The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 18

Episode 18

I realized I needed to properly understand the past, specifically the paths my companions had taken.

Before, I had been too excited and brushed it off, but the fact that Lynn’s biography and diary ended up here seemed strange no matter how I looked at it.

Fortunately, I was now in the perfect place to gather information. No, perhaps I should say the best place in the Empire.

The Delaiten Central Library.

As the largest library in the Holy Human Empire, it housed 58,422 ancient books and 274,443 books in general. This included various historical records and biographical dictionaries.

Those with unclear identities were not even allowed to view materials, but students had full access, except for the Restricted Archives.

“I’m looking for these books. Where should I go?”

I visited the library after class.

The Central Library’s First Archives was a multi-story structure with an incredibly high ceiling, and the bookshelves were a staggering 3.5 meters tall.

There were no lighting fixtures to prevent fires, but all facilities were made of dragon bone stone, which brilliantly reflected sunlight and moonlight, so the library was always as bright as day.

“This way.”

A librarian with an intellectual air adjusted her glasses and skillfully climbed up and down the ladders, finding the books I requested.

『The Life and Achievements of Palace, Keyes.』

『About Friede, the Shrine Maiden of the Fire Dragon.』

Looking at the titles and thicknesses of the books, echoes of the past resonated within me, and a wistful smile unconsciously formed on my lips.

– Let’s make a bet. On whose biography will be thicker later.

300 years ago… Friede had suddenly said something out of the blue. I remembered being so dumbfounded that I sighed.

– What does some evaluation made by people who don’t even know your face and are just trying to make money matter? Just say Friede won.

Then Friede covered her mouth and smirked.

– Oh my, are you not confident? Are you scared because your opponent is the legendary Shrine Maiden Friede? Hehehe!

– Oh, really? Want to try it?

Just as I was about to raise my eyebrows in annoyance, Rista, who was doing her hundred-swing training with a boulder attached to the massive blade of the Extreme Star Sword Shirping, spoke up.

– Then I’ll bet on Lynn.

Friede shook her head, saying that wouldn’t make the bet fair, but Rista’s eyes, as she wiped sweat from her face with a towel, were somehow filled with a distant look.

– I’m a Feykwarian, so I won’t live long. Keyes is the oldest in our party, so he’ll die after me. But Lynn is young.

– …….

– She’ll live longer than any of us. So her biography will be the thickest.

When talking about the future, Rista’s usual bright demeanor would disappear, replaced by an indescribably sad smile.

– I hope the day comes when I can see Lynn’s biography.

A trivial daily life on a sweltering summer day, a precious memory with the heat haze rising from the horizon.

It’s quite funny.

Contrary to Rista’s words, I was the first to die in the party… Without needing to check, my biography would probably be the thinnest.

‘Congratulations, Friede. You won. Unfortunately, I can’t pay the stakes.’

For the record, Keyes’s biography was slightly thicker than Friede’s. It might be because it was a book published in the Empire.

[1114, Establishment of the Palace Festival.]

Keyes was revered like the Saint of Archery, and after getting married, he opened a dojo and produced many disciples.

‘Idiot. He could have made a fortune teaching people how to drink well.’

It seemed Keyes had the same thought.

No, he went even further and taught archery and drinking at the same time. He founded a school called Drunken Archery… which was literally a way of shooting arrows while drunk.

‘The end of the world is near.’

Surprisingly, the power of that school was so great that the two major systems of archery collapsed, and three schools, including Drunken Archery, dominated the Empire’s archery world.

‘This thief, he even married a noble who was twenty years younger and had descendants…?’

It seemed those descendants were inheriting the position of head of the Drunken Archery school. It was a relief to know he lived happily and died in the arms of his family.

Keyes’s life was simple. On the other hand, Friede’s was somewhat strange. Her death was not certain.

