(EP-47) Method #4

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… Was this some kind of interrogation?

A lot of people surrounded me as I sat on a chair. All of them had their arms folded.

In the cramped room, some bearded 'Gandalfs' were glaring at me with a sullen expression…

An old Mage in a white robe then asked me.

"So you read these letters? Is the word written on this page here called 'Agares'?"

I nodded at the old man's inquiry.

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"Agares. Indeed, it was Agares… So, can you read the text written on this brick?"

The brick the old man held out had letters stamped on it, like a factory trademark. The words were 'Halpas'.

"It's Halpas."

「One step closer to the mysteries of the world.

Gained job experience for 'Mage'. +50」

「Amazing magic!

Job: Mage +1 Level!

Mage Lv. 1 → Lv. 2

You are now a novice Mage!」

By reading the characters, I gained experience points for Mage and increased its level.

At the same time, I felt something like a piercing electric current flowing from my fingertips to my toes. I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't bad.

As I turned my gaze, I could see the old fogeys chattering.

"Oh my god-. It was Halpas!"

"Yeah, no wonder the magic didn't work… The calculation was wrong!"

"It is important to know the correct name. The barrier patrollers will love this!"

The sight of old people talking around me was quite unpleasant…

"What the hell is going on? Can anyone explain to me what this is? I think I have the right to be told that!"

Then, an old man in a brown robe and a cone hat said to me.

"The secretary of Angmar, Sir Theo Gospel. It's our first time doing something like this, so we also don't know how to explain it. What you saw was an unreadable text. It is said to be the language of the dead, the Dead Language!"

"What do you mean by 'dead' language?"

"Those letters belong to the deceased. The undead!"

Something popped into my mind when I heard the words "language of the dead". It was Mirna, the daughter of the Draco Family. Just a few days ago, I got to meet her and the undead dragoon followers.

At that time, when the Lich opened his mouth to speak I thought the strange language was just a spell. But now, it seemed that it was actually the Dead Language which belonged to the dead.

"Originally, these are letters that living beings cannot read. In fact, even I can't read it!"

To read the letters of the dead… Wasn't this like a common horror movie cliché? Did I just read something I shouldn't have?

… Was I being cursed or something?

Shaking off my fears and anxieties, I asked the old man.

"Why can I read this? What would happen if I read this?"

"We want to know that too… The Gracia Mountaineering Club, the 5th largest Magic Association, would like to conduct research with Sir Theo Gospel!"

"… I did not come here to be a researcher, I wanted to be an Ark Student."

"We can let you in. We are a mountaineering club and the Board of Directors of Ark. You just have to join our meetings and climb the High Road, the Holy Mountain of Gracia, once a week."

"Climbing the Holy Mountain? Why!?"

"It's good for your health. If you only read books in the lab, your body will deteriorate. The worst enemy of Mages like us is health. So we have this mountaineering club!"

What, I couldn't go hiking…

However, getting admitted through a special process would be quite good. After all, neither my physical strength nor my magic skills qualified for the admission. In fact, it didn't even reach the threshold of the Academy…

By reading some strange letters, I accidentally gained the qualifications to enter Ark. It was definitely not a bad outcome!

The brown robed old man then continued.

"I think Sir Theo may have special eyes. Eyes that can see things better than others…"

Hearing that, the blue robed old man, who was quietly listening on the side, said while stroking his beard.

"This is the first time since Saintess Priga. After the Saintess' eyes became like that, I thought that we had to stop the research… This must be God's guidance!"

The Saintess… they were probably talking about Priga…

Suddenly.

The black robed old man who had been silent started coughing loudly, "Eherm-."

This made everyone cease their chatter to look at his face.

"Sir Pelto. Do you have anything to say?"

In response to the brown robed old man, the black robed old man slowly opened his mouth.

"Theo Gospel. Parents. Family. Sibling. Murder! Mating!"

… Wait, what?

As I was trying to decipher what'd just been said, the brown robed old man interpreted it for me.

"Sir Theo, he's asking if you have any parents, family members or siblings."

"… But I'm quite certain that I heard the words 'murder' and 'mating' too?"

"… That's just an adulation. Sir Pelto has something like a tick. Anyway, do you have any other family members or siblings?"

I also wanted to know that too. If I even had a family or siblings of my own…

"I have none. I am a 'Gospel', an orphan."

As I said that, my eyes were looking at the black robed old man called 'Sir Pelto'.

"Uh-huh…"

His eyes were blurry and there were drools on his lips, just like a drug add¡ct…

Was he senile or something? He not only just randomly shouted killing and mating, he also acted weird. 

But his hair was still black, and his face looked the youngest among them…

The brown robed old man then explained the situation in a small, muffled voice.

