The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 72

72.

“Rain, did you see that?! Did you see my magic?!”

I met Kasena again after the morning schedule of the final exams was over.

“Yes. You did well for a young lady.”

“‘For a young lady’? What’s that supposed to mean!”

Kasena sold a total of 19 scrolls, so she would easily rank in the mid-tier or slightly below the mid-tier in the final exams.

Generally, it takes a student 3-4 minutes to draw a magic circle on a scroll. No matter how many spells there are, it’s meaningless if you can’t draw the magic circle quickly.

That’s why, unlike the top students, ordinary students are only given 10 scrolls each, and the teaching assistants bring more when they request them.

‘Considering Kasena isn’t used to drawing magic circles quickly, drawing 19 is quite an achievement.’

It’s not like Kasena can use multiple calculations like me.

“The method of using dual runes, you taught her that, right?”

Madelia Page followed right behind and asked.

“Don’t deny it to make my daughter look good. It’s obvious.”

“Well… I only gave her a hint. The young lady found the answer herself.”

“No, no. You’re really amazing, Rain Ludwig. I’m surprised every time.”

At that awkward compliment, she nods with a satisfied smile. Not Rain, but the two girls.

“That’s right, Rain is amazing!”

“Did you just realize my brother is amazing?”

Kasena and Seri.

No, why are you two making those faces? Did you get the compliment?

“It’s been a while, Madelia-senpai.”

Just as I was about to make a face out of disbelief, I heard a kind voice. It was Brim Ludwig, holding a dozing Bran Ludwig in her arms.

“No, should I call you Your Excellency now?”

Then a bright smile spread across Madelia’s face.

“You can call me as comfortably as before.”

Brim, who always shared the top and runner-up spots with Kaven Ludwig, was a promising junior in the student council and had a close relationship with her.

When I heard that the two were getting married, breaking down the walls of status, I was so surprised… maybe I was even envious.

Madelia watched Kasena and Seri, who were clinging to Rain and chattering competitively, and smoothed her hair that was flying in the wind.

“Those youthful days have already faded, and now I’m at an age where I watch the growth of my daughter and son. Time is so cruel.”

Remembering the past that was as brilliant as it was missed, Madelia chuckled, and Brim smiled back.

“That’s good.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a smile on your face, senpai. It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.”

My smile……?

Madelia was startled and looked at Brim, then let out a hollow laugh and nodded in agreement.

“Yes, since your son came to my side, there hasn’t been a day I haven’t smiled.”

“Right?”

“So, I’m quite disappointed. Once you graduate, even if I want to keep you by my side…….”

Madelia muttered like that, then clapped her hands as if she had a brilliant idea.

“No, no. Why don’t we arrange an engagement between Kasena and Rain at this opportunity?”

The aftermath of the sudden bombshell was so huge that all the Pages and Ludwigs present widened their eyes.

“S-Senpai? I think I just misheard something?”

“You didn’t mishear! Kasena is a Page. Even if she marries into the Ludwig family, there’s no shortage of status, if anything, she’s ahead.”

“W-Well, that’s true, but.”

“And her beauty is decent, resembling me. She’s a perfect bride.”

Then she suddenly turned her gaze to Rain Ludwig.

“What do you think, Rain Ludwig? What do you think of my daughter?”

What is this……?

Marriage? I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t speak. Even in Rin’s time, I had never talked about marriage proposals.

Seri rushed forward, thinking that Rain was hesitating.

“R-R-Rain, Brother is only sixteen years old?!”

“Age doesn’t matter at all. Your parents started dating in middle school and got married as soon as they graduated from university.”

“U-Ugh……!”

It seemed that the young Seri had lost her strength when her parents’ case was brought up.

Seri looked at her mother as if asking for help, but Brim was also confused and couldn’t say anything.

Madelia, who had lightly defeated one enemy, turned to Kasena.

“Judging by your silence, Kasena also agrees to the marriage proposal with Rain, right?”

If this happens, this ridiculous marriage proposal will be invalidated without having to go around the houses.

Kasena doesn’t like me that much.

