Chapter 9

Today, it's the second chapter.

Two years is not nearly enough time to fully understand the magic training that was started without any prior knowledge.

And yet, to be made to create weapons for the knights, Arnaud grumbled to himself.

“Professor Roché. I don’t have any confidence at all.

Is it really okay to get paid for this?”

It was against his will to have his work used by the knights when there wasn’t even a reliability test established.

However, he couldn’t ignore the orders from the country.

Noel was a scholarship student.

His tuition was paid for by the country.

When Noel mentioned this, Arnaud immediately shook his head.

“That’s not something a 15-year-old child should worry about.

Noel was suffering in that quasi-criminal household. It should have been a case for the country to protect him.

Think of it as compensation.

He could have had a much better life in an orphanage.

If it bothers you, you can save the money from the knights and not take the scholarship. You should be able to pay for it yourself.

Noel said he wanted to take the graduation exam by skipping grades, didn’t he?”

Noel’s eyes widened at Arnaud’s suggestion.

“Yes, that’s right.

So, if I pass, I only need to pay for two years of tuition.”

“Noel should be fine with skipping grades. From past examples, all the top students have graduated by skipping grades.

I graduated from the higher division in one year.”

“In one year?”

Noel was impressed. No wonder the people who became professors were different.

“I wanted to finish quickly and go abroad for further studies.

Noel should try it too.

If the tuition is short, I’ll pay it for you as an advance.”

Arnaud nodded with a smile.

“But I don’t want to make Professor Roché pay...”

“Do you trust the country more than me?”

“I trust Professor Roché.”

Noel hesitated a bit.

—That’s right.

If he continued to receive the scholarship, it would be difficult to refuse when the country asked him to work as a granted mage.

Noel decided to aim to pay for his higher division tuition by working himself.

That meant he had to work hard on enchantment magic.

However, creating something that would “sell” wasn’t easy.

What Noel could easily enchant were “small items.”

Items with complex shapes or uneven surfaces were difficult to enchant.

Therefore, a knife was relatively easy to make.

However, the knights wanted a “strongly defensive leather armor” and a sword enchanted with fire magic.

The leather armor was impossible. It had a large surface area and was uneven.

The sword, while still challenging, might be possible if he tried hard enough with a rapier.

The concern was that there was no way to verify if the enchantment was successful beforehand except by measuring the amount of magic power that had settled.

If the enchantment disappeared while the knights were using it, it could cost a knight their life.

—I can’t give them an uncertain weapon just for pocket money.

◇◇

Noel was given a small room in the back of Professor Théo Micheli’s laboratory to use as a workroom, where he worked alone on creating enchanted rapiers.

Thanks to this, the professor’s miscellaneous junk—what Théo called important documents and historical materials—was moved elsewhere.

Noel felt a bit guilty when he heard this, but Théo said,

“A well-sharpened knife with fire magic will do.”

Noel could easily give him a knife as a gift.

In the magic class, students with fire and wind magic attributes started training in lightning magic.

In the Kingdom of Anzela, the evolved form of fire magic is lightning magic, a mixed magic of fire and wind.

Therefore, only students with fire and wind magic attributes could participate.

Noel had four magic attributes, but he was told by Arnaud to keep it a secret.

So, he only used fire and wind magic. Since his strongest magic attributes were fire and wind, it was easy for him.

However, when he returned to his room, he always worked on barriers, earth magic, and water creation.

Occasionally, he would talk to Arnaud about non-magic related worries.

“I get glared at by Eliza when I talk to a boy named Dian, and she spreads baseless rumors.”

He ended up sharing his current worry.

“Stay away from that boy.”

Arnaud answered immediately.

“I was just talking to him.”

“A boy who causes rumors to be spread about you is not someone you should be near.

Noel doesn’t seem to like him anyway, and that boy is the type who would leave Noel feeling bad.

There’s no need to be with him.”

The words pierced Noel’s heart.

—Did I not like Dian...?

Before, he did like him.

He would get excited when Dian touched his hair.

But when someone else teased him, Dian would deny it without hesitation.

He said “no” clearly and repeatedly.

It was a way of telling him there was no hope.

Each time, his feelings were eroded.

Dian always rejected him loudly.

Noel realized the meaning behind it.

Being associated with a problematic person like Noel was troublesome for him.

—But, I was left to be defamed by Eliza. Professor Roché is right.

Noel felt he understood something about Dian.

Noel spent his third year in the middle school peacefully.

