Chapter 26: Elin’s Awakening and the Young Mages Exchange

Clang.

The heavy iron door of the dark underground prison swung open.

Squinting against the blinding sunlight he hadn’t felt in a long time, he muttered, “Are you sure it’s fine to let me out like this?”

“It’s the Duchess’ orders.”

The warden said curtly before walking away without hesitation.

Despite encountering him a few times during meal distribution, there was no sense of camaraderie.

The man was strictly professional.

“Ah, it feels great to have a cup of coffee under the warm sunlight after so long. Don’t you think so, senior?”

He opened his inventory slightly and spoke to Dien.

“Aaaaaagh! The sunlight’s coming in! Close it, quickly!”

“You’re as dramatic as ever.”

Dien, wrapped in her hair like a cocoon, rolled around the bottom of the inventory.

“Well, since we’ve been released, it’s time to start preparing to leave.”

Then, he stopped abruptly.

“…Do we really have to leave right away?”

“Why do you talk as if I’m the bad guy here? Weren’t you the one who said you’d leave once you got the materials?”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

“Or do you want to head straight to the academy now?”

“No! Fine, I’ll pack soon!”

Still lying on the floor, Dien reluctantly got up, pretending to gather nonexistent belongings before sitting back down again.

Considering she’d barely brought anything with her, there was nothing to pack.

“By the way, why did the Duchess call for you?”

Dien scratched her head awkwardly, steering the conversation elsewhere.

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

Natia had gone out of her way to release Luke earlier than planned just to summon him.

“They didn’t find out you were here, did they?”

“How would they? You never left the inventory.”

Unless the warden had some sort of clairvoyant ability, it was an impossible scenario.

“Well, we’ll find out the reason soon enough. I’ll close the inventory for now.”

He closed the inventory and headed toward the reception room.

Shwooo—

No longer needing to conceal himself, he teleported boldly into the mansion.

Knock, knock, knock.

– “Come in.”

Click.

As the door opened, Natia’s sharp gaze met his.

“It’s been a while. The air above ground is always refreshing.”

“You seemed to breathe it just fine before. What’s this nonsense?”

His casual greeting was met with a prickly retort.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, stop pretending. I know you’ve been sneaking out of the prison.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“Playing dumb, are we? Word has it that my youngest has been casting magic and is perfectly fine afterward.”

Hearing Natia’s words, Luke quickly pieced together the puzzle in his mind.

Earlier in the morning, Elin had met Gerald.

She must’ve tattled to her mother after he had splashed her with water in response to her provocation.

As Luke connected the dots, he maintained his innocent façade.

“Couldn’t it be that her innate talent has finally awakened?”

“Do you honestly believe that? After 12 years of no signs, she suddenly manifests abilities?”

“With an exceptional tutor, anything’s possible.”

“Be serious.”

Natia’s gaze bore into him with an air of displeasure.

“What did you do to make Elin capable of using magic?”

“Well…”

Though he was tempted to boast, he couldn’t divulge the truth.

Revealing the curse near Elin’s mana heart would mean discussing Dien’s potion as well.

“I simply discovered what the Lady excelled in.”

He danced around the topic.

“Sigh… I can’t force the truth out of you, can I?”

Natia let out a deep sigh, seemingly resigned to his evasiveness. She had dropped all pretenses of politeness by this point.

“Then, how skilled is Elin with her magic?”

“Didn’t the Young Lord inform you?”

“What would he know about magic? All he said was she got splashed with water. There are plenty of water-related spells. What exactly is her area of talent?”

Natia pressed for details about Elin’s magic with relentless curiosity.

Could it be that she now deemed Elin worthy of recognition as a Bertein?

If so, it was revolting.

“The Lady can use spatial magic, just like me.”

Though disgusted, Luke displayed a practiced smile instead.

“…Spatial magic?”

Bang.

Natia slammed the desk as she stood up abruptly.

What’s with this woman?

“You mean the unique magic that’s said to exist only in this world?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you taught it to Elin?”

