The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 261

#6 That Younger Sibling’s Epilogue.

“I pledge.”

The new year dawned.

As if conducting an orchestra, that clear voice made over three hundred students raise their right hands in unison.

“We, the entire freshman class, as proud students of [a prestigious magic university], pledge to abide by the school’s regulations and fulfill our duties as students. Freshman representative, Seri Ludwig.”

The title of freshman representative is an honor bestowed only upon the top student of the Empire’s premier magic university, .

In other words, only the most outstanding magician among their peers earns the right to represent the freshmen.

Feeling a strange emotion, Rain applauded, congratulating his younger sister’s future.

“Watching my sister grow isn’t so bad.”

Elin Ludwig, who was clapping more enthusiastically than Rain from the VIP seat next to him, snorted and raised her eyebrows.

“Trying to act like a good brother now? How amusing. Don’t even think about getting involved. I’m going to find satisfaction in Seri’s success to make up for all the heartache you caused.”

“Is that so? I was actually planning on being a bad brother for about another year.”

“A year? What’s with the year?”

Elin playfully retorted, wondering if he was joking.

“I have a promise with the Crown Prince… I’m thinking of going out to see the world for a while before then.”

“Goodness, that guy never gets tired. Again? So, you’ve seen all there is to see in magic?”

“It might be true for me, but it’s different for Nen and Mir. And for Aki too.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to show them the world. Because there are things only the world can teach. And I want to leave behind memories of our time together in every corner of the world.”

Elin sighed, realizing that joy and sorrow coexisted in the emotions conveyed in her nephew’s voice.

“But there are things the world can’t teach. Can you learn mathematical formulas from the world?”

“Aunt, you know, I went on a five-year journey. Looking back on those five years, it’s just five years out of my whole life, but those five years changed my entire life.”

Yes, it was those five years.

The five years I left the moment I met Rista changed my entire life.

If I hadn’t taken that hand back then, what would I be like now?

“I want to give those kids the same kind of five years that I experienced. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it well, though.”

Rain looked down at his palm.

He recalled the warmth of Rista’s hand, which had grasped his hand and led him out into the world.

The warmth of Headmaster’s hand, which had pushed him out when he went out into the world, overlapped with that warmth.

All I know about raising children is what I received from them. So, I’m just sharing what I received with those kids.

With that resolve, he smiled and clenched his fist.

“That pathetic nephew of mine can now make a fairly mature expression.”
A faint smile also appeared on Elin’s lips as she glanced sideways at her nephew. Of course, it was only for a brief moment.

“But it’s not five years, it’s two years, you idiot. Can’t you even do addition anymore? Ugh, you hopeless case!”

“Ah, sorry.”

“What are you spacing out for? You need to prepare too.”

Before those words could even finish, an assistant entered the VIP room and bowed politely.

“Would you please move to the podium? After the host finishes speaking.”

“Yes.”

Professor Kyle, who was hosting the entrance ceremony, announced that a special person would be giving a congratulatory speech at this year’s ceremony.

“The pride of our , the new Saint Sage (7-Star) magician, Rain Ludwig!”

A dazed silence seemed to follow, but as soon as Rain stepped onto the podium, a thunderous roar and applause erupted.

Saint Sage (7-Star), magician.

A sage who currently dominates the Empire, someone even the Elector Princes, the Empire’s highest nobles, have difficulty meeting.

“I don’t feel like I’m that great myself. In fact, I couldn’t even handle the first year at and ran away.”

Rain chuckled, and the students responded with gentle laughter, assuming it was a humble joke.

“You will learn mathematics at this school. But everyone, what you need to learn from mathematics isn’t just the arrangement of numbers and formulas.”

Then what are we supposed to learn?

As the students tilted their heads, Rain preached the truth to them without hiding anything.

“Possibility.”

Yes, possibility.

What I learned while seeing the world was possibility, and that is the door that leads to truth.

“Magic is not about seeing the world as it is on the surface, but about understanding the infinite possibilities that the world, relationships, and people possess.”

People don’t know the love of creation.

Magic and mathematics were created to make them understand that love, even if only through academics.

