Chapter 5: The Dream Attribute Court Magician
The Second Residence in the Imperial Capital
Today was unusual. For once, the entire residence echoed with the cheerful clamor of a morning call.
Meruru stepped into Al’s room and drew back the curtains, letting the first light of dawn spill across the chamber.
“Al-sama, please wake up. Today is the day of the Medal Conferment Ceremony.”
“I… my stomach hurts today, so I can’t.”
“No excuses. Didn’t His Majesty personally warn you? If you skip today, all the nobles gathered at the Dragals Manor will undoubtedly grumble and complain about your absence!”
“That’s annoying… fine, I’ll get up.”
“Splendid, as expected of Al-sama. Let’s get you ready immediately.”
Meruru began by taming Al’s wild, bedhead hair, brushing through the tangled strands with practiced hands.
Eventually, Al fully awoke. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and ate breakfast. Then he donned the court magician’s robe recently issued by the Imperial Castle, slipping the legendary sword Kurikara into his waist. Now, he was completely prepared.
“You look absolutely magnificent!”
“Glad you think so.”
“Al-sama, your face is undeniably handsome—at least that’s one good point!”
“And being unexpectedly tall is one of my charm points too.”
“Truly, the saying is correct: the child who sleeps grows well~”
Pushed firmly from behind by Meruru, Al reluctantly boarded the waiting carriage.
“Off you go, then!”
“Yeah… I’ll go, begrudgingly. Begrudgingly,” he muttered, settling into the carriage.
The carriage set off toward the Imperial Castle.
Imperial Castle — Audience Hall
Today, the medal conferment ceremony for the court magician was to be held.
Nobles and aristocrats from across the empire had gathered, eager to see the newly appointed court magician. Ministers and military commanders also stood among the crowd. The room was thick with an almost suffocating sense of authority, enough to make even the guards swallow nervously.
Yet, not a single other court magician was present. Some were on missions, while others simply chose to skip the event. But not even the Emperor himself seemed to mind. Such were the privileges granted to the court magicians.
The Chancellor leaned toward the Emperor and whispered,
“Your Majesty, he is about to arrive.”
“Finally, the protagonist makes his entrance. I have awaited this moment.”
At that moment, the massive doors groaned and slowly began to swing open.
…Silence fell over the audience hall.
Click-clack, click-clack—the sound of Al’s footsteps resonated across the red carpet.
His jet-black robe swayed with each step, and the very air around him seemed to tighten, drawn taut with the weight of expectation.
(Wow… too many people. I want to go home already…)
“There he is, the new court magician.”
“As I heard, quite young.”
“Apparently, he graduated top of his class from the academy this year.”
“Oh, he has quite a cute face.”
“The youngest in history, I hear.”
“It seems the Dragals family has finally drawn a good card since the first generation.”
Among the observers, of course, were Duke Levian and his daughter, Selestaria.
“Well? What do you think, Seles?”
“Hmph… the face is… acceptable, I suppose.”
“I see. That is satisfactory.”
Ignoring the whispers and critiques, Al knelt at the designated spot.
Then the Emperor—Saint-Flame Emperor Agnas—spoke.
“Well done. You have come, new court magician… the Empire’s trusted blade.”
“I am deeply grateful to receive such a ceremonious event in my honor today,” Al responded politely.
(Ugh… his eyes are closed… makes me sleepy…)
“Now, let us proceed with the conferment of your medal.”
The Saint-Flame Emperor rose from his throne and descended the steps.
“Raise your face.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Al extended both hands and received the medal. After the Emperor returned to his throne, he was instructed,
“Now, pin it to your chest.”
Following orders, Al affixed the medal to his chest.
“It suits you well.”
“I am most honored, Your Majesty.”
And then the Emperor declared,
“Everyone, listen well. In accordance with the customs of the Luxion Empire, Al Dragals has officially become a court magician. The long-empty final seat has now been filled… There is no greater joy than this. Let us applaud the new magician.”
The audience hall erupted into resounding applause.
As the Emperor prepared to conclude the ceremony, a voice suddenly rang out:
“Please wait, Your Majesty!”
The room froze instantly.
“You… are the eldest son of the Marquis Noir?”
“Yes. I am the proud eldest son of the esteemed Noir family—Gust Noir.”
“…You have interrupted a solemn ceremony. Speak frivolously, and you shall answer for it.”
“Yes… sir.”
Gust flinched under the Emperor’s gaze.
“I oppose the appointment of Al Dragals as a court magician. During his three years at the academy, he never attended a single class and spent all his time idling at home. I cannot believe such a man could fulfill the duties of a court magician. True, his achievements in restoring ancient magic are unparalleled, but I’ve heard that his magic is of the Dream attribute. As Your Majesty mentioned, court magicians are the Empire’s hidden blades, its ultimate strength, its symbol. Should we truly entrust such power to someone whose specialty is a magic that does not directly contribute to combat? Frankly… I am deeply concerned.”
