***Final Arc, One Who Obtain Happiness, Chapter 260 Part 1 Of an Unfinished Tale***
T/N: Last chapter of main story, however there's still 90 side stories (still ongoing)!!
Atop a high mountain――a large tree that covered the stars in the night sky.
Countless translucent things flitted around its perimeter, while small creatures darted around the trunk of the great tree.
The roots of the tree spread out, filling the hollow with their presence, and magic crystals shimmered on the walls of the hollow.
If one listened closely, they could hear cheerful voices amidst the commotion, and atop the roots that covered the earth, a girl with cloth wrapped around her chest and waist opened her mouth in what seemed like troubled.
"Geez, You shouldn't disturb Regalave-sama and the others.”
As she spoke, the wind swirled around the girl, her loosely tied long hair wrapping around her body, leaving her stunned.
She caught a small sprite-like creature and warned it not to anger her.
After releasing the struggling sprite, she sighed and looked around.
All around the roots, translucent beings similar to the one she caught were running amok in this lawless zone.
Only a small number of them were diligently tending to flowers and the great tree.
The gap between the true world where the soul exists and the material world――a world of overlapping fantasy.
While it was a world without many inconveniences, it seemed to be greatly influenced by human consciousness.
One of them was the spirit that was born at some point.
Often, things people vaguely believed in would naturally come into existence.
This was especially true in places that overlap with land in material world that was considered sacred.
Depending on the location, there were small fire-breathing flying lizards that resembled ancient dragons, and there were even larger monsters among the magical beasts.
Legends and folklore likely influenced these occurrences.
Flowers and fruits the ones talked about in legends were growing and bearing fruit as if natural――it was an indescribably mysterious world.
In front of her――at the base of the large tree were two huge gray bodies that looked like small mountains.
Curled up against each other, Regalave and Kushenaras facing each other.
Kushenaras were the most frequent one――They come every few decades, stay for about ten years, and then go back.
Other dragons also come to show their faces from time to time, and stay for about ten years.
Once, when the timing coincided and the seven Dragons gathered here, it was quite a frightening sight, but no one complained, and that situation continued for about three years, that memory was now from a long time ago.
Their sense of time was truly different.
There were times when the dragons didn't speak for a full three weeks while facing each other, and she used to be afraid that they might have gotten into a fight, but it seems that this was the same no matter how many Dragons gather together.
When one of them shook their magic, the other began to shook their magic as if in response, and sometimes they enjoyed conversing non-stop for a month.
Now seemed to be a chatty period.
It's been the fourth day since they started talking yesterday――although they occasionally fall silent, they have been asking and answering various questions over and over again.
The more she interacted with them, the more mysterious it seemed.
They engaged in serious conversations about the essence of their existence and what it meant to live and die, but occasionally they would pose normal riddles as well. When someone figured out the answer and interrupted, they would promptly be allowed to know their Mana (true name). That was a long time ago.
Although she thought it was rude, the words Kreschenta said, ‘Those people may seem to be thinking about a lot of things, but they aren't thinking about anything’ always come to her mind.
Regalave had arrived here relatively early, around fifty years ago.
When Alberan showed signs of collapse and Kreisharana relayed the information――when they said they would stake their lives to protect if anything happened, that might have been the trigger, Lira thought.
Regalave had told her that being them making a fuss around Them was an eyesore, but there was likely more to it.
She didn't understand the dragons' hearts, nor did she think she comprehended them.
But she believed Regalave must have arranged things so they wouldn't die out of pride.
They were deeply saddened by Regalave’s disappearance, but thanks to that, Alberan came to an end, and after Kleinmeer, the successor, ruled the continent, they were able to surrender peacefully.
Other dragons started coming here after that——most of them around after Kleinmeer ’s dragon hunts began.
Two unsuspecting dragons were slain by Kleinmeer various magical weapons.
However, if a dragon was cautious and fought seriously, there was no way they would lose, and that would be the end of it.
Most of the Dragons come here after They went on a rampage.
Kushenaras too after They went wild, said she was bored and came over.
Dragons outside the continent were varied, but now all the continent's dragons were here.
It was a sight she could never have imagined when she was a child.
She thought that someday she would get used to the sight of two noble and solitary dragons spending time together in the same place, but in the end she never got used to it, and looking at them like this sometimes makes her feel indescribable.
But the cause of that was Lira herself.
Lira was the one who called Them equal to God and worshiped them, and imposed an ‘ideal image of the Holy Spirit’ on Them.
The Dragons, simply being Dragons, must have remained natural and unchanged since ancient times, and even now They haven’t changed
It was always her who had to change.
Holy Spirit did not require physical care, nor did They require food.
She hasn't done anything in particular since she came here, but sometimes she gets asked questions, but Lira still shows up at least once a day.
They also seem to like the board game that Krische and the other brought to Them a long time ago, and often play with it.
Linasera, the oldest dragon in particular, seemed to like it so much that every time They came here, They showed off the games They had devised――Regardless of Their personality or preference Dragons seem like to use their brains.
Maybe it's because They had so much power that They naturally became like that.
*“――Lila. What do you think?”*
"..., Um, well, it's a difficult problem for me, Regalave-sama."
She said troubledly and continued.
“However, I think that adding an element of luck to the game to make the match more even, so that the difference in skill doesn't directly determine the outcome, adds a certain appeal."
*“I see. So you agree with Kushenaras?*
“Of course, I think there's merit to both...but it's not a one-time thing that would make the difference between life and death, it's entertainment that would be repeated. I believe unexpected outcomes can be more enjoyable for both parties than one side winning continuously..."
What they were talking about was Game.
The kind of board game that uses magical power that Linasera introduced several decades ago incorporates elements of military chess training, an element of luck involved in the winning or losing of the pieces.
Regalave seems to be quite intelligent and very strong among the dragons, putting aside losing due to lacking strategy,
They seem it made no sense to lose due to luck
Kushenaras knew how smart Regalave was, so They often used small gambles to gain the upper hand, and what was usually a win: loss of Regalave 9: Kushenaras 1, turned into Regalave 6: Kushenaras 4 in a game involving luck.
“Regalave, the small wins and losses don’t matter, one just needs to be prepared against that too. I understood that Your thinking is superior, so I searched for a way to win. ...And You know that those two will beat Me even with that, right?”
"Indeed. Depending on how one looks at it, one could say that My tactics were simply not enough.''
Lira looked at the two troubled and smiled wryly.
The great Holy Spirit to be worshiped――but what they talked about face-to-face in earnest was the theory of games.
It was like a children’s argument, she thought, and she shook her thinking that thought was too rude.
Lately, even Selene has been saying things like that with an exasperated look on her face, and Lira couldn’t help but think about it too.
Nearly a hundred magic lights hover above their heads, drawing near.
They would probably be enjoying the game for another week or so.
"Lira, it's almost time for dinner."
“Ah, yes, Krische-sama.”
Laughter echoes, and the wind spirits flutter about.
When she turned around, she saw a beautiful girl with silver hair wearing an apron dress looking through a mysterious door built above the roots of a large tree.
There was no building, just a door, and beyond that was a different landscape.
It seems to be a door that connects spaces, leading to the mansion.
Wind spirits gather around her, causing a gust to lift her skirt. With a sigh, Krische wave her finger, creating a strong gust, sending them flying far away.
They fly away happily, and Krische puts her hands on her hips.
The spirits seem to like mischief, enjoying the attention Krische’s gives when they try to lift her skirts.
As Lira hop a bit, the wind pushes her forward gently.
After Lira thanked them, they happily flew up into the sky, leaving her behind.
They weren't bad kids, they helped out a little bit, but they were as energetic as tireless children, so it was difficult to keep up with them.
"Really. They're all really mischievous kids."
“Fufu, I guess they’re happy that Krische-sama is playing with them.”
“...Krische is not happy though.”
Krische who despite her grumbles would play with them, seemed to be their favorite.
Bery and Elvena treat their mischief lightly as if they were dealing with a child, Selene would wear pants and ignore them, and Kreschenta just saw them as troublesome and would cover the area within three ken (~5m) with a barrier.