“That is what mathematics seeks to say, and that is the truth that magic seeks to teach.”

Ah, how beautiful.

That the continuity of mathematics signifies the beauty of the world.

I probably won’t reach the same level as Karen Den even if I live my whole life.

“Pursue that possibility with all your heart and soul. Because when you have that kind of sincere heart, magic will respond to your heart.”

But that’s okay.

It’s enough for me to convey this.

The only regret is that I couldn’t tell Headmaster about this truth.

– So, I hope Lynn will teach her someday. Lynn will surely be able to reach the truth.

That’s the only thing.

Yes… that’s the only thing.

A fleeting illusion appeared before his eyes for a brief moment, was it Lynn’s profile as she excitedly explained the truth to Headmaster and her fellow students?

Suppressing the tears that were about to well up in his eyes with a bright smile, he finished the congratulatory speech he had prepared all night.

“That’s all. I wish all the freshmen the best in their academic endeavors.”

To the students who had pursued magic as a science of reason, it was a somewhat detached and vague explanation, but there was a powerful force in those words.

There was a heart-stirring emotion.

There was a tremor of truth pulsating in their hearts, which not everyone had yet realized. Amidst the students’ applause, Rain exited.

‘Hoo…’

I really didn’t want to do that.

This kind of thing doesn’t suit me.

As he lightly loosened the tightly fastened robe and stepped out of the auditorium, he was able to meet some rather welcome faces.

“When I supervised your first exam, I vaguely thought this would happen, but I’m quite taken aback that it’s become a reality so quickly.”

The handsome vice-professor, Kyle.

As he shook hands with him, Professor Caroline, always with a gentle smile, approached.

“She won’t give up.”

“Pardon?”

“Crista Warden will definitely catch up to you. I can guarantee it. So, don’t be too arrogant just because you’re ahead for now.”

There shouldn’t be a realm beyond 7-Star…

As he awkwardly smiled and nodded, Professor Elin blocked Caroline’s path.

“How amusing! Do you really think that Crista can catch up to this Elin Ludwig’s nephew, no matter how hard she tries?”

“Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, you’ll only know who’s longer and shorter when you measure them.”

“Doesn’t our Professor Caroline know the famous saying that a crow-tit will tear its legs trying to catch up to a stork~?” [referring to someone overreaching themselves]

“You don’t need legs to fly. You just need wings.”

“Hya, she really won’t give up a single word? Want to get hit?”

The two professors exchanged sinister smiles, and for some reason, it felt like electricity was sparking between them…

“Ha! What a damn thing to happen!”

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps was heard, and soon a rather weighty hand struck Rain’s shoulder.

“To think that you, who looked dumber than a passing monkey, would become such a special big shot and appear before me!”

I’m really going crazy.

I just start laughing when I see this person. No, I just laugh when I hear his voice.

“Do I have to lick your shoes like a dog now? Please forgive me for treating you so carelessly, not knowing this would happen, huh?”

“There’s no need for that, Professor Owen.”

“There’s no need to hold back. Even a monkey knows that you came back here aiming for that.”

“I mean it.”

“Ha! I’m extremely grateful that you’re showing such mercy to this lowly professor. I’d even dance as a sign of gratitude.”

“Really?”

“Yes! This is a great honor that even my mother, who gave birth to me and took care of me every morning, couldn’t enjoy. Ha!”

“Is that so? If you’re really grateful, I’d appreciate it if you would refrain. Because that would be quite a terrible sight.”

“Are you saying that sincerely? This is your only chance, Rain Ludwig. If you want to insult me, now is the perfect time.”

“Honestly, I’d be a little disappointed, but I’ll boldly give it up for the sake of my respected professor’s honor.”

Owen began to laugh heartily, and Rain couldn’t help but laugh out loud as well.

Meeting and talking with the homeroom teacher I met for the first time in my life was a warmth different from any warmth I had ever felt in my life.

I realized that there are really various forms of warmth in this beautiful world created by the Creation Gods.

I wondered if this was how I would have felt if I could have met Headmaster again.

“I hate to admit it, but I’m incredibly happy to see your arrogant face again. Damn it.”

