The Magic City

Yo, I'm Serge. Right now, I'm standing in line at the gates of Magic City Jemidan, waiting to get in.

Why? Well obviously, it's to enroll in the magic academy.

After Cordova's upheaval came to an end, I felt it keenly.

I just don't have enough power.

Well, my comparison targets are a bit extreme, but Nee-chan and Carla-san are basically Super Saiyans.

Irina would be a Saiyan on the verge of awakening, I guess.

My position? Well, it'd be nice if I were Krillin, but I think I'm about Yamcha-level at best.

That's why I wanted to at least get up to Krillin's level, so I consulted various people about it.

Most of them said that for a mage, enrolling in the magic academy was the best way to go.

Well, Nee-chan said actual combat comes first though. She doesn't realize she's a monster. Normal people die before they can get stronger.

So, when I consulted Carla-sama about the magic academy, she gladly wrote me a letter of introduction.

"You will certainly become a splendid mage."

After saying that, she smiled and rephrased herself.

"No, you are already a splendid mage. You will likely become a mage who leaves his mark on history."

Ahh, the smile of a goddess! Nothing less from a former saint. Even I, who've gotten used to it, felt like I was floating up to heaven.

Oh, speaking of beauties, Nee-chan's a beauty too, but she's more like… the cool, beautiful barbarian warrior woman type? She's a different type from Carla-san's pure, orthodox model type.

So after all that happened, I took stagecoaches and caravan carriages to make my way all the way here, but…

"Haaaah? Say that again, boy."

I ended up getting into it with some people.

"I said, wouldn't a wall this height be unable to withstand an invasion from the demon tribe?"

Yeah, I was just standing in line normally, but someone in front of me happened to be a resident of this city.

So I asked if a wall this height would be okay.

I mean, it was only about three times Gig's height.

Then they said it'd be fine because they could put up walls with magic when the time came.

Isn't that weird though?

Couldn't they save magic power by building the wall beforehand?

Then they said there was no way they'd ever run out of magic power.

When I asked why, thinking there might be some incredible magic device, they said that if all the mages in the magic city used magic together, no matter how many monsters attacked…

I thought to myself.

Isn't that just willpower talk?

Well, I didn't say it quite so bluntly, but I asked specifically how many monsters they could handle.

Yeah, no answer. "No matter how many" isn't an answer. Isn't this just wishful thinking?

Well, I've hidden behind Nee-chan's skirt, but even I have some pride in having been through my share of battlefields.

Since I was interested in the defenses of the city I'd be living in, I asked various detailed questions.

But none of the people around me could answer.

There was even the extreme argument that everything would be fine because Azelford-sama was at Sacred Mountain Cyrus.

But even Carla-san, whom Azelford-sama evaluated as "beyond me," could lose to someone weaker if caught exhausted.

Besides, that Demon King-sama is stronger than Azelford-sama, right? Well, that's off the record, so I won't say anything.

So while we were talking like that, the mage-looking people around me kept getting more and more hostile.

Finally, someone started shouting "A foolish noble brandishing his status!"

Oh, I was dressed formally since I was going to visit the family who'd be taking care of me. The formal attire of a Manesh baron.

I wasn't brandishing my noble status at all. Though I suppose my appearance might have looked that way.

Generally speaking, would a real noble ride a shared carriage?

I was originally a farmer, and even in my previous life, I was from a middle-class family. There's no way I'd be hung up on social status.

But they didn't see it that way. It was already a storm of abuse. They're probably getting carried away thinking I'm just a kid.

No, I'm not losing my temper, okay?

I feel like I grew a lot through that war. Intimidation without real strength behind it isn't scary at all.

Level 20 or 30? Small fry. Small fry, I tell you.

Even I could subdue them barehanded if I used body strengthening magic.

But I won't. I can't cause a scene here and sully Carla-san's reputation.

Still, while enduring it by thinking of Carla-san's smile, I thought about it.

If Nee-chan had written that letter of introduction, I'd probably be free to cause a ruckus right about now.

I mean, she'd enjoy that kind of thing.

Well, just as I was getting troubled about when this would settle down, that carriage happened to pass by.

"Be silent."

A voice amplification spell that brooked no argument. Everyone went quiet.

