[EN] Episode 17 - A House Of The Sage Family

As he advanced to higher grades, the difficulty of most magic courses rose beyond Wingester's reach.


Fortunately, he maintained high scores in liberal arts subjects like Magitech, so he had no trouble staying in the middle-to-lower tier.


When winter break arrived, as promised, the Seize family sent an invitation to the Mustang household.


“They really came. Are you going?”
“Yes. It's a rare invitation.”


Wingester had no reason to refuse an opportunity to observe and learn about the prestigious families of the Magic Kingdom.


Even so, he couldn't ignore the possibility of the unexpected. He wrapped his Barrett Staff in cloth, secured it tightly beside his bag, and then picked up the bag.


Walking a short distance north along the Mado Kingdom's historic central avenue, the ‘Ridge of Wisdom’ appeared, where the mansions of the prominent families sat nestled at the foot of the mountains.


Among the five mansions perched highest on the ridge, Wingester's destination was the one farthest to the left. It bore an emblem of two crossed staffs within a large tower shield.


The Seiz Family.
One of the five highest-ranking noble houses known as founding meritorious subjects, they styled themselves the ‘Guardians of Arcane Knowledge’ and served as the royal shield, holding key positions in the Royal Guard Mage Corp for generations.


Politically, they tended to support the Third Princess and stay one step removed from the royal succession race, as the Seiz family fundamentally disdained involvement in such power struggles.


Unlike other noble houses, which generally divided into aristocratic or royalist factions or actively participated in the royal succession race to demonstrate their power, the Seize family had a strong tradition of serving in the King's direct guard corps and emphasizing loyalty solely to the monarch.


“Are you Wingester?”
“Yes.”


Guided by a man who appeared to be a servant of the mansion, he entered the interior and was led into a spacious, luxurious reception room.


“Well, well. You're here.”
“Senior—”


Those already seated in the reception room, enjoying refreshments and conversation, greeted him warmly.


“You're earlier than expected?”
“Well, it just happened.”
“My house is nearby.”
“Hm?”


When everyone expressed surprise at Zessler suddenly mentioning his house being nearby, Zessler shrugged and said,


“My family runs one of the largest carriage companies in the kingdom. And it's located right below the Ridge of Wisdom.”
“You mean that company was your family's?”


Romulus lit up, explaining that all the carriages his family used were ordered from that very company.


“Heh heh. Our shop has been making carriages for the nobility for generations. Well, I'm more into researching airships than carriages myself...”


Zessler felt embarrassed, recalling the days he'd been scolded at home.


“For reference, my house is the farthest, so I left super early in the morning.”


Haixian's house was in the outermost district of the capital, in the area between the slums and the city center where the descendants of the witches resided.


“By the way, Zessler. How's that anti-gravity thing you've been working on?”


Wingester was very interested in the special power device Zessler had been obsessed with lately.
Understanding its operating principle would surely help improve the structure of the Barrett Staff.


“Nope. Haven't gotten any usable results yet. Had two accidents already, and my parents gave me a good thrashing.”


Zessler sighed and shook his head, and Wingester silently shared his disappointment.


“And it's not ‘anti-gravity’ or whatever! It's the ‘Anti-Graviton Hover Flow’! Or the ‘Anti-Gravity Levitation Propulsion Unit’!”
“Grav... what?”
“Anti! Graviton! Hover! Flow!”


Wingester's frown at the unexpectedly complex name made Zessler grind his teeth.


“Fine! Anti-gravity propulsion device! That's good enough, right?!”
“Uh... I guess that'll do.”


Just as the two nodded in agreement, settling on a suitable name, Berett carefully picked up a biscuit and handed it to Wingester.


“Senior! Here you go!”
“Huh? Ah, yeah. Thanks.”


Taking the biscuit, Romulus and Wingzester discussed next year's graduating class.


“Graduation's coming soon. Feels complicated in many ways.”
“I'm looking forward to it? It means I can step onto a stage to let my talents bloom, right?”


Romulus intended to join the Royal Guard Mage Corp, following his family's tradition of generations serving there.
There had been an offer from the Arcane Veil, but Romulus still wanted to carry on his family's legacy.


“The Royal Guard Mage Corp? You plan to join?”
“Yes. It's a proud family tradition passed down for generations.”
“…….”


Family business.
For Wingester, it meant taking over his parents' shop.


But Wingester also harbored a dream: to become a hero in the kingdom, using his grandfather's legacy.
Which path should he choose?


“...What are you thinking about?”
“Ah, nothing. I was just thinking a little about carrying on the family business too...”
“Huh. Just to take over the shop?”
“…….”


When Wingester mentioned taking over the shop, Romulus couldn't hide his disappointment.


He resented that the man who had opened new horizons for him as a mage was content to remain merely the proprietor of a magic goods shop.


“...If it's okay with you, I could talk to the Royal Guard Mage Corp...”
“That's impossible. You know that well enough.”
“......!”


Among the Royal Guard Mage Corp's enlistment requirements was the demanding condition of being able to use combat magic at least at the mid-5th Circle level.


For Wingester, with his meager mana aptitude that barely reached a 4th-circle master, it was an impossible realm.


“Of course, that doesn't mean I have no other thoughts besides simply continuing the shop...”
“......”


Romulus knew it well too.
In this country, it was nearly impossible for those with low magical aptitude to rise to prominence.