Anne was the same as Krische, but since she couldn’t deal with things as easily as Krische, most of the time Anne would get tired and they would be bored of her first.
*“Krische, come join Us when you have time.”*
"...Another time, Krische is busy with various things."
Krische, tired of Regalave’s word, replied with that fixed phrase.
Krische was surprisingly easy to push, and once she agreed, they would end up spending a whole week together.
As the first step was important, she never accepted those invitations herself.
However, not minding Krische’s words, Regalave told Lira.
*“Lira, tell Berry that too.”*
"Y-yes..."
‘Uuu’, Krische groaned.
Regalave knows Krische’s character and weaknesses well from their long relationship.
This kind of invitation occurs every time they meet.
But when They truly want to do something, They also call Bery.
Bery wouldn't refuse if she was invited, and if Bery came, it was natural that Krische would come too.
As Lira recalls, this cycle would repeat every few years.
When the two of them come, Kreschenta would say she's going too and Selene would go with them, then of course the other two would come as well.
It was a customary event to have a small outdoor party that lasted several days.
In the corner of this large tree's hollow, Selene had even dug a large hole in the quay and built a sturdy villa for everyone to sleep in.
She also had a nostalgic memory of the villa being blown away several times by the flapping of the dragon's wings.
Recalling this, she smiled wryly and said to Krische that it looked like she wouldn't be able to escape this time.
Krische pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.
“That’s only if Bery said she would come, okay?”
The magic power trembled intermittently as if laughing at Krische’s words.
"...Good grief. Lira, we’re going shopping tomorrow as well. What should we do?"
"...? Tomorrow as well?"
Krische smiled with some amusement while nodding.
She should have already gone shopping today――Liea nodded thoughtfully, tilting her head at that.
"If that's the case, then I also...I completely forgot that I needed some spare clothes."
Lira said, her eyes on her breasts and the wrap around her waist.
It was frayed and torn in many places.
Repeated repairs have left them ragged.
It was uncertain if it could even cover the bare minimum, and even Krische was exasperated.
"...Lira, wouldn't it be better to wear normal clothes like everyone?"
"No. In my case, if even my clothes become luxurious in this life, I'll likely fall endlessly and become more and more depraved."
For Lila, who was born and raised in Kreisharana, their mansion was a garden of temptation.
Even though she felt like she was losing control over the years and drowned in it, she couldn’t compromise on this one line.
Krische thought that ‘Kreisharana probably likes to expose themselves after all’, but she nodded, said, ‘Well, it's okay’, and withdrew.
Lira chuckled as she bowed her head to the two dragons and went to the door.
Then, Krische started happily talking about today's fun events.
"Ehehe, actually, something surprising happened me while Krische was shopping today."
“Surprising?”
"Yes, that's why Krische missed going out shopping with Bery and――"
As she opened the door, Krische lovingly traced today's events recorded in her diary with her finger.
Although Queen Kreschenta, who unified the continent, was absent for nearly 50 years, Alberan's ‘Kingdom’ continued to maintain its system.
This was likely due to the kingdom's strong structure as a parliamentary state, despite having an absolute monarch at its helm.
Queen Alberan was known for her decisive reforms and sharp intellect.
Even before continental unification, she carried out various reforms, placing particular emphasis on education.
She improved the education of commoners, who were not nobles, through elementary schools and universities, and from there she drew up outstanding human resources and appointed them as local government officials.
She didn't hesitate to exercise absolute power against the opposition, implementing meritocratic political reforms.
At first, it was just a local government official――but they began to be entrusted with the management of territories taken away from fraudulent and corrupt aristocrats, and gradually such personnel assignments reached the royal palace.
After she establishes the Council, she appoints exceptional individuals among them, encouraging their participation in national politics.
Although there was some resistance from nobles towards the commoners who rose to become members of the Council, the promotion of commoners to nobility based on merit was not entirely unheard of.
No one could object to the Queen's orders, and although there were voices of dissatisfaction with them, who made up one-third of the parliament, no significant issues arose.
For the aristocrats of the time, Queen Crescenta was a god-like presence, and the presence of her sword――Alberinea did not allow them to rebel.
After the war-torn world came to an end, Alberinea had arrested many disturbing elements.
Her Black Flag Company, who accompanied her on battlefields, were said to have roamed the kingdom as her watchdogs, as recorded in journals of the time.
Subsequently, the Council stabilized and Queen Alberan began to delegate politics to them.
She gradually began to reduce ceremonies and festivals that were centered around her, such as birthday festivals, and instead began soliciting proposals from merchants and the public and establishing festivals accordingly.
Despite concerns about her health, she occasionally shows off her beautiful youthfulness to reassure the worried populace.
She sometimes showed her youthful, girl-like beauty to the populace who were worried that she may be suffering from an illness, letting them know that she was alive and well――but no matter what, it was probably assumed that she would disappear from the kingdom eventually.
Looking back at her policies, the core of them were aimed at transferring and decentralizing power.
Her political skill was such that she was praised as a living god, and she was respected by the people who worshipped her.
She used that absolute power to carry out reforms in order to let go of her absolute power.
She was mentioned in various texts, including ‘In the Mansion of the Noble Hawk’ written by Anne Giterns, a servant of the Christand family who was close to her.
Many texts recorded that she was a crazy Cursed Child, a power-crazed dictator, or a demon lord, but everyone close to her described her as a person of great character.
Although she is a controversial figure, no one would think that what she sought was an authoritarian state system.
Therefore, opinions were still divided as to whether her disappearance with her sister, Alberinea, in the ‘Great Law of Heavenly Changes’, which was said to have taken place at the end of her life, was due to a misunderstanding that as spoken in tragedy, or whether it was part of the plan.
No matter what, even after all these steps, there was no doubt that she was a great queen to the people of the kingdom.
On the 100th anniversary of the unification era, the Council decided to disclose the absence of the queen, and the people who heard this, although they vaguely knew it, were filled with grief.
Opinions were divided over whether a new king should be installed, and the country was divided into two, resulting in a stalemate.
Elgainst Ramil, the head of the Magic Research Institute, who was secretly working to gain control of the magical weapons created by Alberinea, cooperated with a portion of the military's central government.
By quickly occupying the center of the kingdom and taking many of its members prisoner, the 123-year-old stability of the continent collapsed.
The crystals of wisdom she created, including Jarea Gashea, Baumje-Ira, and Pishune, had more power than the army itself.
And the magical formula engraved in the sky――they discovered the existence of magic from the magic crystals of Alberinea, utilizing the abundant magic filling the atmosphere, swiftly suppressed the surrounding rebellious forces, subjugating them, and established the new Kleinmeer magic empire from the kingdom.
In the ancient language, the name meant the Legacy of Moonlight.
As their name suggests, they were the ones who possessed the wisdom left behind by the Princess of the Waning Moon (chipped moon).
With that the thousand-year-old magical civilization began――
"Ah, yes, yes, I'm full, I've had enough. I've heard Mi-sama's thankful story thirty times already."
The former imperial capital of Kleinmeer and Alberan’s royal capital.
A snowy scene――on the streets of Albeneria, where people were coming and going, a fed-up looking woman said.
Her long black hair was tied loosely behind her and she wore an apron dress.
She also had cat-like black ears and a long tail.
One of the beastmen, they were a race called Werecat.
It is said that it originated from human experiments in Kleinmeer and research that attempted to crossbreed humans with magical beasts, and for a time, these girls, who had excellent physical abilities, were treated as combat slaves.
Hundreds of years have passed since Kleinmeer fell, but there were still some people who discriminated against people like them, but because they had a high aptitude for magic and were excellent at manipulating it, such sentiments are relatively scarce in Albeneria, where magical research still flourished.
"Don't call me ‘Mii-sama'! Call me Midyliarize-sama, how many times should I told you this, Calshe!?"
A blonde girl wearing a fine black and gold robe yelled, her lovely face turning bright red.
