The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 58

It was Thursday, and the student council room buzzed with the sound of papers being shuffled. The holidays had just ended, leaving a considerable backlog of work.

“President, we’ve received official notification to begin the budget review for the seasonal festival in three months,” said Felix Drake, the ever-diligent vice president.

Valenci nodded, acknowledging Felix’s words. “Let’s proceed as we did last year. First, send out official notices to each club and schedule a meeting date.”

Felix was known for his diligence, but Valenci was known for his flawless execution. His work was processed quickly and accurately, without a single hitch.

As I glanced at him, Valenci’s eyes locked onto mine.

Then, Valenci, resting his chin lightly on his fist, gave a subtle, enigmatic smirk.

“…….”

I had a feeling that something was terribly wrong, but I decided to focus on my work for the time being. Just as I was returning to the mountain of documents on my desk, Sandra Keppel, who had been lounging around as if bored, approached with a look of someone who had just spotted an opportunity. She consistently did less work than anyone else.

“Is it girl trouble?”

“If we’re categorizing it broadly, yes, it would be.”

“What, what, what? Why that reaction? Tell me properly. I have a perfect understanding of the female heart, you know!”

As always, Rain was sifting through the various proposals submitted to the student council, looking for items worth adding to the agenda.

“Senior, actually…….”

“Actually?”

“I think I’ll just not say it.”

“What! No, you’ve made me curious! Tell me quickly!”

*Please do your work….*

Since I couldn’t bring myself to say that, I simply voiced my question quietly. “Senior, do you know Kasena Page?”

“Kasena? Of course, I know her! She was a very bright and cute little girl… But it’s strange, I haven’t seen her around lately.”

“Why?”

Sandra seemed about to say something, but suddenly clamped her mouth shut and glossed over it with a smile. “Well, I don’t know either.”

*I wonder if there’s some kind of gag order about the incident of her falling while climbing the wall. Hmm.*

More than that, the fact that she was *originally* a bright and cute child bothered me a little. The Kasena I saw was a girl filled with nothing but sorrow.

Just like Lynn, who wandered the slums 300 years ago…….

– *What’s your name?*

The headmistress was the first to approach me and show me the light called magic. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t just abandon Toureina 300 years ago.

– *Get lost, get lost…….*

And similarly, the voice of Kasena Page now keeps ringing in my ears… No, that’s not it.

*It’s just a problem that needs to be solved to clear the false accusation against my aunt.*

In the journey towards truth, there is no time to spare for things like compassion. This is just a transaction.

It was around that time that the president’s secretary came to the student council room and called Rain out separately.

The secretary didn’t even briefly explain the reason, simply escorting Rain to the president’s office. Madelia, who was pacing by the window, unusually, immediately brightened up.

“I’ll ask you directly. What happened with Kasena, that child?”

I felt like something was terribly wrong, just like when I made eye contact with Valenci.

*Did she falsely accuse me of doing something strange? Is that why I’m in a situation where my head might be on the line?*

I need to proceed carefully; I need to get out of here cautiously.

“I just… explained the usefulness of magic to her. And I was immediately kicked out. There really wasn’t anything strange.”

“That can’t be!”

“Why are you doing this? Could you tell me what the young lady said about me?”

Then, Madelia, as if making a fuss, forcefully held up a rolled-up letter from the desk. And she said something I couldn’t believe.

“This letter just arrived from the mansion. Rain, she said she wants to see you again! Kasena, that child, personally!”

* * *

“The seasonal festival is scheduled after the final exams, so I’d like you to start preparing gradually from now on.”

Student Council President Valenci handed the documents to Joen, the president of the Local Development Magic Club.

“Yes, I will try to showcase good magic.”

Valenci smiled and seemed about to turn around, but then, ah, he turned his head slightly again.

“I heard there were some problems at the beginning of the semester, but I’m glad everything is okay.”

“Ah, you mean that. It was resolved well thanks to Rain.”

Recently, it was a name that was often heard not only in the light but also in the shadows. Valenci raised his eyebrows, showing curiosity.

“Rain Ludwig?”

Then, Joen nodded as if he had heard a welcome name. “I heard he joined the student council this time! It’s a bit disappointing that he couldn’t join the club, but still, if it’s him, he’ll be able to do more in the student council.”

“Calm down; you look like a believer.”

Valenci was able to hear the whole story of the incident that happened at the beginning of the semester from Joen. At that time, the third graders were away for the Magic Tower field trip.

Valenci’s popularity among the commoners was enormous. He was just a commoner, but he had never failed to be the top student in his grade.

Moreover, he was always someone who sincerely took care of his classmates and juniors.

Perhaps if Valenci had been there at the beginning of the semester, Logan’s bizarre behavior would have been dealt with by him.

“That guy did such a thing…….”

A strange question arose in Valenci’s mind as well. In a good sense, he was different from ordinary nobles.

Even though he, who was currently just a commoner with a fabricated identity, had poured out so many rude remarks, he had never shown any unpleasantness.

He seemed to have a lot of popularity wherever he went…….

“He was indeed a guy worth watching over time.”

Valenci muttered in a cold voice, and Joen tilted his head.

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing. Then, I’ll see you later.”

