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Chapter 23
After having confirmed Michael had used Burning Flower, I intentionally didn’t use any direct Attack spells.
Because if I had faced Michael with magic in this <Mana Barrier Hall> where magic power was reduced by 99%, it would have been harder to reveal he had used the potion.
That’s why I purposefully only used my ‘strength’.
It was a dangerous method that could have injured him greatly.
Just one little flick.
Just one small punch.
It was an excellent strategy to bait out the mastermind who was sitting relaxed, as they didn’t even know that they were caught in my trap.
“D-damn it! Michael! Hang in there!”
Professor Elrick Galehill.
He ‘interfered’ in the test, fearing that his nephew could really die.
This made way to an enormous storm.
“ Professor Elrick! ”
A huge voice of anger echoed throughout the <Mana Barrier Hall>.
The origin of this voice was none other than Director Tirion Ignit.
Having figured out everything that was going on, he couldn’t hide his wrath and abruptly stood up from his seat.
“How dare you… To cause such an incident on this sacred testing ground…”
“D-Director… F-first Michael’s treatment needs to—”
“Shut your mouth!”
“……”
Woah, Director Tirion, sir.
He who always showed a smile of benevolence.
For that Director to have such a terrifying side like this.
This was really my first time seeing it.
“Send Michael Galehill directly to the infirmary, and Professor Elrick, follow me to my office.”
“Yes!”
At the command of the Director, the testing grounds began to move in order.
The medical officers who were on standby lifted Michael up and carried him out on a stretcher, and the Mana Guardian Spirits who were guarding the testing grounds surrounded Professor Elrick.
However, the scariest thing here was…
“Kelkelkel… It’s not over yet…”
“…….”
Even while being carried out on a stretcher, Michael was still laughing uncontrollably.
I asked the judge,
“Is it over?”
“……Uh? Ah, sure. Ehem.”
The judge who was looking at all this with a dazed expression cleared his throat and loudly shouted,
“T-test over!”
* * *
Like a storm, the 4th test passed through the academy.
For a while, there were only ‘beliefs’ about the Galehill family’s corruption, but through this test, ‘evidence’ was found.
And this led to the interrogation of Professor Elrick.
And through this, the myriad of malpractice committed by Professor Elrick in the academy was all laid bare.
This also meant the Galehill name could never enter the academy grounds ever again.
“Michael. I heard he’s getting expelled.”
“There was only one term until graduation… It’s pitiful, really.”
The rumour that Micahel Galehill could be expelled became widespread.
The rumour was spread by an elder of House Galehill after they came to the academy personally,
But it was not confirmed yet.
Since Professor Elrick Galehill was trying to shoulder all the blame and assert that he had forced Michael to drink the potion.
By doing this, he was trying to save even just Michael.
Well, whether or not he was expelled…
The power that the Galehill name held in the academy would soon all disappear.
Michael wouldn’t be able to graduate as valedictorian.
And he wouldn’t be selected to represent the academy in the Grand Festival that was opening in a few months.
Thanks to this, I gained the nickname ‘Expulsion Bringer’.
Ben Polt, who tried to kill me with magic before.
And now, Michael Galehill too.
All who tried to confront me ended up expelled.
‘Um. Should I be happy about this or not?’
“You know… the school atmosphere’s kinda chilly.”
“Yea…”
Even though the long and arduous tests were over, the academy atmosphere felt cold and quiet.
This was from the magicians of House Galehill visiting multiple times a day.
All of them were keeping an eye on me in the same way.
“Are you Ruin Ardell?”
“…I am.”
At first, after asking for my name, they didn’t especially approach me and just observed me from afar.
However, I could guess that each and every one of them harboured some ill intent towards me.
“What the hell! They’re the ones who did the bad deed, and now they want to blame it all on you?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Jason grumbled looking at these people, and I shook my head to just leave it be.
House Galehill.
Their entire family wouldn’t be damaged just because of this one disgraceful incident that happened in the academy.
To them, it’d only be a little scratch.
However, for me, I was definitely marked by the Galehill family.
Since I had expelled the third son of the Galehill family (even though it wasn’t my fault), and even fired the professor they planted in the academy…
It was only natural they wanted to get rid of me in any way possible.
I didn’t know what kind of disruption they’d set-up for me in the future.
“I’m bound to clash with them at some point. It doesn’t matter.”
I decided to not pay it any mind.
Since I’d have to go against them at some point in the future.
Also, no matter how much House Galehill tried to flex their strength, they were still only limited to this small Radian Kingdom.
I would become much stronger.
And if I climbed to an even higher position, they wouldn’t be able to even touch me.
That’s right.
“Ruin.”
“Yeah?”
“The Director is looking for you.”
“…The Director?”
It was time to climb higher.
* * *
Tirion Ignit.
The descendant of the Archmage Frolian Ignit and the director of the academy.
As well as someone who could be the only one in the nation to not conspire with authority.
An incorruptible magician.
For such a person to invite a student into his own office was a very special occasion.
There was only one reason.
‘Academy representative’.
Only the most outstanding student could talk in an individual, one-on-one with him.
I immediately went to the main building to reach the highest point in the academy.
