Chapter 19 – It’s the Magic You Chose (7)

Carl followed the librarian to a small room designated for book borrowing.

Erzebet, mentally linked with Phi, steeled herself for the truth they were about to uncover.

The original, most comprehensive historical account of the Great War. Within its pages, they hoped to find records about Louis.

Thud!

Finally, a book emerged from within the wall.

The thick, weathered tome was densely packed with handwritten accounts of the Great War, penned by royal scribes.

As Carl leafed through it, he frowned and said, “Your Highness, this book is in terrible condition.”

“Phi—.”

Indeed, the original book looked as though it had been savagely defaced.

Black lines were slashed across pages, and entire sections were torn out.

But Erzebet refused to give up.

Among the pages, she found records from 15 years ago, when she was six years old.

[King Baor III hospitalized for a month in the Temple of Light due to a cervical fracture.]

Found it.

A twinge of embarrassment lingered as the headmaster’s words were confirmed.

Regardless of the circumstances, the engagement between Louis and herself was indeed fact.

However, the real problem arose next.

No matter how much she pored over the massive tome, there was no mention of Louis.

The pages were filled with smudged ink and deliberately obscured text.

[Defeat at the Battle of Sekalbaran. The ◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎ barony was completely destroyed. No survivors. A gap in the front line due to the evacuation efforts of the Holy Knight Order.]

[The plague that ravaged the capital was revealed to be the work of witches. During the investigation, Royal Guard Levue ◼︎◼︎ was killed. Posthumously awarded ◼︎◼︎.]

[Necromancers of Baragal appeared near Adenbury territory. Contact with the ◼︎◼︎◼︎’s castle lost.]

[White Knight Wiblet arrived at the royal castle with the shaman of ◼︎◼︎.]

[Duke ◼︎◼︎ Sayah Lampling went missing after the battle with Kwangak. Restoration of the communication crystal at Phekda Tower expected to take three days.]

.

.

.

Numerous records of battles, demon attacks, meritorious deeds, and casualty lists followed.

As Erzebet read through the bloody history, she finally reached the last page.

After the Great War, Margrave Wiblet was awarded the Grand Croix 1st Class, and the Holy Kingdom officially announced the death of Eris Prashura.

When the kingdom denied this, a minor war erupted, and after failing to find the remains, both sides declared a truce following several agreements.

There was no mention of Louis anywhere.

Had their efforts been in vain?

Just as Erzebet sighed and was about to close the book, a tattered piece of paper fell out.

— Oh?

She was startled by what she saw on the paper.

She had seen the geometric drawing tucked at the end of the records before.

[Farencia Academy Time-Space Design]

It made sense that important royal policies would have been designed years in advance.

But there was one difference from the drawing she had seen before—

[Designer: Terra Ernisten]

The name was scrawled roughly at the bottom of the design.

***

Adela dreamed.

She was having a meal with her family at the Lord’s Castle in Rochear.

A memory from her childhood.

Her parents had perished during the Great War, and her older sister, Esther, had inherited the unique magic of Rochear.

A family honored with the Order of Merit, praised throughout the kingdom.

But that didn’t equate to happiness.

Clink, clank.

The sound of cutlery moving was all that filled the silent space.

Adela watched her younger self babble happily in front of her family with a beautiful smile.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The other three only stared blankly at her, without uttering a word.

Their expressions remained unchanged.

***

“Hah!”

Instead of the frigid winds of the North Sea, she was greeted by the cool spring night air, and she awoke from her dream.

Adela quickly looked around as soon as she opened her eyes. Her blue hair was in disarray.

She wasn’t in the dormitory but in the academy’s infirmary.

White curtains surrounded the bed like a veil.

Oh, right, she had fainted after using magic.

Louis had come running.

“Ugh…!”

As her memories returned, so did the pain.

Her chest throbbed. It was probably bruised.

She was lying in bed wearing only a nightgown.

As Adela was about to unbutton her nightgown to check her injury, she was startled by a rustling sound from beside the bed.

“Te-Teacher…?”

Louis was dozing off in a chair next to the bed.

Moonlight from the window illuminated his black hair.

If he were awake, he would have seen everything.

Feeling embarrassed, she buttoned up her nightgown again.

And she stole glances at Louis’s sleeping face.

He sat with one hand supporting his forehead and his legs crossed, looking like an old soldier who had fought in countless wars and fallen into a deep slumber.

His broad shoulders and the small scars on his arms added to his sharp impression.

He seemed more suited to a sword than a staff.

Now that she thought about it, Adela had never seen Louis use a magical focus.

