The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 103

103.

For the first time since the class of 1388 entered, the entire student body gathered in the Great Hall of the Dragonscale Hall.

After a brief attendance check, the confirmation process for festival preparations from each class and club continued. Meanwhile, Rain was busy moving around below the stage, managing the proceedings.

‘This is why being a low-ranking freshman is so tough…’ Once it was confirmed that there were no issues with any of the procedures, President Madelia ascended the platform.

“Greetings, students. First, I want to say that everyone has worked hard to complete the two exams of this eventful first semester.”

“……!”

“This festival is both a time of rest given to you who have survived such a journey and an opportunity to fill in any gaps.”

Since many prominent figures from the magical world participate in the festival, there will be opportunities to showcase magic to them.

“Now, with pride as students of the premier magic university of the Empire, I hope you will create a festival that all visitors can enjoy.”

“Yes, President!”

“Then, the slogan for this festival is…”

Madelia, who had received the agenda from Rain, frowned slightly, and her voice trailed off for a moment.

With a dignified clearing of her throat, Madelia raised her hand forcefully.

Originally, the president was supposed to read the festival slogan and then the students would repeat it, but she seemed to have decided to skip it. I would have done the same.

“Now, let the 1388th seasonal festival of begin with your own hands! I wish you good luck and a pleasant festival!”

* * *

As soon as the gates of opened, a countless number of people flocked in.

The seasonal festival was one of the three major festivals of the Empire, thanks to the various magical spectacles performed by over three hundred students and the school’s abundant resources for preparing the festival.

Noble families visited, locals from rural areas came to see the magic circles, and adventurers visited, perhaps to find promising party members.

As many visitors flocked in, the number of incidents also increased, so student council members and organizing committee members had to take turns wearing armbands and patrolling the campus during the festival.

Fortunately, Rain’s shift was from the third day, so he had time to help with the class festival in the morning.

“Ugh, ugh, aaaaaack!”

“Sa, save meeee!”

The class [Cheonggang]’s ambitious project, the ‘Haunted House,’ was a great success, as the audience members who experienced it ran out the door in a hurry, the class president clenched his fist.

“Haha! Another great success!”

The principle of the magic was simple.

All that was needed was to create a forest or abandoned house where not a single ray of moonlight could penetrate, so the magic circle could be constructed much more easily than during the final exam.

And the disadvantage of the augmented space constructed with the runes of the World—the fact that the shaped structures were not physical but abstract—worked even better in this case.

The reason was that everything looked vague, which stimulated fear even more.

When the audience members were sucked into Rain’s magic, the [Cheonggang] students, disguised as ghosts, popped out in turn to surprise them, completing the experience.

“Wow, that was awesome! I almost had a heart attack.”

“This is magic?!”

“This is like a rediscovery of magic! What an amazing experience!”

Some people were so frightened that they ran away, while others were so excited that they chattered non-stop. Tastes are so diverse.

“If you enjoyed it, please spread the word!”

“Of course! I’ll just bring a whole bunch of people!”

Watching such diverse reactions made me realize that there were other ways to use the runes of the World, and I couldn’t help but smile.

After sending out one team after another, the number of visitors who came by word of mouth increased to the point where we had to control the order.

At that point, the smile was gone, and I was so tired that sweat was pouring from my body like rain. This is 5-star magic.

“How many people are coming?”

“Let’s see, it’s probably over a hundred.”

“Who told them to spread the word?”

“It was me, Master!”

“Come here, you.”

As a result, the magic circle calculation was rushed, but Rain Ludwig wasn’t the only talented person in the [Cheonggang] class.

“I said I would help one more time, and I’m just keeping my word. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

The boy, who had rolled up the sleeves of his school uniform blouse, spread out parchment next to Rain Ludwig and took out writing tools, which made the onlookers’ eyes widen.

“That guy is… Hubert of the Rohinum School?!”

“A disciple of the Eight Great Schools is helping a noble from a powerful family──?!”

“Even though they’re in the same class?!”

The [Cheonggang] students, who had already been surprised enough during the volleyball match, just applauded enthusiastically. Rain asked in a suspicious tone.

“Did you properly understand my magic circle formula?”

“Do you take the Rohinum School lightly?”

After a moment of silence, the two boys exchanged smiles, and their brushstrokes blazed on both parchments as if competing with each other.

“Oh, oh, oh……?!”

“Fast, incredibly fast……!”

“Not as fast as Young Master Ludwig, but amazing……!”

Of course, he couldn’t keep up with Rain’s speed, but the fact that he was drawing a magic circle that would normally require the entire props preparation team to create on his own was proof of his excellence.

However, even with Hubert’s help, it didn’t seem like they would be able to keep up with the speed of the visitors.

No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than a girl with dark brown hair appeared before everyone, arrogantly crossing her arms.

“Looks like you desperately need help? If you’re in a hurry, why don’t you beg me, Krista Warden, to help you! But you can’t—”

“Help me, quickly, please. I’m dying.”

“—can’t! I’d rather humbly beg my lifelong rival than… Huh? Okay.”

