Chapter 27
First, Levia and I heard additional details about the situation from Daphne.
Daphne had been working hard on research for a submission paper to the magic tower.
However, Kailyn ended up presenting that paper first.
Daphne was feeling very bewildered.
She said she didn't know what to do, so she came to find someone she could think of.
This was the reason Daphne came to us.
Hmm... So that's what happened.
I thought it was quite a unfortunate situation.
To have one’s research results stolen…
Certainly, that couldn’t be said to be nothing.
I offer my sincere condolences.
But...
Is she that kind of person?
I couldn't help but feel something was off about this situation.
Because I wasn’t yet convinced that Kailyn was that kind of person.
Did Kailyn really steal it?
I wasn’t defending Kailyn, but in the original story, Kailyn didn't do things like stealing research results.
Later on, there was nothing the notorious villainess Kailyn wouldn't do, but at least at this point in time, she didn't do such things.
Kailyn started to go astray when Daphne, not Kailyn, was chosen as a member of the hero's party.
Since that hadn't happened yet, I didn't think there was a reason for her to go astray like this.
In that sense, I was somewhat worried.
Has it changed a lot from the original?
Could it be that the story had changed because I interfered too much?
Just the fact that Daphne came to me like this shows how different it was from the original, without needing further explanation.
I think in the current situation, nothing would be strange no matter what happened.
I'm not sure.
Anyway, nothing was certain.
I couldn't ignore the possibility that Kailyn didn't steal it.
It was a situation where I couldn't give an answer for various reasons, but for now, it seemed there was no problem even if I didn't give an answer.
"I... I'm sorry. The more I think about it, it seems like it was my misunderstanding. There's no way Kailyn would do such a thing. It seems the topic of our papers just happened to overlap."
Daphne had been crying and complaining to us for a while, but now she started defending Kailyn.
Saying our Kailyn would never do that, that she must have misunderstood.
"Daphne..."
"I'm really okay, I tell you? We shouldn't suspect people without evidence. It was my mistake..."
Levia looked somewhat worried hearing Daphne's words, but Daphne said she was really okay and moved past the situation.
Since she was saying this herself, it would be meddling to get between Kailyn and Daphne.
Anyway, the incident seemed to be wrapped up like this, but it wasn’t like there was no problem at all.
"Thank you for listening."
Now that she had said everything, Daphne was about to leave, but Levia called out to her again.
"Will you really be okay?"
"Yes...?"
"As far as I know, don't you get expelled from the magic tower if you don't submit a paper?"
"..."
Levia looked at Daphne with somewhat worried eyes.
Saying, wouldn't it be a big problem if you didn't submit a paper?
Hearing that, I also thought that might indeed be the case.
The magic tower evaluates strictly based on ability.
The magic tower that appeared in the story was not such an easygoing place.
Being a mage itself was a symbol of the elite in this world.
The magic tower was a place where only the elite among the elite gathered.
Naturally, when one enter the magic tower, one had to prove that they deserved to be there.
If not, they’d inevitably be expelled.
There are no exceptions, even for the tower master's daughter.
Of course, Daphne was the tower master's hidden illegitimate child…
There was a secret that not many people know, but she shouldn't hope to avoid expulsion from the magic tower because of that.
The tower master didn’t particularly take care of her as his daughter either.
So in the end, if things continued like this, Daphne would certainly be expelled from the magic tower.
"..."
Anyway, Daphne remained silent at Levia's words that hit the core of the issue.
There was nothing wrong with what she said.
Daphne knew better than anyone that she would be expelled.
So she showed a somewhat depressed expression, but she didn't particularly show it and said, "I'll... I'll be fine. Even if I don't submit a paper, there's a way to not get expelled from the magic tower."
Saying she'd be fine.
Saying she could avoid expulsion from the magic tower by another method.
Certainly, there was one other way to prove oneself at the magic tower besides submitting research results.
