Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don’t Have Magical Powers?!

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Susanna, servant in the Belisario household

Nigel Bosworth, Marquess of Jermaine’s son

 

I’ve been using transference a lot at the academy over the last few days.

Nigel and his entourage are always coming at me, and it’s extremely annoying. Moreover, Nigel and his gang don’t approach me when I’m with Percival. When I am alone, they would come up to me and tell me to stay away from Percival, which was completely unreasonable. At first, it was a little fun, so I went along with them, but since they say the same thing every time without change, I’ve been getting sick of it lately. I’ve decided that it’s a waste of time to get involved any further, so as soon as I feel their presence, I try to transfer.

Miss Aurora sympathised with me, thinking that it was a disaster. She told me to make a complaint through the Duke’s family, but it’s just annoying and not particularly harmful. It’s too apologetic to bother His Excellency the Duke with such a thing. Percival was also about to go and protest to Nigel, so I stopped him, telling him to leave it alone.

If you say something superfluous, it will be even more troublesome if he interprets it in his own way. Also, if Percival, who is the person involved, talks to him directly or something, it is bound to cause another strange misunderstanding.

Percival bowed his head to apologise to me with a sour face, but that’s not for Percival to apologise. Rather, he is the victim.

While I was spending my days like this, it had already been a month since the long holiday ended. The holiday mood has worn off and I’ve finally got back to my usual pace.

After the morning classes, I was on my way to the cafeteria when the head of the year came to the classroom and called my name.

“Is Sapphiras-kun here?”

“Yes.”

I wonder what it is. Lately I’ve been very serious, so I don’t think I’ve done anything to get called out. Or will I be blamed for doing transfers all the time? However, I’m sure I’ve chosen locations that would be hidden from the public eye.

“Madam Adeline Belisario, Margravine of the Vanderwall Frontier, is waiting for you in the salon. Hurry up and go.”

“Eh? Madam Adeline?”

“I’ll guide you.”

I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I went to the academy office and found that it was the salon where I had tea with His Highness the Crown Prince before. When I was guided inside, Madam Adeline and Percival, who seemed to have came earlier, were waiting for me.

“It’s been a long time, Sapphiras-san. How have you been?”

“Yes, it’s been a long time. I’m glad to see that Madam Adeline also seems to be doing well.”

“I’m sorry to call you on such short notice. You must be surprised.”

Percival lowers his eyebrows apologetically. He didn’t tell me when we met this morning, so I guess he didn’t know either.

“No, it’s quite all right.”

“Sapphiras-san, let’s talk after we sit down.”

“Yes,”

The servant pulled a chair and I sat down. Susanna-san was behind Adeline-san, and when our eyes met, she smiled at me.

“Actually, I brought the Tricorn wand because it was completed.”

“Eh, did Madam Adeline go out of her way to bring it for me?!”

A woman’s journey would have taken six days each way. And is it safe for Madam Adeline to be away from the castle because of a delivery? Or was the wand just a side trip and she had something important to do in the royal capital?

“Ufufufu, I wanted to give it to you in person and see Sapphiras-san’s happy face up close. Sandy is at the castle, so it’s fine if I’m away for a little while. She sends her regards to Sapphiras-san.”

“I-is that so.”

When I was perplexed, Madam Adeline laughed, looking like a child who had successfully played a prank. What can I say, she’s a bit of a mischievous person.

“Well then, Susanna. Give the wand to Sapphiras.”

“Yes, madam.”

Susanna-san comes to my side and carefully places the black box on the table.

The box that was placed in front of me made me open my mouth.

“Ya, wait a minute. What the hell is this box?

The confusion I am feeling now is very similar to the feeling I had when the Duke’s family picked me up in a four-horse carriage. No, perhaps even more than that time.

The black box, which probably contains the wand, is framed in gold and decorated with a mosaic using the seven colours on the back of a shell. I had expected it to be wrapped in cloth or in a simple wooden box, but it was so different from what I had imagined that I completely stopped thinking.

“Please open it. I hope you’ll like it.”

Madam Adeline’s words finally bring my consciousness back to reality. I opened the lid of the box with trepidation, feeling sorry for the dirt on my hands.

“……Wah.”

A voice leaked out involuntarily.

There was a magnificent wand in there, with fine silver particles shimmering in the jet black. The spirals of the horns are carved to bring out the best, and the handle is decorated with delicate ivy-patterned silverwork. In addition, the end of the cane was inlaid with an intricately cut sapphire that reflected even the slightest amount of light. The wand is breathtakingly beautiful, and it’s like a magic tool from a legend. It is too beautiful to touch easily.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“This……to receive such an amazing thing……it’s too much of a magical tool for me……”

Thinking about the price, a strange sweat runs down my back. For me, a commoner, to have such a wand would be out of proportion. Moreover, in my case, the wand is mostly just a decoration.

“Well, what are you saying? The material was obtained by Percival and Sapphiras together, wasn’t it? I have only asked the magical tool craftsman to make it into a wand worthy of the material. The craftsman was very pleased with the quality of the material, and said that it was worthwhile making. Therefore, I would like Sapphiras-san to accept the cane without hesitation.”

Madam Adeline smiled kindly, but the pressure was too much. What can I say, I can’t refuse in this atmosphere. It’s true that I can’t say I don’t want it after having it made for me, but who would have imagined that……it would become such an amazing wand? Even though imagination is a magician’s strong point! Even I couldn’t imagine this.

“Sapphiras, that horn is indeed the horn of the tricorn we defeated together. It’s also the material of the first magical beast our party defeated. Would you accept it as a commemoration?”

“……Percival.”

I see, it’s a commemoration……Percival told me that, so I can’t help but accept it.

