Chapter 33
"Dinner should be fine, right, Ethan?"
Ethan's older sister, Arka Wiz Charasen, arrived a week after the semester began. She had traveled by carriage over land and said she had to take a major detour because Muhati was prohibiting the entry of outsiders. Ethan had already heard the news through a letter Arka had sent, so he wasn't too worried.
However, Ethan always felt like he was about to get indigestion whenever he had a meal with Arka.
"I'm busy preparing for the Standard Magic Practice, so I don't know if I'll have time..."
"When it comes to the Standard Magic Practice, there's no one who knows it better than your sister. If you have any questions, you can just ask during dinner."
She was right. Bien had simply said she passed all the tests, but to be precise, she had passed them with different types of magic each time, and the number of students who had done so in the history of Yurmus Magic School could be counted on one hand.
"...Then I'll try to make some time."
Ethan rode the carriage Arka had summoned and went into Yurmus city. Thanks to the magic school, there were a few high-end restaurants that catered to nobles. The restaurant named 'Falling Cuckoo' was a place Ethan had been to a few times. It mainly sold lamb received from shepherds in the outskirts of Yurmus and, on rare occasions, venison from deer caught by hunters in the Yurmus Forest. Ethan wondered why they didn't actually have any cuckoo or bird dishes.
Upon hearing that venison was available, Arka didn't particularly ask for Ethan's preference and ordered the venison. When the typical Yurmus regional appetizers of pre-meal bread and mushroom soup were served, Arka talked about the people she met and the scenery she saw during her carriage journey from the school. By the time they were eating spaghetti topped with plenty of goat milk cheese, she was talking about the well-being of the Charasen family members. The food was satisfactory and the atmosphere was good. And when the roasted deer hind leg was placed on the table, Arka said abruptly.
"So, do you think you can pass the Standard Magic Practice?"
Ethan, who was drinking water, had already sensed the crisis, so he gracefully set down his water glass and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I can do it."
"According to my calculations, it seems unlikely you'll get more than 1 point. With hard work, you might get 3 points."
"You mean Geoyang and Destruction, right?"
"That's right. Unlike the Basic Magic Practice, which relied on Professor Rebilton's broad tolerance, like his chest muscles, the Standard Magic Practice is designed so that it's absolutely impossible to pass with body magic alone."
"I wasn't just playing around during the vacation, sister."
Arka looked at Ethan suspiciously and rested her chin on her hand.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then what can you do?"
Ethan avoided Arka's gaze. In terms of intimacy, she was closer to him than Bien, but sharing about black magic was a different matter. In fact, it was a problem he couldn't share precisely because they were family.
Since it was a problem he couldn't completely ignore, Ethan made up a story.
"I studied alchemy."
"...Really? I don't think there are any students remaining at school during vacation who are particularly well-versed in alchemy. Or did you learn from the professors?"
"I studied on my own."
"Alchemy is different from magic. Some types of alchemy don't use any magical power at all. But they are just as zealous about protecting that knowledge, and the secrets of alchemists are rarely revealed. If you could pass the Standard Magic Practice by studying that for three months, the student capacity of the magic school would have to be quadrupled. The children of the wealthy, who have no talent but just want a magic school diploma, would try to enroll."
Because Arka was not one to let things slide, Ethan felt a cold sweat run down his back. He kept glancing towards the kitchen, but there was still no sign of them bringing the food.
Ethan decided on a frontal assault.
"I didn't know I was so talented in alchemy either. You'll be surprised when I pass the test."
Arka muttered.
"...You don't want to talk, is that it."
"Pardon?"
"Well, whatever."
Arka shook her head and began to cut her meat with a fork and knife. Ethan also began to eat with a sense of relief.
"I heard some Mazok came to the school, did you know?"
"Yes. Dean Aincheler gathered the students and explained. I didn't see them myself. I'm glad the school was able to start without any problems. From the rumors I heard afterwards, it seems the Mazok misunderstood something."
"...The situation is not good, Ethan."
At Arka's words, Ethan asked back.
"Are you talking about older brother?"
"Rian?"
Rian Wiz Charasen was the eldest of the Charasen family, three years older than Arka. While not a genius on Arka's level, everyone acknowledged him as a talented mage, and thanks to his eloquent speech, his skill in managing people, and his deft social skills, he had more supporters within the family. He was one of the heirs to the Charasen family, considered by many to be Arka's rival.
"Rian is always a problem."
"How was he during this vacation?"
"He was annoying as always, but nothing serious happened."
"That's a relief."
"But that's not what I'm talking about."
"Then?"
"It's about Damarat Yuma."
Arka suddenly started talking about the world. It was not surprising to Ethan. In Arka's view, Yurmus Magic School was not very important. A magic school professor might not have nothing to teach Arka, but before even a year had passed, some magic professors treated Arka more as a peer scholar than a student, either feeling burdened or acting obsequiously, seeing her as a connection for their future careers. She was evaluated as having a talent unparalleled in her generation. Arka was already secretly continuing her personal research and activities separate from the family. Ethan thought that her enrollment in the magic school, which would be of little meaning to Arka, was an extension of that.