That method was...
"If it's that method, don't tell me..."
"Y-yes... I'm going to take the combat practical exam."
It was the combat practical exam.
They highly value combat ability too.
While the magic tower was basically a group of mages who did research, it was also a group that highly valued the military power created by magic.
Because of that, even if one didn't produce research results, if one could prove one’s strength, one could remain there.
Daphne was now saying she would stay at the magic tower by that method.
Not a bad method.
I also nodded to some extent at Daphne's words.
If she did well in the combat practical exam, she probably wouldn’t be expelled.
Moreover, there was no way Daphne wouldn't pass that exam.
She should have the ability to pass.
Wasn't she originally the talent who became the mage of the hero's party later?
Of course, since she wasn’t part of the hero's party yet, she might show many immature aspects, but still, she had the ability to pass the magic tower's combat practical exam.
In many ways, it was the most suitable method for now.
But...
Hmm... I wonder if it will go well?
Actually, there was one big problem with this part.
"Isn't that fought in pairs?"
"Yes..."
"Do you have someone to go with?"
"..."
Daphne didn't have anyone to take the combat practical exam with.
Basically, the mage’s combat practical exam was taken in pairs.
After all, mages weren't the type to fight alone, were they?
When preparing powerful magic, someone to protect the mage was absolutely necessary.
Therefore, the combat practical exam must consist of a mage and someone to escort them, and they must fight like that.
But the important thing was that Daphne didn't have such an escort.
"Ugh... I don't... sob..."
Daphne couldn't answer Levia's question.
Her eyes started to moisten again.
We already know, don't we?
That Daphne's relationships were very limited.
There were only three people who talked to her.
Me, Levia, and for now, Kailyn.
Because she was somewhat clumsy in human relationships, she didn't know a suitable escort.
One might think she could hire one, but she was originally a commoner.
Of course, she didn't have money to hire such an escort.
So it was a difficult situation again.
Levia looked at Daphne with pity.
"I'd like to go with you if I could..."
Levia's words must be very sincere.
After all, she was in a position to handle holy power.
It wasn’t escorting by holding a sword, but she could protect Daphne with a barrier while she prepared magic.
Levia also had quite strong holy power.
Surely, she could fulfill the role of an escort sufficiently well.
But, she couldn't step forward.
"That won't work... Levia, you're a person of the church."
"I guess that's right?"
The church and the magic tower were very uncomfortable entities with each other.
Originally, in any world, religion and academia were bound to be somewhat opposed.
This world was no exception, and it was said that they used to have a terrible relationship.
Although that relationship seemed to be easing a bit these days, there were still probably many conservative people in the magic tower.
From that standpoint, it would be quite uncomfortable for a cleric who believed in God to come to the magic tower's combat practical exam.
So it was becoming troublesome again, but…
"..."
Why do the two of them keep glancing at me?
As I was starting to realize that this conversation wasn't entirely unrelated to me, Levia was the first to ask me for a favor.
"Brother. Please. Help Daphne."
It was her request for me to help Daphne.
"I don't want to see a mage like Daphne being expelled from the magic tower like this."
Levia was asking me to help Daphne as her friend.
"Alright. I'll be your escort."
Of course, I couldn't refuse.
Well, there's no choice.
How could I refuse Levia's request?
And I couldn't let Daphne be expelled from the magic tower at this point.
Wasn't she supposed to become the mage of the hero's party later?
The reason I couldn't refuse was very clear.
"Wow! Thank you so much. Davian... sob... I'll definitely repay this favor."
"No, it's nothing."
Daphne was overjoyed hearing my words.
In the end, I became her escort and agreed to take the magic tower's combat practical exam together, but
So it ended up like this?
But I wasn't feeling entirely comfortable.
That was because this combat practical exam, as far as I knew, definitely...
I'll meet Kailyn again.
Because Kailyn would participate too.
It seemed I'd meet her again.