The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 64

64

“Director, this.”

The director of Special Task Force 1, Doran Slade, accepted the file folder handed to him by his subordinate, the magician Runen.

It was a damage report and a list of the deceased. It recorded the results of the recent killing spree that occurred at the Alliance’s frontier branch.

Scanning the list of victims, Doran quickly grasped the implications of the document.

“Hmm, it’s disguised as a retaliatory attack, but it seems the purpose was to obtain information, with a bit of misdirection on the side.”

“That’s right. And take a look at the names of the missing or deceased.”

There was no connection between the victims. Their origins were different, their ages were different, and their areas of activity were poles apart.

There was only one commonality: their names were all Rain.

The crows are looking for Rain Ludwig… Doran’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing cold pupils.

“I wonder what happened at that made the Black Church search so frantically.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to take protective measures? There are only two adventurers with the name Rain now, including Rain Wizark.”

“No, if we intervene here, they’ll immediately hide their tails. We’ll wait for them to take the bait.”

If my guess is correct… Tu Reina’s henchman is already inside . Since they’re so openly looking for Rain, that guy will start to move soon.

“But if we wait any longer, won’t Rain Wizark be in too much danger?”

“Well, we’ll have to see. But he probably won’t die or anything.”

Rain Ludwig is an extraordinary powerhouse, not befitting his young age. Perhaps it’s because he inherited magical talent from his parents… If he grows smoothly, he will surely become a leading figure in the magical world.

So, what we need to worry about now is the other Rain.

“I’ll go this way. You and Tirinted stay near the school and intervene as soon as black magic reactions are detected.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and try to capture them alive if possible. We need to find out how they’re trying to revive Lynn.”

I know the purpose. The problem is the process and means to achieve that purpose.

The opponent is a legendary miko [a shrine maiden] who has achieved legendary feats. We must assume the worst of the worst.

He smiles faintly but thinks gloomily.

‘To stop such a monster, maybe we should revive Lynn instead.’

* * *

“This is outrageous!”

As soon as the auditorium summons ended, I rushed to the president’s office.

After mentoring Kasena, visiting the president’s office became as routine as daily life, and the secretary didn’t particularly stop me, just announcing Rain’s visit and letting me in.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Madelia Page brazenly feigned ignorance.

“I’m talking about enrolling Miss Kasena in the school. And me being her mentor… ?”

“I was just following an old tradition. It just so happened that you were the top student after she enrolled.”

Is this really a coincidence? If someone else had been the top student, would Madelia have taken such a risk?

Reading this expression of mixed emotions, Madelia sighed and gave a bitter smile.

“Actually, it’s true that I was able to make this decision because you were there. Kasena wanted that too.”

“Even so…”

“She’s my daughter, so she definitely has the aptitude. All I want you to do is help her avoid embarrassing herself in the upcoming final exams.”

Is that as easy as it sounds?

Kasena certainly inherited the best lineage as a magician, but in the current situation, it was questionable whether she could compete with other students.

As I closed my eyes tightly with a headache, Madelia finally said in a soothing tone.

“Of course, I’m not such a brazen person as to simply ask for a favor without offering anything in return. How about making a second deal with me?”

“Yes?”

“Dennis, bring the brocade curtain.”

Then, Secretary Dennis brought a badge made of purple silk. It was an item with the Page family crest, intertwined golden roses, embroidered in a luxurious manner.

“This is a pass that allows you to freely access the forbidden books in the central library. Of course, only up to Type 3, Heom.”

“???!!!”

“You’re the same kind as me… You have an endless thirst for knowledge. How about it, don’t you want to have this?”

Like dangling a fish in front of a cat, Madelia shook the badge in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t help but drool.

With such good deal conditions, there’s no reason not to agree. Can things really work out this easily and well?

Think about it. How much did I struggle just to get one book from Tu Reina… And I can read those books as much as I want?

‘Wait, this is the devil’s temptation.’

It’s the devil’s temptation.

It’s the devil’s temptation… sob, I can’t resist it.

My trembling hand was reaching out towards the badge on its own.

“Actually, I wanted to teach the young lady more myself. I can’t miss such a good opportunity.”

Then Madelia blinked in disbelief.

“I was worried that you might be stubborn like your father, but I like this.”

Soon, she gave a sly smile. The contract was established.

“Of course, I used it as bait, but this is only a fraction of the reward I should give you.”

“Reward? What reward?”

“Are you even trying to be humble? Hmph, we’ll talk about that after the final exams. Both you and I will be too busy to rest until then.”

I didn’t think deeply about what she meant. Right now, it was more important to enjoy the feel of this badge in my hand.

“Hehe.”

Without even trying to hide my expression, I stroked the badge repeatedly, left the president’s office, and closed the door.

“What are you smiling like a fool about?”

Then I heard a voice from the side, and for a moment, I blinked in surprise. Kasena Page was standing there in her school uniform.

‘Hmm, it suits her better than expected.’

The only difference is that she’s not wearing the pure white school uniform cloak?

I don’t know if it’s because it’s uncomfortable to use crutches, or if she just doesn’t like wearing it because it’s cumbersome.

As I scanned her blouse-clad figure up and down, Kasena didn’t try to hide her excitement.

“Today is a school tour! Rain is my guide, so he has to show me around everywhere!”

She’s talking so loudly that my ears hurt. That’s why a sigh came out on its own.

“What! Why are you sighing!”

“Miss, do you not know what situation you’re in right now?”

“What… what is it?”

“The final exams are in two weeks. And I was asked to make sure you don’t embarrass yourself in the final exams. But a school tour? Do you have 72 hours in a day?”

