episode_0027
by fnovelpia
The day the exchange meeting was held.
I left for the capital early in the morning.
“Hey! You’re here, my junior!”
“You seem to be full of energy today, senior.”
Despite the dark circles running down her cheeks, Ranian exuded a lively energy.
“Of course! What day is it today? Isn’t it a day when I can see the bright prospects in person? Hehehe… .”
Lanian laughed uneasily, drooling.
“Your senior’s younger sibling said he would attend too.”
“Yeah! So you’re saying that I can legally go too!”
Lanian put his hands on his waist and looked smug.
“If it’s being held in Bertain, Princess Elin will be attending too, right?”
“That’s how it happened.”
“Can I expect it? You said you’d curse me too.”
“Of course.”
“I hope you weren’t disappointed. You might feel a little intimidated when you’re among the promising players.”
“Shrinkage?”
Sigh, a hollow laugh escaped me.
“I’m worried that others will become discouraged.”
“Oh? Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
I had no intention of being humbled by Elin’s skills.
“My little brother is no joke either~”
But, added Ranian,
“Where is Sister Dianne? She said she was with me?”
The reason I met Lanian in advance was not because of the exchange meeting, but because of Dien.
“Here it is.”
Exactly.
When you snap your fingers, the inside of the subspace is revealed.
“Cool… .”
“Sister?”
Lanian was shocked to see Dien sleeping inside.
“Is this a place where people can enter?”
“I didn’t really want to know either.”
Dien explained in detail how things came to be like this.
“Because you want to sleep in a quiet place…? That’s a very sister-like reason.”
Lanian poked Dien’s cheek.
“Ugh… ?”
Dien, who had taken off her blindfold and was rubbing her eyes, suddenly stopped.
“Hey, you’re awake. I brought the ingredients you told me about.”
“Ah, so you finally came… … .”
Dien started crying as soon as he discovered Lanian.
“Why are you reacting like that when you see my face?”
“I’m starting to feel depressed at the thought of having to go back to the cabin.”
“Yeah… .”
Dien nodded as if Luke’s explanation was correct.
“Now get out quickly.”
“Hing… .”
In the cursed room, Dien was removed from the inventory.
“Take this first.”
“What is this?”
“The material my sister asked me to get for her.”
In Lanian’s hand was a single flower blooming with cold air.
“Oh, thank you!”
Dien accepted the flowers with a bright smile as if she had never been sad before.
“What is that?”
“A flower that doesn’t melt. Also called ice plant.”
“What did you ask me to do with it?”
“I keep waking up hot when I sleep these days, so I’m going to make a potion to cool down my body.”
So, you’re saying that you’re creating an air conditioning potion that works inside the body?
“Can’t you just sleep without covering your hair?”
“That won’t do!”
The sharply angled eyebrows expressed determination.
I don’t know why, but I just thought it would be like that.
Even if I hear it, I don’t think I’ll understand it anyway.
“Then let’s go back now.”
“Can I just say that my sister and I went together?”
“Yes.”
This was the reason I met Lanian in advance.
Dien Church is difficult.
We’re running a little short on time to get you to the cabin before the meetup starts.
So I decided to make it clear that I was coming to the exchange meeting with Ranian.
This can be seen as the so-called Academy Guanshi.
“I will open the portal.”
The three of them boarded the portal leading to Bertain.
* * * * *
Shu-
The first thing I saw when the portal closed was…
“I guess they’ve all arrived already.”
There were carriages lined up in front of the mansion.
A carriage with an ornate seal.
A carriage decorated with elaborate ornaments.
A simple wooden carriage.
You could tell from their appearance alone that the guests had come from various places.
“Oh my, the last guest has arrived.”
I almost swore at the fake voice I heard behind me.
“Are you from the Rochefort family here to observe?”
It was because Natia, who had come out to the front gate of the mansion, was showing a fake smile.
“The pillar in charge of the center. Meet the Duchess of Bertain. My name is Lanian Rochefort.”
The quick-witted Ranian bowed his head.
“This is Dien Pirandello.”
Dien also quickly adopted the aristocratic etiquette.
That’s because you only show your insignificant side all the time.
At times like this, Diendo is indeed a nobleman.
“This is Natia Bertain. We have some special guests visiting.”
Natia, wearing a mask, greeted him just like when she first met Luke.
“Teacher.”
Elin, who had been standing next to him with an uncomfortable expression, came running over.
“Why are you so late?”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it because Senior Dien was being so stubborn.”
“Ah?”
“… I hate you, Unnie.”
“What… !”
Dien, who was suddenly hit by an arrow that had returned, trembled.
Natia saw that and smiled awkwardly as she walked forward.
“Welcome to the Magic Exchange, the future of the Empire.”
* * * * *
I came into the mansion.
“This is a two-day exchange, so please make yourself comfortable. You will be guided to your accommodations later by the servants, and meals… … .”
Did they treat you like a VIP?
Natia was personally guiding Lanian and Dien.
“Uh… .”
Dien, who had been fidgeting since earlier, opened his mouth.
“But can I stay here too? I’m an alchemist… .”
“Of course. Is there a law that only wizards can participate in the wizard exchange meeting?”
Although Dien appeared quite unexpectedly, Natia didn’t show any sign of disliking it.
“If you are with Lanian, you are most welcome.”
That’s probably because he’s accompanied by Lanian, a super genius magician who graduated from the academy early.
When I see things like this, I can tell that I have really good connections.
“I’ve heard a lot about Felice Rochefort. He’s said to be a genius in fire magic?”
“Ahaha, I don’t know if I can include other magic here since it’s so bland.”
