NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20
“What is it… huh? What?”
The long-lived species looked bewildered at my interruption. It seemed my response was unexpected.
“So, what’s the big deal because Eliza, my younger sister, is a half-fairy? It’s irrelevant; she is still my sister, no doubt about it.”
After my outburst, the long-lived species was left speechless, their mouth opening and closing like a fish. No matter how many centuries they might have lived, perhaps this was their first encounter with such a scenario. Regardless, my feelings on the matter wouldn’t change.
The girl standing there, evidently struggling to comprehend the situation, tilted her head. She was my sister, and there was no mistaking that.
“…And again, the Human Race didn’t have the custom of adopting another species, right?”
“Adoption doesn’t matter here. It’s about bonds.”
“Bonds,” the long-lived species mumbled. Come to think of it, the long-lived species are strong individualists, and after leaving home, they may not even exchange letters with their parents for twenty-five years. More than that, if they don’t consider their house as a noble entity, it’s not uncommon for them not to even use their family name.
“Eric! Eliza!”
“Ah, Master Sorcerer! Did the kids do something wrong!?”
As we were locked in a tense silence, the voices of my parents came from behind. My mother’s call rang loud and full of urgency, while the rough breathing in my father’s voice suggested he might’ve run all the way from home.
“Hey, aren’t you the parents?”
Nodding in agreement, the sorcerer turned her head with an exasperated sigh. If anyone had the right to sigh, it was us.
“Well then, please calm down a bit. We need to explain properly.”
Called by Margit, it took some effort to calm down my panicked parents who were worried that something serious might have happened. Had it not been for my skill in “Persuasion” under the “Social” category, even with my experience from a past life, this could’ve been quite troublesome.
“…Understood. However, pardon me, who might you be?”
“Huh? Oh, ah, yes… Agrippina. From the Riseinitz faction of the Dawn School.”
Somehow now composed, the long-lived sorcerer finally announced their name at the query from my parents. The intonation of the name was unfamiliar—it seemed they were from the west. Though unclear, they must’ve been from somewhere far west. As for school factions, it all seemed rather baffling to me.
“I’m currently doing fieldwork with a caravan… and I noticed the half-fairy—…ah, uh… is this your daughter?”
“Yes, this is my eldest, Eliza.”
“Ah, right… well, I explained it to the kid over there, but…”
As she took Eliza from me and saw how tenderly my mother embraced her, Agrippina explained the same thing again, albeit somewhat awkwardly.
Meanwhile, although my parents appeared surprised and perhaps even shocked, not once did they look at Eliza harshly or let go of their embrace. My mother only hugged Eliza tightly for a moment, as if fearing she might disappear.
“Have you understood, then?”
“…Yes.”
In response to my father’s heavy nod and brief silence, he finally embraced both my mother and Eliza tightly and declared firmly:
“Nevertheless, this child is my daughter, a daughter of our family, and the sister of the boys. There’s no changing that.”
His stance was proud and strong. Of course, having raised Eliza with care despite the difficulties over seven years, both Eliza and my father adored each other deeply. My mother was the same, if not more so because she had carried Eliza for nine months, her love probably even stronger.
The foreigner, apparently unfamiliar with the family values of this region, tilted their head and pondered for a while before scratching the back of their head and furrowing their brows in irritation.
“Hmm, strange… I thought that in Seine, half-fairies were persecuted. Things really do change quite a bit from one country to another.”
Indeed, given their different origins, cultural differences regarding family were likely confusing them. It’s natural that family dynamics vary based on different countries. In the same nation, the ways of living between the countryside and the city center can vastly differ. Their lack of understanding suggests this person might truly be uninterested in or inexperienced with family matters.
“Alright, fine. Putting aside family matters, we still have legal matters to consider.”
Legal matters? What on earth was she referring to? She began to talk about worlds unknown to us.
“To put it simply, setting aside family relations, you’ve accepted that this child is a half-fairy, right?”
“…Yes. Given that you accompany the caravan and have gained the job of setting off fireworks from the Deputy, your status leaves no room for doubt.”
“That’s right. Well then, you see, as half-fairies approach a sensitive phase, they awaken to tremendous magical power. It’s so strong that, if left unchecked, it could be dangerous.”
“Is… is that true!?”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like this. Moreover, deceiving people with magic-related matters carries heavy penalties,” Agrippina scoffed, touching Eliza’s forehead. Closing her eyes as if sensing something, she let out a low whistle of admiration.
