episode_0032

Sending Nia away.

It took some time to get down to the garden.

“It took you a particularly long time today.”

It took Elin longer than usual to come out of the shower.

I was worried that it might be because of trauma.

“… … Yeah.”

There doesn’t seem to be any particular problem, except that the expression looks a bit mysterious.

dump.

Ellen sat with her back to Luke.

It meant to dry my hair.

It seems like only yesterday that I would have a seizure just from being touched.

It was a truly moving development.

I dried his hair with a grateful heart.

“Teacher.”

Ellen fell backwards and lay down.

The soft, freshly dried hair tickled Luke’s neck.

“Why are you calling?”

“Were you close with Nia Youngae when you were young?”

“… … ”

I couldn’t answer right away.

But it was true for Luke Bucklin before the Ice Age.

Because that doesn’t apply to Luke, Ellen’s tutor.

“That’s right.”

But for now, I answered like that.

Because I can’t reveal that I’m a possessed person.

“Yeah. I guess so. I wish we could have taken a bath together… .”

Ellen slowly pressed her back against mine.

It means that I was completely in Luke’s arms.

“You seem to have been paying attention to that for a while now, but it’s something Nia said when she was 3.”

“… … Huh?”

“I guess I should say that I washed her rather than we bathed together.”

Knock knock knock.

Elin’s large eyes blinked as she tilted her head to look at Luke.

“Was it like that?”

“That’s right. Do you think it was like that right before entering the academy? To be honest, we’re on an awkward level now. It’s been so long since we last met.”

“That’s what it was?”

The sagging hair suddenly came to life.

“Let’s go down quickly. I’ll wait for the others.”

Elin jumped up and walked towards the door.

I don’t know why I suddenly feel better, but I’m glad.

I was shocked when the trauma exploded in the morning.

“Please wait a moment. I will just comb it.”

I let out a sigh of relief inside.

I combed her hair neatly and went down to the garden with her.

* * * * *

“Everyone is here.”

In the garden, all the people I saw yesterday were gathered.

Just one person.

Except Natia.

“The Duchess was unable to attend due to an unexpected matter. So, unfortunately, I will be hosting the second day.”

The promising prospects who had been watching each other all let out a sigh at the same time.

After what happened yesterday and the fight, it’s understandable that I feel suffocated.

Especially since they are children of Elin’s age.

“Is it bad that I am the one doing it?”

“No way! It’s too good!”

“I, I like it too… .”

The suppressed Felice begins to emit solar energy again.

Bena, who had shrunk so much that she couldn’t be seen, showed a faint presence.

“Are you evaluating magic today like yesterday?”

Nia was properly clothed in the dignity that came with thorough education.

As if nothing happened in the morning.

“That’s right. I haven’t seen other people’s magic yet. Before that.”

A promising prospect who felt an overwhelming difference in level from Elin yesterday.

He turned his head to Fabiana.

“… … ”

Fabiana, who bowed her head like a withered vegetable, without even showing any manners, just like yesterday.

It seems like the shock from yesterday hasn’t gone away yet.

“Fabiana.”

“… … Yes?”

He raises his head with a cracked voice.

Oh my.

Looking at her swollen eyes, I picture her crying last night.

Well, how heartbreaking it must have been.

If you listen to it, it doesn’t really seem like they’re badmouthing Luke.

He set up a showdown with Elin without listening to her properly.

Because it made me feel the difference in skill to the point of despair.

I opened my inventory with a slightly sorry heart.

“I have a gift for you.”

“A gift… …?”

“I think I did something a little bit bad yesterday.”

He put a piece of paper in Fabiana’s hand.

“What is this?”

Fabiana flips through the letter paper.

Is it because you specialize in runes?

It seems that he immediately noticed that there was a spell on the letter paper.

“Long distance communication paper?”

The answer did not come out of Luke’s mouth.

“What’s going on? It’s so precious that I wouldn’t give it to just anyone.”

Lanian, who had been watching me since yesterday, came over and poked me in the side.

“If you’re called a promising wizard, don’t you deserve it?”

“Huh, that’s right. Then I can easily contact Fabiana and Youngae.”

“ in… ? So, what do you mean… .”

Fabiana was dumbfounded, not knowing what long-distance communication paper was.

Other promising prospects were also confused.

I can tell that something is great because Lanian reacts like this.

