Ch.23Magic Presentation (2)

# “They’re holding a magic seminar?”

Coming out of the Chancellor’s office, on the way to Dellin’s Lake.

Someone leaned against the wall with folded arms and called out to me.

“?”

It was a man with white hair and red eyes. He wore quite an impressive outfit, having modified his uniform into something rather flashy. His intention to show off seemed excessive.

“Even I have to acknowledge your recent achievements. But don’t get too full of yourself.”

He curled the corner of his mouth in an annoying way.

“If your turn had been a little later, I would have been the one breaking down the walls of the Colosseum.”

The man finished saying what he wanted to say and walked away purposefully, as if he had no further business.

But after going a short distance, he turned back and said:

“Ah, I almost forgot to mention this.”

“…?”

“It seems you’ve become the talk of the commoners lately. How the world has changed, that such trash would dare speak a noble’s name so freely. I’ve been clearing out the ones that bother me, but the stench of garbage just won’t go away. Be careful. The actions of such ignorant fools are unpredictable even to geniuses like us.”

The man swept back his hair and lifted his chin. He gave Ruide one arrogant glance before turning away sharply.

This time he seemed to be leaving for good, but he stopped abruptly once more.

This time he spoke without turning around.

“Why am I helping you, you ask? Isn’t it obvious—”

A snickering sound could be heard from where I stood.

“You… are my rival. The only one in this world who has the right to insult you is me alone.”

And then he walked away again, his footsteps echoing.

This time he didn’t stop.

Ruide stared at his retreating figure with the same look one might give nuclear waste.

‘Who the hell was that??’

He could say with certainty that this was the first time he’d ever seen this person.

**

“Ah, that annoying man.”

When Ruide described the peculiar man who had said his piece and disappeared, Hersy’s brow furrowed.

“He told me I still had a long way to go to catch up to him… and said some nonsense about working harder. White hair and red eyes, right? About fairy-sized?”

The wind gathered to create an image of the person.

The body shape matched perfectly. Ruide nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Indeed, it was that annoying man. I can’t stand him. Did he pick a fight with you too?”

“Not so much a fight as…”

Ruide recalled the earlier encounter.

Rather than picking a fight, it felt more like the man had used him to boost his own ego before disappearing.

“So? Who is he?”

“Damon Kairos. The heir to the Kairos Duchy. In short… he’s royalty. Though as royalty goes, he’s completely overshadowed in the hierarchy, so his prestige is lower than the Windsors.”

Now Ruide finally understood who that annoying man was.

The Kairos Duchy.

It was a title created for royal family members who had been pushed out of the line of succession.

For example, when an emperor dies and the crown prince inherits the title, the remaining princes are given the surname ‘Kairos.’

And among them, the most outstanding individual is appointed as heir and leads the Kairos Duchy.

It was a name that was etched in Ruide’s mind as well.

However…

‘…Was Damon always like that?’

How should he put it—the Damon he had seen in the novel seemed more dignified.

In the original work, he wasn’t a frequently appearing character, so there wasn’t anything particularly special about him. Ruide decided not to worry about it.

“By the way, are you preparing well for the magic seminar?”

“No.”

“…Well, I suppose you wouldn’t be concerned with such things.”

Hersy opened and closed her mouth briefly, then turned her face slightly and said in a small voice:

“…I’ve signed up for it, though.”

“Huh?”

It was too quiet to hear clearly.

“I said I’ve decided to attend your lecture too.”

Hersy’s face turned red with embarrassment.

She knew Ruide was impressive, but it was still embarrassing to attend a lecture given by a fellow student.

“Hersy, you don’t really need to attend.”

Ruide looked at Hersy as he spoke.

“W-what? Are you saying I shouldn’t attend?”

Hersy sounded slightly offended.

Ruide shook his head.

“I’m saying you don’t need to. You can just ask me directly.”

“…What?”

“About magic.”

“Really?”

Hersy’s eyes widened.

Ruide nodded as if wondering what the problem was.

“But… that would be rude. Asking a magician about magic.”

Ruide understood what Hersy meant, but the phrasing sounded odd. Who else would you ask about magic if not a magician?

“I don’t think it’s rude. Feel free to ask if you’re curious. Just make sure I’m awake.”

However, he doubted whether his methods would be helpful to Hersy. Honestly, most magic for him just ‘happened.’

“Well, I wouldn’t disturb your nap even if I did ask…”

“Yes. Then it’s fine.”

“…Are you serious? No taking it back later saying it was a joke.”

“I said it’s fine.”

Hersy smiled brightly.

“Then I won’t hesitate to ask.”

Hersy immediately took out a pen and notebook as if she had been prepared.

“Now…?”

“…Is that not okay?”

“It’s not that it’s not okay, but…”

He hadn’t expected her to ask right away.

Ruide slowly nodded.

“Alright. Ask away.”

“Then, what I’ve been most curious about…”

Hersy began asking questions. Ruide answered without much hesitation.

It was quite surprising even to Ruide himself. When he heard the questions, the answers just came to him naturally.

After talking for about an hour…

An unexpected problem arose.

“Then next…”

“…More?”

Hersy looked dejected.

“I’m sorry. Did I ask too many questions?”

“Ah, no. Go ahead.”

‘I shouldn’t have offered to teach her…’

…Hersy’s academic enthusiasm was incredible.

**

“Did you see? The Tower Master is here.”

“Hehe… I even got an autograph.”

“Ah-! That’s not fair, Felton!”

“If you’re jealous, go get one yourself. He’s still over there.”

Hersy walked down the corridor with an expressionless face.

The academy had a somewhat excited atmosphere today.

It was because major figures from the Magic Society had arrived. Usually, after graduating from the academy, people would join either the society or a university, so making a good impression was very important.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Hersy, who would inherit her family’s position.

