“Oops, sorry to surprise you. I am Lucy Diamond,” Lucy said, calming herself down. “I’m Head Magus, the one who leads the Magic Division of the Kingdom of Revelis.”
She’s as small as ever. She’s visibly a size smaller than Miu, who was a little girl. It’s impossible to believe that she’s the Head Magus.
“… What are you going on about, aren’t you just a brat?” Miu asked.
“Who are you calling ‘brat’?!” Lucy yelled. “Aren’t you the kid, Candidate?!”
“Who are you calling a kid?!”
“Now, now, calm down,” I said.
Of course. It would be like this.
Miu reacted as expected and Lucy responded as expected. I thought about experiencing these exchanges myself as a kid, I feel a little nostalgic, but I admonished them. I feel like their guardian.
“Miu, she really is the Head Magus of the Magic Division,” I said.
“… Are you serious…?” Miu asked.
I’ll explain it again but the hints of suspicion remain in Miu’s gaze.
Well, at the time with me, I asked her to demonstrate her magic in an easy-to-understand manner, or rather Lucy started sparking flames without permission, but this small room would be inconvenient for it.
However, I had to get her to believe me somehow, otherwise, this conversation’s going nowhere. Now then, what do I do?
“Here. Does this prove it?”
“…!”
Lucy created a small light on her palm.
Why didn’t you do the same with me? It was a raging flame that time. This old man’s not convinced.
“… Well, I believe you’re a mage,” Miu said.
It seemed seeing those lights Lucy made changed Miu’s mind a little.
At the very least, if you’re not a magician, you can’t suddenly create flames from thin air. Thank you for convincing her but why didn’t you do this then, with me? I know it’s not something to bring up right now but I can’t help but feel indignant.
“So, aren’t you someone with magical capability, Candidate?” Lucy said, putting away the light. “My, we’re quite glad to find you. We’re always short on sorcerers.”
“Before that, Lucy,” Alexia said, putting the brakes on. “There’s a bit of a complicated situation with her.”
“Houh?” Lucy asked.
Perhaps because of her excitement, Lucy didn’t hear any details about Miu. I don’t know what Alexia told Lucy when she informed her of the situation, but that there was almost no time lag said she must have hurried here almost instantly.
In the first place, if Miu’s identity and the part about revival magic were said to her, this should not have happened right now.
Putting aside her usual attitude for the moment, I didn’t think Lucy, someone who’d be very serious about magic, would pass on that sort of information.
“Lucy,” I said. “I’ve got a question I need to ask.”
“Mm. What is it?” Lucy asked.
Is it really proper for me to ask this before Miu here?
But I think that sooner than later, she should know the truth.
In that case, it’s fine, Lucy probably won’t allow magical talent to be lost to criminal elements, so it’s better to prepare Miu to follow her.
I just pray that she won’t go wild.
“Does revival magic exist?” I asked.
“It does not,” Lucy said.
After such a good mood, Lucy stopped suddenly.
The answer she gave was terribly concise and cruel.
“Sh-Shut up!” Miu yelled, suddenly indignant. “Don’t lie to me!”
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Lucy said. “There’s no such thing as revival magic in this world. I’d bet my life on it.”
Lucy’s expression was serious. It wasn’t a joking expression, by any means. It was the one that gave you the impression Lucy thought you were missing the point.
The Head Magus is certainly the best mage in the country.
Lucy denied the claim. Of course, it’s possible that a method hasn’t been discovered yet, but in that case, wouldn’t she say so?
“Shu-Shut up, that can’t be right… it can’t be… it can’t be…!”
“… Beryl, Alexia,” Lucy said. “The hell is going on here?”
From Miu’s panic, anyone can guess that she wasn’t kidding when she talked about revival magic. Lucy’s gaze moved to me, Alexia, then back to me.
No, ask Alexia over there. If you had the choice between an old man and a knight-captain, wouldn’t you give priority to the knight-captain? Why me?
Alexia also seems to have completely handed the role of narrator to me, probably because she realized that Lucy’s gaze was pointed at me.
“Ah… the thing is…”
Well, there’s no other way to go about it.
I told Lucy how I got to know Miu, her magic, her sister, and the price of the resurrection magic.
“… I see now,” Lucy said.
Lucy had quietly listened to and nodded along with the conversation.
I can’t see shades of disdain or pity on her face. She just listened to me earnestly.
“Well then, Ms. Miu,” Lucy started.
“Fuck… what is this… why is it…?!” Miu whispered, not responding to her.
Her face is down, her eyes are drifting, she keeps muttering and whispering.
I expected it but it looks like she’s in intense shock.
But even so, she’s not in despair, which shows her mental fortitude. She’s still a young child, both physically and mentally, but that she’s able to stay just before the edge is more than enough.
Even if someone heard about revival magic, they’d usually laugh it off or wouldn’t bother to pursue it in the first place. This is because if you’ve got a general education, you’ll know how unrealistic it is.
However, with young children, it’s a different matter. Especially if you’ve never had a decent education. Teach an immature child a lie and drag her into an outrageous path.
I haven’t experienced it myself but it’s a story I often hear.
Even the kids who went to my dojo were all different. Some were clever with good points, while others were ignorant as if they didn’t even know certain things in the first place.
The world of children is surprisingly small.
There is a limit to the heights a child can broaden their knowledge.
Under such circumstances, it’s not unreasonable to believe in the sweet words of adults who speak in ostensibly rational and friendly manners.
—That’s why it’s unforgivable.
Swordsmanship is not just about teaching you how to handle a sword.
It’s also a place to teach and learn various things through the sword. At least, I like to think so.
I don’t think everyone should be saints but at least a good, older adult has the duty to at least guide kids who don’t know anything.
Sometimes it’s as a parent, sometimes it’s as a boss, sometimes it’s as a master, but in any case, the person who tricked Miu is not that kind of person.
It’s not Miu who needs to be severely punished, but the mastermind above her.
Well, I can’t do anything concrete. It’s hard to describe, it’s just a feeling of sickness and anger.
“Hey, Ms. Miu,” Lucy said.
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‘That can’t be… that can’t possibly be true, can it…?” Miu asked.
“Miu…!!” Lucy yelled, her voice echoing in the room.