Chapter 4: The Visitor
As classes progressed smoothly, the number of students wishing to attend lectures gradually increased. Moreover, I became familiar not only with the surface of the town but also with its hidden aspects. Some of the faculty members, including Foar, began to show interest in my magic theory and tried to understand it. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before teachers capable of teaching my magic theory would emerge. The students attending my lectures seemed to have a deeper understanding of magic. Most of them had become able to perform abbreviated incantations and lightning magic.
I felt that the magical standards were low even at Fidic Academy, which was called the world’s best. Perhaps it was because I had studied under Owen, but it seemed there wouldn’t be much difference in other countries either. At this rate, no country would be able to develop transfer magic. Returning to Earth through magic was nothing but a distant dream.
However, researching alone or with just two people would yield limited results. If more magicians of Owen’s or my caliber increased, new ideas would likely emerge. With that in mind, I wanted to gradually raise the world’s magical standards. The changes at Fidic Academy were very pleasing to me. I was able to give magic lectures earlier than expected, and the results seemed to be following.
I was congratulating myself on how smoothly things were going when one day, an ominous shadow descended as I was called by headmaster Glen.
“…Sigh.”
I sighed and lowered my eyes to the letter I had received from Glen. It seemed like trouble was brewing.
As I sat in a chair in the academy courtyard thinking about this, I noticed figures walking towards me. It was Strauss, Eliza, and Shenley.
“Ah, we found Sensei Aoi!”
Shenley called out my name with a radiant smile. Strauss and Eliza also turned their eyes towards me.
“Good morning,”
I said, standing up from the chair and bowing slightly. Shenley hurriedly put her hands on her legs and bowed deeply in response.
“Good morning!”
“Morning.”
“Good morning, Aoi-san.”
The three of them stood before me, returning my greeting.
“Is something the matter?”
I asked. Strauss glanced at the letter in my hand.
“…There’s a rumor that a dignitary from the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf has appeared in this town. And they’ve brought along a court magician with a bad reputation.”
“Bad reputation?”
Answering my question, Eliza furrowed her brow and replied,
“That… a magician called Crown-Windsor, known as the ‘Magic Maniac.’ Despite being only in his mid-thirties, he’s already created ten new types of magic, a genius magician… However, it’s said that countless slaves were sacrificed in human experiments for the sake of this new magic. And that Crown-Windsor is coming to this academy…”
“A magician from the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf… I see.”
Nodding in understanding at Strauss and Eliza’s explanation, I unfolded the letter I was holding.
“I was wondering why it had to be me, but now I understand.”
Saying this, I held up the open letter so that the three could see its contents. They leaned in close to read it.
“…An invitation to the Holy Empire? Establishing a new magic academy…”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing…”
“Eh? Sensei Aoi, are you going to Maple Leaf…?”
The three showed their confusion. The contents were exactly as they had said. However, the letter of invitation bore the signature of the Emperor of the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf. In other words, it was a request from the top of the Holy Empire.
This would be difficult for even headmaster Glen to refuse easily.
Understanding this, Strauss looked at me with a stern face.
“What about the headmaster?”
“The letter states that an escort will come from the Holy Empire. So, headmaster Glen said he would speak directly with the messenger and try to persuade them. To allow me to stay at this academy.”
As I answered, Strauss and Eliza exchanged glances. Shenley looked down with a troubled expression.
“…I don’t want to speak ill of the country where I was born and raised, but the current Emperor is…”
Shenley mumbled something, seeming to have difficulty speaking. As I tilted my head in confusion, Eliza spoke up instead.
“Well, the previous Emperor of Maple Leaf was moderate and focused on domestic affairs… But his eldest son, the current Emperor, is trying to raise the level of magic in the country even if it means taking drastic measures. That’s why someone like Crown has the position of court magician…”
She spoke somewhat haltingly, perhaps because it involved criticizing another country. If this information was true, it would explain the contents of that letter, and it was predictable that they wouldn’t back down easily.
Thinking this far, I put away the letter and sighed.
“…Well, I’m not going yet.”
I had just gotten used to Fidic Academy. First, I needed to spread chantless casting and magic circles throughout this academy.
If we could raise the knowledge and understanding of magic among students and faculty, surely new magical theories that neither Owen nor I could have thought of would emerge. If that happens, we might even be able to develop magic to return to our original world.
I would be willing to comply with the request after achieving that.
I muttered these words based on such thoughts, but the three of them looked surprised.
“…So you’ll go eventually?”
“Are you going to abandon the academy!?”
“I-I’ll go with you, Sensei Aoi!”
As the three spoke at once, I shook my head.
“I’d like to visit other academies once the situation here changes. But it’s not something that will happen right away.”
They didn’t seem entirely convinced by my words, but the three calmed down for now. I was genuinely happy that they were trying to keep me here, but I was also a bit interested in the magic of Maple Leaf.
“headmaster Glen predicted that they would probably come to the academy as early as tomorrow. So there might be a situation where we have to compete in magic.”
At my words, the three looked uneasy. I smiled back at them and nodded.
“If a magician from the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf is coming, let’s see what kind of magic they can use.”
As I said this, all three of them grimaced. I wonder why.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
The next day, I showed up at the headmaster’s office.
“You called for me?”
“Ah, thank you for coming.”
I exchanged words with Glen as soon as I opened the door and our eyes met.
“Yesterday, we received news by fast horse, but considering the character of the person coming here, they might be traveling at the same speed as the fast horse. That’s why I said they might come as early as tomorrow.”
“…? Yes, I understand.”
I nodded while tilting my head at his strange way of speaking. Suddenly, Glen frowned and shook his head.
“I didn’t expect them to actually come the day after we received the news.”
“…They’re already here?”
I couldn’t help but ask again at this unexpected statement. Glen nodded, still frowning.
“…Yes. They’re already waiting for permission to meet outside the academy. Sigh… This is troublesome. What should we do?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? Can we even refuse to meet them?”
“Impossible.”
“Then we have no choice but to invite them in, right?”
When I gave this advice to the reluctant Glen, he made a face like a child presented with food they dislike.
“I don’t wanna! It’s troublesome! Besides, the one who came is that Magic Maniac Berserker, you know? There’s no way they’ll listen to reason! Ah, I want to go home…”
Glen’s spirit seemed completely broken.
“…Then, I’ll go to greet them. Please prepare yourself in the meantime.”
“Oh… Thank you.”
After this exchange, I left the office.
If Glen was so reluctant, this magician called Crown-Windsor must have a very troublesome personality.
I needed to brace myself as well.
Steeling my resolve, I walked down the hallway.
When I went outside the academy, I saw a group of people dressed in clothing clearly not seen in town.
More than twenty people were gathered, wearing white robes with deep hoods. More than half of them were carrying weapons.
The people around them seemed to be wary of the group and keeping their distance.
“…Excuse me. Are you the group from the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf?”
I gently called out to the person at the very front. The man at the front turned towards me, his robe swaying.
“Oh, are you finally ready to meet? My, that took a long time. I didn’t expect to be kept waiting this long at such a short distance.”
The man said with a half-smile as he raised his face. However, due to his considerable height, his gaze passed over my head.
“…Hm?”
For a moment, he looked around as if searching, and finally lowered his gaze to find me.
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