“Is there a problem? She’s my student.”

At his reasonable response, Natia was momentarily at a loss for words.

Why was this sly fox acting like this all of a sudden?

As he pondered, a thought crossed his mind.

“Are you jealous?”

“What?”

“Are you envious that the Lady has learned unique magic?”

“You’re being absurd.”

Though she denied it, her clenched fists trembled slightly.

He must’ve hit a nerve.

“…Anyway, teaching her unique magic means Elin must be exceptionally talented, right?”

“Of course. Among her peers, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more skilled mage.”

It wasn’t just among her peers.

Even the Tower Lords would struggle to replicate unique magic so effortlessly.

“Well, that’s excellent news.”

“Pardon?”

“This time, Bertein will be hosting the Young Mages Exchange. Elin can participate.”

The Young Mages Exchange.

An event that varied depending on how one raised Elin.

Had she been trained as a swordsman, there would’ve been a swordsmanship exchange.

As a summoner, it would’ve been a summoning exchange.

Though it seemed the game’s narrative had deviated significantly, fixed events like these still occurred.

Either way, it was a good opportunity.

It was about time for Elin to make friends.

This could be her chance to bond with peers her age.

“What’s the matter? Is she not skilled enough to join?”

As he mulled it over, Natia misunderstood his silence.

“That’s hardly the case. How many young mages are there in total?”

“Four so far.”

“Then there will be five soon.”

“…That would be an insult to those who’ve worked hard to earn their place.”

“The Lady has worked hard as well.”

It wasn’t as if Elin had spent her days idly.

She had always given her best effort, though the results hadn’t shown due to the curse.

Now that the curse was lifted, her efforts were finally paying off.

“…Fine. I’ll look forward to seeing how exceptional our youngest really is.”

“More than her appearance, I’ll show you her true capabilities. In return, I have one request.”

“What is it?”

Luke’s slightly arrogant tone made Natia’s brow twitch.

“I’d like to bring on a new personal maid. Someone of my choosing.”

“That damn personal maid again… After all that’s happened, your stance hasn’t changed?”

“Your Grace appointed the previous one.”

“Are you saying my choice was wrong?”

Her silence confirmed it.

“…Fine. If Elin demonstrates extraordinary talent, I’ll grant your request.”

However, she added a condition.

“But leave the spatial magic grimoire with me.”

The grimoire was supposed to be handed over only if he failed to deliver results.

But considering the harm caused by the last maid and his unauthorized prison escape, she sought to leverage that to take the grimoire.

“Understood.”

Thud.

Luke retrieved a thick grimoire from his subspace and placed it on the desk.

“…What?”

“You’re free to publish it in academic journals if you wish.”

Leaving those words, Luke walked away coolly.

Natia, left alone in the reception room, was stunned.

“He just left it here?”

The only existing grimoire on spatial magic?

And he even suggested publishing it?

If she did, the credit for spatial magic would go to Natia.

Gulp.

She swallowed nervously.

Though now the Duchess of Bertein, she had once been a promising mage of the renowned Laistern family.

The opportunity to learn unique magic thrilled her.

Excitedly, she opened the grimoire, only to find…

“…?”

The incomprehensible characters rendered her utterly baffled.

“…Luke Bucklin!”

Grinding her teeth, she glared at the gibberish text written entirely in Hangul, a language she couldn’t possibly understand.

It had been a long time since Luke returned to his room.

After finishing lunch, Elin came in, and Luke recounted the events in the reception room.

“So that’s how it happened.”

“…That’s how it happened?”

Her ahoge quivered nervously.

“You’re saying I’m supposed to participate in the Young Mages Exchange?”

“Exactly.”

“…Me?”

Elin kept repeating herself, as if in disbelief.

“So let’s focus on your lessons. There’s still some time before the exchange begins.”

Her ahoge swayed side to side.

“But…”

Her eyes trembled like waves in a storm.

‘…What should I do?’