“Oh my? At that age, it’s already rumored that you’ve mastered the 5th circle. Isn’t it bad to be too humble?”
“Haha… Is that so?”
A conversation took place between Natia and Lanian.
On the surface, they seemed friendly.
Luke, who knew Lanian’s true personality and speech, found it extremely uncomfortable.
Lanian, who had been rolling his eyes, pointed to Elin, who was clinging tightly to Luke.
“Princess Elin is also a great genius, right?”
“Yes?”
“Oh, isn’t that right? Luke was bragging a lot.”
“Uh, um. Well… ? I think it’s a bit too much to call him a genius. I guess you don’t think so, teacher.”
Natia glared at Luke.
It was a look in her eyes that would have said something even if Lanian and Dien weren’t next to her.
“By the way, do you happen to know our tutor?”
“He’s my close junior.”
“Ah! As expected, those with outstanding skills are suited to the position!”
The poisonous gaze turned friendly at the mention of being close to Lanian.
How can people be so cunning?
Meanwhile, the hypocritical conversation continues.
Knock, knock.
“Hello? Luke Bucklin…is that you?”
Someone was walking this way.
“Yes, I’m Luke Bucklin.”
Red hair that looks like it’s soaked in blood.
Slightly torn, upturned eyes.
A girl who looks like the epitome of a villainess.
Although it was my first time seeing your face, I recognized you right away.
“Are you Fabiana Raceton?”
“!”
Fabiana’s shoulders rose in surprise.
“You know me?”
Because you look exactly like Natia.
He didn’t say anything rude like that.
“… Who is that person?”
Ellen asked, poking Luke in the ribs.
He bent down and whispered in my ear.
“I don’t know either.”
“… … ?”
I just pretended to know.
At best, all I knew was where he came from.
Fabiana Raceton.
One of the three great magic families of the empire.
A promising young man from the Raceton family, the family that Natia belonged to before her marriage.
I think he is probably Natia’s niece.
“Haha, thank you. I also learned a lot about you, senior.”
“Yes? Senior?”
Fabiana put one hand on her chest.
It was a clumsy manner, as if a child was trying to imitate an adult.
“Yes. I’m a freshman who just entered the academy. I’ve heard a lot about senior Luke, who graduated this year.”
“It’s already that time.”
After graduating, I was so focused on Elin that I completely forgot about the academy’s schedule.
“But what do you mean you’ve heard a lot from me?”
“Huh? Don’t you know?”
Fabiana blinked.
When I tilt my head as if I really don’t know, my eyes grow wide as if they’re going to burst.
Then he cleared his throat loudly.
“The worst genius ever who even insults the academy’s principal.”
“Why am I feeling uneasy from the first sentence?”
“A peerless genius who created his own magic since he was a freshman.”
“I made a unique magic sword… .”
“You’re a genius among geniuses, even when it comes to handling the most difficult of spatial magics, right?”
“I don’t know how many times the adjective genius has been used.”
It’s a little awkward for a junior from the academy to be wearing gold jewelry like this.
“Am I that famous?”
“Of course! Even now, the professors of the magic department and the magic tower are begging and searching for you, right?”
“I’m not begging. I get letters every day.”
I’m obsessed with some old men who are suspiciously fond of magic.
“Is this the princess you are teaching?”
Fabiana turned her head to Elin, who was quietly standing next to her.
“… Yes. That’s right. It’s Elin Bertain.”
“Oh my, you’re so cute. You’re a lot smaller than I thought.”
Kkukkuk.
The hand holding the collar of his shirt tightened as if it had been scratched by the word small.
“It’s small, right?”
When I bend down again and whisper, Elin glares at me with a stinging look.
Luke raised his head, pretending nothing had happened.
“Fabiana? Come this way.”
“Yes, Aunt!”
Just before Elin’s stupid hairs were about to snap sharply.
Natia called Fabiana.
“I’ll be waiting for you, Princess? You’ll show me skills beyond my imagination, right? Hohoho.”
With those words, Fabiana walked towards Natia, nodding.
I think he just wants to look classy.
Both his speech and his posture seemed sloppy.
“… He always says senior at the end of every sentence.”
Elin’s hair fluttered as she looked at Fabiana, who had grown distant.
I don’t know why, but it meant that I felt extremely upset.
“You’re not my senior. We don’t even go to the academy together.”
According to Dien’s theory that once a senior, always a senior, it is right to call him a senior.
“Strictly speaking, yes.”
It was a theory Luke disagreed with.
“They still have a lot to say, I guess.”
I glanced to the side and saw Natia and Lanian still talking while wearing their masks.
And then I saw Dien about to collapse with all his energy sucked out.
“… … !”
Dien, whose eyes met mine, sent a signal with his gaze.
Please save me from here.
Roughly speaking, that’s what it meant.
Luke turned his head slightly.
“Shall we take a break for a moment?”
“Yeah.”
I sensed a look of despair next to me, but I ignored it and moved on.
Diendo also needs to become a little more sociable.
So I was planning to go back to my room and rest before the meeting started.
Knock knock.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I looked back.
Ash-colored hair that reaches down to the chest.
Amber colored eyes in round eyes.
Skin so white that it looks pale.
Overall, she was a calm-looking girl.
“Who… .”
Luke, who was about to ask who it was, closed his mouth.
It’s because I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere.
To be exact, in the memories of ‘Luke Bucklin’ before the Ice Age.
Trying to recall memories that aren’t mine.
Like fallen leaves fluttering in the wind.
The girl waved her hand gently.
“Long time no see, oppa.”
“…?!”
Because a title that seemed too familiar and didn’t match the girl’s appearance popped out.
Ellen’s hair stood on end.
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