If he could cast such incredible magic with just a makeshift wand, his true power must be immense.

With such skills, he should have received a fiefdom, yet he was content with a small store.

If the teacher had a title…

Adela hadn’t forgotten why she came to the academy.

She needed to marry a noble with at least a count’s title.

Regardless of the outcome of the tournament, numerous salons would soon open, and she planned to debut in society through one of them.

Gulp.

Adela swallowed hard.

She didn’t know who her dance partner would be, but it likely wouldn’t be Louis.

So she wanted to hold his hand just once.

The gentle moonlight cast the shadow of her extended fingers onto his body.

Adela slowly approached the sleeping Louis.

Now she understood the source of the ache in her chest.

As her trembling hand touched him, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, just like during their first kiss.

And then—

<Unique Magic: Magic End ⌜Magic End⌟>

Snap!

“Eek?”

Her mana vanished completely.

At the same time, Louis, who had awakened, grabbed her by the hair.

***

“Ow! It hurts!”

What’s this? Reflexively opening my eyes, I quickly scanned the surroundings.

Night. Infirmary. And Adela.

Farencia Academy.

“Let go! You’re pulling my hair out!”

Ah, right.

Old habits of light sleeping must have persisted.

The battlefield, where I had to always be ready for a sneak attack, was suitable for a grave but not for a bed.

Especially considering Antiope of the Four Great Evils, closest to the Demon King. She could assassinate without being detected by any magic or breaking any defensive spell.

Ever since our first encounter, my comrades had been severely wounded over the years.

That’s why I created <Magic End> to counter Antiope’s attacks.

I can’t forget those dreadful memories, so I still keep it active.

Fearing that she, whom I burned to ashes in a bonfire, might still be alive somewhere on this continent.

Crack!!

“Oh.”

While lost in thought, I heard an unpleasant sound from Adela’s hair.

I then noticed her head was bent back to the limit and quickly released my grip.

“You okay?”

“It hurts… It feels like my hair is on fire…”

But why was she so close to me?

I decided to brush it off for now.

“It’s to make you smarter.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. Want to do it again?”

Adela, with tears in her eyes, hesitated for a moment before slightly pushing her head toward my hand.

Seeing her tightly closed eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright, I’m leaving now. Rest well and attend your classes tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Feeling guilty for teasing her further, I stood up.

Having confirmed Adela was safe, there was no reason to spend the night in this uncomfortable chair.

“C-could you stay a bit longer?”

But Adela’s pale hand grabbed me.

A mage would instinctively feel very uneasy without any residual mana in their body, yet she held on.

“Why?”

“Just… There’s no one else here, so just until I fall asleep.”

Can’t she sleep alone?

She’s not a child but a grown woman.

I prefer to sleep in my own bed.

“No.”

“Ugh! My heart, suddenly my heart hurts…”

“……”

She seems to remember…

With no other choice, I sat back in the chair.

If I left now, Adela, unable to sleep, might go tattle to the guards out of boredom.

On the white bed illuminated by the faint moonlight, she asked me a few questions until she fell asleep.

“Teacher, do you have a title?”

“No.”

“Then, do you plan to go to the North Sea to punish the demons and receive one?”

“Can’t get one anyway.”

If they were going to give me a title, they would have done it when I took the Demon King’s head.

Speaking of which, that head is still on the third floor. I need to go back as soon as she falls asleep.

“Teacher.”

As I contemplated using physical sleep aids, Adela asked another question.

“Have you taught magic to anyone else besides me?”

She had asked this before.

She seemed ready to keep asking until I answered, so I pondered briefly.

Had I ever transferred karma to anyone the same way as with Adela? Strictly speaking… no.

Even if wireless charging was advanced, wired charging was still the norm on Earth.

Eris also said that it was okay for a hero to handle three. Excluding Wiblet, of course.

“No.”

After much deliberation, that was my answer. There was no reply.

When I turned to look, Adela was already asleep with the blanket pulled up to her head.

Finally free.

Just as I was about to return to the store, a light piece of paper fell from my pocket.

The Lit-Vice test sheet I had planned to discard before the match.

“……”

I found myself a little curious about the past of this dimwitted bread thief.

Did she hit her head in a monster tournament when she was young?

It was very impolite to peek into someone else’s memory, but with only one sheet, seeing a small fragment wouldn’t hurt.

“What the hell.”

But the cold dining table that appeared in my mind showed something completely unexpected.

“……”

In the end, I changed my mind and stayed by the bed until morning.

Muttering to myself how I shouldn’t have looked.