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Episode 47
Aftermath (3)
“You’re taking this joke too far.”
[… … ?]
It was just then.
“A low-ranking wizard passed the first test in half a day? That doesn’t make sense.”
Someone’s voice broke the silence.
I turned my gaze in the direction where the sound came from.
[What the heck, that kid.]
I saw the disciple sitting next to Pamela grumbling.
Was his name Gilbert?
His expression looks like his pride is hurt.
[Why is he so angry?]
‘I don’t know.’
what.
Could it be that he is upset because the attention he was receiving was transferred to someone else?
‘I think so.’
[… … Are you an idiot?]
but.
So far we’ve only met relatively good wizards.
Most wizards are actually like that.
[Well, that’s good.]
I was already bored, so I thought I’d just sit back and watch the nonsense he spouts out.
Just then the guy started talking again.
“The “magic blockage” that spread throughout Wilhelm is not something that can be easily broken through.”
“… … .”
“Furthermore, Pathfinding type magic doesn’t work well because of the residual magical power generated by other wizards’ experiments or research. Don’t you all know that?”
okay.
That’s true.
But that’s only the case for normal wizards.
Our Riley, with her superb mana affinity, can easily jump over those little obstacles, you idiot.
“But how could that girl, who was only a low-ranking employee, find the management office in half a day?”
The guy continued talking, pointing his finger at Riley.
“Honestly, I have my doubts.”
“… … .”
“Whether the applicant is qualified to take the final examination.”
Gilbert growled in a low voice.
“Don’t just stay still, speak up, Miss Riley. If a low-ranking wizard had gotten this far, he would have used dirty methods… … .”
“hey.”
Gilbert was about to cross the line.
At that very moment, someone cut him off.
“You passed the screening test using illicit methods? I think that makes no sense.”
“that…….”
“What was your name? Gilbert, I think?”
Dorothy, resting her chin on one hand, stared at Gilbert with an expressionless face.
“Okay, Gilbert. Let me ask you a question.”
“… … .”
“Are you sure you could win a fight with me?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a small magical power rose from Dorothy’s body.
Gilbert, who saw the use of that magical power, froze.
“Why? Can’t you answer?”
“… … .”
No matter how much of a prospect Gilbert is, he is still just a rough diamond.
Dorothy, on the other hand, was a veteran who had reached the end of the middle ranks.
Can Gilbert really defeat Dorothy?
well.
It might be possible in the distant future.
But as of now, it was an absolutely impossible story.
Sigh─.
When time passed and there was no answer, Dorothy opened her mouth with a smile that seemed to be a joke.
“Then just shut up, kid.”
She repeated again in a cold, low voice.
“Riley, that guy beat me and Arpel at the same time, kid.”
“Wh, what… … .”
“If you can’t even do that, then just shut up and eat. Don’t ruin the mood for no reason.”
Gilbert’s pupils began to tremble when he heard that Riley had defeated both Dorothy and Arpel at the same time.
He slowly turned his head to the side with a look of disbelief on his face.
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“Is that really true, Mr. Stingwood?”
“haha.”
A question asked to confirm.
Arpel Stingwood let out a small laugh when he heard that.
“Mr. Gilbert.”
“… … .”
“Have you ever seen a wizard of the Mei family speak two words with one mouth?”
The middle name “Mage” was a title given only to the five greatest magic families of the empire.
Every 50 years, the family line that was given that glorious middle name was renewed.
A magician recognized by the royal family.
And members of that magical family, Dorothy Mage Greyyard and Arpel Mage Stingwood.
There is nothing more foolish than being rude to them, especially when it comes to wizards who walk the same path.
Gilbert, realizing the fact too late, hurriedly denied Arpel’s words.
“That, that’s not what I meant… … .”
“If not that.”
Arpel cut him off.
“Is Mr. Gilbert doubting Miss Riley’s abilities now?”
“… … .”
This time, there was no answer.
However, Gilbert’s eyes, which remained tightly shut, still held a suspicious gaze toward Riley.
You’re probably just ignoring it. Riley’s level is at best low-level.
To be honest, I’m sick of this situation now.
I’m always ignored because I’m considered low class.
I wondered if one of the reasons Riley wanted a quick second awakening was to avoid a situation like this.
“Ms. Riley passed the second screening test more fairly than anyone else.”
“… … .”
“So, it was probably the same for the first test.”
Arpel Stingwood broke the silence again with a quiet voice.
“Doubting her qualifications is like doubting the Five Towers that administer the selection test.”
“… … .”
