The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 80

80

“No way!”

Seri turned her head away, a pout on her face, pacing back and forth in front of me as if to make sure I noticed her sulking.

‘She’s only learned the bad things from her aunt….’

I glanced at Elin, the pioneer of such behavior, and she tilted her head, puzzled.

“What? What is it?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

All I said was, “Can’t we just skip the finals and go home?” Why is she acting like this? My mother asked with a worried tone.

“Just go home… I doubt Rain would say that without a reason. What’s wrong?”

I was immediately at a loss for words. I couldn’t exactly say, ‘A black magician is targeting you,’ could I?

That would trigger a massive investigation, but would Valencidi, who hasn’t been caught by the information networks of the Order or the Special Task Force, really be apprehended?

No, I’d just be seen as a weirdo. Then I’d get the nickname ‘Liar Prince’.

“I’m just… not confident.”

So, I made up an excuse.

Elin narrowed her eyes as if she couldn’t believe it, then smacked me on the head.

“What kind of weak talk is that coming from a Ludwig! You’re not just a member, you’re the heir! You’re going to be the head of the family! And you’re saying you’re not confident?”

“Ow, it was a joke.”

As a result of this conversation, I failed to send my family back to the mansion, and the next morning dawned.

Today marks the start of the second-year’s final exams, so it’s customary for the first-years to attend self-study sessions in their respective faculty buildings during the morning.

However, as a finalist in the valedictorian competition, I was summoned to the President’s office first, along with the other two finalists.

“Rain Ludwig, Crista Warden, Cayden. The reason I’ve called you here is to announce the topic for the valedictorian finals.”

Madellia nodded, and Kyle, the vice-professor standing beside her, handed each of us a document in an envelope.

[Beauty]

I cautiously pulled out the document. There was nothing but that rune scrawled on the pure white parchment, with no further explanation.

“…?”

I raised my head and tilted it, and Kyle smiled and opened his mouth.

“The topic is ‘Beautiful Magic’.”

“Beautiful Magic?”

“During the turbulent times of 300 years ago, technical magic was briefly neglected because it lacked practicality, but now that the era of peace has begun, its importance is being re-emphasized.”

That’s certainly true.

It’s a well-known fact that northern mages were more welcomed than southern mages among those serving on the front lines at the time.

Madellia gestured to continue the explanation.

“It’s also called magical craftsmanship. With magical craftsmanship alone, you can clearly grasp the caster’s ability—that is, their imagination, calculation skills, and the depth of their mana.”

Beautiful magic, huh….

As a northern mage who emphasizes practicality from birth, this was a truly difficult task.

“The finals will begin on Friday morning. Until then, do your best to think about what kind of magic you will show to the world.”

Madellia seemed to end her words there, but then she glanced at Rain and chuckled.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

* * *

“What’s with the sighing!”

I was just staring at the envelope on my desk with my arms crossed when a loud voice echoed, almost bursting my eardrums.

I knew who it was without looking.

Still, I had to show some courtesy, so I glanced to the side. Cassena, with her dazzlingly distinct features, was glaring at me.

“I’m just a little stuck.”

For the record, I’ve changed seats. Apparently, it’s the duty of the top student to help transfer students.

This is the end seat in the central row.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to take the window seat from Crista, so I barely persuaded Cassena to compromise and move here.

Now, Gertrude sits next to Crista instead of me.

“Why are you stuck!”

“I don’t know what beautiful magic is.”

“Beautiful magic? What’s that?”

If I knew, would I be sighing? Think before you speak.

‘I’m already out of my mind because of Valencidi….’

And why is the exam on such a strange topic? The situation is so serious that even the exam is a nuisance.

“To be so clueless about something like that, do you even deserve to be called my rival?”

A shadow fell over my desk, and when I looked up, Crista was looking down at me with her arms crossed in her usual arrogant pose.

“Hey! It’s dark, I can’t see the words!”

Cassena suddenly snapped. Crista glared back at Cassena and growled.

“You weren’t even looking at your book, what are you talking about?”

“I’m going to now?!”

“You’re lying! That’s such a stretch!”

Wow, they’re not even minding the difference in status and speaking so casually. It seems like same-sex friendships are easier than heterosexual ones.

“Hmm, now that I think about it, since the Young Master didn’t graduate from magic school, this topic might be a bit difficult for you.”

Gertrude Fenton, who was at least capable of normal conversation, said in a tone that seemed convinced.

“Do you know about it?”

“It would be strange if I didn’t. It’s a question that’s been asked at least once a year in magic school.”

“Oh… so what is it? Crista must know this exam inside and out.”

Crista scoffed and shook her head as if even that admiration was ridiculous.

“It’s not just that I know it inside and out, and it’s not just because of school.”

“?”

“Since I started magic, I’ve been working on this topic every single day.”

It wasn’t someone who had been here until now who responded to Crista’s bold statement. And it was someone who didn’t belong here either.