The director’s office was on the 41st floor of the main building, and there were no stairs leading up to that floor.
There was only one path to the top.
There was only the ‘Mana Road’, situated in the middle of the main building, that led straight up to the top.
Of course, to use this, you needed permission from the director, but I had already been invited.
The Mana Guardian Spirits who were guarding the Mana Road made way for me.
“Entry. Permitted.”
I stepped onto the Mana Road.
<41>
<1>
On it, there existed only two numbers.
It meant the 1st floor and the 41st floor.
Without hesitation, I delicately imbued mana into my hand and pressed the number that said <41>.
Since the Mana Road used the caster’s mana to activate, if they weren’t a magician, it was impossible for them to even get on.
Wheeeeeing-
The gate closed after it recognised my mana.
‘Euk.’
And it shot up very fast, enough to make me dizzy for a second, and placed me at the very top.
It was truly in the blink of an eye.
Just as I was about to feel dizzy, I had instantly arrived at the 41st floor and the door on the Mana Road opened.
This was the first time I had come to the 41st floor of the academy.
However…
“…What’s this?”
Something was off.
As the door opened, the sight I saw was definitely the Ardell territory.
The endlessly-vast, beautiful south sea.
Large and small islands connected like a painting over the horizon.
Wide farmland appeared if you retreated a little from the shore
The warm and quiet sight of the countryside.
But one thing was off.
In the middle of the field, not matching my hometown Ardell—a small countryside territory—there was a huge chair just stationed there.
I knew this chair better than anyone else.
It was the Throne of Teron.
The King of Magicians.
The seat that only the most powerful magicians on the earth could sit in.
The seat which was most suited for the magician who garnered everyone’s attention.
Why was this in the Ardell territory?
At that point,
“What are you looking at, Ruin?”
“……yes?”
I turned my head at the familiar voice behind my back.
And there stood Director Tirion Ignit.
“…Director.”
As I greeted him, the Director gave a benevolent smile and talked to me.
“Were you surprised at seeing something unusual?”
“Yes… a little.”
At some point, the scene of the Ardell Territory and the Throne of Teron disappeared, nowhere to be seen.
The only thing I could see was the magnificent view of the forest surrounding the academy when looking down from the 41st floor.
“The 41st floor. This was where the Eye of Malleroc was independently recreated. Do you know about the Eye of Malleroc?”
“…I’ve heard about it.”
The Eye of Malleroc.
The chancellor of the demons that first invaded the Frelia continent was Malleroc.
They say he could use a special power to force a target to have visions of what they desired the most, deluding them and controlling their mind until they died.
After the demise of Malleroc, his body parts were scattered between the tens of nations of the Frelia Continent.
And all of them were manufactured into artifacts.
Between them, the one who obtained Malleroc’s ‘Eye’ was the Ignit Magic Academy.
The Eye of Malleroc was recreated on this 41st floor.
The thing this artifact showed me was,
‘The Ardell Territory with the Throne of Teron.’
Why would the Eye of Malleroc show me this?
The Director explained to me,
“I don’t know what you had just seen… but Eye of Malleroc shows you the world you want to see. The world you just saw should be close to the world you wish for.”
Eye of Malleroc, which was said to show what you wanted to see.
It was talking about my desire.
The wish to become a stronger magician than anyone else.
The wish for the Ardell family to stand atop the center of the world.
Looking at it like this, the artifact really showed the naked truth.
Because it really felt like I was naked.
“I really do like this place. The Eye of Malleroc shows me what I want to see. The world I desire. Are you curious as to what that is?”
“I am.”
“A world where students act like students, and magicians act like magicians.”
“……”
It was easy to understand.
However, it was a hard world to put into practice.
I came here with a light heart, but a part of it became heavy.
Then, Director Tirion looked at me with a soft smile.
“Ruin, I do like you a lot.”
“…Is that so?”
“‘A student who acts like a student’ like you is quite rare in this academy.”
“Well, a magician who doesn’t act like a magician, like me, is also quite rare.”
“Hm? Is that how it is? Huhuhu… Let’s get going.”
At my joke, Director Tirion laughed a hearty laugh, and started to walk in front of me.
This unique space that was created through the Eye of Malleroc.
The 41st floor of the academy.
It presented an endless charm.
For just a moment, it invited me to the Throne of Teron being in the Ardell territory,
And now, it was leading me towards the ‘Grand Festival’ that would open in the 7th month of the year.
In that space, I had entered as the representative of the academy, and was confidently victorious.
As we approached the door to the office, I could see myself standing confidently in front of the hundreds of students of the Ignit Magic Academy and was graduating as valedictorian.
It really was an odd sensation, like it could see deep into my innermost thoughts.
“Sit here.”
Thankfully, the Director’s office was normal.
A neat study and a normal table that didn’t try to surprise me.
After sitting on the soft brown sofa, I sipped the warm tea the Director had gotten for me.
And that moment hung.
The director gave me time to calm myself.
And I nodded after drinking about half the tea.
At that moment, the Director asked me with a more serious expression,
“Ruin, I want to ask you just one thing. Could you answer it for me?”
“Okay.”
“How did you detect that Michael used the Burning Flower?”
——