The AI Archmage - Chapter 48

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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 48

 

There’s one hobby of Altair’s that isn’t well known to the public.

 

That is.

 

‘I have a talent for creative writing!’

 

He believed he had a talent for creative writing and spent no small amount of time on that creative writing.

 

Of course, there was never an opportunity for that creative writing talent to be revealed to the world.

 

The world wasn’t ready to accept Altair’s works yet.

 

– You call this writing?

 

Though he had heard such a comment from Belusian before, Sion paid it no mind.

 

So he spent a week intensely pondering and crafted his past background setting.

 

Personally, it was at a very satisfactory level.

 

“That was ten years ago. It was during a time when the wind blew fiercely. I happened to see an old man wearing shabby clothes.”

 

However, there’s always a reason why the world can’t accept Altair’s creative writing.

 

“Wait, shabby clothes?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you remember exactly… what kind of shabby clothes they were?”

 

“I don’t remember.”

 

He didn’t know because he hadn’t crafted such detailed settings.

 

There’s a reason why only self-written novels exist.

 

One day in the past, young Casen, after reading his master’s work, shook his head and said.

 

– Master, this seems like writing on a level that’s hard for me to accept.

 

– I understand. The path of a creator is originally one that isn’t understood.

 

– No, that’s not what I meant…

 

– There’s no need to say more.

 

– M-Master…

 

He remembered Casen trying to say something more, but it wasn’t particularly important.

 

That’s just how creative writing is, after all.

 

“Wasn’t it an important event? Then you should remember at least that much…”

 

To Casen who asked while blinking his eyes, Sion firmly shook his head.

 

“It doesn’t seem like particularly important content, senior brother.”

 

“No, I still believe you’re my fellow disciple… no, just continue talking.”

 

Pressing his forehead firmly, Casen waved his hand telling him to continue.

 

Thus Sion began to continue telling the setting he had meticulously crafted.

 

“Anyway, I nursed the old man. Fortunately, after a few days, the old man regained consciousness.”

 

“Are you saying that old man was Master?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And you were… accepted as a disciple by Master after he regained consciousness?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Sion nodded his head seriously.

 

And Casen scratched his head before voicing the most fundamental question.

 

“The reason is…?”

 

“Because I’m a once-in-a-lifetime genius with unparalleled talent.”

 

“…”

 

A moment of silence fell between the two.

 

Not having expected this situation, Casen quietly picked up his tea cup and took a sip.

 

‘Something feels really contrived and full of holes.’

 

Casen thought coldly.

 

The story Sion was telling right now felt very contrived, with many parts throughout that didn’t make sense.

 

However, while he felt distrust toward Sion’s story, he didn’t feel any hostility toward Sion himself.

 

‘…Similar.’

 

Remarkably similar.

 

To his past… Master!

 

That remarkably shameless expression and those flimsy, forced explanations were strikingly similar to his Master.

 

Casen was an excellent disciple.

 

And an excellent disciple doesn’t forcibly cover up their master’s flaws.

 

Altair was a bit strange.

 

He was a great craftsman, but calling him great as a human being was somewhat questionable.

 

Especially when he would sometimes bring absurd creative works filled with nonsensical settings, story developments, and character breakdowns, asking him to read them.

 

What that boy was saying right now had exactly the feel of those ‘creative works.’

 

In short, it was needlessly flimsy.

 

“So… let me organize what you’re telling me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“For some reason I don’t understand, Master was found unconscious in beggar’s clothes in Rostery Territory?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“You saved him, and it turned out you had such tremendous talent for Magical Tool Crafting that Master took notice?”

 

“That’s also correct.”

 

“And that’s how Master took you as his disciple?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Having said exactly that much, Casen pressed his forehead firmly again.

 

The reason he was checking each detail was because he wanted to know the most fundamental question.

 

“…But why are you working as a mage?”

 

“That’s not difficult to answer.”

 

Sion once again faithfully voiced his setting.

 

“I was also born with unparalleled talent for magic.”

 

“…Right, of course.”

