Episode 14
I didn’t plan to force Lucy into doing something she disliked.
Lucy is not a child but a grown adult, meaning she has the right and obligation to make her own choices.
It’s not like her life would fall apart if she doesn’t learn magic.
Her income is overflowing, and there are no particular issues in maintaining an ordinary daily life.
Just continuing like this peacefully probably wouldn’t cause any problems…
For now.
“Could you tell me the reason?”
Still, the reason I want to send Lucy to magic school, as I’ve told her before, is because I wish for her to gain the strength to live on her own.
Of course, I have no intention of leaving Lucy. But based on my experience, farewells tend to come suddenly.
I wanted to prepare for that time. While I won’t force her, I do hope Lucy gains strength if possible.
Well, it’s merely my one-sided hope, though.
“Huh, I hate school…”
“Do you dislike studying?”
“Ah, no. I don’t like how people talk to and treat me…”
Attitude issues, huh? I had a vague idea, but decided to hear Lucy out first.
“What exactly do you dislike?”
“Ugh, all the students are hostile towards me. They gossip behind my back about how my life changed after accidentally summoning an SSR character, even though it’s true…but still…”
Indeed, there were quite a few people saying such things.
Because of Adam and Iris’ presence, no one directly picked fights with Lucy, but it was clear most students looked down on her.
“The professors are weird too. Whenever I do something, they all swarm around me, making a fuss and exclaiming things like ‘Impossible! This is S-rank mana power!’ or ‘Amazing! Water-free water magic at this level!’ It feels like they’re treating me like an idiot…”
No, they’re genuinely amazed because it’s truly remarkable…
“So, does that mean you dislike learning magic itself?”
“…No, I enjoyed studying magic yesterday.”
That’s what I thought. Lucy’s eyes were sparkling during the professor’s lecture and when actually practicing magic.
Phew. If she had grown to dislike magic itself, I would’ve given up, but since it’s just about not wanting to go to school, there’s a simple solution.
“For this reason, starting today, I’ll be taking charge of Miss Lucy’s private tutoring. Please take care of me!”
Waiting for us near the Royal Magic Forest was Professor Miiram Chanelle.
The same professor who guided Adam and Lucy during their first visit to the magic academy.
“Sorry to ask after calling you here, but are you sure other students’ lessons won’t be affected?”
“Don’t worry! Our Barfulus Magic Academy has plenty of excellent professors besides me!”
Incidentally, we deliberately came to the Magic Forest to prevent any possible accidents.
Apparently, the academy has its own barrier system, so practicing magic inside doesn’t affect the outside world.
In other words, there aren’t many places to practice magic outside the school.
Which is why we’re here at the Magic Forest.
Here, we can even incorporate practical combat training, which I think makes it better than the school.
“Then, Miss Lucy. Could you review yesterday’s lesson by explaining what magic is?”
“Magic…is a contract with elementals.”
Elementals exist everywhere in this world, unseen by human eyes.
Magic is the art of “contracting” with these elementals, exchanging mana as payment to create various phenomena…
…which was what we learned during yesterday’s lecture.
Wow, I remember it pretty well.
“That’s correct. Some say mages are the most honest merchants in the world.”
“But…why do elementals deal with evil mages too…?”
“Good question. First off, elementals have no concept of good or evil.”
According to Professor Chanelle, as long as they receive mana, elementals don’t care whether the person is good or bad.
While strolling through the Magic Forest and conducting the lesson, monsters occasionally attacked, but with Adam, Iris, and a current magic professor present, there were no major issues.
Speaking of which, magic lessons are surprisingly interesting.
Stories unrelated to swordsmen like me…
Iris seems to agree, as she’s attentively listening to Professor Chanelle’s explanation.
“Having reached this point, I believe it’s safe to proceed. Miss Lucy, let’s start with basic elemental magics. Remember, the key is to materialize the image in your mind.”
“Ah, yes.”
Following the professor’s instructions, Lucy raised her hand and began casting spells.
First, she launched a massive fireball, turning the nearby forest into ashes, then proceeded to reshape the terrain using water, ice, lightning, and earth magic in quick succession.
“So this is how easily magic can be used if you have enough mana…”
“Mr. Aidinger. With all due respect, that’s a very foolish statement. It usually takes a year to master a single spell. Even talented students need at least six months of dedicated practice.”
What does that mean?
“Miss Lucy is undoubtedly a genius. Not only does she possess immense mana reserves, but her talent for manipulating mana is exceptionally outstanding. In terms of sheer destructive power, very few among the faculty can match her.”
