Jared and Bertha arrived at the Mage Association and asked the receptionist if Dennis was in. The receptionist panicked.
“Master Jared Murphy!? Please wait a moment. I’ll call Dennis right away!”
Saying so, he bowed deeply and ran inside.
Why were they so flustered? Bertha and Jared tilted their heads, wondering if their unannounced visit had been a mistake.
However, the Mage Association always had staff on duty, so there should be no problem visiting freely during business hours if they had a matter to discuss. Of course, unless summoned by the association, one would typically have to wait.
This time, they had just come as usual. However, it wasn’t to accept a commission or to report its completion. They had come to see Dennis, so it was different. Jared regretted not contacting them beforehand, when he felt gazes upon him.
Leaning against the reception desk and turning around, he saw gazes filled with every emotion from curiosity to jealousy directed at him from all directions.
Frankly, it was unpleasant. He felt like he had become a spectacle.
“Hey, Jared… are they looking at us?”
“Ah, yeah, it feels like we’re being watched.”
Bertha, noticing the stares, spoke with a troubled expression.
It was incredibly annoying, but since there was no actual harm, they couldn’t complain. If they listened closely, many magicians were whispering and talking about the incident where another Court Mage Candidate was murdered.
While the staff’s stares were not as rude, Jared could tell they were being observed with intent.
“I guess it’s convenient for them to have something to talk about, since I’m the only survivor among the candidates.”
“Is that so… I feel like it’s not just that, though.”
As the saying goes, you can’t stop people’s mouths. No matter how much the association tried to hide it, news of the murdered Court Mage Candidates had already spread.
“Master Murphy!”
“Dennis-san. I apologize for the sudden visit. But there’s something I wanted to ask you–”
“No need for greetings, please come to the reception room! We’ll stand out too much here!”
Dennis, who came running from the back, grabbed Jared’s arm and dragged him away before he could even greet him.
Bertha, with a troubled look, followed and was led into a section inaccessible to anyone but staff and invited guests.
It was called a reception room, but the sofas and table were first-class. Jared wondered if he, a minor, should be treated in such a room, but he sat down on the sofa with Bertha as Dennis instructed.
“Master Murphy… I don’t want to lecture you. But the murderer of the Court Mage Candidates hasn’t been caught, and what are you doing without any escorts!”
“Well, that’s…”
“It’s true that Master Murphy might be strong. However, since you said you didn’t need an escort, you should act accordingly!”
Watching Dennis add an absurd amount of sugar to the coffee on the table and stir it, Jared thought it was a personal problem that he was stressed.
He understood that he was partly responsible for that stress, but he was concerned that Dennis looked much more worn out than when they had last met.
“Um, Dennis-san. This is Bertha Bartram. She’s, well, my escort.”
“You don’t need to tell me obvious lies. Madam Bertha Bartram is famous as Lord Laurentz Herring’s escort magician.”
“I was famous?”
Bertha, surprised to hear this for the first time, received a nod from Dennis.
“Yes. Her skills are excellent, and she’s a promising magician that the association is keeping an eye on. However, indeed– as Lady of the Herring family’s cherished companion and someone whose opinion is valued, Bertha is someone the Mage Association would very much like to be on good terms with.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is. Yeah. Everyone says the same thing when they meet me, but the Lady, while difficult, is a good person.”
“Yes, we are well aware that she is not a bad person. However, that difficulty is honestly something that the Mage Association, negotiating with the Herring family, finds extremely hard to deal with, to put it delicately.”
Jared couldn’t help but wonder how troublesome she was. He had heard bits and pieces from Laurentz and had just heard directly from Bertha. And with that knowledge—Jared thought he would prefer not to meet her if possible.
“Are you negotiating with the Herring family?”
“Yes, yes. We are reconsidering Master Laurentz’s status as a special student, just as we are for Master Murphy. However, the Lady of the Herring family refused, stating that her son might be in danger. No, as a parent, I understand her opinion completely. But if we continue to treat Master Laurentz as just a student, especially after the incident from the other day, it would be a waste.”
Laurentz would undoubtedly be pleased. Becoming a special student would mean being recognized by the Mage Association as a magician.
If he were to make a career as a magician, he would surely want to accept it.
For that, he would have to rely on the Mage Association to persuade his mother. No, Laurentz himself would have to put in the effort.
“By the way, what is the purpose of your visit today?”
“Thank you for allowing me to enter the victim’s mansion the other day. However, we didn’t discover anything significant. The culprit seems to be quite skilled. There are no traces left.”
“I imagine so. It’s a vexing matter.”
“And, though it’s difficult to say, Laurentz is desperately searching for the culprit, and I want to stop him before he gets into danger. However, we have no information, so I don’t know where to even begin looking for Laurentz…”
Dennis nodded in understanding at Jared’s explanation.
“I heard that Master Kevin Harrington was Laurentz Herring’s master and disciple, so I can empathize with your feelings, but it’s too reckless.”
“Yes. It’s not that I think Laurentz lacks the ability to defeat the culprit, but I’m worried about how calmly he can fight right now…”
“No, even if he fought calmly, there might be no chance of victory.”
“—Huh?”
It was Bertha who exclaimed in surprise.
Jared also couldn’t grasp the meaning of Dennis’s words.
The way he said it, it was as if he knew who the culprit was.
“Could it be—”
“Yes. We have an idea of who the culprit is. No, to be precise, a witness has been found.”
“Then the problem is solved… but it doesn’t seem like it. Judging by your expression, Dennis-san, it looks like another troublesome situation has arisen?”
As Jared pointed out, Dennis’s complexion was poor. He finished his coffee and confirmed with a sigh.
“You are correct. It’s already common knowledge within the Mage Association— last night, Court Mage Tres Brauer was attacked.”
“Whoa, no way?”
“Um, no way… what is Lord Brauer’s condition? Has the worst happened?”
Not only a Court Mage Candidate but a Court Mage being attacked—Jared was more dumbfounded than surprised.
He didn’t know who the fool was or what their purpose was, but he couldn’t help but wish they would just stop.
“Fortunately, or rather, fortunately, his life was saved. However, he has not yet regained consciousness. His family noticed the disturbance, which is fortunate because it led to Lord Tres being discovered earlier. However, many of his family members who encountered the perpetrator were killed by them.”
“…How horrific.”
“So, can you tell me the identity of the perpetrator?”
Dennis hesitated for a moment, but when he met Jared’s gaze, he seemed to give up and opened his mouth.
“It’s Barnabas Kaif, a former Court Mage Candidate.”
