The Reincarnated Archmage’s Journey Chapter 321

Episode 321: A Flower Blooming in the Mud (3)

“Can I answer honestly?”

“Of course, of course. This is a place where honesty is required.”

Alfrik looked secretly expectant.

The word 'honestly' made me feel like Delser might have the same thoughts as me.

“Actually, I already asked Archis. I was curious about what decision Archis would make.”

Everyone's ears perked up at the name Arkis.

"Archis-sama answered like this: 'Learning and enlightenment are endless.' I kept pondering the meaning of this answer, and it seems like this is what Archis-sama meant."

Delser now explained, pointing out the root's motivation for support.

"Doesn't that mean the magic we know, based on the present, isn't final? Magic is subject to transformation and development. Perhaps that's why Lord Arkis believed learning and enlightenment were endless, and that's why he gave me that answer."

“Then… does that mean that Lord Arkis agrees?”

Alfrik muttered in a regretful voice.

If Delser's interpretation is correct, then his master will eventually allow him to become the head of the Root family.

Although it was only a mutter, it was loud enough for everyone to hear, so Delser answered immediately.

"Yes. I think so. If you didn't know Root's motivations, the idea that learning and enlightenment are endless might sound absurd. But after seeing his motivations, I think your thoughts will change. What do you think, Alfrik?"

Delserdo does not believe that his own interpretation is the correct one.

However, I answered everyone with the belief that even if I could not perfectly interpret the meaning, at least the intention was not greatly off.

The reason I asked this question repeatedly to Alfrik was because Alfrik was the only one in this place who opposed Root's right to be the head of the family.

The reasons for opposing it are quite far-fetched, and are simply a choice based on personal feelings towards the dark element.

So, after explaining Arkis Aimer's answer to Alfrik, Delser asked him again, perhaps with a hint of threat, whether he still intended to stick to that choice after hearing Arkis's thoughts.

“Hmm…….”

It definitely had an effect.

Alfrik sighed, as if he was in pain.

He nodded and answered, as if he had given up.

“Well… I didn’t mean it badly. I just got a little excited.”

After a somewhat belated excuse that it was not simply because he was a dark element that he opposed it, the decision to unanimously approve of Root's qualifications as head of the family was finally confirmed.

Once the route was decided, Delser opened his mouth to announce it to everyone.

“I will convey to you the words of Lord Arkis.”

Everyone was listening intently to see what their leader had to say.

"They say they're handing me the power to decide everything that happens in the magical community going forward. I've been thinking about what they mean, and this is what I've deduced."

“What does it mean?”

Vice asked happily.

“Now that it’s been confirmed that Root will become the head of the family, two elemental families that didn’t exist before in magical society have been created.”

“Wind and… water.”

Coincidentally, these are the elements that cooperated with Tyrant during Tyrant's time and enjoyed wealth and honor.

“Yes, I think it means that the two missing elemental families will now be reborn, and that the decision is left entirely to me.”

“Certainly… I can’t help but think that way.”

The wind and water elements are so intertwined that it can be considered as a broken line.

If this situation continues for a long time, not only will the development of the two elements be halted, but the existence of the elements may disappear into the back alleys of history.

Since every element has the potential to develop in various forms, every family had to exist without leaving out a single element.

Because the power of each element can be used as a strong protective shield to protect allies in the event another public enemy appears later.

Therefore, the reconstruction of the lost wind and water elements was absolutely necessary for the magical society.

This time it was Tresha who spoke.

“Then, from now on, we will be conducting a new examination of the Wind and Water elements.”

While making eye contact with Delser.

To this, Delser replied with a big smile.

"Yes, Root will be joining us next time. I'm really looking forward to seeing what family name he brings."

The meeting seemed to be ending amicably, but Vice cautiously raised his hand, keeping an eye on Alfric and Tresha.

“Do you have anything to say?”

The leader of this meeting, Delser, immediately asked.

“I was wondering when I should do something about it since it’s come to this, so I thought I’d say it now that I have the chance.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“What I want to say is not to you, Delser, but to get the approval of the heads of the families gathered here.”

“……What is that?”

Vice looked back and forth between Alfrik and Thresha, carefully revealing what was on his mind.

“I intend to step down and hand over my position as head of the household to Delser.”

“……No, why are you suddenly making that decision again?”

Instead, Alfric and Tresha nodded indifferently.

Now that I've officially become the successor to the Great Wizard, there's no way I can't become the head of the household, right?

I wasn't too surprised because it was a situation I had already anticipated.

However, it was Delser who reacted with surprise, as if jumping up and down.

“Why are you so surprised? You already promised Archis-sama.”

The three of them met separately in the Prosecutor's Council and pointed out what happened.

“……At the time, I thought it was just a passing remark, but did you really mean it to me?”

"My daughter has proudly become the headmaster of a magic school and the successor to the Great Wizard. She is more than qualified. Now, what do you think, ladies and gentlemen?"

Vice asked anxiously.

But surprisingly, Alfrik answered coolly.

