The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 104

104

“The Papal State has sent word.”

[The name of the academy], Headmaster’s Office.

Though the space was open with arched glass on all eight sides, the low-hanging rain clouds made the Headmaster’s office so dark it was almost eerie.

“With the internal and external situations turning precarious, they say the graduation ceremony visit to the Papal State cannot proceed as scheduled.”

The faces of the two people present, Madelia Page and Valencidi, were shadowed so deeply they couldn’t read each other’s expressions.

“Is that so?”

His tone suggested disappointment.

Though his eyes were unseen, perhaps the emotion reflected in them was something born of relief.

The Papal State’s ceremony refers to the top graduate of paying respects to Lynn’s corpse.

“Don’t jump to conclusions and be disappointed. It simply cannot proceed as scheduled, not that it won’t happen at all.”

“What exactly…?”

“The ceremony has been moved up significantly. Two weeks from now, to be exact. So, you’ll go to the Papal State in two days. The carriage for transport has been prepared.”

*Is this also an unavoidable fate…* Valencidi swallowed a short sigh.

“Yes, I understand.”

“And one more thing, unlike before, there will be no student council send-off. You won’t be able to receive congratulations from your student council peers and juniors. This was a strong request from the Papal State, so there was nothing we could do about it.”

A silver lining in misfortune, perhaps.

Originally, he was planning to break a leg or two to prevent them from coming… because they would surely die if they did.

*This is quite pleasing,* Valencidi nodded in satisfaction for the first time.

“Thank you for the past three years, Headmaster.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Just as is proud of you, you are also ’s pride. I simply gave you what you deserved.”

*That’s only until today. My name won’t be recorded in ’s graduation registry.*

I knew it from the start.

I knew it from the moment I entered, but… lately, strange imaginations kept popping up, making me feel unbearably regretful.

The imaginations weren’t even of the distant future.

Maybe about two years from now.

Meeting up with the current 2nd and 3rd-year executives after a long time, visiting the school, and teasing Rain Ludwig, who would be acting as the student council president.

Offering help if needed as a senior (of course, after teasing him with something like, ‘Do you really need our help? Ask loudly so everyone can hear, Rain Ludwig’)… and reminiscing about the festival two years ago.

“And this isn’t the end of your graduation either. You’ll have to return to school, won’t you? Don’t act all sentimental like you just did in front of your juniors and peers. It’ll just make everyone embarrassed.”

But I know. That can never happen.

Because childhood is over now.

Knowing this better than anyone, Valencidi completely erased the imagination from his mind with a bitter, desolate smile. He saluted and turned around.

“Yes, then I’ll be on my way.”

* * *

As if waiting for the seasonal festival to end successfully, summer arrived.

As the sweltering heat and humid winds began to blow from the south, sweat started to pour even when standing still.

The heat in , being in the southern part of the empire and adjacent to the Red Mountains, was so intense it brought tears compared to when I was in the central region.

The faculty officially approved the wearing of summer uniforms. There isn’t a separate summer uniform; you just don’t wear the school uniform cloak like Kasena and only wear the blouse.

“See, isn’t it so much more comfortable like this!”

Kasena skipped ahead across the campus with a delighted expression.

Perhaps due to her strenuous rehabilitation efforts combined with the power of Magic-Protein [A fictional substance that enhances physical recovery], Kasena’s recovery was rapid. Before I knew it, she could run lightly like that without crutches.

I sighed, attaching the student council badge that had been on the cloak to the chest pocket of my blouse.

“You could wear that without a summer uniform order because you’re a young lady.”

“What are you talking about! You could too!”

“I can’t.”

“You can! If I ask my mom, she’ll make it happen!”

I closed my eyes and gave up on replying.

*What an incredible young lady!*

Why are parents so endlessly weak with their daughters… that’s why they become so spoiled.

*Well, I’m not in a position to talk.*

According to Pipi, Toureina also defied Friede.

But I remember raising Hana with extreme strictness, to the point of smacking his head even for one mistake… was that still being weak?

Hmm, I don’t really know what strict education is.

“But why have you been looking so sour lately!”

“Because the guy I’m looking for isn’t showing up.”

“Who!”

“Who else? The student council president.”

With student council activities entering a lull for two weeks after the festival ended, Valencidi hadn’t shown his face at the student council even once.

Most of the work was delegated to Felix, and although he said he would personally approve only important matters, there was no way there would be any important matters now that the seasonal festival was over.

