Chapter 13: The Court Magician’s First Assignment
Selestaria had overwhelmed Barnes head-on and passed the entrance exam with flying colors. Rumor had it that, in all of history, no applicant had ever managed to defeat the exam supervisor.
That evening, the duke’s mansion held a grand celebration. The servants and knights were in high spirits, cheering and laughing in excitement. Of course, Al attended as well, though his stamina gave out midway. Sleep finally claimed him, and he was escorted home in the duke’s carriage.
───The following day. High noon.
Meruru’s sigh echoed through one of the mansion’s rooms.
On the bed before her, Al lay curled up in his blanket like a snail, cocooned in his cocoon of laziness.
“Al-sama… are we really slipping back into your NEET lifestyle? After all the effort you made these past two weeks, waking up early every day to attend the duke’s mansion…”
“Selestaria seems to have remained busy even after passing. She’s a member of the royal guard now, after all. She probably has to handle paperwork, attend audiences with His Majesty, and various other duties.”
“That may be true, but this is different. You are, after all, the court magician representing the kingdom. You must maintain a regular daily routine to be ready for any sudden missions…”
“Nope. Going to sleep.”
Al pulled the blanket over his face, evolving fully into a cocooned hermit. At this point, there was no moving him. How pitiful a man he was.
Meruru buried her face in her hands and left the room.
(Sigh… looks like this cocoon life will continue until his first mission…)
As she had expected, the pattern continued for about a week.
◇◇◇
───A week and a little more had passed.
Al had once again transformed into the bed fairy.
“…zzz”
At that moment, someone entered the room and yanked the curtains wide open with a flourish. Sunlight poured onto the bed in golden beams.
“Meruru! Listen, I have vampire blood running through me. If I stay like this, the sun will burn me to ashes… quickly, close the curtains! Heey, Meruru? Mmm… Meruru?”
“You lazybones!! Stop making excuses and get up immediately!!”
Al felt a sharp thud against his head and grudgingly lifted himself upright.
And there she was… the radiant face of his fiancée.
“Ah… it’s you, Selestaria.”
“‘It’s you’… after I went through the trouble of coming here?”
Selestaria fumed, her anger visible. But when Al’s eyes wandered downward…
“Oh, your armor’s already been issued? It suits you perfectly.”
“Hehe, you can praise me a bit more, you know.”
“Ah… the young genius knight who toppled the squad leader. Selestaria’s personal protégé. And future captain of the royal guard, no less.”
“Hohoho!”
Selestaria was clad in the pure white armor reserved for royal guards. Her fiery red hair contrasted beautifully with the gleaming plates, giving her an imposing and elegant presence.
“So… what brings you here today? Just showing off your armor?”
“Of course not… His Majesty has already given me a mission.”
“A mission…? Isn’t that a bit soon?”
“More like a request than a mission. His Majesty wants someone to pull a certain reclusive magician out of their mansion.”
“And who on earth would be troublesome enough to bother His Majesty like that?”
“Who else but you!! You idiot!!” thud
Another bump now adorned Al’s head.
The Holy Flame Emperor had predicted that Al would not move upon receiving the letter, so he sent Selestaria—his fiancée and now a royal guard—personally to enforce the command.
“Come on, get ready. We’re heading to the castle.”
“Y-yes…”
“One reply only!!”
“Y-yes!!”
Reluctantly, Al dressed. Selestaria seized him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him toward the carriage.
“Have a safe trip~”
After seeing them off, Meruru skipped back into the mansion, smiling brightly.
(As expected of Selestaria-sama. Truly reliable…)
◇◇◇
A certain floor of the imperial castle.
Though the floor was spacious, it contained only ten rooms. Several knights patrolled, and a heavy, almost oppressive atmosphere hung in the air.
Patrols were done in pairs.
“…gulp”
A rookie knight swallowed nervously.
“Hey, is this your first patrol here?”
“Yes… first time.”