Even as a supposed prodigy, his tongue wielded words with a venomous precision.
The nobles murmured among themselves.
“That has a point.”
“I was worried about that as well.”
“A student who never attended school might struggle on the field.”
“What exactly is Dream magic?”
“Magic dealing with nightmares and hypnosis, I’ve heard.”
“Then shouldn’t a more combat-ready magician be chosen?”
Their agreement bolstered Gust’s confidence.
“If anyone is to occupy a seat as a court magician, it should be a seasoned magician with ample experience and formidable power.”
The Saint-Flame Emperor stroked his beard.
“Hmm… part of that sounds like baseless complaint, yet even the elders seem to concur. Al, what is your response to Gust’s opinion?”
“Well… he isn’t exactly lying. If everyone really thinks that, I’ll just return this robe and medal,” Al said casually.
(Could this be the start of my ultimate NEET lifestyle?)
The hall went silent in astonishment. Normally, one would protest. Yet Al had calmly agreed, even offering to step down voluntarily.
Selestaria rushed to her father, panicked.
“Father! My fiancé is about to quit being a court magician right now!”
“W-well, that is…”
Seizing the moment, Gust leaped forward.
“Did you hear that, Your Majesty?! This man just said he’ll return the robe and medal! He lacks the courage to defend himself and would abandon the prestigious position of court magician immediately! I demand he formally return the robe and medal! Furthermore…”
He sneered, relishing his words.
“He hails from a minor baronial family on the frontier. The Dragals family, I hear, is entirely ordinary, with nothing remarkable. Their peasants barely manage farming and livestock, living almost self-sufficiently. If the second son of such a livestock-stinking family were to become a court magician, it would bring eternal shame to the Empire!”
Some nobles chuckled, seemingly swayed by Gust’s words.
But Al… Al alone narrowed his eyes, quietly glaring at Gust.
Still, Gust’s insults kept coming.
“The current Dragals head had average grades at the academy. The heir, Leonardo, was in the lowest class. The wife is a commoner, with humble origins. Even the children may carry servant blood. Given this, no one should believe Al Dragals is worthy of being a court magician… isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
─────And then, in an instant, violent magical energy erupted from Al, freezing everyone’s breath in their lungs. Even the royal guards were immobilized. Some had already fainted.
The audience hall was instantly transformed. They stood on a desolate island in a stormy sea, rain and lightning crashing from above. The waves threatened to swallow them, the thunder to strike them. A living hell.
“What… what is happening?!”
“Who transported us here?!”
“Royal guards! Do something!”
Gust stood paralyzed, confused.
(W-what…)
From the sky, a massive dragon descended, shaking the island.
“Eeeek!!!”
“A dragon! A dragon’s here!!!”
“What power!!!”
“Guards, protect us!!!”
The dragon ignored them, peering down at Gust with a cold glare.
“…Ah.”
Gust foamed at the mouth, collapsing backward in defeat.
Duke Levian embraced his panicking daughter tightly.
“Father! Father!!!”
“Calm yourself, Seles. I am here.”
But his gaze was fixed on Al.
The scene had become a nightmare of screams and chaos.
Just as the royal guards prepared to attack the dragon, the Emperor appeared before it, enveloped in holy white flames.
“Your Majesty!”
“Stand back!”
“This is our duty!”
“Everyone, calm yourselves. This is—an illusion. Cast by the man standing there.”
“…………”
All eyes turned to Al.
Finally, Al spoke, his voice cold and commanding:
“Listen up, you weaklings. I… love and respect my family and my people, even someone like me. I don’t care what you say about me—but anyone who insults my kin or my people, I will make them regret it, with everything I’ve got. Even if it’s—”
At that moment, a dragon descended behind Al—not just any dragon, but a legendary dragon, a creature surpassing even dragons.
It was as though the dragon itself embodied Al’s rage.
“GROOOOOOOOOOAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The roar shook the world itself.
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Everyone immediately regretted daring to challenge this human-shaped monster.
“Al-kun… could you calm it down a bit?”
“Old man… you’re that guy from before?”
The middle-aged man’s chest gleamed with the embroidery of the Levian Ducal family.
(Ah… so he’s the head of the Levian family, and the girl behind him is my fiancée, Selestaria… I guess I owe them an apology.)
Before they knew it, the island, storm, and dragon vanished, returning them to the audience hall.
Al had dispelled the illusion. Yet no one dared speak.
“Your Majesty, I’ll be leaving. Seeing the faces of those trashy nobles laughing earlier makes me want to punch them.”
“…Very well. Permission granted. And… I apologize for today.”
“No, Your Majesty. I appreciate everything you do for me.”
───With that, Al flipped his robe and exited the hall, as if nothing had happened.
Watching his departing figure, someone whispered:
“So… this is the Dream-attribute Court Magician.”