Chapter 4 - Chapter 3: The Magic Otaku Encounters a Great Grandmother
From the day we were told of my grandmother's impending visit, an unusual tension settled over the Arcalai manor.
The head chef—who, in my past life, I’d have pictured as a man, but in our house is an older woman—was purchasing special ingredients from the market, already beginning the preparations for time-consuming dishes. Dani hired several helping hands and was working at a feverish pace to prune the trees and tend to the gardens and vegetable patch. The cleaning maids scrubbed the furniture and stairs more meticulously than ever, their work scrutinized by the chief steward with an even stricter eye than usual. The only ones unaffected were myself, Ruria, and our personal maid, Hanna.
When I asked, “What’s Grandmother like?” Hanna began with a hesitant, “I don’t know her well myself, but…” before sharing what she knew.
My grandmother, Ester Adoni Arcalai, was said to be the greatest magic user in the entire kingdom. The Arcalai family was old, but they had been more like the leading family of a village, not true nobles. However, during the war some thirty years ago, my grandmother performed incredible deeds on the battlefield. The king rewarded her with the title of Viscount, a manor in the capital, and a position at court. Now that my father had inherited the title and duties, she had apparently returned to her home village to live in retirement.
“The best magic user in the country, huh? That’s amazing. What kind of person is she?”
“To be honest, I’ve hardly ever met her…”
“Oh, really?”
“Shortly before I began my service here, the former mistress passed the title to the master and returned to her home village. Since then, she has only visited this manor once, when the two of you were born. And even then, I hear she left immediately after seeing your faces. So, I’ve never had the chance to speak with her.”
“Hmm.”
She sounded like quite the impatient person. Or maybe she and Mother Sarah don’t get along. Mother-in-law troubles might just be a timeless theme, even in this world.
“I came to this manor because my father is on good terms with the master, but some of the older servants were summoned here from the mistress’s home village. Even some of the younger staff are children of those veterans, so you might learn more if you ask them.”
“Got it. I’ll go ask someone else. You coming, Ruria?”
During my conversation with Hanna, Ruria had been sitting silently beside me, reading a children’s picture book. At my words, she looked up and held out her hand without a word. I took it, and we left the nursery side-by-side. Hanna followed silently behind us. Now, who should we ask?
We descended the stairs from the second-floor nursery and made our way to the kitchen at the far end of the first floor. It was still a little before noon, but the kitchen maids were already bustling about, preparing for the meal. A large, stout woman stood stirring a pot over the fire, shouting orders at them in a booming voice.
“Once you’re done washing the vegetables, check on the bread oven! You two, get started on the soup!”
This was the head chef of our house. A seasoned cook, she had worked in this very kitchen for thirty years. That meant she had been here since the manor was built, making her one of the most senior members of the staff.
“Chef, could you please check this!” a maid called out as she opened the lid of the stone oven.
The head chef left her pot and peered inside where the bread was baking.
“Alright, you can take it out now. I’ve said it before, but be careful.”
With a chorus of “Yes, ma’am” at her back, the chef started back toward her pot, only then seeming to notice us standing at the kitchen entrance. Wiping her hands on her apron, she walked over.
“What is it, you little ones? As you can see, I’m busy right now, so I can’t dote on you.”
“Sorry, Chef. We wanted to ask you about Grandmother.”
At my words, the chef glanced past us to our rear. I sensed Hanna bow her head. The chef gave a slight shrug. “Let’s talk over here,” she said, heading back to her pot. We followed her in silence.
Stirring the pot once more, she asked, “It was about the former mistress, right? What do you want to know?”
“We were told that Grandmother is the best magic user in the country, but we were wondering what kind of person she is.”
“What kind of person, eh… In a word, she’s terrifying.”
Well, that was blunt. Terrifying how? Does her head detach at night and fly around the room?
“You mean she’s scary?”
The chef stopped stirring, lifted her gaze from the pot, and let her eyes drift into the distance as she began to speak.
