Era, I don’t know (7)

“You’ve come.”

The place where Father called me was not his study, but his workshop. It may be a redundant statement, but for a magician, a workshop is not just a simple workroom, but a crucial place that combines various elements such as a research lab, library, and experimental lab. That’s why it’s said that you should never let others in… I guess it’s an exception for blood relatives.

You’re asking how a magician like me doesn’t know this? Well, this kind of common knowledge wasn’t written in books!

“The reason I called you here is to make a proposal…”

Why is he suddenly hesitating in his speech? He’s not going to say something scary, is he?

“Ariel. It’s a bit awkward to say this, but… if you’re okay with it…”

His hesitant appearance is truly pitiful. But if I express that honest feeling out loud, won’t he be hurt?

It’s a bit awkward to say this, but the sight of fathers receiving criticism from their daughters is always, very lonely. Even if this is another world and not the modern era, that rule probably won’t change. So here, it’s right to keep my mouth shut and wait quietly.

“Would you like to learn magic from this father of yours?”

“What?”

Oh? What’s this unexpected fortune? Is he saying he’ll teach me magic here?

Although he’s looking particularly shabby in front of me right now, who is my father? He’s none other than Heinrich Walpurgis, called the Empire’s greatest magician. If such a person were to say he’d take on an apprentice, magicians would flood this mansion and still have some left over.

It’s something I was thinking of asking anyway. Although I’m somehow learning magic right now, I’m self-studying by looking at books and tracing Ariel’s past memories, so the absence of a mentor to guide me was keenly felt.

But I couldn’t be brazen enough to ask that of a father who had just started talking to me. If someone were to ask what’s so difficult about a child asking their parent to teach them, I’d have no response, but is our relationship anywhere close to a normal parent-child relationship?

Of course, I had thought about it several times. Since I’m learning swordsmanship from Brother, wouldn’t it be good to learn magic from Father? But usually, the most ideal things are the hardest to achieve. So I was wondering what to do, if I should just be satisfied with what I have… And then he suddenly makes this proposal?

For me, it’s a resounding yes. I have no choice but to accept it gratefully.

“What do you think?”

“Really?! For real?”

I’m not stupid enough to refuse when it’s being offered so openly. When an opportunity comes, you must seize it!

“Of course I’d love to! When do we start? Is it today? Tomorrow?”

“Ah, no… Calm down for now.”

As I approached with big strides, unable to contain my surging emotions and throwing questions, Father visibly flustered and stepped back. Ah, oops. I raised my tension too much. I can see how perplexed Father is. Let’s calm down here and listen carefully to what he has to say.

“You’re learning swordsmanship from Theodore, but you don’t have a specific teacher for magic, do you? That’s why I asked…”

“Actually, I wanted to ask you about this. If I were to learn magic, I really wanted to learn from you, Father.”

“I, I see.”

Somehow, he seems flustered yet pleased. Hmm, I just spoke honestly. But from Father’s perspective, is that reaction appropriate? I’m not sure.

“But what’s unfortunate is that you’ll be going to the Academy soon.”

“Ah.”

Ah, right. I have to go to the Academy. Come to think of it, I realize that the period I can learn from Father isn’t very long. Of course, I’ll learn magic at the Academy too. After all, I plan to take the entrance exam in that field.

But no matter what, it’s clear that it won’t be as good as receiving one-on-one tutoring from the Empire’s greatest magician, so it’s inevitably a bit disappointing. I can’t not go to the Academy either.

But if I don’t go to the Academy, the original story will be completely ruined! It might even lead to a world-ending ending! But it’s also very regrettable to completely miss the opportunity to learn magic from Father.

“So I’ll try to teach you as much as possible until then.”

“Huh? Is that okay with you?”

Of course, it’s okay with me, but is it okay for Father? There are only a few months left until I go to the Academy. There’s not much that can be taught in that period, and Father will have to provide intensive education.