I’m not sure exactly what it’s used for.

“It’s like this.”

So I showed it to him directly.

Let’s write on stationery.

Twinkle-

The writing is transmitted on the letter Fabiana is holding, along with a faint light.

“… … !!”

Fabiana’s eyes grew as big as teardrops.

Even fox-like eyes can grow that big.

“Do you know what this function does?”

“Se, there is such magic in the world… … Did you make this with your own magic?”

“Yes.”

“Then… …you can contact me anytime with this―”

“That’s not it.”

“Hohoho… I guess so?”

Fabiana, who was overcome with emotion, let out an awkward laugh.

“I probably won’t be able to see you if you contact me because I’m busy. Instead, I’ll reply whenever I have time.”

Fabiana, who had come back to life, placed one hand on her chest.

“It’s an honor, senior.”

It looks like things have gotten better since I’ve put my poor manners back on.

“This is fatal, brother! Why do you only give gifts to Fabiana?”

“That’s right, brother. I think it’s unfair.”

Discontent erupted elsewhere.

Felice raised one hand.

Nia puffed out her cheeks slightly.

Nod nod.

Bena nodded vigorously in agreement.

“You haven’t proven it yet.”

A question mark loomed over the heads of the prospects.

“I felt it at the exchange meeting yesterday. Since they are the ones who will lead the empire in the future anyway, I don’t think there is any need to compete.”

I didn’t necessarily add that you’d have to compete fiercely once you got into the academy.

“So let’s do this today. Prove to yourself that you have the skills to be called a true prospect. I will give a ten-thousand-won telecommunications paper as a gift to those who I approve.”

Woof-

Three sheets of stationery appeared in the inventory.

“Are you okay?”

If you don’t like it, I was going to evaluate it like yesterday.

“Of course!”

“Joe, I like it…!”

“I’ll go first.”

Passion burned brightly in the eyes of the promising players.

* * * * *

The first one to come forward was Nia.

“Can I show you my most confident magic?”

“Yes. Will you show me the magic I expect?”

“Maybe.”

Nia picked up the cane she had on her back and spun it around.

Phew-

A murderous sound followed.

The returning staff’s attributes were changing in that order: fire, ice, and lightning.

Thin limbs.

Although he looks sickly because of his pale skin.

She is also a member of the Bucklin family.

“Due to the nature of magic, there needs to be someone to receive it… Could you please be my opponent, Brother?”

This means that he has the talent of a practical fighter who mainly uses battle magic.

“Is it to show you magic?”

But the way she looks at Luke is strange.

Rather than wanting to show off my special skills.

I feel like I just want to beat him up.

“Yes.”

Nia answers with a completely unconvincing look in her eyes.

He nodded his head sheepishly.

“Okay, I understand. Show me the best you can―”

Before the words were even finished

“Haaap-!”

Nia’s body was shot with a shout.

“!”

Luke twisted around in surprise.

Ppaang-!

By a hair’s breadth.

A staff encircled with flame struck the air.

Gulp.

A drop of sweat ran down my cheek as the heat brushed past me.

“If you’re not careful, your head will break.”

“No way. I know how fast you are!”

Kwaang-

The ground Nia was standing on collapsed and the new form disappeared.

He appears in front of you in an instant and swings his staff.

Dismissal-

The lightning that would turn you into a roasting pancake the moment it touched makes a shrill sound.

Phew-

A misguided staff.

This time, ice picks are pouring down.

Exactly.

I snapped my fingers and sent them all into subspace.

“Hoo… hoot… .”

Maybe because we’re going into battle.

Nia’s mood changed.

Until just now, she was a well-mannered lady who had received thorough etiquette training.

Boo-

Everything you see now seems like an elaborate machine bent on destruction.

To be honest, even Luke had a hard time avoiding Nia’s attacks with ease.

Secondly, I’m not very good at combat-specific magic.

“Caught…!”

Phew-

Because Nia’s level was fierce as she had followed the Bucklin family’s classic course.

Of course, you can counterattack if you want.

Even now, there are five gaps visible.

If you do that, you’ll definitely die instantly.

All I could do was defend myself.

Let’s put a mana shield around our entire body and take a defensive stance.

Nia launched a fierce attack.

Kkang! Kkang! Kkang-!