‘Come to think of it, what will Ruide do after graduation?’

As Hersy was wondering if he would join a magic tower, she quickly shook her head.

‘…That’s unlikely.’

Ruide had said he wasn’t interested in the position of family head. But the Windsor situation was different from ordinary families.

While those who didn’t inherit titles were usually expelled from their families to eliminate potential threats, the Windsors allowed them to stay and contribute in other ways.

So Ruide would probably use his talents for the Windsor family rather than joining a troublesome place like the Magic Society.

“Oh, it’s been a while.”

Just then, Sophia greeted Hersy.

Nod.

Hersy merely nodded slightly and walked past without saying anything.

As if she didn’t know her at all.

Sophia’s expression darkened.

‘You can’t gain something without losing anything, Sophia.’

Hersy recalled how Sophia had maintained neutrality during the conflict with the commoners.

They weren’t particularly close, but they had interacted frequently since childhood.

Despite this, Sophia was now receiving the same treatment as the commoners who had played her for a few weeks.

Hersy was thoroughly disgusted by Sophia’s attitude of trying not to be disliked by anyone.

That wasn’t noble-like behavior.

Hersy sat down and took out her writing materials and notebook. After arranging them neatly, she placed her hands on her knees and straightened her back.

The lecture was still 30 minutes away from starting. She had come early to get a good seat.

-‘Isn’t Ruide amazing? To be recognized by the society at such a young age. Sigh, what was I doing at that age?’

-‘I’m more envious of his family… What would it be like to live as the youngest of the Windsor family? I heard even the intimidating Amelia is like a gentle lamb in front of Ruide.’

She could hear other students who had arrived early whispering. Hersy couldn’t help but feel proud.

‘I get to be with Ruide every day.’

Just being constantly with someone others admired was a source of pride.

Hersy smiled subtly and secretly activated her wind magic to hear more clearly.

“What are you going to do later? We have a free period today.”

“Really? Why?”

“You didn’t know? If you attend the magic seminar, you get the rest of the day off. To review what you’ve learned.”

“Wow, amazing-! I didn’t know. Want to go get dessert?”

“Sure-“

“I’m glad I came! I just came to see if the fairy of Dellin’s Lake is as cute as the rumors say.”

Hersy deactivated her wind magic with a gloomy face.

‘How rude. Talking like that when they came to attend a lecture.’

Hersy thought as she tapped the floor.

Come to think of it, she was the only person alone in this lecture hall.

Well, since attendance was taken at Dellin’s Lake, she hadn’t had many opportunities to socialize. And even when she did, she had rejected them all.

She didn’t regret it because she had gained precious connections with Ruide and Amelia as a result—

But at times like this, when she was alone, she sometimes felt lonely.

“Silence, commoners. I have graced you with my presence, what are you doing?”

Suddenly, the lecture hall grew cold at the voice of a man who had appeared.

All the students’ gazes turned to one place.

It was Damon Kairos. He shouted:

“Why aren’t you showing your respect!”

With disgusted expressions, the students stood up one by one and bowed.

“It is an honor to see the red lineage of Kairos that illuminates the Empire.”

Damon waved his hand. Everyone sat down.

Of course, Hersy didn’t participate. The position of Minerva’s heir carried heavy responsibilities.

Damon seemed annoyed by this and approached Hersy.

“Oh, what an insolent girl. You don’t even acknowledge me.”

“Even if the actual Crown Prince were to visit, such formalities aren’t observed in the academy.”

Hersy pointed out accurately. Damon smirked and sat down next to her, crossing his legs.

Hersy frowned and glanced at Damon.

“Why are you sitting here?”

“Everywhere I look, I see only worthless people. This is the only place suitable for me to sit.”

“…Can’t you see your fiancée sitting alone over there?”

“Ah, come to think of it, I do have a fiancée. She’s such a boring woman that I can’t even remember her name.”

‘The worst man.’

Hersy was thoroughly displeased.

It would have been unpleasant even if his fiancée was a stranger, but it was someone she knew—Sophia.

No matter how much she had prepared to distance herself from Sophia, treating a fiancée like that was unacceptable.

“Please consider my reputation too? When a man with a fiancée sits next to me, it could cause misunderstandings.”

Damon raised an eyebrow as if he hadn’t thought of that.

But soon he smirked and said:

“Rest assured, girl. I have no intention of stealing my rival’s woman.”

“…Rival?”

“Hm? Aren’t you? Don’t you always stick close to Ruide?”

“—!”

Hersy’s face turned red.

‘…Maybe he’s not the worst man after all.’

Her evaluation of Damon changed dramatically.

**

Ruide opened the door to the lecture hall right on time.

…Actually, he had almost been late again, but Amelia had woken him up.

-‘So that’s the rumored…’

-‘My, he really is young. With such skills already, his future is very bright.’

He could hear whispers.

Looking around, countless people were staring at him.

‘Why are there so many?’

Ruide felt a bit pressured.

It wasn’t just people.

Five or six crystal orbs were pointed at him to record the session.

Even the Academy Chancellor, Clifford, was sitting in the front row.

‘Maybe I should have prepared something.’

Ruide thought carefully.

Had he ever done a presentation in his previous life?

He recalled volunteering to do presentations for group projects a few times because he found research too bothersome.

What was the result again…?

It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly good either.

‘Can I do well?’

He sensed various things in people’s gazes.

Doubt, expectation, disbelief.

All of it was pressure.

Ruide had never stood before so many people, nor had he ever been the recipient of someone’s expectations.

He had been nothing but unemployed in his previous life.

But.

‘For some reason, I feel like I can do well.’

That’s the feeling he had.

Ruide slowly opened his mouth.

“I will now begin the magic seminar.”

Click.

The transparent light of the recording crystal orbs spread.