Magician Marigold

14.

“Laura. I was saying earlier about…”

“I refuse.”

The young woman replied coldly, adjusting her glasses. Lancel hadn’t even finished his sentence.

“Have you at least considered it…”

“I already said I refuse. Putting the Knight Department and our students together for education? How does that possibly benefit the Wizard Department? I reject it without a second thought.”

“If you could consider it as a way to learn mutual understanding and respect…”

“If you could first teach that understanding and respect to the Knight Department, the source of all discord, then maybe they’ll get along better in the future. I’m busy, so if you’ll excuse me.”

“Laura.”

“I have no business with you!”

“I heard you needed research funds.”

“……”

Laura’s body, which had been heading out the door, stopped abruptly.

I didn’t want to be so direct, but I have no choice.

“You do need them, don’t you?”

“Are you trying to buy me off with money…”

“Twenty Gold coins.”

Laura’s eyes wavered.

“I came knowing all about it, Professor Laura.”

Lancel approached her with a smile on his face.

“Professor Laura’s husband, Baron Cote, isn’t having much luck with his sugar beet farm, I hear. To make matters worse, the drought lasted so long last year, just when he tripled the size of his fields. The losses must be considerable.”

“……How did you know that…”

“It’s not Professor Laura’s fault, of course. It’s Baron Cote’s fault for taking all the money meant for Magic research and squandering it.”

“I, I…”

“Professor Laura must be very upset, after working so hard to become a Court Wizard with this research.”

“……”

Trembling eyes, a voice devoid of confidence. He could feel her completely disarming.

“Laura.”

He gently lifted her chin, revealing a desperate-looking face.

Lancel’s smile deepened.

“Twenty Gold coins. I can lend them to you without any interest or repayment deadline. And I’ll make sure Baron Cote doesn’t hear a word of it. How does that sound?”

“Hic……”

Negotiations complete.

[Fri-Sat: Mutual Understanding Between Knights and Wizards]

[Instructors: Laura Cote, Lancel Dante]

“Mutual Understanding Between Knights and Wizards?”

The Academy students were utterly bewildered by the newly listed course.

Knights and Wizards training together, and for two days every week? It was a type of education they had never seen before.

“Surely we don’t have to train with those Knights, do we?”

“I heard there might be occasional overnight camping trips…”

“Camping? You mean sleeping outside?”

The Wizard Department immediately reacted with disgust.

“Eek! Eating and sleeping outside! That’s something only barbarians do!”

“Ugh, I’m an indoor person.”

“Bugs, sunlight, dust, grass… I hate it, I hate it.”

“Camping when I don’t even have time to do research! Having to walk outside!”

“Damn it, it’s Professor Laura, so I can’t even drop it.”

“She’s scary.”

As if they were people who had spent most of their lives indoors, the apprentice Wizards already seemed to be shivering all over.

Of course, the Knights’ reaction was the complete opposite.

“Camping? Outdoors? Awesome!”

Smiles spread across the faces of the Knight Department trainees.

“I was getting restless anyway!”

“The Academy is too cramped, no matter how big it is.”

“Camping with Wizards, does that mean we get to see those guys squirming outside?”

“Hehehe, the next two days every week are going to be fun.”

“Mary, I’m not letting that damn brat get away with it!”

The Knights were excited.

“Achoo!”

And Marygold, who was eating a plain bread for lunch by herself, sneezed heartily.

The first schedule was rapidly approaching.

.

.

.

“Listen up. I won’t forgive you if you lose to those Wizard scrubs. Especially that little runt named Mary, don’t you dare lose to her.”

“Lancel, sir?!”

And Marygold was feeling betrayed there.

15.

[Week 1 of April, Friday – Weather: Very Sunny]

“Are they really going through with it?”

“Wasn’t it the Headmaster who said he’d approve it if Lancel could persuade a Wizard Department professor?”

“I never thought it would actually happen. How did he persuade Professor Laura, of all people? That picky woman…”

The professors, including the Headmaster, whispered as they watched the Academy Training Ground.

An unusual tension was hanging in the air on the Training Ground’s vast grassy field.

The Academy students, divided into two groups, stared at each other. One side was the Knights, with their large height and build, and the other side was the Wizards, with their relatively light physiques.

“How wonderful it would be if Knights and Wizards could understand each other. I created this training with such pure intentions.”

Clap, clap, clap.

Professor Laura clapped with a blank expression.

Lancel strode to the center of the two groups.

“And what do you think is the best way to understand each other? It’s to clash. Skin to skin, fist to fist, sword to Magic.”

“Are you saying…”

Lancel looked around for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Ten representatives from each side, come forward.”

The crowd buzzed at those words.

“Only ten of you who think you can handle those Wizards, those Knights, come forward.”

“Are you saying you want us to spar with each other?”

“It’s the first day, so you should feel each other’s skills a little, right?”

“Ah!”

That word ignited the situation.

Dozens of people from the Knight Department stepped forward at the same time.

“I’ll do it!”

“I’ll do it. You stay back!”

“The person who’s late should step back, what are you saying…!”

“Anyone who thinks they’re good enough, step aside quietly.”

