I am Back, again.
A door located further inside the party venue. I lightly knocked three times, and a voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Hearing the male voice from within, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
Unlike the party venue, the atmosphere in this room was modest. A long table was placed between two sofas facing each other.
On the table were two teacups. From the faint scent that wafted through my nostrils, I could tell it was tea.
The man sitting on the sofa stood up gracefully and turned to face me with a smile.
“Ray! It’s been a while!”
“Chairman. I apologize for being late to the association.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. It’s rare for one of the Seven Great Sorcerers to come. Just having you here makes me happy.”
The man had gray hair mixed with black, slicked back, and wore a suit primarily in black. He was about 175 centimeters tall, but still had a solid build. The one welcoming me was—
Chairman of the Magic Association.[TN : Sorcery Association doesn’t feel right]
His name is Greg Aymston.
Though he does not belong to one of the three noble families, he is listed among the upper nobility, and I have had several interactions with him in the past. It has been a few years since I last met him in person.
“Now, Ray. As one of the Seven Great Sorcerers, how have you been? It’s been three years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, thinking that three years have passed makes time feel like it has flown by.”
“I see… I was surprised when Lydia told me that there was a magician who would inherit the Ice Blade back then. It was unprecedented for a twelve-year-old child to inherit the powers of one of the Seven Great Sorcerers. Your existence was already whispered about in secret. That the Ice Blade had a disciple. Who would have thought that you would become that Ice Blade now…”
“That brings back memories. I’m grateful that the association recognized me.”
As I said this, the chairman paused for a moment in thought before continuing the conversation.
“At that time, yes. There were voices suggesting that the Ice Blade should be removed from the Seven Great Sorcerers due to Lydia’s injury. However, there were no other magicians who could take her place. The Seven Great Sorcerers are a symbol. It is not permitted for them to be absent. Then, Lydia made a certain proposal.”
“That was me, wasn’t it…”
“Exactly. Your existence was already known. The story of the boy whom Lydia saved during the Eastern Campaign had reached the association.”
“…”
I recalled the events of that time.
The succession of the Seven Great Sorcerers. It was an unprecedented situation that had never happened before.
After all, the title of Seven Great Sorcerers is not something that can be inherited. Their abilities are considered unique and impossible to replicate.
Therefore, when a Seven Great Sorcerer is replaced, they naturally become a completely different sorcerer.
Despite this background, the unprecedented event of the Ice Blade being inherited occurred.
At that time, I heard that my master faced a lot of criticism regarding this. And now, I find myself meeting with the chairman and other sorcerers from the Magic Association at my current home, where they assessed my abilities, leading to where I am now…
“Ah, it’s nostalgic. To think that the boy from that time is now a student… Now that I can say it, I didn’t trust you at all back then. Rather, I thought Lydia had lost her mind due to the Far East War. She always had some oddities about her. I went reluctantly, but… your existence turned out to overturn the very purpose of being a sorcerer.”
“…I’m honored.”
“No, we were truly surprised. A twelve-year-old boy, not from a family of sorcerers or one of the three noble families, but from a commoner background… who not only inherited all of Lydia’s abilities but also mastered entirely new sorcery.”
“The Material Code[Anti-Materia] was possible thanks to my master’s teachings.”
“However, Lydia cannot use it. That sorcery belongs only to you in this world. It is something to be genuinely admired.”
“No, I…”
“You don’t need to be so humble. But, Ray. Since you are still a student, you should keep the Ice Blade as low-profile as possible, but what will you do from here on out?”
“From here on out, you say?”
“Yes. The path you take is not unrelated to us.”
I pondered.
What will I do from here on out?
The Seven Great Sorcerers live freely, as can be seen from my Master and Carol. There are serious individuals like Abby-san, but they are the exception.
Considering that, what I think of is… what I discussed with Clarice back then.
“I probably won’t return to being a soldier even if this magical realm rampage is completely cured. I understand using sorcery for self-defense. However… my hands are stained with too much blood.”
“…”
The chairman gazed at my calm words with a serious expression. So I continued to express my thoughts.
“That’s why I think. I want to be in a position where I protect people and watch over their growth, rather than hurting them with sorcery. I hope to become someone’s mentor, just as my master was for me… that’s what I think.”
“Then, will you pursue a path as a teacher?”
“That seems to be the case for now.”
“That’s a noble intention. Ray, you’ve truly grown into a wonderful person.”
“I have had my master and many other wonderful people around me.”
“I see… Ray, you are fortunate.”
“Yes.”
We both took a breath and sipped our tea.
The rich aroma passed through my nostrils. I swallowed the tea to quench my throat and returned the cup to the table.
Then, the chairman brought up a new topic.
“That’s right, Ray. There’s one thing I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Amelia Rose.”
“…Is it about the Causality Butterfly[THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT?”
“Yes. The details of that ability have already reached us… It is likely one of the highest forms of sorcery currently known in the world. Comparable to fiction, in fact.”
“I share the same understanding.”
Causality Butterfly
It is a unique sorcery that can interfere with the causality of this world.
Given Amelia’s current skill level, it is not yet a significant threat… but the problem lies in her control.
If that overwhelming ability were to spiral out of control, we wouldn’t know what kind of impact it would have on this world. Amelia may not be fully aware, but it is a power of that magnitude.
I too lost control and caused a magical realm rampage, but I do not want Amelia to follow the same path.
Only those who have experienced it can understand, but the practitioner also suffers from chronic pain, enduring a hellish torment. Right after I experienced a magical realm rampage, the pain was so intense that I fainted multiple times and had to endure unbearable suffering.
With such a powerful ability comes with a corresponding cost.