"Sir Pelto got too close to the abyss of truth when he reached Rank 6, so sometimes his mind wanders. He's not a bad guy. Rather, he is the best of us."

"… Are you saying that, as your magic skills increase, you will also have mental problems?"

"… In general, yes. It is because we are trying to put into our body truths that are difficult for a human body to handle. Doing so would break our body, like putting a heavy rock onto a bowl."

"Ah…"

"I think you must have seen it already. After all, there is a Rank 7 Mage on your side daily…"

A woman popped into my head at those words.

'I see.'

I guessed the reason why Aira acted a bit unusual was because her magic knowledge was too high.

According to other people, back when Aira was young, she was as innocent as a Disney princess.

Then, when she ascended the throne and had her magic skills improved day by day, Aira's personality changed dramatically.

Perhaps, there was a way to bring Aira back to her kind and generous self!

With that in mind, I said.

"Then, how can I control it? If there is a way, I will pay for it!"

"We are also working on it too. And Sir Theo Gospel, you can help us! Our research is in line with the letters you've read earlier!"

I really couldn't tell how reading some strange language was in line with the research on magic and Aira's psychotherapy…

"Gr…"

"Ugh…"

Before I could even ask for an explanation, I could feel them looking into each other's eyes. I might be treated like a newbie here, but I'd already been through a lot of chaos at the court.

I could tell they were going through a quick discussion about "Is it okay to talk about this?"

「You have calmly judged the situation!

You have gained experience points through the talent "Calm Thinking".

All job experience +5」

Bwa.

Then, as if he had finally made a decision, the brown robed old man with a large nose said.

"These letters are the legacy of King Solomon."

"Are you talking about the Demon King Angmar?"

"Yes. You are a citizen of Angmar, so you should know this better, right? Those letters are the product of wisdom that has gone beyond human comprehension and reached the level of Divine."

The blue robed old man, who was trimming his nails, added.

"By interpreting his legacy, something left behind by the only person that managed to reach Rank 10, perhaps one would even learn to incorporate the 'truth' into their body."

The white robed old man continued that thought.

"We are called the Sages of the High Road. In our 120+ years of life, we have experienced many. Sir Theo Gospel. I, Hynax, can see why you came to Ark."

"I'm not testing you, but may I know your guess?"

"Queen Aira is already a finished vessel. To be honest, our Church has nothing more to teach. However, if, there is something she could learn-."

The white robed old man who called himself Hynax suddenly pointed a thumb to where his heart would be.

"It would be this, wisdom and goodness of the heart. Do you not want to teach it to the Queen and make her a truly wise Queen?"

"...."

Humans tended to shut their mouths when they were caught off guard.

I was taken aback by the sudden revelation of my master plan and had to pause. How were they able to discover the thing I'd toiled so hard for that quickly?

They indeed deserved the title of a Sage…

Just then, the White Robed Sage continued.

"Sir Theo, I don't think you are as evil as the rumors circulating around make you to be. Rather, your works are worthy of praise."

Respect… This was the first time I heard such a word being said towards me. This made me so embarrassed, as if hot water had touched my butt.

"Great Sage thinks too highly of me…"

"No. To be able to bring the Queen here is impossible and even unthinkable. It's something that cannot be achieved easily, yet you did it in the end. You were the only one who could do it!"

"Yeah, Queen Aira doesn't even look at us nor the invitations that Ark sends every year, let alone think about attending the Academy."

"It makes me wonder how you were able to get her here."

"Hate!"

"Sir Pelto says you are great."

Four colorful old men were praising and encouraging me.

This made me feel that what I'd been doing so far was the right thing.

My heart, that was like a hedgehog with thorns, softened a little.

Whoosh.

At that moment, the old man in blue offered me something. It was the robe and dark brown school uniform worn by the male students of Ark.

"Since Nymphs are stylish, this will suit you well. The Board of Directors warmly welcomes you and Queen Aira!"

A lot of things happened, but anyway, I managed to become a student safely!

* * *

"Theo, you're later than I thought…"

After getting out of the boardroom, I saw Aira sitting in front of the door and waiting for me.

"To make your Queen wait… This disloyalty is punishable."

"I'm sorry, but I have a reason. I almost didn't even get to attend the Academy."

"They're dropping you, Theo!? If so, there's no sense being here. There is nothing to learn in this place anyway. I will also refuse my admission and go back to Angmar!"

Back to Angmar?

That sounded terrible.

"No, you don't have to go back. I got in somehow."

"… Right. I, Aira, had never for a moment doubted that you would pass, Theo."

Aira encouraged me with nonchalance.

