Chapter 14 (2/2)

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“…” ikemen intensifies

The Teacher came to visit in the form of a lark today as well and sat on Eian’s shoulder as he talked, and Eian silently watched Kynemeia from his perch on the edge of the rooftop. The child with soft blonde hair was taking a stroll with blacksmith sisters and chatting with them.

It had been several months since he first met Kynemeia. She never emitted any mana, and nothing indicated her concealment of it nor did she appear to be bothered by it. And it almost seemed like their speculation that she was hiding her mana was a false lead…

“Is that so?”

It was the most plausible hypothesis, but Eian wasn’t really convinced.

‘Mages may instinctually be unable to contain their curiosity, but…’ The lark tilted his head. He had a strange inkling that there was another reason obstructing Eian’s path.

“Until my injuries are all healed.”

‘Even though a few months have passed…’ He cut his words short, but Eian smiled meaningfully.

“Yes. Don’t you know I got a fierce thrashing this time around?”

Eian simply smiled instead of replying.

‘The one who got thrashed is obviously that party. How many mages did you kill before venturing out…’

His cruel hands were so terrifying that it felt like they’d undergone purgatory.

‘No matter how he claims to be setting an example…’

It was the reason why the Elders detested Eian; that he was someone who could kill them was one thing, but it was more because of his brutality that held no regard for the mages. Until now, the Elders firmly maintained that if Eian were to be appointed as the Master of the Magic Tower, the continent—no, the world would suffer a catastrophic calamity. Hence, they never ceased their hostilities against him.

“I’m sure Ryan must be feeling so glad to not see me.”

‘You think it’s only Ryan? The entire Magic Tower is overjoyed by your absence,’ was on the tip of the Teacher’s tongue, but he bit them back because Eian was the type of child who’d feel happier hearing those words rather than self-reflect.

Ryan was the upper ranked mage who concocted the incident to kill Eian. Though young, bright, and possessing a talent not to be sneezed at, he also had a short-fuse and was highly ambitious.

‘If Eian weren’t around, Ryan would’ve probably become the Rikasha.’

Ryan also knew this thoroughly well. Unfortunately for Ryan, Eian was also very much aware of his sentiments; Eian used his inferiority complex and competitive streak to provoke the latter and scorned and insulted him since he couldn’t rein in his temper.

‘That’s why it happened…’

The Teacher knew that there were numerous mages who grind their teeth at the mention of Eian, but he had no way of knowing that Ryan would, in fact, corral these mages and incite them to attack Eian. Ultimately, approximately fifteen mages met their end. Ryan narrowly escaped but he lost one of his eyes.

‘I need to make sure he doesn’t know that Eian is here.’

The lark trilled lightly.

‘Though he probably wouldn’t be able to do a thing since he’s under probation…’

He peered down. Right below them, Kynemeia and the sisters were passing by with quick steps. He didn’t know their topic of discussion, but the cute girl who beamed like a flower would change her expressions every so often in the midst of their chat. Unlike Eian who always hid his thoughts and feelings, Kynemeia was a girl who could express herself honestly. The Teacher propped his chin on his small wings. ‘Are the rumours just malicious and groundless after all?’

To think there were countless people in the Empire who dubbed that cute and lovely girl as an Evil Lady.

‘Do those people even have any interest in the truth?’ They were most likely just engrossed in consuming and enjoying the gossip.

‘What pitiful children…’

The lark turned its gaze on Eian and once again let out a low warble. Having been abandoned at a tender seven years old, Eian didn’t have a happy childhood either. Though he’d been acting like it didn’t concern him—

‘…There’s no way it doesn’t.’

It was impossible to remain apathetic about it. As long as he was human. That scar might be slumbering deep within Eian, somewhere he himself didn’t recognise. Eian—who’d been silent all along—continued staring down at Kynemeia, appearing to be in deep thought.

‘Will there come a day when this boy would be honest? Tch tch tch.’

The lark shook its head, and Eian suddenly opened his mouth.

“We should find out.”

The Teacher piped up at the sudden announcement. The corners of Eian’s lips raised.

“Whether the Miss Lady has something special or not. It’s fine as long as we unearth it, right?”

Wasn’t that why he thrust her into danger deliberately while he sat back and watched, and stuck around her for months now?

“You know it too, don’t you? That I haven’t tried one particular method.”

Eian said, standing up and away from the parapet.

‘What he hasn’t tried?’ The lark inclined its head as it bustled, then fluttered its wings as light dawned.

Glancing at the lark who flew in front of him to block him, Eian came to a halt.

Hypnosis, brainwashing, and other magic that could control someone’s mind were publicly forbidden among the mages. There was also the fact that it was a challenging sort of magic to utilise in the first place.

Eian’s smile reached his eyes.

“It isn’t uncustomary for me to do something forbidden anyway.”

Leaving the Teacher flabbergasted with his shameless remark, Eian turned away.

But all traces of Eian had already vanished.