Chapter 75
“Dear, how long do you plan to stay at the Magic Tower? Do you have anything else scheduled?”
Grandma Eleanor smoothly changed the subject.
I wanted to pry into all sorts of things, but it didn’t feel like the right moment, so I changed the subject too.
“Ah, yes. Actually, Dean Raymond and I are planning to stop by the auction house.”
“The auction house?”
“Yes. The dean said he’d buy me some ancient spellbook or other—something called the Book of Microcosm, I think.”
At my words, Grandma nodded, looking pleased.
“Mm-hmm. A good book. It’ll surely be a big help to you, since you’re researching space.”
“...Ah, yes... research... I should.”
I gave an awkward laugh and trailed off.
In truth, I was planning to learn only the subspace-creation spell and resell it, but there was no need to say that out loud.
“Then what about you, Grandma?”
I finished my tea and asked Grandma.
“After I’m gone, are you going back to sleep... no, I mean, back to your magic research?”
“Hmm. I don’t think so.”
No sooner had I emptied my teacup than Grandma refilled it and said,
“I slept too long, so I need to catch up on the Magic Tower’s work. I also need to look after our poor children in the Illusion School, who’ve been feeling down... and more than anything, I should prepare for a trip to the Imperial Palace, shouldn’t I?”
“The Imperial Palace? Why would you go there?”
“Why else? You’ll be attending your great mage investiture ceremony, won’t you, dear?”
...Huh?
Wait. I think I just heard something weird.
“Investiture ceremony?”
“Yes. It’s the glorious occasion where His Majesty the Emperor personally bestows your title.”
“Whose investiture ceremony?”
“Whose would it be? Yours, of course, dear Lunaris.”
“N-no, wait. Didn’t it end once I was verified by the Magic Tower?”
Becoming a great mage really is hard.
Why are the procedures and steps so complicated?
Isn’t it enough to just use top-tier magic properly?
“Oh dear. Our girl didn’t know, did she? Formally granting the title of great mage and bestowing the various privileges is the imperial family’s prerogative.”
Grandma explained gently, as if teaching a granddaughter who knew nothing of the world.
“It can’t be helped. Great mages and sword masters—people who’ve broken through the wall and are beyond the norm—have to be identified and managed at the imperial level, after all.”
“Ah...”
“Did Raymond not explain that to you?”
Now that she mentioned it, I think I may have heard something like that.
...I was distracted by subspace and let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Um... could I just not become a great mage?”
“Well, I suppose that would be fine.”
I got an answer I hadn’t expected.
I thought she might at least start talking about authority like Vice Tower Master Wilhelm, or lecture me like Dean Raymond.
“What’s so important about a title like great mage? Whether you get it or not, the fact that you’re a remarkable mage doesn’t change.”
“...Really?”
“Of course. To me, you’re a cute little Lunaris now and always will be.”
Embarrassed for no particular reason, I scratched my cheek.
“Still, personally, I’d like to see you shining brightly at the Imperial Palace.”
“...Urgh.”
“I mean, I’d like for lots of people besides me to know just how amazing a mage you are. Hehe.”
...Ah, that’s cheating.
If she’d just told me flat-out that I had to go, I probably would have dug in my heels and insisted I wasn’t going. But saying it like this makes me feel like I have to go.
My heart’s softening for no reason.
This old lady really knows how to handle people.
“...If I go, I just have to stand there, right?”
“Of course. You just stand in the hall, get a robe, and that’s the end of it.”
In the end, I could only nod.
Still, well, if it’s just this one time.
I do want to get a little closer to Grandma Eleanor too.
...And maybe at the Imperial Palace, I’ll be able to hear more about what Grandma thinks of me.
*
It’s the third day since I came to the Magic Tower.
Yesterday, with nothing else on my schedule, I spent the whole day giving statements about the train terror incident.
And today is the day of the auction.
Together with Dean Raymond, I headed to the 20th floor of the Magic Tower, the commercial district.
As expected of a place where money changes hands, the other floors had a pretty gloomy atmosphere, but this place was quite stylish.
The advertising slogans on the wizard boards floating overhead flashed on and off, and the floor was paved with top-grade marble.
Various stores lined the streets.
Some sold bizarre magical tools and rare mana stones.
There were even street stalls selling alchemical catalysts like dried mandrake roots.
I could even spot tents dealing in magical creatures.
“Mm~ the smell of luxury~”
In the middle of the street, Dean Raymond took a deep breath and looked blissful.
“Haah... it feels like my mind and body, worn down by the mortal world, are getting healed.”
“...I feel like this is about as worldly a place as it gets.”
“That’s how I feel, how I feel! Anyway, let’s go!”
The dean started walking ahead, energized.
I thought we’d be heading straight to the auction house, but then he suddenly changed course and.
-Ding.
swung wide open the door to a luxury boutique.
“Welcome! No, wait, isn’t that...? Elder Raymond Cloud, is it not?”
The moment Dean Raymond and I stepped inside, a clerk in uniform hurried out to greet us.
“It’s been so long since your last visit!”
“Hehe. I’ve been too busy this semester to make it here.”
The dean lifted his chin haughtily and continued.
“Since I’m here after such a long time, I’d like to look through the latest arrivals. Let’s see, bring me a catalog.”
“I’ve been keeping a separate catalog updated just for you, Elder.”
