In the study of mana, dragons and griffins are known as beings deeply versed in magic, who look down upon the world from immeasurably high above.
To someone who specializes in magic, a title borrowed from the name of either being is nothing short of the highest praise.
Yet just as there is a difference in rank between dragons and griffins, there is also a difference between titles borrowed from their names.
Generally, the dragon, which signifies an arrogance beyond the reach of humans, is never used on its own. Even when it is used with an epithet or in an altered form, it is handled with great care.
That was how divine a being it was regarded as in the study of mana.
“Student Min Arin, you have a visitor.”
“What? A visitor? I thought visitors weren’t allowed for me….”
“The chairman has granted permission.”
“….”
“Please come out once you’re ready.”
Meanwhile, the griffin symbolized a king who was far less imposing, and signified an arrogance that humans could reach.
In other words, it referred to one who had come closest to the truth of magic.
Thus, the Magic Min Family, which called its head by that name, could certainly be described as arrogant.
However, they possessed every right to be arrogant.
For the two centuries since the Great Cataclysm, they had made immense contributions to the history of magic.
Anyone who walked the path of a mage could not help but revere them.
And the head of the Magic Min Family in this era, the one they all followed, was none other than….
“Who requested the visit?”
“The head of the Magic Min Family.”
“….”
Her own grandfather, Min Hwiseong.
Min Arin, who had been staying in solitary confinement, flinched at the guard’s announcement.
The crude, raucous girl who had been cackling and calling the girls in the nearby cells this bitch and that bitch only moments ago had vanished without a trace.
With a stiff expression, she rose and prepared to go receive her visitor.
All kinds of worries flashed through her mind.
‘Why is Grandfather here…?’
She had expected someone from the Magic Min Family to come.
Since this could become a problem for the family’s honor, there was no way they would have failed to take action.
Even so, she had not expected the family head himself to come in person.
‘What is he going to say…?’
Min Arin’s feelings were hopelessly complicated.
To the people of the Magic Min Family, their head was an object of awe.
The fact that someone as lofty as the heavens had come to visit this place, where all the problem children were gathered, could hardly be a good sign.
Following the guard to the visitation room, she felt nothing but fear.
‘He isn’t going to disown me, is he?’
It was not an entirely impossible possibility.
All this time, Min Arin had monopolized the family head’s affection.
Now that she had brought great disgrace upon the family, it was only natural that his grief would be immense.
Perhaps, disappointed in her, he would even order her banishment.
‘I had thought about it before….’
But now that the thought was about to become reality, she was suddenly terrified.
If she could have had her way, she would have gone straight back to her room.
Min Arin had never once been scolded by the family head, and she was terribly afraid of what she might hear from him now.
Even so, she had no choice but to enter the visitation room.
Beyond the iron bars sat Min Hwiseong, head of the Magic Min Family.
“Grand… I greet the family head.”
“You seem to have grown quite thin since I last saw you. Sit down.”
“…Yes, Family Head.”
Min Hwiseong, head of the Magic Min Family, exuded a grave atmosphere simply by existing.
Min Arin had nearly called him Grandfather as she usually did, but hurriedly changed her words and offered him a formal greeting.
Knowing the wrong she had committed, she could not afford to act spoiled.
Min Hwiseong, meanwhile, did not find her attitude strange and gestured for her to sit.
Near him lay the long-stemmed pipe he had been smoking moments ago.
“….”
Min Arin sat demurely, glanced at Min Hwiseong’s favored possession, then nervously watched his expression.
He was gazing at her steadily.
It was a look that seemed to be waiting for her to speak first.
It even felt like he was interrogating her.
“Um… Family Head.”
“Yes, Arin.”
With Min Hwiseong’s gaze fixed upon her, Min Arin could not feel unashamed.
In the end, unable to endure the silence, she forced herself to speak with a trembling heart.
But the words would not come easily.
“Um….”
“….”
