Chapter 01: Yakagi Suimei, a Magician
—Felmenia Stingray was one of the court mages of the Astel Kingdom.
As the second daughter of Count Stringray, she was a young lady of n.o.ble birth and raised without any inconveniences. She was a genius that had looked into the depths of magic by studying under an old mage, who was called the Sage, from a small age on after her extraordinary magical potential was discovered.
It had been ten years since she started learning the mysticism from the old mage. After learning the basics of magic from him, she was quickly initiated into all the secrets, which are said to take at least thirty years.
So she was told: There is no more I can teach you. Follow through with your own wits and magic.
Her life then became more hectic compared to the time she spent studying under the old mage. There was magic research of course, but also the appointment as the youngest court mage, a lot of jobs entrusted to her and an unthought-of number of party invitations. New experiences like numerous unfamiliar jobs, tea parties with n.o.ble ladies, typical n.o.ble dances and escapes from magical dungeons kept occurring in succession.
This lifestyle without even sparing time for sleep, was harsh and painful, but so fulfilling that she could forget all the hardships. So much that she already felt a sense of accomplishment. Right now, she was living her life. Not in the birdcage of a n.o.ble lady, but as working gear of this kingdom.
A few years after she left the old mage’s apprenticeship, Felmenia made a great discovery. In the middle of a job to subjugate high ranking monsters and devils as a court mage, she discovered the principle of flames, which no one acquired before.
Yes, Felmenia finally attained the truth at the tender age of eighteen. The truth about the flame. She found the white flame that burns all things in existence.
Felmenia reported this to her teacher and his Majesty the King without allowing herself to rejoice. Her teacher showered her with unprecedented praise and astonishment and even the King granted her words of praise for her great achievement.
At this moment, she found meaning in her life. Her continued efforts in searching for herself truly paid off. And it solidified her resolve to continue on the path of magic.
After that, Felmenia achieved numerous meritorious deeds in the kingdom while she pressed on with magic. From the subjugation of the devils in the north through to the extermination of the giant monster in the desert downwards to the reform of the magic studies in the Kingdom and the establishment of an academy to advance it.
Her achievements earned her praises from all sides. The grat.i.tude of the people, the jealously of her colleagues and the expectations from her parents were the greatest honour for her.
And by now, Felmenia was recognized as one of the best mages in the Kingdom.
However, she couldn’t lift a single finger in front of the boy standing right before her eyes despite holding the valid t.i.tle of the strongest mage in the Kingdom.
A full moon hung in the star-covered dark sky. Underneath, in the courtyard of the Camelia Castle, the seat of King Astel, the boy in front of her opened his mouth really stumped.
“…Oh boy. I can’t endorse tailing someone and snooping around. Only a pitiful and foolish stray sheep that doesn’t know the world yet, is allowed to do that.”
This boy, speaking in unfamiliar terms, was one of the two people, who were summoned together with the Hero Reiji. Unlike the girl, who had agreed to defeat the Devil King together with the Hero, the extremely ordinary boy had denied the King’s request in front of the a.s.sembled company and demanded to be send back to his own world.
Like you can see— I’m an ordinary guy. I’ve no special power, so I can’t fight any monster or devils, much less the Devil King. I can’t fight. Don’t drag me into it. Send me back.
After saying that, he was confined in a given room. That happened a few days ago.
The girl had mustered her courage even while appearing to suffocate from the fear and confusion after the sudden summoning, and loudly announced to accompany the Hero. On the other hand, the boy was backbit by the cabinet ministers, generals and castle guards as disgraceful, ign.o.ble, egoistic and sc.u.m after he stubbornly insisted to be send back.
Yet, this current situation.
The white flame, her utmost pride up till now, was erased by the boy with a casual wink of his hand. And right now, he stood in front of her while emitting a serene magical power and a chilly daunting aura.
“—Okay, can I go next, Miss Mage?”
At this moment, Felmenia Stingray realized how foolish she had been.
…The boy was most likely strong and clever. His appearance was a farce. The ones, who took this pitiful bystander for a fool, were actually fools themselves. He was that cunning. And his strength was dizzying high to put into words.
This boy was a monster, who had reached an even higher level on magic than her teacher, with numerous secret skills she could never hope to match and had an absurd knowledge that would allow him to kill the Hero, who was granted a tremendous power from the divine protection of the heroic summoning, with a snap of his finger.
He was a genuine mage without doubt.
“…Who are you?”
She asked with a trembling voice, whereupon the boy fiddled bored-looking with something on top of his hand—
“—Yakagi Suimei, a magician.”
and named himself for the first time.