“Back when I was a girl helping my parents in our village, the former mistress was the most famous young lady around. She was elegant, unbelievably smart… all us little village kids looked up to her. She went off to the city to become a magic user, but then the war started, and she never came back. After the war ended and this kingdom was formed, we heard she’d become a noble in the capital. When they started gathering staff for her new manor, I was the first to raise my hand. That’s when I saw her again, for the first time in maybe ten years.”
She paused, looking from me to Ruria before continuing.
“The former mistress I saw after all that time wasn’t the young lady I once knew. She was as beautiful as ever, but her eyes, her voice… they were gentle, yet held a terrifying intensity. Standing before her, you couldn’t help but shrink back. There was no way I could speak to her casually like in the old days. And of course not. She wasn’t a young lady anymore. She was a magic user, and the head of a noble house. She rarely got angry, but when she did scold a servant, even grown men would end up crying.”
This isn’t exactly a story for a toddler, I thought, but I listened in silence. Ruria, who was even less talkative than a book, was also listening intently to the chef’s story. So was Hanna. Ah, maybe the chef was telling us this with the added intention of educating Hanna, a younger servant.
“Magic users are all scary, but the former mistress is in a league of her own. You two be on your best behavior when she arrives.”
“We will, Chef. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, even though you’re so busy.”
I offered my thanks but didn’t bow. I had been taught that a noble must not bow their head needlessly to a commoner. To be honest, with my experience as a corporate drone in Japan, I still had to fight the reflex to bow. I’d been corrected so many times that I rarely made the mistake now. Instead, Hanna bowed her head, apologizing for interrupting her work. The chef waved a hand as if to say, “Don’t worry about it,” and returned her focus to the pot. I took Ruria’s hand and led her out of the kitchen, which was quickly turning into a battlefield as lunchtime approached.
Still, the idea of magic users being scary was a strange concept to me, having been born into a family of them. Were my own parents feared outside the manor? Come to think of it, my grandmother had earned her noble title through her achievements in the war. Even if she came from a prominent family of village leaders, for a commoner to be granted a hereditary peerage, not just a life title, her contributions must have been staggering. And great achievements on the battlefield meant she had likely killed a great many people. No wonder everyone was intimidated.
At any rate, I wanted more information about my grandmother. We decided our next stop would be to visit someone who had likely observed her up close.
“And so, you came to me, is that it?”
The elderly man sitting before us spoke in a calm tone. This was Gill, the chief steward of the Arcalai family. A chief steward is like the general manager of the manor, taking command of its operations in place of the busy master of the house. With his white-streaked hair slicked back, his mustache neatly trimmed, and his high-ranking servant’s uniform worn with precision, he was the very image of the classic ‘butler’ one would associate with a noble estate in my previous life. In truth, the role of a chief steward is older than that of a butler, and a butler’s duties are somewhat narrower, typically overseeing only the male servants. At least, that was how it was in my past life.
“Yes. I thought that you, Gill-san, having served Grandmother for so long, might be able to offer a different perspective.”
My tone was different from how I spoke to the other servants. Gill was strict about etiquette and would scold me for not using polite language. That said, I really couldn’t stand the roundabout manner of speech expected of nobility, so I was getting by with a polite tone mixed with a few honorifics. Apparently, it wasn’t proper for the master’s son to use honorifics with a servant, but Gill seemed to let it slide.
“I see. You wish to know more about the former mistress’s character.”
With that, Gill offered us some tea and sweets. We were currently in his office on the first floor. In addition to his desk, it contained a simple table and chair set for receiving guests. Part of the chief steward’s job was to interview new servants and meet with visitors who didn’t require a direct audience with the master. Ruria and I sat across from Gill, with Hanna standing dutifully behind us. Getting on and off adult-sized chairs was quite a challenge for a toddler, though.
“The head chef told me that Grandmother is held in high esteem by the staff. Is there anything else you can tell us about her?”
I wasn’t foolish enough to say that I’d heard the servants were terrified of her.
“Is that so. The former mistress is not only respected by those within this manor. Outside these walls as well, from the royal court to the common folk, she is held in great reverence by many. That has not changed, even now that she has retired from her position as head of the house.”