Owen grasped the hand he had extended so cheerfully. Respectfully, with both hands. Once a teacher, always a teacher.

“The same goes for me, Professor. I’m glad you look healthy.”

Around that time, the students who had finished the entrance ceremony were coming out, following the guidance.

Seri, who found Rain among the professors, immediately broke into a happy smile.

However, she quickly erased it and approached with a dignified and graceful gait befitting a noble young lady.

“Wow, it’s Lady Seri…”

“The immovable top student of Magic School…”

“I heard she’s already a Limites (2-Star) magician…”

The students’ murmurs reached Rain’s ears, and as soon as he recognized the presence in Seri’s direction, an exclamation close to astonishment arose.

“She looks so young up close, but her presence is no joke.”

“Did you hear? They say she crushed Griffin Valor when she was a freshman.”

“Hey, even if that’s the case, you have to say something that makes sense, come on.”

But they only murmured like that, and no one dared to come close, which was how frightening Owen was to the freshmen…

But Seri, who had two welcome faces, finally came close.

Elin grabbed Seri’s cheeks and threw a scolding compliment.

“Why are you coming here instead of going to your assigned classroom? Do you want to get in trouble? Huh? Do you want to get in trouble?”

“I, I’m sorry…”

“Did you think that if you came all the way here to say hello, this genius professor Elin would welcome you? Go right now!”

“Seri.”

The voice that stopped Seri, who was about to head towards the classroom as if being chased away, was Rain’s.

“Yes, Brother?”

“You’ll meet a lot of people while attending school.”

“…?”

“Your power, that talent, the light of magic, is not for showing off, but always remember that it’s for helping others.”

After saying that, his face turned red and he became embarrassed for no reason. He scratched his cheek with his finger and smiled awkwardly.

“I don’t know if I’m in a position to give you advice, since I only attended school for a year, and I didn’t even attend that year properly.”

But Seri nodded with resolute, shining eyes.

“I’ll become a student who isn’t ashamed of Aunt or Brother. Just like how Brother taught me magic back then.”

Ah, there’s nothing to worry about.

Children are truly amazing. They become adults in the blink of an eye… Aki was like that, and so is Seri.

“But didn’t Aki come?”

“He’s outside the school gate. Outsiders aren’t allowed during the entrance ceremony. I came for the congratulatory speech. Why, do you want to meet him?”

“Me? No, no, no. How can I meet him on a day like today? Someone might think I asked because I wanted to see Aki.”

Even though that’s what you want.

After seeing Seri off and greeting the professors once again, he left the school gate.

Miria was struggling to appease Aki and Setsunen, who were begging to see Rain, but as soon as they saw Rain, their faces lit up.

“Abat!”

“Justice!”

As he stroked Aki and Nen’s heads, Miria approached and asked.

“How was it? You worked so hard all night preparing.”

“I don’t know if it went well. Everyone responded because I’m a Saint Sage (7-Star), but…”

I wanted to meet Kasena on this occasion, but I heard that she left to become an adventurer after graduating from university.

“Then, now that all the work is done, shall we go?”

The promise made 300 years ago.

The promise to go see the world together. That promise that could only be fulfilled after 300 years.

Grasping the hand extended from that distant past, breaking down the barrier of time, he takes a step forward, stepping into the closed future (未來) [future in Japanese].

* * *

Around that time, the miasma that gushed out from the wide-ranging cracks in the Arctic was chilling.

The chains of radiance.

The being who was screaming evilly while his entire body was bound by those chains was the now-forgotten king.

Ru…

…Boa…

…………Karis…….

The thoughts deeply permeated by that miasma were the royal command (王命) [royal command in Japanese], and only the old nobles could dare to uphold that royal command.

「…….」

The miasma crossed the old king’s territory, crossed the , and landed above a swamp.

Where is its destination?

The old battlefield now covered in swamps, where a noble had been sleeping for an eternity.

The stake that had been piercing the heart of that noble, the Gwangseo Magic Circle (光緖法陣) [likely a magic formation name], began to melt due to the miasma…

The moment the stake completely disappeared, the eyes of the leading noble opened wide.