episode_0064

“Did you only match formal clothes with Sir Shurn?”

“Is there anything else to do? Even if I wander around Araelia, I don’t know any place.”

“It’s not a very busy city. If you don’t have anything to do when you get to your accommodation, there’s no problem walking around. However, there’s a banquet in the evening, so be sure to attend. If you don’t attend… … They might take you by force?”

“Would the people of Araelia disobey the king’s orders?”

Ceresria smiled at my answer, and followed her out of the palace and slowly moved toward the square. Meanwhile, when I saw many people bowing to Ceresria, I was staring at her blankly, thinking that she was indeed royalty, and she smiled at me without saying a word.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I thought royalty was royalty.”

“No matter how hard you try to hide it, there are things that cannot be hidden, but isn’t it natural that everyone in Araelia knows me?”

“Well, that’s true too.”

After spitting out my answer and walking towards the square, I spoke carefully.

“Are all the people standing there earlier royal family?”

“That’s right, the only people who can stand in that position in the royal palace are the royal family. At least the duke can stand in that position… … Well, the Duke of the North doesn’t show up at places like this easily, so I think he might not be attending today’s banquet.”

“What kind of person is the Duke?”

“He is a strong man. He is like ice, as if no drop of blood would come out even if someone stabs him with a knife. He is a man who rules over the North with his wife without a single child. If you meet him… … Well, even I am afraid of him. I’ve never felt that much fear from a non-mage human.”

I nodded slowly in response to Ceresria’s answer and carefully asked questions. There was no harm in knowing that I would be meeting many nobles at the evening banquet. If someone spoke to me, of course I had to say hello.

As they arrived at the square, they talked about noble families. When they arrived at the square, Ceresria looked around for a moment and pointed in the direction with her finger.

“Over there is the shopping district, and this is the residential area. And over there is the area where the knights reside. Since it is a lodging prepared by the knights, I think it is in the knights’ territory… … Um, ah. It’s coming just in time.”

Following her gaze, I looked there and saw a knight walking towards us.

“May the light of Araelia reach you. Greetings to Her Royal Highness, Princess Zernia of the Capital Guard.”

“May the light of Araelia reach, what business does the knight of the capital guard have here?”

“We have prepared the accommodation that Her Majesty the Princess requested. Is the person behind you Astan?”

“Yes, I am Astan.”

“I will take care of you from now on, Your Highness.”

“Then I will ask you a favor, Astan, see you in the evening. And Zernia, if there is anything Astan needs, give it to him without thinking about the cost. The palace will provide the rest.”

“I will follow your orders, Princess.”

Ceresria waved at me and then walked towards the palace, and I looked at Xernia. All of the knights of Araelia were young men with long hair that made you wonder if it was a tradition to grow their hair long. His green hair was blowing in the wind, and the symbol engraved on his chest was not that of the Order of the Blue Rose, but that of a sleeping wolf.

“The knights are curious about Astan, how strong he really is. If you get a chance, would you be able to show me your skills?”

“I’m not a very skilled person, so I don’t have much to show you.”

“There are many people in the capital guard who use magic. It would be of great help if you could show them even a little bit of Astan’s magic.”

“I’m still a first year student, and I’m not the type of person to stand shoulder to shoulder with those strong enough to protect security.”

“Would you like to judge that by looking at our training?”

I sighed inwardly at Xernia’s words. I thought the people of Araelia were stubborn.

I entered the lodgings guided by the knights and looked around for a moment. Outside the window, Araelia’s residential area came into view, and when I moved to the other side, Araelia’s shopping district came into view. I wonder if they chose to stay here on purpose.

With that in mind, I went down the stairs of the dormitory with familiar steps and came out of the dormitory, where Xernia and Shurn were standing there.

“Are you ready, Astan?”

“Even if I go, there won’t be much I can show you, but I’ll try my best.”

“I’m also very curious about how strong the rumored wizard is.”

“It is not a talent that Blue Rose covets, the wizard of Araelia will support our capital guard to the extent possible.”

“It’s not polite to send someone this strong to knights who are always on patrol.”

“Have you reduced your habit of confronting strong opponents every time you go on a mission? I heard that they tried to bring in an old swordsman from Ignolia again and failed, so it’s a good thing.”

“I’m sorry, but he is my teacher, so I went there knowing that I would definitely fail. And is there any improvement in staying in the capital and swinging spears and swords all the time? I’m worried that if a stranger suddenly appears, I might run away.”

I carefully scratched the back of my neck as the two chatted. The Blue Rose Knights and the Capital Guard do not get along very well. Then, as I looked at the two and coughed slightly, they started gesturing for me to follow them as if they had never done that before, and I followed them to the training ground.

