“Katy……what did you just mean……”
With her fingers interlaced in front of her chest anxiously, Shenley asked Katy.
At this, Katy widened her eyes and pulled back her chin, but immediately directed a sharp gaze at her.
“Eavesdropping? Does someone who can’t even become a saint candidate lack manners as well?”
The words were too harsh for addressing family, and Shenley shrank back with trembling shoulders.
Unable to help it, I appeared to stand beside Shenley.
“……We happened to overhear, but it was somewhat concerning content. The request from someone you mentioned earlier……exactly who are you referring to?”
I said this while looking at Katy head-on.
Unlike Shenley, who seemed somewhat lacking in confidence with drooping eyes, Katy had sharp eyes and seemed strong-willed. Their atmosphere was completely opposite, but otherwise they were very similar.
When I received a hostile look from Katy, who resembled Shenley so much, I felt inexplicably sad.
“……The rumored senior instructor from Fidic Academy. It seems His Majesty has taken a liking to you, but your true nature will soon be exposed. After all, that person has set their sights on you.”
“Since you refer to them as ‘that person,’ they must be at least a marquis or higher in rank, correct? I don’t recall doing anything to attract their attention, so it must be a grudge.”
When I said this, Katy furrowed her brow with an exasperated expression.
“……You’re unbelievably insensitive. You don’t realize that your arrogance is shortening your own life.”
Katy shrugged and murmured, then glanced at Shenley.
“Even if you can use other magic to some degree, that’s meaningless. What makes Maple Leaf truly Maple Leaf is the world’s greatest healing magic. Even if other magic falls behind other countries, we can always establish our position within the six great nations with the world’s finest healing magic. When kings and nobles of various countries suffer life-threatening injuries, they have no choice but to seek help from Maple Leaf’s saints and saintesses.”
Katy puffed out her chest proudly as if it were her own achievement, extolling the excellence of Maple Leaf’s healing magic.
I couldn’t help but tilt my head at this.
“The superiority of Maple Leaf Holy Empire’s healing magic might disappear within two or three years.”
When I said this, Katy showed a threatening smile.
“On what basis……I know because I heard it from that person. You showed off new magic and ingratiated yourself with His Majesty. Magic is about building fundamentals and applying them properly.”
I nodded with understanding at Katy’s words as she spoke proudly about magic.
“So that person was the court mage Gem-san. I may indeed have embarrassed him in front of His Majesty. However, I never expected him to harass Shenley-san……”
Learning the identity of the mastermind, I felt irritated. I was also angry that he didn’t come directly, but what was most infuriating was that he targeted Shenley, a fellow Maple Leaf noble who couldn’t resist.
Probably, Gem was a high-ranking noble like a marquis. And the Rosenstiel Viscount family might be part of his faction.
In that case, it made sense why the viscount, who was Shenley’s real father, wouldn’t explain the reason.
“……I understand the reason now. Shenley-san, let’s talk with your father once more. This time I can definitely persuade him.”
When I turned to Shenley and said this, Shenley widened her eyes. Meanwhile, Katy, perhaps thinking she was being ignored, turned red with anger and trembled.
“Ignoring me……? I’m a saint candidate, you know……?”
Katy was murmuring something with her head down and shoulders shaking, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.
“Come on, let’s go. Katy-san, Louis-san. Thank you.”
I lightly thanked the two and left that place, taking the bewildered Shenley with me.
If it wasn’t a family problem but rather something like external power harassment, it would be simple. I just needed to eliminate the source of the power harassment.
Having found a clue to the solution, I took Shenley’s hand and retraced our steps with light footsteps.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
Once again, I requested a meeting with the soldier at the gate and was immediately shown to what appeared to be an office.
Ord looked up from behind his desk. Like Katy, he looked at me with hostile eyes.
“……I thought I said this was a family matter, but does a mere teacher still intend to interfere?”
At those cold words, Shenley drew in a breath. I stood in front of the shrinking Shenley and looked straight back at Ord.
At that moment, I remembered the past.
The sensation of a slightly worn suit and the painful color of the setting sun. Before me were an angry father and a crying student. I said something, and the father became even more enraged. I no longer remember what I said, but I remember that no matter how earnestly I appealed, I couldn’t persuade him.
