Chapter 89
#89: Librarian Ernst (10) - Strict Conditions
The archmage's house atop the hill.
Mary Whiston, a teacher at the Aldridge Institute and one of Delphinaris's disciples, stared at her long-time master.
“Did you really have to do that? I'm not exactly close to Eris, but I do know how fiercely that girl worked to earn your recognition. She didn't have a single proper hobby, and she shut out the games that kids her age usually enjoy, repeating nothing but study and training over and over. Knowing that, did you really have to do that?”
At the rebuke, laden with reproach, the master averted her gaze and answered.
“Taking on a new disciple isn't a bad thing, is it? Eris is no longer the youngest, that's all. She is still my disciple.”
“If he were just an ordinary disciple, I wouldn't say this either. But that's not how you treat that boy Marik, is it?”
A gentle, good-natured mage.
That was Delphinaris's public reputation.
Mages who had reached around the sixth tier usually had some eccentricity or another, and Delphinaris had been given that assessment because she wasn't especially prickly or arrogant.
But Mary and the other disciples of Delphinaris knew otherwise.
They knew that the normally gentle Delphinaris could be firm and strict when she truly decided punishment was necessary.
That being gentle did not mean she could ever be taken lightly or mocked.
And yet, why was Delphinaris so soft with Marik alone?
“He may have exceptional talent, but his personality is rotten. He only pretends to behave when Master is watching; to the other disciples, he looks at them almost like underlings.”
“He's still young. People gradually grow into decent human beings by going through all sorts of experiences.”
“You just want to believe that, don't you?”
“……”
Delphinaris fell silent.
At the stubbornness radiating from the tightly shut line of her mouth, Mary let out a long sigh.
Unlike Eris, she had never heard what Delphinaris really thought about the imperial crown prince.
At the time, it had only been a slip of the tongue under a mixture of drunkenness and the presence of a close acquaintance, along with all sorts of other conditions; Delphinaris was not the kind of person who would normally go around saying things like that to her disciples, complaining that they lacked talent and so on.
However, Mary and a few others among the older disciples vaguely understood Delphinaris's impatience, and her fixation on talented disciples.
And part of the reason was that they themselves had not reached a level that could satisfy Delphinaris.
Because of the long life peculiar to a sixth-tier mage, Delphinaris only looked to be around Mary's age, but in truth she was already at an age where it wouldn't be strange if she were laid in a coffin.
For an old mage preparing for the twilight of life, how much must public judgments like 'a master with no luck in disciples' and 'a great mage lacking teaching ability' have been a source of bitterness and hurt?
This wasn't something words alone could solve.
“Please take this.”
“…What is it?”
Mary did not answer Delphinaris's question after holding out the letter.
She merely gestured with her eyes as if to say she would know once she looked.
Delphinaris, though puzzled, took out the letter and checked its contents, and soon her eyes trembled.
「Please come watch this mock battle. -Eris-」
It had only gone through the formalities of being put into an envelope and sealed with wax, but the letter's contents themselves were simple enough to be called a note.
And yet the lingering impression left by that short sentence was anything but simple.
“Her eyes were full of resolve, fear, and courage all mixed together. Just by meeting her gaze, I could tell how much she'd agonized over sending that letter, and how long she'd hesitated before asking me to deliver it.”
Even long after Mary had left the manor, Delphinaris quietly stared at the letter for a very, very long time.
***
Some students might not admit it if you said a class trip was really just a group outing, but the essence of a class trip is learning.
In other words, the point is to visit ruins or museums, look around, and learn from them; courage tests, campfires, and pillow fights are no more than extras.
Likewise, the mock battle between the student representatives at the institute exchange did not carry all that much weight.
It drew quite a bit of attention as a kind of closing event and a bit of eye candy for the higher-ups, but in terms of time it was only a tiny portion.
Most of the exchange schedule was taken up by lectures, discussion sessions, joint classes, and the like, which bored many students.
As for the demon contractor, Marik Grimlun, it had become painful enough to go beyond mere boredom.
