The AI Archmage - Chapter 41

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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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AI Archmage Episode 41

 

Eira froze for a moment.

 

Her brain refused to think and requested rest.

 

‘…What?’

 

How did he know?

 

But before long, she understood that Sion was at least a teacher at this Blue Tower.

 

Then he might have obtained information about her as well.

 

When her thoughts reached that point, her brain began to work again.

 

“Did you hear it from the Tower Master?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then you must know my circumstances too?”

 

“I don’t know about that.”

 

Sion shrugged his shoulders.

 

Of course, he roughly guessed.

 

Why Eira had come to this frontier Magic Tower as if being chased.

 

And why she had been hostile to the Magic Engineering that Sion had proposed.

 

“But I have a guess. Haven’t you lost interest in workshop work itself?”

 

“…!”

 

“If you’re the only daughter of the Workshop Alliance leader, the pressure and expectations placed on you must have been considerable. Your strict father’s teachings…”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

Eira cut off Sion’s words and spoke firmly.

 

“It’s not simply because my father’s teachings were strict that I’m like this now.”

 

“Hmm, I see. Then would you tell me the reason? If it’s reasonable, I’ll reconsider the idea of having you accompany me on this mission.”

 

“…Phew.”

 

Eira sighed and opened her mouth with a resigned expression.

 

“Altair, you know him, right?”

 

“I know him.”

 

Since it’s me.

 

Eira’s words continued.

 

“When I was born, he was already deceased, but I still heard roughly what kind of person he was.”

 

“What kind of person was he?”

 

“A genius among geniuses.”

 

Eira defined him with a short but powerful phrase.

 

“The current Continental Workshop Alliance started from Altair. He not only raised the level of Magic Tools by several generations in an instant, but also dramatically elevated the status of craftsmen.”

 

“I see.”

 

“And the disciples he directly taught still have high reputations as outstanding craftsmen to this day.”

 

Hearing about his own achievements from another person’s mouth decades later felt somewhat strange.

 

But Eira’s words didn’t end there.

 

“That’s why it was a problem.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“My father… I mean, Casen Kobella, the Workshop Alliance leader, was an orphan. He was picked up by Altair from the street and his talent blossomed. For my father, Altair wasn’t just a simple teacher.”

 

Eira continued speaking in a subdued voice.

 

“…He was a father.”

 

“…”

 

“You know how it is. Someone who showed you familial affection for the first time in your life, that sort of thing.”

 

At those words, Sion briefly recalled an old memory.

 

A child in a dirty back alley, wrapped in rags, looking at him with dead eyes.

 

He had just extended his hand because it reminded him of old times.

 

…That was about all there was to it.

 

“I wouldn’t have thought I gave such… great affection.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

Sion shook his head and dismissed his thoughts.

 

“Anyway, I understand what you mean. You’re saying your father was enraged by Altair’s unfortunate end.”

 

“Yes, that’s right. He said he originally even considered waging an all-out war against the Council.”

 

“But he didn’t.”

 

“That’s right. Not only were there many passive opinions within the Alliance, but opinions were divided even among Altair’s disciples.”

 

“You mean there were some who didn’t want revenge?”

 

“No, everyone had bad feelings toward the Council. It’s just… there were realistic aspects that required compromise.”

 

Eira continued with a bitter smile.

 

“Even if they moved, the chances of success were low.”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

After hearing everything Eira had to say, Sion fell into thought for a moment.

 

‘My death wouldn’t have been enough of an issue to wage an all-out war against the Council…’

 

Strictly speaking, Altair hadn’t been assassinated or anything.

 

He had simply died according to his natural lifespan.

 

Of course, the Council had used this to make an irrefusible proposal…

 

“That’s roughly right. Though if you ask whether father treated me purely as a tool, that’s not the case but…”

 

“It’s kind of annoying though?”

 

“Yes. Wouldn’t it be?”

 

“I’ll acknowledge that.”

 

“Right? You understand, don’t you? Then now please let me…”

 

“You’re coming along too.”

 

“Why?!”

 

Eira shouted at Sion.

 

She thought she had given sufficiently reasonable reasons, so why did he reach such a conclusion!

 

“Th-that’s it! You’re trying to use me as negotiation material with the Workshop Alliance! I saw through your dark intentions from the very beginning, teacher…!”

 

“How long are you going to keep running away?”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

Eira froze at the sudden unexpected words.

 

“Wh-what do you mean by that…”

 

“How long are you going to stay here? Besides, what do you gain by turning your back on your father like that?”

 

Eira couldn’t answer immediately to those words.

 

Sion clicked his tongue while looking at her.

 

“See. You can’t answer.”

 

And he continued seriously.

 

“Besides, if you keep going like this, you won’t be able to grow at all, you know?”

 

“Th-that’s…”

 

“The Main Tower’s focus isn’t Pure Magic. And let’s be honest. Is your magical talent really good enough to insist on Pure Magic?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Then why are you being stubborn about it? Is it just a declaration that you’ll remain that kind of mage?”

