Chapter 27: The Day of the Exchange Event

The day of the exchange event.

I arrived early in the capital, having set out early that morning.

“Yo! You’re here, my junior!”

“You’re as energetic as ever, senior.”

Despite the dark circles extending down to his cheeks, Ranian radiated an uncanny level of vigor.

“Of course! Do you know what day it is today? It’s the day we get to meet all the fresh-faced prodigies in person. Hehehe…”

Ranian chuckled sinisterly, a bit of drool escaping as he spoke.

“Your younger sibling is attending today, right?”

“Yep! Which means I can legally tag along as well!”

Ranian puffed up his chest and placed his hands on his hips, looking rather pleased with himself.

“If it’s being held in Bertine, Lady Elin is participating too, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Should I look forward to it? I heard she mastered a curse too.”

“Indeed.”

“I hope she doesn’t disappoint. Though, she might feel a bit intimidated around so many talented young folks.”

“Intimidated?”

A dry laugh escaped me without meaning to.

“If anyone gets intimidated, it’ll likely be the others.”

“Oh? Confident, are we?”

“Of course.”

There was no reason to feign modesty about Elin’s skills.

“My sibling isn’t one to be underestimated either~”

Then, as if remembering something, Ranian added, “By the way, where’s Dien? Weren’t you with her?”

The real reason I met up with Ranian early wasn’t the exchange event—it was because of Dien.

“Right here.”

Snap.

With a snap of my fingers, a dimensional space opened up.

“Zzz…”

“Big sis?”

Seeing Dien fast asleep inside, Ranian looked startled.

“People can actually fit in there?”

“I didn’t want to know either.”

I explained how Dien ended up like this.

“She just wanted to sleep somewhere quiet…? That’s such a… her reason.”

Ranian poked Dien’s cheek a few times.

“Mm…?”

Dien, stirring from her sleep, removed her blindfold and rubbed her eyes, only to freeze mid-motion.

“Sigh, you’re awake. I brought the materials you asked for.”

“Oh no… You actually came…”

As soon as Dien spotted Ranian, she looked like she was about to cry.

“Why are you reacting like that just from seeing my face?”

“I’m just dreading the thought of going back to the cabin now.”

“…?”

Ranian turned to me for clarification, and I nodded as if to say, “That’s exactly what’s on her mind.”

“Now, please step out already.”

“…Fine.”

With a reluctant sigh, Dien slowly emerged from the inventory space.

“Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“The material you asked me to get.”

In Ranian’s hands was a flower emitting a frosty chill.

“Oh, thanks!”

Dien’s earlier gloom vanished as she accepted the flower with a wide grin.

“What is that?”

“An Everfrost Flower. Also known as Frostweed.”

“And what are you planning to do with it?”

“Recently, I’ve been waking up because it’s too hot while I sleep, so I’m going to make a potion that cools the body from the inside.”

Essentially, she was planning to create an internal air-conditioning potion.

“Couldn’t you just not wrap your hair around yourself when you sleep?”

“That’s not an option!”

Her sharply angled brows conveyed her resolute stance.

Though I didn’t understand why, I decided not to push it.

It seemed like one of those things that would only get more confusing if I asked.

“Let’s head out now.”

“We’re pretending I accompanied you, right?”

“Exactly.”

The plan to meet Ranian early was specifically to handle Dien.

With the exchange event about to begin, there wasn’t enough time to take her back to the cabin.

So we decided to say that Ranian and I were escorting her.

A little nod to the academy’s connections, you could say.

“I’ll open the portal now.”

The three of us stepped into the portal heading to Bertine.

When the portal closed, the scene that greeted us was…

“Looks like most people have already arrived.”

Parked in front of the mansion were numerous carriages.

Carriages adorned with elaborate crests.

Carriages decorated with elegant embellishments.

Simple wooden carriages.

Just from their exteriors, it was clear that guests had come from a wide range of places.

“Oh my, it seems the final guests have arrived.”

A saccharine voice spoke from behind, and I nearly cursed out loud.

“Have you come to observe on behalf of the Rochefort family?”

Standing at the mansion’s main entrance, Natia greeted us with a practiced smile.

“Central pillar of Bertine. I am Ranian Rochefort.”

With sharp perception, Ranian bowed courteously.

“Dien Firandello.”

Dien also quickly performed a noble’s greeting.

Despite her usual casual demeanor, she could act like a noble when it counted.

“Natia Bertine. What an honor to have such distinguished guests.”

Wearing the same mask she had when I first met her, Natia returned the greeting.

“Teacher!”

Elin ran over, looking visibly relieved.

“Why are you so late?”

“Apologies. Dien here kept dragging her feet, and there was no helping it.”

“Hey!”

“I hate you, big sis!”

“Wha—!”

Dien trembled in shock, having taken the sudden blame.

Watching this, Natia chuckled awkwardly and led us inside.

“Welcome to the exchange event for the empire’s future mages.”

Once inside the mansion, she continued, “This is a two-day event, so please make yourselves comfortable. The staff will guide you to your accommodations later, and as for meals…”

Perhaps because she considered us esteemed guests, Natia personally escorted Ranian and Dien around.

“Excuse me…”

Dien, who had been fidgeting nervously, finally spoke up.

“Am I really allowed to be here? I’m an alchemist…”

“Of course. There’s no rule saying only mages can attend a mage exchange event, is there?”

Although Dien’s presence was rather unexpected, Natia showed no signs of displeasure.

“As Ranian’s companion, you’re more than welcome.”

No doubt, this was due to Ranian’s reputation as a prodigious mage who had graduated early from the academy.

Connections like these really were invaluable.

“I’ve heard many stories about Felis Rochefort. A true genius of fire magic, they say.”

“Haha, well, I’m not sure I deserve to be here, considering how terrible I am at other types of magic.”

“Oh, don’t be so modest! Reaching the 5th Circle at your age is already the talk of the town. Too much humility can be a fault, you know?”

“Haha… I see.”

While Ranian and Natia exchanged what seemed to be polite conversation, I couldn’t shake the sense of discomfort.

Knowing Ranian’s real personality and mannerisms, this scene felt incredibly unnatural.

Ranian, darting his eyes around, pointed at Elin, who was sticking closely by my side.

“I’ve heard Lady Elin is an extraordinary genius too.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, is that not the case? Luke was bragging about her nonstop.”

“Um, well… I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a genius. But my teacher seems to think otherwise.”

Natia glanced at me with a sharp gaze that seemed to say, Why haven’t I heard this from you before?

Had Ranian and Dien not been here, she likely would’ve grilled me for answers.

“By the way, are you acquainted with our tutor?”

“We’re quite close.”

“Oh! Talented people naturally flock together, it seems!”

Upon hearing that Ranian and I were close, Natia’s previously wary expression softened into one of approval.

How could someone be this calculating?

As the fake pleasantries continued…

Click. Click.

“Hello? Are you Luke Bucklin…?”

A voice called out, followed by the distinct sound of footsteps.

“Yes, that’s me.”

The girl approaching had striking red hair, like fresh blood.

Eyes that slanted upwards, giving her a fierce look.

She was the textbook example of a villainess.

Although I had never met her before, I immediately recognized her.

“Fabiana Raiston, I presume?”

Fabiana flinched slightly at her name.

“You know me?”

I refrained from saying, You look just like Natia.

“…Who is she?”

Elin tugged at my side, whispering curiously.

Bending down slightly, I whispered back, “I’m not entirely sure myself.”

“?!”

It was a bluff. The only thing I knew was her family background.

Fabiana Raiston.

A promising talent from Raiston, one of the empire’s top three magical families.

And, as far as I knew, Natia’s niece.