Black clouds enveloped the sky above Lursk Advanced Magic Academy. A light drizzle of rain was also trickling down.
The originium crystal using the World Tree’s leaf as its transmitter was still in operation and projecting the image from the Hearthstone Tavern’s second floor onto the white wall in the arena.
“The gist of this program are questions from the users of the Mage Forum. Hopefully, we’ll be able to answer those questions. Of course, there’s no need to answer all the questions. It is fine to decline to answer them.”
On the screen, Tylene picked up some paper from the desk. After skimming through the content, she turned to look at Belle.
At this moment, the camera angle shifted again. This time around, all three people could be seen sitting inside the Noiseless Room.
“The first question came from a mage forum user by the name of Thunder Crystal,” After reading the question on the paper, Tylene’s expression changed slightly. It was a ‘gossipy’ expression that all women could make.
Even though the Frost Elf lady was very courteous toward practically everyone in the Hearthstone Tavern, Ynor was an exception. She enjoys bullying Ynor. This holds true even in this interview.
“It’s quite an intense question. Ynor, do you have a romantic partner?”
“...”
Being asked such a sensitive topic, even though Ynor was somewhat prepared, his face still turned red.
In the end, Ynor was forced to cover his face with his hands. He attempted to conceal his reddened face through such an action.
“N..no!”
When Ynor answered the question, a loud cheer sounded throughout the entire magic arena. Majority of the people cheering were male students. But, there were also female students cheering too.
“So that’s the case. Then, Ynor, what type of people are you fond of?”
Tylene once again asked another question that was extremely difficult for Ynor to answer.
Perhaps it might be a misconception but when Tylene asked that question, the entire arena seemed to turn completely silent.
The silence was only smashed by the loud neighs from the lightning unicorn at the magic arena’s front viewing platform.
The owner of the unicorn extended her hand to stroke at its hair. Only then did she calm down the uneasy unicorn.
After the Croshere Magic Academy’s student president finished settling down her unicorn, her attendant who followed after her cautiously approached her.
“Young... young miss, isn’t Thunder Crystal your name on the Mage Forum?”
“That’s my name alright. But, I am not the one who asked that question.”
The Croshere Magic Academy’s student president turned to look at the sky. She pushed back her long blonde hair covering her right eye and narrowed her eyes to see the shadow emerging from the lightnings and black clouds.
It was a person wearing a yellow robe. The robe was very dull in luster. But, the light gold vein patterns could be clearly seen on the robe.
That person slowly descended from the sky. It seemed like he was walking on an invisible staircase.
On the image projected by the originium crystal, Ynor was still hesitating whether or not to answer Tylene’s question. As the students watched the bashful ‘beauty,’ they were all hoping for Ynor to answer the question.
Regretfully, their anticipation was destined to be interrupted by the thunderclaps from the sky...
The person in yellow slowly descended above where the Croshere Magic Academy’s student president was.
When the student president’s attendant saw that yellow robed individual, he lowered his head in utter terror.
“Sofina, how many times have you slipped out from my course now?!”
An aged voice sounded out of the dull yellow robe. That voice called out the Croshere Magic Academy’s student president by name. Toweringly, the yellow-robed individual looked to the little girl standing next to the lightning unicorn.
“It’s my third time, Esteemed Teacher Croshere.”
Sofina faced the old man standing in midair with no fear and loudly spoke of his name.
When the people around her heard the name of that gray-robed individual, their desire to learn the type of boy Belle likes escaped from their minds in an instant.
This was especially true for the students that came from the neighboring Croshere Magic Academy. They were all searching for places to hide.
The students that knew concealment magic immediately utilized them. But, before the yellow-robed individual standing in midair, all their magics were simply cheap tricks.
The person who appeared before them was one of Norland’s Seven Sages. Controlling the world’s strongest Lightning System Magic, Yellow Mage Croshere!
To the students from Croshere Magic Academy, the terror they’re feeling right now was akin to being caught by one’s school’s headmaster after deciding to climb the wall in a group to have fun at the internet cafe.
Fortunately, their headmaster was only interested in one person — the Croshere Magic Academy’s student president at the frontmost of the group, Sofina Karshilov.
“The first time I slipped out was to participate in the ball held by the prince from the Nation of Steel. The second time was to participate in a premiere for ‘Léon: The Demon’ held in Farucci’s Mansion.”
Sofina showed no fear at all as she faced one of the people with the greatest authority in Norland. Furthermore, she was still smiling as she openly explained the reasons why she ‘skipped class’ to her teacher.
“As for this time, the reason why I came to this academy, it is so that I can watch the interview ceremony.”
“Sofina! I’ve allowed you to mess around enough! With your learning pace, you should be able to awaken two more rune inscriptions today! That is both my and your father’s expectations!”
Although anger could not be heard from the Yellow Mage’s voice, there was a sense of irrefutable imposingness.
“But that is not my expectation. Teacher... it is possible to awaken rune inscriptions at a later date. But, this interview happens only once.”
As Sofina said those words, her eyes looked past the Yellow Mage to look at the screen. At this moment, Ynor was giving the answer to the type of person he likes.
Regretfully, as Sofina was talking to her teacher, she wasn’t able to clearly hear the answer given by Ynor!
“This again?! Sofina! I’ve already reminded you to keep your distance from those trifling confettis created by the theatrical troupes!” Yellow Mage noticed that his student’s eyes were fixed onto the originium crystal projection.
Due to his age, Yellow Mage was no longer that easily overwhelmed by anger. But, he was determined to bring his student away from this place!
Sofina’s lightning unicorn became extremely restless again. It was feeling threatened by Yellow Mage. This Sage seemed to not be planning to persuade his student with words.
As electric sparks started blossoming on the Yellow Mage’s hand, an owl suddenly landed on his shoulder.
“Croshere... didn’t you have a long and rejoiceful conversation with me on your so-called ‘confetti’ yesterday?”
An old man wearing an unkempt robe slowly walked over to Sofina. The old man raised his head to look at Yellow Mage Croshere. The owl that landed on Yellow Mage’s shoulder let out hooting noises before flying down to the old man’s shoulder.
“Lursk!” Yellow Mage cried out the name of the other Sage.
All the surrounding students grew silent. Two of the Seven Sages, people standing at the apex of Norland, at the apex of magic, were before them.
To them, this scene was akin to something out of a painting. That said, if people didn’t know who they were, they would only appear like two messy-looking old men looking at each other emotionally.
“How about you take a break yourself today? After all, we didn’t finish our discussion on the breakdown of ‘Beauty and the Demon’ from yesterday.”
From his sleeve, Gray Mage took out a couple wiggling mealworms to feed his owl. At the same time, with an indifferent tone... he spoke of a matter that shocked not only the Yellow Mage’s top student Sofina but also the other students present.
“Teacher, you also watch... movies?”
Finally, a complicated expression replaced the calmness that has been on Sofina’s face the entire time.
“No, I wouldn’t call it that. It’s me who gave your teacher the originium crystal with the movie in it so that we can study the Chaos Demon’s magic. But, after that guy finished watching it, he declared in dissatisfaction that the plot was ‘unreasonable,’ ‘too fake’ and the like,” said Gray Mage with a profound tone.