“This child, even among half-fairies, is extraordinary. The fairy lineage is quite noble. It’s clear she comes from a much-admired family. Yes, I think I understand now.”
“So, what should we do…?”
With ruthless indifference, she cut off my father’s question, declaring that there was nothing we could do. Even the old sorcerer had said that great power can sometimes go out of control, bringing great calamity. If just a single house caught on fire from her abilities, the consequences would still be dire…
“Therefore, in such cases, it’s the state’s responsibility to manage beings like her. In the empire, it’s the Magic Academy.”
“So, my daughter will be taken there?”
“That’s how it is. This is a legal issue, after all; there’s nothing that can be done about it.”
That’s right. This wasn’t the kind of problem that could be resolved by groveling. Despite loving our sister, considering the possibility of the entire manor being obliterated, we couldn’t cause such a disaster. It would be unthinkable to put Eliza through such a scenario if our actions pushed her to her limits.
“But, being taken to the Magic Academy means she’ll be used as a specimen.”
“Specimen…!?”
The ominous word made my father shout, making me choke on my saliva, while my mother squeezed Eliza even tighter.
A specimen—literally an object for experimentation. Given the existence of research institutions for magic, everything about it hasn’t been fully understood, and it wouldn’t be surprising if non-humanitarian experiments were being conducted. In an era when human life was as fragile as tissue paper compared to modern times, if it was legally permitted, they would likely do anything.
“Exactly, a specimen. At best, dissected, at worst… hehehe.”
At the word “dissection,” my mother nearly fainted. I quickly supported her, but her already pale face had lost all color, turning deathly white. Eliza also began to tear up, noticing my mother’s distress and worrying if she was alright.
…This might be the worst case, and perhaps I should flee with Eliza.
“But, there is one method.”
“What? What is it!? We’ll do anything! Anything that we can manage!!!”
After plunging us into despair, she proposed a single option. This sorcerer—or, rather, witch—was indeed skillful. She easily dodged my father’s desperate plea, and Agrippina smiled, placing her finely crafted fingers to her crimson lips.
“Given the control of magic, it’s precisely because she can’t yet wield it that this is happening. If she could, it would be fine.”
“That’s… yes, but…”
“And I am generous. Here’s my offer: I’ll take the girl as my apprentice. If that happens, we won’t have to send her to the Magic Academy.”
It was an incredibly tempting proposal. A deal we couldn’t examine further. If we refused, she wouldn’t hesitate to inform the Deputy. If she didn’t report, she herself could be held accountable. So, we had no option but to comply.
“I’ll make sure to teach the kid well. That way, I won’t have to do fieldwork either.”
“Huh? What the…?”
Clutching desperately to hope, my father exclaimed in bafflement at some key phrase in her plan. Yes, what exactly did she just say?
“Ah, never mind, never mind. Just, there’s a small problem… it costs money.”
Agrippina hastily shook her hands as if to negate it and quickly moved the discussion forward. Curse her, does she really think we’d let this slide?
Without giving us enough time to process, she started explaining about “the law.”
Apparently, to prevent magic technology from being recklessly disseminated among the populace, the Threefold Empire has a set price for studying magic, like weapons or alcohol. The standard for the bureaucratic academy requires 30 drachmas per year. However, even private teachers are mandated to collect at least 15 drachmas.
It’s a ridiculous amount of money. Even generously estimating, our family’s annual income is only 7 drachmas. Considering we’ve just paid a dowry to expand our living quarters, even if we turned our house upside down, we wouldn’t come close to reaching 15 drachmas. It’s far beyond our means.
“So, here’s the suggestion… you.”
Just as we were calculating despairingly how selling all our possessions might get us through just a year, Agrippina pointed at me, splitting our thoughts like a blade.
“You also have some promising magical potential… How about becoming an apprentice too?”
“An apprentice…? To a sorcerer?”
“Yes. You see, I just happen to need a good handyman… If the money flows from your left pocket to my right, it’s totally legal.”
This sorcerer just said something outrageous.
Indeed, the “apprenticeship” system exists in the empire. It’s a traditional practice where children are placed under workshops or stores with parental consent, working there. It’s a common path for younger siblings in urban areas. Though, usually, without a reliable introduction, it’s not easy to find a place.
I didn’t know this system applied to sorcerers, but since the offer is there, it must be valid. The system wouldn’t tolerate outright fraud or violations.