Above her swollen breasts was a copper pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
It was a seal indicating that she was a student at Albeneria Magic Academy, on the side of the World Tree.
Calshe, who was by her side, sighed as she deliberately covered her ears listening to her loud voice.
“If you say that, then I'm also Calshelia but...Otou-sama will scold you for yelling like that you know. I feel like my ears are going to get worse from hearing people shouting so loudly."
"...I guess I should remove those annoying ears."
"Uwahh, cat discrimination. The worst."
“Which one is the worst huh!”
‘Now, now, don't get mad’, Karche patted the girl on the head and laughed.
"Ah, Bery, it's Uma-yaki, Uma-yaki.”
"Fufu, here. Don't tell Ojou-sama okay, she would say ‘stop having a snack and finish the errands’.”
Skipping on the snow like a rabbit, with elegant silver hair.
They saw a girl in a cloak with a hand-knitted white hat and scarf wrapped around her, and a red-haired servant who also wore a black cloak, and then turned their attention to the stall they were heading towards.
The eight-legged sea demon――it looked like a creepy creature, but it was quite delicious.
Uma-yaki was made by wrapping it in dough and baking it in a round shape.
It's commonly eaten in the southern part of the country where Mii's parents live, but it was rare to see it here inland, far from the sea.
"Look, Mii-sama, it's Uma-yaki, Uma-yaki. How about in front of the museum?"
"Listen you... whatever... Karche you also heard, right? What's so fun about going to the museum?"
“…Actually, I’m bored.”
"...Sigh. It's sad that you don't learn. Isn't Calshe’s brain sucked by the tail and ears?"
“Saying something like. If it’s not me, but the other cats, they will be angry if they hear that.''
Calshe said as she lined up behind the girl and the servant while making sure there were no other cats around.
Even though she often makes a few slips of the tongue, Mii, who can't see others when she's angry, often says questionable things without any hesitation, so she always needs to be careful.
She grew up in an area with a lot of cats and was a young lady who didn’t have a high sense such as discrimination, but due to the severe lack of that sense, she also lacked reservation in those areas.
"It's Calshe's fault for making fun of me so easily. Since I'm going to become an Alberinea, I need to be familiar with the history of Alberan."
At the sound of that voice, the girl in front of them turned around.
With large purple eyes――she was an astonishingly beautiful girl.
Long silver eyelashes and distinct double eyelids.
Her well-shaped nose and cherry-colored lips.
Every feature seemed crafted to perfection, without a hint of flaw on her youthful face.
Her long silver hair was held in place with a pale crimson flower decoration and flowed lightly――adding to her fantastical appearance.
Even though she was right in front of them, she seemed to emanate a presence as if she was a different existence.
The servant next to her also seemed to notice the girl’s action.
With her red hair swaying, the servant turned and looked at them, she was equally beautiful.
While exuding an inexplicable mature aura, her features were refined, with large light brown eyes conveying a sense of innocence.
She appeared petite and slender like the girl, but her body outlined the elegant curves of her apron dress through the gaps in her coat.
Calshe suddenly felt a sense of discomfort and looked around.
Walking along this street, it was obvious that the pair would stand out.
Calshe has been trained since childhood to be this Ojou-sama bodyguard, and if there was a person who attracted the attention of those around, there was no way she would not notice such an atmosphere.
However, there was no such atmosphere present, and they blended into the scene quite naturally.
They headed to this stall after hearing their conversation.
But now that they had only recognized them for the first time when they turned around――such an indescribable feeling.
It was said that high-ranking magicians could even make themselves invisible, but there was no sign of them using such magic in front of them.
"…what is it?"
Unlike Calshe, who felt a little wary, her master calmly looked back and glared at them.
She was currently in a state of extreme displeasure.
The silver-haired girl stared at Mii, then at Calshe next to her, letting out a small ‘Ooh’ voice, and confidently whispered to the servant next to her.
Calshe managed to overhear the words ‘Mia’ and ‘Kalua’ with her excellent hearing, but she didn't understand their meaning and tilted her head.
However, the servant seemed to understand, looking a little surprised and looking at them from the side.
"...Um. I’m asking if you need something but"
Mii called out again in her displeasure, and the servant bowed her head, saying ‘My apologies’.
"The two of you looked a lot like someone we know...so. We apologize if we offended you."
"Ah, no, we too...Ojou-sama is in a bad mood right now so"
“…Calshe, shut up.”
Looked like an acquaintance――maybe that was a person's name?
If so, she thought it made sense, but there was still a lingering feeling of unease.
Ideally, it would be best to leave this place as soon as possible.
Calshe was proud of her intuition which was accurate, and it was not a good idea to have her master interact with someone she felt uncomfortable with.
She didn't think the girls were dangerous, but she thought it would be better not to have anything to do with them, so she thought of an excuse to leave.
"Well, that's fine. Are you, by any chance, a new student at Magic Academy?"
"...? Krische is?"
"That's right. Accompanied by an entourage in a place like this. You come from somewhere, right?"
However, her master――Mii started talking with them.
Bringing a servant meant she came from a decent family, and she seemed to be younger than Mii.
The decision was probably made from that assumption. Mii was prone to jumping to conclusions.
Calshe looked at the girl.
On the left breast of her black coat.
She glanced down from under her muffler, and there was a ‘Lightning and Hawk Crest’ printed in a dark gray monochrome color.
It felt somewhat familiar, but she searched her memory and was relieved that at least it wasn't from a famous family living around here.
At first glance, it didn't seem like there would be any major problems.
"I'm Midyliarize Varnashtel. I'm a student at the academy's high school. What's your name?"
“Uhh..”
The girl looked at the servant next to her in confusion, and in response the red-haired servant bowed her head, saying, ‘Nice to meet you’.
"My apologies for the late introduction, this person is Krische Argan. My name is Bery, Varnashtel-sama."
"I'm fine with Midyliarize, Berry. This servant is Calshelia. Nice to meet you, Krische."
"Eh, ah... yes..."
With a troubled look on her face, the girl――Krische took Mii's offered right hand.
Mii laughed and narrowed her eyes.
"I see...Krische. What a great name."
"Great……"
"Didn't you know? The first Alberinea’s name was Krische Christand. I'm sure your parents gave you that name so you can become a fine magician like Alberinea."
The girl looked at the servant next to her with an even more troubled look on her face.
The servant also looked a little troubled―and suddenly, her eyes met Calshe’s.
Calshe sensed their troubled state and tried to interrupt, but
“Still, Krische Argan and Bery huh…Fufun, I know. You guys are going to the museum now, right?”
“Huh?”
"We were also thinking of going to the museum. There are many items related to Alberinea, so if you don't mind, I'd like to show you around."
Mii, who seemed to want to act like a senior, proudly puffed out her empty chest.
“M-Mii-sama, you know…not everyone is Mii-sama…”
"What? Even if it doesn't matter to you, Alberinea is a very great existence for those who study magic. Even though this girl has only been to the academy, she knows about Alberinea and is different from you. Right, Krische.”
"Um, yes, more or less..."
Krische glanced again at the red-haired servant.
She might be the type to shy away from others.
"It was some kind of fortuitous encounter that we met here. Fufu, right, I'll treat you to sea demon Uma-yaki as well."
However, how did her actions come across to them?
Calshe’s master, as usual, paid no attention and confidently said so, puffing out her non-existent chest
With the collapse of Kleinmeer, magical civilization too, comes to an end.
Hatred towards the magicians who had ruled the world until then――the next hundred years were the era of witch-hunting.
Many magic formulas that could be called the crystallization of wisdom were burnt down and lost, along with valuable materials, and it seems that the symbol of the magicians, the World Tree, was attempted to be burned multiple times.
However, each time, the World Tree wrapped itself in water to extinguish the fire, and if it was wounded, it would sway and regenerate, and even those who had tried to do something about it eventually came to accept its presence as something sacred.
And after a hundred years, the hatred faded.
Like the World Tree, magic itself is not evil, but evil resides in the hearts of the people who use it.