 

Casen let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

 

Somehow he had expected that.

 

“You should give up on any writing career. You have no talent for that.”

 

“Now that’s hurtful to hear.”

 

“Just… just think of it that way. I’m getting a sense of déjà vu, that’s all.”

 

Casen shook his head back and forth, pondering how he should accept the story he had heard.

 

Honestly, it wouldn’t be logically strange to just think of him as an imposter and get angry.

 

However.

 

‘Then how did he know about the signature?’

 

‘The Snow Flower Tea was definitely mentioned intentionally too…’

 

To dismiss Sion’s words as lies, the problem was that Sion knew too much about Master.

 

Moreover.

 

“…I heard you solved a problem that Dute had been worrying about for a long time.”

 

“Ah, you mean the Virtual Crafting Table?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Finding errors and correcting them with proper values isn’t difficult.”

 

“That’s… right.”

 

According to the reports, just as this boy said, the conclusion was that his talent as a craftsman was also overwhelming.

 

But if what Sion was saying now was true, it would mean that Master had been alive.

 

At least, until much later than when they thought he had passed away.

 

“Then let me ask. What happened to Master now…?”

 

“He passed away.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Casen’s eyes wavered.

 

Actually, it wasn’t strange.

 

Altair was an ordinary person, not a mage, so it would be difficult for him to still be alive.

 

Could Sion’s words really be true?

 

And if they were true…

 

“What happened to Master…? If he passed away, then his remains…”

 

“According to his will, he was cremated.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Casen’s eyes widened greatly.

 

“The ashes were scattered in the river. That was also his will. He was concerned that his remains might become a symbol for unsavory groups.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

“At the same time, he expressed his regret toward his disciples. Among them were words about senior brother, but would you like to hear them?”

 

“Tell… me.”

 

Casen spoke with an earnest voice without realizing it.

 

Indeed, what words had his master left for his inadequate disciple?

 

Perhaps through the will that Sion was about to speak, he might be able to tell if Sion was really his fellow disciple.

 

And Sion opened his mouth.

 

“Remember the March in Atran.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Casen’s eyes wavered, and memories briefly flashed through the old man’s eyes.

 

It was March.

 

That month was the most memorable month for the old man who had once been a boy.

 

He asked with difficulty.

 

“…By any chance, did he also mention what day it was.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Sion nodded with a calm expression.

 

Just as his disciple had, the master also recalled that day.

 

That day was when his young disciple had made a magic tool for the first time in his life and presented it to his master.

 

That day was.

 

“It was the 16th. A rainy day.”

 

“…Ah, yes, it was.”

 

Casen nodded.

 

And the doubt that had been in his heart until just moments ago disappeared without a trace.

 

“You are…”

 

What Sion just said was something he couldn’t have known unless he had heard it from Master.

 

“…truly Master’s disciple.”

 

Casen finally accepted the fact that Sion was his fellow disciple.

 

* * *

 

‘…Will it go well?’

 

Eira was lying on the bed in her room, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

 

Teacher is amazing.

 

Though she had only known him for about a month, Teacher’s knowledge was beyond her reach in every aspect.

 

But even so, could he obtain what he wanted from her father, who was the owner of a city and the Continental Workshop Alliance Leader?

 

Honestly, she wasn’t very confident.

 

Because as his daughter, she knew just how incredible Casen Kobella was.

 

But even so, she found herself hoping.

 

If it was Teacher Sion, perhaps… he might make such an impossible thing possible.

 

She waited like that, harboring a little hope.

 

And the sun set, and night came.

 

Until nightfall, there was no news from Teacher, nor had her father come looking for her.

 

‘…Those two are having such a long conversation?’

 

She had no idea how long she had been lying on the bed.

 

At first, she thought their conversation would last about 30-40 minutes at most, but 30-40 minutes my foot—hours had passed with no news.

 

Just when she was starting to feel sleepy.

 

– Hahahahahaha!

 

Suddenly, cheerful laughter filled the entire building.

 

“…Laughter?”