After the expedition, it was certain that she led the Republic for a long time as a shrine maiden, traveling between the Red Mountains and the Red City of Shuriganakyus [a major city known for its fire magic], but she disappeared suddenly in 1168.

[And since she did not appear until 1200, the Republic’s Witch Association officially announced Friede’s death.]

It was strange that this psycho, who loved flashy and conspicuous things, had met a quiet death. Did her personality change in her later years?

“Should I look for books from the Republic?”

Just then, I felt a presence and looked up to see the librarian handing me another book.

“If you’re interested in Rista’s party members, you should read this too. I personally recommend it.”

A story about Rista?

I don’t need to see that….

I scratched my head awkwardly, but the moment I saw the cover of the book, my mind went blank and my pupils shook.

『The Life and Achievements of Toureina, the Shrine Maiden of Ash, Disciple of Lynn and Friede.』

In that instant, from the distant echoes of the past, the face of a girl with sky-blue hair, running wildly through a flower field, flashed through my mind.

– Teacher, Lynn Teacher!

That tiny, mischievous little girl became a shrine maiden…?

If mages exist in the Empire, then witches who control spirits with Dragon Tongue exist in the Republic.

Witches are classified into ranks: Apprentice Witch, Witch, Great Witch, and the highest of these is the Shrine Maiden. Only two Shrine Maidens exist in an era.

‘Did this kid become Friede’s successor?’

What was even more shocking than this meteoric rise was the length of time this girl had lived.

[1094 ~ 1413]

Is this even possible? Can a human live this long?

Did she develop some kind of immortality spell? Even more, if it’s 1413… that means she was alive when Rain was a baby.

My head was spinning, and my fingertips trembled slightly. It was the moment I swallowed and tried to turn the page.

Ding… Ding… Ding….

The sound of the clock tower signaling 6 PM rang out. Normally, I would have ignored it and focused on the book, but.

“Sigh.”

I had a date with that cocky junior today, so I had no choice.

Why did I do something so unlike Rista… It’s such a pain.

Cursing my past self, I found the librarian who had been cleaning the bookshelves with magic earlier.

“Is that book popular?”

“It’s not unpopular. But it’s not like someone borrows it every day.”

“Can you hold it for me for a bit?”

First-year students can’t use the lending service. To be exact, it’s available from the second semester.

“I have something to do. I’ll be right back, can’t you do that for me?”

The librarian looked at the clock with a slightly troubled expression, then reluctantly nodded after a moment.

“I can’t hold it for too long. I’ll keep it until someone else wants to borrow it.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t take long.”

Rain waved his hand as if to say not to worry and turned around.

“15 minutes at most?”

* * *

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Idiot! The trashy young master and the Chaihark musclehead are fighting!”

The Dragon Blood Arena was a massive dome-shaped stadium located in the northern part of the Delaiten campus.

A large-scale facility that could accommodate up to five thousand people in the stands, most festivals and practical skill tests were held here.

The reason Logan chose this place for the magic duel was precisely because of that.

“Today, I will show everyone the scene of this Logan beating up the young master of a magical family.”

Logan smiled, loosening his joints. Veins and muscles powerfully writhed in his thick, bull-like neck.

“But if it’s Logan against the trashy young master, the outcome is obvious, so why bother watching?”

“There’s a reason. When else would you see the pampered young master of a powerful family getting beaten up?”

“The outcome is obvious? Then let’s bet. I’ll bet three silver coins on Young Master Rain.”

“Are you crazy?”

“You’ll see who’s crazy when you watch.”

Unusually, not only students but also professors were seen here and there in the stands. Caroline and Owen were representative examples.

“Who are you here to support, Professor Owen? Logan, who is from the same school? Or Rain, who is your homeroom student?”

“I don’t care about connections, blood ties, or academic ties. I’m here to support the damn strong guy.”

“Hehe, I’m sure you are.”

Finally, Professor Theon began the ceremony in the center of the Dragon Blood Arena.