Krista, who had stayed up all night preparing, blankly unfolded the parchment, unable to say thirteen out of the fifteen lines she had prepared.

‘That’s strange. It feels like I’m missing something…….’

But even in that confusion, she copied Rain’s magic circle next to her at a furious pace, so it was only natural that everyone exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s the magic genius trio!”

“What, is the theme of the festival drawing magic circles quickly?”

“No, but all three of them are amazing!”

Perhaps because the three people’s sweat-soaked performance attracted even more spectators, [Cheonggang]’s ‘Haunted House’ was a great success, ranking among the top three at the festival on the first day.

For the record, Kasena and Gertrude were on patrol duty today, so they were able to escape this hell.

* * *

The second day was the time for the seasonal sports festival, which began with the four major magic volleyball clubs competing for supremacy.

As it was a sport that only magicians could play, it was quite a sight to see, and the magic volleyball game held at the Dragonblood Arena was a great success.

Griffin Valor and Snakemist each won in their respective blocks, so they would be playing in the finals on the last day of the festival. Although Griffin Valor would win 99% of the time…….

In addition, events that combined magic and athletics, such as obstacle course races, magic ball rolling, and throwing magic balls into baskets, began with cheers and ended with laughter.

“Now it’s my turn.”

The third day was the day when clubs, rather than classes, gathered to showcase their magic to the public.

Rain took turns wearing the armband on this day and patrolled the wide campus.

He was watching visitors look at the guidebooks and visit the clubs they were interested in to see the magic when he heard a familiar voice.

“Rain!”

Turning his head, he saw an old man with the family’s characteristic black hair and graying temples, but still as robust as any merchant, approaching with a cane in a measured manner.

“Grandfather?”

It was Scalzi, Scalzi Ludwig. [Rain’s grandfather and Bell Curios’ mentor].

My grandfather, who had given Bell Curios his awakening education. His fame reached not only the magical world but also ordinary people, and everyone opened their mouths and whispered.

“Wow, it’s Scalzi Ludwig.”

“The highest authority in magic!”

“The former Archmage?! Is that him in person?”

Regardless of what voices he heard around him, Scalzi, without giving a single glance, walked straight to Rain, placed his hand on his shoulder, and squeezed.

“I’m proud, so proud. As expected of my eldest grandson, inheriting my blood! To be the top student twice in a row among the Golden Generation! Hahaha!”

“Grandfather, what brings you here……?”

“Of course, to see my wonderful eldest grandson! And to submit the entrance applications for our magic school chicks.”

Still, he was a person who had been accustomed to the dignity of a nobleman for decades, so it was fortunate that he didn’t rub his beard or stroke his head in front of everyone.

“Ahem, that guy is a student council lackey! Doesn’t he know he shouldn’t disturb you while you’re working?”

Then there was a person who made Scalzi’s eyes turn cold, Senior Professor Marchena. He was also holding a cane.

“I came down thinking you’d finally died, but the gods are so heartless. You’re still alive. You’ve got a long life ahead of you.”

“Hmph, who’s talking?”

It might seem disconcerting for a commoner to speak informally to a great nobleman, but it’s not surprising if you know what kind of relationship the two had.

“I’ll have to get rid of that old hag first. Rain, let’s catch up later.”

Marchena and Scalzi exchanged insults and walked towards the school headquarters, and it was truly the first time I had ever seen Scalzi smile so brightly while talking to someone who wasn’t a member of his family.

‘They’re close friends…….’

If Lynn had gotten old and met the Hero Party members after a long time, would she have had a similar expression? What kind of stories would they have shared?

“You’re not doing your job and slacking off. How dare you, a freshman, be so bold, Rain Ludwig?”

What shattered that sad reverie was the person Rain least wanted to hear in school, No. 1.

Student Council President Valensid.

He had somehow come close and was thinking about what kind of mischief he could cause, which was very pathetic.

“I can’t just leave you alone. You’ll run off somewhere again and slack off.”

“No, I won’t. I won’t do that.”

“I, as the president, will make the decision. Follow me. I need to keep an eye on you to feel safe. You, as a low-ranking executive, have no choice.”

I thought about shouting and lunging at him, “If you open that mouth one more time, I’ll grind your tongue into powder, you black magician!”, but if I did, I’d be the only crazy one.

And if an executive argued with the president, people who didn’t know the situation would spread strange rumors.

Let’s be patient, I must be patient…… For now, I decided to obediently follow him as he wished.

“……?”

But something was strange.

I thought he would take me around and torment me with all sorts of gossip, but he was carefully examining each of the club classrooms, occasionally with a faint smile on his face.

Did he feel a sense of accomplishment because he had overseen this festival from beginning to end as the student council president?

“Oh, President! Young Master Rain! Hello!”

The place we arrived at while patrolling was in front of the [Local Development Magic Club]’s classroom. Club President Joen greeted us in a friendly manner.

“How is it? Has it become a meaningful festival?”

“It’s all thanks to you, President! We were able to show our efforts to many people! There were even people who offered to provide financial support!”

Valensid had divided the festival area into entertainment and magic presentation areas in detail.

– Those who come to have fun won’t pay attention to local development magic.

