Chapter 57
Precious Things
“Morgan Dial.”
The name that came out of Lotus’ mouth was indeed unfamiliar to Riche.
“Of course. If it was Ian’s name, I would have heard it by now.”
During a break after one morning class, Riche stopped sorting her notes and sighed. The words didn’t seem to sink in.
“Tari Che. You’re participating in the Kselfon, right? Did you submit your application?”
Izra, sitting next to her, asked.
Once shocked by Riche’s affinity with magic, Izra was now an old story. There was no rival for Riche except for Tari Che, and Izra always stuck by Riche’s side.
“Seems like you dislike them, but still, you’re taking care of them. That’s unusual.”
Pythonus, who was listening in Riche’s pocket, murmured.
“Yeah, I submitted last week. Izra, aren’t you participating?”
Although always seeming less involved compared to Riche, Izra was also quite skilled in magic. She had participated in the Kselfon last year, so Riche thought she might participate again.
“I was late to Professor Rumble’s class last time. That’s why the professor is watching me closely. If I miss one attendance this semester, it’s a D.”
“Wouldn’t participating in the Kselfon affect your attendance?”
“It doesn’t affect attendance, but it does affect Professor Rumble.”
“Should I talk to the professor for you?”
“No need.”
The witch with purple eyes remained unchanged over the years.
Although Riche found it too much, Izra seemed calm.
In fact, Riche had been making excuses not to participate upon hearing that Riche was going. She didn’t see the point in participating in the Kselfon with such an obvious outcome.
Izra seemed to think it was time to drop the subject and brought up another topic.
“What did Duke Lodwick say?”
“He wished me luck.”
Remembering Blake’s words over the communication device, Riche replied.
She thought Blake might oppose or worry about her participation in the tournament, but he supported and respected Riche’s decision.
“But don’t get hurt.”
Surprisingly, there was someone who expressed concern with a touch of anxiety.
Upon hearing about Riche’s participation, both Duke Hibernus and Duke Serdia immediately contacted her.
As a Lutium, Riche’s proximity to another country worried them.
“Come with me.”
“But, Duke Hibernus. I’m participating without a guardian…”
“If you don’t have a guardian, what about a wolf! Call me your pet!”
“Haha. Where does that arrogant Duke Serdia think he is, trying to surpass me?!”
“Thank you very much, but my squirrel might get scared.”
She had a bit of trouble refusing their offer to accompany her to the tournament venue.
If she hadn’t refused, they might have offered to participate on her behalf.
‘Of course they’re worried. Because I’m a Lutium.’
It worried her, even if people didn’t know she was a Lutium.
During the time when the great stars came to the academy to find their vessels, Riche had thought that her identity would gradually spread among the powerful and the closest circles.
However, news was surprisingly confined to the principal, the families of the powerful, and their closest associates. And thus, she spent seven years in secrecy.
‘But it’ll eventually come to light.’
Blake was already 41. Deon’s former generation of powerful individuals were reaching or had surpassed forty, prompting some to doubt the lifespan of powerful individuals.
Regardless, it seemed like they would keep her secret until she graduated.
“What about Senior Dercadian? But he probably wouldn’t care much about your participation in the tournament.”
“That’s…”
Riche hesitated and then spoke.
Recently, there was something that worried Riche more than the Kselfon.
“My brother hasn’t been in touch.”
Where he was and what he was doing, she couldn’t reach him.
Philip, who went down to the fiefdom with her, was the same.
“Senior Dercadian? …And it’s been about half a day since he didn’t contact you?”
“It’s been about a week.”
“A week?”
Izra couldn’t believe Riche’s answer.
At first, rumors circulated that Dercadian disliked his commoner sister, but after seeing the two together for years, students couldn’t help but notice.
‘Dercadian really adores his sister.’
So the rumors that Dercadian was a fool for his younger sister quietly spread among the students.
Of course, it was taboo to speak about it in front of the parties involved, especially not in Deon’s ears, but still.
So Izra’s surprise at Riche’s words wasn’t unreasonable.
‘Doesn’t he contact Riche? Senior Dercadian?’
But it seemed to be true.
Riche let out a deep sigh.
She was worried. Deon wouldn’t let anyone push him around, but…
‘Where is he and what is he doing…?’
“Morgan.”
At the Udik Academy on the Pan Continent.
A brown-haired student called out to a blond-haired student resting on a bench after training.
The dazzling blond turned his head. Although beautiful, his face made the student hesitate.
After seeing it for six years, he was somewhat used to it, but occasionally, his heart would pound when facing it unexpectedly.
“Hamad. What’s up here?”
Morgan, the blond student, greeted him warmly but with a hint of curiosity.
