2 – Meeting with a Childhood Friend (1)
Lionel Academy.
It’s an academy that has been around since the early founding days of this continent.
Its purpose is simple; it serves as an educational center to help those who have just become adults to grow.
It can be considered a place with a history.
And the president of the Lionel Academy, Makarov, could not help but sigh at the current situation.
“Ah, what should I do…”
Until now, in his position as the President, he hadn’t really faced a challenging situation.
Surely, it’s very rare to find someone who is more superior than the president of the academy.
From his point of view, the children of the nobles are nothing more than cute little kids.
However.
‘The ones here are different.’
Makarov slowly scanned the documents.
Matop, one of the powerful forces on this continent.
Matop’s top figure, Matop’s daughter, Maria.
An elf who only lives in Elinia’s forest.
Erein, the daughter of the Elf Chief ruling there.
Lein, a disciple of the continent’s Swordsman.
Dav, called the future warrior of the Earth Mother Goddess.
Rowe, the son of the Knight Commander, who is one of the peaks of the Holy United Nations.
Lastly, Ely von Lionel, considered of noble status and one of the potential emperor candidates.
These are individuals belonging to a social status so rare, hardly anyone can recognize them.
However, the problem is that these very people are this year’s new admissions.
And not only that.
They aren’t even in separate classes.
All of them are together in the same class!
‘Who the heck could possibly teach them?’
If they weren’t all so exceptionally talented, it would be different.
But each and every one of them possess overwhelming talent.
Because of this, from the chairman’s point of view, it’s enough to give him one hell of a headache.
‘Isn’t there anyone who could solve this problem for me?’
Makarov was rubbing his temples, which were throbbing painfully when…
-Brrring. Brrring!
A sudden vibration came from the communication magic stone.
Makarov checked who it was; curious as to who could be contacting him.
Then, he saw that the name written on the crystal ball was Meria.
Opening the line, Makarov responded.
“What is it? Did you call to ask me to take care of your daughter?”
Being old friends, he was blunt.
The next moment, upon hearing Makarov’s response, Meria couldn’t have been happier.
-I can tell instantly that you have a headache, don’t you?
“……”
There would be no friend but an old friend who could tell by just hearing your voice.
Meria, who could pick up on it in an instant.
Makarov let out a deep sigh, his temples throbbing even more fiercely at her reaction.
“Haah. So what’s the matter? Can’t be just about your daughter, I presume.”
-As a matter of fact, I have a favor to ask.
“A favor?”
What kind of favor could the so called Tower Master possibly need from him?
With her power, virtually everything could be solved in an instant.
As Makarov pondered, unexpected news came from her lips.
-Can you by any chance, use my Tower Master successor as a professor?
“What?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected request, Makarov unintentionally asked back.
He hadn’t imagined such a great proposition would be put to him.
In the next moment, Meria inquired in a puzzled tone,
-What? Is it not possible?
How could it not be possible?
The successor to the current tower master.
His exact face and name remain undisclosed.
However, everyone on the continent calls him the great wizard.
Just how much magic has he invented until now?
His inventions have transformed the civilization of the present continent.
The communication magic tool now in use is also known to be his invention.
Moreover,
‘He’s also the one who shattered the mold of a wizard.’
Until he appeared on the battlefield, wizards typically only launched magic from the rear.
However, he fought melee battles using magic.
Usually, wizards tend to have weak physical abilities.
However, he has overcome that with magic, and unlike other wizards, he has also trained his body.
He broke all the stereotypes of wizards.
‘Thanks to him, many things like swordsmen-wizards have emerged.’
In the end, due to the successor of the current tower master, basic magic has now become a necessity.
‘The great wizard becomes a professor?’
From Makarov’s position, it’s the only option to welcome with open arms.
-Your silence seems to imply it’s impossible····
“How could it possibly be impossible?! Tell him to come for an interview tomorrow!”
-Wow. You must have been desperate. Anyway, I got it, I’ll tell the person in question.
With that, Meria ended the call.
Makarov blankly stared out the window.
Soon, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Hooh. I’m lucky to have someone to sort out the mess.”