The monks of Arbyagel, the mountain where the ancient dragons were, walked around the world preaching, and gradually the existence of magicians began to be accepted along with the World Tree——and as time passed, the world found stability again.
Magicians were once again allowed to conduct various kinds of research in the name of peaceful development.
By entering the Magic Academy, magicians faced significant restrictions on independent research without permission and were occasionally troubled by audits from the Peace Church, but they gained a reasonable degree of freedom.
To ordinary people, magicians possess immense power.
The real reason was that they were afraid that the harsh oppression and oppression would cause them to rebel again.
Although many people were aware that the Magic Academy was a cage for controlling magicians, it was accepted by many magicians due to its history up until then, and it continues to this day.
Millions of people died in the late Kleinmeer war, and many cities disappeared without a trace, along with the people who lived there.
A great magician who is especially outstanding among magicians――living witnesses of that war that lasted for decades remain among these long-lived people, and their call to the magicians was significant.
――The destination of our wisdom is not destruction, but great peaceful development.
Albeneria Magic Academy was one of the most prestigious schools of magic that was created.
It is very different from the magic academies that were built in various places to manage those with magical abilities, and its entrance was a narrow gate.
Talented apprentice magicians made every effort from a young age, passed difficult exams, and were finally allowed to step in, and magicians who graduated from here were respected just for being from Albeneria.
Naturally, afterward, they would be in great demand, such as Midyliarize, the daughter of the Varnashtel family, a master magician.
“Fufun, how is it?”
‘It started again’, Calshe looked at her master exasperated.
While eating Uma-yaki and giving a long lecture to the two who apparently didn't know much about it, Mii produced a puppy with the element of water on her finger and made it walk through the air on the spot.
Although the puppies were slightly trembling and awkward, it was surprisingly difficult to control a mass of water and move it like a living thing, which was one of the entrance examinations for the students.
It seemed that she was very happy that her teacher's mentor praised her and said that her ability was amazing for such a young age.
She was proudly showing it off everywhere.
Perhaps having a cat tongue, the girl, who had finished eating the Uma-yaki after it had cooled down, looked next to her with a slightly troubled look, and the servant next to her smiled wryly at her gaze and clapped.
Although Mi didn't realize it when she entered her senior-style mode, Calshe had already noticed that these two were no ordinary magicians.
Cats use their tails to sense magical energy with great precision.
Physical strengthening――building imaginary muscles using magical power.
The magic that they still practice is a type of primitive magic that magicians are made to perform from an early age in order to get used to manipulating their internal magic.
Magicians from before the Unification era who used to brandish swords in battle――in the era of heroes, they were the only ones who used them on a daily basis, but now they were mainly used for protection like Calshe. The only people who seriously practiced it were magicians whose purpose was to go out on the battlefield and fight.
What was required of a magician was basically magic, and ordinary magicians have abandoned that in order to concentrate on magic, it was extremely difficult to engrave a formula in the air and manipulate magic while strengthening the body.
Calshe and others also cultivated this by cutting out magic, and technology was something like that.
In order to gain something, you always have to give up something.
However, from that point of view, the two were quite strange.
The two were clearly used to physical strengthening.
It was so calm that even Calshe, who has strengthened her body more than the average person and excelled in sensing magical power, didn’t notice it for a moment.
Its calmness was proof that they use imaginary muscles on a daily basis, and there was even no slight fluctuation that should normally occur every time they moved.
Their mastery was extraordinary, and the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable it became.
Calshe already believed that these two were not just ordinary freshmen or bodyguards.
Suddenly, she met the servant's eyes.
With her light brown eyes, she looked at Calshe, then stood up, looking thoughtful for a moment, and then turned back to Mii.
"You're very good at it. However, if you add a formula here, it will be a little more stable."
“He...?”
Pointing her fingertips at the floating puppy, a line of blue magic.
Flowing beauty――the fluctuations in magic power were minimal.
When the magical thread touches the water puppy, it suddenly orbits at a sharps angle, carving out a vivid formula.
The shivering puppy suddenly stopped and Mii opened her eyes.
"It's like a faucet. If it's difficult to stabilize the magical power, it will be much easier if you create a mechanism that restricts the output to a certain level to stabilize the magical power. With this, no matter how much you pour in, the amount of magical power will remain stable.''
"Y-yes..."
“...Of course, there will be some waste, but it is more important to stabilize it first. Midyliarize-sama is quite good at carving out precise techniques, once you get used to it, you will be able to eliminate waste and improve the efficiency.''
Mi stared at the water puppy with astonishment on her face, then her cheeks blushed.
It was like explaining history to a dragon.
It seemed like she finally noticed it too.
"Ah, uh...perhaps are you Doushi-sama (high-ranking priest) or something...?"
"Um... well, I guess it's something like that. Please excuse my rudeness."
"No, no, I-I learned a lot."
Bery smiled wryly and bowed her head, and Mii hurriedly bowed her head.
Intervening in someone else's formula and rewriting it.
The ease with which she did it, was an advanced feat even for in an amateur’s eye.
While matching the color of the magic and making sure that there was no repulsion between the magic, carving out a new formula, and incorporating it without interfering or destroying the already developed formula.
It would be impossible if one didn't understand and grasp all of the techniques that were being used――but she did it easily with a quick glance.
She was probably one of the best Doushi who was officially recognized to instruct and teach magic.
Moreover, there was no disturbance in the physical strengthening.
The atmosphere that the servant wore was calm and different from her appearance.
If someone told her that she was a great magician, she wouldn’t have any doubt.
Among the high-ranking magicians――those who were positioned as Sorcerer and Grand Sorcerer, there were some who could be said to have attained eternal youth.
Most of them were eccentric, and some of them may even be entrusted with the education of the daughters of famous families.
Regarding her, it's somewhat understandable――but the problem lies with the girl beside her.
When she saw that, she smiled a little with satisfaction.
There was no surprise there――she, too, seemed to have noticed Mii’s problem and might have been thinking the same thing as the servant.
Such speculation comes to mind.
Compared to the servant, she seemed appropriately aged at first glance, or even younger in demeanor than her appearance suggested.
The girl was about to say something, but naturally, she looked at her servant's actions and was satisfied.
Considering Mii's age of 17, she was extremely talented, and compared to her peers, she was ahead of them.
Even in this place, Albeneria Magic Academy, where the elite gathers, she had excellent grades――it would be faster to count her rank from the top.
“Krische, do you have someone like this teaching you every day?”
"Teach... yes. Bery is Krische’s teacher. Bery teaches Krische’s a lot."
Krische said this with a hint of pride, and Bery smiled wryly.
A young genius and a high-ranking magician servant——certainly, if you put it that way, it seemed plausible.
But the behavior of the attendant she just made eye contact with and the current guidance session.
It felt as if they had been told, ‘That's what I want you to understand’, and that stuck in Calshe’s mind in a strange way.
However, if asked what it was otherwise, she couldn't answer, and Calshe could only answer that it just bothered her.
Krische happily stood up and wrapped her arms around the servant.
The scene was that of a child——in a sense, it exuded an inexplicable genius, leaving Calshe lost in thought.
"I'm jealous...I think it's going to be a hot topic in middle school. It's like having a personal instructor."
Mii looked at Krische and said with a sigh, then looked at Calshe from the side.
“…Compared to that.”
"The way you say that is somewhat unexpected. My specialty is martial arts and physical enhancement, I could teach you as much as you want in that area."
She responded with a twitch, shaking her ears and tail.
"...Well, like you said, I'm quite ordinary, with no learning ability. I'm hopelessly clumsy, and my sense of movement is catastrophically bad, so there are limits."
“Ah, um, are you trying to say that that’s me…?”
"No, no, how could that me. By the way, Mii-sama, do you have any idea?"
"Gunu..."
‘Now, now’ Bery said, trying to calm her down. The girl held her arm, looking at Calshe and the others.
Then, her long eyelashes fluttered and her cheeks relaxed, smiling happily.
――A rare, jewel-like purple color.
Seeing her eyes and smile for the first time gave her a strangely nostalgic feeling.
