Chapter 3: Behind the Scenes
Still looking anxious, I decided to take Ord and Katy along with me to visit Gem. My reasoning was that if they saw me properly settle the matter right before their eyes, both of them would feel reassured.
However, the two of them remained silent throughout the journey, gazing outside, perhaps tense about riding in a flying carriage.
Shenley also looked at me anxiously.
“Are you really going to visit Marquis Gem? I’ve never heard of anyone going directly to decline a marriage proposal from a high-ranking noble…”
“It’s fine. If sparks are flying toward my student, then removing them is also part of my job. Please don’t worry.”
I answered with the burning sense of mission as a teacher. After all, this was a major matter that would determine Shenley’s future. Even if I had to face an entire nation, I had no intention of backing down.
When we went to the royal castle to ask Arabata for directions, he somehow offered to accompany us. Having no choice, I permitted his company and let him board the carriage.
“Ah, Arabata-kyou. What a surprise to be traveling together like this.”
“Mm… Oh, isn’t it Viscount Rosenstiel-dono? We rarely have the chance to speak directly like this. Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, Shenley is the daughter of Viscount Rosenstiel. My, how careless of me.”
When Arabata said this in a loud voice and smiled wryly, Ord humbly conveyed that there was no problem. It seemed that Maple Leaf had strong hierarchical relationships among nobles. Well, perhaps every country was like that, but to me it felt like watching the relationship between a management executive of a large corporation and the president of a small subcontractor company, which was rather heartbreaking. It must feel even more so to Shenley and Katy.
While I was thinking such unnecessary thoughts, we arrived at our destination. Apparently, due to the incident in the audience chamber the other day, he was in a state close to disciplinary suspension.
In other words, what we had reached was the private residence of Gem Westmeath, the Vice Chief Court Magician.
“It’s particularly large even though we’re within the Holy Capital.”
When I voiced this observation, Arabata smiled wryly.
“Let me tell you, the Westmeath Marquis family has always produced court magicians and is a distinguished house that has established its position not only as nobles but also as magicians. Naturally, in terms of financial power as well…”
“I see.”
I nodded at Arabata’s words and looked up at Gem’s mansion again. It had the appearance of a brick Western-style mansion, but its size was incredible. It felt as large as a big gymnasium. It probably had close to fifty rooms. However, since the Rosenstiel Viscount family was of equal size, they didn’t seem particularly impressed.
In front of the towering gate stood two soldiers who appeared to be gatekeepers, and they were surprised to see a carriage descending from the sky.
“Is Gem-kyou present?”
When Arabata called out to the soldiers, they initially gave him questioning looks, but apparently the title of Vice Commander of the Royal Guard was well-known. They quickly seemed to recall Arabata’s face and position, straightened their backs, and spoke up.
“Y-Yes! The master is conducting business within the mansion! Did you perhaps have an appointment?”
“No, today this person here, Aoi Konominato-dono, a senior instructor at Fidic Academy, has business with Gem-kyou. We’d like you to announce us urgently.”
When Arabata conveyed this, the two soldiers looked at each other, and immediately one of them went inside.
Before long, the soldier returned.
“The master will see you. We apologize for keeping you waiting. Please come in.”
The soldier responded politely, though not in a Japanese style. His eyes were directed toward Arabata, indicating what a tense figure he must be.
To me, he seemed like a serious but friendly middle-aged man, so I felt a bit of disconnect.
While thinking such things as I watched Arabata’s back striding ahead with large steps, we eventually reached our destination room.
When the soldier knocked twice and opened the door, I spotted Gem sitting in the depths of a reasonably spacious room. However, something seemed off about his condition.
Gem was hunched over in his chair, with both elbows on the desk, supporting his head with both hands. And on the desk before him were what appeared to be a glass bottle and cup. Seeing the pale amber liquid in the cup, Arabata’s eyes sharpened.
“Gem-kyou. I apologize for the sudden visit. Thank you very much for agreeing to meet with us… but you appear to be quite intoxicated.”
When Arabata pointed this out, Gem snorted and looked our way. His eyes were completely unfocused.
“…Of course I’m drunk. What a disgraceful failure before His Majesty. Why did this happen? Did I make a mistake? While thinking about various things, I ended up like this.”
He said in a low voice, then moved only his eyes to look at me.
