Grey Bell
A unique witch who operates both a consortium and a school as a descendant of the Bell family, the creators of Berya (Dark Magic).
Her rank is Grand Magus, making her a senior to me in terms of hierarchy.
The bad connection between us started during the first-grade exam.
The first-grade exam is conducted by senior Grand Magi who set the test, and you must pass it.
When it was my turn, the one responsible for the final test was her.
Her exam was a “Match.”
The test required me to fight her, and if I could injure her, I would pass.
Her specialty, Berya (Dark Magic), involved creating and manipulating dark matter, and her method was known as the ultimate shield.
All the other magicians failed to breach her barrier during the match.
Except for me.
Though it was called the ultimate shield, I thought it was no match for the barrier my Master had hung in the fridge.
I destroyed her Berya (Dark Magic) and bound her with Ayer (Wind Chain Magic), claiming victory and earning my title as a first-grade magician.
And that was when it all started.
She began to show strange obsession toward me.
“What are you so eagerly staring at, little Yuren? How shameful.”
She offered to take me to a café near the Magic Association, saying she’d give me a discount if I had a cup of coffee.
I glared at her, wondering how she would mess with me, but the woman seemed to enjoy it.
“First… let’s hear your reason for why I should keep you alive.”
At my words, she leaned forward, exposing her chest.
“Well… because I’m beautiful?”
“Bullshit…”
What kind of filthy lump is she trying to entice with now?
My standard for beauty is my Master!
“Hohoho, are you still mad about that prank?”
“Prank? Do you know how much trouble we went through because of your stunt?”
I almost shot a Flamethrower (Fire Magic) at her face but barely held back.
The Grey School and consortium are at the next tier down from the Edward Consortium.
For beings like us, 500 million gold is no trivial matter, but for her, it might be.
That money could tear families apart if mishandled.
“Really? Honestly, that amount isn’t too hard to earn, right? Especially with me, the first-grade magician who defeated the hero of the Millennium War, Irene.”
“…….”
In this world, the easiest way for a magician to make money is related to war.
Creating potions, magical tools, or crystal balls for fighting or going as a magical mercenary to regions where skirmishes still occur along the border is the most reliable way to earn money.
Like the Grey School and consortium.
If my Master, who was a hero of the Millennium War, or I were to step in, we could easily rake in 500 million.
But I really didn’t want to do that unless necessary.
“Well, I suppose it’d be a bit difficult for ‘Peaceful Irene.’”
Swish! Pop…
In that moment, a small cut appeared on her cheek, and her earring got severed.
Or to clarify, “I did the cutting.”
“You… just died once.”
“Lick, and with your current power from the Wind Blade Magic, it’s impressive… little Yuren, you’ve improved.”
Grey provoked me while licking the blood flowing from her cheek.
The war’s end was thanks to the efforts of many heroes.
And one of them was my Master.
My Master led the anti-war movement among magicians.
Thanks to that, the war could end, but as a result, my Master was rejected by the militant factions within the Magic Association.
Though they couldn’t directly attack because of her abilities and contributions, nor because of those who stand against war.
They called my Master the “Peaceful Irene.”
It implied she fled from war under the excuse of peace, like a coward.
The day I heard it for the first time, I almost burned down their house in retaliation.
“By the way, I heard about that magic you mentioned. You created something interesting, little Yuren.”
She pulled out a small crystal ball from her pockets.
It looked like a Tetric crystal ball made by the Edward Consortium.
What now? Is she asking me to sign it?
“It’s so fun, it’s 100 times better than your magic.”
“And 100 times weaker, like this.”
Clang!
She wrapped the crystal ball in dark magic and shattered the Tetric crystal ball right there.
Is this woman truly wanting to die at my hands?
“Why are you wasting your talents on such things, little Yuren?”
She gazed at me with a look of delight, as if relishing my expression.
If I were to kill her here, she might actually enjoy it.
She could manipulate me into becoming what she wanted.
“I could make much better use of your talents, you know, hoho.”
Since the first-grade exam, Grey has persistently sent me flirtations, and I turned her down.
Thus, the backlash fell onto my Master.
Magicians value their reputation.
Even those who dislike my Master wouldn’t directly cheat or defraud our school since that would tarnish their reputation; they’d only give us meaningless work or gossip behind our backs.
Except for a freak like this woman, who’s obsessed with me and out to scam my Master.
“I have plenty of experience dealing with people like you, and they usually end up making everyone miserable.”
I felt I was on the verge of losing my temper.
