Chapter 45: A Sudden Field Trip (3)
Zzzorrroook.
“I had no idea, but apparently this is quite a historic tea. I hear it was the tea the forr Archmage used to enjoy. Since an esteed guest has co, it’s only proper to serve an esteed tea, right?”
Superior said this as he poured tea in a small room next to the garden.
Inside the room, there was nothing but a small round table that barely fit two people.
I had no idea what purpose this space normally served.
The mont the tea fell from the teapot into the teacup, its aroma filled the narrow room.
Forr Archmage Archis Eir was a na forbidden to be spoken or written, yet simply because it was the tea he used to enjoy, it was still treated as a precious tea even in this era.
It was an ironic duality.
“‘The Full Moon’ has been well, yes?”
‘The Full Moon’ was slang used among mages.
A symbolic term referring to the Archmage.
Starting from the Full Moon Battle 450 years ago, it beca slang because the Archmage was the one who stood alone at the very peak, guarding Sylarid’s sealing stone beneath the full moon.
The title of Archmage was filled with respect.
Which was why it was a title often used by mages from major families.
“Well, I’ve been the Vice Headmaster of the Ed Branch School, so it’s been a long ti since I’ve t him.”
“I’d love to et him even just once, haha.”
The mont Forr took a sip of tea, Superior imdiately followed suit as if he had been waiting for that cue.
“Wow, both the taste and aroma are excellent. Thanks to you, Vice Headmaster, I get to drink sothing like this. Normally, I couldn’t even dream of seeing tea like this.”
“Is that so.”
Forr ignored his slightly rambling words and was about to drink the tea again when—
“I heard the forr Archmage drank this tea every day, several tis a day like als, even though he was a shaless mage who planned to kill us all—yet he seems to have picked out only the best things to eat and drink.”
A single sentence, whose intention was unclear.
For a mont, Forr’s expression stiffened and he almost stopped mid-motion with the teacup in hand.
At the very least, he knew well what kind of person forr Archmage Archis Eir had been.
As the biological son of Ed Etar, he was one of those who despised the world for belittling Archis Eir like this.
But the Nohill Family was friendly with the Draco Family—one to whom they had sworn loyalty.
In other words, this was enemy territory for him.
Forr hid the change in his mood and expression, quietly continuing to drink his tea.
“So, why did the Nohill Family suddenly decide to open itself for a field visit?”
He went straight to the main point.
It was also a mission entrusted to him by Etar.
“It was the Family Head’s decision, so I don’t know.”
“You must be a collateral or an adopted child, then, not knowing anything.”
Forr intentionally threw a provoking question.
Usually, it would be a rude question, but he had no reason to mind that.
As long as he belonged to the Draco Family, he could wield authority in the Magical Society comparable to that of an Archmage.
“Haha, no. I may not look it, but I’m the eldest son.”
Superior replied without a hint of displeasure.
“Eldest son? You’re far too young to be called that, aren’t you? I heard you graduated 40 years ago. The Family Head has lived for over 200 years.”
“Let’s just say it’s a unique characteristic of our family. The Full Moon who leads the Magical Society. In our family, the eldest son is a being similar to that Full Moon. He cos right after the Family Head.”
That ant the position of ‘eldest son’ was inherited like a title, much like ‘the nth eldest son’ of the Archmage line.
In the Nohill Family, the word ‘eldest son’ didn’t refer to a familial relationship—it was a rank within the family.
“A peculiar characteristic indeed.”
“So why is that sothing you’re curious about? The open field visit, I an.”
“This Nohill Family is the first to step out like this in 300 years. There’s more than enough reason to be curious.”
“Mm, I’m sorry, but it’s sothing I can’t answer.”
“I can ask the Family Head. When can I et him?”
“Well… once the banquet with the students ends, I believe you’ll be able to et him. The Family Head asked for your understanding, as the banquet with the students must co first.”
‘Students before .’
As expected, the reason the Nohill Family pushed for this open visit could be interpreted as wanting to see Artel directly.
“I’d like to be alone until then. Could you give the room?”
“Ah, I was being tactless. My apologies.”
Superior hurriedly stood up.
Then he downed the tea in his own cup in one gulp like liquor, lowered his head deeply, and left the room.
“Wow…”
“This is… the family’s al…?”
The cries of awe ca from the Fire-elent students the mont we entered the grand dining hall.
A dining hall as large as the school’s.
And a table stretching endlessly.
If soone sat at one end and another at the opposite end, voices would never reach each other without magic to amplify sound.
There were even three entrances: a front door, a back door, and a middle door.
Hapert guided us through the back door.
Judging by how the middle door seed to be where the butlers and maids of the family were waiting, the back door was for guests.
The middle door was for servants, and the front door appeared to be used solely by the Family Head.
‘They only cared about appearances.’
They weren’t even a representative family—just one of the assembled families—yet this kingdom-like appearance made frown a little.
It was the first ti I had seen a family like this.
And then the enormous table covered with all kinds of dishes.
at, seafood, and more.
Ingredients one would never see in the Class 1 cafeteria.
The students—except for Banshi and —stared with their mouths hanging open, clear drool gathering at their lips.
Clack.
The mont the tightly shut front door opened, Hapert, who had always been arrogant, suddenly grew tense in his expression and posture.
Step.
A single foot erged through the doorway.
Clearly the size of an adult man’s foot.
Thus, the Family Head of the Nohill Family appeared.
“Show proper respect and greet the Family Head.”
Hapert quietly instructed the students, then bowed so deeply it was almost excessive.
A middle-aged man with strikingly bright red hair and eyes.
He was exceptionally tall, with a slender build.
I had seen many Family Heads in my previous life, but the Nohill Family’s Head didn’t feel like one.
