The Dotun Mountains, undulating along the southern outskirts of the Empire.
On an uphill path through that dense forest, Charlotte was traveling with Maho.
“...Anyone can take in mana, but the ‘quality of magical power’ and the ‘quantity of magical power’ that accumulates within the body differ from person to person. Of these, the ‘quality of magical power’ is, in theory, divided precisely into ten grades.”
The princess who had come out of the imperial palace had many questions, so Charlotte explained as sincerely as she could.
“For example, an ordinary person is grade nine or ten, and if they are a little better than that, grade eight. From grade seven and above, one is capable of attempting the path of either a knight or a mage. At grade six, depending on one’s background and effort, one could become a magic professor, or perhaps even a ‘Knight of Opposition.’”
“Aha~ I see! How fascinating, how fascinating~ Then, then, how do you measure those grades? Can I find out the quality of my magical power too?”
They had walked for two days and nights without rest. For Maho, who had still not lost her vitality, Charlotte gave a small smile.
“No method has yet been invented to determine those grades clearly. It is merely an intuition shared between experts, and even then, one only comes to know by crossing blades. However, from grade five onward, the numbers become extremely rare, and grades four and three already occupy key positions across the continent.”
“Wow, wow. If grades four and three are that impressive, what about grade one?”
“Grade one is, in truth, more of a formality. If one had to say it exists, it would be a god. As for grade two, as far as I know...”
Bercht’s “Dzekdan” and the Empire’s guardian knight, “Gefrid.”
The archmage “Demakan” and the chairwoman of the Imperial Magic Tower, “Adrienne.”
“There are only these four.”
“Wooow... They’re all names I know too... Oh, right. What about Professor Deculein?!”
“Who knows. That fellow is probably around grade four or five.”
──In truth, Deculein’s initial “quality of magical power” had been grade six, but now, as Charlotte said, it had grown to grade five.
“In any case. Now, please endure just a little longer.”
“Yes!”
The princess diligently followed along the rugged mountain path.
At first glance, she was so small and beautiful like a doll that Charlotte had worried terribly about her. Had she perhaps been secretly exercising hard on her own?
Charlotte smiled proudly.
“We are not far from our first destination.”
“Yes. Charlotte, you should keep going too! Be strong!”
Charlotte and Maho continued walking like that, but her subordinate knights, Ron and Geder, wore somewhat uneasy expressions.
Ron whispered quietly so the princess would not hear.
—Captain. Even so, trusting that Deculein and choosing the crevasse is...
—It has already been decided. There is no other way out. Besides, it is clear that they never even considered the crevasse. We have not been attacked once on the way here, have we?
—That is true, but...
Just as Ron bit his lip.
Fweeeek—!
A dagger flew in from somewhere. Charlotte first lifted the princess into her arms and emitted aura.
Ron and Geder drew their swords and said,
“...Captain! Go on ahead! We will follow after you!”
“We will handle this side!”
Daggers surged up from unknown places, but numerous arrows that came rushing down from the mountain peaks intercepted them.
It was support from the “adventuring party” she had hired with all of her wealth.
They had been entrusted with guarding the princess from a distance.
“I trust you! Return alive! That is an order!”
““Yes!””
Leaving the rear to them, Charlotte sprinted at full speed with Maho.
* * *
Hadekain, a city where a prosperous spirit and splendid culture coexisted.
The capital city of Yukline, renowned for its mild climate throughout all four seasons, as well as its entertainment and cuisine, had been chosen as the location for the Magic Department debutantes’ MT.
“Why on earth did they make the station so complicated...”
The means of transportation was the train, but Epherene had already lost her way starting from the station.
After all, she had only ever taken a train once in her life. That had been the one-way trip from Juhalle in Iliade up to the capital.
“Ephy, over here!”
“...Phew. I almost got lost.”
Fortunately, the club members found Epherene first.
Epherene boarded the train with them.
As if they had rented out an entire train, the interior was filled entirely with people in robes.
“Wow, but we’re really going all the way to Hadekain for MT.”