***Final Arc, One Who Obtain Happiness, Chapter 260 Part 1 Of an Unfinished Tale***
T/N: Last chapter of main story, however there's still 90 side stories (still ongoing)!!
Atop a high mountain――a large tree that covered the stars in the night sky.
Countless translucent things flitted around its perimeter, while small creatures darted around the trunk of the great tree.
The roots of the tree spread out, filling the hollow with their presence, and magic crystals shimmered on the walls of the hollow.
If one listened closely, they could hear cheerful voices amidst the commotion, and atop the roots that covered the earth, a girl with cloth wrapped around her chest and waist opened her mouth in what seemed like troubled.
"Geez, You shouldn't disturb Regalave-sama and the others.”
As she spoke, the wind swirled around the girl, her loosely tied long hair wrapping around her body, leaving her stunned.
She caught a small sprite-like creature and warned it not to anger her.
After releasing the struggling sprite, she sighed and looked around.
All around the roots, translucent beings similar to the one she caught were running amok in this lawless zone.
Only a small number of them were diligently tending to flowers and the great tree.
The gap between the true world where the soul exists and the material world――a world of overlapping fantasy.
While it was a world without many inconveniences, it seemed to be greatly influenced by human consciousness.
One of them was the spirit that was born at some point.
Often, things people vaguely believed in would naturally come into existence.
This was especially true in places that overlap with land in material world that was considered sacred.
Depending on the location, there were small fire-breathing flying lizards that resembled ancient dragons, and there were even larger monsters among the magical beasts.
Legends and folklore likely influenced these occurrences.
Flowers and fruits the ones talked about in legends were growing and bearing fruit as if natural――it was an indescribably mysterious world.
In front of her――at the base of the large tree were two huge gray bodies that looked like small mountains.
Curled up against each other, Regalave and Kushenaras facing each other.
Kushenaras were the most frequent one――They come every few decades, stay for about ten years, and then go back.
Other dragons also come to show their faces from time to time, and stay for about ten years.
Once, when the timing coincided and the seven Dragons gathered here, it was quite a frightening sight, but no one complained, and that situation continued for about three years, that memory was now from a long time ago.
Their sense of time was truly different.
There were times when the dragons didn't speak for a full three weeks while facing each other, and she used to be afraid that they might have gotten into a fight, but it seems that this was the same no matter how many Dragons gather together.
When one of them shook their magic, the other began to shook their magic as if in response, and sometimes they enjoyed conversing non-stop for a month.
Now seemed to be a chatty period.
It's been the fourth day since they started talking yesterday――although they occasionally fall silent, they have been asking and answering various questions over and over again.
The more she interacted with them, the more mysterious it seemed.
They engaged in serious conversations about the essence of their existence and what it meant to live and die, but occasionally they would pose normal riddles as well. When someone figured out the answer and interrupted, they would promptly be allowed to know their Mana (true name). That was a long time ago.
Although she thought it was rude, the words Kreschenta said, ‘Those people may seem to be thinking about a lot of things, but they aren't thinking about anything’ always come to her mind.
Regalave had arrived here relatively early, around fifty years ago.
When Alberan showed signs of collapse and Kreisharana relayed the information――when they said they would stake their lives to protect if anything happened, that might have been the trigger, Lira thought.
Regalave had told her that being them making a fuss around Them was an eyesore, but there was likely more to it.
She didn't understand the dragons' hearts, nor did she think she comprehended them.
But she believed Regalave must have arranged things so they wouldn't die out of pride.
They were deeply saddened by Regalave’s disappearance, but thanks to that, Alberan came to an end, and after Kleinmeer, the successor, ruled the continent, they were able to surrender peacefully.
Other dragons started coming here after that——most of them around after Kleinmeer ’s dragon hunts began.
Two unsuspecting dragons were slain by Kleinmeer various magical weapons.
However, if a dragon was cautious and fought seriously, there was no way they would lose, and that would be the end of it.
Most of the Dragons come here after They went on a rampage.
Kushenaras too after They went wild, said she was bored and came over.
Dragons outside the continent were varied, but now all the continent's dragons were here.
It was a sight she could never have imagined when she was a child.
She thought that someday she would get used to the sight of two noble and solitary dragons spending time together in the same place, but in the end she never got used to it, and looking at them like this sometimes makes her feel indescribable.
But the cause of that was Lira herself.
Lira was the one who called Them equal to God and worshiped them, and imposed an ‘ideal image of the Holy Spirit’ on Them.
The Dragons, simply being Dragons, must have remained natural and unchanged since ancient times, and even now They haven’t changed
It was always her who had to change.
Holy Spirit did not require physical care, nor did They require food.
She hasn't done anything in particular since she came here, but sometimes she gets asked questions, but Lira still shows up at least once a day.
They also seem to like the board game that Krische and the other brought to Them a long time ago, and often play with it.
Linasera, the oldest dragon in particular, seemed to like it so much that every time They came here, They showed off the games They had devised――Regardless of Their personality or preference Dragons seem like to use their brains.
Maybe it's because They had so much power that They naturally became like that.
*“――Lila. What do you think?”*
"..., Um, well, it's a difficult problem for me, Regalave-sama."
She said troubledly and continued.
“However, I think that adding an element of luck to the game to make the match more even, so that the difference in skill doesn't directly determine the outcome, adds a certain appeal."
*“I see. So you agree with Kushenaras?*
“Of course, I think there's merit to both...but it's not a one-time thing that would make the difference between life and death, it's entertainment that would be repeated. I believe unexpected outcomes can be more enjoyable for both parties than one side winning continuously..."
What they were talking about was Game.
The kind of board game that uses magical power that Linasera introduced several decades ago incorporates elements of military chess training, an element of luck involved in the winning or losing of the pieces.
Regalave seems to be quite intelligent and very strong among the dragons, putting aside losing due to lacking strategy,
They seem it made no sense to lose due to luck
Kushenaras knew how smart Regalave was, so They often used small gambles to gain the upper hand, and what was usually a win: loss of Regalave 9: Kushenaras 1, turned into Regalave 6: Kushenaras 4 in a game involving luck.
“Regalave, the small wins and losses don’t matter, one just needs to be prepared against that too. I understood that Your thinking is superior, so I searched for a way to win. ...And You know that those two will beat Me even with that, right?”
"Indeed. Depending on how one looks at it, one could say that My tactics were simply not enough.''
Lira looked at the two troubled and smiled wryly.
The great Holy Spirit to be worshiped――but what they talked about face-to-face in earnest was the theory of games.
It was like a children’s argument, she thought, and she shook her thinking that thought was too rude.
Lately, even Selene has been saying things like that with an exasperated look on her face, and Lira couldn’t help but think about it too.
Nearly a hundred magic lights hover above their heads, drawing near.
They would probably be enjoying the game for another week or so.
"Lira, it's almost time for dinner."
“Ah, yes, Krische-sama.”
Laughter echoes, and the wind spirits flutter about.
When she turned around, she saw a beautiful girl with silver hair wearing an apron dress looking through a mysterious door built above the roots of a large tree.
There was no building, just a door, and beyond that was a different landscape.
It seems to be a door that connects spaces, leading to the mansion.
Wind spirits gather around her, causing a gust to lift her skirt. With a sigh, Krische wave her finger, creating a strong gust, sending them flying far away.
They fly away happily, and Krische puts her hands on her hips.
The spirits seem to like mischief, enjoying the attention Krische’s gives when they try to lift her skirts.
As Lira hop a bit, the wind pushes her forward gently.
After Lira thanked them, they happily flew up into the sky, leaving her behind.
They weren't bad kids, they helped out a little bit, but they were as energetic as tireless children, so it was difficult to keep up with them.
"Really. They're all really mischievous kids."
“Fufu, I guess they’re happy that Krische-sama is playing with them.”
“...Krische is not happy though.”
Krische who despite her grumbles would play with them, seemed to be their favorite.
Bery and Elvena treat their mischief lightly as if they were dealing with a child, Selene would wear pants and ignore them, and Kreschenta just saw them as troublesome and would cover the area within three ken (~5m) with a barrier.