Most military positions required at least a 4th or 5th circle, capable of combat magic, as a baseline. Even if that wasn't strictly the case, ranks were strictly determined by mana aptitude.


“Come to think of it, berett, have you thought about your path after graduation?”


Wingester suddenly remembered and looked at berett.


“I, I... am still considering it.”


She still had a little time left before graduation.
Like Wingester, her options were limited due to her mana aptitude. She would likely end up inheriting the family business too.


“Good to have you here. Make yourselves comfortable.”


From the staircase leading upstairs, Romulus's father, the current head of the Seiz family, descended and gave a light bow.


“No, thank you. We are the ones grateful. Opportunities like this are rare...”


When Wingester stepped forward and bowed, he smiled contentedly and placed a hand on Wingester's shoulder.


“It's only natural, since you've broadened my horizons too.”
“Pardon?”
“You defeated Romulus in a magic duel, didn't you? You've shown that mana aptitude isn't everything.”
“......”


He was truly a pragmatist.
Though he didn't openly oppose the kingdom's policies, he was well aware that the current system, which drew lines based solely on the narrow measure of mana aptitude, needed change.


It was simply that his position as the commander of the mere Royal Guard Mage Corp, lacking significant political influence, prevented him from openly voicing it.


“Drop by sometime after you graduate. Promising young people like you are always welcome.”
“Th-thank you.”


Around the time he was staying at the mansion for a week's courtesy, an unfamiliar scene unfolded in the laboratory set up in the mansion's basement.


“You need to put more power into your fingertips.”
“Ah, yes! Like this?”
“Yes. Let's do that movement 100 times.”
“One hundred times…!”
“The basics are crucial. I personally train with over three hundred repetitions every morning.”
“…….”


Romulus was receiving sword training from a mercenary who appeared to be of a higher rank, holding a wooden sword.


“...Romulus?”
“...Ah.”
“……?”


Romulus, momentarily startled but soon regaining his composure, sat down nearby and watched Wingester perform the repetitive motions with renewed interest.


“...Let's call it a day here. Good work.”
“Good work.”


After about two hours of instruction on basic sword techniques, Romulus approached with a confident stride.


“...Why sword techniques?”


Romulus looked down on Wingester without answering.
Wingester sensed immediately that further questions were unnecessary.
It seemed he had chosen swordsmanship to surpass Wingester.


“...In an ancient text, when the gun was first invented, a prophet is said to have spoken these words.”
“…?”
“‘The sword is stronger than bare hands, and the gun is stronger than the sword’….”


He lightly taunted, implying that no amount of sword training using that maxim could ever surpass Wingester himself.


It was the kind of provocation that would have made the old Romulus fly into a rage and charge.


But,


Heh.


“I'll overturn both your smug face and that fancy proverb of yours.”


Instead, Romulus smiled calmly and provoked him back.


“Hoh. That sounds interesting?”
“Kchk-. Just know I'm not doing this simply to become a mage-swordist.”
“……!”


Romulus might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid.
No matter how talented a mage with high mana aptitude he was, merely becoming a mage-swordist who combined swordsmanship would only mean living out Wingester's maxim.


That he, who understood this better than anyone, displayed such confidence meant Wingester must be preparing something truly astonishing.
Wingester felt a surge of tension inside, gritting his teeth as he forced a smile.


In the afternoon, at the request of Lord Seiz, they sat facing each other in his study, drinking tea.


The lord spoke to Wingester about integrating magical tools into the magic operation that the guard mages were always focused on—the immediate use of defensive magic.


“Indeed, our shop carries several such magical tools. Especially ones that protect the user or create distance in dangerous situations like close combat...”
“That's intriguing. Are there many that also incorporate high-level magic capable of withstanding combat spells or auras from experts and above?”


The lord privately wished he could mass-order such high-level magical tools to supply his guard mages.


If such powerful defensive magic could be rapidly activated instantly using a magical tool, most incantations could be fully dedicated to destructive magic for counterattacking enemies.


“Magical devices of that caliber are rather uncommon. Since most craftsmen are artisans with low mana aptitude...”
“Hmm...I see. So you're saying collaborating with a high-ranking mage would make it feasible to produce them?”
“Ah, yes. In that case, it would be considerably easier to create them.”


The head of the household silently resolved to send someone to Wingester's shop soon, then gradually began to get to the main point.


“Are you also taking over the family business...?”
“...Huh?”
“I've heard that students with low mana aptitude have their career paths blocked. So I've also heard that many students simply settle for taking over the family business...”
“......”


The headmaster, sipping his tea, asked casually.


“...Is that the case for you too?”
“......”


Wingester, who had been slightly bowing his head in thought for a moment, decided that answering honestly was the proper courtesy and raised his head.


“My parents' shop is certainly a precious part of me. However....”
"... ….“
”I… I think I want to make a name for myself in the kingdom, if possible.“
”…Indeed.“


Seeing the faint, smoldering heat of ambition in this young man's clear eyes, the head of the family was certain.
This young man was absolutely not the type to just take over the family business and settle down.


”I'm sorry. It's a dream beyond my station…."
“No. While the odds may be slim, it's certainly a goal worth pursuing.”
“……!”


Having shown his support for Wingester, he quickly brought up the main point.


“...Would you consider becoming a son-in-law of our Seiz family?”
“Huh?!”


-To be continued-