The training hall was so large that it could not be compared to the academy’s training hall. And when I saw them all standing in a row in the training hall, I swallowed my saliva carefully.

“Attention everyone, Astan from the Academy has decided to observe our training today. I’m sure everyone has heard the rumor that they recently caught a spy for the Demon King’s army that was running rampant in Ignolia. So, everyone, don’t be nervous and do your usual work. Let’s proceed with the training like this.”

At the sound of Xernia’s voice, a man who appeared to be a lieutenant began to loudly lead the training. The sight of them all coming together could have been called a spectacular sight, but it didn’t really feel like much. Naturally, I knew nothing about areas that handle weapons such as swordsmanship and spearmanship. As I was just watching the training, the magicians’ training began.

Anyone who looks at the training of wizards may say that it is an amazing field, but… …

For me, who had already seen the magic of 5th grade seniors, it was just ordinary magic. If they were to fight against Celestria, it seemed like Celestria would win, and it seemed like Yuria could easily defeat them as well.

Well, I thought that not all wizards in the capital guard were very strong. Really strong wizards join the Magic Knights or the Magic Tower.

The wizards in the capital guard had the skills of a 3rd grader if they were good, or a 2nd grader if not.

“You look bored.”

“I don’t think just looking around is my style.”

“Then would you mind showing it to me? Your skills.”

“You seem to be on fire, so please show me.”

I scratched the back of my neck at what the two said. Even if I could show you, how far would it be possible? Is magic as good as underground water possible?

“Although my skills are low.”

I carefully got up from my seat and walked towards the training ground, and the surroundings became quiet. The wizards who were using magic stopped their magic, and those who were wielding swords and those who were wielding spears were all watching me.

Faced with a rush of gazes, I carefully took a breath and looked around. It might be possible at this distance, but I had no idea how much it could be used. But anyway, wouldn’t it be good? There is no limit to the magic that a first-year academy student can unleash, and this idea borders on arrogance… …

I thought I would be stronger than them.

I carefully held the staff in my right hand.

“How strong do you think that wizard is? For Lord Shurn.”

“I think she might have similar skills to Ceresria, but if Her Highness is a curious person… … He must be a strong human being, isn’t it natural? Was there an ordinary human being among the people Her Majesty the Princess has shown interest in so far?”

“You are among those people.”

“Because I am not an ordinary human being.”

“Sounds like bragging, that statement”

“You are saying something that is obvious and natural. Everyone knows the magic skills of the capital guards, and even compared to the first year of the academy, they are not strong. Haven’t I always said, ask Your Majesty to include the Magic Knights in the capital guard? Otherwise, bringing in 2nd and 3rd year students from the academy would not be a bad choice.”

“Would the leader of the Magic Knights approve it? And if we were to join the capital guard, we would be more comfortable with the Blue Rose Knights. Wizards are an unruly bunch, so the Blue Rose Knights would be more convenient.”

“Anything is up to the guard commander in charge of the capital guard… … Well, the guard captain has been busy lately, and you, the captain’s deputy, have had a hard time as well.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it, you’re newlyweds.”

“It might be quicker for His Highness to promote you to the rank of guard captain.”

Shurn and Xernia had that conversation and looked at Astan standing in the training hall. It felt like the magic was slowly beginning. A staff held in the right hand. And the surrounding mana began to fluctuate. In the flow of mana, which gradually revealed blue light, a magic circle began to be slowly engraved.

“… … Magic circle?”

“Didn’t you say you were a first year at the academy? A first year carving a magic circle without any preparation.”

“Your Majesty has great insight. You can create without a magic circle engraved on your body, just by holding a staff.”

“And it’s the beginning.”

And the coldness was slowly gathering around. The cold could be felt even here, far away from the training ground. A cold air that seemed to freeze everything rushed in, slowly freezing the training ground and the armor of the surrounding guards.

“Shouldn’t it be stopped?”

“He is capable of that level of discernment.”

Shurn spoke and touched his chin with his right hand. It was different from the atmosphere I saw at first. At that time, I didn’t think I was this strong of a person, but have I grown gradually? Even so… … Isn’t it strange? I’ve heard enough about wizards growing up in an instant. It was truly amazing.

And then, the air changed. The air filled with cold was coming through my breath.

“Then, let’s begin.”

It was obviously a small voice because it was far away, but it was clearly reaching my ears. When I heard Astan’s voice, I carefully moved my head and looked at Astan, and I saw that he was aiming his staff at the sky.

“Ice, rise up.”

As soon as Astan’s spell ended, a huge wind blew.