She’s always just yelling… Kasena is the key decision-maker in the Page family, so the moment the young lady says she doesn’t like it, it’s all over.

“…….”

But something’s strange.

The young lady, who is always noisy, has a slightly flushed face and is biting her lip, glancing at me as if she’s trying to read my expression. Is she sick?

“Rain Ludwig student?”

It was a third party who forcibly ended the bizarre situation whose beginning and end were unknown. To be exact, a teaching assistant from [the academy].

“The first round of the main competition will begin soon. Student Rain Ludwig, your order is number 1, so you must come to the secretariat immediately.”

Ah, come to think of it, the top student is always number 1 in the main competition.

Leaving behind Madelia, who was smacking her lips as if she was disappointed, and Seri, who was sighing in relief, I bowed lightly to my mother and followed the teaching assistant.

As I was about to leave, Brim asked an unexpected question.

“Rain, how is school life?”

How is school life… At that question, many things flashed through my mind, from the entrance exam to today’s final exam preliminaries.

“Before coming here, I only thought that there would be nothing to learn.”

Every day is new. Student council activities are also a new experience, and most of all, the exams give me the most enlightenment.

“Now that I’ve come, it’s not bad.”

Because life at school teaches me that there’s still a lot to learn, it feels like it’s telling me that I can go higher.

“If I had to rate it, um, it’s not bad.”

At Rain’s casual smile, Brim smiled back at the swelling feeling of pride in her heart.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

* * *

In the cold wind that doesn’t suit summer, the leaves of the forest sway eerily. Two footsteps permeated the middle of that sound.

“Yeah, you should have given up sooner. No one who catches my eye can escape.”

Tirintid, the heroine of the Special Task Force, stepped forward, lightly loosening her wrists, and behind her, the mustached man Runen spread a vast barrier over the area.

One can’t help but be overwhelmed by such a wide-ranging and rapidly deployed barrier. One can’t help but be terrified.

That is, if the opponent wasn’t this man.

“Escape? This Rivadin?”

The man standing in the middle of the forest clearing burst into laughter and threw back the hood he had pulled down deeply. Tirintid and Runen raised their eyebrows slightly.

‘That face…….’

‘What is it? It looks familiar…….’

It’s definitely a face without any special features, but it’s strange. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere…….

“I just lured you rats out of the city. So I can kill you comfortably.”

“Lure? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you know who I am and who he is?”

Even if Runen didn’t know, Tirintid was quite infamous among black magicians.

“Hehehe, originally, I was going to kill you the moment you started following me. But one cowardly rat kept nagging me. Telling me not to cause a disturbance in the city.”

Rivadin suddenly threw off the cloak he was wearing and took out two iron bars he was wearing on his side.

One was just long, and the other was long, but had a sinister crow-shaped piece of metal attached to the end.

It was a separable scepter.

As Rivadin combined the two iron bars and took a stance, an inexplicable sense of intimidation swept down the spines of the two Special Task Force mages.

“Senpai, I don’t think it’ll be easy to capture him alive.”

“I agree. Should we ask him before we kill him? Why are you targeting Rain Ludwig?”

Then Rivadin’s face twisted hideously, and dark blue phosphorescence flowed from his eyes.

“He’s my sister’s enemy.”

My sister’s enemy?

What nonsense…….

“I knew it, you can’t talk to these crazy black magicians. Runen, you take the left.”

The moment Tirintid made a hand sign while pretending to tie up her carelessly loose hair, a fierce explosion shook the forest.

* * *

The first theme of the main tournament, which was decided by lottery, was [Magic Battle].

“Hoo, a magic battle…….”

From the audience seats, the vice-principal of the Chaihark School stroked his chin with interest.

“It may seem like a violent evaluation method, but there is no clearer way to distinguish the good from the bad than a magic battle.”

Logan and Illyn, who were sitting rigidly next to the vice-principal, nodded.

“That’s right! The important qualities required of a magician are clearly revealed during the battle!”

The speed of casting magic, the ability to deal with variables, and even the individuality of magic… At that time, there was a huge shadow cast over the face of the vice-principal, who was disciplining his disciples.

“It’s been a damn long time, Vice-Principal Grandpa.”