...But, gradually, things started to get a bit rocky.

Despite Noel’s wishes.

He began to encounter Prince Robert in Professor’s laboratory.

While Noel was working in the workroom, Robert was talking with Professor Micheli in the adjacent room.

—The presence of delicious souvenirs makes me look forward to it, even though I hate my gluttony.

He couldn’t help but smile when high-class pastries, which were not available in the school cafeteria, were brought in.

—Professor Micheli looks happy too...

The professor, with his stern face, is a sweet tooth.

Théo made tea for Noel while he was working.

The luxury of finishing work and having tea and high-class pastries waiting for him.

Today, after enjoying the conversation and tea, he would return to the dormitory... with the prince’s escort.

Because it’s dangerous for a cute girl to be out late, you know.

—No, no, the prince should be the one needing protection.

Well, with the knight’s escort...

Until now, if it got late, Théo or Arnaud would send him back.

But when Prince Robert came, Arnaud didn’t.

Strangely, the two never encountered each other.

Probably, Professor Micheli was in charge of informing Arnaud.

—It would be better if Professor Roché sent me back. I wouldn’t have to be nervous.

Noel always thought about things that other girls would consider luxurious.

◇◇

Lunch break. Noel was reading materials in the library.

Then, he picked up a gossip magazine.

It contained recent royal family information, including some mere rumors.

Liza was sitting next to him, engrossed in a magazine called “Salon Hyakka,” which seemed to be a gossip magazine.

Occasionally, he also heard rumors about the nobility from Liza.

—I understand a bit now.

The royal family of our country had some issues.

It goes back about 30 years.

The king fell in love with a beautiful young lady from a viscount’s family.

He rejected all the candidates for his arranged marriage and chose the viscount’s daughter.

At that time, the young lady was adopted into a marquis’s family to improve her lineage... but it was obvious.

It was good that the king’s whims led to the selection of a queen, but the queen never conceived.

After five years with no signs of pregnancy, a second queen was chosen.

However, even after two years, the second queen also did not conceive.

Finally, the king took concubines.

He chose two young ladies from a prolific earl’s family and a marquis’s family.

Both concubines became pregnant the following year.

After nearly ten years, the country was in an uproar.

Both were princes, which further heightened the festive mood.

The first prince, Prince Jules, was born slightly earlier and is the leading candidate for the crown prince.

He is currently 22 years old. After graduating from the Royal Academy, he serves as an assistant to the king.

He is the prince who appears most frequently in front of the public, inspecting facilities in the capital.

According to Liza, “He’s a very charming prince.”

For women, a significant portion of their evaluation of a prince is based on his appearance.

Three years after the birth of the first and second princes, the second queen gave birth to a prince.

Prince Robert, the third prince.

He is currently 19 years old and is affiliated with the academy’s laboratory.

According to the gossip magazine, “Prince Robert’s mother’s family is a wealthy marquis’s family,” and “the queen’s father is the finance minister.”

He has strong backing. From his mother’s lineage and family, he is a pure-blooded prince.

Two years later,

The queen gave birth to the fourth prince, Prince Sariel.

He is currently 17 years old and is affiliated with the Royal Academy’s law department.

Sariel is the same age as Zeraphi.

Noel’s gaze fell on the newspaper photo of Prince Jules during an inspection.

The brothers do look similar, Noel realized.

But, Noel had made a promise.

To go abroad together.

“Hey, Liza.

But, looking at this, isn’t the crown prince going to be the first prince, Prince Jules?”

Noel asked Liza in a low voice.

“Why do you think so?”

Liza frowned.

“He is currently serving as the king’s assistant, right? He’s a serious prince who conducts inspections.

And he’s the first prince.

Isn’t it good for Prince Jules to be the crown prince?”

“But his mother was a concubine.

It would be difficult to gain support at the lord’s council.”

“Really?”

Noel involuntarily looked up from the gossip magazine.

“That’s right. After all, the third prince’s backing is a wealthy marquis’s family and the finance minister.

And the queen who gave birth to the fourth prince is the one who has the king’s favor.

Both have almost equal support.”

“Is it right to choose the crown prince for such reasons?

Isn’t it a tradition or something to choose the first prince as the crown prince?

Besides, wasn’t the concubine chosen because there were no issues with her lineage?

Well, it’s written that she was chosen from a family known for having many children.”

“No prince was born for a long time.

Just between us.

The difference in magic power between the king and the queens made it difficult for them to conceive.