“I know. I was thinking of going there once during vacation.”
The club members, including Julia, seemed extremely excited. Epherene, who was ignorant of continental geography, did not understand why.
“Is Hadekain that nice?”
“Of course it is. Ephy, you’ve never been there? I heard not only the Magic Tower, but almost every department in the university asked every year—really, almost every year. But that thesis arsonist rejected them.”
“Why?”
For reference, “thesis arsonist” was Deculein’s nickname.
Besides that, thanks to the Thesis Review Conference incident, all sorts of terrifying aliases had attached themselves to him, such as executioner by fire and fire demon, and Deculein had become fear itself to the mages within the tower.
Though Drent himself went around saying, “Rather, I am grateful to him.”
“Who knows? Anyway, Hadekain has lots to do and is really great.”
“...Ah. So that’s why the kids were saying they were going to buy clothes and all that.”
“Right. They say Hadekain is full of handsome men and beautiful women.”
Then again, even in the Magic Tower, no one could compare to Deculein in appearance alone. Even across the entire university, other than Rawein from the Knight Department...
Epherene asked,
“Then, is Professor Deculein going too?”
“Yeah. I thought he wouldn’t, but apparently he’s coming with us? That thesis arsonist is on this train too...”
...Meanwhile.
Deculein was seated in the VIP compartment with professors from each department.
Relin from the Auxiliary Department, Letran from the Spirit Department, Siare from the Destruction Department, Kamel from the Alchemy Department, and so on...
Originally, not this many professors attended the debutantes’ MT, but because the location was what it was, they had all quietly chosen to accompany them.
All of them were watching Deculein’s mood.
“Gentlemen.”
Deculein, who had been silent, finally opened his mouth. The professors pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
“I heard that you attended the Mage Council some time ago.”
“...”
There was only silence.
“Will you not answer?”
“Yes, ah. Hahaha... Yes. But, well, we did not say anything significant.”
“It does not seem to me that you said nothing significant.”
Relin waved his hands and shook his head as if in protest. The other professors merely smiled.
“Surely not. It was only a discussion regarding the fantastic midterm examination of Senior Professor Deculein this time.”
“...Haha. That is correct.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Those were the words of Relin, Letran, and Siare respectively.
Even in the face of their flattery, Deculein remained fierce.
“For now, perhaps we can pass over it with a laugh.”
His tone was as bleak as a winter wind scraping against the skin.
“But someday, the time will come when you must choose.”
Luina was gentler than Deculein, and her skills were also outstanding. Luina’s family and the backing behind her, while not equal to Yukline, were still able to compete to some degree.
Therefore, the professors naturally preferred Luina, but...
“...In truth, even thinking you can choose is a laughable delusion.”
Deculein swept his gaze over the other professors. The sharpness contained in his eyes had already stabbed several professors to death by itself.
“I will say this clearly. You will not be given even the ‘opportunity to choose.’”
It was a terrifying statement beyond measure.
The professors felt themselves shrink endlessly and merely fidgeted with their fingers.
Chijijijik—
The train departed, and Deculein read a book alone, leaving the professors frozen stiff.
* * *
The scenery of Hadekain was clear.
Though it was summer, it was not very hot, and I liked the scent of the wind.
The streets were full of vitality, and there were smiles on the faces of the people busily coming and going.
A city that, at a glance, made one think, “It must be nice to live here.”
The MT location was a luxury hotel called [Hadekain Romance] on the outskirts of Hadekain. With a stream, forests, and other natural scenery nearby, it was suitable.
“...The debutantes will be four to a room. If you prefer to be alone, you may reserve a room at your own expense. Class representatives?”
After explaining the precautions in the hotel lobby, I called for the class representatives. The two class representatives from the First Magic Department and the Second Magic Department hurriedly came forward.
“From here on, I will leave it to your discretion. There is a forest behind the hotel, but whatever you do, make sure to apply auxiliary magic properly beforehand.”
“Yes!”
Whether they poured alcohol down their throats or drank themselves to death, I did not care. That was the charm of MT.