“That’s right♪ The Warden family’s bloodline ability is to summon inanimate objects, and the summon’s appearance is influenced by the caster★”

The owner of the singing voice was Nora Reden, the rising star of the Melev School.

While the three young ladies glared at Nora with wariness and embarrassment, Rain waved his hand as if he was glad to see her.

“Oh, Nora. You know quite a bit?”

“Hehe, knowing the prey’s information is an essential virtue for a hunter♪”

“Do you know anything about beautiful magic?”

“To put it simply, isn’t it about giving a more splendid and magnificent feeling even when using similar magic? It’s not difficult♪”

What? Since when were they so close that they were exchanging such friendly greetings? Could it be that the rumors of him being a womanizer weren’t false?

‘He’s really got his hooks in everywhere while I’m not looking….’

Crista shook her head, suppressing the questions bubbling up in her mind.

“It’s not always about being flashy and grand. The most important thing is precision. No matter how much you amplify the flashiness, it’s easy to look sloppy if the runes and mathematical formulas aren’t precisely aligned.”

“…!”

“And when it comes to combining runes and mathematics for beautiful magic, you need a lot of experience. It’s not something you can understand just by hearing it once.”

Recombining runes and mathematics?

That’s one of my specialties, I was starting to get a feel for it.

“Like this?”

Several beams of light flowed from Rain’s palm and merged into a magic circle.

The shape of the magic circle was a combination of circles and fan shapes, and the runes engraved were Evaporation and Departure.

Even Hubert, who had been glancing at this side since Nora’s appearance, twitched his eyes.

‘That magic he used on the first day of school….’

Crista also looked wary while being pleased, but soon crossed her arms with a relaxed attitude.

“That’s true, but it’s not enough. How about we determine who’s superior right now?”

“Superior? How?”

“Like this.”

Then, a spectacle of light beams unfolded on Crista’s palm as well.

The speed at which the magic circle was formed—that is, the speed of mental calculation—was three or four times slower than Rain’s, but it was still impressive that she could construct the magic circle perfectly without any mistakes.

With that, the top and second-ranked students formed a structure where they faced each other, revolving magic circles on their palms.

“Let’s get evaluated. Fairly.”

It was Crista who broke the magic circle first.

Evaporation—a hazy mist rose like bubbling water and scattered like cherry blossoms. Departure—spread in all directions like unfolding a pure white curtain, and then suddenly disappeared.

Rain also broke the magic circle and realized his ability… but something was different. Something that couldn’t be explained.

“The Warden girl’s was somehow more….”

“Lingering? Was it stronger?”

“Yeah….”

While the classmates were whispering like that, Cassena wore an expression that she couldn’t understand.

“What?! It’s the same magic circle and the same runes, what’s the difference?”

On the other hand, Gertrude, who had become emboldened by Crista’s victory, smiled arrogantly.

“That’s because of the difference in how the mathematical formulas are solved.”

“How the mathematical formulas are solved?!”

“One math problem can be solved with a simple formula like a linear equation, but it can be solved much more easily with advanced formulas like calculus or cubic functions.”

“…?”

“What does this mean? Depending on which formula you use, the visual result of the magic can have a subtle yet significant difference.”

“For example, Rain used ‘Frisen matrix multiplication’ for the core solution of the magic circle just now, while Crista used ‘general matrix’.”

“‘General matrix’ is several times more basic than ‘Frisen matrix multiplication’, so the number of formulas you have to use is longer and more numerous.”

“I, I know that!”

“This is applied to magic as it is, making the scattered mist spread more widely and for a longer time. That’s where the difference comes from.”

Ugh, I don’t understand what you’re saying….

Unlike Cassena, who was biting her nails because she couldn’t understand at all, something dizzying flashed through Rain’s mind, and his eyes widened.

“Ah, that’s where the difference is….”

This could be much more disadvantageous than expected. Rain and Crista lived in eras that were too different.

‘Because I always had to face actual combat, I’ve been learning advanced formulas that can solve problems several times faster than basic formulas….’

That’s how I was taught since I started learning magic. Northerners always emphasize the practicality of magic.

“I know everything—which mathematical formula to use to change the visual effect of magic… whether it disappears faster or slower.”

“…!”

“Rain, you may have a better understanding of runes than me, but I will never lose in this area because I’ve spent my whole life building up my skills here.”

Crista then glared at Cassena and Nora alternately as if she didn’t like them, shook her head lightly, and turned her body.

“So, this time, keep in mind that men and women should not sit together after the age of seven [a Confucian saying emphasizing separation between sexes after childhood], prepare properly, and come to the exam hall because it’s not an exam where unexpected variables work like in the preliminaries.”

As Crista left like that, Rain’s feelings became even more complicated.

Nothing is easy….

Then Nora smiled brightly and looked back at Rain.

“Hehe★ You seem to be in quite a predicament. Would you like me to introduce you to someone who can help?”

“Who is it?”

“Cayden.”

“Cayden?”

“Why, that guy who made it to the finals with you♪ The rising star of the Harimun School.”