“Is that as a noble? Or as a magic user?”
“Both, but… yes. One could say that in the eyes of the world, she is more renowned as a magic user than as a noble.”
Gill offered us more sweets with a wry smile. I said, “Pardon me,” before taking a sip of tea. The servants in our house were getting used to my un-childlike speech, but it seemed they still found it a bit jarring. Ah, unable to resist, Ruria silently reached for a sweet. Noticing Gill’s brow furrow ever so slightly, I quickly restarted the conversation.
“Everyone has told me that Grandmother is the greatest magic user in the kingdom. What exactly does it mean to be the best in the country?”
“As I am a commoner, I cannot claim to know the detailed affairs of magic users.”
Gill prefaced his words with this disclaimer before continuing.
“During the war thirty years ago, the former mistress was already said to have no equal in terms of skill. However, I humbly believe her true greatness was demonstrated after the war ended. The former mistress opened a private academy, where she discovered many talented boys and girls and sent them on to the magic academy. Those young magic users, including her own son, the current master, have grown into fine individuals who now support this kingdom. It would be no exaggeration to say that most of those called high-ranking magic users have been influenced by her guidance. To this day, they still look up to her as their master. Perhaps hearing this will give you some understanding of her greatness.”
“A private academy for magic users, and a magic academy… so those exist. Will I be able to attend?”
So there really is a magic academy! I tried to sound as calm as possible, but my excitement was through the roof. It was a staple of the fantasy genre, a classic element from the stories of my past life. To be honest, I was hoping for something more like a secret society in a magical tower, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about a grand academy either.
“I am certain you will proceed from the private academy to the magic academy, Saki-sama. However, as I am not a magic user myself, I cannot provide any more detail. It would be best to ask someone else.”
“Someone else, you mean?”
Gill smiled gently and told me.
“Maria-sama, of course.”
“You should have just come to me from the start.”
Back in the nursery, Maria said this as she sat with Ruria on her lap. Her hands were adjusting the ribbon on the front of the new one-piece dress Ruria was wearing. My own outfit was a new jacket and trousers that had just been purchased. Moments earlier, Maria and Hanna had been making us try on new clothes, calling it a dress rehearsal and fussing over every detail.
“I guess so. But you weren’t around today, Maria-kaasan.”
Maria had gone with Dani to buy our clothes. It must have been a rare date for them, as she seemed to be in a better mood than usual. As for Dani, he’d been so fussy while Ruria was trying things on that Maria and Hanna had kicked him out of the room, saying they were going to get changed. Sorry about that, Dani.
“So, you were going around asking the staff about my aunt, huh? What did you hear?”
“That Grandmother is an amazing magic user who’s respected by everyone in the manor and across the country. And, well, that she’s scary when she’s angry.”
“Honestly, who told you that? Well, she is scary, I’ll give you that.”
Maria put a finger to her lips. “Don’t you dare tell her I said that,” she whispered. I’d thought it before, but this woman could be pretty terrible.
“Gill-san said I should ask you about magic users. You know, about the private academy and the magic academy.”
“I see. But Saki, you’re not a magic user yet, so I can’t tell you everything.”
“...Does that mean you’re a magic user too, Maria-kaasan?”
“That’s right. Believe it or not, I’m one of my aunt’s disciples, a humble one at that. Though I wasn’t a very good one,” she said, sticking out her tongue.
She glanced at Hanna, who nodded, bowed, and left the room. As Hanna opened the door, I thought I saw Dani on the other side, biting a handkerchief with tears in his eyes as he peered in our direction. I decided it was probably my imagination.
According to Maria, there were strict rules among magic users, and they were forbidden from teaching almost anything about magic to ordinary people. Only those who aspired to become magic users and became an apprentice or entered a private academy could be taught about magic in stages. They could only learn everything after enrolling in the magic academy, and it was a crime for anyone who failed to get in or was expelled to use magic.
“So, until you’re a little older and enter your father’s academy, I can’t teach you about magic.”
“Father’s academy? Oh, because it’s the academy the Arcalai family opened.”