“This magic duel is officially recognized by the school, and the school will ensure that the conditions set by both sides are fulfilled according to the outcome.”

Professor Theon, who was in charge of judging this magic duel, was a middle-aged man with a consistently cold expression and few words.

“Both contestants, step forward.”

Logan was the first to step out. He had his school uniform cloak loosely draped over his shoulders, and when he threw it off, exclamations flowed from the stands.

This was because his muscular body, with its bulging muscles, was almost naked.

His upper body was covered only with rough bandages, and his lower body was just crudely woven leather pants.

“Wow, he came prepared.”

“Isn’t it a bit much for the trashy young master?”

“Well, Logan can barely compete if he does that.”

And the magic circles intricately tattooed all over his body. Wing-type mages augment their physical abilities by activating these magic circles according to the situation.

“So, you’re here, Miss.”

In a secluded corner.

As Gertrude Panton chuckled, Krista, who was wearing a bizarre disguise, flinched and cleared her throat, adjusting her voice.

“I’m not here because I’m worried. I’m here to see that bad kid get beaten up.”

“Yes, yes, that’s what you’d say~.”

“If you mess with me one more time, you’re dead.”

Across the stands, Professor Caroline narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin.

‘Wing-type mages are called the natural enemies of apprentice mages….’

Apprentice mages, who are still unskilled, inevitably have slow spellcasting times.

Wing mages, who engage in close combat without giving them a chance to use magic, were formidable opponents.

‘How will he deal with that?’

And finally… the moment Rain stepped out, a brief but strange silence flowed. Then, a boisterous burst of laughter erupted.

“What is that!”

“Are you kidding me?”

What Rain brought out to face Logan was… a broom. Not a broom with some kind of magical device like witches use, just a broom.

Even the students from Rivarden Magic School couldn’t help but tilt their heads, so it must have been an even stranger situation for the professor in charge of judging.

Professor Theon, who was staring blankly at it, gestured as if demanding an explanation.

“Ah, this? I borrowed it from the library for a moment. It’s good timing since I just finished cleaning.”

“You’re going to use that… in the magic duel?”

“Can’t I?”

“No, it’s not that, but.”

Other students laughed even louder, and Krista and Gertrude’s eyes lost their light. Logan also chuckled in disbelief and arrogantly put his hand on his waist.

“What, is that a sign that you want me to go easy on you? After all that bluffing? Fine, Young Master. Just don’t let me see you get hurt and forfeit.”

Clear contempt.

Then Rain sighed and scratched his head.

“Ha, ever since I came to college. As a senior, I can’t help but feel dismayed.”

“Senior?”

“Why are you youngsters so talkative these days? Mages aren’t witches who chant incantations, when did they become a species that speaks with their mouths?”

What… Just as Logan was about to get angry, Professor Theon immediately intervened and separated the two.

“Have both sides acknowledged each other’s conditions?”

If Logan loses, Logan will become a warrior of the Local Development Magic Club until graduation. If Rain loses, Rain will drop out of Delaiten.

“Yes.”

“Will you not dispute the judgment?”

“Yes.”

Professor Theon nodded and took a step back, then spread a barrier widely around the midpoint between the two.

“Then begin after a 10-second grace period.”

* * *

Delaiten Faculty Office.

Elin Ludwig’s assistant, who was organizing the faculty schedule and checking students’ assignments, asked with a puzzled expression.

“Professor, aren’t you going to watch? I’ll index and organize everything, so you can go.”

“Go watch what? There’s nothing to see. You’re just trying to slack off after I leave, you little rascal.”

“Ah, no! What do you take me for!”

While the spring breeze blowing through the wide-open window gently swayed Elin’s black hair, she closed her eyes and chuckled.

– Brother, Rain might be a vessel of the Sage!

Hmph… How great must his talent be for that stubborn father and brother to have reconciled? There’s no need to watch.

“No need to watch. The result was decided from the beginning.”