Chapter 78

It was past seven o'clock on the afternoon of October 2nd.

I was at the headquarters of the Mage Guild, where I was led by a staff member who seemed to be a secretary into the office of Councilor Wargman, Quentin's father, Piers Wargman. Inside, a man in his mid-thirties was sitting at a large desk, reading documents. His appearance was quite different from what I had imagined.

(I thought he would have a sharp, capable look since he became a councilor in his mid-thirties. He seems more like a relaxed person you might find in Rasmora Village...)

I had imagined a slender, sharp-eyed official, but the person in front of me was rather plump with small, round eyes, giving the impression of a farmer or a restaurant owner. I was slightly taken aback by his appearance, which delayed my greeting, and the councilor spoke first.

"Are you Rockheart? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Piers Wargman, Quentin's father."

I hurriedly bowed my head.

"I am Zacharias Rockheart, Quentin's classmate. Thank you for taking the time to see me despite your busy schedule."

The councilor stood up and gestured for me to sit on the sofa in front of his desk. Then, he asked straightforwardly, "I understand you have something important to discuss about my son. It seems to be related to his future." His expression was sincere, not like he was talking to a ten-year-old.

(From what I can see, he doesn't seem to be the type of person with a bad reputation. Of course, I can't be sure how reliable my judgment is.)

I regained my composure and looked him in the eye as I began to speak.

"Something is happening at the academy that will have a significant impact on Quentin's future."

The councilor's expression momentarily showed a hint of skepticism.

"Something happening at the academy? I don't have much time, so could you tell me what it is?"

His reaction was as expected.

(This is where the game begins. Whether I can get the councilor's interest will determine the success or failure of this endeavor.)

I gathered my resolve and said, "I'll explain briefly," before starting my story.

"First, the crisis of your political career is the main factor. If you lose your position, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Quentin's future."

The councilor didn't react much to my words.

"My political career... You say interesting things. No wonder Professor Raspade considers you a promising student. However, I am a busy man and don't have time to indulge in children's matters."

He started to stand up. I realized my initial strategy of capturing his interest had failed, so I changed my approach.

"Is that so? Then, are you aware of the exclusion of Miss Jakes and myself at the academy, and do you think there's no problem with it?"

"Miss Jakes and you? Ah, the vice-captain. What's the issue?"

The councilor seemed to show a bit of interest and sat back down on the sofa.

"Some students in the class and our homeroom teacher, Mr. Bennett, are trying to exclude Miss Jakes and me."

"Are you here to tell me that my son is involved in this?"

I shook my head and said, "No. To change the subject slightly, we are considering leaving the academy and moving to a private school. However, we believe this would cause inconvenience to you, and ultimately to Quentin, so I took the liberty of requesting this meeting."

He murmured, "Inconvenience..." and asked, "How does your leaving the academy affect me?"

I decided to take a risk.

"If you don't see it as a problem for you, then I will take my leave."

I started to stand up. The councilor, sensing something was amiss, said, "Wait a moment," and asked, "Could you explain your concerns? You mentioned something about my political career. What do you mean by that?"

I mentally pumped my fist, knowing I had his attention, but I kept a serious expression.

"Let me explain the impact on you if we leave the academy. First, I must clarify that I have not confirmed whether Quentin is involved in our exclusion. Regardless of whether he is or isn't, it doesn't change the situation. With that in mind, let me proceed."

The councilor tilted his head slightly but nodded without saying anything.

"If Miss Jakes and I leave Tylia Magic Academy, the top two students will be gone. In this case, Quentin, who is currently third, will become the top student. This is an undeniable fact. If I leave the academy and go to a private school, it's certain that Professor Raspade will make a fuss."

The councilor seemed to understand what I was getting at but remained silent, gesturing for me to continue.

"In that case, councilors Forsyth and Ibbetson, who are competing with you for the next position of Guild Councilor, will likely raise issues. They might claim that you pressured the academy to make your son the top student. If they spread rumors that you excluded us for your son's benefit, most people would believe them. Scandals about well-respected people are always of great interest. In such a situation, it would be very difficult for you to maintain your current power within the Mage Guild."

He listened quietly, his eyes closed, and then slowly opened them to speak to me. His demeanor changed from that of a farmer to someone exerting intense psychological pressure.

"What do you want? You specifically requested this meeting. Is there something you want me to do?"

His tone was calm, but each word cut into my mind.

(As expected of someone who aims to be the head of a nation. The pressure is intense. But I've been through many tough situations. Besides, I can't let a mere 36-year-old intimidate me...)

I braced myself and met Wargman's gaze.

"I realize this isn't the best way to put it, but to be honest, I have no interest in your political career. My goal, and Miss Jakes's, is to gain knowledge of magic. Therefore, we are considering going to a private school, and Professor Raspade has offered to take us on as assistants, which we are willing to do."

"Are you really thinking that way? Being the top student at the academy is very advantageous for a career in the Mage Guild. I can vouch for that, as I graduated as the top student."

I shook my head vigorously.

"I have no intention of becoming a staff member of the Mage Guild or a court mage. I just want to gain knowledge of magic and become stronger."

The councilor's intense gaze softened, and he asked, "Then why are you here?" with a look of confusion.

"If you don't care about losing your position and have no interest in advancing in the Mage Guild, why not just leave the academy? I don't understand why you waited half a day to see me."