“However, thanks to that, I’ve arrived at the answer. If I think about it carefully, it should have been obvious. After all, it’s far too removed from common sense. No matter what, it’s impossible.”
Gem muttered something while grumbling. Not only Shenley but also Katy gasped at his sickly appearance. Ord was quietly observing Gem’s behavior but seemed quite wary.
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“What is impossible?”
When Arabata asked, Gem again directed his gaze toward Arabata with only his eyes, then immediately pointed at me. In doing so, his arm hit the bottle on the desk, knocking it over, and the sound of breaking glass echoed throughout the room.
“What?! the magic, of course! Watch this!”
Shouting, Gem threw pieces of the broken glass bottle at us.
“Clear Shield”
He spoke the magic name in one word. At that moment, a translucent thin wall appeared, dividing the room in two. The glass hit the water membrane wall and slid down its surface to fall to the floor.
“What are you doing?!”
Arabata shouted. Looking at him, it seemed he had been holding his arm forward, trying to block the flying glass fragments.
Beyond the water membrane wall, Gem was shaking his shoulders.
“There, you saw it. This is that woman’s true identity. It’s all the power of national treasure-class magical tools.”
When Gem declared this, I felt Ord and Katy’s eyes turn toward me. Arabata furrowed his brow and glared at Gem.
“That’s not necessarily the case. Certainly, one or two spells might be possible if one possessed ancient magical tools. But as far as I know, Aoi-dono has used nearly ten advanced-level or higher spells. Among them are healing spells. To make that possible would require more than ten magical tools…”
When Arabata showed anger at the groundless words, Gem chuckled.
“How naive, Arabata… Remember the words that woman spoke. She said she would travel to various countries and raise the standard of magic—such preposterous nonsense. That means her reasons were complete lies, and in truth, she must have been planning to infiltrate the royal families of various countries and steal their magical tools!”
With the momentum of a famous detective who had reached the culprit, Gem accused me of being a thief. Though extremely rude, it was surprisingly logical reasoning.
However, since I hadn’t stolen treasures from royal families of various countries, I decided to honestly deny it.
“No, I…”
The moment I opened my mouth to deny it, Shenley, who had been silent until then, stepped forward and shouted.
“That’s wrong! Aoi-sensei is not a thief!”
Shenley loudly objected to Gem. At this fact, Ord and Katy’s eyes widened. And Gem looked at Shenley’s face for the first time.
“…What’s this, little girl? Do you know who I am? To Gem Westmeath Marquis, who is the Vice Commander of the Court Magician Corps and also a director of the Holy Capital’s Magician Association, what did you say?”
It was a menacing voice filled with killing intent. Even Arabata fell silent and seemed ready to reach for his sword.
However, Shenley didn’t back down even a step and glared back.
“Aoi-sensei is not a thief! Having taken Aoi-sensei’s classes, I can even use lightning magic…!”
Shenley desperately tried to dispel the suspicions about me. Looking at this with a mocking expression, Gem clicked his tongue.
“I see, so you’re Rosenstiel’s daughter… I thought about taking you away as harassment against that woman, but you seem to be more stupid than I imagined. Really, for a child like you to claim, of all things, lightning magic? Stop making such ridiculous claims! Not merely original magic, but to falsely claim the name of lightning magic, that phantom magic…!”
Now Gem was calling even Shenley a liar. This really ticked me off, and I was about to shout at him when I released the water membrane wall.
Then, before I could open my mouth, Shenley put both hands forward and opened her mouth.
She began some kind of incantation. Thinking this, everyone present reflexively started to move, but when I realized the content of the incantation, I raised one hand to stop everyone’s movement.
And Gem, perhaps also realizing the content of the incantation, froze with his eyes wide.
“No way, that can’t be…”
His intoxication sobered up instantly. Seeing that expression, I was secretly surprised by Gem’s level as a magician. Just by hearing the content of the incantation, he seemed to intuitively understand what kind of magic would be cast. The title of court magician wasn’t just for show, it seemed.
Meanwhile, Shenley’s magic was completed.
“Electric Ball…!”
She spoke the magic name and gave form to her magical power. A water sphere appeared, and wind was added to it. As if a high-speed water current was swirling within the water sphere, static electricity gradually began to discharge outward with crackling sounds.
About thirty seconds, perhaps? Before I knew it, a sphere of lightning that had accumulated dazzling electricity was completed at the tip of Shenley’s outstretched hand.
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