“Besides, it’s an insult to all of us who passed the same test as her.”
He smiled and continued to speak as if trying to console Gilbert.
“I think Gilbert-kun knows well what it means for a young wizard who is not yet an adult to have reached a lower rank beyond the level of an apprentice.”
“… … .”
It is rare for a wizard to leave the apprentice level before the second awakening.
And these irregulars usually grow into giants who form the backbone of the magical world.
“So let me ask you again.”
Arpel, who had finished speaking, looked at Gilbert intently.
His voice was still quiet, but for some reason, it felt strangely intimidating.
“Does Ms. Riley still seem unqualified in Mr. Gilbert’s eyes?”
“… … .”
It was a warning, not a question.
A warning not to cross the line any further.
“Haha, hahaha… … !”
As the situation became a little more serious, Pamela, who had been watching the situation, intervened.
“Oh my, my disciple made a big mistake!”
“… … .”
“He’s the one who just locked himself in the room with me and practiced, so he doesn’t know much. I’ll give him a thorough lesson later.”
Pamela gave an awkward laugh and slapped the back of the student next to her.
“What are you doing, kid! You apologize too, quickly!”
“… … .”
Gilbert, who had been hit once, reluctantly got up from his seat.
His face looked slightly displeased, but he tried to hide his emotions and bowed deeply.
“… … I apologize for the rudeness.”
Well, even though he’s still immature, he listens to his teacher’s words well.
Still, it was fortunate that he wasn’t a completely blocked-up fool.
Of course, the hostile gaze toward Riley continued, but that kind of sloppy guy is not our business.
Dalgrak─.
Anyway, the atmosphere that had been heightened with Gilbert’s apology died down a bit.
Stingwood picked up his utensils without saying a word, and Dorothy continued eating as before, seemingly not paying any attention.
“Gilbert.”
After a while, Garon Theobald, who had been quietly observing the situation, opened his mouth.
“Everyone understands your feelings.”
“… … .”
“Obviously, Ms. Riley is young. Even her level is low. If a girl who passed the second test is only a low-level one, no one would be suspicious of this situation.”
He said, pointing to himself.
“You’re not the only one. I, like you, initially ignored Miss Riley. Dorothy underestimated her and got her nose cut. Well, it was the same with Arpel.”
“… … Ahem!”
“… … .”
Arpel and Dorothy both looked stung when they heard those words.
Regardless, Garon Theobald continued speaking.
“There’s nothing wrong with having doubts about your opponent’s skills.”
“… … .”
“Rather, it could be said that constantly doubting is a basic quality of a wizard.”
doubt.
quest.
And endless observation.
As Garon Theobald said, these were the basic qualities a wizard must have.
“but.”
“… … .”
“Think seriously about whether it was really necessary to express those doubts in a place like this.”
But there is a time and place for everything.
A celebration to celebrate passing the second exam.
Was it really necessary to reveal such doubts and hostility in a situation where wizards were much more experienced than him?
“… … .”
Gilbert’s face turned slightly red when he heard that question.
His expression seemed more resentful than embarrassed.
He gritted his teeth and muttered.
“……sorry.”
“Okay, then. Just don’t do that again.”
Garon Theobald continued.
“If you doubt Jeong Riley’s skills, then go see her in person later. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for a duel between the two to take place that way.”
“… … .”
“I think Riley would welcome it more, too.”
He smiled and turned his gaze to Riley.
“Isn’t that right, Riley?”
Riley smiled at the question and looked at Gilbert.
“I am honored.”
“… … .”
“You are always welcome to spar, Mr. Gilbert.”
With an answer, Riley sent a look full of life.
A warning not to bother any longer.
The eerie gaze he had grown accustomed to while living in the Thieves’ Guild pierced Gilbert.
Throb─.
“… … !”
The very next moment, Gilbert shivered as a sharp stab of murderous intent pierced his skin.
But no one except Gilbert noticed anything strange.
That would be the case, because the murderous intent Riley sent was very secretive.
[… … Was it really necessary to show the will to live at the end?]
‘It’s annoying to jump in again without even knowing the topic.’
[aha.]
Well, that’s not a bad idea either.
“Haha! That’s what I’m saying… … .”
Anyway, with Riley’s answer, the conversation began again.
People continued eating with smiles on their faces.
The banquet hall returned to its original bright atmosphere.
Except Gilbert, who was terrified because Riley had given him the life-saving pill.
Riley, who confirmed the situation, looked much more at ease.
‘It’s peaceful again.’
[huh.]