I don’t mind. Frankly speaking, I’m in a state no different from being unemployed, and it’s fine if I split the time I usually spend studying magic or adjust my schedule a bit if necessary. But Father is clearly a working person who commutes to the Imperial Palace. It’s an eternal truth that it’s harder for working people to find time than for students. I can’t help but worry.

“That much is fine. I’ve been working intensively lately, so I have more free time than I thought. I don’t even remember using any vacation days.”

Hmm, I’m still worried though… I wonder if I’m not taking away Father’s precious leisure time.

Wait a minute, he said he’s been working intensively lately? Does that mean he’s been deliberately pulling in work that could have been done later? Just to avoid me? A feeling of surprise rose anew, but I managed to maintain a blank expression.

Father must be speaking with tremendous courage right now, despite how he looks. If I show such a reaction here, he might be deeply hurt. So the right answer here is to stay still.

‘Hmm, I really am good at reading the room.’

Feeling proud of myself, I nodded. I really am good at reading the room. But why do people give me such strange looks?

“Then I’ll be going now. Have a good night.”

“…Alright.”

Ariel bowed her head and quietly closed the door as she left. Left alone in the workshop, Heinrich smiled bitterly, recalling the conversation they just had.

‘How amusing. Over such an easy thing…’

The conversation with his daughter wasn’t as difficult as he had thought or worried about. At first, he stumbled over his words a bit, and awkwardness was evident in his speech to an extent he couldn’t hide, but that was only for a moment.

The conversation that started with asking if she would like to learn magic progressed very naturally, even in Heinrich’s own opinion. When Ariel said she had wanted to learn from him anyway, he was momentarily shaken, unable to hide his joy, but as they planned for the future, Heinrich found himself able to speak comfortably.

Ariel had changed, as he had heard and seen from afar. Her once desperate eyes now sparkled with intelligence, and her aura had noticeably softened.

Of course, whether as a consequence of that or not, she seemed to have developed a somewhat eccentric way of thinking… but he felt that wasn’t necessarily bad in its own way. Of course, considering the dignity of a duke’s daughter, it might seem a bit inappropriate, but on second thought, it didn’t seem like something to find fault with.

Ariel had completely changed compared to before. The feeling was different even when compared to the time before she became twisted, when she was kind and pure, as if she had become a different person. But what did it matter? From the perspective of one who dared to call himself a parent, he only wished that she would grow up bright and healthy in her own way.

He felt both pride and sadness at hearing that she had been studying and training in swordsmanship and magic on her own. If only he had noticed earlier, if only he had approached her first, it would have been so much better.

The conversation with his daughter, which he had feared so much, was more enjoyable than he had imagined, and not difficult at all. Of course, at first, he couldn’t speak properly due to the guilt threatening to overflow from within, but after that, the conversation flowed naturally. There was none of the uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere he had feared.

‘Over such an easy thing…’

That’s why he felt even more sorry and grateful to Ariel. It’s easy to hate someone, but forgiving is difficult. Even if it’s blood-related family, or rather, especially because it’s family, there are things that can’t be forgiven. The matter between Heinrich and Ariel certainly falls into that category.

But they can’t stay like this forever. Let’s teach Ariel magic. That’s what he had decided. It’s not something to boast about, but it was the most sincere effort that the current Heinrich could offer.

Ariel’s talent, which he had assessed through today’s questions and simple tests, was quite outstanding, befitting the name Walpurgis. Even if he didn’t step in, she would be able to find her own path of magic and make a name for herself.

But if he steps in to help, she can go even higher. Even if Ariel were a once-in-a-century genius, the presence of a mentor is still necessary. And as family, Heinrich and Ariel likely have similar magic patterns and qualities of usable magic. There couldn’t be a better match for a master-disciple relationship.

“There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Thinking about what needs to be done from now on, there’s no time to be standing around like this. Heinrich began to plan for the future as he left the workshop.