It was a specialty from Lynn’s days to make fun of other people’s mistakes.

‘I’ve been refraining from it since becoming Rain.’

Kasena made a flustered expression, mumbled, and then pouted her lips sullenly.

“Ah, I know! I was just joking!”

Okay, okay.

Is it really a joke?

But I don’t know why she looks so dejected.

“So, where are you going now?”

“I have to go to the classroom. I skipped it today because of the briefing, but it’s the first class time now.”

“Ah, I know!”

I thought she was going to be dejected again, but when she started to see the Dragon Sleeping Hall (龍眠館) [the first-year undergraduate building], her eyes started to shine brightly.

She even fussed over tidying up her school uniform as she watched the students entering the Dragon Sleeping Hall from afar.

I thought she would never be able to come to in her life, so I wondered if she would have new feelings… I just chuckled and didn’t say anything.

“Wa, wait a minute!”

As she was about to open the classroom door, Kasena quickly stopped her, put her hand on her chest, and quietly took a breath.

She was a young lady who still had the honesty and shyness of a six-year-old girl.

Thinking so, she finally nodded to indicate that she was ready.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The classroom, which had been noisy with talk about Kasena, changed to a fierce silence as soon as the two appeared.

The fact that these two appeared so friendly was also proof that the rumors that had spread throughout the city in the past were true.

Christa Warden was one of the people who blankly watched the scene, and Gertrude chattered beside her, thinking it was a very interesting situation.

“Oh my! Does that mean the rumor that the two of you were trying to elope was true?”

Rain didn’t really care about other people’s gossip, but he was a little worried about Kasena, who was quite conscious of other people’s attention. But it seemed like there was no need to.

“Wow……”

She admired in a hushed voice. A classroom, a classroom. I’m in that classroom that I’ve always dreamed of… Kasena pointed to the window seat.

“A classroom is all about the window seat! I’m going to sit there! So Rain, come with me!”

Kasena’s innocent adventure was soon blocked by a huge mountain. A mountain called Christa, who walked over with her arms crossed arrogantly.

“Rain, I need to talk to you.”

Kasena instinctively felt a strange sense of rejection at the point where she called Rain’s name so affectionately. Kasena’s eyes narrowed.

“Rain is talking to me?”

As Kasena stood in front of Rain, blocking her way, Christa’s eyebrows were raised involuntarily. The two people’s eyes intertwined and sparks flew.

“It’ll only take a moment… ?”

Even Christa belatedly added honorifics. The only families that don’t have to use honorifics to the Page family are the five Seonje families [powerful, influential families].

“Do you have 72 hours in a day?! What do you mean a moment! The final exams are coming up soon!”

Rain was dumbfounded and glared at the back of Kasena’s head. Those were the nagging words I said earlier. Are you in a position to say that?

“Th, that’s true, but……”

Christa was momentarily speechless at the unexpected right argument.

‘They’re fighting……!’

‘Warden and Page……!’

‘Because of the Insung Gongja [a respectful title for a young master]……!’

The classroom students swallowed their breath, the late-stage exponent of the Rohwinoem faction [likely a reference to a political or philosophical group, but without more context, it’s hard to adapt], Wibere, frowned as if he was dumbfounded, and Gertrude covered her mouth and suppressed her laughter.

Thinking she was riding the wave, Kasena looked at Christa up and down and turned to Rain with suspicious eyes.

“Rain, who is this woman who looks like an evil woman?! Are you close to someone like this?”

“Ah, an evil woman? I’ve heard it all! The one who’s like an evil woman is the one who says such things to someone she’s meeting for the first time!”

In fact, they had met once.

But at that time, Christa had no special characteristics in terms of skill or appearance, while Kasena would be remembered by everyone just for her hair color.

“That side? To put such undignified words in your mouth, there’s no need to say more! So, what’s your relationship with Rain?”

“Re, relationship……? I’m a rival! A deadly enemy who fiercely competes for the top graduation! What about you, what’s your relationship with that guy?”

Rain, who didn’t care whether the two were getting angry or not (he doesn’t really care about others in the first place), immediately drew a firm line when his problem was involved.

“No, that’s not true.”

No one was embarrassed by the word same-age tutor, but the most shocked was Christa Warden, who learned about life from novels.

Tutor, tutor?

For Christa, a heterosexual tutor was the perfect greenhouse for love to grow. How many stories deal with this regular material?

“I see. So, Rain Gongja has been keeping our young lady in suspense for these 40 days and has been straddling other places?”

Gertrude nodded as if she understood and strangely summarized the point.

“Wh, what nonsense are you talking about again!”

Christa raised her fist, and Gertrude ran away like an arrow.

But it wasn’t wrong. Christa had been working hard on mathematics, saving her sleep, while watching Rain always dozing off at school….

Christa, who suddenly became the center of attention of all her classmates due to Gertrude’s slander, had a face that turned as red as a carrot.

“I, I, I……”

“I?”

Rain, who was not interested in the squabble of these daughters of the Se-ga [powerful families] that everyone was paying attention to (he doesn’t really care about others in the first place), yawned lazily, sat down, and took out his textbook.

“Men and women should not sit together after the age of seven!!!”

Christa grabbed Rain by the collar and started shaking him like crazy.

“You, you! What the hell are you doing without studying?! What, what were you doing?! What about the match with this Christa Warden?!”

“No, so, this is, I would say it was an act of God……”

“Act of God my ass! Don’t you even know that men and women shouldn’t sit together after the age of seven!”