I threw an ‘500 million gold note’ I had prepared with Sylvia’s help at her while saying.
“Touch our Master or our disciples again, and next time, I’ll really kill you, so take this money and scram.”
If I just gave her gold, it felt like she’d twist the situation and torment me or our school.
In past lives, the best solution to these situations was this.
Let the whale fight the whale.
I clearly sent a notice through the Edward Consortium to Grey’s consortium, and even sent this note over.
If she messes around with money again, she’ll first have to face the Consortium before dealing with me.
Once she calculated that out, she received the note with a gleeful disposition.
“Our little Yuren has grown a lot, using your brain like this.”
She stood up like a well-fed carnivorous animal that was satisfied with the spectacle.
Before she left, she looked back one last time.
“Little one, your ‘true talent’ is going to be needed soon. I look forward to working together then, hoho.”
With a last ominous smile, Grey faded into the crimson sunset.
She looked like a boss monster from a dark soul, and I wanted to defeat her right away.
…Would defeating her give me the ‘Moonlight Sword’?
Whatever the case, it was an otherwise great day that ended on a sour note.
*
After that, I completed the festival preparations with Sylvia and returned home with a carriage loaded with gifts.
In this world, carriages can be reinforced with magic and used like cars, but there’s a downside that they can’t exceed a certain speed if there’s too much cargo.
In the end, I arrived home three days later.
Sylvia had prepared a truly diverse variety of gifts for the disciples.
Toys, dolls, premium alcohol, quality jerky, and even my Master’s favorite top-notch strawberry ice cream!
Everyone was extremely satisfied with her gifts.
Of course, there was also the ‘health potion made from unicorn horn’ I bought for Jiren and Noirin.
Hoho, they loved it enough to faint, and I should have bought more.
A month passed after that.
“Brother! Come here! I think it’s starting!”
Today was the day I heard from Sylvia that the J Bard Guild would be advertising for a festival.
Since we kept the details a secret from our school’s disciples, everyone tuned in eagerly to the broadcast crystal ball.
[Hello♩ everyone! This is JYJ from the J Bard Guild!♫]
A frivolous yet cheerful MC, or rather a bard’s voice, echoed from the crystal ball.
I didn’t know much about the bard side, but according to Karen, they were like the top radio stars in the past life.
[And today’s hot item! The Tetric crystal ball! There’s no way you don’t have one, right? I barely managed to get mine from a friend last week.]
The young disciples cheered and showed off their own Tetric crystal balls in response to his words.
I had given out Tetric crystal balls to our school’s disciples, so everyone had one.
That feeling of superiority having a game others didn’t in childhood… it was no joke.
[But everyone, should I share some special news today? They’re actually holding a tournament for that Tetric game!! Wowww! Give it a round of applause♫]
“Wowwwww!”
“Is it real, Yuren hyung!?”
“Of course it is!”
Amidst the excitement, another shocking news was reported.
[The grand prize is an astounding 100 million gold! And the tournament venue is none other than Zephia! And it’s happening during the National Foundation Day Festival!]
“Wowwwww!” x2
“Is this real, Yuren!?”
“Of course, how could it be fake?”
The mention of 100 million gold visibly excited our disciples.
Well, hearing that the world’s first game tournament has a 100 million gold prize is enough to cause such reactions.
[Anyone, regardless of age or gender, can join! So if you consider yourself the best in Tetric, start packing your bags and rush to Zephia!!]
Amidst the fervor, the bard began getting even more excited than he initially was.
[By the way, I’m going! Everyone! If I miss such a fun spectacle, my ancestors will smack me upside the head! Even if my wife slaps me, I’ll definitely go!!]
He seemed truly excited, speaking without care, while the young disciples looked somewhat deflated.
“People living in Zephia are lucky.”
“Yeah, I guess we have to watch our Master’s video magic…”
“What are you guys talking about?”
At my words, everyone’s gaze turned to me.
This is one reason I had to directly go to Zephia and stay there for three days.
“We’re going too. All together.”
“………”
“……”
In that moment, the entire building fell silent. Then…
[“Wowwwwwwwww!!!!”]
Everyone screamed with joy as if their hearts might burst from excitement.
Karen hugged my Master with delight, and Noirin and Jiren clutched each other in joy, seemingly re-living their childhood.
[Then I’ll end the broadcast with the song ‘Magic Box Falling from the Sky.’ Have a good night! This has been JYJ from the J Bard Guild!]
As everyone cheered, the night drew deeper.
The day of the festival that would change the world was drawing near.
