LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 51
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Episode 51
Underwater Operations (2)
The administrator called out for Riley.
At the same time, a snicker escaped my lips.
[Heh…]
Why is that?
Why on earth did they choose Riley out of all those applicants?
Well, I suppose…
Maybe it’s some pure intention behind the “nomination right.”
Riley passed the first exam with an outstanding record. Likewise, in the second exam, he established his own position with a brilliant performance.
So, the fact that Riley received the “nomination right” wasn’t strange at all.
It’s just…
‘…It feels uneasy.’
The ones who nominated Riley were none other than the [Irantes Magic Tower], which made a part of me feel uncomfortable.
*
The next evening.
The night before the final exam.
Chatter filled the air—.
The Five Great Towers held a banquet.
It was a party attended not just by the applicants but also by administrators and high-ranking officials from each tower.
[Well, most of the administrators are high-ranking officials from the Five Great Towers anyway…]
Nevertheless.
It was no exaggeration to say that almost all the important people were gathered, aside from the Tower Masters.
“……”
[…….]
Riley and I kept a step back from the party’s excitement.
Excusing ourselves from the drinking scene due to our age, we sat at a corner table, closely observing the party.
‘Hmm…’
After several minutes of watching the banquet, we reached a conclusion.
‘…The officials seem to treat the applicants as if they’ve already passed.’
[Yeah.]
There was no wall between the applicants and the Five Great Towers officials.
The stiff atmosphere of a selection exam had vanished, you could say.
It felt just like any casual banquet.
This essentially meant that the administrators already thought of the applicants as accepted candidates.
I took a slow look around.
“Oh, you, you really? You truly found me impressive?”
“Of course! I was wowed at that time! Not just me, other elders also actively recommended you to the Tower Master, Ms. Olivia.”
“Oh, oh… Thank you! Really, thank you!”
Olivia was conversing with a wizard who appeared to be an elder of the [Yadon-Grattan Red Tower].
Seeing her laughing and chatting with a stranger wasn’t like her, but it seemed they communicated well.
Well, aside from that, Arfel Stingwood was chatting with an administrator from the [Irantes Magic Tower].
Dorothy was talking with an official from the [Gaya-Violet Tower].
Becky was gossiping with the elder of the [Yukria Tower].
[…….]
It became clear.
The final exam isn’t really a “test.”
The one-on-one interviews with the Tower Masters were nothing more than a procedure for entering the towers.
Each of the Five Great Towers had already decided on the applicants they would pick.
Thud-thud—
Just as I was thinking that, someone started walking towards us.
“Oh, Becky.”
“……Yeah.”
Becky had just finished her conversation with the elder of the Yukria Tower.
Letting out a sigh, she plopped down in the seat next to us.
“Phew…”
“…….”
[…….]
The smell of alcohol wafted from her breath.
She’s drunk. Just look at her slightly drooping eyelids.
“…I think I prefer the Yukria Tower the most.”
She mumbled with a slurring voice. Hearing that, Riley nodded and responded vaguely.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. The other towers seemed to shy away from me.”
A bitter smile crept onto Becky’s face.
She let another sigh slip as she continued.
“Well, considering the stuff I pulled, which tower would actually like me?”
“That stuff…?”
“You know.”
Is she just tipsy or something?
Becky seemed about to spill a story she had kept hidden from us.
Thud—
But at that moment, someone joined our table, forcing her to stop.
It was Garon Theobalt.
“May I join you?”
“…….”
He took a glass from the waiter, took a sip, and then turned to Becky.
“Rebecca Duncan.”
“……What?”
“Are you also planning to go to the Yukria Tower?”
“Well, yeah.”
Becky replied in a deflated voice, her expression showing disappointment.
“I just thought, maybe I’d follow my mom’s path.”
Her mom’s path.
Riley tilted his head quizically and asked.
“Your mother?”
“Why? Is it so surprising that I had a mom? Huh?”
“……Huh?”
As Becky widened her eyes in surprise, Riley responded, flustered.
“I never said anything like that.”
“I don’t know. I thought you would say something like that.”
“……?”
Gak—
Becky grabbed Garon Theobalt’s drink with her slightly tipsy gaze.
Though Garon looked at her with a disdainful stare, she didn’t care and gulped it down.
“Cough…! Bitter.”
“…….”
With a dumbfounded expression, Riley glanced at Becky before asking again.
“Your mom was a magician too, right?”
“Yeah. Well, she was more of an alchemist than a magician, to be precise.”
“…An alchemist?”
“You know, the kind that makes potions and items.”
“Ah.”
“Among them, my mom was a pretty famous potion-maker. She was affiliated with the Yukria Tower.”
Hearing that, Riley asked another question.
“So, are you trying to join the Yukria Tower to be with your mom?”
“No. That’s not it. And besides, we can’t even work together.”
“Why? Is potion-making and your magic in different fields?”
“No.”