However, there must be no casualties.
“Unpack your luggage first.”
While the debutantes chatted among themselves and went up to their rooms, I went outside the hotel. A car happened to be waiting.
It was Yeriel.
“At least show your face at our Magic Tower before you go. Your recognition has gotten pretty high lately.”
Yeriel said this as soon as I got into the car.
“By the way, how did you get it right?”
“...”
“...How did you get it right?”
“What are you referring to?”
Yeriel shrugged.
“The rumor that ‘Marik’ will be opened is everywhere now.”
“It was a prediction made by comprehensively considering the current emperor’s disposition, various circumstances, and the political situation.”
“...What are you even saying? Anyway, then you must have known that Marik would be a loss for us too, right?”
“No.”
The opening of Marik would ultimately be beneficial.
However, we needed solid defenses.
“I should have written down the countermeasures as well.”
“I’d like to do that~ But it costs far too much money~ Because someone spent two hundred million~”
Yeriel spoke sarcastically and sighed.
I said,
“I will soon begin reselling the antiques one by one. It will bring enormous profit, so I can return the two hundred million within this year.”
In truth, if this world were considered like a TRPG, magical power was a “Turn” for me.
That was also why I did not obsess over working with 「Midas’s Hand」.
If I consumed four thousand mana on 「Midas’s Hand」, I could not do other magic training or Memorization.
However, things would be a little different from now on.
This was the point at which money would begin to be needed in earnest.
“By the way, why haven’t you given me the ten million?”
Yeriel pouted and grumbled.
“Hurry up and give me the ten million elne.”
“...Do you remember the relic appraisal shop we went to last time?”
“The place where we sold the vase?”
“I intend to acquire that appraisal shop soon.”
“No, seriously. Ugh...”
At that, Yeriel shook her entire body as if utterly disgusted.
“You have no dignity.”
“Whatever. My fist is crying, I swear.”
As we conversed, we arrived at the Magic Tower.
As soon as I got out of the car, I naturally tilted my head upward.
“...It has grown quite large.”
There were only nine university Magic Towers on the entire continent.
Their minimum condition should be seventy floors.
Hadekain’s “Yukline Magic Tower” seemed to exceed seventy floors even by rough estimate.
“Of course it has. We kept developing.”
I entered the Magic Tower with Yeriel. From the lobby, mages affiliated with the Magic Tower were waiting.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Digerik, the Master of the Magic Tower.”
Digerik was a young man.
Even when viewed through 「Wealthy Magnate」, he passed.
“Good to meet you.”
After shaking hands with him, I looked around various parts of the Magic Tower.
It was not as impressive as the university Magic Tower, but it seemed they had tried to keep up in their own way, and the facilities were good.
Yeriel spoke proudly.
“We also support research for the development of specialized magic. Among regional Magic Towers, it’s probably only us and Iliade, right?”
Specialized magic, which was distinguished from the other eight systems and called the ninth system, was also known as “signature magic.”
If an individual mage invented it, it took that mage’s name; if the entire Magic Tower developed it together, it took the name of the Magic Tower.
However, research into this specialized magic consumed enormous funds.
Concepts or ideas for magic could be produced by a mage’s mind alone, but proof and experimentation required an immense amount of mana stones.
Which system it suited best, whether the formula might suddenly explode under certain circumstances, or whether unforeseen side effects might harm the caster—every one of those things had to be tested with mana stones.
“Yeriel.”
“Hm?”
“That is enough. Let us go to the stables. I need a horse.”
“Already? No, well, that’s fine, but before that... Couldn’t you donate the midterm exam paper you wrote to the Magic Tower...? As a sort of free loan.”
Yeriel’s eyes became adorably pleading, as if she desperately wanted it. I coldly shook my head.
“We don’t have time. However, if among the mages of this Magic Tower there is anyone working on a thesis or some kind of research, I will revise just one person’s work. Consider it a gift.”
“How is that a gift?”
Yeriel asked back with an innocent face.
She genuinely looked as if she had no idea.
“······.”