“Exactly. The private academy my aunt started is now run by Levi. A great many students are learning from your father to prepare for the magic academy.”
“How old do I have to be to get in?”
“Around six, I think. Sarah, Levi, and I were all about that age when we entered my aunt’s academy.”
Three more years. Honestly, that felt like a long time. It seemed that even with so many magic users in the family, I wouldn’t be getting any special treatment. It looked like there was no legitimate way for me to learn about magic right now.
“You three have been together for that long? Wait, then what about Dani?”
“Oh, him? I met him after I entered the magic academy. He was a young apprentice landscaper, and when we met in town, he came at me with this incredible intensity, saying, ‘It was love at first sight!’ To be honest, most people are scared of magic users, so it was really refreshing. Before I knew it, he’d gotten friendly with Sarah and Levi, too. They both started cheering him on, and then…”
Oh, no! I had stepped on a landmine! By the time I realized it, Ruria had buried her face in Maria’s chest and was sleeping soundly. There was no sign of Dani or Hanna returning. I revised my opinion of Maria, concluding that they were two peas in a pod after all, and resigned myself to being a captive audience for her gushing love story.
Hey, what happened to the part where you were supposed to tell me about Grandma?
Finally, the day of my grandmother’s arrival came.
Ruria and I, dressed in our new clothes, waited for a short while in the nursery. Hanna came to inform us that everything was ready. She led us to a place I had never entered before: my father’s private study. The attendant waiting in front of the door—a handsome young man who was quite popular with the female staff—nodded to us, knocked, and then quietly opened the door.
I glanced sideways at Ruria. Her expression was as blank as ever, but I could see a hint of nervousness in her downcast eyes. I gave her hand a light squeeze to get her attention, and when she looked up, I smiled and said, “Let’s go.” Ruria gave a small nod, and I led her by the hand through the doorway.
My father’s study, which I was entering for the first time, was not as large as I had expected. A large, ebony-like wooden desk sat against the far wall, flanked by bookshelves on either side. For the room of the head of the house, it had little in the way of luxurious furniture and had a rather plain atmosphere. The shelves were lined with books bound in parchment, scrolls, and various curiosities that fiercely piqued my interest, but I quickly reminded myself that now was not the time.
Two sofas faced each other in front of the desk. Mother Sarah and Maria sat on one, and Father Levi on the other. And next to my father, on the far side, sat the woman who must be my grandmother and the greatest magic user in the country, Ester Adoni Arcalai.
My grandmother was slender and tall. She sat with her back perfectly straight, a posture that exuded an overwhelming presence. More than anything, her shining black eyes, filled with a powerful will, were fixed on me, and I felt myself shrinking under their gaze. Her long white hair, with remnants of its original black at the roots, was tied back carelessly. For a magic user said to be without peer, the robe she wore was plain, devoid of any lavish decoration, and looked no different from everyday wear. Come to think of it, all four adults in the room were wearing robes. Even Maria was in a monk-like robe similar to my parents’, a departure from her usual dress.
And from within my grandmother, an overflowing light poured forth. Its brilliance was greater than that of my parents. If I were to compare it to the brightness of stars from my past life, my parents were first-magnitude stars like Vega or Altair, while Grandma was Sirius. A negative second-magnitude star. In fact, everyone in the room was glowing so brightly (except me, I could cry) that the room felt strangely illuminated.
As we approached the adults, Ruria kept a firm grip on my arm, positioning herself half-hidden in my shadow. She had a shy side and would often hide behind me like this around strangers. Even now, she was likely peeking out from behind me to look at our grandmother.
“Saki, Ruria, welcome. This is my mother, Ester. Saki, she is your grandmother, and Ruria, your great-aunt. Now, both of you, say your greetings.”
Father Levi broke the silence and prompted us. I took a deep breath and recited the lines I had desperately rehearsed for today.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Grandmother. I am Saki Adoni Arcalai, eldest son of Viscount Levi Arcalai. This is Ruria, my wet nurse’s daughter. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet you on this auspicious day.”
