The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 81

81

“Beautiful magic?”

Brim Ludwig, who was spoon-feeding Bran oatmeal, asked back in surprise. Elin plopped down on a chair, huffing.

“That’s right… The theme for the top student finals is this. Isn’t this too much of a direct shot at Lane, no matter how you look at it?”

“There you go again, miss. How much do you think Senior Madelia cares about our Lane?”

“I’m not talking about the president, but the other professors! They must be jealous of Lane.”

Seri, who was eating a grilled garlic and herb salad for breakfast, tilted her head.

“Aunt, why is that?”

“Ugh, you hopeless thing! Don’t you know what our family’s bloodline limit [a unique, inherited magical ability] is? It’s power, power! It’s far from technical magic!”

On the other hand, what about the Warden family? As masters of inorganic summoning, they were, needless to say, a group of experts in magical craftsmanship.

And the Harimun School?

Since all League Wind types were experts in sound, they had historically shown tremendous strength in such exams.

“Does that mean that Oppa [Korean term for older brother, used affectionately by younger sisters] is at a disadvantage?!”

“It’s not just a disadvantage, it’s like everyone else is coming out with a sword and shield, and he’s fighting with his bare hands.”

Brim also tapped the table quietly with her fingertips, looking slightly worried.

“There was only one exam where I could beat him, and that was this one.”

Then Seri’s expression brightened for a moment.

“Then, can’t Mother help Lane Oppa? Just tell him what to do.”

“That won’t do.”

“Why?”

“Seri, a magician, you see, thinks about solutions alone in the face of life’s problems that block the way, agonizes, and grows step by step.”

It’s not just about solving one or two more math problems to grow.

“But……”

Brim stroked her daughter’s head, who looked sad as if she was just disappointed, and concluded.

“How can you call yourself a parent if you take away the opportunity for your child to grow?”

* * *

That evening, Lane was sitting on a chair in the dormitory, staring at the ceiling for a long time.

‘I was able to talk to Cayden for a while through Nora’s introduction, but it’s getting more complicated.’

At first, I thought he was just a taciturn guy, but it turned out he was born mute and couldn’t speak.

That’s why he carries a portable notebook and quill to communicate.

[It’s not that I can’t tell you what beautiful magic is for our school…….]

He was so expressionless that it seemed like he had no focus, but when he held the Seven Stringed Zither [a traditional East Asian stringed instrument], which symbolizes the Harimun School, his impression itself changed.

You could see the sharp blade shining in his eyes, which could only be seen in someone who takes magic seriously.

[The world says that League Wind types use sound to manipulate magic, but the order is wrong. They use magic with sound.]

– ……?

[There are invisible wavelengths in magic power, and do you know that those wavelengths touch the providence and realize abilities?]

League Wind types have been using magic by embodying such wavelengths with sound.

From there, the Harimun School uses the Seven Stringed Zither, which has the most strings among the schools that handle zithers.

It means that they can embody all the beauty of the wavelength and range suitable for fire attribute magic, and the strength and vibration suitable for earth attribute magic.

[Here, the range I can handle is 7 octaves.]

– Octaves?

– In a scale, it refers to an interval of 8 degrees up and down★

Whether Nora explained it for a moment or not, Cayden continued to write his words in his notebook.

[The fierceness of fire and the calmness of water, the vastness of the earth and the freshness of the wind…… I can express everything I want with music.]

– ……!

[To be honest, the moment I received the theme…… I was sure I would win. I’m not very interested in the top spot, but I’m sorry. My teacher is here, so I can’t just do it casually.]

That’s how I tasted a feast of sound that was several times richer, more brilliant, and more beautiful than Yanar, whom I met in the escort.

I was newly impressed by the fact that the world of magic is truly vast, and at the same time, I fell into agony, forgetting even the flow of time.

‘Crista is several times superior in terms of visuals, and Cayden is absolutely advantageous in terms of hearing…….’

Can I bridge this huge gap with only a day left?

Crista said.

That she had built it up her whole life.

Maybe Cayden’s skills are backed by that much time…… Magic is always honest.

‘What do they not have, that I have?’

All I can count on as Lynn’s specialty are attack magic to destroy enemy lines and defense magic to block such attacks…….

‘No, what is beauty to me in the first place?’

Before thinking about beautiful magic, let’s start with that. Beautiful things, things I thought were beautiful…….

‘If it’s beautiful, Lista?’

No, does it make sense to think of people? Not people, but something…… Was there anything I saw or heard that almost made me cry?

– Lynn, this way! Look at these flowers!

Suddenly, Lista’s voice brushed past my ears, and the blade that had been ruthlessly piercing one side of my soul trembled and pain rushed in.

– It’s too romantic a flower garden for a kid like Lynn who has no charm to see.

That’s right, Friede.

That flower garden that I saw with you guys that day…… It was too beautiful a flower garden for me as a kid to know.