I have not yet elaborated on this to Amelia, but probably the president will mention it. The real issue lies in her daily life.
With that, I quickly understood what the chariman wanted to say.
“Therefore, Ray, you are in the same class as Amelia Rose at the academy. I’ve heard you have built a friendly relationship.”
“That’s correct.”
“I want you to keep an eye on her so that she doesn’t stray from her path. In a few years, it’s highly likely that she will also be a candidate for one of the Seven Great Sorcerers. Losing a talented magician here would be a shame.”
“Understood.”
“I’m sorry. This is normally our job.”
“No, I’m happy to support a friend if I can. I will take the initiative in this mission.”
“No, this is not a mission. It’s a personal request.”
“…If that’s the case, I will understand it as such.”
“Ah. Sorry for taking your time. See you again, Ray.”
“Yes. I enjoyed our meaningful conversation today.”
Both of us stood up simultaneously and shook hands.
Then, I bowed respectfully and left the room.
—
The party seemed to be coming to an end, but there were still many sorcerers engaged in conversation.
As I headed towards the door to exit the association, several gazes crossed paths.
There was no doubt that I was attracting attention.
I had no intention of standing out today; I planned to greet the chairman and then return home. That was why I requested a private meeting with the chairman.
The conversation with the Colonel was fortunate as there were hardly any people around then… but the problem was, of course, Princess Olivia’s comment. Additionally, I had also exchanged words with Amelia’s mother afterward. It was certainly noticeable that I had interacted with well-known figures in the magical community.
Most likely, they no longer see me as just an ordinary student.
“…”
However, I deliberately continued to walk with a nonchalant expression.
In the midst of this, a man stepped into my path.
He was of average height, with a bit of gray mixed in his hair, yet his face still looked relatively young. He smiled warmly and spoke to me.
“You must be Ray White.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, I am Ray White.”
“I am Bruno Bradley, the current head of the Bradley family.”
“Thank you for your courtesy. I am greatly indebted to your daughter, Rebecca.”
“Ha ha. I’ve heard. My daughter says she has an interesting junior.”
His sharp gaze was clearly probing me.
Nobility is likely not a monolith. Given this situation, it seems that Rebecca’s father has investigated me. However, he has not yet reached the core… the fact that I am the Ice Blade.
At this moment, I was unable to gauge his true intentions.
I couldn’t read anything from his seemingly kind face. I was unsure why he approached me here, but I felt I should at least offer the minimal greeting.
“I see. However, I am still inexperienced. I wish to continue to improve myself.”
“…Well, let’s leave it at that for today. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“Yes. Then, excuse me.”
I walked away with a calm demeanor.
At the same time, I realized.
The three great noble families clearly stand apart from other sorcerers. There were those around me casting glances as if to gauge my reaction. However, as Mr. Bruno, Rebecca-senpai’s father, stepped aside, those gazes gradually shifted away.
I still didn’t understand the factional relationships among the nobles, but I felt certain that some significant intent was wriggling behind the scenes.
“Ray, are you done?”
“Master. And, Cara-san too.”
When I stepped outside the association, I found my master and Cara waiting for me. Cara bowed as usual, so I returned the gesture.
On the other hand, my master wore a tired expression.
“Master, are you tired?”
“Hmm? Well, yeah. It’s been a while since I came here. There was a lot to catch up on, but it was a hassle, so I cut it short.”
“Haha, that’s just like you, Master.”
“So, how was it?”
We began walking side by side.
My master, who was in a wheelchair, asked me this, so I spoke candidly about my impressions.
“It was educational. I was glad to see Colonel Fahrenheit and the chairman again after a long time. However…”
“You were approached by Bruno, weren’t you?”
It was a bolt from the blue.
In this case, it would be appropriate to describe it that way.
I was genuinely surprised.
My master hadn’t been present at that moment. Yet, she knew that I had been spoken to by Mr. Bruno.
“Master, how did you know that?”
“Apparently, the movements of the nobles have been suspicious lately. Whether it’s factional strife or something else… What I do know is that the heads of the three great noble families are at the center of it all. The foremost of the three is the Rose family. However, there are rumors that Bruno is trying to elevate the status of the Bradley family even further…”
My master spoke with an unusually serious tone.
Hearing those words, I began to reflect.
—That encounter back then was, of course, not a coincidence…
“Well, they shouldn’t have figured out that you are the Ice Blade.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Your information is entrusted to Cara-san and the Hale family. However, Eleanor of the Rose family has figured it out. Truly, she’s an extraordinary sorcerer.”
“…I see.”
“Honestly, it wouldn’t matter if they knew. Carol and Abby-san are open about it. But it still depends on the time and situation. Especially the Seven Great Sorcerers, as one person alone can change the situation. Well, it’s about time.”
“…In other words?”
“It’s time for you to make up your mind. To live as a sorcerer, you need to know more about the world. Being strong alone won’t suffice. So, come to my house now. I will teach you various things regarding that.”
“I appreciate that, but…”
“Well, I apologize for not mentioning it sooner. I should have told you much earlier… I was too laid-back about it. The relationship between the nobles and the Seven Great Sorcerers is actually quite complicated. Especially the current situation where none of the Seven Great Sorcerers have emerged from the three great noble families.”
“I see. I will learn from you.”
And so I headed to my master’s house, where I listened to the inner workings of the sorcerer’s world. However, it seemed that even the Hale family, which specializes in intelligence, couldn’t grasp the depth of the three great noble families.
My master said— the world of sorcerers is akin to an abyss.
The more you know, the more you are swallowed by that darkness, and you have no choice but to live while carrying that darkness, my master explained.
From here on, I will come to learn.
That there are things in this world that cannot be confronted with strength alone.
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