Anne was the same as Krische, but since she couldn’t deal with things as easily as Krische, most of the time Anne would get tired and they would be bored of her first.
*“Krische, come join Us when you have time.”*
"...Another time, Krische is busy with various things."
Krische, tired of Regalave’s word, replied with that fixed phrase.
Krische was surprisingly easy to push, and once she agreed, they would end up spending a whole week together.
As the first step was important, she never accepted those invitations herself.
However, not minding Krische’s words, Regalave told Lira.
*“Lira, tell Berry that too.”*
"Y-yes..."
‘Uuu’, Krische groaned.
Regalave knows Krische’s character and weaknesses well from their long relationship.
This kind of invitation occurs every time they meet.
But when They truly want to do something, They also call Bery.
Bery wouldn't refuse if she was invited, and if Bery came, it was natural that Krische would come too.
As Lira recalls, this cycle would repeat every few years.
When the two of them come, Kreschenta would say she's going too and Selene would go with them, then of course the other two would come as well.
It was a customary event to have a small outdoor party that lasted several days.
In the corner of this large tree's hollow, Selene had even dug a large hole in the quay and built a sturdy villa for everyone to sleep in.
She also had a nostalgic memory of the villa being blown away several times by the flapping of the dragon's wings.
Recalling this, she smiled wryly and said to Krische that it looked like she wouldn't be able to escape this time.
Krische pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.
“That’s only if Bery said she would come, okay?”
The magic power trembled intermittently as if laughing at Krische’s words.
"...Good grief. Lira, we’re going shopping tomorrow as well. What should we do?"
"...? Tomorrow as well?"
Krische smiled with some amusement while nodding.
She should have already gone shopping today――Liea nodded thoughtfully, tilting her head at that.
"If that's the case, then I also...I completely forgot that I needed some spare clothes."
Lira said, her eyes on her breasts and the wrap around her waist.
It was frayed and torn in many places.
Repeated repairs have left them ragged.
It was uncertain if it could even cover the bare minimum, and even Krische was exasperated.
"...Lira, wouldn't it be better to wear normal clothes like everyone?"
"No. In my case, if even my clothes become luxurious in this life, I'll likely fall endlessly and become more and more depraved."
For Lila, who was born and raised in Kreisharana, their mansion was a garden of temptation.
Even though she felt like she was losing control over the years and drowned in it, she couldn’t compromise on this one line.
Krische thought that ‘Kreisharana probably likes to expose themselves after all’, but she nodded, said, ‘Well, it's okay’, and withdrew.
Lira chuckled as she bowed her head to the two dragons and went to the door.
Then, Krische started happily talking about today's fun events.
"Ehehe, actually, something surprising happened me while Krische was shopping today."
“Surprising?”
"Yes, that's why Krische missed going out shopping with Bery and――"
As she opened the door, Krische lovingly traced today's events recorded in her diary with her finger.
Although Queen Kreschenta, who unified the continent, was absent for nearly 50 years, Alberan's ‘Kingdom’ continued to maintain its system.
This was likely due to the kingdom's strong structure as a parliamentary state, despite having an absolute monarch at its helm.
Queen Alberan was known for her decisive reforms and sharp intellect.
Even before continental unification, she carried out various reforms, placing particular emphasis on education.
She improved the education of commoners, who were not nobles, through elementary schools and universities, and from there she drew up outstanding human resources and appointed them as local government officials.
She didn't hesitate to exercise absolute power against the opposition, implementing meritocratic political reforms.
At first, it was just a local government official――but they began to be entrusted with the management of territories taken away from fraudulent and corrupt aristocrats, and gradually such personnel assignments reached the royal palace.
After she establishes the Council, she appoints exceptional individuals among them, encouraging their participation in national politics.
Although there was some resistance from nobles towards the commoners who rose to become members of the Council, the promotion of commoners to nobility based on merit was not entirely unheard of.
No one could object to the Queen's orders, and although there were voices of dissatisfaction with them, who made up one-third of the parliament, no significant issues arose.
For the aristocrats of the time, Queen Crescenta was a god-like presence, and the presence of her sword――Alberinea did not allow them to rebel.
After the war-torn world came to an end, Alberinea had arrested many disturbing elements.
Her Black Flag Company, who accompanied her on battlefields, were said to have roamed the kingdom as her watchdogs, as recorded in journals of the time.
Subsequently, the Council stabilized and Queen Alberan began to delegate politics to them.
She gradually began to reduce ceremonies and festivals that were centered around her, such as birthday festivals, and instead began soliciting proposals from merchants and the public and establishing festivals accordingly.
Despite concerns about her health, she occasionally shows off her beautiful youthfulness to reassure the worried populace.
She sometimes showed her youthful, girl-like beauty to the populace who were worried that she may be suffering from an illness, letting them know that she was alive and well――but no matter what, it was probably assumed that she would disappear from the kingdom eventually.
Looking back at her policies, the core of them were aimed at transferring and decentralizing power.
Her political skill was such that she was praised as a living god, and she was respected by the people who worshipped her.
She used that absolute power to carry out reforms in order to let go of her absolute power.
She was mentioned in various texts, including ‘In the Mansion of the Noble Hawk’ written by Anne Giterns, a servant of the Christand family who was close to her.
Many texts recorded that she was a crazy Cursed Child, a power-crazed dictator, or a demon lord, but everyone close to her described her as a person of great character.
Although she is a controversial figure, no one would think that what she sought was an authoritarian state system.
Therefore, opinions were still divided as to whether her disappearance with her sister, Alberinea, in the ‘Great Law of Heavenly Changes’, which was said to have taken place at the end of her life, was due to a misunderstanding that as spoken in tragedy, or whether it was part of the plan.
No matter what, even after all these steps, there was no doubt that she was a great queen to the people of the kingdom.
On the 100th anniversary of the unification era, the Council decided to disclose the absence of the queen, and the people who heard this, although they vaguely knew it, were filled with grief.
Opinions were divided over whether a new king should be installed, and the country was divided into two, resulting in a stalemate.
Elgainst Ramil, the head of the Magic Research Institute, who was secretly working to gain control of the magical weapons created by Alberinea, cooperated with a portion of the military's central government.
By quickly occupying the center of the kingdom and taking many of its members prisoner, the 123-year-old stability of the continent collapsed.
The crystals of wisdom she created, including Jarea Gashea, Baumje-Ira, and Pishune, had more power than the army itself.
And the magical formula engraved in the sky――they discovered the existence of magic from the magic crystals of Alberinea, utilizing the abundant magic filling the atmosphere, swiftly suppressed the surrounding rebellious forces, subjugating them, and established the new Kleinmeer magic empire from the kingdom.
In the ancient language, the name meant the Legacy of Moonlight.
As their name suggests, they were the ones who possessed the wisdom left behind by the Princess of the Waning Moon (chipped moon).
With that the thousand-year-old magical civilization began――
"Ah, yes, yes, I'm full, I've had enough. I've heard Mi-sama's thankful story thirty times already."
The former imperial capital of Kleinmeer and Alberan’s royal capital.
A snowy scene――on the streets of Albeneria, where people were coming and going, a fed-up looking woman said.
Her long black hair was tied loosely behind her and she wore an apron dress.
She also had cat-like black ears and a long tail.
One of the beastmen, they were a race called Werecat.
It is said that it originated from human experiments in Kleinmeer and research that attempted to crossbreed humans with magical beasts, and for a time, these girls, who had excellent physical abilities, were treated as combat slaves.
Hundreds of years have passed since Kleinmeer fell, but there were still some people who discriminated against people like them, but because they had a high aptitude for magic and were excellent at manipulating it, such sentiments are relatively scarce in Albeneria, where magical research still flourished.
"Don't call me ‘Mii-sama'! Call me Midyliarize-sama, how many times should I told you this, Calshe!?"
A blonde girl wearing a fine black and gold robe yelled, her lovely face turning bright red.