I managed to finish without stumbling over my words, bowed, and raised my head. I saw my grandmother raise an eyebrow slightly and sensed a collective “Oh, my…” ripple through my parents. It might have been a bit much for a three-year-old. Even so, this was my moment to make an impression. My opponent was the top magic user in the country. To me, someone aspiring to master magic, she was like the chairman of a company I hoped to join. This meeting was essentially an interview. I couldn't afford to be complacent just because we were family; it was crucial to leave a strong personal impression.
Next, I tugged on the arm Ruria was holding to prompt her, but she refused to come out from behind me. Unable to bear the silence, Maria finally spoke up in a flustered tone.
“That’s not right, Ruria. You must give a proper greeting as well.”
Ruria remained silent for a moment longer before peeking out from behind me. “…Ruria,” she said in a tiny voice, then quickly hid again. I reflexively glanced at my grandmother, but she didn’t seem particularly offended by Ruria’s behavior. She smiled warmly and spoke to us.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I am Ester. Saki, I’m your grandmother. And Ruria-chan, Maria is like a daughter to me, so you can call me Grandma too, alright?”
Wow, she was much nicer than I expected. The advance intel had been full of words like ‘scary’ and ‘terrifying,’ so I had been a little on guard. Her first impression was a bit unapproachable, but now she felt very gentle. Alright, time to press my advantage!
“Um! Grandmother Ester, I’ve heard you’re the greatest magic user in the country. When I grow up, I want to make magic my profession. Please, would it be possible for you to teach me magic?!”
“W-wait, Saki! Grandmother will be troubled if you suddenly say something like that!”
“That’s right, Saki. We said we’d talk about that when you’re a little older.”
As I raised my voice to make my plea, my parents hastily stood up and began to reprimand me. I’m sorry, Father, Mother. This might have been an unexpected development for the adults, but for me, it was a planned move. I used the interview analogy earlier, and showing ambition to your superiors is never a bad thing. Even if I couldn’t receive tutelage from the pinnacle of magic users right now, if I could get some kind of promise for the future—"when you’re older” or “someday”—it would be a huge win.
My grandmother gestured for my parents to sit down, then turned to me with an apologetic look.
“So you’re interested in magic, Saki. That’s a very good thing. But starting magic training when you’re too young can have a negative effect on a person. I think it would be best for you to focus on your other studies until you’re old enough to attend your father’s academy.”
“A negative effect? Do you mean it could cause problems with my growth or something like that?”
“That’s right. I’m sure a clever boy like you understands, but using magic puts a strain on the body. So if you use it recklessly while you’re still small, it can cause terrible problems. Do you understand?”
“…I understand. I will refrain from learning about magic until I am old enough to be taught by Father. Grandmother, and Father and Mother as well, I apologize for my selfish request.”
It seemed I couldn’t push any further. I made sure to appeal as an obedient child while also saving face for my parents. I could see clear relief wash over the faces of the adults, except for my grandmother. My grandmother—ah, screw it, I’ll just call her Grandma—nodded at me with an affectionate look in her eyes.
“Still, Saki, it’s not just that you know difficult words for your age, but your phrasing is quite old-fashioned. Words like ‘magic’ and ‘magician’… not many people use them nowadays.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. Mother-in-law, are ‘magic’ and ‘sorcery’ not the same thing?”
“Perhaps they once referred to different things. But as far as anyone knows, there is only one kind of ‘magic’—the kind we use. My own master and seniors all called themselves ‘magic users.’ It might be interesting to investigate why there are two different terms.”
I’m afraid you’re wrong, Mother Sarah; the two are different. In my past life, ‘magic’ referred to mysterious arts whose principles were not understood, and was distinguished from ‘sorcery,’ which was both a field of study and a technology. The former could be called empirical and inductive, the latter theoretical and deductive. But in this world, though the words exist separately, they are thought to refer to the same phenomenon. What could this mean?
