episode_0056

After Ena attacked the Academy, the next day. As expected, all Academy operations were temporarily halted. All academic schedules were instantly canceled, and the upperclassmen, who had been secretly anticipating the inter-year competition, all voiced their disappointment. But there was nothing they could do. Since the academic officials had made that decision, it was impossible to object. No, even if they argued in the first place, what would change?

“…….” The view seen from the window of the 2nd year dormitory. Originally, there was a large mountain behind where their dormitory was located. It was a place like a sanctuary for the 2nd years, meticulously managed so that monsters or dangerous wild animals would not appear, and even hiking trails were laid out. When exams didn’t go well, or when they felt down, the 2nd years would usually go into the mountain and spend time in their own sanctuary. Like lighting a bonfire and staring blankly at the fire, or sitting on benches provided on the hiking trails and looking up at the sky. They quite liked the comfortable atmosphere nature provided.

That mountain disappeared overnight. Instead, a broken and shattered plain was showing off its appearance. Squirrels and beavers who lost their homes rolled on the ground, and 2nd years who similarly lost their sanctuaries wept. Then, when electricity occasionally sparked from the ground, they would scream and quickly run back to the dormitory.

“……Haa.” To call it the result of one mage’s attack was too devastating. They said that a Great Mage could change the terrain if they put their heart into it, but it seemed that wasn’t an exaggeration. Hamon Yankoff, the top student of the entire 2nd year, thought so and sighed deeply. Born a natural-born warrior, he had liked stories of knights but had not shown much interest in mages. Thus, he knew nothing about how great a person named Ena was. He had heard her name here and there and knew she was a powerful mage, but he had never dreamed her might would be this extent. “……The more I see it, the more absurd it is.”

The scene reflected outside the window. The devastated plain, and the various wild animals and 2nd year students running across it. And above it. The trace of the pure white thunder that had crossed the sky remained deep in the heavens, occasionally flashing.

***

A part of the Academy grounds was completely destroyed. What’s more, it wasn’t due to an attack by some organization, but it was cleanly broken by a single mage. It was an absurd incident to have occurred at Luminous Academy, where prominent strong individuals swarmed. It was so bad that letters from other academies asking what had happened flew in. Some letters were mocking, but after realizing the attacker was Ena, they all sent bland condolences. Friede shed tears while reading the heartfelt letters from those white-haired old people.

She hadn’t wanted it to be destroyed to this extent. She really hadn’t known she would have to move an entire mountain for the restoration! Even if she lamented like that, it was already spilled water. Ena had a talent for breaking things but not for returning them. Friede was the same. She couldn’t make land rise from below without an Earth Mage. In the end, the only options were to bring in a mountain directly, or to create an entirely different natural environment. It was clear that both options would consume a considerable budget. For Friede, an elf by birth who loved nature, leaving it as it was was practically not an option. So, holding back tears, she decided to create a forest on the plain. With that, her wallet and the Academy’s budget were instantly depleted.

But where there is expenditure, there is also income. Friede pushed for the conclusion to accept Ena’s demands at the Academy’s emergency meeting, which was naturally held. Objections did follow. Most of them were people who had been away from the Academy for a while and returned urgently today. They strongly requested that a decision be made after first understanding the circumstances. However, their arguments disappeared like bubbles the moment they saw the white scar etched in the sky. That’s how people are. Just seeing the traces of irresistible violence extinguishes the will to fight. Even to Friede, who had lived through the same era as Ena, or even longer, the extreme magic Ena used was extremely dangerous. If she hadn’t controlled the output of her magic, the entire west side of the Academy would have been blown away. Anyone hearing this might say she was making too much fuss, but Friede knew Ena’s full power. There was a reason she was nicknamed a long-lived species among long-lived species that shouldn’t be messed with.

Anyway. The conclusion of the meeting was ultimately decided to accept all of Ena’s demands and provide appropriate compensation to the victims. A few corrupt officials still cast resentful glances, but Friede didn’t give them a second look. As long as she had justification, no one could stop her.

“Ah, please wait a moment! This isn’t my fault, it’s my assistant professor’s fault! It’s clear she made a mistake while helping with the request review.” “Shut up and get out.” “Just a moment, Dean! Deeeeean!!”

The professor who had been reviewing requests coming into the Academy was immediately cut off. He was someone who had originally sided with the corrupt faction. There was no hesitation in kicking him out. While a large-scale purge might be impossible at this point, getting rid of one person wasn’t that difficult. Thus, with the public announcement of the name of the dismissed Academy professor, the incident that occurred during the 1st year’s first assignment was widely publicized to the world. Friede personally appeared on an official stage, bowed, and promised to provide maximum compensation to Gorcel and his deceased teammates, as well as to Asel. Along with that, a temporary 2-week suspension of Academy classes was implemented. Naturally, the Academy was in chaos. It received all sorts of criticism and censure, and calls from nobles who had enrolled their children at the Academy poured in incessantly. Friede personally became the Academy’s shield, taking all those attacks. Thanks to that, only Flume, her assistant, was dying. No, he was dying alongside Friede. It took a week to resolve the chaotic internal situation of the Academy. The date for opening the Academy, which had been promised to Ena in advance, was approaching, but Friede politely asked for a little more time. Ena readily accepted this. Since the period she could stay with Asel had increased, there was no reason for her to refuse.