 

Eira sat up in surprise.

 

She wasn’t surprised simply because she heard laughter.

 

Because the owner of that laughter was none other than her father, Casen Kobella.

 

“Father is laughing like this?”

 

In her memory, Casen had rarely laughed properly.

 

She had heard that he used to smile occasionally when she was young, but after friction arose between the senior and junior disciples, he had stopped laughing altogether.

 

But now her father’s laughter could be heard throughout the building.

 

What on earth was happening?

 

She tried to figure out what this situation was about, but no reasonable answer came to mind.

 

And after a moment.

 

Knock knock.

 

A knocking sound was heard.

 

– Eira, it’s Sion.

 

“Ah, please come in.”

 

Eira got up from the bed and answered, and Sion entered the room and said to her.

 

“Come downstairs. Your father seems to have something to say to you.”

 

“…What?”

 

Eira looked at Sion with a bewildered expression.

 

“S-something to say?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

When Sion nodded, Eira unconsciously shrank back.

 

“Something to say…”

 

Since it was something her father wanted to say, unpleasant thoughts came to mind first.

 

Like telling her to give up magic.

 

Or perhaps forcing her to manage a workshop. Either possibility was frightening.

 

While she was lost in such complicated thoughts, Sion’s voice reached her.

 

“You don’t need to worry.”

 

“What?”

 

As if he had seen through Eira’s thoughts from the beginning, he chuckled and continued.

 

“You just need to go down and say what you want to say.”

 

“Is that really okay?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even if minor problems arose, it wouldn’t matter much.

 

That appearance was, how should she put it.

 

Really.

 

“Very much like a teacher.”

 

“Of course. I am a teacher.”

 

Sion answered with an expression that said what an obvious thing to say.

 

* * *

 

“You’ve come, my disciple.”

 

When Sion came down with Eira, Casen nodded as if he had been waiting.

 

Casen’s atmosphere had become surprisingly lighter compared to before.

 

And Eira was…

 

“D-disciple…?”

 

She made an expression as if wondering whether she had heard wrong, then urgently called out to Sion.

 

“Teacher, surely not…!”

 

“I should tell you that your guess was somewhat correct.”

 

Sion chuckled and sat down on a chair.

 

Eira also sat down next to Sion with an awkward expression.

 

She couldn’t quite adjust to this.

 

She hadn’t thought she would be having a conversation with her father like this.

 

“Eira.”

 

As Eira carefully took her seat, Casen called her name and continued speaking.

 

“Are you still having such absurd thoughts about walking the path of magic?”

 

“It’s n-not absurd.”

 

“No, it is absurd.”

 

Casen spoke firmly, unlike just moments before.

 

“Because you have no talent for it.”

 

“…!”

 

“On the other hand, when it comes to magical tool design and creation, you were born with talent that no one else possesses.”

 

Casen continued speaking to Eira, who was biting her lips.

 

“The side without talent versus the side with talent. Regardless of how I think about magic, you should be able to tell which is more efficient without deep thought.”

 

“…Is that what you called me here to talk about?”

 

She had hoped that perhaps the atmosphere might change a bit, but the words coming from her father’s mouth were no different from before.

 

Indeed, people don’t suddenly change.

 

She thought she had harbored pointless expectations…

 

“Senior disciple.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“This is uncomfortable.”

 

At Sion’s sudden interjection, Casen tilted his head in confusion.

 

Uncomfortable?

 

What could there be in his words just now that would make Sion uncomfortable…

 

“Ah, come to think of it, my daughter is also the disciple’s student. If you were displeased that I dismissed my daughter’s talent…”

 

“No.”

 

Sion spoke firmly.

 

“I was born with more talent than Eira.”

 

“…”

 

“I saw a serious error in what you just said, so I couldn’t bear not to correct it.”

 

At those words that came out of nowhere, Casen opened his mouth, and Eira closed her eyes and pressed her forehead.

 

‘Ah, this familiar feeling…’

 

It looks like the teacher is about to start going crazy.

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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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