“It’s just….”
She knew what she had to say.
But admitting her wrongdoing and begging forgiveness from Min Hwiseong, who must have placed great expectations in her, required courage.
To Min Arin, it felt like breaking an entire world.
“I’m….”
Even so, if she wanted to move forward, she had to take that first step.
She could not indulge in useless pride.
If she had made a mistake, she had to take responsibility for it.
Remembering Do Gyeon-u’s advice, Min Arin squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her head.
Then she forced out the words that had refused to emerge.
“I’m truly sorry for tarnishing the family’s name!”
“….”
She told him that she deeply regretted what had happened, that she was sorry to those who had been harmed and would spend the rest of her life atoning to them, that she would willingly accept any punishment, and so on….
Min Arin acknowledged her wrongdoing and laid bare her honest feelings.
Min Hwiseong listened to her confession without a word.
“….”
Before she knew it, the turn had passed to Min Hwiseong.
Afraid of facing his judgment, Min Arin could not bring herself to raise her head.
Hoping that time would pass quickly, she closed her eyes and waited.
Then, just as a voice reached her from the other side….
“If you know what you did wrong, that is enough. I needn’t say anything more.”
Thump.
Something descended onto her head.
Feeling a hand stroke her hair, Min Arin cautiously opened her eyes.
Beyond the iron bars, Min Hwiseong was smiling kindly.
She had been anxious that he would reprimand her, and now she blinked blankly.
Soon, she asked hesitantly,
“You’re not… going to scold me? You don’t hate me?”
Min Arin’s yellow eyes trembled.
Min Hwiseong let out a hearty laugh and roughly tousled her hair.
“Why would I hate you, the pride of the family?”
“….”
“And scolding is something you do to those who have not truly repented. But you have already repented, haven’t you? If I were to continue berating you here, it would not help educate you. I would merely be venting my own emotions. That would not be a wise choice for a mage.”
The stale smell of cigarettes lingered in the air.
Min Arin endured the familiar scent and meekly accepted his touch without pulling away.
At the same time, she wore a dazed expression at his reaction, so different from what she had expected.
It was then that she fully came to her senses.
“So, did you learn much from what happened? Did you realize what you were lacking?”
Just as he had taught her at home,
Min Hwiseong asked questions meant to make her think deeply.
Having gathered her thoughts, Min Arin gently nodded.
“…Yes.”
“Then that is enough. I will not ask what you learned or realized. For a mage, enlightenment is a precious asset.”
“….”
“On the other hand, I think it was fortunate that you were able to experience failure this time. When someone is too perfect, their thinking tends to become rigid. Do you remember what I have told you again and again?”
“That free and flexible thinking is what removes the limits of magic?”
“Exactly. So the failure you experienced this time will become a valuable experience for you.”
“…Thank you, Fami—Grandfather.”
“Only now do you call me that.”
Min Hwiseong burst into hearty laughter.
Only then was Min Arin able to relax.
But it lasted no more than a brief moment.
She could not help but flinch at the words he said next.
“Even so, if you did something wrong, you naturally have to be punished, don’t you? The damage caused this time was considerable, so I cannot simply let it slide. I also had to pay off the Witch of the Stars to prevent you from being expelled… And, above all, I have my dignity as the family head to consider.”
“Ah… yes…. I’ll accept it willingly.”
“You will also receive separate disciplinary action from the academy. So I will….”
“….”
“Reduce the allowance and financial support you receive until graduation, Arin. I will guarantee the minimum cost of living. If you wish to spend more than that, you may earn it yourself.”
For Min Arin, who had grown up in financially comfortable circumstances, it was a humiliating and painful punishment.
It could also be said to have been precisely what Min Hwiseong intended, having seen straight through her thoughts.
For him, it was a compromise between his affection for his granddaughter and his dignity as the head of the family.
He also hoped that she would develop a sense of independence and learn about the wider world.
