Translator: Yang_Wenli
Norland’s Law Enforcement Agency.
Saik was feeling a bit pained to see Yellow Mage looking so down.
As one of the students who followed Yellow Mage for the longest, he knew that while this Sage before him had a violent temper and was very strict, he was also someone who would always show concern for his students. Or perhaps, it would be better stated that he’s a teacher who cared about the entirety of Norland.
After all, Norland was a city that Yellow Mage and the founding members of the Law Enforcement Agency rescued with their lives on the line.
Yellow Mage was someone who watched Norland develop from a tiny town to the world renowned Capital of Magic.
Through the passage of time, Norland grew. But, through that same passage of time, the pioneers of the past also grew into elderly individuals. In fact, a great portion of them had already left this world.
“Teacher, the way you’re handling this matter is too old-fashioned,” In the end, Saik voiced his own opinion.
It has been a real long time since Yellow Mage Croshere led the Law Enforcement Agency. Because of that, Saik, the current person in charge, was much more knowledgeable of the state of affairs in Norland.
“Old-fashioned?!” Yellow Mage Croshere immediately noticed a provoking term in what his student just said.
“Teacher, please calm down. Before you blow your fuse, I have a piece of intelligence that you would be very interested by.”
Saik remained extremely calm even when facing the anger shown on his teacher’s face.
A magic rune inscription appeared in his hand. A sealed cabinet opened with the rune inscription. Multiple thick piles of records flew out from the cabinet. They landed on the desk before Yellow Mage Croshere.
“Teacher, I know that you were the one guiding us young law enforcers seventy years ago. You are a pioneer of Norland and also someone who witnessed its birth.”
Saik sat down before Croshere. His posture was extremely straight. It was like he was participating in some sort of grand ceremony as he stared into Yellow Mage’s sunken eye sockets.
The passage of time had turned the high-spirited genius into an old man. As Saik sighed emotionally, he hoped that his teacher would be able to face that fact.
“But, the current Norland is changing too quickly. In the days leading to the World Expo till now, Norland has been undergoing a complete change practically everyday.”
“Since the World Expo? Saik! I’ve provided guidance for the development of over half of all the arcanotech devices present on the World Expo; are you implying that my understanding of the arcanotech devices failed to keep up with the times?!” Yellow Mage’s voice sounded like thunder.
Faced with Yellow Mage’s question, Saik’s stern expression remained unchanged. However, the middle-aged man deeply bowed his head toward the old man before him.
“I am not talking about Norland’s development in arcanotech devices. Instead, what I’m talking about are the things the citizens of Norland are fond of,” said Saik.
“Fond of?” Yellow Mage was surprised. Seizing this opportunity, Saik opened the records that were brought over to the desk.
Yellow Mage roughly glanced through their contents. The time indicated on the first page was last year. It was roughly the month before the World Expo.
The content of this record had nothing to do with the World Expo as it was clearly stated on the title ‘Weissenasche Theater.’
“My duty is to ensure the safety of Norland’s citizens. Because of that, I would patrol the streets of Norland practically every day,” Saik took a pause. After he glanced at the silent Yellow Mage, he continued, “Before the World Expo, the mages on the street would practically all be talking about arcanotech devices or alchemic atelier. For example, they might discuss a certain academy’s student having managed to develop an outstanding arcanotech device or a new alchemic atelier opening somewhere in Norland. Teacher... I believe that is the Norland you’re familiar with.”
Saik was observing Yellow Mage Croshere’s expression as he said those words. Yellow Mage nodded his head in an ‘it’s only natural’ manner.
That was the impression Norland’s older generations had of Norland.
“Regretfully, teacher, the discussions of Norland’s populace completely changed one day.”
Saik pointed to the content denoted by the number three on the record. It wrote that ”Beauty and the Demon’ began broadcasting in the Weissenasche Theater.’
“Ever since the performance known as ‘movie’ appeared in the Weissenasche Theater, its popularity soared throughout the entire city in no time at all. By that single movie, the Weissenasche Theater defeated Norland National Theater that was showing the performance of the number one theatrical troupe from Farucci, the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe.”
As Saik spoke, he pointed to another record. It wrote ‘Emergence of ‘Hearthstone.”
“Shortly after, a game known as ‘Hearthstone’ appeared in a tavern. At the beginning, that game of cards played using arcanotech devices was only popular with the dwarves.”
“I remember that arcanotech device. Back then, Gray Mage and a bishop from the Nation of the Holy Church exhibited it on the World Expo.”
Yellow Mage knew very little about Hearthstone. After all, he was someone who rarely held any interest in those ‘trifling playthings that only serves to waste time and will.’
“‘Hearthstone’ started spreading among the mages after the World Expo. Afterwards, five in ten mages I encounter in my patrol will be talking about it. For example, they’ll say things like ‘I’m definitely going to open a legendary card today,”I’m definitely going to be ranked legendary today,’ and stuff like that. Then, two of the remaining five mages not discussing Hearthstone might be discussing the movie ‘Beauty and the Demon.’”
As Saik continued to narrate the transformation in the interest of Norland’s population over the past half year, Yellow Mage’s expression grew increasingly ugly.
“I’ve stayed in my Sage Tower and the alchemic ateliers for too long. I never expected the ‘poison’ to have appeared so long ago.”
Yellow Mage Croshere’s line of sight continued to land on a name on the record — Joshua Annerlaude.
“Teacher! I do not believe the harm from the movies and Hearthstone could compare with the magic craving crystals! Instead, they are beneficial for Norland!” Saik’s words completely ignored Yellow Mage’s feelings.
“Beneficial?! I’ve been deceived by Gray Mage to watch that so-called ‘Beauty and the Demon’ performance. I admit, I’ve never seen magic and arcanotech devices capable of projecting images from the past. But, the story of ‘Beauty and the Demon’ simply cannot be described as being realistic or even reasonable.”
Perhaps it was an illusion but when Yellow Mage started mentioning ‘Beauty and the Demon,’ he became more emotional.
“Those unreasonable things will only distort the young mages’ way of thought. And that game called Hearthstone, it will only cause the mages to waste the time they could spend on searching and acquiring knowledge!” Yellow Mage directly declared his viewpoints.
Saik once again witnessed how stubborn his teacher was. He was able to understand his teacher’s behavior. Back then, during Norland’s most difficult period, mages didn’t understand what it meant to have fun and enjoy life.
They were accompanied by only their books and would fall asleep everyday while searching for more knowledge. Only by obtaining greater powers with knowledge would they be able to allow for this tiny little town to gain a foothold in the vast world.
Even now, Yellow Mage continued to hold that philosophy. Every day, he would spend his time between his Sage Tower, the alchemic ateliers and his advanced magic academy. Very rarely has he ever bothered to blend himself into Norland’s populace to experience the life of the folks and find out what they were thinking.
As Saik was about to continue to say what had happened in Norland over the past half year, a knock on the door interrupted them.