The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 77
The moment the Magic Tower Master raised his hand, everything froze.
Rachel exhaled heavily. Lucas watched her with an unwavering gaze, but she had no moment to notice it.
“In all my years, no one has ever proven their Mana Manipulation in such a manner.”
A faint smile played across the Magic Tower Master’s face. Rachel met his eyes. Then he broke into a broad grin.
“What drives you to prove yourself so completely?”
“I wanted to be recognized.”
“Recognized?”
“That regardless of rank, anyone with ability can knock on the doors of the Magic Tower. I wanted to prove that fact.”
Rachel spoke with absolute conviction. The Magic Tower Master nodded slightly in response. She caught it at once. His agreement gave her strength.
“I come from a minor house. But I can manipulate Mana. Among those like me—with nothing to their name—there must surely be others capable of the same.”
As Rachel spoke, the Magic Tower Master raised the chandelier higher and opened his mouth.
“I too wish to accept such people into this tower. Unlike what many of you believe.”
At the Magic Tower Master’s rather bold words, everyone standing nearby widened their eyes in astonishment. Rachel did the same.
“I hope you all find something to reflect upon in today’s events.”
The Magic Tower Master closed off further questions with an air of finality.
Those gathered began to murmur, exchanging glances with one another. The peculiar atmosphere lingered quite some time.
* * *
“Um…”
Just as Rachel was laying out her belongings on the desk, someone approached her.
Rachel felt caution rise immediately. Not a single mage who had come near her before had left her with pleasant memories. They’d only caused trouble. She expected nothing different this time, and so she narrowed her eyes.
“Ah… it’s nothing else, but… before… that… I’m sorry for that…”
The tall mage with the high-swept hair bowed slightly to her. At an apology so clearly sincere, Rachel was taken aback, her mouth falling open.
“I was furious, thinking you’d entered the tower backed by the Crown Prince. But yesterday, when I saw you manipulating Mana, I changed my mind.”
“I’m sorry too. For everything.”
The Freckled Mage standing beside him apologized to Rachel as well. At this bewildering turn of events, Rachel didn’t know what to do with herself.
“You clearly have the makings of a true mage. I judged you wrongly without understanding that. I apologize.”
“Thank you for saying that. Let’s just consider everything that happened before as water under the bridge, shall we?”
Rachel answered with sincerity. The mages nodded, smiling in return.
With enemies gone, the tower became the perfect place to focus on study. Nothing went missing. No one tripped her up. For Rachel, there could be no better place.
Moreover, several of them even asked her questions about Mana Manipulation.
“We’ll end here for today.”
The Magic Tower Master announced the end of the lesson. Rachel didn’t rise from her seat immediately. She still had sections to clarify in her notes and needed a few minutes to review.
“Um… Rachel Swan.”
The moment Rachel had gathered all her things, one of the mages who had spoken to her before approached again.
“Yes?”
They’d already apologized. Why again?
Unable to fathom his reason, Rachel’s face filled with confusion. The High-haired Mage spoke carefully once more.
“Some of the mages are gathering for tea this afternoon. If you’d like to join, say so.”
Tea time? With me?
It was such an unexpected offer that she almost thought they meant to mock her again. What should I do about this?
Rachel hesitated briefly. But the hesitation was very short. She nodded at once.
Picking up her bag quickly, she stepped outside to find about six mages already waiting, waving toward her. They seemed to be quite close with one another.
Though joining a group so close-knit felt genuinely awkward, Rachel held her ground with a steadfast smile.
“This is Rachel Swan. I’m sure you all know her.”
The moment they were seated at the table, he introduced her. Rachel waved awkwardly.
“Hello. I’m Rachel Swan.”
“We know that far too well already.”
Someone said this playfully. Yet there was no trace of criticism or sarcasm in his voice. Rachel could feel that he was genuinely welcoming her.
When one thought of tea time, the Empress’s tea time came to mind. From that encounter, which had ended badly, Rachel had gained nothing but sarcasm and reproach.
Yet today’s tea time felt as though it would be different. Rachel decided to respond with utmost sincerity and leaned forward attentively.
“I understand this is the first time someone of a Baron’s house has entered the tower.”
“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
She had never meant to hide it anyway. There was nothing shameful about being a Baron.
“If people of various ranks enter the Magic Tower, which can be called the heart of the empire, I believe the advantages would outweigh any drawbacks.”
Rachel spoke her thoughts while sitting up straight.
“Surely there are commoners capable of Mana Manipulation among the general population. Imagine if they became mages of the empire. How much mightier would the empire become?”
Rachel’s words were saturated with confidence.
“That thought has not escaped us.”
The Red-haired Mage, who had been listening quietly to Rachel’s words, finally spoke.
“Still… the fact that I feel such strong resistance doesn’t change.”
“Might you consider opening your heart a bit more for the sake of the Empire?”
Rachel spoke with a pleading tone. The mages shifted their gazes aside, avoiding her question.
‘That’s right. It’s hard to completely change one’s thinking from the start. I should be grateful they even invited me to this tea time.’
Rachel quickly corrected her thoughts. Being invited here at all was tremendous progress. She mustn’t ask for more than that now. She held her tongue.
“In any case, we’ve gathered here for a single reason, haven’t we?”
“Indeed. We came together to discuss the Analeo Empire.”
Rachel knew of the Analeo Empire well enough. There were two empires on the Continent—the Tirnes Empire, where she belonged, and the Analeo Empire.
Though both empires occupied the same continent, their character differed vastly. The Analeo Empire centered its military around mages, while Tirnes built theirs on cavalry.
The number of mages possessed by the Analeo Empire exceeded those of Tirnes tenfold. The reason was simple: they had identified those capable of Mana Manipulation even among commoners.
“Regardless of anything else, what troubles me is how the Analeo Empire continues forging ties with more and more duchies. Small skirmishes already plague our borders.”
“Indeed. If this continues, we may find ourselves facing actual war.”
“If war comes, Tirnes will face considerable disadvantages. Unlike the last Continental War, modern warfare flows increasingly toward mage-centered strategy.”
Fundamentally, the mages harbored deep patriotism for the Tirnes Empire. For such mages, the current subject would certainly prove quite sensitive.
The mages held their silence, their faces grave. Even among themselves, the tenfold difference in the number of mages felt acutely disadvantageous.
“We have a new guest, and yet we speak only of dark matters. Wouldn’t it be better if we all shifted to more pleasant conversation?”
Someone ventured to speak hesitantly. The remaining mages responded by nodding in agreement.
“Does everyone have one of those orange-hued Mana Stones that have become fashionable lately?”
“Of course. I’d wager everyone here possesses one.”
“Miss Swan, do you have one as well?”
“Ah… yes.”
Among the gifts Lucas had given her was a small Mana Stone. She hadn’t realized until now that it was one of these trending stones.
Rachel carefully withdrew the Mana Stone. The mages around her started in surprise, fixing their gaze upon her.
“This… could this be an Imperial Mana Stone?”
“An Imperial one, you say?”
“The golden section at the base of the stone bears the Imperial seal.”
“Precisely.”
Just as Rachel was about to respond, Lucas’s voice reached her ears.

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