"Anyway, all decision-making power now rests with Delser, right? If Delser accepts this offer, he'll be confirmed as the next head of the Emmet family. So what? Delser's choice is the important one."

“That sounds like… you have no complaints. Did I understand correctly?”

Still, Vice wanted to make sure.

Alfric just nodded quietly.

This time, Tresha asked.

“But I’m curious. What are you planning to do after handing over the family title, Vice?”

"I'm trying to live in the world below. I've been there so long I've grown attached to it."

“Like before… you’re going to run that tavern?”

“No. I will run a daycare center.”

"nursery school……?"

"Yes. To prevent Cylard from attacking, all the commoners in the lower world were evacuated to their homes, so no children lost their parents during the battle with Cylard. However, even before that, there were already many children without parents in the lower world."

What he said is also true.

It's not like there are no orphans at all.

“Those children stayed with the wizard’s family during this battle, so I think it’s fortunate that they have a place to live… but the problem is that after the battle, those children are no different from being kicked out again, right?”

The existing orphanage disappeared when the Magician's Street and the Inspector's Street were divided, and the children who lived in the orphanage ended up on the streets.

Now that the battle with the Cylards is over, they are in a situation where they cannot even go to the wizard family that was their refuge. From the children's perspective, the end of the battle did not bring the happiness of peace, but rather a new anxiety: "Where should I go now?"

Vice means creating an institution to care for such children.

He continued his explanation.

"That's not the end of it. We're now in an era where even prosecutors and magicians are merging. Running an orphanage allows me to nurture talented youngsters who could potentially advance to magic schools or prosecutorial schools. So, I believe it's the right choice in many ways."

Even in the days when prosecutors and wizards were cut off from each other, it was common for orphans to be brought to their respective schools.

But Vice said it with great confidence, because if she became the director of the orphanage, she could do it again, and it would be much easier and less conscious of each other.

"And since I can run the orphanage and keep tabs on Sherman, it's killing two birds with one stone. Sherman's already in a state of ego collapse, and who knows what unexpected situations he might create next?"

It was a moment that led to many plans from the decision to become a daycare director.

“If that’s what you think…….”

After hearing everything, Tresha looked at Delser and answered.

“Delser, I don’t think you can refuse?”

“…….”

Delser locked eyes with his father for a moment, then nodded.

“If that’s what you think, then I can’t refuse.”

With this, the Emmet family also welcomed a new head.

Although different from other families, the Emmet family has the smallest number of members among the existing families.

In fact, it didn't make much of a difference whether the head of the household changed or not.

“But I suddenly wonder, what kind of family will emerge from the wind and water elements in the future?”

This time, Nylon expressed his curiosity.

"Well… if it's the water element, there's definitely one suitable candidate. I don't know about the air element. There's no one particularly suitable."

Vice answered.

A definite wife of the water element.

Those gathered here already had one person in common who came to mind when they heard the word water element.

Delser asked everyone cautiously.

“Should I…sneak a chance with Need? How about becoming the head of the household?”

“It wouldn’t be bad… would it? After all, the Water element is also a family that is essential to the magical community.”

Everyone was positive.

***

Impel is walking through the world below.

“Everyone… it’s peaceful.”

Is it because it is no longer the world below that is full of danger?

All worries disappeared from the faces of the common people, and only peaceful happiness took over.

Impel, who abandoned the castle of Edran, became a wizard, but his status was no different from that of a common wizard.

He was wandering aimlessly through the lower world, trying to put into practice his idea of living as a wanderer.

Then, the bright voices of children were heard from nearby.

“Hey! You idiot! You idiot!”

“The neighborhood idiot has appeared again!”

'Idiot? Was there ever a person called that?'

Impel looked in the direction of the loud voice.

An alley where many children gather.

“Eight! Eat this!”

A little boy threw a stone at a mysterious object.

The object in question was a dirty, lumpy object that could be seen with the naked eye.

The giant who was hit by the stone flinched.

‘… …Are you a person?’

Impel finally confirmed that it was a man wearing something like a giant.

And the man wearing a giant mask slowly turns his body.

The moment he saw that face, Impel was overcome with an indescribable emotion.

“Sherman…….”

Sherman, whose ego had collapsed, was being bullied by neighborhood kids in a dark alley.

Sherman made a strange noise when he saw the stone thrown by the boy.

“It’s a twist……!”

“Hahaha, you call a rock a fish! That idiot!”

The person the kids teased as an idiot was none other than Sherman.

'I really… … The guy who killed the students… … is now getting hit with rocks by little kids.'

Honestly, I don't know if I should be happy or if I should feel even a little compassionate.

It was a moment when I couldn't properly grasp the direction.

Impel thought for a moment, then ignored Sherman and passed by.

Impel, the former captain of the Archmage's Guard.

Would you believe that the one who ruled over Impel was Sherman, the gatekeeper known as the neighborhood idiot?

'Oh my… I guess I really have to live a long life to see this. Could that be… well, it's self-inflicted?'

Impel had many thoughts upon seeing Sherman's current state.