The queen, after all, is from a viscount’s family with no connection to the mage lineage. She has almost no magic power.

The second queen was chosen based on her lineage and her father’s influence as the finance minister, not her magic power. As a result, she couldn’t have children.

Due to these behind-the-scenes issues, the king chose concubines from families with balanced magic power. They immediately had children.

The first and second princes have high magic power.

Compared to them, Prince Robert, the third prince, and Prince Sariel, the fourth prince, have lower magic power.

Especially, Prince Sariel has quite low magic power.”

Liza whispered.

“The ‘rumor’ about Prince Sariel was also in the magazine.

He fainted during a magic practical class due to a lack of magic power.

Does the law department have magic practical classes?”

“Oh, that’s from his middle school days, isn’t it?

Until middle school, magic practical classes are mandatory.”

“I see.”

Noel thought.

Prince Sariel, who has low magic power.

Zeraphi, who has high magic power as a candidate for engagement.

—That’s why Zeraphi was chosen, perhaps.

“Is magic power relevant to becoming king?”

Noel asked Liza.

“It should be.

Hey, Noel.

You come from an old mage lineage, right?”

“Yes, but it’s completely declined now.”

“Really.

After all, you don’t know the traditions passed down in old mage families?”

“I was the neglected second daughter. I don’t know.

Besides, my family has declined to the core.

It might disappear soon.

Ah, if Zeraphi becomes the princess, it might extend our family’s life a bit.”

“That’s right.

Okay. I’ll tell you.

It’s a story that should have been passed down to you too.”

Liza skillfully cast a soundproof barrier.

Noel understood it was an important story. She was worried even about speaking in a low voice.

“Thank you, Liza.

I’ll keep it a secret even if I’m tortured.”

Noel swore, and Liza laughed.

“I don’t think it’s that secret, but please.

Our family is a bit lower in the mage hierarchy, but we take the mage traditions seriously.

You see, our country was founded by mages who protected the people and the land.”

Liza’s introduction reminded Noel of the history of the Kingdom of Anzela.

The Kingdom of Anzela was originally a poor agricultural country.

It had few resources and an unstable natural environment.

In return, it had many mages.

When attacked by neighboring countries, the mages fought.

About 1600 years ago, a strong mage was chosen as the king, and the Kingdom of Anzela was established.

“Many mages sacrificed their lives to protect the country.

Now, we have alliances with neighboring countries and survive by exporting agricultural products.

1600 years ago, the country was poor. Protecting it was difficult.

They managed to protect it and establish the country.

The family that paid the most sacrifices to protect the country became the royal family.

At that time, they swore to value the power of mages.

Otherwise, they would lose the protection of the national deity.”

“Lose the protection of the national deity?

That’s a serious matter.”

Noel involuntarily shivered.

Noel believed that the ability to use magic, which surpasses human intelligence, is a gift from a being that surpasses human intelligence.

“Huh.

After all, Noel is a pure-blooded mage.

You think the country has been able to survive as a country because of the protection of the national deity.

Besides, your ancestors paid many sacrifices to protect the country. It’s the descendants’ duty to preserve that tradition.

The royal family should be at the center of it.

However, a few decades ago, a family that exploited mages through contracts was promoted.

The royal family also chose a queen from such a family.

As a result, the country declined.

The kings at that time were all short-lived.

My father said it was because they angered the national deity.”

“I think so too.

It’s a terrible story.”

Noel was indignant upon hearing the story of the time. Mages were bound by illegal contracts and treated as slaves.

“So, Noel.

Our country’s king is said to be ‘chosen by the national deity.’

I don’t know about the last few generations, but

I think it was probably neglected.”

“What do you mean?”

Noel frowned and asked.

“If an unsuitable queen is chosen, it becomes difficult to have children.

That’s why the queen couldn’t have children easily. The second queen couldn’t either.

The two concubines were originally candidates for the queen.

Thanks to the protection of the national deity, the princes were born smoothly.

But, what would happen if another prince was chosen as the crown prince?”

“...The country might be in trouble.”

“Now, Noel.

A lady shouldn’t say ‘in trouble.’

Well, it might decline.

This country might be a sinking ship.

That’s why my father says we should look for a fiancé in the Kingdom of Dolsen and the Empire of Alres.”

Liza smiled wistfully, as if to say the secret talk was over, and dissolved the soundproof barrier.

Thank you for reading. I’ll post the next chapter at the same time tomorrow.