The clerk bowed at the waist and handed the dean a thick booklet.
“This season’s theme is official-event formal wear and accessories?”
“We heard you’d be visiting the Imperial Palace soon in your capacity as the youngest great mage’s mentor, so we prepared accordingly.”
At the clerk’s flattering words, the corners of Dean Raymond’s mouth nearly reached his ears.
The dean pretended to be dignified, coughed lightly, and slyly placed both hands on my shoulders.
“Yes, indeed. I’m Raymond Cloud, the one who taught the youngest great mage, Lunaris, after all~ That’s right. Ohohoho!!”
Watching him laugh loudly enough to shake the store, I slapped my forehead inwardly.
How should I put it... I don’t really like saying this, but he feels kind of pathetic.
“Overall, this is all fine. The selection is excellent.”
The dean flipped through the catalog in a flash, then ran his finger down the whole page.
“Please send every item in this catalog, in every color.”
“Thank you as always, Elder.”
Both Dean Raymond’s outrageous order and the clerk treating it as if it were perfectly normal.
Anyway, they’re both insane.
“As usual, shall we send the items to the top floor of the Elterion Academy’s Magic Hall?”
“Do that. We don’t have much time, so I’ll add the express delivery option with warp magic as well.”
The dean pulled a check from his pocket and, without hesitation, scrawled his signature across it.
“Charge the full amount to the Imperial Bank all at once.”
“Thank you as always, Elder.”
We left the store, leaving behind the clerk, now bent more than 90 degrees at the waist, practically folded in half.
“Haah~ Nothing relieves stress like shopping. This sense of fulfillment... hehe, ohohoho...!”
The dean’s face, after breezily completing the payment, looked as refreshed as if a decade of accumulated indigestion had vanished.
“Are you really okay spending money like that? You really are going to buy my ancient spellbook, right?”
“Lunaris, what do you take me for? Something like that is nothing at all.”
In response to my worried question, Dean Raymond snorted.
“Right, when you get back to the academy, stop by my laboratory for a bit and take a few things you like.”
Our dean really is generous.
Even after we arrived at the auction house, the VIP treatment continued.
The entrance of the glamorous building was guarded by tough-looking guards, but we got through just by giving them a quick look.
At least on this 20th floor, Dean Raymond is the one in charge.
“Welcome, Elder of the Elemental School, Great Mage Raymond Cloud. And the person beside you is...?”
“This is my prized disciple, Lunaris Evermoon. I guarantee her identity.”
“Ah! You’re the one the Magic Tower’s been buzzing about lately...! It’s an honor to meet you!”
Come to think of it, people react the same way everywhere.
They grovel before Dean Raymond, the VIP customer—no, the VIP mark—and then repeat the same pattern of being shocked by me, his student.
We followed the manager’s guidance down the VIP-only corridor.
We went up one floor by the stairs and entered the waiting room.
According to the dean, it’s a room provided only to a small number of VIPs.
Regular customers place their bids on the open floor in front of the stage, but VIP customers make confidential bids from their assigned private rooms through representatives, apparently.
I decided not to ask exactly what he normally buys to get this treatment.
No doubt he buys a ton of useless stuff.
“The auction will begin shortly, so please wait a moment.”
Not long after the manager who guided us in left, another clerk came in carrying a tray with wine glasses on it.
“I brought your usual 30-year Château Bruyère.”
“Ah, not today. I’m here with a minor, after all.”
The dean replied, waving a hand lightly.
Come to think of it, the age of adulthood in this world is 18.
I’m only 16, so I really am a minor.
“My apologies. I had no idea someone on the verge of advancing to great mage status would be a minor.”
“Hehe. That makes sense. We’re here today to buy a gift for my student, after all.”
“You’re an excellent teacher as well.”
At the clerk’s professional flattery, Dean Raymond hummed happily.
I think I finally understand why the dean was so eager to bring me to the Magic Tower.
Soon, a thick leather-bound booklet was placed on the table.
It was a catalog containing the items up for auction today.
“Want to take a look? There should be quite a few interesting things besides the Book of Microcosm.”
At the dean’s suggestion, I also examined the items in the catalog.
There were all kinds of magical tools, the latest inventions, objects imbued with mystery, and even cursed artifacts. There was certainly plenty.
There wasn’t anything that particularly caught my eye.
Putting aside the fact that I didn’t really understand most of it, the auction starting prices ranged from dozens of gold coins to as many as hundreds or even thousands, which left me breathless.
“Ah, just so you know, I may not be able to buy it after all. They don’t accept checks here.”
Okay. Scratch the whole lot.
“Thank you for waiting! I’ll show you today’s first item right away!”
...But that resolve...
“As you can see, it’s an unidentified egg—we don’t know what kind of life will hatch from it—but the life force and mana density condensed inside are anything but ordinary!”
The instant I saw the dark, dingy egg appear with the host’s lively voice, my resolve shattered.
“Highly recommended for mages of the Life School who study rare creatures! And for collectors seeking a special uniqueness of their own!”
That... that’s Nebula’s beast egg.
Why is that... why on earth is that here?
“Since it’s our first item, we’ll start lightly with a bid of 20 gold coins!”
“I’ll bid.”
The instant the host finished speaking, I called over the clerk waiting beside me.
“20 gold coins.”