I don’t know if Adelina felt responsible for her actions or if she intended to defeat Barnabas to erase the past, but anger welled up within me as I realized she wasn’t considering those around her, and I unintentionally raised my voice.
“I apologize on behalf of the Association. I am truly sorry for this situation.”
“Ah, no, I wasn’t complaining to you, Dennis-san…”
Dennis bowed deeply to Jared’s anger, but Jared well understood that it wasn’t Dennis’s fault. Still, he was the only Association staff member present. He had no choice but to apologize.
“I’m sorry. I just got a little irritated…”
“I understand how you feel.”
Dennis told Jared, who had apologized meekly, that it was fine, but that very consideration made Jared feel even more apologetic.
“Um, does the Mage Association know who Barnabas Kaif will target next?”
When Bertha, who had been listening intently, asked, Dennis put on a bitter face.
“Unfortunately, we cannot say. If I were to speculate, I would guess Adelina Bischof-sama or the Brauer Count Family, but there’s also a possibility he might appear before Master Murphy. He acts solely for revenge without any prior notice, so I apologize.”
“Please don’t apologize. However, if that’s the case, we don’t know where Laurentz-sama is heading. It’s a shame, even though we obtained this information…”
Just as he was about to offer words of comfort to Bertha, who was worried about Laurentz, it happened.
“—Damn it.”
Dennis exclaimed as if he’d just remembered something.
“What is it?”
“I’m truly sorry. I forgot about Laurentz Herring-sama. He came to the Association seeking information much earlier than you two.”
“…You didn’t tell him everything, did you?”
“No, I did not. I apologize for forgetting because I wasn’t the one who handled it, but the staff member who did said that they understood his position and could predict his actions if given information. So, while they reported that they hadn’t told him anything—things have turned for the worse.”
Dennis covered his face with both hands, and Jared had a bad premonition.
“I hate to think this, but there’s a possibility Laurentz-sama has obtained the information.”
“How could that be!?”
Bertha stood up and raised her voice, but Jared told her to calm down and sit.
However, Bertha seemed worried and looked at Dennis expectantly, urging him to speak.
“Honestly, I hesitated to tell you this—but there are voices advocating for Laurentz Herring-sama to be recommended as a Court Mage Candidate.”
“—!”
Jared and Bertha were both speechless. They couldn’t understand why Laurentz had to be chosen as a Court Mage Candidate at this point.
“I understand your surprise. I was surprised myself when I first heard it.”
“How could something like that happen?”
“While Laurentz Herring-sama’s current abilities may not yet reach the level of a Court Mage Candidate, if he gains more experience, he was considered for recommendation as a Court Mage Candidate in the future. However, due to this incident, candidates other than Master Murphy have been murdered, and among the victims is Kevin Harrington-sama.”
“You mean, because my Master was killed, they want to nominate Laurentz as a replacement?”
“That is correct. While it is regrettable, there are individuals within the Association who think that way. They would say it’s just a few years ahead of schedule. While that might be true, I personally cannot accept it.”
Perhaps, they wanted to create some positive news, even if they couldn’t hide the fact that there was only one Court Mage Candidate left—and he was killed by a former Court Mage Candidate. Everyone would welcome a story of a disciple avenging his master and surpassing him. There were people who wanted to make Laurentz play that role. Jared didn’t want to do it, but he could understand it. However, he couldn’t accept it. He didn’t want his friend, who truly mourned the death of Kevin Harrington and was still seeking revenge, to be used for their selfish convenience.
“This is unforgivable!”
“You are right, Baltram-sama. It should not be forgiven. However, such people exist and are actively working.”
Dennis Beckman is a good person. Although their association has only been for about a month, Jared has taken a liking to his polite demeanor, speech, and friendly nature. However, not all members of the Association are as virtuous as Dennis. Just as there were staff members involved in fraudulent acts seven years ago, there are still those who plan to minimize the damage to the Mage Association’s reputation by using Laurentz. Laurentz Herring is an ambitious magician with high capabilities. He might be chosen as a Court Mage Candidate someday. Jared also knows that the Association had an eye on him for a long time. However, this would be too much for Laurentz to bear.
“What if someone who plotted to use Laurentz-sama contacted him this morning—”
“The information would have been conveyed… Damn it!”
“Jared!”
“Yeah, let’s hurry. Dennis-san, thank you for the information. We’re leaving now.”
Jared quickly bowed, conveyed his thanks, and tried to rush out of the room. However, Dennis shouted loudly, stopping him.
“Master Murphy! Please wait!”
Jared stopped and looked back. Dennis, who had regained his composure and now wore a serious expression, was looking at him.
“It has been decided that your status as a Court Mage Candidate will be announced once this incident is resolved.”
“Do as you please. More importantly, right now, about Laurentz—”
“—However! If you defeat Barnabas—you will be announced not as Court Mage Candidate Jared Murphy, but as the new Court Mage, Jared Murphy.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Jared couldn’t comprehend Dennis’s words. He was baffled as to why defeating Barnabas would make him a Court Mage. His initial anger had subsided, and he was regaining his composure. It seemed Bertha, who was also about to rush out of the room, was in the same state, looking stunned.
“The magician called Barnabas Kaif, who defeated a Minotaur, murdered Court Mage Candidates, and attacked a current Court Mage, is that formidable an opponent. Do you understand? You might die if you fight him.”
“Even so, we can’t just leave Laurentz. There’s a possibility that Laurentz and Barnabas will clash!”
“I understand that. However, I don’t want either Laurentz-sama or you, Jared-sama, to die!”
“Then send a Court Mage! He’s that kind of opponent!”
“We cannot. One is severely injured, and the other is being targeted. The remaining Court Mages have been guarding the Royal Palace and other important figures since early this morning in case of any eventuality. Barnabas is consumed by revenge, but we don’t know how far he intends to go. Will it end with just the involved parties, or will he also direct his hatred towards the Association or the Royal Palace—it depends entirely on him.”
“Even so—”
“Duke Alway also needs to be protected. A Court Mage has likely already been dispatched to the Ducal family.”
Hearing the Duke Alway’s name, Jared lost his momentum. He couldn’t bring himself to ask for Olivier’s father’s guards to be withdrawn to confront Barnabas, and even if he did, he doubted the Association and the Royal Palace would agree.
“As for Bischof-sama, she has refused all protection. We would like to be prepared for any eventuality, but as I mentioned earlier, she intends to handle it herself. It may be a sense of responsibility, but she likely doesn’t want her actions to be brought to light and intends to pay for them by defeating Barnabas. The Association will not depose Bischof-sama, who has contributed to the country for seven years, from her position as Court Mage, but the current situation is more serious than that.”
Adelina, who couldn’t defeat a Minotaur alone, could hardly stand a chance against Barnabas, who could defeat a Minotaur single-handedly, even if she had gained experience since seven years ago. Barnabas had grown even stronger. At the very least, Adelina couldn’t defeat the Minotaur.
“Barnabas, the Court Mages, the Mage Association, all of them can do as they please! I will do what I must to protect my precious friends. Excuse me, Dennis-san, but you have no right to stop me.”
“I will not stop you. My words would not make Master Murphy stop. Therefore, please be safe—and please continue to be a good magician, never forgetting the feelings you have for your friend right now.”
Dennis smiled once, stood up, and bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
Jared thanked Dennis, who not only didn’t stop his actions but tacitly allowed him to leave, and then left the Mage Association with Bertha.