“Yes, Grandfather. I’ll do as you say.”
In the end, knowing that she was in the wrong, she could not voice any complaints and humbly accepted.
Without even realizing that, at this very moment, her living expenses were already being reduced….
* * *
I felt sorry thinking of Min Arin eating bean-mixed rice in solitary confinement, but we had to enjoy a delicious and pleasant meal in our own way.
That day, our schedules happened to align, so we all had lunch together before heading to the Brilliant Café.
With the midterm exams just around the corner, we planned to study at the café until our next class began.
Just then, Go Eunbi, who seemed to be messaging someone, suddenly brought up a subject.
“I just got a message from someone I know. Apparently, the head of the Magic Min Family has arrived. Do you think he came because of Arin?”
“The head of the Magic Min Family… You mean the person called the Griffin, right?”
The current head of the Magic Min Family, Griffin Min Hwiseong.
At the news that he had visited the academy, my friends showed interest.
Of course, since I knew the flow of the game, it was something I had expected.
“I didn’t see it myself, but apparently the head of the Magic Min Family went straight to meet the chairman as soon as he arrived.”
“Hmm…. Maybe he’s trying to negotiate with the chairman over Arin’s punishment. No, that’s probably what happened. I heard that Griffin dotes on Arin terribly….”
“Hey…. Aren’t we going to the café?”
Park Sagun’s guess, delivered as he adjusted his glasses slightly, was correct.
In the game, Min Hwiseong, head of the Magic Min Family, had also come to the academy to intervene in Min Arin’s punishment.
That had to be the reason he had visited today.
‘So I’ll be able to see Arin soon.’
The time of Min Arin’s release was close at hand.
Assuming that everything would be resolved within a few days, I headed toward the café.
“…Huh?”
“Gyeon-u, what’s wrong?”
It was then that I felt a strange gaze.
I stopped walking and turned my head toward the stairs.
Yeon Haneul and the others, who had naturally been walking alongside me, stopped as well.
‘That person is….’
An old man in a suit stood at the top of the stairs.
The long-stemmed pipe between his lips, puffing out clouds of smoke, confirmed his identity.
As far as I knew, there was only one old man who used a long-stemmed pipe despite the times.
‘He’s the head of the Magic Min Family.’
Griffin Min Hwiseong.
I never thought I would see him like this, after he had only been mentioned in text in the game.
I met his gaze without looking away.
He seemed to know who we were.
Extinguishing the smoke from his pipe, he descended the stairs and approached us.
“So you’re Arin’s friends. I had hoped I might meet you if I had the chance, and it seems fortune is on my side. It’s a pleasure. I’m Arin’s grandfather.”
“….”
His voice carried a dignity reminiscent of my own grandfather.
He also gave off an air that made it seem impossible to treat him carelessly.
He certainly had the bearing of someone who led an entire family.
Faced with him in person, we could not help but tense up.
Meanwhile, everyone except me realized his identity through his introduction and could not hide their bewilderment.
I, on the other hand, calmly addressed him.
“Hello. I’m Do Gyeon-u of the Divine Sword Do Family. But how did you know we were Arin’s friends?”
“Your features are distinctive enough that I knew the moment I saw you. I also recognized a familiar face in the child of the Chivalrous Yong Family…. And more than anything, I saw a rabbit-type Ain among your group. You must be the disciple of the Witch of Seven Colors, yes? I had wanted to meet you at least once—the one who took first place over Arin.”
“…Hello. My name is Yeon Haneul.”
The gaze that had seemed interested in me soon shifted to Yeon Haneul.
Under his eyes, she shrank back and hid behind me.
I stood in front of her as though to protect her, meeting his gaze head-on.
‘…What is this?’
Even though he and I were nearly the same height,
Min Hwiseong seemed to be looking down at me from immeasurably high above.
His sharp gaze brought a hawk to mind.
No.
A griffin.
That was when I thought so.
