Ranvalt and Baraha came to visit. And behind them was someone who shouldn’t be here. The navy-blue robe I always used to see.
There stood the figure of a former colleague, so familiar that it almost felt nostalgic already.
“Sebirino-dono…!”
“Iriya -dono… no.”
He called my name but seemed to correct himself. He took two or three steps closer, and then…
He knelt! Why!?
“It is a great relief to see you safe! It is an honor to behold your esteemed visage, my master!”
“Eh!? Wait a second, what do you mean by ‘master’!? We’re colleagues, aren’t we?”
What is he suddenly talking about!? Even Ranvalt and Baraha look completely taken aback!
For now, I ushered everyone inside the house.
When I tried to make tea, Sebirino took the teapot, insisting that it was his responsibility. But wait, isn’t that something nobility typically doesn’t do!?
As I struggled to make sense of what was happening before me, Belial was laughing hysterically!
Now that I think about it, there was a time when he asked me something like, “Is that person truly your equal?”
Was that what he meant!? Not “You’re not even worth being considered,” but rather that I’m above him?
Sebirino placed a hand on his chest, slightly bowed his head, and began to speak with deep emotion.
“In Egdualum, under the watchful eyes of nobles and others, I understood that revering you as my master would put you in a difficult position. Now that we’ve left our homeland, if it does not trouble you, may I have the honor of declaring myself your first disciple?”
I can’t understand Sebirino’s thought process!
Is that really an honor? I’d think the title of Egdualum’s Court Mage would be far more prestigious.
“Sebirino-dono…? I’d prefer if we were simply friends.”
“Friend is far too lofty for me! Even the thought of your kindness is more than I deserve. Please, do call me by my name without honorifics.”
He’s not backing down at all… He made tea for all five of us, but he remains standing. He’s placed his own cup on the shelf.
Court mages from Egdualum wouldn’t sit at the same level as their master without permission, after all.
“Um… Is Sir Arlens really Iriya ’s disciple…?”
That’s the real question, isn’t it! Baraha looked at me with a trembling voice.
“I thought we were colleagues, doing research and missions together…”
“My master has always guided me. She instructed me in my clumsy magic, provided precise directions during missions, and even supplied remarkable potions…”
Did I really do that!? That’s not how I remember it at all.
I don’t recall guiding anyone! If anything, I think I just dragged him along with my research.
“…Sebirino. I’ve been watching from the beginning, but you’re awful.”
Suddenly, Ekvar appeared. Awful? Was it really that bad?
But it seemed he was referring to something else.
“Do you not understand why I’ve been concealing my identity to guard her? It’s because there’s a danger she’ll be targeted! By showing up here, it’s as if you’re announcing her presence to everyone! Do you want to endanger your master? If you weren’t you, I’d already have you purged! Oh, by the way, you can make elixirs, right? Then losing an arm or two shouldn’t be a problem. Great, I’ll help test their effects!!!”
He’s furious! And his anger is terrifying!
“I-I’m sorry. I… didn’t think it through…”
Sebirino, overwhelmed by Ekvar ’s intensity, apologized with a startled expression.
“‘Didn’t think it through’ doesn’t cut it, you fool!!!”
His anger now resembled that of a military commander!
At this point, Ekvar exhaled deeply, as if trying to regain his composure.
“If you came here this recklessly, it’d be easy for anyone to track you. You should know better than anyone what kind of person the Court Mage of Egdualum is.”
“…A gold-obsessed wretch who clings to power and looks down on others…”
“Quite the character, it seems, the Court Mage of Egdualum…”
“Sounds even worse than the rumors.”
Baraha and Ranvalt whispered to each other in hushed tones. It seemed too dangerous to interrupt their conversation.
“I’d rather not say this in front of him, but this kind of man will have all his crimes exposed due to recent events. He’ll be impeached and removed from his position, potentially losing his estate and title. It’s obvious he’d hold a grudge against her, a commoner, and might even try to take her life if he knew she was alive. Don’t you think he’s that rotten?”
“…I do…”
This is the first time I’ve seen Sebirino look so weak… He must be truly scared.
Sebirino and Ekvar faced each other. Though Sebirino was taller, his slumped posture made him seem smaller than Ekvar , who stood firm.
