Are MZ Shamans In Trouble In Romance Novels? - Chapter 79

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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79.

“First place goes to Ian Lakies. Second place is Calisia Valus.”

“This year too, the top ranks were swept by the four ducal houses and the imperial family.”

“But why is House Malloy mixed in there?”

The exam candidates chatted about various things while looking at the rankings of successful applicants. Their main interest was in the figures who occupied the top positions. Most reactions were of the “as expected” variety, while some showed envy and jealousy.

“Congratulations, Valus.”

Ian confidently offered congratulations to Calisia, who had proudly secured second place.

“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”

Calisia, showing a somewhat lukewarm reaction, quickly scanned the parchment. It was to check Lucian’s ranking.

[11th Place: Lucian Valus]

Finding her brother’s name, Calisia’s lips curved into a long smile. Of course, 11th place was certainly among the top ranks. But by ducal house standards, it was admittedly a bit disappointing.

‘Hey! 11th place!’

Grinning broadly, Calisia opened her mouth toward Lucian. She could feel the little brat’s fists trembling with rage.

‘….’

His pride wounded, Lucian sharply turned his head away. He’d rather not deal with her at all.

‘Congratulations, Calisia.’

This time it was Calisia who averted her gaze. It was because a brilliant blonde boy—Sirion Valus—was smiling faintly while looking at her.

‘That servant with the cracked head from before has disappeared.’

Calisia glanced at Sirion from the corner of her eye. Strangely, all traces of the vengeful spirit had completely vanished.

‘How did he… never mind.’

Calisia deliberately emptied her thoughts. A warning rang in her head that she shouldn’t get deeply involved in that story. Besides, now was the time to focus on the Academy.

“But what are those numbers written after the names? Coins?”

The exam candidates who had been checking rankings for a while tilted their heads in confusion.

“100 coins, 80 coins, 50 coins, 30 coins… The lower the rank, the fewer coins? Is it a score?”

“It doesn’t seem like a score.”

The children who belatedly noticed the notation each offered their own speculations. But that was only brief. The bitter taste of acceptance and rejection was too great to worry about such trivial matters.

And at this time, they didn’t know how important these coins would be for their harsh Academy life.

***

“What? Do I look like Hellorun’s second-place student to you?”

After returning to the Western Region, Calisia developed a chronic condition. Namely, a neck disc problem. It was from constantly walking around with her chin raised high.

-Doesn’t your neck hurt?

Ian, unable to watch anymore, subtly gave her hints. Calisia’s nose had risen so high because of the gifts pouring into the Northern Castle. Not only branch families and vassals, but even houses they’d had no contact with—everyone was competing to send invitations and gifts. Since they couldn’t dare visit Valus Castle privately, they were expressing their goodwill from afar. Of course, it was also done with consideration for the other wives’ watchful eyes.

-Congratulations, child.

The Main Castle’s reaction was surprise and congratulations. What stood out among them was the Second Wife. She had sent a brief letter and flower basket to the Northern Castle. They were pink flowers called Hamuris. Though their appearance was quite splendid, they had the drawback of wilting quickly. Their flower language was also “fleeting beauty.”

‘Living so complicatedly, so very complicatedly. She probably spent all day looking up flower meanings just to send this.’

So she walked around with her head held even more stiffly. The Second Wife was someone who would view her as a thorn in her side no matter what she did. Rather than bow down now, it was better to puff herself up as Cain had said. She was going to leave for the Academy soon anyway.

“What? What is it? First time seeing Hellorun’s second place?”

-At this rate, your neck will break before you even enter school. The reason they’re making such a fuss isn’t because you’re so great, Calisia. It’s just because you’re the only direct heir with no power base in this Valus house, so they’re investing in you.

The Previous Head of House clicked his tongue watching Calisia, who was now walking around with her neck completely twisted. Even with the Flame Forge, her position was like a drop in the ocean compared to her brothers. Moreover, Hellorun’s prestige played a large role in this gift offensive.