Lucy’s talent seems even more remarkable than I expected.
Considering magic talent is hereditary, I’m becoming increasingly curious about her parents’ identities.
“Hey, Adam.”
“I get it. I leave Lucy in your hands, Iris.”
Looks like we have visitors.
Professor Chanelle should be able to handle herself… Probably.
“Iris…?”
“Is something wrong… Who are those people?!”
Emerging from the forest were figures wearing black coats and monster-shaped masks.
There were twelve of them, and it was clear each was an elite warrior.
I sensed their presence since we left the royal capital.
“They’re all SR-rank gacha characters…” Lucy confirmed.
Indeed. And to add, these aren’t randomly summoned individuals.
They belonged to the same organization while alive, and after death, always returned to said organization whenever summoned as gacha characters.
One could call them an immortal assassination squad.
“Are you not going to ambush us?”
In response to my question, the assassins removed their masks and replied.
“An ambush against you would be meaningless. Moreover, we have no intention of fighting you.”
This one’s different from the others. He’s definitely the leader.
“If you’re not here to fight, why did you follow us?”
“To escort her.”
He pointed at Lucy.
“Me…?!”
Ah.
As expected.
I understand.
“Though I don’t know who sent you, judging by your appearance, they’re likely not proper parents, right?”
“…”
While the assassins maintained blank expressions, their unease was impossible to hide completely.
Since I’ve started talking, might as well continue.
“Lucy grew up as an orphan in the slums. No one paid attention to her until it was discovered she could use magic. Then suddenly, everyone started approaching her openly. Even a fool could figure it out, right?”
The ones who sent the Dark Moon Squad are Lucy’s parents.
Given they couldn’t approach her while we were in the royal capital, they’re likely antagonistic toward the Barfulus Kingdom.
“Finished playing detective? Shall we take our leave now?”
“Sure, let’s go. I was curious about them anyway, so this works out nicely.”
At that, the assassins drew their weapons.
After saying they didn’t want to fight…
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding. You’re not taking her. Her rights have been transferred to either <Hwajong Bongnyul> or the magic academy professor over there.”
“Are you idiots?”
Do you seriously think I’d accept such conditions?
“Think carefully. Even someone as strong as you can’t defeat all of us. If we fight, the two behind you will die as well.”
“Your tongue’s getting dirty. Stop blabbering and attack already.”
Let’s see… Is hearing one of them explain enough?
—
It happened in an instant.
The battle was over.
Only Iris faintly perceived what transpired during that time.
“The enemies weren’t weak.”
The legendary assassination group, Dark Moon Squad. Each member possessed skills equal to Iris’.
Even in a one-on-one fight, victory couldn’t be guaranteed. Especially the leader, who initiated conversation with Adam, clearly possessed extraordinary prowess.
Yet this expert failed to block Adam’s single strike – his sword broke simultaneously as his head flew off and disappeared.
“He truly surpasses the norm.”
Overwhelmed by an indescribable euphoria beyond human endurance, Iris couldn’t withstand the tingling sensation in her lower abdomen and trembling legs, causing her to collapse.
It was a massacre.
After the leader’s death, the remaining eleven assassins charged en masse, yet their attacks failed to even graze Adam’s clothes.
Subsequently, ten members vanished sequentially, leaving only one whose limbs were severed and being trampled by Adam.
With vacant eyes, he asked Adam:
“Are you…really human?”
“Humans. And I was summoned as a gacha character. Anyway, who sent you? Who are Lucy’s parents?”
Placing his sword at the assassin’s neck, Adam questioned.
“Fret all you want with that brilliant mind of yours.”
“Aaah, got it.”
As the last assassin’s head was severed and he disappeared, Lucy immediately rushed to Adam and embraced him.
“Adam.”
Lucy admired him.
It was the kind of admiration any girl might feel, especially for someone like her, a powerless orphan from the slums – it was akin to a dream.
The longing for someone who would risk their life to protect her from evil forces…
It just came true.
By the man she loved most in this world.
“Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam.”
She didn’t care why her parents were looking for her now.
All Lucy wanted was to return home.
Not because she was scared.
She wanted to return as soon as possible and rub her heat-stricken body against him.
If Adam wasn’t a gacha character, she would’ve definitely gotten pregnant considering how excited she was – her brain was practically melting.
Iris, who couldn’t stand up, felt the same way.
“So, what’s going on here…?”
Only Professor Chanelle remained to mutter a perfectly reasonable question.