I don’t know if that guy is intentionally avoiding me or if we keep missing each other, but I haven’t seen Valencidi since hearing those strange words back then.

But where could he go? Until he graduates from school, that guy is stuck here without a doubt.

Come to think of it, I’ve never thought about it deeply.

Why would someone as skilled as Valencidi have to spend three years at ? To enjoy his youth?

A black magician wouldn’t do that, and he’s not that kind of person in the first place. Then why? I’m here to legally see Lynn’s corpse….

– My mother’s masterpiece to receive Lynn’s soul is none other than me!

– This body is simply the reincarnation of the great magician Lynn!

Could it be that what Valencidi was aiming for was… *This is crazy,* a dumbfounded curse welled up.

And I dashed past Kasena, who was nagging about what I was thinking so hard about, and ran towards the school’s main building.

“Valencidi!”

Shouting as I threw open the classroom door, the 3rd-year students stared blankly at me.

“What’s that?”

“Is that 1st-year crazy?”

“Watch your mouth. That’s Prince Rain.”

If it were just a simple 1st-year, they would have disciplined him for this rude behavior, but things are different when the opponent is a noble from a powerful family.

In the midst of such whispers, a welcome face walked over. It was Maya Snark from the Ten Great Clans, who had just been released from her disciplinary confinement.

“Are you looking for Valencidi, Prince?”

“Yeah. Where is that bastard right now? Didn’t he come?”

“He was packing his bags and leaving earlier. I didn’t ask where he was going.”

Maya shrugged her glasses with a look that said she didn’t know either.

What?

Leaving the school without saying anything to anyone?

Feeling a strange premonition, I narrowed my eyes, and Felix, the vice president who had just returned, looked back and forth between Maya and Rain, puzzled by the situation.

“What brings you to the 3rd-year classroom, Prince?”

“I came to find Valencidi… but he’s not here.”

Then Felix’s reaction was somewhat strange.

“Oh, haven’t you heard? Ah, you wouldn’t know. It’s quite a shocking thing.”

“……?”

“The Papal State moved up the top graduate ceremony, so he just left for the Papal State in a carriage. I just came back from seeing him off.”

What……?

Just then, raindrops began to fall one by one from the dark clouds that had swallowed the sky, and dew began to form on the windows.

The end of childhood was approaching, for both Rain and Valencidi.

* * *

The sunlight shining into the underground temple through the cracks in the ground was strangely distorted and tangled, making the temple dark and eerie like night even during the day.

It was a place where the sinister myrrh smoke and the ancient yin energy were rampant as usual, but one important thing was different.

The hat-wearing shaman, who had always sat on the throne and watched the meetings of the shadows like an observer, was coming down the stairs dressed in women’s clothing.

“Everyone’s preparations are complete, right?”

Toureina asked quietly, smoking her pipe, and the figures wriggling on each throne prostrated themselves in turn.

[North, all clear~ Killed a hundred people~ and squeezed their blood diligently~ to draw the magic circle~!]

Always playful, Number 4.

[The south is also drawn securely.]

Always diligent, Number 5.

And the inscrutable Number 7.

[The east will be finished within two days. Haha, the surveillance of the ‘Golden Children’ is severe, so it’s been a bit slow, but we’ll finish it perfectly.]

Magic circles have been drawn in the east, south, and north, so now only the west remains, but there’s no problem since Toureina will create it when she moves directly.

The center of the magic circle is the Papal State.

The magic circle made of blood is a mixture of 5-star magic and 5-star sorcery, and if we list only the overall meanings of the ten runes engraved on it, they are as follows.

[Rift in the Axis of the World]

On the day of the event, a rift will occur in the seal of the Lord of Time, one of the forgotten kings. The world will face upheaval.

“Everyone has worked hard. Now, let’s meet at the Papal State.”

Toureina tightened the strings of Lynn’s hat and tapped the wall with Friede’s pipe to knock off the ashes, and a whirlwind swept through, extinguishing all the abyssal lamps that had been illuminating the temple in a blue light.

Then, her hair, which was once a blue color that contained the light of the sky but now was simply dyed in the abyssal dark blue, fluttered eerily.

In Toureina’s hand, which tucked the pipe into her waistband, a quiet spasm occurred due to the sorrow and joy of the upcoming meeting.

*Now, I will end this irrational story and bring back the story that should never have ended….*

* * *

Valencidi’s trip to the Papal State made me fall into deep thought for several days.