Suddenly, Ruria’s hand let go of my arm. I looked to see her stepping out from behind me and walking over to Maria. She raised her arms in a V-shape, asking to be picked up. You little traitor, you got bored of our conversation, didn’t you? Maria shook her head with a look of resignation, bowed her head toward Grandma, and then lifted Ruria onto her lap. At that, Father Levi let out a deliberate “Ahem, ahem,” and turned the conversation toward Grandma Ester.
“Ah, well, magic aside. Mother, didn’t you have a question for Saki?”
Grandma Ester clasped her hands in front of her chest as if to say, “Oh, I remember!” and turned back to me.
“That’s right, let Grandma ask you one question, okay? I heard from Levi that you can see other people glowing. What does it look like?”
Oh, a question about the mysterious glowing phenomenon. My parents and Maria had told me not to talk about it with anyone else, but it seemed this was an exception. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have prompted Grandma to ask me now, with all three of them present.
“Yes. Everyone, including me, looks like they have a light spreading out from inside their body. The brightness is different for each person. And it’s not just people; animals and plants glow, too. It’s a very weak light compared to humans, though. Also, there are lots of little glowing particles floating in the air.”
Grandma listened, nodding, then spoke to me in a serious tone.
“I see. Saki, listen carefully. There is nothing strange about the world you see. It’s a little different from you, but Grandma can also see other people glowing. Your father will teach you what that means when you’re a bit older. Now, let me ask you one thing. Of all the people in this room right now, who is shining the brightest?”
Grandma Ester could see the light, too! I was a little surprised, but it seemed I wouldn’t be getting any detailed explanations again. Seriously, I wish they’d stop being so secretive.
Anyway, what was this last question about? Was it some kind of test? If Grandma really saw the light in the same way I did, she would know immediately if I lied. Was this a way to verify that what I was saying was true, by checking if our perceptions matched? In short, all I had to do was be honest.
I looked around at everyone in the room, took a deep breath, and answered clearly.
“It’s Ruria.”
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In the room the children had just left, the remaining adults sat on the sofa, speechless. Levi, Sarah, and Maria watched Ester with tense expressions as she sat with her eyes closed in silence.
The meeting was over, but no attendant or maid would enter the room. The matters to be discussed now included Ruria’s future, but even her father, Dani, had not been summoned. Matters of magic could not be heard by those who were not magic users.
After a long silence, Ester let out a rather dramatic sigh and broke the quiet.
“Saki is an unusual child. I can’t imagine how a stiff man like you and a quiet girl like Sarah produced a boy like him.”
“My apologies, Mother. I have been preoccupied with my duties and have not been able to give him much attention…”
Levi’s shoulders slumped as he mumbled his reply. He felt ashamed for leaving the boy’s upbringing entirely to Maria, failing in his duties as a parent. He truly wanted to spend more time with Saki, but his position as Viscount and Royal Magic Advisor made that difficult.
“But Aunt, a child like Levi was born from you, so it’s not so strange, is it?”
“Maria, please,” Sarah said, hastily tugging on Maria’s sleeve to reprimand her, but Maria paid her no mind. Ester shot her a glare, but Maria, though her lips twitched slightly, simply smiled back.
“You’ve gotten bold, Maria. Did giving birth toughen you up?”
“Both Saki and Ruria are children I raised. They may be a little different, but they are in no way a source of shame for you, Aunt.”
Ester let out another sigh, then straightened her posture and addressed the three of them.
“Well, shall we get to the reason I came here?”
At her voice, the three turned to face Ester, and the tense atmosphere returned to the room.
“The boy’s eyes are real.”
As Ester said this, Levi reacted instantly.
“Mother. Then Saki has the same… as you…”
“Yes. He possesses Magic Vision. A second one has finally appeared. I was beginning to think I might be the only one in the world.”
Ester answered Levi’s question while pressing a hand to her forehead. On the opposite sofa, Sarah and Maria exchanged a look and a nod, as if to say, “Just as we thought.” Sarah turned back to her mother-in-law and teacher to voice her own question.
“Mother-in-law. Saki said he can see things other than people glowing as well…”
“I can see the magical power possessed by humans and magical beasts, but I’ve never seen the magic in the plants and air that he speaks of. It’s possible Saki’s eyes are even more refined than mine.”
