The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 17

Episode 17

“Huh, a new member? Hmm……?”

Logan tilted his head in an arrogant manner, as if he found it absurd, but his eyes narrowed for a moment.

‘Christa Warden…….’

It was because of the brilliant girl who walked in behind the boy. Because of the existence that was like a collaborative achievement of the post-graduate talents of the Eight Great Factions [powerful magical families or organizations].

‘In that case…….’

Black hair and red eyes.

Ah, so this guy is the esteemed young master of the Ludwig family. A sneer formed on Logan’s lips.

“Ah, I was wondering who it was, but who is it? A failure…… Oops, my bad! Sorry. I have a habit of blurting out my thoughts.”

It was clear to anyone that it wasn’t a slip of the tongue but part of a psychological game. Logan smiled nonchalantly and pretended to be polite.

“As a disciple of the Eight Great Factions, I was wondering when I should visit and greet the noble young master in person, but this is perfect timing. But a magic duel, did I hear that correctly?”

Logan’s large frame strode forward and stood in front of Rain, casting an oppressive shadow.

Logan’s physique was a head and a half taller than other kids his age, so even Rain, who was above average height, had to look up at him.

“You heard right. You wanted to fight so badly, so I’m going to give you a chance.”

“Hahaha! So you’re saying you’re confident you can easily beat someone like Logan, is that right?”

Logan still had a sneer on his lips as he chuckled, but the laughter had long disappeared from his eyes.

“Should I give you a handicap if you’re not confident? Hmm, how about not using any combat magic?”

“Rain, are you out of your mind……?”

“Let’s do this. I’ll only use the magic developed in this club. Just three spells. How about that?”

“Are you serious?”

“Because I don’t think I’ll lose even if I do that.”

Logan blinked in disbelief, then burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“This isn’t a failure, it’s a complete…… Ah, sorry. Young master. Alright. But you know that admission requires three days, right?”

“?”

“So this can only happen as a magic duel between individuals.”

“Get to the point.”

“If the young master wins, great. I’ll give up this club. Not only that, but if other guys come to pick a fight, I’ll chase them away for you.”

Christa’s eyes narrowed. Offering such good conditions meant that there was definitely a price to pay.

What is required of the descendants of magical families is not only magical talent. Education is also important. Here, Rain is the direct heir of the Ludwig family.

If such a person submits a resignation letter to , not only would the family’s prestige fall, but even if he were to inherit the family later, he might not be recognized by other families or subordinate families.

“Are you kidding me? You’re just giving up a club─”

“─It’s okay, Christa.”

“Don’t you know what situation you’re in?”

“Do I need to know what situation I’m in? I’m going to win anyway.”

The phosphorescence that sparkled in Rain’s eyes at that moment was so chilling that Christa involuntarily shut her mouth.

“Don’t run away. You can decide the date and time.”

“Hahaha! That’s what I was going to say. I’ll get a professor to judge. Let’s meet at the Dragon Vein Field [a location known for its magical energy] at 6 PM tonight without delay.”

Then, Logan gave a clumsy, aristocratic greeting as if mocking Rain, and walked past them out the door.

‘I’ve caught a big fish.’

To drag the eldest son of a powerful family to the magic duel, and that too, Rain Ludwig, who is rumored to be a failure.

‘But I can’t deny that he’s a descendant of a powerful family.’

Traditionally, descendants of powerful families do not participate in magic duels unless they are openly insulting the family.

Because they have more to lose than to gain.

Of course, it’s not worth insulting a magical family just to have a magic duel. You would have no excuse even if you were expelled. The president of this school is from a magical family.

But this…… they made the first move.

‘The headmaster and elders will praise me immensely, right?’

If I defeat other family descendants who come to take revenge, I might be able to aim for the position of the next headmaster.

“Is this a really great day?”

Meanwhile, Christa, who was left in the club room, broke the silence by pressing her temples and sighing.

“You…… a magic duel, do you even realize your position?”

“A freshman at ?”

“Don’t joke around.”

“I’m not joking. What is it, then?”

“You are a child of a magical family just like me. Is it possible that you don’t know what our position is?”

Christa sighed, but when the boy did not respond and only looked at the research books on the club’s bookshelf, she felt a surge of anger.

“Ah, fine. Do whatever you want. It was my mistake to worry about you.”

As Christa shook her head and walked out, the boy tilted his head in confusion.

“Why is she angry? What did I do?”

“You did something that is logically incomprehensible.”

It was the small boy who picked up the glasses that had fallen on the floor who spoke. The seal engraved on his student ring was not a ‘sleeping dragon’ but a ‘dragon with wings spread’. That meant he was a sophomore.

“The children of magical families never participate in magic duels.”

“Why?”

“Don’t they have little to gain and much to lose?”

If the status was not the same, that is, if they were commoners, it was common to use honorifics to nobles even if they were seniors.

There were some nobles who used honorifics to commoner seniors out of courtesy, but they were a very small minority.

“So, I have more wariness than gratitude. Why…… did you help me? I don’t know why.”

Why did I help…….