“Why! All of a sudden! You’re! Keeping! Your! Distance! From! Yourself! ”

One blow per syllable.

“How long! It’s been! Long time! Seeing you!”

The incoming attacks were full of emotion as they freely changed their attributes.

Take advantage of the gap where the movement is getting bigger.

widely!

“You have a tendency to get too excited when you go into battle.”

He held the cane tightly.

“It’s not a very good habit, so I think it would be better to fix it.”

“Ugh… … !”

Nia tried to pull out the cane several times.

I quickly gave up and backed down.

“I still don’t have the skills to beat up my brother.”

“Your intention to beat me up was right.”

“… Oh my.”

Nia covered her mouth with one hand.

It’s too late anyway.

Everyone here had already witnessed Nia’s rampage.

“As expected from the Bucklin family! Battle mages fight like that! It’s a feast for the eyes!”

“New, new, you’re scarier than I thought… … !”

“… Is this why the elders of the family warned the Bucklin family to be careful?”

It’s not strange that such words come out.

I turned my head to Nia, who was adjusting her clothes again, pretending as if nothing had happened.

“Are you that upset?”

“… … ”

“It was very full of emotion.”

“That’s… I was so happy because we kept acting like it was our first time meeting… .”

Nia’s face, poking my shoulder, passes by.

If you think about it, it must have seemed really exciting.

“I was looking forward to it… It’s been a while since I came to see you, oppa… .”

The air around them quickly becomes gloomy.

If it was Ellen, her stupid hair would have withered.

Luke, who had been gaping a few times, finally opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll try little by little… I’ll see.”

“… !”

Nia opened her eyes wide.

“Isn’t this what you were hoping for?”

“… That’s right.”

“It’s awkward, but I can do it even if I grit my teeth.”

Is this okay?

I decided to stop worrying about that.

Since I can’t leave the body of ‘Luke Bucklin’ anymore.

It’s almost like he’s become my real brother.

Even if I don’t approach, I just thought I should have the courage to not push away those who approach me.

Throb thump.

The corners of Nia’s mouth went up.

“Then can I relax again?”

“Of course… No, of course.”

Only then did a bright smile appear on his lips.

“I guess I should come here often so it doesn’t get awkward.”

Nia held out her hand with a girlish smile.

I thought he was going to shake hands with me because it was a good match.

“Aren’t you giving me a present?”

It was a request for long distance communication paper.

“You lost to me, oppa.”

“What is that… .”

It’s not true, I just let it go.

I don’t want to be that crazy guy who killed his cousin at a prospect exchange because he counterattacked wrongly.

For a moment, my head started to heat up and I almost wanted to wake up again.

“… … Okay.”

You can’t argue with a child about something like this.

He displayed superhuman patience and obediently handed over the long-distance communication paper.

“I need to contact you often to get used to it.”

Nia, who chuckled, took the long-distance communication paper with a pleasant face and stepped back.

Okay then.

“Teacher.”

“I was surprised.”

Ellen, who had come closer without notice, poked Luke’s back.

“You said you weren’t close with Nia Youngae.”

“Still a little awkward.”

Of course, this only applies to Luke.

“It’s my first time seeing a teacher use informal language.”

Elin narrowed her eyes.

The ball was slightly puffed out.

The fool’s hair shook slowly.

“Can’t you speak informally to me too?”

“Yes?”

It was a somewhat embarrassing request.

“Why are you suddenly like that?”

“You did it for Nia Young-ae.”

“What does that matter?”

“I also want to become as close to the teacher as Nia Youngae.”

Do you think you’re closer to Nia just because you speak informally to her?

I couldn’t say anything about the fact that he sneaked under my blanket every day.

Because this is where the ears of promising players are.

“From now on, speak informally to me too.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not right. How could I dare speak informally to your majesty?”

“… … Then.”

Elin bit her lips tightly and raised her head as if she had made up her mind about something.

“Will you do it if I fight and win?”

“Why on earth is the conclusion like that?”

Woof-

“Your Majesty?”

Elin, who immediately generates mana.

Looking at the posture, it is clear that he is trying to use the magic he cast yesterday.

“Princess, let me tell you a little bit―”

I couldn’t let the garden go to waste again after restoring it.

Not to Natia, but at least out of pity to the servants.

I had to sweat profusely to calm down Elin, who suddenly started to run wild.