Chapter 69

While being guided by Crown, we were enjoying a tour of the town when we encountered a group of people wearing white robes embroidered with crosses. They were dressed entirely in white, from their shoes to their gloves.

Seeing the group, Crown subtly changed the direction of our tour by shifting the angle of his feet.

"Alright, everyone. Let's go this way. Further ahead is the magic academy that represents the Maple Leaf Holy Empire, where you can observe lectures..."

Crown tried to change our course with a slightly faster pace, but the man leading the group of white-robed individuals called out to him.

"Hey, isn't that Crown Windsor? Who are you guiding?"

At the sound of his voice, Crown turned around with an obvious look of displeasure. As I wondered what was going on, Crown replied in a stiff voice.

"…Gem Westmies, Deputy Chief Magician. I am currently attending to important guests."

His tone clearly conveyed that he wanted to avoid any trouble, but Gem, whose eyes narrowed, approached us. As he got closer, I noticed that he was quite old, probably in his early fifties, with dark brown hair and reddish eyes.

"Crown! What kind of greeting is that!? You, who can't even handle basic magic, have no right to speak to me like that!"

As Gem shouted and confronted Crown, Crown ignored him, and Gem's gaze turned to us.

"…Are you from another country? If Crown is guiding you, you must be magicians, right?"

"Gem! Your manner of speaking is the problem! These are guests of the Emperor!"

Crown's face flushed slightly as he raised his voice. In response, Gem frowned irritably.

I didn't want to get involved in any trouble, so I rolled up my sleeve to reveal the bracelet I had borrowed from the Emperor. It was a gold bracelet with a design of overlapping lines. Seeing it, Gem's face twisted into a smile.

"…You look young, but to be of the second rank… Are you a daughter of a duke from a great nation? I am Gem Westmies, Deputy Chief Magician of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire's Court of Magicians. If you have any troubles in the Holy Capital, please do not hesitate to consult me."

"…Thank you. However, I am just a young and inexperienced person without a title. Please don't be so formal. My name is Aoi Konominato. I am from the Kingdom of Varted, just like the others."

Upon hearing this, deep vertical wrinkles appeared between Gem's eyebrows.

"Without a title… Then, how did you receive the highest ring from the Emperor, aside from the royal family?"

Asked again, I hesitated to answer.

"…Perhaps because I can use new magic?"

I blurted out the question. Crown quickly denied it.

"N-no, that's not it. Lady Aoi is a senior instructor at Fidic Academy, and the others are also excellent instructors and students. In particular, Lady Aoi is a talented woman who was invited as a senior instructor from the beginning…"

As Crown explained, Gem's eyes sharpened.

"…From Fidic Academy… The Emperor's new whims are truly troublesome…"

Muttering to himself, Gem pasted a forced smile on his face.

"No, I shouldn't keep you. Enjoy your tour of the Holy Capital."

Suddenly losing interest, Gem turned his back on us and walked away. Watching the group of white-robed individuals leave, Crown let out a small sigh of relief.

"Is he someone you don't get along with?"

When I asked, Crown shrugged and shook his head.

"As you could tell from the brief conversation, that group is among the most extreme primitive magic fundamentalists in the Court of Magicians."

"Primitive magic fundamentalists?"

I tilted my head, unfamiliar with the term. Crown blinked a few times, wide-eyed.

"Have you never heard of it? Ah, perhaps they use a different term in Varted. They are the ones who believe that developing new magic is a waste of time, considering the long history of magic. Indeed, useful new magic is rare, perhaps once in a hundred years. However, if we only refine existing magic, as the primitive magic fundamentalists do, we cannot expect significant progress."

It seemed as if I had pressed a button, and Crown began to explain and vent his frustrations about the primitive magic fundamentalists.

"I see. So, it's a mindset that values refining already established magic. While that is necessary, we shouldn't belittle researchers of new magic."

Hearing my response, Crown took my hand with a radiant smile and nodded repeatedly.

"Exactly! Well done! In our country, no new magic has been adopted as common magic for nearly a hundred years. It's truly lamentable. In contrast, the Kingdom of Varted has Fidic Academy, where magicians from various countries gather, creating a wonderful environment… How envious! If I could, I would become a student at Fidic Academy right now and learn magic from magicians of different countries!"

The Deputy Chief Magician of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire, who should be at the pinnacle of magic in the country, shouted this. Not only we but also the people around us were taken aback.