I looked back at the mages who had been following us. They, too, wore faces that seemed to be subtly avoiding my gaze.
Anger suddenly welled up inside me.
Among the affiliated mages, I picked out one man who stood out especially to the eyes of 「Wealthy Magnate」. He was a small, cute fellow, like Allen.
“You there. What is your name?”
“Y-Yes? I am Second-Class Mage Panien.”
“Do you have a magic thesis in progress?”
“Yes? Ah, yes, I do ha—”
“I shall revise your thesis. Consider it an honor.”
“No, no, I’m······.”
Panien declined, but I forcibly took it from him.
He looked as if he was about to cry, so I told him not to.
* * *
I came to the meadow behind the Yukline lord’s castle, the horse ranch.
There were many fine horses running through the grass. It seemed they were being raised in a somewhat free-range fashion.
“They say raising horses used to be a big business, but these days, cars have developed so much······. Our breeding stock is really good, though.”
Yeriel laughed softly as she stroked a horse’s mane.
“Keep at it. Horses have advantages that cars do not.”
As long as they were fitted with certain equipment, horses could be used even in dungeons and mines, so before long, they would soar again.
“I will. I enjoy raising these guys. And it’s just not as good as it used to be; it’s still pretty profitable.”
Thump, thump— Yeriel patted the horse’s back a few times, then looked at her watch.
“It’s time for me to go handle my work now, so you can take any one you like~”
“Yeriel.”
I stopped Yeriel as she was about to leave. A question mark seemed to float above her head.
I took an elegant box from inside my coat.
“It’s a gift.”
“······?”
They were luxury-brand gloves.
Yeriel, who had been blankly blinking, accepted the gift with her face twisted in a somewhat bizarre expression.
“What kind of barter is this······ Ah, barter? Mm, it is barter······. Well······. I mean, the horse is probably much more expensive, but all right. Barter established.”
Yeriel muttered something to herself, then went straight into the lord’s office. For some reason, her steps were hurried.
“······.”
After that, I walked through the meadow and searched for a horse.
It couldn’t be too old, nor could it be too young.
One that was still growing, yet suitably caught the eye of 「Wealthy Magnate」······ That one.
A red horse with a soft mane and a glossy coat.
I immediately approached and mounted its back.
Though I had never once ridden a horse before, it felt strangely familiar. This, too, was the influence of 「Personality」.
Clop, clop— Clop, clop—
After riding for quite a while, when I began to think, ‘This is the one.’
I prepared 「Midas’ Hand」.
Of course, a horse was not an object, but a living creature.
However, 「Midas’ Hand」 was an attribute that consumed the user’s mana to awaken the potential of its ‘target.’ That target could be living or inanimate.
Naturally, it would not apply to humans, but in terms of the game system, horses were treated as items (pets), so perhaps······
I activated 「Midas’ Hand」. Blue energy rose from my fingertips and seeped into the horse.
Neighhh—!
In that instant, it snorted violently and reared up on its forelegs. I endured without falling from its back.
───「Yukline’s Red Horse*」───
◆ Information
：A superior horse, born with natural talent and raised on only the best.
：Due to 「Midas’ Hand」, its overall physical abilities have been elevated, and its potential has awakened.
◆ Category
：Pet ⊃ Mount
◆ Pet Traits
：Sprint
：Breathing
*A name can be set.
[ Midas’ Hand : Level 4 ]
────────
“······As expected.”
In truth, it was only natural that it worked. It would have been strange if it had not.
Nodding in satisfaction, I set the horse’s name as ‘Red Hare.’ Since its coat was red as well, it suited it quite well.
In any case.
With this, the preparations were complete.
The execution would be tomorrow at 3 a.m.
Since there was still plenty of time until then, I decided to practice riding and urged the horse onward.
Hyah!
When I shouted like I had seen in historical dramas and pulled the reins, the horse charged forward with tremendous speed and elasticity. For a moment, my body was thrown backward, and I nearly fell.
Neighhh—!
It was horsepower worthy of the magnificent name Red Hare.