Chapter 26

"Taking Albert on the water quality survey -- it seems your intuition was spot on, Carlisle?"

In the castle's office.

Philbus, seated on a sofa, spoke to Carlisle. The court magician gave a brief laugh.

"To be honest, I never expected something like this to happen..."

It was indeed Carlisle who had pushed the underachiever Albert into the water quality survey, as Philbus said. Carlisle had sensed the presence of 'darkness' there and had included Albert, thinking it wouldn't be a loss.

However, without that whim, the damage to the students would have been significant.

"Albert did a great job, it seems?"

"Yes, he's quite the talk of the school."

"I'd like to hear about his heroic deeds."

"I believe the academy has already reported to the kingdom?"

"The academy's weasels can't be trusted to write a reliable report to save face. I want to hear your candid opinion, Carlisle."

"Ah, well..."

Philbus scratched his head.

"Albert defeated a mad water spirit. Originally, the teachers Hulin and Brain were handling it and had weakened it considerably. They probably could have won with time, even without Albert. But Albert ended it with just one strike, according to their reports."

"Hmm, that matches the report."

After nodding, Carlisle continued.

"But the report is missing the crucial part. What magic did Albert use to defeat the water spirit with just one strike?"

Philbus raised both hands.

"As you might imagine, it was Magic Arrow."

"Magic Arrow, huh?"

Carlisle chuckled.

"Keeping secrets isn't good, you know."

"Please understand. We at the academy are also skeptical. Just a Magic Arrow defeating a water spirit in one strike... But both Hulin and Brain confirmed that Albert definitely used Magic Arrow."

Carlisle thought quietly.

It was no longer an ordinary Magic Arrow.

That's why the academy couldn't report it. They had sealed it in vague words and contexts because they couldn't understand it.

"Albert himself says it was Magic Arrow. But the academy is skeptical. They think it must have been a misunderstanding, or some other magic was activated."

Carlisle sympathized with the academy's stubbornness, even as he felt bitter about it.

The more seriously someone studied magic, the harder it would be to accept what happened.

It was simply impossible.

Moreover,

Carlisle murmured.

"It wasn't just a mad spirit. It was an enhanced form, imbued with dark power."

To think it was defeated by just a Magic Arrow.

Carlisle placed a small vial he had taken from a drawer on the table. The vial contained a black liquid, like dissolved ink.

It was brought back from Lake Biharnu by the survey team.

"Polluted water thoroughly infused with 'darkness.'"

If the spirits were contaminated by this, they would go mad.

Philbus looked at the vial with interest.

"To pollute that huge Lake Biharnu to this extent... What were those people doing?"

"Who knows... But it wouldn't be surprising if something legendary was involved."

He said it jokingly, but Carlisle didn't think it was a joke.

The level of pollution was that severe.

It couldn't be something trivial.

Carlisle clicked his tongue.

To overlook something like this for half a year!

What kind of genius court magician is he?

But it wasn't entirely his fault. The dark forces were increasing in number throughout the kingdom, yet only a few, including Carlisle, knew the truth.

The number of people who could act was very limited.

Even under such conditions, Carlisle had been producing results as close to the best as a human could, but there were still things that slipped through the cracks.

(Just an excuse...)

Carlisle shook his head.

The situation was beyond what Carlisle alone could handle. If things continued like this, the kingdom would eventually be thrown into chaos.

A wildcard was needed to turn the tide.

"Albert, you really might have to become a hero for this country."

Carlisle thought of the mysterious young man and smiled.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

One week after the water quality survey team returned.

All the students gathered in the grand hall of the royal academy.

To honor the students who achieved results in the incident involving the water quality survey team.

The student in question was—

"Let's go, Albert."

Hulin, standing next to me, said with a nervous voice.

"Okay."

The double doors in front of us opened with a bang.

The doors were at the front of the hall, so we faced the lined-up students.

All the students turned to look at us—me.

What is he?

Their gazes all seemed to ask.

Hulin started walking ahead of me with stiff movements. I followed her.

At the end of the path stood the elderly principal.

When Hulin and I stopped, the principal read the certificate in his hand.

"Albert! You demonstrated extraordinary abilities in the critical situation the water quality survey team was involved in, saving the students from hardship! It was a situation where someone could have died, but thanks to you, the worst tragedy was averted! In recognition of your courage and talent, I award you this certificate!"

I stepped forward and accepted the certificate from the principal.

It felt strange.

Ten years ago, I had achieved nothing, and now I was being honored by the principal in front of the entire school.

I hadn't changed as a person.

What had changed?

"Thank you."

I took the certificate and returned to Hulin.

The principal continued.

"Furthermore! In recognition of Albert's abilities, I hereby award him the 'Iron School Badge'!"

The students, who had been quiet, gasped in surprise.

This announcement was shocking.

The Iron School Badge—necessary for promotion to the third year. I had been given this, skipping the 'Stone School Badge' required for promotion to the second year.

A teacher walked up from behind the principal with a box containing the badge.

Hulin stepped forward in front of the teacher, who looked puzzled, and said, "Please leave it to me," taking the badge.

Hulin turned to me and smiled.

Then she whispered softly.

"Sorry for butting in... But I really wanted to do it."

Hulin reached for the collar of my uniform.

She gently attached the badge, and during this, she kept her head down, sniffling.

Her hands were trembling slightly.

Then she spoke to me in a whisper.

"Really... really... congratulations, Albert... Your efforts have paid off. Ten years ago... it ended in a sad result... but this is the badge you finally earned... The day ten years ago... and the ten years after... were not wasted... This time, you did it..."

Hulin let go of her hands.

The Iron School Badge on my collar emitted a dull shine. It wasn't a flashy color, but to me, it shone brightly.

I had obtained it.

Just as Hulin said, the badge I couldn't reach ten years ago.

Hulin gently wiped her eyes and said softly at last.

"Welcome back, Albert."

The chapter ends here.

[Announcement] The comic adaptation of Magic Arrow has started (from March 26, 2021).

A new episode is added every two weeks, with only the latest episode being paid for [the rest are free].

To view it, first install the app on your smartphone.

https://www.futabasha.co.jp/introduction/app_gaugau/index.html

Access the above link or search for 'Manga Gau Gau' in the app store. Look for the icon with 'Gau' written on it.

When you open the app, you'll see 'Beginner Magic Arrow ~' on the top page. Enjoy it.

Please look forward to the comic version of Magic Arrow!