Above her swollen breasts was a copper pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
It was a seal indicating that she was a student at Albeneria Magic Academy, on the side of the World Tree.
Calshe, who was by her side, sighed as she deliberately covered her ears listening to her loud voice.
“If you say that, then I'm also Calshelia but...Otou-sama will scold you for yelling like that you know. I feel like my ears are going to get worse from hearing people shouting so loudly."
"...I guess I should remove those annoying ears."
"Uwahh, cat discrimination. The worst."
“Which one is the worst huh!”
‘Now, now, don't get mad’, Karche patted the girl on the head and laughed.
"Ah, Bery, it's Uma-yaki, Uma-yaki.”
"Fufu, here. Don't tell Ojou-sama okay, she would say ‘stop having a snack and finish the errands’.”
Skipping on the snow like a rabbit, with elegant silver hair.
They saw a girl in a cloak with a hand-knitted white hat and scarf wrapped around her, and a red-haired servant who also wore a black cloak, and then turned their attention to the stall they were heading towards.
The eight-legged sea demon――it looked like a creepy creature, but it was quite delicious.
Uma-yaki was made by wrapping it in dough and baking it in a round shape.
It's commonly eaten in the southern part of the country where Mii's parents live, but it was rare to see it here inland, far from the sea.
"Look, Mii-sama, it's Uma-yaki, Uma-yaki. How about in front of the museum?"
"Listen you... whatever... Karche you also heard, right? What's so fun about going to the museum?"
“…Actually, I’m bored.”
"...Sigh. It's sad that you don't learn. Isn't Calshe’s brain sucked by the tail and ears?"
“Saying something like. If it’s not me, but the other cats, they will be angry if they hear that.''
Calshe said as she lined up behind the girl and the servant while making sure there were no other cats around.
Even though she often makes a few slips of the tongue, Mii, who can't see others when she's angry, often says questionable things without any hesitation, so she always needs to be careful.
She grew up in an area with a lot of cats and was a young lady who didn’t have a high sense such as discrimination, but due to the severe lack of that sense, she also lacked reservation in those areas.
"It's Calshe's fault for making fun of me so easily. Since I'm going to become an Alberinea, I need to be familiar with the history of Alberan."
At the sound of that voice, the girl in front of them turned around.
With large purple eyes――she was an astonishingly beautiful girl.
Long silver eyelashes and distinct double eyelids.
Her well-shaped nose and cherry-colored lips.
Every feature seemed crafted to perfection, without a hint of flaw on her youthful face.
Her long silver hair was held in place with a pale crimson flower decoration and flowed lightly――adding to her fantastical appearance.
Even though she was right in front of them, she seemed to emanate a presence as if she was a different existence.
The servant next to her also seemed to notice the girl’s action.
With her red hair swaying, the servant turned and looked at them, she was equally beautiful.
While exuding an inexplicable mature aura, her features were refined, with large light brown eyes conveying a sense of innocence.
She appeared petite and slender like the girl, but her body outlined the elegant curves of her apron dress through the gaps in her coat.
Calshe suddenly felt a sense of discomfort and looked around.
Walking along this street, it was obvious that the pair would stand out.
Calshe has been trained since childhood to be this Ojou-sama bodyguard, and if there was a person who attracted the attention of those around, there was no way she would not notice such an atmosphere.
However, there was no such atmosphere present, and they blended into the scene quite naturally.
They headed to this stall after hearing their conversation.
But now that they had only recognized them for the first time when they turned around――such an indescribable feeling.
It was said that high-ranking magicians could even make themselves invisible, but there was no sign of them using such magic in front of them.
"…what is it?"
Unlike Calshe, who felt a little wary, her master calmly looked back and glared at them.
She was currently in a state of extreme displeasure.
The silver-haired girl stared at Mii, then at Calshe next to her, letting out a small ‘Ooh’ voice, and confidently whispered to the servant next to her.
Calshe managed to overhear the words ‘Mia’ and ‘Kalua’ with her excellent hearing, but she didn't understand their meaning and tilted her head.
However, the servant seemed to understand, looking a little surprised and looking at them from the side.
"...Um. I’m asking if you need something but"
Mii called out again in her displeasure, and the servant bowed her head, saying ‘My apologies’.
"The two of you looked a lot like someone we know...so. We apologize if we offended you."
"Ah, no, we too...Ojou-sama is in a bad mood right now so"
“…Calshe, shut up.”
Looked like an acquaintance――maybe that was a person's name?
If so, she thought it made sense, but there was still a lingering feeling of unease.
Ideally, it would be best to leave this place as soon as possible.
Calshe was proud of her intuition which was accurate, and it was not a good idea to have her master interact with someone she felt uncomfortable with.
She didn't think the girls were dangerous, but she thought it would be better not to have anything to do with them, so she thought of an excuse to leave.
"Well, that's fine. Are you, by any chance, a new student at Magic Academy?"
"...? Krische is?"
"That's right. Accompanied by an entourage in a place like this. You come from somewhere, right?"
However, her master――Mii started talking with them.
Bringing a servant meant she came from a decent family, and she seemed to be younger than Mii.
The decision was probably made from that assumption. Mii was prone to jumping to conclusions.
Calshe looked at the girl.
On the left breast of her black coat.
She glanced down from under her muffler, and there was a ‘Lightning and Hawk Crest’ printed in a dark gray monochrome color.
It felt somewhat familiar, but she searched her memory and was relieved that at least it wasn't from a famous family living around here.
At first glance, it didn't seem like there would be any major problems.
"I'm Midyliarize Varnashtel. I'm a student at the academy's high school. What's your name?"
“Uhh..”
The girl looked at the servant next to her in confusion, and in response the red-haired servant bowed her head, saying, ‘Nice to meet you’.
"My apologies for the late introduction, this person is Krische Argan. My name is Bery, Varnashtel-sama."
"I'm fine with Midyliarize, Berry. This servant is Calshelia. Nice to meet you, Krische."
"Eh, ah... yes..."
With a troubled look on her face, the girl――Krische took Mii's offered right hand.
Mii laughed and narrowed her eyes.
"I see...Krische. What a great name."
"Great……"
"Didn't you know? The first Alberinea’s name was Krische Christand. I'm sure your parents gave you that name so you can become a fine magician like Alberinea."
The girl looked at the servant next to her with an even more troubled look on her face.
The servant also looked a little troubled―and suddenly, her eyes met Calshe’s.
Calshe sensed their troubled state and tried to interrupt, but
“Still, Krische Argan and Bery huh…Fufun, I know. You guys are going to the museum now, right?”
“Huh?”
"We were also thinking of going to the museum. There are many items related to Alberinea, so if you don't mind, I'd like to show you around."
Mii, who seemed to want to act like a senior, proudly puffed out her empty chest.
“M-Mii-sama, you know…not everyone is Mii-sama…”
"What? Even if it doesn't matter to you, Alberinea is a very great existence for those who study magic. Even though this girl has only been to the academy, she knows about Alberinea and is different from you. Right, Krische.”
"Um, yes, more or less..."
Krische glanced again at the red-haired servant.
She might be the type to shy away from others.
"It was some kind of fortuitous encounter that we met here. Fufu, right, I'll treat you to sea demon Uma-yaki as well."
However, how did her actions come across to them?
Calshe’s master, as usual, paid no attention and confidently said so, puffing out her non-existent chest
With the collapse of Kleinmeer, magical civilization too, comes to an end.
Hatred towards the magicians who had ruled the world until then――the next hundred years were the era of witch-hunting.
Many magic formulas that could be called the crystallization of wisdom were burnt down and lost, along with valuable materials, and it seems that the symbol of the magicians, the World Tree, was attempted to be burned multiple times.
However, each time, the World Tree wrapped itself in water to extinguish the fire, and if it was wounded, it would sway and regenerate, and even those who had tried to do something about it eventually came to accept its presence as something sacred.
And after a hundred years, the hatred faded.
Like the World Tree, magic itself is not evil, but evil resides in the hearts of the people who use it.
