Memory (3)

When a massive object moves, noise is bound to follow. 

So, what happens when a gigantic flying cruise ship, 400 meters long and 55 meters wide, moves? 

Strangely, almost no noise could be heard from the white flying ship as it hovered in the sky. It was as if it was designed to be considerate of injured passengers.

"The Divine Voyager? What a dull model name..."

Aryumon Brushun, the president of the Mage Association, had a unique hobby of collecting flying ships. His knowledge was so extensive that he could identify the company that made a flying ship, the tuning it had undergone, when it was made, and which engine it used, just by hearing the sound of its engine.

The Divine Voyager was one of the flying ships disliked by Aryumon.

"Why don't you like that one?" 

When a mage asked, Aryumon clicked his tongue and answered. 

"Because it's a Stella Academy flying ship."

Stella Academy was known for often engaging in outrageous activities, backed by enormous capital and advanced technology. 

For example, they built a gigantic flying ship, nicknamed the Flying City of Records, to use as a resting place for students, or they created a sub-space known as the Stella Dome just to use it as a training ground. 

They even installed dozens of miniature warp hole gates on campus, something unimaginable for other magic institutions.

The Divine Voyager was one such example of Stella's unnecessary extravagance.

The Divine Voyager was a flying ship. It was akin to an ambulance, created to rescue students dispatched outside the academy.

But, you know.

Was it really because other magic institutions lacked the money to build something like that? 

No. 

Even though they couldn't do something as insane as covering the campus in miniature warp holes, they could easily create something like that if they wanted to. 

But they didn't, because there was no need, no purpose, and no use for it. 

Would it be a disaster if they conducted rescue missions using a standard combat model flying ship? 

It was all just for show.

Stella Academy's headmaster, Elthman Elwin, liked to show off, which was why he built such flying ships.

"Tsk. Do they really think people are impressed by that kind of ship? What a joke…" 

As Aryumon mocked Elthman with lethargic eyes, a mage observing nearby shook his head. 

'Aren't you also collecting ships to show off…'

Moments later, the ship landed, and particles gathered in mid-air to form a staircase. 

As two magic warriors appeared on the steps, Aryumon displayed an amused expression.

"Well, well, who do we have here…"

It was Instructor Lee Han-wol of Stella's first-year Class S and Arien, the commander of Stella's Knights. 

These two were as good as special magic warriors within the academy, and they had shown up personally.

The reason the Divine Voyager suddenly arrived at the Third World Tree was to personally fetch Baek Yu-Seol, who had been injured.

It was already strange to use the Divine Voyager just to fetch one student, but on top of that, two high-ranking Stella magic warriors had come in person?

Even Aryumon found this quite intriguing.

Lee Han-wol stood before Aryumon and gave a short bow, while Arien extended his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you." 

"Yes… I'm more pleased. It's not often you get to see two young heroes standing together in one place." 

"We are from a generation that is now fading." 

"Oh, you shouldn't say such things in front of an old man who is barely hanging on. Cough!"

No sooner had Aryumon finished speaking than he began coughing, and a large amount of blood spilled out, causing the mages nearby to panic.

As mages and nurses rushed over to support him, he waved them away. 

"Ah! It's nothing. Just a regular cough, nothing to worry about."

Although it seemed odd to call coughing up a large amount of blood regular, since Aryumon said so, the mages had no choice but to step back.

"Where is Baek Yu-Seol?" 

"Yes, right. Young heroes have come all the way here for a valuable student, and here I am wasting time."

Aryumon led Arien, Lee Han-wol, and the mages who came to accompany them to a place located at the highest point of the Third World Tree called the Fruit of Healing.

Though the name was grand, it was essentially a simple hospital in human terms. 

Thanks to the mystical fruits borne by the World Tree, elves only needed to rest there for their wounds to heal and their fatigue to recover.

Although Baek Yu-Seol didn't benefit from such special effects, they said a healing mage had treated him.

"This way."

Upon opening the door to the innermost room, they saw a woman sitting by the bedside, reading a book. She looked up and made eye contact with the mages.

She was fully covered in a black robe and dress, with a white mask on, but Arien and Lee Han-wol instantly recognized her identity.

"... We greet the King of All Familiars and Fairies." 

"Ah… Nice to meet you." 

Florin stood up and gave a slight bow to the mages.

"We've come in such grand fashion. Don't you think so, Elf King?"

"It'll definitely make the front page of the newspaper again tomorrow, don't you think?"

Despite Aryumon's sarcastic comment, Arien and Lee Han-wol didn't react, but they were aware. 

They knew that moving the Divine Voyager just to pick up a single student, and their own personal deployment, would cause a big stir in the media.

But there was nothing they could do about it. 

Their deployment was... under the orders of Stella's principal, Elthman Elwin.

Although such an order hadn't been given in recent times, today, he suddenly issued a command that appeared to be excessively protective of Baek Yu-Seol. His intent was quite puzzling, but in any case, having received the order, they were simply following it faithfully.

"How is the student's condition?" 

"He's much better. His regenerative abilities are several times superior to that of an average mage… Or so the attending physician said."

Lee Han-wol nodded, unsurprised by Florin's answer. 

He already knew about Baek Yu-Seol's excellent regenerative abilities, given how often Baek Yu-Seol had been hospitalized in the past.

"... What happened to the opponent Baek Yu-Seol fought?"

This time, it was Arien who spoke. 

At his polite inquiry, Florin hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke after glancing around.

"The opponent was... Chelven the Invincible. Baek Yu-Seol inflicted a fatal wound on his chest, but he was ultimately defeated and collapsed."