I exhaled and relaxed my shoulders. Then, I loosened my expression and said, "There are two reasons," holding up two fingers.

"The first is that I don't like the people trying to exclude us. We are being used as pawns, and it's a waste of the tuition fees our families have paid, with no benefit. I don't like being treated as mere tools."

The councilor nodded but said nothing more.

"The second reason is that I have lost faith in the education at Tylia Magic Academy. I've heard that you have the ambition to reform the academy, replacing the current incompetent and harmful teachers with professionally trained ones. I believe that if your reforms start soon, it will benefit my goal of gaining knowledge of magic."

He narrowed his eyes and glared at me.

"If you know so much, you must also know that I am not as clean as people say. Even if your goals align with mine, there's no guarantee I will act on them."

I decided to provoke Wargman.

"You're right, but I still think you are better than the current Guild Councilor Sevarg, Councilor Ibbetson, and even Councillor Isherwood, who manipulate personnel. At least you care about public perception. Councilor Ibbetson, for instance, only looks at the Guild's internal affairs."

The councilor's eyes widened for a moment, and he burst into loud laughter.

"Ha ha ha! Are you really ten years old? I've seen your admission records, so I know you're not lying, but your knowledge, foresight, and the courage to speak to me so boldly are impressive. My son can't match you. I'm really impressed. You could become a councilor anytime."

I still couldn't gauge what kind of person he was.

(How much of this is an act? I can't let my guard down...)

He laughed and said, "By the way, Miles, or rather, Miles Isherwood, you called him a manipulator. What's your evidence?"

(As expected, he asked this. I knew he would question the name of someone known as his ally... I'll try to dodge it a bit...)

"Isn't Councilor already aware of this?"

He narrowed his eyes and exerted pressure again.

"I want to hear your opinion. Miles and I are well-known allies. We resolved our misunderstandings eight years ago and are working together to reform the Guild. Can you tell me why you have such a harsh opinion of my ally?"

I steeled myself and prefaced my response.

"First, the reconciliation with Councillor Isherwood is just for show. In reality, you and he are using each other. Furthermore, he has planted his people in the Wargman family. I believe you are aware of this."

The councilor feigned ignorance.

"Who are you talking about?"

(He's making it difficult. He's trying to get me to say it first. As expected of a skilled politician...)

"Quentin's tutor, Archie Croft. Should I start with the incident ten years ago?"

When I mentioned ten years ago, a hint of surprise appeared on his face, and he murmured, "I see... You know that much..."

"You've done a thorough investigation. It's not a complete secret, but it's a taboo topic in the current Guild. I don't mind, though... Indeed, Croft became Quentin's tutor on Miles's recommendation, and I know his background..."

He continued as I listened silently.

"As you said, Croft seems to be passing information to Miles. I once fed him false information, and he fell for it. But Croft is a coward and doesn't have the nerve to try to bring me down."

"Then, what about the secret meetings with Mr. Bennett, who is trying to exclude me, especially after I mentioned my intention to leave the academy?"

The councilor's eyes widened, and he said, "Are you manipulating information? I'm even more impressed," and then in a low voice, "Indeed, that makes sense. I don't know what bait Croft took, but he will have to pay for it."

At that moment, I felt a cold chill run down my spine.

(He's not just a clean politician. My instincts have been warning me not to make him an enemy... I might have said too much earlier. What's done is done, but I should leave before I say anything more foolish...)

"Thank you for your valuable time today, Councilor. I have no intention of leaving the academy until the end of October, but I will avoid showing my face there. Professor Raspade will likely start making a fuss soon. I suggest you take action before that happens."

I stood up and bowed deeply to Wargman.

"You have less than a month to act... I'll do my best. I can't promise I'll meet your expectations, but I'll take care of the academy. Of course, I'll tell Quentin to avoid any conflict with you. Ha ha ha!"

His last words were joking, but I couldn't help feeling he was also wary of me. He seemed to realize my caution and relaxed his expression.

"That was a joke. Even if Quentin tries to oppose you, you won't take him seriously."

He then, unusually, hesitated and said, "I have one request..."

"Could you be kind to my son Quentin? He resents me for his late mother. I feel guilty and have made mistakes in his education. I intended to remove Croft early, but he had become a father figure to Quentin, and I couldn't do it."

(Are even politicians like him different when it comes to family? I don't understand why he's telling me this. If he just sees potential in me, it's a bit presumptuous...)

"I don't know what you expect from me, but I don't have any particular feelings towards Quentin. At least, I won't reach out to him unless he stops being hostile towards me."

He chuckled and said, "That's not what I meant to say."

"You seem more mature than you look, and my son is younger than his age. I also realize I'm a failure as a father... I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this... I just feel that you could guide Quentin in a positive direction. It's more of a gut feeling..."

(The councilor now seems more like a father than a politician. If this is an act, it's terrifying, but I can consider helping within my limits...)

"Understood. I will reconsider my relationship with Quentin."

He nodded and said, "Thank you," extending his right hand. I took his hand and nodded.

After that, the councilor talked about the academy's reform, and I shared my thoughts. I was particularly concerned about the lack of involvement of researchers in the education of younger students. When I mentioned this, the councilor seemed to have some thoughts and said, "I found your input helpful. The reform will benefit you as well. If you have any more suggestions, please let me know."

I nodded and left his office.