‘A microcosm of imperial politics’

Hellorun was where future pillars of society gathered. Academy grades and connections were indicators of future success. Young power holders who would lead the Empire in the future. From the nobles’ perspective, there was nothing wrong with gaining their favor.

-If you understand, then walk around with your neck properly positioned!

“But I’m second place, right? I’m one of those future young power holders, right?”

Giggling, Calisia twisted her neck once more. It was a posture scary enough to appear in nightmares. Her neck found its proper place two days later. It was because of a mysterious letter that flew into the Northern Castle bedroom. It was less than two weeks before the Academy entrance ceremony.

“….”

Calisia, the Previous Head of House, and Isaac looked down at the mysterious letter. Among the colorful invitations, its purely white appearance stood out. The pressed flower decoration adorning the envelope was even beautiful.

“A marriage proposal?”

Calisia, who had examined the letter front and back, raised an eyebrow. Pure white and flowers usually meant weddings, didn’t they?

-Who puts Rohar flowers on a marriage proposal?

Isaac shook his head, saying that was nonsense. And rightly so, since Rohar flowers were used at funerals. Though some people did grow them for ornamental purposes because of their beautiful appearance.

-Even so, no one sends invitations or letters with Rohar flowers attached.

The Previous Head of House also frowned, saying it wasn’t sent with good intentions.

“We’ll know once we open it.”

Calisia tore open the letter with a silver letter opener. All eyes in the bedroom turned to the letter paper.

[This letter first began on Eldoras Island…]

It was a playful opening that anyone might have received at least once. But the content that followed was quite something.

-Those who do not keep promises shall receive divine punishment.

Calisia’s eyebrows gradually rose menacingly. Excluding the miscellaneous noise and profanity, the letter’s gist was this: it was aimed at Raktar and herself.

“…This crazy bastard!”

Calisia crumpled the letter. Though no sender was written, it was obviously Izriel. The problem was the subtle ‘death curse’ contained within the letter.

“Even if he’s a defrocked priest, he was still a clergyman, yet he’s sending death curses just because we didn’t give him some alcohol!”

Hella Church’s divine power and Korean shamanism had different spiritual essences. Different enough to be called heterogeneous. It was natural since they served different gods and came from different lands. But this was definitely a curse.

“That crazy bastard, really.”

Calisia unfolded the crumpled letter again. There was something that bothered her.

“This doesn’t seem to be Imperial language.”

Calisia fingered the characters carved in wax at the edge of the paper.

-It’s ancient sacred language used by Hella Church.

The Previous Head of House, arms crossed, rolled his eyes. Ancient sacred language was writing that almost no one knew even when he was alive.

-It could be considered a dead academic field… Though it would have been preserved within Hella Church.

“So what does it mean?”

-Evil spirits, begone.

The Previous Head of House said he had once seen a Hella Church cardinal use sacred language.

-It was when we went to subjugate undead-type monsters. That’s when I first learned that those prayer-sayers sometimes earn their keep.

Undead-type monsters. Calisia crumpled the letter again. In the end, wasn’t Izriel treating her like a ghoul or zombie?

‘Does he really know something?’

Narrowing her eyes, Calisia fell into thought. Throughout their time in the Orc Village, Izriel had described her as dead. He had even bitten her arm, asking if she was a zombie.

‘Was it just drunken rambling?’

She had known from their first meeting that Izriel’s aura was unusual. It felt like facing a shaman who had established territory in the mountains.

‘Or did he really see through the death of the flesh and peer into the soul?’

Of course, everything was just speculation. The magnitude of divine power and having spiritual sight were different realms. That’s why even among skilled shamans, there were those who couldn’t see ghosts.

“…What should I do with this bastard?”

Should she send a counter-curse? After much deliberation, Calisia carefully placed the letter in her desk drawer. It didn’t seem like the time to act rashly yet.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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