Damn it. They should just wrap this up already and hurry to the mock battle—why were there so many pointless procedures!
He wanted nothing more than to kick his seat and storm out right away, but that was impossible.
If he pulled a stunt like that in front of so many important people, even Count Grimlun, who was completely intoxicated by his adopted son's magical talent, would surely explode in anger.
On top of that, there was the contract with the demon.
[Oh, friend. Just bear with it a little longer. Your grades are already hanging by a thread because you've been dozing off in theory class all this time, and if you don't show results at this exchange, then your chance to enter Celestial Academy will truly slip through your fingers.]
The demon Balzares spoke as always in a friendly, flippant voice, but with a subtle warning hidden in it.
[You absolutely must go to Celestial Academy and complete the tasks I've assigned you. You know what happens if you fail to pay the price properly, don't you?]
At Balzares's threat, Marik shrank inwardly, but answered with bluster.
'I know, so stop worrying and just wait!'
[Haha, yes, yes. Sorry, I sounded like I was rushing you!]
After that, he spent some time handling the tedious schedule one item at a time.
Upon spotting someone in his line of sight, a smile appeared on Marik's lips.
An appearance and aura so striking that she stood out enough to be recognized at a glance even in a crowd.
Marik strode without hesitation toward Eris, the beauty with dazzling crimson-and-gold hair, and greeted her.
“Hello, Miss Eris.”
A quick glance, and those cold green eyes turned toward Marik.
Seeing her beauty even more up close, Marik admired her inwardly.
'I thought she looked good even when I caught a glimpse of her at the last gathering, but this is better than I expected. Her chest is a bit disappointing, but if it's just some casual fun once or twice, that's fine.'
Harboring such base thoughts, with no way of knowing how the person herself would react if she heard them, Marik went on with a smile.
“I was disappointed we couldn't properly greet each other last time. Is your body feeling any better now?”
“Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern.”
“That's a relief. Since it's lunchtime anyway, how about we talk for a little while?”
“I'm sorry, but I already have a prior arrangement with friends from my class.”
“Haha, you can meet your classmates anytime, but the only time you can mingle with students from another institute is now. I'm sure your friends will understand.”
In tone alone, it was more or less acceptable compared to when he was at Delphinaris's mansion, but the content was extremely overbearing and selfish.
Because he was effectively forcing her to cancel her existing plans for the sake of a promise with him.
Eris's brow furrowed even more deeply, but Marik didn't care in the slightest.
Unlike a count, a great mage, or a demon—cases where one at least had to keep up appearances—in Marik's mind, Eris was already just a weakling beneath him.
“No, I don't think that will be possible.”
But even after repeated invitations, Eris ignored Marik coldly, and Marik in turn grew even more blatant.
“Are you really sure that's okay? Since we're both disciples under the same master, I was thinking I'd hold back a little in the mock battle so Miss Eris wouldn't be too embarrassed.”
She froze.
The body that had been continuing with businesslike responses stiffened.
Taking that as a favorable sign, Marik continued in a sly voice.
“The other senior disciples seem to be misunderstanding, but I'm not the type to go that far either, you know? If Miss Eris cooperates nicely, I can also keep it moderate—”
“Excuse me.”
In an instant, Eris's demeanor changed.
As the mask of the mysterious yet kind honor student came off and the tenacious, clinging anger beneath it revealed itself, Marik instinctively jumped in surprise and stepped back.
Toward that Marik, Eris was about to unleash a barrage of insults, but then she sensed the gazes around her and smiled faintly before speaking in a soft voice.
“It seems Mr. Marik hasn't learned the basic manners for treating a lady. Since that could tarnish the honor of my family and Master Delphinaris's name, I'd appreciate it if you would kindly refrain from doing that.”
Eris's voice itself wasn't especially loud, but her crisp, clear enunciation carried neatly to the ears of the people around her even amid the confusion of the crowd.
The people nearby, who had already been frowning at Marik's pestering, saw Eris's words and Marik's stunned face and couldn't help but smile.
Step, step.
