Hearing Ivo’s name, Alexis spoke. “I’ve heard of him. They say he’s a child prodigy. He could freely manipulate high-level magic at the age of ten, he’s knowledgeable enough about magic to be able to hold discussions with experts, and his magic is strong—powerful enough to defeat a palace mage.”
“Oho, so there’s someone like that among the students?” Bernard said. “I can imagine that everyone is eager to recruit him for a position after he graduates.”
“Yes, we also plan to go speak with him.” Kieran paused. “However, it is believed that the grandmaster and the cardinal haven’t come to observe those three; their objective is a direct negotiation with a different student.”
That surprised Bernard. “Not just to observe, but to negotiate directly? Are you saying that there’s another student here who’s just as brilliant as those three?”
“Yes. And just like them, I also intend to put my all into the negotiations!”
“Who could that student be?” Bernard wondered. The grandmaster and the cardinal were—even among a kingdom with as many powerful people as Garlant—two of the most powerful and influential people in the country. Additionally, they belonged to the guild and the church respectively, both highly sought-after institutions that many wanted to join even without an invitation. Just who was this skilled individual that those important people had come all this way to see? Bernard waited eagerly for Kieran’s reply.
“She’s a first-year student,” Kieran said. He took out a piece of paper and handed it to Bernard. “Her name is Yui Curtis.”
An indescribable silence fell.
“Say that again,” Bernard muttered. Maybe he had misheard Kieran.
“Y-Yes, sir. She’s Yui Curtis, a first-year student.”
Bernard paused. “Is she, perhaps, a Liefe?”
“Yes, she is. Were you already aware of her, sir?”
Bernard, Alexis, and Gaius all fell silent again. They hadn’t thought it’d be Yui herself, who, by the way, was also the person they had come to see.
“She’s talented enough to catch the notice of the cardinal and the grandmaster?” Bernard asked.
“Yes, she’s a magical prodigy,” Kieran declared emphatically. “Of course, Ivo Arman is said to be a prodigy as well, but her ability far surpasses his. His magical control, quality, speed, and knowledge can’t compare to hers.”
“That much?”
Kieran had a wealth of experience from serving Garlant for many years, and his ability was widely recognized. He had an incredible knack for judging people. It was even rumored that he had had some sort of special sensor installed in his eyes—the fact that this was almost believable just showed how highly regarded he was. The king deeply relied on him and entrusted him with important personnel matters.
Bernard was surprised that Kieran had so quickly recognized Yui’s ability, even though she was still a student. But at the same time, he could also understand why Kieran had such a positive appraisal of her. He had seen her display of magical power and control in suppressing Filiel’s magic at the palace, and he also knew about the new spell that she had developed. Her thorough prior research notwithstanding, her talent was such that she had been able to create a spell that no other researchers had been able to craft—and only a few days after seeing the magic formula on the door to Filiel’s room. Bernard had seen what she could do up close, and there was no conceivable way he could deny her ability.
“Yes, that’s why the church and the guild are so desperate to recruit her...” Despite Kieran’s earlier talkativeness, he was now hesitant to speak.
“Is there a problem?” Bernard asked.
“The grandmaster, the cardinal, and I all went to speak with her...but she refused, saying that she wanted to take over her grandfather’s bakery.”
“She did?!”
“She instantly said no...”
Only specially chosen, outstanding individuals could be part of the army, the church, or the guild. As such, they were popular occupations, and people who worked there were afforded a great deal of respect by those around them. It was normally unthinkable for someone to refuse an offer from any of them.
“I went to speak with her many times after that, but I’ve never received a favorable reply,” Kieran continued. “But apparently, the guild and the church haven’t given up. They’re refusing to let someone as brilliant as her go underutilized at a small bakery, and they’ve attached some very appealing conditions to their offers.”
“What kinds of conditions?” Bernard asked.
“I’m not aware of all the details, but there’s a signing bonus that would normally be impossible for a student to get, and a guaranteed high position. And, taking into consideration her desire to take over the bakery, they’ve said that they’d allow her to simply be a member in their organization while still working at the bakery.”
“And she refused that too?”
“Yes.”
Bernard was surprised that the guild and the church were willing to give Yui such good terms, but he also couldn’t hide his shock that Yui had lightly brushed them aside. Someone as young as Yui normally would’ve been elated to receive invitations from the country’s top three organizations at once; they would’ve jumped at one of the offers and signed without thinking of the future consequences. The grandmaster and the cardinal might’ve been aiming for that when they’d flashed a load of money before her, but they had miscalculated Yui’s unwavering determination—she wouldn’t be convinced in the slightest by any of that.
Alexis was nodding in agreement. “She chose to have father promise to keep people silent about her involvement, rather than take money or anything valuable. I’m sure she wasn’t swayed at all by their offers.”
“Keep who silent? About what?” Kieran asked, tilting his head in confusion.
“That’s right. Is it okay if I speak to Kieran about it, father?”
“Yeah, Kieran already knows a bit about it, so it’s not an issue.”
With Bernard’s permission, Alexis explained. “Kieran, I’m sure you know about the new spell that lets people come into physical contact with Filiel.”
“Yes, I heard from the commander in chief that an outsider created the spell when none of the palace researchers had been able to. He was quite pleased—he had been gravely concerned about His Highness, who will one day be his successor. However, right after that, the gag order came down, which deeply perplexed him. The fact that Your Highness is bringing that up here means...”
Bernard nodded, a serious look on his face. “Yes, the one who created that spell was the girl you spoke of: Yui. When I offered a reward, she requested not money, but anonymity. I wanted her to go into service for the kingdom, but with Layce standing in the way, even I can’t force her.”
Kieran suddenly looked disheartened. He also looked tired, somehow. “Oh, Prime Minister Curtis...?”
“Did something happen?” Bernard asked.
Kieran nodded. “Yes. I visited Yui’s house many times to try and get her to agree to something, but once, Prime Minister Curtis appeared there. He wasn’t yet married then, so he wasn’t officially her father, but the way he doted on Yui was abnormal, even then, and he stopped me with a terrifying, threatening look.”
Kieran would’ve never expected Yui to have any connection with Layce. He had been so surprised by Layce’s entry that his knees had almost buckled. That had been the first time Kieran had ever felt afraid of someone with a smile on their face—he had experienced firsthand why Layce was called the Prince of Darkness. The grandmaster and the cardinal had probably been driven away in exactly the same manner. From that point onward, the three of them never approached Yui’s house or showed their faces around her.
“But!” Kieran was fired up with enthusiasm. “I haven’t given up yet! The prime minister is at the palace, so without him in the way, this is the perfect opportunity! I’ll definitely persuade her to join this time!”
Despite Kieran’s attitude, the others watching him were relatively calm.
“What do you think, Alexis, Gaius?” Bernard asked.
Alexis smiled awkwardly at his father’s question. “The possibility is virtually zero, I imagine. It doesn’t look like her determination will ever falter. And besides, if she was going to so easily accept one of their invitations, she would’ve demanded more from you, father, and would probably be working for you too.”
“More than anything, I can’t imagine the prime minister allowing her to enter the army, where there’s a high change of her getting seriously injured,” Gaius added. “If anyone could manage to interfere with that, it’s him, no matter how far away he is.”
Bernard and Alexis nodded in agreement. They were completely certain that Layce could stop someone from trying to recruit her, even if he was in another country. If anything, they were terrified that Layce might be able to overhear even the contents of this conversation.
Soon that prediction of Gaius’s would come to pass.