‘Now I can eat as much as I want without worrying about what others think.’
okay.
Eat as much as you want, eat.
There was a little bit of noise because of a little brat who was being picky, but now there won’t be any more noise unless something special happens…
[……for a moment.]
An ominous thought suddenly occurred to me.
‘why?’
[that is…….]
Smart─.
[ah…….]
And of all things.
The very next moment, what I had feared happened.
“That’s why! At that time, I… … . Hmm?”
The sound of someone knocking on the door.
Pamela stopped talking and tilted her head.
“Is there anyone else coming at this time?”
Arpel answered, snapping his fingers as if remembering something.
“Oh, right. There was another guest. I forgot.”
“Oh! A new guest! I’m looking forward to it… .”
Squeak─.
A woman opened the door and came in.
“Ugh… … . Ah, ah, ah, hello?”
A bushy head of hair covering both eyes and a strangely unconfident voice.
It was Olivia.
And Pamela, who witnessed her like this, started screaming in terror without any warning.
“Keep, keaaaah!”
“P, Pamela?”
“Eww! Please, please save me! Kkaaaaaaah! Torture is not okay!”
A mess unfolded.
Pamela, who was shaking with her head held high. Arpel and Garon Theobald, who were trying to calm him down with very flustered expressions. And Dorothy, who was just laughing.
“Kwaaaaak!”
“Pamela, why on earth are you doing this… … .”
“Kuaaaaaaah!”
“… … .”
[… … .]
It seemed like the noisy dinner party would continue for a while.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Before we knew it, it was late evening.
After finishing our meal and entering our room, we continued our conversation about “early awakening” while reading “Understanding Secondary Awakening and Attribute Blooming.”
“therefore…….”
Riley summarized the concepts I’ve been explaining so far.
“Are you saying that there is something called a ‘seed of attribute’ within my Manaheart?”
[huh.]
“And… … . When the magical power exceeds a certain amount, the seed will bloom on its own?”
[That’s correct.]
The method to bloom an attribute is simple.
It’s over when you wake up the seed sleeping inside Manaheart.
And in order to awaken that seed, as Riley said earlier, the holder’s magical power must exceed a certain amount.
“Umm… … .”
It was a simple mechanism.
But after hearing this explanation, Riley began to tilt her head and express her doubts.
“I don’t understand.”
[what.]
“The reason I’m trying to awaken early now is to make up for my lack of magical power.”
yes?
“But, in order to awaken early, you need to have a lot of magical power?”
[huh.]
“It doesn’t make sense.”
[Oh. That’s how it was originally.]
“… … ?”
People who want to awaken early have low magical power.
However, in order to achieve early awakening, the magical power must exceed a certain level.
Paradox.
As Riley says, this is a completely contradictory concept. But the original idea of early awakening was to exploit this contradiction.
“Hmm… … .”
Riley swallowed for a moment after hearing me say that.
“Okay. So what do I do now?”
[Just do what you do best.]
“What is that?”
I answered.
[lie.]
“……yes?”
I answered the question again for Riley, who was expressing her doubts.
[You can just lie.]
“… … .”
okay.
lie.
We’re going to lie from now on.
In order to blossom the “Seed of Attribute” dormant within the Mana Heart, the amount of magical power within the body must exceed a certain level.
It was for this reason that most wizards gained attributes after reaching adulthood.
This is because the magician’s magical power increases explosively starting from the second awakening.
[But why is there a need to increase the amount of magic power?]
“… … .”
[You can just trick your mana heart.]
From now on, we will lie to Manahat.
Until Riley’s Manaheart fooled her into thinking, ‘Oh, this kid has a lot of magic power!’
So that the seeds of attributes dormant within her manaheart would bloom on their own.
[What will your body think when the seed of the attribute blooms? Oh, it will judge that this child has completed the second awakening, right?]
Because that is the rule of this world. It is the providence of the magical path that “attribute blooming” occurs after completing the second awakening.
[From then on, your body will naturally transform into that of a wizard who has completed his second awakening.]
Magic power increases naturally even without undergoing a second awakening.
The mana circuit becomes wider and the strength of the mana heart becomes stronger.
Deceive Manahat.
So we create results without a process. We make the process we didn’t go through naturally follow.
paradox.
contradiction.
Of course, it is inevitable that the context will not match.
Early awakening was a concept that worked by completely distorting cause and effect from the beginning.
[Well, it’s a little difficult, but do you understand it?]
Riley answered confidently.
“I don’t understand at all… … ?”
[Yeah. Okay, let’s hit it.]