But for Friede, there was one more enormous difficult opponent after Ena. “The tea tastes good.” He was an old man with impressive pure white hair and a neatly tied beard. The robe he wore was large, but it couldn’t hide the presence contained within. Despite being a mage, a trained physique was glimpsed from inside the sleeves, and the chaotic and complex mana pattern unique to space mages emanated from his entire body. As far as Friede knew, there was only one person on the continent who possessed such a mana pattern. A genius who completed his hierarchy at a young age. However, he was an oddity among oddities who forcibly destroyed all his hierarchies to learn space magic techniques and rebuilt them from scratch. Despite that, he quickly reached the 8th Hierarchy, seizing the position of a Great Mage – a monster. Norium Ibarren. He rattled the teacup and chuckled, smiling heartily. “Oh dear. I’d even like to learn whose skill this is.” “…It’s the tea my assistant brewed. If you wish, I can ask for the recipe anytime.” “Oh dear, there’s no need for that. An old man shouldn’t steal a young woman’s time, right? I’ll be satisfied with this for today.”

Norium said with a kind smile. But Friede couldn’t just smile. He acted like he wasn’t, but he was a man who let dozens of cunning snakes loose inside. Clearly, he had been violent enough to be similar to Ena in the past, but since taking on the role of leader, his methods seemed to have changed from physical violence to the tip of a pen and tongue. Personally, Friede preferred the former him much more. Because dealing with a mage who did as they pleased was easier than dealing with a mage who was skilled in resourcefulness.

Still, if Norium hadn’t come here to fight, there was no need to worry too much. Although the mage sitting next to Norium and smoking a pipe was concerning, she also didn’t seem to have any intention of fighting. Ultimately, the purpose was a negotiation table. And Friede planned to grant most of what he wanted, if possible. Anyone who knew righteousness and propriety absolutely had to do so. Of course, she couldn’t accept every condition presented, but she planned to adjust them well and aim for a direction that would maximize benefit for Asel and the Wihaim side. It was better than getting into an unnecessary power struggle. There was no need to do anything that would raise one’s voice in a situation where the ‘giver’ and ‘taker’ were clear.

Thinking so, Friede opened her mouth first towards the smiling Norium. “First, I’d like to offer an apology. I am truly, sincerely sorry that an unfortunate incident occurred at the Academy that you trusted and sent them to. I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths.” “It seems better for you to apologize directly to Asel rather than to me. As for me. I’m not the party involved in the incident, am I? I was a bit angry, but I’ve calmed down now.” “Even so, I am truly sorry.”

Instead of answering, Norium smiled slightly and picked up a cookie to eat. Irin exhaled smoke into the air. “As is natural, I intend to offer compensation for the apology. To both Wihaim and Asel. So, don’t hesitate to say what you want. I will grant it as much as possible.” “My demands can be made later. Rather, Asel’s first.” Norium took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket. Friede confirmed the contents and let out a low groan. [I want to take the magical artifact in the Academy’s underground vault. Of course, with me as the owner.]

Not many people knew the fact that there was an underground vault at the Academy where magical artifacts were collected. But how did Asel accurately grasp the existence of the vault and want the item inside? The answer was obvious. Friede turned her head towards Irin, who was looking at her, and sighed deeply. Irin smiled slightly and extinguished the flame of her pipe. “Have you been well, Dean?” “…I’ve been well. Though it’s been tough recently.” “Cheer up.”

That was the end of their conversation. Irin, who couldn’t drink caffeine, gulped down milk while breaking a cookie in half and nibbling on it. Friede turned her head away from her and leaned back in her chair to think for a moment. A brief silence flowed. But no one was feeling anxious. Norium quietly appreciated the sound of birds heard from outside the window, and Irin smiled while freely manipulating the smoke she had exhaled. After quite some time passed like that. The Dean’s mouth opened. “Alright. I will provide one magical artifact. Anything else besides this?”

“I think you can hear that directly.” “…What?” Instead of answering, Norium smiled and forcefully struck the air downwards. [Otherworld (他界)] CRACK!! Cracks appeared in space centered around where his fist made contact. The cracks soon spread into fissures, extending in all directions, and eventually formed a complete black passage. And from beyond that, Asel walked out before Friede could even grasp the situation. Ena followed behind him.

“Seeing that the passage is open, it seems things went well?” Asel asked Norium. Norium shrugged and replied. “That’s right. I’ve already been promised one magical artifact.” “Good. Then let’s move on to the next plan.” “Just as I wished.”

The two of them turned their heads towards Friede in unison. Ena sat down obediently next to Irin, and Irin looked down at her, exhaling a puff of tobacco smoke. Zap!! “Ack!”

Lightning struck Irin’s side. The retribution was delivered so swiftly and accurately.

And watching all of this, Friede wore a smile of enlightenment. The enemies she had to face instantly increased from two to four. Her vision went black. It was her own doing.