The student cried and called my name. It’s a scene that still makes my chest tighten. She was both my first student and a female student who belonged to the kendo club. Just when she was finally able to participate in competitions, she had to transfer schools. It was due to family circumstances, and I don’t think I could inquire deeply into them.
In the end, I couldn’t persuade the father and could only see off my crying student as she left.
Remembering such a bitter past, I found myself at a loss for words.
Ord’s stern eyes still pierced through me like arrows.
“……I see.”
When I murmured quietly, Ord furrowed his brow with a puzzled expression. I finally felt like I understood the emotions within myself – why I couldn’t speak more forcefully even to Ord.
And I also realized that the current situation was different from that time in the past.
I raised my face and opened my mouth while looking firmly into Ord’s eyes.
“……Ord-san. I finally understand. You’re trying to make Shenley-san drop out because you’re concerned about the court mage Gem-san, aren’t you? I don’t know what Gem-san said to you, but I’ll somehow handle the matter concerning Shenley-san and your family. It may be hard to believe, but please trust me on this.”
I tried to persuade him with passion, but there was no change in Ord’s expression. After pulling back his chin and narrowing his eyes for several seconds as if pondering my words, he opened his mouth.
“……First, there seems to be a misunderstanding, but I’m not being threatened by Lord Gem. Rather, I agree with the thinking that Lord Hineku advocates – strengthening Maple Leaf’s advantages.”
“Gem-san’s way of thinking……I feel like he’s simply averse to change. Moreover, if other countries’ standards improve in the future, Maple Leaf’s healing magic won’t be a significant advantage either.”
I honestly expressed my thoughts. Then Ord’s eyes sharpened with irritation.
“On what basis can you say such a thing? We can’t grasp the research situation of other countries’ magic because it’s classified, but many nobles and royalty from other countries come to Maple Leaf seeking healing magic. That’s the answer, isn’t it?”
Ord said this with growing emotion. However, I directly contradicted that opinion.
“That’s the Maple Leaf of the past. The future will be different. It might be in two or three years, but I’m certain it will happen.”
“So why is that……”
Perhaps feeling that we were both getting too heated, Ord stopped mid-sentence and fell silent. Then he clicked his tongue lightly and jerked his chin.
“State your reason. Do you have evidence sufficient to believe such an outlandish statement?”
When he said this in a low voice, I immediately nodded.
“It’s a simple matter. I’m going to greatly improve the magical level of each country from now on. Within one year, I’ll tour the six great nations, and within three years, I’ll gather mages from each country at Fidic Academy to provide education. This will cause magical research in each country to advance remarkably. As a result, Maple Leaf’s superiority in healing magic will crumble, but in exchange, other magic that had been lagging will reach high standards.”
I briefly explained my future plans and waited for Ord’s reaction. Ord blinked as if stunned, then immediately made an expression as if he had bitten into a bitter bug.
“……I understand the reason. However, it’s far too absurd. No matter how excellent Fidic Academy is, the court mages of each country are superior as mages. Our Maple Leaf has the mission of passing down the six great nations’ finest healing magic, so saints and saintesses often become the heads of magic academies. However, normally, the most excellent mage in a country becomes a court mage. In other words, academy instructors are those who couldn’t become court mages. Even for Fidic Academy, the statement about teaching magic to court mages from other countries is excessively arrogant.”
Ord said this with increased intensity in his voice. The complete lack of trust was conveyed through every word, which was somewhat irritating. However, perhaps this kind of perception was natural for someone who had never left Maple Leaf.
After all, even the Holy Capital Magic Academy and the court magicians of the Holy Capital had such recognition. It was probably inevitable. Therefore, I decided to shatter that common sense.
“I understand. Then, let us have some kind of test. I will take any test related to magic. Please do it in a way that satisfies you.”
I looked directly into his eyes and declared this.
Then, Ord snorted and crossed his arms.
“…What confidence. Very well, then demonstrate advanced magic using the basic elements of fire, water, earth, wind, and healing magic. There are only a handful of magicians in my viscounty who can use advanced magic. There are probably very few in the Holy Capital who can use multiple attributes. Since you speak of such grand things as providing magical education to various countries, you can at least use advanced magic, can’t you?”
To Ord, who spoke with such a challenging attitude, I nodded deeply.
“No problem. I shall show you in practice.”
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