Instead, he subdivided the areas and carefully redesigned the flow of visitors.

Those who came to have fun could enjoy themselves to the fullest, and those who came to get useful information or necessary magic could receive such great help.

Rain also acknowledged the efficiency of his achievements…… I should use something similar when I become the student council president.

As I was thinking that, Joen suddenly bowed his head to Rain as well.

“And it’s also thanks to you, Young Master.”

“Me? Why me?”

“It’s the club and festival that Young Master protected. Of course, we have to be grateful.”

For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I opened my mouth blankly.

I had never even thought about that?

At that moment, Valensid smiled and nodded as if agreeing, and that smile was a little warmer than his usual cynicism.

“Joen, then do your best. We have many places to go, so we have to go now.”

“Yes, President! See you next time!”

Valensid took Rain around and patrolled countless clubs in that way.

Except for the clubs that were mainly composed of nobles, he received a warm welcome from everyone, and the more I saw it, the more surprised I was by this con man’s popularity.

‘Yeah, he’s still a swindler.’

In the meantime, dusk was setting beyond the Red Mountains, and the twilight spreading across the ground began to shine seductively.

“It’s about to start soon.”

The place where Valensid stopped was an area located quite high in the school building, a place where you could see the campus clearly.

Elin and Caroline, as well as all the professors of , were already on a makeshift stage that had been set up on the campus, and people were gathering around them one by one.

The fireworks, a specialty of the magic festival, were about to begin.

Fireworks were the ultimate festival magic that could only be performed by those with outstanding magic control skills.

“I told you about how to observe people before.”

As I was watching it with interest, Valensid suddenly brought up the topic. Since there was no one around, I answered casually.

“You did. But why?”

“In fact, I was trained that way from the moment I was taken in, but the reason I reached my current level is all due to my choices.”

At that moment, the first flame soared as University President Madelia’s congratulatory speech ended, embroidering a lotus flower in the night sky, and exclamations erupted from all over the place.

“At first, I killed all those who were ordered to be killed without any doubt, but in the moment of the tenth murder, I realized the truth in unspeakable regret.”

“……?”

“There was no reason for them to die…… The fact that the master’s orders were not the absolute truth.”

Feeling a chill down my spine, I turned to look at Valensid.

I was sure that there was some kind of suspicious motive hidden in saying these words, as he was a dark-hearted guy.

However, the pupils of the guy’s eyes, illuminated by the second fire illuminating the darkness of the night, were relaxed to the point of being bewildered.

Unlike his usual self, who hid all his emotions and inner thoughts behind a perfect mask.

“From then on, I began to carefully observe all those who were ordered to be killed. What kind of person is that guy, what kind of beliefs does he have, is there really no other way than to kill him.”

Next, Senior Professor Kyle and Elin Ludwig simultaneously fired flames.

The flames intertwined like vines in the sky, and then finally merged and blossomed into a dazzling flower, bursting with a loud bang.

The cheers, which seemed to be gradually building up, became a roar that shook the campus to the point of hurting my eardrums at that moment.

“After that, I often falsely reported that I had completed the orders. I got caught a few times and lost quite a bit of trust from my master.”

“Why the hell are you telling me that kind of story now?”

“You’re still impatient.”

“None of your business.”

In that one moment, really just for a moment, he gave a smile that could only be described as kind. That smile that Ristana and Brim often gave…….

“I’m really glad I didn’t kill you just because of orders, that’s what I was trying to say.”

It wasn’t an expression that a murderer could make. It was an expression that shouldn’t be made. So, my voice was colder than I thought it would be.

“Who do you think you are to judge whether a person should live or die? Try smiling like that in front of the families of the people you killed with your great judgment.”

Amidst the successive explosions that spread a golden curtain across the sky, a sharp silence flowed between us.

It was a situation, a gap, and a relationship where we could kill each other by using magic if we went wrong by just a hair.

This tension is not surprising at all. He and I were like that from the beginning.

“Sacrifice is necessary for the greater good.”

“What?”

“I’ve been justifying the killings I’ve done, have to do, and will do with those words, but I don’t intend to do that anymore. It will be a burden to live a life of atonement after the opening of the New Era.”

It was a self-deprecating smile, mixed with pain and resignation. That smile made Rain feel extreme fear.

I shouldn’t talk anymore.

If I talk any more, I might not be able to face this guy as an enemy someday.

“I don’t want to listen to a murderer’s confession. If you want to do that, go find a priest. And pay your dues properly.”

As I said firmly and left the spot, the last firework launched by President Madelia drew a dazzling flower garden in the night sky.

Embers flying in the air.

The acrid smell of fireworks blooming in the summer breeze permeated with those embers, the silence and darkness after the explosion, and the cheers that erupted.

“It was an unqualified youth filled with lies and deceit, but thanks to you, I was able to finish it happily.”

Valensid muttered so quietly that I wouldn’t have heard it if I hadn’t focused on even one of those sensory disturbances, and then disappeared into the darkness.

“Thank you, Rain Ludwig.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears at those unbelievable words, and I stopped and turned around, but Valensid had already disappeared.

Before I knew it, it was summer.