Watching Eris's back as she walked away with a confident, graceful air, Marik belatedly realized that he had become the butt of the surrounding laughter and flushed bright red.
He ground his teeth.
'I was trying to be nice, and you dare ignore me!?'
I'll make you regret it.
Before everyone watching, I'll make that haughty face collapse so miserably it'll be left in tatters.
Brimming with malice, Marik suppressed the urge to slam a spell straight into Eris's face, waited, and waited some more, until at last the time he'd been waiting for arrived.
“Aldridge Institute representative, Eris. Rowton Institute representative, Marik Grimlun. Are both of you ready?”
“Yes. I'm ready.”
“Yes!”
Eris was as haughty as ever, while Marik was rough as though he wanted to tear into someone.
After the referee confirmed that both of them had finished preparing for battle, he gave the start signal, and Eris extended her staff toward Marik.
The moment he recognized the compressed water flying toward him in the shape of an arrow, the way to use it was instinctively etched into Marik's mind.
Just as a player who knows nothing about swordsmanship or magic can use a character's skill with a single hotkey, it was a power that required no understanding or analysis.
But Marik didn't stop there.
Because he had already made up his mind to bring Eris completely to heel.
Marik poured all the immense mana he possessed into the spell that was automatically taking shape.
And the next instant, the arrow that had been forming collapsed right where it was.
“Huh?”
Right after Marik let out a dazed sound at the unbelievable sight, the water arrow Eris had fired struck dead center in his face.
With the impact of being smacked in the face as if by a bucket of water, Marik tumbled across the floor without even managing to fight back.
A heavy silence fell.
Both those cheering for Marik and those cheering for Eris alike were left dumbfounded, unable to immediately make sense of this sudden turn of events.
Breaking that silence was Marik, who struggled to his feet, flailing as he rose.
“Ptui! Pah! What the hell is this!!”
Marik got to his feet with a voice full of irritation and glared at Eris with furious eyes.
But before he could say anything more, Eris fired off another spell.
The fist-sized mana bullet, with only a bluish aura mingling in the transparent air, was hard to make out with the naked eye, but that didn't matter.
Whether you couldn't identify it precisely or couldn't see it at all, the demon's power would come into play the moment you recognized that there was 'something like that'.
Having succeeded in copying it, Marik unleashed the spell with all the anger of having just been insulted.
Boom!
Once again, just as before, the spell collapsed without fail.
Thud!
Hit by a bullet of cold so piercing it seemed to reach the bones, white frost clung to Marik's face, which was still damp with water.
And from beneath it, blood began streaming out of his nose.
The sight, a perfect match for his eyes bulging in shock, was too much for several spectators, who couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, Eris shuddered inwardly.
Because she had confirmed that what Librarian Ernst said was true.
「To copy a spell 'exactly as it is' and return it with greater force.」
「As for the finer structure, let's leave that for later. The method of dealing with it isn't all that difficult.」
「Most spells that exist in the world are extremely variable. If you put in 10 mana, you don't get a result of 10; rather, if you put in anywhere from 8 to 12 mana, the result will also come out somewhere between 8 and 12. Each spell has a 'sweet spot,' so to speak, but being a little short of or a little over that usually isn't a problem when activating it.」
「Then what if we push that flexibility to the extreme in the opposite direction? If a result of 10 absolutely requires 10 mana. No, what if we set the 'conditions' so finely that they go down to something like 10.12515?」
「The moment the mana falls even a little short of the conditions, the spell won't be properly formed. The moment the mana exceeds the conditions by even a tiny bit, the spell will self-destruct.」
「Yes, I know. Creating a new spell is the domain of the fifth tier. This is transformation rather than creation, but even so, with ordinary knowledge you'd never even have a chance.」
「But you can do it.」
「I told you, didn't I? You can take your time. Because...」
“...because I've already put in plenty of effort, as usual.”
Eris unconsciously muttered the line from Ernst that had surfaced in her mind.
That matter-of-fact, emotionless voice somehow sounded incredibly sweet.
She looked ahead.
There was no way she was going to lose.