 

“Th-th-th-th, that’s…!”

 

Sion put a period on Eira, who couldn’t refute his words.

 

“You’ll have to… come along, won’t you?”

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Eira hung her head low like a tragic heroine.

 

* * *

 

After Eira left the room, Sion fell into thought for a moment.

 

About Altair’s disciples.

 

“…Those guys.”

 

Sion… or rather, Altair originally wasn’t the type to pay much attention to human relationships.

 

He couldn’t be considered sociable to begin with.

 

Therefore, although he had given much to his disciples, he didn’t expect anything in return.

 

That’s why he hadn’t paid much attention to what would happen after his death either.

 

He had thought it was something his disciples would handle on their own.

 

But through the conversation with Eira just now, his thoughts had changed a little.

 

It seemed like this was indeed a matter that required careful attention.

 

“…If I act recklessly, it could escalate into a major disaster.”

 

Sion clicked his tongue briefly and decided on a direction.

 

First, he would definitely intervene with the Workshop Alliance.

 

To prevent them from doing anything foolish.

 

He had included that signature to make things easier to handle, but that alone might not be sufficient.

 

He thought he needed to appeal his existence more clearly and prepare a gift that would shake Casen.

 

“Should I make something proper for once, after such a long time?”

 

Sion stretched refreshingly and stood up from his chair.

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

Lumia, who was diligently buried in documents and working, received a letter from the Workshop Alliance.

 

“Ah, this is…”

 

It seemed like a reply to the letter Sion had sent not long ago had finally arrived.

 

“Unexpected. I didn’t think a response would come this quickly…”

 

She tilted her head and tore open the envelope to check the contents of the letter.

 

Serentia, who was beside her, asked with an interested look.

 

“Lumia, is there anything special in the contents?”

 

“Well? I’m reading it now, but I don’t see anything particularly strange.”

 

Indeed, the contents written in the letter were quite theoretical.

 

“We received your letter well. We’re a bit flustered that the Blue Tower suddenly made such a proposal, but we’ll accept it for now…”

 

“Hmm… about Eira?”

 

The Vice Tower Master, Serentia, also knew about Eira.

 

“It’s not written outright, but it is subtly mentioned.”

 

Lumia read the passage that was presumed to be related to Eira.

 

“We know that your Magic Tower has talent with knowledge befitting our workshop…”

 

“…So they know everything and want us to bring her.”

 

“It seems that way.”

 

Lumia nodded.

 

“Well, it’s a natural request. Of course, we don’t necessarily have to comply with this demand. After all, the student’s choice is what matters, right?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Serentia nodded.

 

Then she narrowed her eyes and questioned Lumia.

 

“But Lumia, you seem… a bit different lately?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Should I say you’ve gained confidence, or… you’re becoming a bit like Sion?”

 

It was close to that feeling.

 

Of course, Lumia’s identity hadn’t changed.

 

However, like her conversation with Cornelia just now, it was true that she hadn’t been dragged around by the other party.

 

It was a good change.

 

But it also seemed like a strangely rapid transformation.

 

“Ah, that?”

 

And the answer Lumia gave was truly simple.

 

“These days I’m raising a Giga Sion inside me!”

 

“…Giga Sion?”

 

“Watching Sion from the side, I thought if I lived like that, I’d at least not get taken advantage of. So I tried imitating him a bit.”

 

“…”

 

“When I analyze hard and act, it feels like something’s working?”

 

Lumia was a hard worker.

 

A true hard worker who spared no effort even in imitating Sion.

 

But Serentia felt something was off.

 

“Um… Lumia?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“That imitating Sion thing, are you still learning it continuously now?”

 

“Of course!”

 

Lumia spoke with an expression as if asking why she would ask something so obvious.

 

“Right now I’m learning how to effectively put on a poker face and extort what I want from others!”

 

“…”

 

“I think I’m getting the hang of that too? The Giga Sion in my heart is telling me so.”

 

At those words, Serentia covered her face with her palm.

 

It was good that she had gained confidence.

 

Having a sense of responsibility as Tower Master and trying to do something was also a very good thing.

 

However.

 

“Ex-excessive learning isn’t good.”

 

Serentia pleaded with difficulty in a trembling voice.

 

Resembling… Sion?

 

Then, assuming Lumia perfectly learned Sion, wouldn’t that mean another similar being would be born?

 

‘No way!’

 

Serentia instinctively felt certain that this couldn’t be left alone.

 

“L-let’s do a little less learning! You are you! You’re Lumia Kabala, not Sion!”

 

“No, I swore I would never again be helplessly beaten like before.”

 

“N-no!”

 

It was when Serentia was about to speak words of persuasion to protect her small and precious Lumia.

 

“…Hm?”

 

Lumia discovered something in the envelope. There was one more thing in the envelope besides the letter paper.

 

“This is…”

 

A small cylindrical object about the size of an index finger.

 

“…Magic Tool?”

 

Serentia also expressed her confusion upon seeing it.

 

And on that Magic Tool, there was some kind of message written.

 

“Sion… to Rostery?”

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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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