Makarov couldn’t help but think how fortunate he was once again.
***
He was unexpectedly invited by Maria for a professorship interview at the Academy.
At first, it seemed utterly absurd.
The idea that the successor of the magic tower would be interviewed for a professorship at the Academy.
How was he supposed to take that?
Naturally, he had every intention of declining.
However.
-Are you going to stay cooped up and read books forever?!
Maria was right. It didn’t seem like a good idea to stay cooped up.
Although not totally home bound, he was realistically spending everyday inside his room, engrossed in magical research.
From Maria’s perspective, it must have been quite frustrating.
Seeing her successor spend his days like a hermit, sequestered in his room.
‘Right. It might not be so bad after all.’
Before long, the current magic tower master, Maria, would retire from service.
Which would mean, without doubt, the next magic tower master would be him.
Therefore, he now needed to gain a variety of experiences.
‘Perhaps the best way to start could be the Academy.’
Having concluded that it may not be so bad, he turned to Maria.
As expected, she was looking at his research materials in fascination.
“I can’t comprehend how one comes up with such an idea… Eh? Why?”
“You’re looking at the research materials too naturally, aren’t you?”
“Well, your research is extremely interesting. That’s why.”
“Thank you for your uninspired compliment. Anyway, when is the interview?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What?”
Had my ear deceived me?
I tapped my ear with my hand in sudden wonder.
Then I proceeded to ask once again.
“So, when did you say it is?”
“Tomorrow is the day.”
Her casual remark provoked dry laughter from me.
‘Why would she bring that up now?’
I found myself, once again, taken aback by the unpredictable nature of the witch standing before me.
***
And so, the day of the interview arrived.
As usual, I slipped into my robe and exited the tower.
‘It’s been too long since I left this place.’
Having spent so much time indoors studying magic, stepping out into the sunlight caused me to squint involuntarily.
I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I had seen the sun.
-Fresh fruit for sale!
-Scorpion kebabs for sale!
-Potions with unrivaled efficiency for sale!
Vendors hawking their wares came into my line of sight.
The capital was clearly more boisterous than my small hometown village.
‘Hmm…’
Could recalling meaningless fragments of the past be causing this?
Suddenly, an image of Lisa, long since forgotten, surfaced in my memory.
In the past, simply thinking of her face would have been torturous.
Now though, I found myself strangely unaffected by her presence in my mind.
She was only a first love who has passed by.
‘What a pointless thought.’
With that, I moved my steps.
Despite both being in the capital, the distance between the wizard’s tower and the academy was considerable.
As such, journeying to the academy took a significant amount of time.
“Is this it?”
Checking my still unfinished magical navigation system, I realized I had inadvertently arrived at my destination.
I stared at the building before me.
‘It is indeed worthy of being called the continent’s top academy.’
Lionel Academy, where the talented congregate.
Even the royal family and others become equal when they come here.
Of course, people like the royal family are treated specially, but still, it’s unusual that everyone speaks informally to each other.
This would practically be impossible anywhere else.
‘Anyway, it’s about time to stop sightseeing.’
The impressive architecture of the building was expected, so it’s not particularly surprising.
I quietly approached the entrance of the academy.
Next moment.
“Hmm? Who is this?”
A security guard on duty at the entrance is coming towards me.
I answered his question.
“Yes, I am the one scheduled for a professor interview at the academy.”
From Noble mtl dot com
He seemed to look me over at my words.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed like this is his first time hearing about this.
‘What? Did Maria deceive me?’
I wondered for a moment.
“Please wait a moment. The guide will be here soon.”
The guard must’ve contacted someone inside the academy.
I nodded at his words and waited quietly.
Then, a moment later.
“Excuse me!”
I heard someone calling me.
I slowly turned around.
And then, my face involuntarily tensed up at the sight before me.
‘What on earth…’
The same golden hair I used to see when I was a child.
Matching golden eyes.
A charming face that seems as though it would mature into something different.
At the sight of her, I was lost for words.
Because, she so closely resembled Riza from the past.
Family story, right? It looks like someone copied it from another story lol