For Rain, who had no eloquence in this area unlike Rista, it was a more difficult question than any math problem.

“I didn’t really help. It’s just that I remembered a homework assignment I had forgotten.”

“Homework? What kind of…….”

“It seems like that homework will be finished much faster and easier if this place remains. I’m just acting in my own interest, so don’t worry about it.”

If it were Rista, she might have said, do you need a reason to help people, with a bright smile.

I don’t know how to smile like that. I don’t know how to say that either. I don’t have the personality to smile and say that.

So, I’ll just live as a calculating human being like before.

“I appreciate the thought, but I think you’re underestimating Logan’s skills too much…….”

“What about it?”

“Logan is a Gang-type magician [a magician specializing in physical combat]. As you know, he has great compatibility with ordinary magicians.”

According to the club president, Joen, Logan’s magical skills as well as his physical abilities were so outstanding that he even went to study martial arts at one of the Republic’s Six Great Sects [prominent martial arts schools].

“So I heard that his win rate in magic duels with other factions is over 90%…….”

Joen leaned against the wall with a self-deprecating laugh.

“You did something too reckless against such a guy. I’m a guy who doesn’t deserve to be helped. I said something strange earlier…….”

“……?”

“I said something grand to Logan earlier, but it’s not really a grand club. I just grew up in the countryside. The villagers gathered money to pay for my college tuition.”

Joen said that he had joined this club to research magic in order to repay his hometown after graduation.

“Just for personal reasons…… pathetic, right? I’m sorry, young master. I’ll just go out for this magic duel.”

Joen smiled bitterly with tears in his eyes and fiddled with his broken glasses.

The chance of winning is zero.

But wouldn’t that win rate be even more harshly applied to Rain, who is called a failure? Since the club is going to end anyway, there is no need to cause trouble.

“That’s strange, why is that pathetic?”

At that moment, the voice resonated in his heart like ripples spreading on the surface of the water.

“Do you know why Lynn started magic?”

“The Great Magician Lynn? That’s…… because she liked magic since she was young.”

“No, at first she just did it to live. She finally got to sleep and eat like a human being, and she didn’t want to be abandoned. Desperately. She started to like it a little later.”

Rain’s voice, rummaging through the bookshelf with an indifferent expression, was somehow deeply submerged as if recalling distant memories.

“……? I haven’t seen a book with such a behind-the-scenes story.”

“You studied so hard, and at some point, you followed Rista, and at some point, you became a great magician.”

Rain opened a book with a flick, slammed it shut, turned to Joen, and chuckled.

“Just because you’re a senior, does that mean it can’t happen? It’s not like that.”

“……?!”

“I’ll borrow a few of these books. I need to get used to them if I’m going to use them in the magic duel.”

Even after Rain picked out a few books from the bookshelf and left, Joen remained unable to get up, staring blankly at the door he had left through.

His heart was beating quietly.

His whole body was quietly trembling.

What is this feeling? Rather than talking to a junior he didn’t know, it was like receiving advice from a great senior whose realm he couldn’t dare to recognize…….

* * *

“Rain!”

Rain felt an instinctive fear at the voice that sounded like teeth grinding and stopped. He glanced back and, as expected…….

“Aunt, how have you been?”

It was Elin Ludwig.

A beauty with sharp, cat-like eyes and a rebellious outfit.

She had the exact same physical characteristics as Rain Ludwig, such as long black hair and red eyes, and she was a professor at .

“Would I be doing well if I were you? Huh?”

She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him in, then punched the top of his head with her other hand.

“You’re going to fight the Eight Great Factions…… no, have a magic duel? Huh? The rumors have spread all over the school, but I must have heard wrong, right?”

“Surprisingly, it’s true.”

“Oh, really? I really can’t help it. Since our cute nephew has made such a big deal out of this, should we have a fun day of drinking?”

“Ah, ah, it hurts! It really hurts!”

“It’s going to hurt several times more than this if you fight Logan, what are you being so dramatic about, you idiot!”

Elin finally let go of Rain at that point, and Rain asked, stroking the bump on the top of his head as she sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“Did you come because you were worried?”

“Worried? Who was worried! Do you think I’m such a pathetic aunt that I was worried about a failure like you and asked the kids one by one where you went and waited for you? You’re mistaken, you failure nephew!”

Aunt.

You looked for me a lot.

As Elin turned around and tried to leave with angry steps, Rain said.

“I’m sorry, Aunt. I didn’t know this was something I shouldn’t do. I’ll make sure the family isn’t disgraced.”

Then, Elin’s steps, which were about to turn the corner, stopped for a moment.

“Well, whatever. I was getting a little annoyed at the guys who called you a failure anyway. Just a little bit.”

“…….”

“Now that you’ve done it, make sure you do it right. So that other guys can’t even think about crawling up for the rest of their lives. The name of the Ludwig family is on your back.”

Hmph, Elin Ludwig snorted as if to be heard by everyone and disappeared from sight.

The name of the Ludwig family…….

She said she couldn’t be honest, so she came because she was worried about the family. I have to make sure I don’t disappoint her and get cursed at for the rest of my life.