“So then…?”
“My mom passed away. That was 11 years ago.”
“Ah.”
Becky let out a deep sigh.
“Isn’t it customary to offer an apology in such situations? Like, ‘I’m sorry. I touched on a painful memory for you,’ and all that?”
“…….”
“Ugh, forget it. You know nothing about these things, you spoiled brat….”
“I lost my entire family when I was young too.”
“……Ah.”
Becky made an agitated expression.
“That’s… uh, sorry.”
“…….”
“Ahhhhh, I don’t know, I don’t know anyhow.”
Waving her hands to lighten the mood, Becky continued speaking.
“I used to visit the Yukria Tower often with my mom since I was a kid.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, so eventually, I naturally got close to the Tower Master. Even now, I’m on terms where I call her ‘Auntie, Auntie.’”
Hearing that, Riley asked.
“Is it allowed for a selection exam applicant to have personal connections with high-ranking officials of the tower?”
“What’s the problem?”
Becky replied nonchalantly.
“I already stayed at the aunt’s annex during the selection exam. If management had any issues, they would have brought it up by now.”
“…….”
[…….]
Who would have thought that the person I stayed with was the Tower Master from the Yukria Tower? It was slightly absurd.
That weirdo sure had some substantial connections.
“Isn’t that cheating?”
“There’s no such thing in the magical world. By that logic, Arfel Stingwood over there must be cheating too, right?”
Becky pointed with her finger at Arfel Stingwood.
Specifically, at the person he was talking to.
“See that person talking to Arfel Stingwood?”
“…….”
“That’s his master. Also, the administrator for this selection exam.”
Riley and I turned our gaze toward the person Becky pointed out.
They looked to be about twenty years old.
A young man appeared to be present.
A badge proving his status as an administrator was pinned to his chest.
“You said he’s Arfel’s master, but he looks younger than him.”
“Yeah, that’s because that administrator is from the Irantes Tower. Thanks to the immortal spell, he can maintain eternal youth. Well, anyhow.”
The immortal spell.
Eternal youth.
Some phrases caught my interest, but I decided to focus on what Becky said next.
“Now you get it, right? I’m not the only one with connections to the Five Great Towers. The magical world is just too small.”
“…….”
“When you think about it, old man Theobalt might be of the same generation as the Yukria Tower Master and Lutemis, right?”
Becky turned towards Garon Theobalt and asked.
“Isn’t that right, old man?”
“That’s correct.”
Garon Theobalt nodded readily, acknowledging Becky’s words.
Seeing this, Riley cautiously turned to me and asked.
‘Magician.’
[What?]
‘Is what Becky said true?’
[Hmm…]
Well, nothing Becky said was incorrect.
The magical world is indeed smaller than expected.
Moreover, when it comes to elite magicians reaching the final stages of the selection exam, the range of connections is bound to shrink even further.
‘Then, could these relationships affect the results of the selection exam?’
[No, not at all.]
I’ve said it countless times, but the selection exam is a rigorous meritocracy.
[Just look at you.]
“……”
[Even though you appeared like a comet, many officials showed interest in you.]
Riley, who dropped out of the first-year course at Lutemis, had no connections.
But before we could settle at our table, numerous officials had approached Riley for conversation.
This served as proof that the selection exam was indeed a thorough meritocracy.
“Riley.”
While we were discussing this among ourselves.
Suddenly, Garon Theobalt called out to Riley in a quiet voice.
“Which tower are you thinking of joining?”
“……”
Finally asking that question.
I had wondered when he’d bring it up.
After a moment’s hesitation, Riley ultimately answered.
“I’m just planning to go to the place where I got the nomination right.”
“Is that the Irantes Tower?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
Why is that?
Garon Theobalt’s expression hardened slightly upon hearing the answer.
Just as he seemed ready to say something—
“That’s a good choice.”
“……?”
At that very moment.
A gentle voice interrupted our conversation.
“So, the topic of the Irantes Tower has come up. Would it be alright if I join in to explain a bit?”
Thud—
A gray-haired woman smiled and naturally settled next to Riley.
Who could it be? It was the head administrator we had been seeing throughout the selection exam.
“Sorry for the late introduction.”
“…….”
“I am Isabella Mage Triwizard, the head administrator of this selection exam.”
Hearing that name, Becky tilted her head slightly.
“Wait, you mentioned the Triwizard family…?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Isabella smiled slightly.
“I’m Olivia’s great-aunt.”
“…….”
“Though that child seems not to know me.”
Olivia’s great-aunt.
So, no matter how you look at it, it means she’s practically Olivia’s grandma.
However, Isabella looked like she was in her thirties at most.
[…….]
I felt I could vaguely understand the reason behind that. And somehow, Riley also seemed to figure it out on his own.
“You’re affiliated with the Irantes Tower.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Isabella nodded with a gentle smile as she responded.
For some reason, her gaze towards Riley had a mysterious quality.