* * *

“You can make me walk?”

That was what Kasena said after 30 minutes. Until then, Rain had been cowering in the corner of the room like a child waiting to be punished.

“I don’t believe it! You’re the same age as me!”

“Is that a problem?”

“Yes! You can do something that even my mom, the best magician, couldn’t do? You? You probably can only use 2-star magic at best, right?”

*Damn it,* I felt a vein bulging slightly in my temple.

“Each magician has different specialties.”

“Hmph! And I don’t believe you made me walk here either. That’s a scam, right? You used illusion magic, didn’t you? You’re actually a lousy magician.”

A lousy magician? It’s been a long time since someone has delivered such a great provocation to me…….

In Lynn’s days, I could just cause a ruckus, but my status as the heir to the Ludwig family is holding me back.

Therefore, I raise the stakes to an unbelievable level that the other person can’t help but be overwhelmed.

“What should I do for you to believe me? Should I take you for a stroll around the city?”

At that moment, Kasena brightened her face as if she had been waiting for these words, then quickly pulled up her shirt to cover her face as if to hide that expression.

*No, what is she, a sparrow…….*

Then, after her flushed expression subsided, she cleared her throat and nodded majestically. “Okay. Take me for a stroll around the city. Then I’ll hire you, a lousy magician, as my tutor! Although you’re a lousy magician, especially!”

*No, are you accepting this?*

*Did I make a self-defeating move?*

But my pride doesn’t allow me to back down here. Otherwise, she’ll immediately say, ‘See, making me walk was all a lie,’ right?

“Okay. Then wait a moment. I’ll go ask the president for permission—”

“—That’s not allowed!”

“?”

I tilted my head in disbelief, and Kasena lowered her gloomy eyes and said. “If I report it to Mom… she’ll attach a lot of guards! Then people will look at me and point fingers. Look at that, the Page’s young lady, they say she can’t walk…….”

*So that’s what it was.*

For a moment, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship. It was the contemptuous gaze I had received a lot when I first joined Rista’s party.

“More than anything, I want to see the city as it is! Not with guards making way and everyone staring.”

“Then how do we get out?”

I ask with a sigh. The Page family is on a different level than other magical families.

There is a magical guard composed only of excellent battle mages, and this guard was guarding the tower where Kasena was like an iron wall.

The problem is that illusion magic is not Lynn’s specialty to deceive them and escape.

There is also the option of fighting and defeating them, but I can’t control my strength against those guys. It’s easy to kill someone and become a murderer.

“That’s…….”

Kasena hesitated. She probably hadn’t thought that far.

The disappointment that the expected didn’t happen as expected made her eyes tearful, which was truly pitiful.

It seems like only troublesome things are getting tangled up. Just as I was about to feel a hint of annoyance, a voice brushed past my ears.

– *Promise me. Promise me you’ll come back as an adult who can share the light of magic with others.*

*I know, I know, auntie.*

Another sigh came out… Well, it’s not like there’s no way at all.

“The windows in the young lady’s room are quite large. Large enough for two people to stand side by side.”

Perhaps to prevent Kasena from committing suicide, the window was so high that the sill was taller than Rain’s height, but it was still quite large, perhaps designed for using a telescope.

“I can’t go out that way… Mom put up a barrier.”

“No problem.”

Bell Curios [a type of magic].

The silver-white flower blooming in the two blood-red eyes removes the 2-star telekinetic barrier intricately engraved on the window.

As the translucent darkness that had been trapping her in a cage disappeared in an instant, Kasena blinked blankly.

“Wh-what. How is this…….”

The problem was that Madelia was also a thorough person and had laid down insurance.

As soon as the barrier forcibly disappeared, an alarm began to sound in the mansion.

*Woong, woong, woong, woong, woong, woong,* the mansion’s defense barrier began to shine like crazy.

“No time to explain. Let’s go.”

Rain climbed onto the windowsill.

This is a gamble.

Judging from Madelia’s attitude before, it seemed that Kasena, not Madelia, was holding the knife [in control of the situation].

Perhaps this incident could gain distrust from Madelia, but on the contrary, it would gain immense favor from Kasena.

“M-me too!”

Kasena, whom Rain pulled up with telekinesis, stood next to him.

Then, as the wind containing the heat of early summer rushed in, Kasena’s light purple hair beautifully reflected the twilight.

“Wow…….”

What unfolded before the boy and girl was a magnificent scene, a golden city that could not be captured in a single glance, endlessly unfolding into the twilight and showing off its charm.

[the name of the city].

In front of that scenery that I hadn’t seen in a long time, Kasena trembled and exclaimed. After waiting for a while, I spoke.

“The scenery is really nice, right?”

“What are you talking about? You just got here; why are you pretending to know so well! This is my city.”

“Ah, yes…….”

It was then. The door that had been temporarily blocked opened with a bang, and a guard led by a guardian knight rushed in.

“Young lady!”

“Rain Ludwig, what are you doing!”

The emotion that flickered in the eyes of the guard who shouted that was an indescribable bewilderment…….

The young lady is standing on her own two feet.

With such a happy expression.

As if to drive a wedge into that incomprehensible sight that had even stunned the skilled guards, Kasena smiled brightly.