“You don’t resemble Yeik.”
“Pardon?”
“He has a fierce-looking face, whereas you look mild. Seeing that reminded me of him.”
“….”
“Looking at your face, I can see why you were once called Rabbit. You look exactly like a rabbit. Though… for a rabbit, you do look a little delinquent-like.”
…I couldn’t tell whether he was insulting me or complimenting me.
I glared disapprovingly at Min Hwiseong as he let out a hearty laugh all by himself.
He didn’t seem to care.
“Regardless, I’m truly grateful that you’ve been friendly with Arin. I’d like to give you something as thanks for saving her this time, but as luck would have it, what I happen to have with me right now is….”
“….”
“Here it is.”
Min Hwiseong slipped his hand into the cloak that seemed to be connected to a subspace.
A moment later, he pulled out a bundle.
When he untied it, several magic stones imbued with a yellowish glow were revealed inside.
I quickly examined the information on the magic stones.
[Low-Grade Magic Stone]
◆ Consumable
―Magic Stone
◆ Detailed Description
―Contains power that contributes to the target’s magical power.
◆ Detailed Effect
―For targets with a magical power level below 70, absorption increases magical power by 1.
“It’s a low-grade magic stone that aids in the growth of magical power. Take one each.”
“…Thank you!”
It seemed Min Hwiseong had been complimenting my manly appearance after all.
Having gained an unexpected fortuitous opportunity, I cleanly brushed off the emotions I had felt a moment ago.
Meanwhile, the others changed their expressions when they saw the magic stones, which even they had difficulty obtaining.
As soon as I eagerly took one, they, too, accepted one each without hesitation.
“Arin doesn’t have many friends. So I hope you’ll continue to get along with her.”
“Of course we will. We’ll take good care of Arin. Right, guys?”
“Of course!”
My friends shouted in unison.
That was how indispensable Min Arin was—a good wallet.
No, a friend.
As if to emphasize that fact, we made a great fuss while worrying about her, even though she was spending time in solitary confinement.
At the same time, we infused the magic stones with mana to check their compatibility.
Most of those whose magical power levels were below 70 caused the magic stones to emit a yellow glow.
“Ah… It doesn’t work for me.”
“Me neither.”
“Same here.”
“It doesn’t react for me either!”
Unfortunately, the magic stones belonging to Yeon Haneul, Lisa, Cha Eun-sol, and Nam Yuri, whose magical power levels exceeded 70, remained still.
They had no choice but to show their disappointment.
Min Hwiseong then rummaged through his cloak and handed them new magic stones.
“Those low-grade magic stones don’t seem capable of aiding your growth. I’ll give you each a mid-grade magic stone instead.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
“Thank you very much.”
“…Thank you.”
“Wow! Family Head, you’re so cool! I’ll gratefully accept it!”
Mid-grade magic stones, which took effect only for targets with magical power levels below 80, were quite valuable.
They appeared occasionally even as rewards at the Divine Sword Do Family’s evaluation events.
In that sense, I realized that Min Hwiseong was a fairly generous man.
However, even a mid-grade magic stone couldn’t increase Yeon Haneul’s magical power.
“Ah… It doesn’t work again.”
“Hmm…. I’m surprised that even a mid-grade stone can’t aid your growth.”
Yeon Haneul’s current magical power level, excluding the effect of Echo of the Mountain, was 85.
To raise her magical power with a magic stone, we needed a high-grade magic stone rather than a mid-grade one.
However, high-grade magic stones were not something one could obtain easily.
“What should I do about this…?”
Min Hwiseong looked troubled as he collected Yeon Haneul’s magic stone.
It seemed he didn’t have a high-grade magic stone.
Or perhaps he had one but couldn’t give it away.
Either way, he had no choice but to offer her a different gift.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to give you this instead. Infuse it with mana and see whether you’re compatible with it.”
Became the Mid-Boss’s Childhood Friend