The vice-principal’s eyes narrowed, and the next moment, the shadow’s upper body swelled up as if it would burst, and his shirt was torn off, revealing his burly muscles.

Immediately, the vice-principal also gave strength to his body, and muscles that could only be described as huge popped out, tearing his upper clothes to shreds.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh!”

Logan and Illyn admired the majesty of the muscles that appeared under the sunlight for a moment, with sparkling eyes of admiration.

“Kuh! A muscle salute that only true magicians can share!”

“I’m truly moved!”

Whether the young disciples were making a fuss or not, the two muscle men, who were carefully evaluating each other’s muscles, finally exchanged solemn handshakes.

“You still have excellent muscles, Owen. You are indeed worthy of being named the top disciple to become the next principal.”

“How the hell are your muscles still so fresh even though you’re so old, you old man.”

The people around them kept their distance, saying, “What, who are these crazy guys……?” Professor Owen took a seat next to the vice-principal.

“Did you see him?”

“You mean Rain Ludwig?”

“Who else would it be?”

As soon as that name came out, the east and west gates of the Yonghyeoljang opened at the same time, and enthusiastic cheers poured out.

“Oh, he’s out!”

“Rain Ludwig! I’m looking forward to it again!”

From the east gate, the black-haired beautiful boy Rain Ludwig walked out confidently, and from the west gate, the chestnut-haired beautiful girl Nora Reden walked out with a dancing gait.

“Nora Reden.”

The vice-principal of Chaihark crossed his arms and looked down at the latecomer of the rival school.

“As a latecomer of the Melebe School, she has been famous since childhood for showing violent talent in the school’s vision.”

The vision of Melebe is Injury Jurisprudence, a vision that makes the power of magic act as internal force rather than external force.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s magic specialized in slaughter…….”

Hmm, I wonder how Ludwig’s successor will deal with such a person.

“How about it, Logan? Who do you think will win, judging from your experience of facing the genius Gongja [a term for a highly skilled or talented individual] yourself?”

Logan straightened his back with a troubled expression. I want to side with Rain, a fellow muscle man, if possible, but…….

“Gongja Rain was definitely incredibly strong, but to be honest, I don’t know who will win this match!”

“You don’t know? What the hell does that mean?”

“As you know, the Melebe School…… In my opinion, this match seems too favorable to Nora!”

Meanwhile, Dadan Karain, the principal of the Rivendell School, expressed a different opinion from the opposite audience seats.

“But Ludwig’s bloodline limit is also a magical family that focuses on magical combat, so he won’t be such an easy opponent.”

While such speculative conversations were going on, the two students who would decorate the first match stood facing each other in the middle.

“Hmm, I feel sorry for you★”

“Hmm?”

“You’re the top student, but you’re going to be eliminated from the first round of the main competition♪ In front of so many people.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Because of me.”

“Because of you? Well, I wonder if that’s possible?”

A cold light flashed in Nora’s eyes as she smiled.

“Do you know? Magic researched for the purpose of learning and magic researched for the purpose of killing are fundamentally different.”

“Oh, I know that well.”

“Then you know this too★”

Nora suddenly brought her face close to Rain’s ear, close enough for her breath to touch him, and whispered.

“A Gongja who only knows how to imitate theoretical magic and the Osarius School can’t beat me even if he dies and comes back to life♪”

Then Rain spun the staff he brought as a weapon and put it on his shoulder, chuckling. Nora smiled back and asked.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You know, fighting guys who use magic developed for the purpose of slaughter was my daily life.”

Nora’s usual smile faded slightly as if she was dumbfounded by this ridiculous joke. But this is the truth, although it’s a story from 300 years ago.

“And I won every time.”

Except for the last one.

I don’t know who that guy is, though.

“So, I’m not worried at all that I’ll lose to you.”

As Rain nodded, Nora’s eyes shone coldly, and for a moment, her smile completely disappeared, revealing a creepy real expression.

“……♪”

Just in time, Professor Marchena nodded, and Professor Kyle shouted through amplification magic.

[Now, we will begin the magic battle between top student Rain Ludwig and 3rd student Nora Reden!]