Since Hamad was from the Mechanical Department, he rarely came to the Swordsmanship Department building.
“You said you wanted a small weapon last time, right? I wanted to show you the prototype.”
“Already? That’s fast. Thanks.”
Taking the weapon from Hamad, which could fit in one hand, Morgan expressed his gratitude.
It was the size of a grip that could be held tightly. After a brief explanation of how it worked, Hamad extended the wire of the weapon in Morgan’s hand to demonstrate.
“Before you go to the Kselfon, I had to make the finished product, so I worked harder than usual.”
As if to prove that statement, Hamad’s dark circles under his eyes were pronounced. It seemed like he hadn’t slept properly for a few days.
Seeing Morgan’s apologetic expression, Hamad waved it off, saying he had to. Then, he rummaged through his work clothes pocket and pulled out an item about twice the size of a coin.
“The ornament you requested is also finished.”
It was an ornament made by connecting two pieces of black glass and fixing them with a transparent liquid that solidified within a circular frame.
Morgan’s face brightened even more upon receiving the ornament than when he saw the weapon Hamad had stayed up for nights to make.
‘The reaction doesn’t match the effort.’
He seemed happier with the decoration, which couldn’t even compare to the weapon he had made after staying up for several nights.
‘Both of them were paid for with money anyway.’
Hamad shrugged and took a seat next to Morgan on the bench.
Meanwhile, Morgan started tying a leather strap to the ornament’s connector to hang it on his scabbard.
“I thought it was some special glass.”
Hamad commented as he watched Morgan’s actions.
“You’re the first one to bring your own materials and ask for an ornament. I thought it had to be some kind of gemstone. But it’s just regular glass?”
Morgan inspected the glass and said with a smirk, “Yeah, just ordinary glass.”
The sparkling eyes he had while saying it was ordinary glass. What was that about?
Although my life was limited to machines, I felt like I could understand Morgan’s reaction.
Hamad scratched his itchy nose and then remembered what he wanted to say to Morgan.
“Morgan, they say you might not win this time.”
“Why?”
“A famous person from the Roksha Empire is participating.”
It was something he heard during the morning practice.
Even though Hamad was only interested in technology-related matters, he couldn’t help but know about that person.
“You know, from the Roksha Imperial Family.”
“…A member of the Imperial Family?”
“Yeah, didn’t you know? They’re extraordinary individuals who go beyond human capabilities. They can turn into animals, stop someone’s breath without physical force, freeze objects instantly, see through—”
“I get it, Hamad.”
“You do?”
Then you should have said it earlier. Explaining it in a painful way.
Hamad stopped talking about the individuals with special abilities and was about to say something else.
“Anyway. They say a girl from that Duke Lodwick’s family is participating in this year’s Kselfon. Tari Che Lodwick. She’s 16, in the seventh year of the Royal Academy of Magic.”
“…”
Morgan blinked.
Hamad glanced at Morgan, thinking he might not know about it this time. Then, he decided to tell him more.
“Roksha Imperial Academy claims she’s a genius. They say her magic affinity is ninety-eight. Can that be possible?”
Hamad doubted what I said.
Maybe it’s a scheme by the Roksha Imperial Academy.
Since she’s a noblewoman, they might have attached an unrealistic figure as a form of promotion. After all, documents can be manipulated if you set your mind to it.
He thought that way, but seeing Morgan quiet, it seemed like he believed it.
Hamad patted Morgan’s broad back, which seemed pensive, and exclaimed.
“Morgan, I said it, but don’t believe it too much. It might be something fabricated by the Roksha Imperial Academy. The victory will still be ours, the Udik Academy. Because you’re here.”
“Well…”
“Trust me.”
Morgan Dial from the Udik Academy.
Their hero wasn’t the type to be overly enthusiastic, but now he seemed even less enthusiastic.
Hamad spoke firmly to Morgan again, tapping his back with determination.
“That so-called genius magician. You’ll surpass her, Morgan.”
* * *
Celebrating the Advancement of Tari Che Lodwick from the Royal Academy of Magic to the Kselfon.
“…”
Riche looked at the banner hung at the main gate with a bewildered expression.
The procession heading to the Kselfon, with Riche at the forefront, approached, and the principal came up to her, extending his hand to shake hers.
“I knew this day would come someday.”
What day is he talking about?
It’s the day when our Royal Academy triumphs over the Udik Academy.
The principal was so moved that he instinctively exerted strength in his hands, then quickly let go of Riche’s hand.
What am I doing to our treasure?
Meanwhile, the magic and professors, who were waiting to cheer at the right moment, rushed forward to Riche.