Ester paused, looking into the eyes of each of them before continuing.
“In any case, we must not speak of this to anyone else until he comes of age. There’s no telling what would happen if word got out, within the kingdom or beyond, that a child with such eyes exists.”
The three of them nodded deeply at Ester’s words. Simply by walking down a street, Ester could tell whether a passerby was a magic user. On a battlefield, she could pinpoint the location of powerful enemy magic users from a great distance. It was as clear as day that a child with such an ability would not be left alone, by friend or foe.
“Mother, we will impress upon Saki the need for secrecy, so that he does not reveal this to others, at least until he is old enough to be responsible for himself.”
“Do so. Of course, if anyone dares to lay a hand on my grandchildren, I will not remain silent.”
Despite her quiet tone, Ester’s words were filled with a power that made the other three hold their breath. Ester Adoni Arcalai was hailed as the kingdom’s strongest, a Sixth Tier magic user, a level said to be unmatched not only within the kingdom but in all the neighboring countries. During the unification war, she inflicted immense damage on the allied forces of the seven city-states, striking fear into not only the enemy but her own army as well. Her immense magical power had not waned in the slightest, even in her retirement.
They called her The Witch. Though there were many female magic users in the world, the simple title of "The Witch" referred to her and her alone. Then, the powerful expression on Ester’s face vanished, replaced by a sudden, lonely sigh.
“That is why it is so pitiful. The boy possesses an invaluable gift for a magic user, yet he has almost no magical power to speak of.”
“Mother… is he truly… does Saki truly have no talent?”
“There have been cases where a person’s magical power has changed as they grow. But Saki’s magical power has remained as weak as it was at birth. Unfortunately, we cannot expect him to achieve greatness as a magic user.”
“I see…”
At the words of his mother and teacher, Levi responded with a pained groan. Sarah looked down sadly, seemingly trying to contain her emotions.
With her Magic Vision, Ester Adoni Arcalai had discovered children and youths with superior magical power, including her own son Levi, and had raised countless magic users. Currently, most of the high-ranking magic users known throughout the kingdom had been under her tutelage. The private academy Levi now hosted was originally started by Ester to cultivate the next generation of magic users.
And that same Ester was now declaring that Saki had no future as a magic user. Though they had half-expected it, having the reality laid bare by their teacher felt like a crushing weight to Levi and Sarah.
“Aunt, about that…”
The heavy silence was broken by Maria’s voice. Ester held up a hand as if to say, “I know,” then looked over the three of them before dropping a bombshell.
“My title of ‘The Witch’ will be inherited by Ruria.”
The three of them froze as if struck by lightning, unable to speak. Magic Vision perceived the magnitude of a person’s magical power as the brightness and size of their light. Saki had said that Ruria shone brighter than anyone else in the room. And Ester had acknowledged that Saki’s eyes were real. In other words, Ester was admitting that Ruria possessed even greater magical power than herself.
Ester’s magical power was on a level far removed from other magic users. While her own disciples, all of whom were considered first-rate, were at best Fourth Tier, with most remaining at the Third, she alone stood at the heights of the Sixth Tier. If Ruria, at only three years of age, possessed magical power that surpassed even Ester’s, what kind of magic user would she become when she grew up?
As silence once again dominated the room, Ester dropped another bombshell.
“Maria. In the future, would it be possible for Ruria to marry Saki?”
This, however, was something that not only Maria but also Levi and Sarah had anticipated.
“I believe Ruria is fond of Saki. But…”
Maria hesitated as she replied to Ester.
“What is it? Don’t be so vague. Speak plainly.”
“Well, what you mean to say, Aunt, is that you want Ruria, not Saki, to inherit the Arcalai house, correct?”
“That’s right. We already have a precedent in me. Whether she’s a woman or a commoner by birth, it won’t be a problem.”
“But, though she is my child, Ruria is… not very talkative and rather shy. I wonder if she is truly suited to be the head of a noble house.”