A smile from longing came out. At that laughter, Pipi, who was dozing off on Lane’s head, woke up.

“Pipi, do you remember that flower garden we saw before crossing the continent?”

“Flower garden, flower garden, flower garden.”

Chuckling, I put on my redstone glasses and took out a brush and ink. It was something Casena had given me as a gift.

The red shimmering crystal gathered the faint light of the night and focused it on where the wearer’s gaze reached.

My eyes are so unbelievably comfortable even under the midnight lights…… I don’t think there would be any problem even if I stayed up all night studying.

“I’m going to try to create that flower garden with magic, so can you look at it and compare it for me?”

Dandelions bloom across the horizon.

Birds chirp as if singing.

Lista’s firm yet warm hand grabbed my arm…… I’m going to try to draw the scenery of that day, the most beautiful day of my life, with magic.

* * *

The 2nd grade final exams, excluding the top student finals, were also wrapped up. Perhaps because only selected students remained, the consensus was that it was an obvious result.

The finalists were Sandra Keppel, Triwis, and Oldin. All of them were the top, runner-up, and 3rd place winners of the midterm exams.

Perhaps because more expectations were focused on the 1st grade finals, called the Golden Generation, the Dragon Blood Arena’s spectator seats were a great success from the morning.

“ 1st grade 1st semester final exam top student finals, I will now introduce the contestants.”

As Vice Professor Kyle, who had received the Ok sign from the organizing committee, said that, the audience seats soon became quiet as a mouse, but.

“Midterm exam top student, Lane Ludwig student.”

As that name was called and the black-haired beautiful boy walked out first, it gradually became noisy.

“Top admission and midterm exam runner-up, Crista Warden student. And midterm exam 4th place, Cayden student.”

Following him, as the dirt-colored haired beautiful girl and the boy with the Seven Stringed Zither on his back entered in turn, the cheers rose to the point where the stadium was about to be blown away.

“The theme for this year’s 1st grade top student finals is [Beauty]!”

Beauty…… Vice Dean Chaihark’s eyebrows, who was sitting in the audience seats, trembled slightly.

“Isn’t this theme more like a one-on-one match between Warden and Harimun rather than a three-way battle?”

Then Professor Owen, who was sitting next to him, nodded as if he agreed.

“If some other stupid bastard was the top student…… I would have thought so too, but…….”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t fucking know about this one. Because that fucking smart guy is sitting in the top spot.”

The spectators in the arena were also generally predicting Crista or Cayden’s victory, but they couldn’t help but have some expectations.

Why wouldn’t they?

The formidable multiple calculation skills that Lane Ludwig showed in the preliminaries had already left an indescribably strong impression on the magic world.

“Lane……”

Brim looked at her son’s back with her hands clasped together earnestly, remembering the past when she was also standing there.

‘Unlike the midterm exams, which are internal evaluations, the final exams can be said to be combined with external evaluations…… Because people in the magic world are watching.’

Because of that structure, the final exam top student inevitably means more than the midterm exam top student. Because you take the top spot in front of everyone.

“Mother, don’t worry too much! Oppa’s expression is so calm!”

Seri pointed to Lane’s expression, but Elin shook her head firmly.

“He has a calm expression, but right now, his head and heart are more noisy than the audience seats.”

Elin could say that for sure because she had also attended this top student finals every year during her school days.

Everything is poured out there.

The morning sunlight, the five thousand pairs of eyes, the emotions mixed with goodwill and antipathy…… You have to overcome all that pressure and show the best magic.

“Hoo…….”

Crista Warden took a deep breath, repeating the action of lightly clenching and opening her right fist.

She’ll make a decision here…….

Then, her eyes met with Professor Caroline, who was watching her from the other side of the audience seats. Her teacher who had been guiding her for nearly ten years.

‘Don’t be too nervous, Crista.’

‘I’m not nervous.’

She didn’t let her parents come. It’s obvious that it would only be a laughing stock if they came…… But that day of humiliation will be over soon.

‘Now, I just have to get over one wall.’

She glanced at Lane Ludwig. The descendant of a powerful family standing in front of a desk without a chair, just like her.

“…….”

In the judging panel, Professor Kyle watched such a scene with emotional eyes.

‘There is only one brush and ink on the desk. Nothing else.’

And the only sound you can hear is the sound of your heartbeat, which relentlessly pressures and urges you like the second hand of a broken clock.

‘Now, all the students can trust is the years they have built up so far.’

The extreme state of tension that only those who aim for the top can feel…… Well, what kind of result will come out this time?

“Then from now on, we will begin the feast of beauty that will cover the second sun of !”

As soon as Kyle’s command rang out, the three students raised their brushes almost simultaneously as if competing.

Crista with aristocratic elegance.

Cayden with melody-like softness.

And Lane with masterful discipline.

As the ink from the three brushes splattered in the air, the cheers reached their peak once again.