“Hey, old man. You enjoy your vacation?”
The elderly man smiled from ear to ear, ignoring his subordinate’s cynical tone.
“Yes! It was wonderful! Knowing I stole your spot made it all the more rewarding! Oh, I brought back some pastries as a souvenir. Share them with the others.”
Leave it to the man who’d ascended to the position of Grand Master—leader of the Royal Sorcerers—to be totally unfazed by the daggers the other man was glaring at him. That took a special kind of mental fortitude. He’d even managed to shamelessly hand over souvenirs.
Ten days. That was how long Grand Master Londimonde Achthard was gone on his little trip. And now he had finally returned to his office in the Black Tower, where he and the rest of the Royal Sorcerers resided.
He was normally forbidden from leaving Hughlia’s royal castle, but he’d managed to find a loophole in the law, using the king’s promise to a certain princess as an excuse to leave. Before anyone knew it, he was gone.
“You don’t say. I’m so happy for you,” the other man said indignantly. This was Zeonly Finroll. The known troublemaker was unhappy because the vacation Londimonde had just returned from was originally supposed to be his. The old man had stolen it from him.
Not that it was technically a vacation, of course.
Still, the Royal Sorcerers had greeted Londimonde with cold eyes, saying such things as, “Welcome back, Grand Master. Did you have fun without all of us?” “Oh, Grand Master. You were gone so long I thought you had been demoted to the boonies,” and “Who’s that old guy? He looks kinda like the Grand Master who quit a while back.”
Currently, Zeonly was in Londimonde’s office.
“Do you have anything to report?” the Grand Master asked, feeling that was enough joking around. Zeonly may have lost his vacation, but it was unlikely he’d come all the way to his office just to complain.
“Well, I wouldn’t really call it a report,” Zeonly said. “I just got an update I know you’ve been waiting on.”
“An update?”
“I got a letter from my pupil.”
“Oh, you heard from Kunon! Excellent!”
Londimonde had a fondness for troublemakers. Especially gifted ones.
Last year, Kunon Gurion—Marquess Gurion’s son—enrolled in magic school in the magic city of Dirashik. Rumors about him had been spreading ever since.
It sounded like he had become a problem child even his instructor Zeonly could be proud of. He was a slightly different brand of rascal, but he caused headaches all the same.
“He should have three months left of his first year,” said Londimonde. “Do you know if he’ll visit home?”
It was spring. The magic school year ended in summer, which meant he was still a first-year.
“I dunno. Anyway, the update—”
“Ooh, what did he do this time? I’m so excited!”
Londimonde’s eyes shone with anticipation, and Zeonly smiled proudly. He looked pleased with his pupil.
“He dueled an imperial prince and tied with him. You know, the one who enrolled last year?”
He could only be talking about one person: Gioelion, the Empire’s second prince and a hot topic of conversation among that country’s high society.
“The Inferno Prince! He intrigues me, too, but… Oh, I see! That certainly is impressive!”
Comprehension dawned on Londimonde.
Kunon was a two-star water user. He was also a year younger than the Inferno Prince. Furthermore, according to Zeonly, he still knew only beginner spells. The odds were clearly stacked against him.
And yet he dueled the Inferno Prince—a three-star fire user gifted enough to have learned advanced spells in his teens—and tied with him.
The fact he had the gall to challenge a prince from the Empire despite the gap in their social positions and the strength of their respective countries was almost as impressive as the result of the duel. That was the action of a true delinquent.
“Isn’t this kid the best?!” exclaimed Londimonde. “That’s exactly the kinda pluck a sorcerer should have!”
His actions showed a disregard for social rank and talent. He fought with nothing but the magic he worked tirelessly to master. That was very like a sorcerer.
“Kunon’s prospects grow ever brighter!” the Grand Master went on. “I believe he will only continue to impress! Please share any more updates you receive!”
“Sure thing. That’s not the only reason I’m here, though. How’s the princess doing?”
Technically, Londimonde’s trip wasn’t a vacation. He’d accompanied the ninth princess, Mirika, out of the capital to an area cleared for development and helped her with construction. He hadn’t spent the whole trip enjoying himself, though he had taken every opportunity to empty his mind and relax.
“If you’re curious, you should go, too,” he said.
“Huh? Can I?”
Royal Sorcerers were not permitted to leave the castle. They could get permission to venture into the capital, but no farther. That was a fundamental rule.
…That was why they were all treating the Grand Master so coldly for his ten-day excursion. He had just broken a highly restrictive rule the rest of them were still bound by.
Not that Londimonde cared what they thought.
“I consulted with His Majesty when I returned. I got him to promise two or three people could go at a time.”
The title of Grand Master didn’t count for nothing. It had appeared as though he’d stolen Zeonly’s spot out of pure selfishness, but he’d actually used the experience as a negotiating chip to earn the Royal Sorcerers more freedom.
He didn’t seem willing to elaborate, but…that was an impressive move.
“Land development is a large and difficult undertaking, and right now, Kunon is tied up at school. I got His Majesty to approve my request by suggesting we provide a little assistance in the boy’s place. Be careful not to push it too far, though. I don’t want you causing any trouble.”
Not that he’ll listen to me, Londimonde thought. Telling a troublemaker not to make trouble was like telling a fish not to swim.
Many more interesting pieces of news about Kunon’s first year at magic school had reached the capital.
He’d helped with the cultivation of a sacred herb.
He’d developed a new medicine.
He’d contrived a new method of exploring the ocean.
Each of these accomplishments inspired the desire to know more.
His achievements over the next few months were no less impressive.
He’d discovered new possibilities in hydroponics.
He’d been involved in the destruction of a school building.
He’d even invented fascinating magic tools such as the Medicine Boxes and the Spell Vault.
Time marched on as these rumors circulated around the capital, and at last, summer arrived.
The young troublemaker’s second year was about to begin.