"The Empire's movements are unusual. The Empire's intelligence agents and spies are being discovered in many countries. So the countries where they haven't been discovered yet are even more afraid. It means they're failing to find the internal enemy they believe is likely there. Of course, that itself is probably what the Empire is aiming for."
"Are you saying the Mazok's movements at Yurmus were also part of the Empire's plot?"
"Yes. Rumors will spread soon enough, but the reason the Muhati Kingdom closed its borders was because of a rebellion. Just in case an external force might conspire to attack Muhati."
"Is there any evidence that the rebellion in Muhati is related to the Empire?"
"To get around Muhati, I passed through Kalon in the north and stayed a night at the lord's castle. He told me during dinner. The prime minister had taken a Yumahan concubine, who was actually a member of the Imperial Inquisition. He said the Yumahan incited the prime minister to oust the lord."
Ethan said.
"The civil war isn't over yet, is it?"
"I heard some princes and princesses managed to escape, and that there are some brave and loyal nobles. Since they are wary of the Empire's influence, including Baron Kalon, the civil war is likely to fail."
"...What if it succeeds?"
Arka chewed and swallowed a piece of cut venison before speaking.
"The Empire will know their method works and will try it again in other countries."
Ethan said, intending to lighten the mood.
"This doesn't seem like a conversation for a first-year and second-year magic school student to be having, though."
"Ethan."
Arka smiled as if she understood Ethan's intention, while at the same time refuting his words.
"This world is on a cliff's edge. It always has been. There have been countless invaders, and wars have never ceased. Damarat Yuma is one of the few remaining lands in this world where people can live safely. As we see in the myths, there is no absolute god to protect the world, and we must protect ourselves without relying on the power of others. We can't just leave it to the adults. If you start preparing after your turn comes, it's too late. You must always be prepared. And… aren't seventeen and eighteen old enough to discuss the world?"
Instead of retorting, 'Not everyone has as mature a consciousness as you do, sister,' Ethan nodded in affirmation.
"Of course, you're absolutely right."
∞
"...is the conversation I had with my sister."
"Was the venison delicious?"
"Yeah."
"Then at least she delivered one piece of good news."
Not far from the magic school, Bien and Ethan faced each other in the forest.
"As for the Muhati matter, there is nothing to worry about. As far as I know, it's what the Empire always does. It won't develop into such a serious problem. I don't know much about Muhati, but looking at history, there must have been many nobles who terribly hated the prime minister. Some people probably see the rebellion as an opportunity."
"It's reassuring to hear it from a real spy."
"...Not anymore."
Vine had made Bien train at the Imperial Inquisition, but that was only having him receive the training he was supposed to receive himself. The Imperial Inquisition only contacted Vine, so Bien had no sense of belonging to the Inquisition, and likewise, the Inquisition did not consider Bien an official member. The Inquisition thought of Bien as merely an assistant attached to Vine.
"Let's get back to the main topic."
Bien pointed to the flat object floating at eye level between him and Ethan, making a loud buzzing sound.
"I've never seen such a stupid familiar. To think a mage has to move it directly because it can't move on its own."
What Bien was pointing at was the drone Ethan had drawn from the B-rank lottery, the Gespenst V. The controller for this drone, with its jet-black body and a glowing red sensor next to the camera, was currently in Bien's hands.
Ethan loosened his joints by rotating his arms and shoulders.
"It's a stupid familiar, but it seems like it'll work, right?"
Bien used the controller to raise the Gespenst V high into the sky.
"It certainly has some curious abilities."
Both of their heads followed the Gespenst V upwards. The Gespenst V was faintly visible up to about 40 meters, but it became invisible once it passed 60 meters.
Ethan said.
"The professor will recognize it as 'Summoning', right?"
"I wonder."
Summoning was a magic that called a designated object before the user's eyes. Therefore, whatever method was used, one just had to make the object, which was not nearby, appear before their eyes. And among the Gespenst V's accessories was a 'gripper' that could pick up and release objects. With a loading capacity exceeding 14kg, there had been a market demand for an accessory that could pick up and release objects.
Ethan's plan was to use the Gespenst V's robot arm to pick up an object, then drop it from the sky to 'summon' it.
"First, let's give it a try. The professors only decide pass or fail based on the phenomenon that occurs, they don't check 'how you did it'. If the object falls into place as you think, we'll only have to worry about fewer variables. However, there are some unavoidable parts. If we can just avoid problems like the examiner having incredibly sharp eyes and seeing the Gespenst V, or having very good ears and hearing the Gespenst V's flight noise, or me being caught controlling that familiar..."
"...If it doesn't work, I'll give up, so can you just do it once?"
"Very well."
When Ethan gave the prearranged signal of blinking twice, Bien operated the Gespenst V to drop Ethan's dagger sheath, which it had been holding. It was of a moderate weight that wouldn't be blown about by the wind and could be caught with one hand.
Ethan stared straight ahead, then at the last moment, he infused his muscles with magical power using Ruure's breathing.
And Ethan reached out his hand toward the dagger in front of him.
∞
"Ethan Dora Charasen, Standard Magic Practice 'Summoning' division..."
Professor Rydel Remus evaluated Ethan's test in a dry tone.
"...Pass."
The next day, in front of all the students, Ethan passed the Summoning division of the Standard Magic Practice and earned 2 points.