“Perhaps, but while the viscounty is one thing, the position of Royal Magic Advisor requires real skill, don’t you think? Don’t worry. As long as she has the ability, no one will complain.”
“That’s very persuasive, coming from you, Aunt.”
“Maria, you’ve really learned to talk back, haven’t you? Once the children are older, perhaps you’d like to start your training all over again? You can live in my house, and I’ll look after you personally. Your brother would be relieved to have his daughter nearby, I’m sure.”
“M-my apologies, Master! I spoke out of turn!”
“Honestly… What is it, Levi? Do you have something to say?”
During Ester and Maria’s exchange, Levi had been watching Ester intently. Prompted by her, he opened his mouth.
“No, I was just thinking that I understand your intentions, Mother. You expect Saki to play the role that Father did, don’t you?”
At this, Ester looked slightly taken aback, then averted her gaze as she replied.
“Ah, well, yes. Saki is clever, and he doesn’t seem to be easily intimidated. I was hoping he could support Ruria in matters of management and negotiation, just like that man did.”
“Come to think of it, Mother-in-law, you always did leave all the troublesome things to Father-in-law, didn’t you?”
“Now Sarah, you too…? Maria, your lack of seriousness has infected Sarah. What am I going to do with you?”
“Excuse me, Aunt, is this my fault?!”
Levi smiled at the now boisterous women and murmured as if to himself.
“And with Saki, he will surely find those with magical talent and raise them well. Just like you did, Mother.”
At his words, the women stopped their chatter and stared at Levi in silence. After a moment, Ester spoke as if on behalf of them all.
“That’s right. Even if he can’t become a great magic user, there are many things that only Saki can do. That is not something to be pitied by anyone.”
The three answered with silence, and a somber mood lingered in the room for a while. After a moment, Ester spoke again.
“Well, we don’t know what the future holds, so for now, just remember this as my wish. For the time being, raise the two of them together as you have been, and send them from the private academy to the magic academy. If anything comes up, you are to consult with me.”
After saying this much, Ester clapped her hands together and said in a suddenly bright tone.
“Alright, enough of this difficult talk. If there’s nothing else, this old woman is heading home.”
Ester stood up without waiting for a reply. Levi scrambled after her, trying to stop her.
“W-wait, Mother. We’ve prepared a banquet for tonight, and the older servants wish to greet you again…”
Ester’s brow furrowed, and she made no effort to hide her displeasure as she retorted.
“I told you I was just stopping by to see your faces and not to make a big fuss. There’s no telling how those worthless disciples of mine might sniff me out. What am I supposed to do if they find out I’m here and come rushing over?”
“If they find out you came to the capital in secret, that will cause its own problems! Mainly, for me!”
Levi pressed her with an intensity that was a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor. Sarah and Maria rose from the sofa to back him up.
“There are many nobles who would wish to see you, Mother-in-law. For some time to come, I will be subjected to veiled sarcastic remarks in social circles. ‘Why didn’t you tell us,’ they’ll say.”
“High-ranking military officials and the like might very well come storming in here if they learn you were visiting, Aunt.”
Ester waved her hand in front of her scowling face, dismissing their pleas.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I moved to the countryside because I hate that sort of thing. What was the point of retiring if not to avoid it? Tell my disciples and all the other riffraff that if they have business with me, they can come to the village.”
“And when they do, you just pretend you’re not home and refuse to see them!”
Levi finally cast aside his polite language and shouted, but when Ester covered her ears with her hands in a gesture of not listening, his shoulders slumped in visible defeat.
“You all take care of yourselves. Don’t worry. As long as I’m alive, if anything happens to this house, I’ll come running.”
With those parting words, Ester traced a pattern in the air with her finger. A trajectory of light, visible only to her, instantly formed a complex symbol in the air as she uttered a single word.
“――.”
The next moment, Ester’s form vanished from the room. Heavy, heavy sighs escaped the lips of the three left behind.
This is the third chapter. I hope to maintain this posting pace, but if things get difficult, I am considering reducing the length of each post. I ask for your understanding should that happen.