Unlike the Knight Department, who were fighting each other to participate, the Wizard Department was quiet.

“……”

They were looking at each other, waiting for someone to step forward first.

“No one on that side?”

The Wizards avoided eye contact.

The Knight Department’s taunts came immediately.

“Hehe, they’re like a bunch of bookworms. No one’s coming out.”

“It’s not for nothing that people say Wizards can’t perform well in war.”

“I think we’re scaring them, Professor Lancel.”

At that moment, Lancel saw Marygold’s expression change.

“Mary?”

“Really?”

She planted her long staff on the ground and strode forward.

“Mary. I knew you’d come out, you ill-mannered commoner brat.”

A chilling tone.

The voice came from Ubel Mond, the son of the Mond Duke family. A dark smile spread across his face as he glared at Marygold.

“One punch wasn’t enough, was it? I won’t let you off with just bruises this time, so please don’t run away.”

Ubel Mond had a history of grabbing Marygold by the collar and fighting with her. He had been holding onto the humiliation he received from her at the time.

“Hmph.”

Marygold frowned and ignored his gaze. She only briefly showed Lancel a sulky face.

“Hmm.”

Then.

“If no one’s stepping up, should I do it?”

A handsome man from the Wizard Department stepped forward.

“May I, Professor Lancel?”

“Is there any reason why not?”

“Is that so?”

It was a boy with blue bobbed hair and a beauty mark, approaching Mary with a gentle smile.

“But I won’t be responsible if something goes wrong. Controlling Magic is harder than it looks.”

A voice full of confidence.

A sense of tension spread through the Knight Department, which had been so confident.

“Aldehaar lo Lucia.”

It was already a famous name in the Academy.

The only royalty in the Wizard Department, and a genius Wizard with extraordinary talent.

No one here had missed the Lucia Kingdom’s grand Carriage procession when he first arrived.

It was a bloodline so noble that even most Duke families couldn’t match it.

“Please take care of me, Miss Mary.”

Aldehaar smiled at Marygold.

‘Are they acquainted?’

Lancel stroked his chin.

He was a named character who was described as a ‘vassal state Prince’ in the game.

‘I remember he was as difficult to capture as the Prince.’

For such a man to come up and talk to her first.

What on earth have you been doing, Marygold?

“To think that Aldehaar would step forward…!”

“That’s it! With Aldehaar, we can’t possibly lose to those novice Knights.”

“He’s the youngest 4th Circle Wizard on the continent, you ignorant Knights.”

Confidence rose rapidly in the Wizard Department.

“Those bastards…”

The eyes of the Knight Department trainees lit up.

“I can’t help it. Since Aldehaar is stepping up, I should help too.”

“I’ll participate too. I didn’t like the Knights anyway.”

As a few more people followed Aldehaar, the ten spots were quickly filled.

“Is everyone here?”

Lancel, looking at those who had split into two sides, turned his gaze to Professor Laura.

“By the way, it’s not fun without a bet. What do you think, Professor Laura?”

“I agree.”

Professor Laura closed her eyes for a moment, pretending to think.

Just as they had agreed in advance.

“How about the losing side cleans the winning side’s dormitory until the next lecture, Sir Lancel?”

“Cleaning?”

“Yes. If the Knight Department loses, they will clean our students’ dormitory for a week. Very carefully. Without any complaints.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Thanks to you, the servants who were suffering from cleaning will get a vacation.”

“You always think of the people below you, Sir Lancel.”

Cleaning.

A horrified reaction spread.

‘This was a bet?’

‘Clean the dormitory? Those guys’?’

‘There’s no greater disgrace than that!’

‘If we lose, it’ll be a lifelong humiliation!’

Only Laura and Lancel’s laughter broke the silence.

The situation became serious as they realized that the two professors were serious.

“Hey, we can’t lose this.”

“I know. You do well.”

The Knights’ eyes burned.

“We have to win.”

“Aldehaar! Don’t hold back!”

“Mary. Don’t lose this time either.”

“……Okay.”

The Wizards also hardened their resolve.

16.

“Listen up. I won’t forgive you if you lose to those Wizard scrubs. Especially that little runt named Mary, don’t you dare lose to her.”

“Lancel, sir?!”

Marygold’s eyes widened at Lancel’s voice, which was encouraging the Knights. Her face was tearful.

Lancel didn’t acknowledge her reaction. He was on the Knights’ side here.

“Win and make those Wizards clean your sweaty dormitory. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Aura flowed from within the Knight Department.

“Oh, my.”

Laura smiled and turned to the Wizard Department.

“Did you hear that? If you lose, you have to clean those people’s dormitory for a week. You all know how filthy the Knights keep their dormitories, right?”

Fear spread.

“Cleaning the Knights’ dormitory…”

“I’ll get pregnant just by breathing the air… I hate it!”

“Eek!”

The faces of the female Wizards, in particular, turned pale.

Except for one person.

“I won’t lose.”

Marygold was the only exception.

She gripped her long staff tightly and burned her eyes.

“I’m going to win. Lancel, sir!”

Lancel smiled wryly.

Just as I expected, Marygold.