She never really doubted me even for a moment. After all, I was the extraordinary and loyal servant in her mind.

Maybe it was because I'd been really playing it up until now.

Sometimes, I was afraid of what would happen if my secret got discovered. That I was a mere ordinary and insignificant person…

━You have been deceiving me this whole time!? I'll skin you alive and make it into a rug, and use your bones as a Nymph Bone Wand-!

....

Uhhh, no matter how crazy Aira was, she wouldn't do that… right?

Just then, the door to the boardroom swung open and the old Mages in cone hats came out.

━Let's go hiking.

━Alright, I'll also get some valley water. Oh, but are the Witches of the Great Forest coming?

━Yeah, it's been a while since we've sang some songs with the Witches.

━Hynax, look over there!

They then saw Aira sitting in the hallway and stopped walking.

Soon, the white clothed Mage Hynax, who was the representative of the Mountaineering Club, took off his cone hat and bowed his head slightly.

"Her Highness Queen of Angmar, I am Hynax. I last saw you 3 years ago at the Antietc Council."

"Ah-. I see. You were the colorful grandpas. Now I remember. You have been asking me questions about this and that."

"That's right! So, has Her Majesty the Queen been making any progress towards Rank 8?"

They seemed to be curious about Aira's strength, who was an outstanding Mage. However, Aira only replied with a long snort.

"I have no obligation to answer liars."

"Haha, indeed, that is so…"

It was bewildering to see a 150-year-old person being embarrassed by Aira, who was only a teen. 

… Was this social life?

"I have something to talk to Theo, so hurry up and back off."

"Yes, as you will."

The Ark directors did not complain or protest at Aira's rude words. Rather, they simply smiled and exited the hall loudly.

━The Queen is getting more and more beautiful. She's out of this world…

━She's just like her mother!

━Though, her personality is similar to her father, Tarantera VII.

Now, there were only me and Aira left in the dark hallway.

After getting up, Aira said as if she didn't care about the people she had just met.

"Theo, hurry up and pack your luggage."

"Luggage?"

"Of course, I'll bring you into my private room. Isn't it natural to pack your luggage?"

As expected, Aira got a private room.

Looking over, I could see that Aira now had a brooch on her shoulder with the symbol '2' in Roman letters. It must mean that Aira's Rank became 2nd as soon as she entered the Academy.

Of course, it was natural… Simply amazing…

"Have you already achieved second place? That's great!"

"If I wanted, it would have been no problem taking the lead."

… That was true.

But if Aira was second, who ranked first?

Anyway, that was not important right now.

"However, Your Majesty, a private room would mean a personal space. How can Aira-nim and I share the same room? And since this is the Church's facility, it would be impossible for men and women to live together."

Aira gently smiled at my question. Even though I knew her well and had been with her for so long, my heart still couldn't help but flutter a little. She was already incredibly beautiful to begin with, but her smile made her stand out even more…

"Theo, it's been a long time since I know things that you don't!"

"… Is there something I am not aware of?"

"Yes! I personally found out that many benefits were given to those given a private room! Here, you can see it in detail."

Aira then handed me something.

It was a small scroll.

'Information On Dormitory Premium Room Service.'

There were instructions on how to use the private room, and even things that reminded me of a luxurious hotel service…

Seriously, private swimming pool?

Royal Training Room!?

It was at this time that Aira's black fingernail pointed at a line. 

"When registering a pet, you can enter and foster it after some consultation…? Are you talking about this?"

"Yes. If I go to the Management Office and register Theo as my pet, we will be able to live in the same dormitory!"

… No, I could tell that was not going to work.

And just as expected…

"What!? Her Majesty Aira, you want to designate a person as a 'pet'!?"

A female employee of the dormitory Management Office frowned at the ridiculous request. Her face, which was red in embarrassment, seemed to be saying, "Are you kidding me right now?"

Of course, Aira did not back down either.

"I am the Queen. Are you saying you won't listen to me? You know that the Angmar Kingdom is the largest supporter of the Church, right?"

"But rules are rules! Pet 'animals' are limited to four-legged 'animals'. In the case of two-legged 'animals', only those with wings are included!"

"If that's the case, then it's no problem. Theo is good at anything. He can easily walk on all fours!"

━Did you hear that? Walk on all fours…

━What, I'm scared… What the hell did he do with the Queen?

━I thought he looked normal, but the rumor about him being the Demon Monk is true after all…

My eyes darkened as I watched this mess unfold.

When I got Aira into the Academy, I thought the hardest part was finally over.

But why was I feeling that this was just the start?

'That's right.'

This, was simply the beginning of my hardship…

To read up to 300 chapters. patreon.com/Daoist02