The monks of Arbyagel, the mountain where the ancient dragons were, walked around the world preaching, and gradually the existence of magicians began to be accepted along with the World Tree——and as time passed, the world found stability again.
Magicians were once again allowed to conduct various kinds of research in the name of peaceful development.
By entering the Magic Academy, magicians faced significant restrictions on independent research without permission and were occasionally troubled by audits from the Peace Church, but they gained a reasonable degree of freedom.
To ordinary people, magicians possess immense power.
The real reason was that they were afraid that the harsh oppression and oppression would cause them to rebel again.
Although many people were aware that the Magic Academy was a cage for controlling magicians, it was accepted by many magicians due to its history up until then, and it continues to this day.
Millions of people died in the late Kleinmeer war, and many cities disappeared without a trace, along with the people who lived there.
A great magician who is especially outstanding among magicians――living witnesses of that war that lasted for decades remain among these long-lived people, and their call to the magicians was significant.
――The destination of our wisdom is not destruction, but great peaceful development.
Albeneria Magic Academy was one of the most prestigious schools of magic that was created.
It is very different from the magic academies that were built in various places to manage those with magical abilities, and its entrance was a narrow gate.
Talented apprentice magicians made every effort from a young age, passed difficult exams, and were finally allowed to step in, and magicians who graduated from here were respected just for being from Albeneria.
Naturally, afterward, they would be in great demand, such as Midyliarize, the daughter of the Varnashtel family, a master magician.
“Fufun, how is it?”
‘It started again’, Calshe looked at her master exasperated.
While eating Uma-yaki and giving a long lecture to the two who apparently didn't know much about it, Mii produced a puppy with the element of water on her finger and made it walk through the air on the spot.
Although the puppies were slightly trembling and awkward, it was surprisingly difficult to control a mass of water and move it like a living thing, which was one of the entrance examinations for the students.
It seemed that she was very happy that her teacher's mentor praised her and said that her ability was amazing for such a young age.
She was proudly showing it off everywhere.
Perhaps having a cat tongue, the girl, who had finished eating the Uma-yaki after it had cooled down, looked next to her with a slightly troubled look, and the servant next to her smiled wryly at her gaze and clapped.
Although Mi didn't realize it when she entered her senior-style mode, Calshe had already noticed that these two were no ordinary magicians.
Cats use their tails to sense magical energy with great precision.
Physical strengthening――building imaginary muscles using magical power.
The magic that they still practice is a type of primitive magic that magicians are made to perform from an early age in order to get used to manipulating their internal magic.
Magicians from before the Unification era who used to brandish swords in battle――in the era of heroes, they were the only ones who used them on a daily basis, but now they were mainly used for protection like Calshe. The only people who seriously practiced it were magicians whose purpose was to go out on the battlefield and fight.
What was required of a magician was basically magic, and ordinary magicians have abandoned that in order to concentrate on magic, it was extremely difficult to engrave a formula in the air and manipulate magic while strengthening the body.
Calshe and others also cultivated this by cutting out magic, and technology was something like that.
In order to gain something, you always have to give up something.
However, from that point of view, the two were quite strange.
The two were clearly used to physical strengthening.
It was so calm that even Calshe, who has strengthened her body more than the average person and excelled in sensing magical power, didn’t notice it for a moment.
Its calmness was proof that they use imaginary muscles on a daily basis, and there was even no slight fluctuation that should normally occur every time they moved.
Their mastery was extraordinary, and the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable it became.
Calshe already believed that these two were not just ordinary freshmen or bodyguards.
Suddenly, she met the servant's eyes.
With her light brown eyes, she looked at Calshe, then stood up, looking thoughtful for a moment, and then turned back to Mii.
"You're very good at it. However, if you add a formula here, it will be a little more stable."
“He...?”
Pointing her fingertips at the floating puppy, a line of blue magic.
Flowing beauty――the fluctuations in magic power were minimal.
When the magical thread touches the water puppy, it suddenly orbits at a sharps angle, carving out a vivid formula.
The shivering puppy suddenly stopped and Mii opened her eyes.
"It's like a faucet. If it's difficult to stabilize the magical power, it will be much easier if you create a mechanism that restricts the output to a certain level to stabilize the magical power. With this, no matter how much you pour in, the amount of magical power will remain stable.''
"Y-yes..."
“...Of course, there will be some waste, but it is more important to stabilize it first. Midyliarize-sama is quite good at carving out precise techniques, once you get used to it, you will be able to eliminate waste and improve the efficiency.''
Mi stared at the water puppy with astonishment on her face, then her cheeks blushed.
It was like explaining history to a dragon.
It seemed like she finally noticed it too.
"Ah, uh...perhaps are you Doushi-sama (high-ranking priest) or something...?"
"Um... well, I guess it's something like that. Please excuse my rudeness."
"No, no, I-I learned a lot."
Bery smiled wryly and bowed her head, and Mii hurriedly bowed her head.
Intervening in someone else's formula and rewriting it.
The ease with which she did it, was an advanced feat even for in an amateur’s eye.
While matching the color of the magic and making sure that there was no repulsion between the magic, carving out a new formula, and incorporating it without interfering or destroying the already developed formula.
It would be impossible if one didn't understand and grasp all of the techniques that were being used――but she did it easily with a quick glance.
She was probably one of the best Doushi who was officially recognized to instruct and teach magic.
Moreover, there was no disturbance in the physical strengthening.
The atmosphere that the servant wore was calm and different from her appearance.
If someone told her that she was a great magician, she wouldn’t have any doubt.
Among the high-ranking magicians――those who were positioned as Sorcerer and Grand Sorcerer, there were some who could be said to have attained eternal youth.
Most of them were eccentric, and some of them may even be entrusted with the education of the daughters of famous families.
Regarding her, it's somewhat understandable――but the problem lies with the girl beside her.
When she saw that, she smiled a little with satisfaction.
There was no surprise there――she, too, seemed to have noticed Mii’s problem and might have been thinking the same thing as the servant.
Such speculation comes to mind.
Compared to the servant, she seemed appropriately aged at first glance, or even younger in demeanor than her appearance suggested.
The girl was about to say something, but naturally, she looked at her servant's actions and was satisfied.
Considering Mii's age of 17, she was extremely talented, and compared to her peers, she was ahead of them.
Even in this place, Albeneria Magic Academy, where the elite gathers, she had excellent grades――it would be faster to count her rank from the top.
“Krische, do you have someone like this teaching you every day?”
"Teach... yes. Bery is Krische’s teacher. Bery teaches Krische’s a lot."
Krische said this with a hint of pride, and Bery smiled wryly.
A young genius and a high-ranking magician servant——certainly, if you put it that way, it seemed plausible.
But the behavior of the attendant she just made eye contact with and the current guidance session.
It felt as if they had been told, ‘That's what I want you to understand’, and that stuck in Calshe’s mind in a strange way.
However, if asked what it was otherwise, she couldn't answer, and Calshe could only answer that it just bothered her.
Krische happily stood up and wrapped her arms around the servant.
The scene was that of a child——in a sense, it exuded an inexplicable genius, leaving Calshe lost in thought.
"I'm jealous...I think it's going to be a hot topic in middle school. It's like having a personal instructor."
Mii looked at Krische and said with a sigh, then looked at Calshe from the side.
“…Compared to that.”
"The way you say that is somewhat unexpected. My specialty is martial arts and physical enhancement, I could teach you as much as you want in that area."
She responded with a twitch, shaking her ears and tail.
"...Well, like you said, I'm quite ordinary, with no learning ability. I'm hopelessly clumsy, and my sense of movement is catastrophically bad, so there are limits."
“Ah, um, are you trying to say that that’s me…?”
"No, no, how could that me. By the way, Mii-sama, do you have any idea?"
"Gunu..."
‘Now, now’ Bery said, trying to calm her down. The girl held her arm, looking at Calshe and the others.
Then, her long eyelashes fluttered and her cheeks relaxed, smiling happily.
――A rare, jewel-like purple color.
Seeing her eyes and smile for the first time gave her a strangely nostalgic feeling.