Is he really after Lynn’s corpse?

What is he planning to do?

The soul is here, so no matter what tricks he tries with it, nothing will happen.

*And in the first place, even though Valencidi is an incredibly skilled person, he’s nothing compared to the Light Dragon in the Papal State….*

Light Dragon Haraderiman alone.

One of the three Divine Dragons who received power comparable to divinity from [A mysterious group or entity], that power is truly so strong that it can be called a Divine Dragon.

If I had to compare, even if a hundred Valencidis rushed at him, it wouldn’t work. Not that that could ever happen.

*Not only Haraderiman, but the Papal State is also the headquarters of the Yellow Dragon Corps….*

The Divine Dragons each gave birth to and commanded five True Dragons as their children and confidants, and the True Dragons of the Yellow Dragon Corps, holding the title of Cardinal, have been called the five pillars of the Papal State and have guarded order.

*No matter how I think about it, I can’t believe that Valencidi is doing something against such beings.*

Valencidi is a sensible guy, so he definitely won’t rush in.

Then is this just a groundless fear? That damn kid, is he just going to look at my corpse and come back?

There’s no need to worry. The place where Lynn is isn’t just anywhere, it’s the Papal State… then who am I worrying about right now?

*No, something feels ominous. I can’t explain it, but….*

Should I chase after Valencidi to the Papal State even now? The Papal State is a week away, so it’s not impossible to go.

*No, if I’m going to decide, now is the only time, with exactly one week left until the ceremony.*

But if I do that, the problem is that I’ll be marked as absent from school without permission, making my position as the top student uncertain…….

– I’m proud of you.

– As expected of my bloodline!

Top student or whatever, I thought about just recklessly chasing after him several times, but each time, the faces of my mother and grandfather flashed before my eyes.

*Ah, this is driving me crazy…….*

As I sighed and tore at my hair, a sudden, intense shock ran down my back.

“What?”

When I turned my head irritably, I saw a familiar lavender face.

Kasena Page.

Before I could even recognize her and say anything, she grabbed the back of my neck and ran out of the classroom.

“No, wait, wait a minute. What are you doing right now?!”

“Rain has been sighing for three days straight, and I can’t stand to watch him so pathetic! So I’m going to make it so he can’t rest!”

“Taking a breather won’t solve anything….”

A deep sigh and an uncomfortable silence seemed to flow, but Kasena, who glanced back at me, had a relaxed smile on her face.

“I told you, my mom will do anything I ask!”

“……?”

“You wanted to see the president so badly, so I told my mom exactly that! So she’s sending both of us to the Papal State as student council representatives!”

Student council representatives?

What is that?

What answered that question was Madelia Page, who was waiting for us with the family carriage at the school gate.

“Originally, the student council executives would congratulate the top student on their top graduation and hand them flowers before paying respects to Lynn’s corpse. That was the tradition.”

“……?”

“But this time, a letter of objection came down from the Papal State.”

*Well, Haraderiman isn’t stupid either. He’s several times smarter than me, if not more.*

But that’s a bit of a shame.

If it were me, I would have just canceled this graduation ceremony itself in preparation for any possible situation…….

“However, in your case, your identities are certain, and above all, Cardinal Joshaur actively agreed to your visit.”

At that moment, I couldn’t help but smile brightly at the unexpected and welcome name.

Cardinal Joshaur.

A True Dragon who gave me the Stone Golden Staff when Lista received formal approval from the Papal State and the party finally set off for the Antarctic expedition.

*So the Papal State knew all along? That I’ve returned……!*

No, no. Let’s not jump to conclusions. I don’t want to be disappointed after getting my hopes up. I’m satisfied enough with having one old friend.

“I thought it would be a good experience for Kasena and you, so I hurriedly asked through the Griffin Knight. Are you pleased?”

Instead of answering, I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled.

And when I called that name loudly, soon a clear flapping of wings was heard, and a warm presence landed on the crown of my head.

Madelia and Kasena’s eyes widened almost simultaneously, and when Rain smiled and tilted his head, the parrot followed the gesture.

“Can my friend come with us too?”

“Together, together, together.”

Sun Conure, Pipi.

Madelia had a hesitant expression for a moment, but when Kasena looked at Pipi and her eyes sparkled with excitement, she finally laughed as if she was dumbfounded.

“Using my daughter as a hostage, you’re a bold one indeed. Alright, then. Have a good trip.”