“Haha. Well, let’s try our best until you get used to it.”
“Y-yes.”
Silence enveloped the floor. The sharp, steady clack of armored boots echoed with each step.
“My skin feels tingly… and my lungs feel tight. Is this… real, or just my imagination?”
“Not imagination. Every patrol here feels it. Ten of the empire’s strongest court magicians live on this floor… though now there are nine.”
“Ah, so it’s magical in nature.”
“Exactly. Their destructive magic leaks from each room, causing that sensation.”
Indeed, this was the residence floor for court magicians. Even knights trained to perfection felt an overwhelming, breath-stealing pressure here.
“Only one or two magicians are usually present at a time, but when all ten gather… you can’t even walk properly.”
“…gulp”
Yet the rookie had one question:
“Uh, senpai… court magicians probably have stealth missions, right? Isn’t it dangerous to leak that much magic? Wouldn’t it be obvious?”
“No problem. Outside, they conceal their magic skillfully. I heard from a fellow magician that the more magic you have, the harder it is to suppress. These magicians control it meticulously normally, but here they can release it freely… probably makes life easier for them.”
“I see… so this floor exists for that very reason.”
“Exactly. And we patrol so they can live here without worry.”
“Understood.”
At that moment, a man and a woman approached. The man wore a dark robe, the woman gleamed in armor.
“Could those be…?”
“Court magician and royal guard!!”
Passing them, the knights bowed in accordance with protocol. The court magician raised one hand in acknowledgment.
“Oh, good work.”
“Show some gratitude. They’re patrolling for your sake.”
“Thanks.”
After a brief glance, the knights resumed patrol.
“Do you know that court magician?”
“No, I’ve never seen one in person before.”
“His name is Al Dragals. Known as the ‘Dream-Attribute Court Magician.’ He’s the youngest ever appointed court magician, a rising prodigy.”
“I’ve heard rumors! Amazing… I even got greeted by him!”
“Haha, I understand. I was thrilled too. He’s apparently engaged to the young lady of the Levian Duke family who just joined the royal guard. That’s probably her next to him.”
“So that was a couple, huh?”
“Yeah… I wouldn’t even dream of reaching that world. Plus… Al seemed completely under Selestaria’s thumb.”
“Being under a woman’s thumb isn’t bad at all.”
“You too, senpai?”
“Haha.”
◇◇◇
Al was being led to the imperial castle by Selestaria, now traversing the court magicians’ residential floor.
“So… where’s your room?”
“I refused it.”
“…What? How so?”
“A messenger came from the castle explaining that His Majesty wanted to grant me a personal court magician room as a celebration. I said I didn’t need it.”
“Ah… typical you…”
Just as a scolding seemed imminent, they arrived at the room. Through the door’s crack, a refined magical aura seeped out, along with a suspicious, acrid smoke. The stench was so strong both covered their noses.
“…Do we really have to go in?”
“It’s an order from the Holy Flame Emperor. Come on, in you go.”
Al knocked reluctantly.
───From inside came a voice:
“You may enter!!”
((…’may enter’…?))
They stepped inside cautiously.
A child in a white coat stirred a boiling cauldron, the source of the foul odor. Examining closer, two long ears peeked from her silvery hair. Likely an elf—a rare being blessed with beauty, longevity, and immense magic.
“Ugh… it stinks.”
“Your first words are that? How rude…”
“Apologies. We must have stumbled into the goblin latrine by mistake. Excuse us.”
Al tried to retreat, but the silver-haired elven child spoke again:
“Fine, fine!! I’ll stop the fire briefly, so wait a moment!!”
She extinguished the flame and opened a window to air the room.
“Phew… finally we can speak properly. First, let me introduce myself. I am Estella, a grass-attribute court magician. I also act as a first-class alchemist when not on missions. Pleased to meet you.”
───Thus, the silver-haired elf, the mischievous court magician, made her entrance.