"... What?"

Both Arien and Lee Han-wol were left speechless in shock at her words. 

Even Arien, who usually maintained a perfectly composed expression, couldn't hide his astonishment.

"If it's Chelven… Could it be the one I know…?"

"Yes. It's the Chelven you're thinking of."

 Aryumon rubbed his abdomen as if it were still hurting.

"It's truly strange. Even when the Elf King and I joined forces to attack, we couldn't land a proper hit on him... And yet he suffered a fatal wound through the chest from a mere student. If not for the memory fragment the Elf King showed me, I wouldn't have believed it."

The tales about Chelven were well-known. 

He was the only dark mage who survived a fight against the Dark Mage King. 

He single-handedly brought down the fortress of Kanadan, which had been impregnable for 300 years. 

A man with an invincible body…

Although Baek Yu-Seol had faced strong dark mages before and successfully defeated them... Those were feats any elite magic warrior could potentially achieve.

But Chelven was different. 

Facing him meant that even a seasoned magic warrior would have to risk their life. Even if they did, it was questionable whether they could inflict even a single scratch on him... He was the strongest man there was.

"Personally, I think it would be best if this incident didn't become public knowledge. For the student's safety, at the very least."

Arien and Lee Han-wol agreed with that sentiment. While it was true that Baek Yu-Seol had inflicted a fatal wound on Chelven, his abilities were not on par with Chelven's.

He was an exceptionally clever student who leveraged his intellect and the unique properties of teleportation to create an incredible synergy. 

This duel with Chelven was likely just another stroke of luck for him.

If Baek Yu-Seol were to be given the title of 'the mage who wounded Chelven'… Then dark mages seeking that fame might come after him.

"No matter how much we try to keep it hidden, some will find out. But let's try to keep it as quiet as possible… Let's do our best, friends."

With that, Aryumon patted Arien and Lee Han-wol on the shoulders and left the hospital room. 

They stood there, gazing at Baek Yu-Seol for a moment. 

"… He's destined for greatness." 

"He's a dangerous one too."

"Perhaps that's why Principal Elthman Elwin personally looks after this student." 

Although they didn't know the full details... 

They thought Elthman's decision was right. Even if it was troublesome to come all the way here.

"Well then, I'll take Baek Yu-Seol and leave now." 

Lee Han-wol respectfully bowed to Florin, then took Baek Yu-Seol and disappeared. She watched their backs for a long time.

More precisely... She watched Baek Yu-Seol. 

"In the end, we didn't get to spend time together…"

She had made up her mind to have a good time together over the short two days of the weekend. 

Nothing went as planned. The thought left her feeling bitter and empty, but she consoled herself by thinking there was nothing she could do.

After all, what mattered most now was that Baek Yu-Seol had returned safely.

"Ah! Leafanel…!"

Then she suddenly remembered her friend and quickly stood up. The orchard of the third World Tree had started being tainted because of her, so she needed to take care of Leafanel right away.

Since everyone else had left, there was no reason for Florin to stay there any longer, so she quickly headed toward Leafanel's garden. 

The hospital room was now empty.

… Or so she thought.

Sway! 

Before the white eyes appeared, the shadow of the curtains swayed.

"Hmm...? Am I late? I came to see a child named Baek Yu-Seol, but did I arrive too late…?"

It was the voice of a young girl. However, anyone who heard this voice would be certain.

They would be sure that she was no ordinary girl. To be able to easily break through the barrier Aryumon had temporarily set up and send a will, she must be at least a class 9 mage.

"By the way… Elthman, that little boy, is quite possessive of his things, isn't he? Windy? Are you there now?"

When the girl called out for someone, the wind blew, and a woman appeared.

It was Windy Melsyrun, the woman who had previously come to deliver a message to Soya.

Her robe which gave the illusion as if she was wearing nothing fluttered. She greeted her master with a seductive smile.

"Yes, Mother. Did you call for me?" 

"Didn't you properly convey my words to Toa the other day?"

Toa Legron. 

Though the girl referred to the Tower Lord of the Green Tower as if calling a child, Windy responded as if it were perfectly normal.

"How could I not, Mother? I clearly conveyed it. You were interested in Baek Yu-Seol and told me to bring him back in a clean and intact state."

"That's right, isn't it? Then what on earth is going on…?"

The girl burst into laughter. 

It might have seemed strange for such a clear and refreshing voice to carry the atmosphere of an old woman, but somehow it didn't feel out of place.

"Is he resisting…?"

She knew Elthman Elwin was a spatial-type mage who had recently reached class 9. 

If he had stepped into the Heavenly Realm, he would undoubtedly be difficult to deal with.

"Hmmm, I hate troublesome things…"

She was old and worn out, incapable of winning in a direct fight with a young mage like Elthman. However, Elthman had something he needed to protect, while the girl had nothing of the sort. 

So if she were to press on unilaterally… Elthman would surely be the first to raise his hands in surrender.

"Hehe. Let's see how far you'll go to protect just one student, little boy."

After saying that, the girl closed her eyes, and the eyes flickering in the curtains disappeared as if they had been an illusion.

Windy, who had been watching her quietly, stood up and looked out the window. 

The sound of the Divine Voyager's engine, which had just taken off, could be heard softly.

"What on earth is so special about that kid… To attract the attention of great mages who could weigh the fate of the world?"

With her limited understanding, Windy couldn't grasp it, but she would follow her mother's will nonetheless. 

Because that way… 

It would be much more interesting.