A mage in such a position usually gave off an unusual presence, yet this man had none of that.
To my eyes, he felt no different from a professor at the school.
No—being honest, he didn’t even match up to Professor Nide in presence.
He walked with firm steps toward the head seat of the table, and before sitting down, he swept his gaze across the students’ faces.
“Are all the ones here the students who attend classes with you, Hapert?”
“Yes, Family Head.”
The Family Head asked in a friendly and gentle tone, yet Hapert, still stiff, replied rigidly.
From the Family Head’s tone, I could tell he treated his children in a familial, almost commoner-like warmth.
“All right, let’s all sit, then.”
Only after he fully sat did the students follow and take their seats.
“I am the Family Head of the Nohill Family, Nohill Jick. You’re all hungry, right?”
When I first stepped into this family’s estate, I judged—based on appearance alone—that this was a strict and stern family.
But Family Head Jick instead showed nothing but warmth toward the students.
That didn’t an I believed that was his true nature.
The teachers I had seen from Class 0 to Class 1 were mostly different from their first impressions.
I knew well that this era was full of distorted truths and overflowing pretenses.
“Well then, why don’t we all enjoy our al first? If there’s anything you’d like more of, just tell the butlers or maids over there and they’ll bring it right away.”
When Jick picked up his utensils first, Hapert followed, and then the Fire-elent students picked theirs up one by one.
“Wow, Artel! Try this. This one! It’s so good!”
As expected, Hei—who loved to eat—seed completely captivated by the food.
But my hands didn’t reach for the food at all.
“So you’re Artel?”
While the al was ongoing, Jick looked at and asked.
His eyes may have looked gentle on the surface, but I sensed the suspicion and vigilance brimming within them.
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your liking?”
“No. I’m just not hungry.”
When I answered clearly without avoiding his gaze, the one who grew restless instead was Hapert.
“And the girl next to you. She isn’t eating anything either. Is it because she’s not hungry as well?”
“Yes.”
It seed Banshi felt the sa way I did.
Jick was looking at the two of us with that peculiar gaze once again.
“Sha. I put a lot of thought into this since I heard Hapert’s friends were coming.”
Friends?
I guess these days, ‘friends’ gang up on others to threaten them.
But that brat had no reason to introduce as a friend.
The reason for this open field visit must have been because of .
Thus, an uncomfortable alti continued for , but thankfully, it didn’t last long.
“Seven students ca to my family today. I’m curious which of you might later beco adopted sons or daughters of my family.”
As soon as the al ended, Jick spoke as though he had been waiting.
The students from commoner backgrounds showed bright expressions, excited at the idea of possibly gaining a family.
“Well then, you should show them around the other places as well, Hapert.”
“Understood, Family Head.”
“Hurry and guide them.”
Strangely, those words sounded to like: hurry and take the students and get out.
“Since we’re done eating, let’s get up.”
When Hapert stood up, the students followed.
Hapert exited through the back door first, and the rest of the students began filing out in a line behind him.
The procession looked much like a family of ducks gliding leisurely along a riverside.
Since Banshi and I were at the end of the line, we walked slowly toward the door.
And then—just as we reached the door.
Bang!
The door slamd shut on its own.
Fwooooosh—!
Fiery bursts began appearing on the dining hall walls and around the entrance.
“You two need to have a little talk with .”
At the sa ti, Jick rose from his seat and spoke to us.
His expression was intensely solemn.
Banshi didn’t outwardly show panic, but her eyes wavered slightly.
“What is it you want to talk about?”
“So? How’s my magic? Isn’t it impressive?”
What was he trying to say?
Why was he suddenly showing off his magic to a re Class 1 student?
“Yes, it is.”
“To be direct, you two. I’ve heard you possess talents far beyond Class 1. Especially you—being a double caster.”
Hapert singled out when he said that.
“Thank you for the complint.”
“But you must know, from class, how dangerous a talent a double caster is.”
He subtly ignored Banshi and focused the conversation on .
“Yes, I’ve heard. There’s even the nickna ‘Mage of Slaughter.’”
I responded confidently.
“You’re exactly right. So let make a proposal. You two—how about becoming the adopted son and daughter of my family? I believe you could both manifest magic even more magnificent than mine, if only you joined my family.”
It was so abrupt.
Banshi and I exchanged glances.
But I was just as curious about the reason behind this.
So I asked.
“It’s simple. You’re a commoner. And though being a double caster is an excellent talent, you carry shaful, cursed nicknas. There’s a norm in the Magical Society. Can soone with no family truly grow into a great mage? But if you join my family, it’s different. I have the power to protect you.”
Strangely, though everything he said was frad as a kind offer, not a trace of kindness was felt beneath it.
It seed he had another motive.
“I’m sorry, but we respectfully decline.”
This was the decision Banshi and I reached after exchanging looks.
Most importantly, neither of us trusted the Nohill Family.
In fact, we trusted none of the families of this era.
“I see.”
“Could you please remove your magic? We’d like to leave.”
“Haha… how unfortunate…”
Jick didn’t dispel the magic. He stayed silent for a long mont before speaking with grim weight.
“You refused my proposal. Then now—I must hold you accountable.”
Of course. He indeed had an impure motive.
“What accountability?”
“I heard you attacked my son before—outside of any sanctioned sparring session. How dare you…”
Fwoooosh!
The flas clinging to the entrance and walls grew more intense, turning into massive streams of fire.
“If you had beco my adopted son, I could have dismissed it as a small quarrel between mbers of the sa family. But since you refused, it becos a grave cri—a commoner attacking a noble family.”
The gentle fatherly image was gone from Jick.
He now looked at like I was his enemy.
Fwoooosh—!
At the sa ti, the magic he manifested grew even stronger.
At this point, it was unmistakably clear—
He intended to kill us.
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