to run into each other like this right after the exam was over?
This is awkward, what should I do… … .
“Hello! Nice to meet you, Riley! We met at the ruins, but we haven’t formally introduced ourselves yet, right? I’m Dorothy! Dorothy Greyyard! Let’s get to know each other!”
[… … ?]
What is this guy?
Why is a kid who failed the exam so energetic?
“Oh, and we passed the second test too?”
“… … ?”
[… … ?]
what?
[What are you saying…? …. It doesn’t make sense?]
There’s only about 10 minutes left before we break up?
But in the meantime, you found the core of the Golden Golem? And you were badly injured at that?
[It would have been impossible to pass unless someone had donated the core?]
But common sense tells you that there’s no way that could have happened.
* * *
“… … Someone gave the core to Sir Theobald?”
“Well, if you look at the result, that’s what it is.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Ta-da.
But that actually happened.