“Thank you very much. I will use it with care……”

“I’m glad you received it. Now, please pick it up and show it to me.”

Madam Adeline urged me to take the wand in my hand, and I did so fearfully. The wand was heavy, different from wands made from plants. But it is not so heavy that it is a burden on the arm. Even I, who am not very strong, can wield it well.

Even so, it is familiar. Thinking that it was strangely fitting, I waved my wand quickly, and gold particles flooded out from the tip of the wand.

“Uwah.”

“Oh, my!”

Everyone in the salon was surprised, not just Madam Adeline. I, too, was surprised when I waved the wand.

The amount of glitter overflowing from the tip is unmatched by any wand I’ve ever used. In other words, it is a wand where magic can easily flow and have its power amplified. Is this the difference in material? The owner of the magical tool shop in Oriens was certain. If you are a magician who uses magic with the aid of a wand, you will want to get your hands on this magical tool.

“……I’m amazed. You really are an amazing magician, Sapphiras-san…… I knew that this wand was worthy of you.”

Madam Adeline nodded in satisfaction and looked to the waiters who were waiting by the wall. They moved quickly and immediately began preparing the meal.

“It’s more or less time to eat. You must be hungry, and from here we can talk over our food.”

Madam Adeline had prepared a special lunch. An appetiser, soup and meat. Is it really okay to have such a luxurious meal in the afternoon? While thinking that, I smack my lips over the dishes served one after another.

“I couldn’t bring the Vanderwall chef to the royal capital, so I borrowed the chef from my parents’ house. Did you like it?”

“Yes, it’s very delicious!”

“That’s good. I have also prepared desserts. Please feel free to enjoy them.”

I see. So Madam Adeline is from the royal capital. I thought she was a genuine Vanderwallian, because the people of the castle trust her and she is a Margravine who is very proud of her skills. I’m sure she must have had a lot of hardships, because she was a daughter who grew up in the royal capital and married into a frontier region. I don’t feel that at all, so Madam Adeline is an amazing woman. She is Percival’s mother, after all.

“Oh yes, I brought a souvenir for Sapphiras-san. I had it delivered to your dorm room, so please look at it later.”

“Eh? No, but the wand alone is more than enough for me, I can’t take any more…….”

“It’s really not that big a deal. Don’t worry about it.”

“……Is that so? Then I’ll take it without reservation. Thank you for your consideration.”

I’m sure it’s a confectionery. The lemonade sweets were refreshing and delicious, so I’m looking forward to them.

The atmosphere was cordial throughout the rest of the meal, and we finished our meal enjoying our conversation.

Madam Adeline said she was going to stay in the royal capital for a few days to greet people she knows.

“Sapphiras-san, I will contact you again. Let’s talk slowly at that time.”

As Madam Adeline left the salon with a strong Vanderwall guard knight, I heard a voice I had been hearing a lot recently.

“Vanderwall Margravine! Welcome, welcome!”

“……Well, who is it?”

The voice of Madam Adeline, who had been speaking smilingly a moment ago, became slightly stern. She opened her fan and held it to her mouth.

I am Nigel Bosworth, second son of the Marquess of Jermaine. I heard that Margravine Vanderwall was at the academy and I wanted to say hello……”

Nigel’s voice is bewildered. He was curious, so he tried to peek behind the mighty knight, but was stopped by Percival.

“I wonder what the Marquess of Jermaine wants with me?”

“Eh……? Didn’t Madam come here to see me.”

Apparently, Nigel had rushed to the salon, thinking that Madam Adeline had come to see him.

“Oh my, oh my, why would you think that?”

Madam Adeline tilts her head. If you came over uninvited and said that she must have come to see you, it would make her want to tilt her head.

“I-I believe that my father approached Percival-sama with a letter of greeting, asking for an engagement……”

Perhaps he felt that the direction of the wind was strange, but his initial momentum was subdued and his voice gradually became quieter.

“Oh, if that’s what you want to talk about, I’ve declined. Your father, Sir Jermaine, didn’t tell you?”

Madam Adeline says firmly.

Judging from the way Madam Adeline doesn’t know Nigel’s face, she probably hasn’t even read the family chart and personal history.

“……Eh? Um, you turned down……our family’s engagement proposal?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“My family is a Marquess family…….”

“I see. What about it?”

Nigel was so surprised by the rejection of his engagement proposal that he became completely silent. He must have thought that the Margrave of Vanderwall Frontier would never refuse the offer of the Marquess of Jermaine.

I don’t know much about nobility, but even I know that Vanderwall, which protects the frontier, is a bit special. If the other party was a noble from the centre, they would be even more cautious about proceeding with the marriage proposal. After all, Vanderwall, despite its affluence, is a tough place in many ways. It would be a problem if, after the marriage, they leave because they couldn’t live there. It would cause unnecessary damage to the family of the margrave. Above all, you need to have a personality that won’t break the unity of the family, otherwise they won’t accept you.

“Nigel-san, you say? I’m sorry, but I’m in a hurry. Don’t you have afternoon classes too?”

Madam Adeline ended the conversation quickly, saying that if that was all he wanted to talk about, she was done.

“Well then, Sapphiras-san, let’s meet again some other day.”

Madam Adeline turns around and smiles at me.

“Yes, thank you very much for everything today.”

Nigel finally noticed that we were there, and immediately after making a surprised expression, his face contorted in frustration. His pretty face is ruined.

“We should go too. We’ll be late for afternoon classes.”

Percival urges me to leave the salon too.

Nigel, unaccompanied, stands alone.

I’m not sure about Nigel, who comes in without even checking who the guest is visiting, but when I thought of him, who was full of confidence and attacked me, I felt a little sympathy.

Even if I sympathise with him, it will only infuriate him.

 

Melon: HA! In your face Nigel!