“So, how’s it? I’d like an answer now.”
Answer? Isn’t it a given?
More importantly, where in this situation do any of us have the luxury to think twice?
Agrippina du Staal was from a nation west of the Threefold Empire of Rain, a kingdom named Seine, where she was born. Young by long-livedspecies standards, she possessed the noble title “du” and the family name, a baronial estate that her father, who held the title of Baron Fore, governed properly—at least on paper.
However, despite being of noble lineage, Fore was more known as a wanderer. The estate’s administration was primarily entrusted to the family head, while he constantly roamed around the world. The king had no idea where Fore often went, given his notorious habit of traveling extensively without notice.
Once, he hadn’t set foot on his home soil for twenty years, and when a dynasty-changing internal strife lasted for three years, he casually returned afterward and asked, “Eh? The king died? When was that?”
Naturally, she ended up being dragged across countries because of her family’s wanderlust. Although she technically held a noble title in the kingdom, her 150-year life mostly didn’t include living there.
When she turned 100 by long-lived species standards, disregarding her noble status, she independently joined the Magic Academy of the Empire. The reason? She preferred the empire’s food and climate.
Her parents let her go, casually saying, “If you like it, so be it.” Indeed, this was typical of the long-lived species, whose ways couldn’t be judged by the standards of humans or other species.
However, she decided to give up on her traveling days after coming of age, saying, “I’m done with traveling.”
If her father was like a kite string cut loose, she would be more akin to a heavy pickling stone.
Indeed, thanks to an exceptional digestive system, she spent seven whole years without leaving the great library of the Magic Academy, lazily reading books without stopping. In the last two years, she even claimed, “I’ve memorized the book placement,” bringing in a bed and mattress, never leaving her spot.
This annoyed the librarians so much they eventually expelled her. She was then reassigned to a properly designated workshop.
Now, did this reassignment reform her life? No, definitely not. If long-lived species had the kind of discipline that would reform after such a simple setback, they would have already conquered other species and ruled the world long ago.
Thus, after her expulsion from the grand library, she started a hermit-like life in her own workshop.
Of course, the Magic Academy wasn’t forgiving. Even professors and researchers had mandatory participation in lectures and discussions to sharpen their skills regularly. She was initially allowed to submit papers only and ignored for her noble heritage, but with certain “incidents,” that leniency changed.
However, as usual, she didn’t change her ways.
She attended lectures via “Far Sight” magic or through the perspective of her magical familiars and submitted reports and theses using “Simulacrum” magic, transforming papers into bird form to deliver them.
For discussions, she used specially enchanted parchment that could synchronize writing in real-time with her notes at a distance.
It was unheard of, pure unprecedented laziness.
Indeed, it was common for those with other responsibilities to attend using “Far Sight” or familiars, hence the acceptance of such methods. But, no one expected someone to entirely depend on them for everything.
This kind of extreme laziness and self-indulgence from a long-lived species was likely unprecedented.
No matter how much they reproached her, as long as it was technically legal, nothing could be done. Time flowed while the Magic Academy helplessly let her be, until the head of her faction reached her limit.
One day, the faction leader, using nearly lost “Spatial Transition” magic, visited Agrippina’s heavily isolated room, commanding her to undertake fieldwork.
Despite her fierce resistance to join a caravan as a traveling sorcerer, the threat of expulsion from the faction made her concede. Researchers unaffiliated with any faction in the Magic Academy faced so many inconveniences it was almost tantamount to dismissal.
It wasn’t a light journey. Without the faction head’s permission, returning from this fieldwork was forbidden. How much time had passed since she left?
While the arduous travels tired her, an unexpected revelation came.
She remembered the long pre-departure sermon: “If by any miracle you encounter a worthy disciple during your travels, it’d be a legitimate excuse to return.” Though, the faction leader was stern; a random disciple just won’t do.
Something more was needed. She sought something that would hold her accountable, something that would legalize her return to her Magic Academy seat.
And today, she conveniently found someone destined to become her disciple.
Money didn’t matter. As the daughter of a noble house, her family dutifully sent regular remittances, and she’d saved significantly from paper manuscripts. She was, without doubt, an excellent sorcerer, her magical talents intact. Only her humanity had fermented over time.
She had finally found a legitimate way to return to her beloved workshop. The joy of returning home to the Magic Academy was immeasurable.
Moreover, having a convenient handyman was also lifting her spirits…