After I parted ways with Emerson, I went straight to the send-off party at the Olden Magecraft Research Society, where I’d get to see the members I’d been with all these years.
“Master, congratulations on graduating!” Ted said, greeting me as soon as I arrived.
Over the past five years, Ted had grown to be quite burly. He was now close to 180 centimeters tall, and, by modern mage standards, pretty capable. There was only one huge, glaring problem in his otherwise smooth life.
“Please contribute to society enough to make up for me...” he sniffled.
Ted had to repeat his final year of school. Though there was no problem with his proficiency with magecraft, he was completely lacking in academics. Though I’d tried to help him pass, my efforts alone weren’t enough to turn things around, and so, in an awkward turn of events, Ted ended up having to repeat a year.
Well, hopefully this’ll motivate him to try harder next year. Ted’s life up until this point had been too easy—this setback might prove a good challenge for him.
“I swear to get revenge on this final year with Zyle!”
Zyle, who’d been in our class as first years, also had to repeat a year. Though he had no problems with the academic side of things, he lacked in the practical exams. For better or worse, Ted and Zyle lacked what the other had, but together, filled in the other’s shortcomings. This really was inevitable; Arthlia Academy was still a prestigious school, despite its failings, and so had the high standards of one. It was to the point that the overall ratio of people who actually graduated compared to people who simply attended was quite low.
“Five years, huh... It really flew by,” Eliza said.
“Yeah... It’s time to say goodbye to this room,” added Noel.
In contrast to Ted, the honor students Noel and Eliza graduated without any incident at all. Noel had gained an exemption to classes from her first year, while Eliza got it in her third year. Ever since then, they’d both been helping me with my work.
Both of them asked to join my company to grow themselves as mages, but I turned them down. As it stood now, my company didn’t need more staff, so them joining wouldn’t really be conducive to their growth. I introduced them to Chronos instead. Though Chronos was a shady organization, they were by far the most prestigious place to be for modern mages. I was pretty sure the two of them would be all right there; I made it clear to Emerson that neither of them were to be assigned anything too dangerous.
“Abel, you still remember our promise, right?” Eliza asked.
“Yeah, I do.”
I had promised the two of them that if they did well enough in Chronos to be recognized, I’d let them join my company: The Black Cat Guild (its registered name). I found them strange for wanting to throw a big company like Chronos to the wayside in order to join my small business.
“We need to work hard to get close to Abel!” Eliza proclaimed.
“Yeah,” Noel agreed. “I’ll make sure my ancestor’s love won’t stay unrealized for much longer.”
Eliza and Noel muttered to themselves. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but whatever it was I could sense how passionate they were about it. Though their mutterings did make me curious, I decided to not delve too deep.
“Oh that reminds me, I hear that Ms. Lilith is quitting as of today.”
Perhaps sensing the intense auras that Eliza and Noel were emitting, Ted decided to change the subject.
“Yes, that’s right,” Lilith said. “It’s been a pleasure teaching all of you.”
The only reason Lilith had been a teacher was because I had been a student. Now that I was graduating, there wasn’t a reason for her to continue teaching.
“Have you already decided where you’re gonna work next?!” Ted asked.
Hm. It seems that Ted’s asked the worst possible question he could’ve asked. I had hoped he wouldn’t, but now that he has, I need to make sure Lilith shows some tact.
“Lilith, just brush him off,” I whispered.
She silently smiled back at me. Judging from her expression, I had every reason to believe that she was up to no good.
“Actually, I’m going to get married,” she said.
In the next moment, Noel, Eliza, and Ted all gasped with surprise.
And of course she lets the cat out of the bag.
“Married?! To whom?!” Ted asked.
This is about to get much worse, isn’t it? But there’s no way she’s going to spill everything right now. Right?
“Master Abel!” she said happily, clinging onto my arm.