Even so, do I really have to be targeted for something like this!? Nobles are ridiculous! Hopefully, Ekvar is just being overly cautious…
“You don’t seem to realize that the Court Mage considers you his greatest threat. He’s been keeping tabs on you all along. By any chance, have you been using your family name somewhere?”
“At the magic bookstore in one of the fortress cities along the way…”
“I’ll make sure to silence them!”
Ranvalt offered his assistance. Ekvar placed a hand on his cheek, thinking for a moment before speaking.
“No, silencing them would only draw more attention. Instead, Sebirino, on your way back, stop by a few magic bookstores in other countries and introduce yourself by your full name while inquiring about books. Pretend it’s part of your writing endeavors.”
“Understood…”
A clear hierarchy seemed to have been established. Sebirino looked utterly dejected, like a child being scolded.
“Well, since you’ve come all this way, I’ll save my own story for later. Be prepared, Sebirino…”
With a pat on his shoulder, Sebirino flinched. Was another round of lectures from Ekvar looming? Despite being younger, Ekvar carried an overwhelming presence.
I might have to step in later to mediate a bit.
As Ekvar was leaving, he turned back and said, “I almost forgot.”
“Those two over there—if I’m not mistaken, they’re the commander and chief mage of the defensive city’s army. Keep this conversation confidential. I’ve never failed an assassination nor left evidence behind, so think carefully. And one last thing… There are too many pieces falling into place. I don’t have a good feeling about it. Stay vigilant.”
Ranvalt and Baraha were caught in the crossfire!
He even knew information I hadn’t shared… Ekvar ’s way of issuing warnings was terrifying. I’d better not upset him.
“…Well then, let’s try to refocus,” I said, making a fresh pot of herbal tea after Ekvar left, as the previous tea had gone cold. Sebirino still looked dejected, so I let him sit on the sofa. He looked pitiful…
Surprisingly, Belial didn’t seem too bothered by Sebirino’s blunder. It seemed he was more interested in a good fight with any enemies that might come his way.
“The situation is only as I imagined from the conversation just now, but… I understand where he’s coming from. In my country, there was a case where a servant of a noble who reported egregious misconduct faced brutal retaliation. If the person in question is like that, one can never be too careful,” Ranvalt muttered hesitantly.
So, it could be about grudges too… That made sense. After all, a count had recently sent high-ranking adventurers after me out of spite. Even if they didn’t come themselves, there were always indirect ways to attack.
“I serve in the military as a mage despite being a commoner, so I’ve seen nobles who lose their minds when they feel bested or outdone by commoners. It’s almost laughable. You seem capable enough, Iriya , but still, be careful,” Baraha added.
So Baraha was a commoner, too. Life as a common-born mage seems tough everywhere.
“If they come, let them come! That would be my wish…!” Belial said with excitement. He seemed to relish the idea of conflict and had apparently once tried to storm off to deal with the Court Mage himself.
“Come on now, worrying won’t help. Since we’re all here, why don’t we talk about magic?” Baraha cheerfully suggested, trying to lighten the mood. His kindness touched me.
“By the way, if Lord Arlens is your disciple, Iriya , I’d like to be your disciple too! Then we could be fellow disciples!”
Wait, what!? That’s a ridiculous reason!
“…Unfortunately, I’m not taking any disciples,” I replied.
“What kind of master are you, if I can’t…!?”
“Baraha, this isn’t the time for that. Your own master left the country, but he’s still alive, isn’t he? Don’t come crying to me when you get scolded,” Ranvalt said, exasperated. Even though he was the chief mage, Baraha was surprisingly nonchalant.
Still, does Sebirino understand the gravity of his position? Being the mentor to a court mage is a huge deal… And why are so many people eager to be my disciples? I’d rather just be friends.
For now, I shelved the topic of disciples and shifted the conversation to magic. We even got to talk about Sebirino’s work on magic books. He had apparently planned to publish a few as a test run before sharing them with me.
He also asked if he could include some of the jointly developed magic in his publications, to which I readily agreed.
Later, I cautiously asked Ekvar if he’d ever committed an assassination.
His reply was, “Of course not. His Highness would never give such an order. If I’ve never done it, there’s no failure or evidence to leave behind.”
He said this with his usual lighthearted smile, completely unrepentant. I truly don’t understand him…
As for how he knew they were the commander and chief mage, he said it was because I’d mentioned their names earlier. “I just knew their names,” he explained.