Oh yeah, come to think of it, I don't know much about neutralization magic that doesn't cause injuries.

Anyway, the carriage window opened, and the person inside showed their face.

I was surprised.

It was a bespectacled girl.

This world has magic, you know. Bad eyesight can be cured. There aren't many people with bad eyesight to begin with.

Yet she was deliberately wearing glasses, so I used Identify on her.

A surprising level 70. Moreover, she even had the Gift of Magic Natural Talent.

She was about my age with black hair. Well, I suppose you could call her a beauty, but you know, I had someone with a world-class beautiful face right next to me for a while.

Besides, she's still a bit young. Not in my strike zone.

Also, her face doesn't quite look like someone from the northwest part of the continent. If anything, she looks kind of Japanese.

"What seems to be the matter?"

When the girl asked, I explained the city's lack of defenses in a well-reasoned manner.

"I see, that is reasonable. I will inform Otou-sama."

Saying that, the carriage carrying the Ojou-sama headed toward the main gate, passing by all the people lined up.

I heard later that nobles have that kind of privilege here. I should have used it too.

 

*

 

Magic City Jemidan was a vertically-oriented city. Buildings that looked like high-rises were lined up, and they were called towers.

Heading down the main street, the magic academy was at the end, and the large mansion where I'd be staying was right next to it.

When I asked to be announced at the front gate, they made strange faces. Well, it probably doesn't happen often that a noble's child shows up alone.

Nevertheless, as expected of Carla-sama's letter of introduction. A butler came out and welcomed me courteously.

"Danna-sama is currently out on business, but fortunately Ojou-sama is here."

Well, it would be unusual for him to be home during the day.

After waiting a few minutes in the reception room, there was a knock at the door.

When I stood up to greet her, to my surprise, it was that beauty from earlier.

She seemed surprised too, but quickly put on a composed expression. Kuudere, that's kuudere. She hasn't gone dere yet though.

"Nice to meet you. I am Chrystina Koto Marken, daughter of this house."

"Nice to meet you as well. I am Sagittarius Cristoll Crowley."

Eh? Why Crowley, you ask?

When I was appointed baron, I had a new title name made for me.

"Is Sir Sagittarius a noble?"

"Yes. I am equivalent to a baron of the Ogress Kingdom."

"Ah, I see." Chrystina-jou said. It is the most famous country right now, after all.

"The treatment of nobles in Jemidan is somewhat special."

Ah, I'd heard a bit about that, but it might be good to hear more.

First, in Jemidan, almost none of the typical noble privileges apply. I'd heard about this.

At most, you get priority passing through the gates, or it's easier to get restaurant reservations—that level of thing. Using noble privilege doesn't make crimes any lighter.

"Well, I was originally a farmer, so I think I'll be fine with that."

At these words, the Ojou-sama seemed quite surprised.

"Did your father achieve military merit?"

Well, considering how Ogress was established, that's a reasonable assumption.

"No, I happened to become a companion of Her Majesty the Queen during her journey, and I served in the supply division during the war, so I was evaluated for that."

"So you yourself hold the title?"

Oh, she's surprised. Very surprised.

This is exactly it. I'm AWESOME!

"A commoner in one generation… and at such a young age… Was it through magic? No, since it was the supply division, you must have been quite competent."

No, it was the power of magic.

Well, I couldn't really say that, so I just smiled like a noble and dodged the question.

Earl Marken had the same oriental features as his daughter. I didn't know this before, but apparently, this type of appearance is common in the eastern city-states.

The family has one son and one daughter, and Chrystina-jou is the younger sister. The eldest son seems to have taken more after their deceased mother, with features that look Southern European.

And well, this guy doesn't give off a great impression.

He said things like how his sister's appearance wasn't that good so please be friends with her, and that it was impressive for an upstart to get this far at my age.

"Chrystina-jou's appearance is unusual for this area, but in the eastern city-states, she would be considered quite a beauty."

Well, when I offered that bit of lip service, her father the Earl was overjoyed. After all, people are happy when someone who resembles them is called beautiful.

I heard from the butler later that the elder brother's academic abilities are considerably inferior to Chrystina-jou's, and that's his complex.

Even if you tell me that, I can't do anything about it. Thanks to that, it doesn't seem like I'll get along with the brother.

Even though I went out of my way to praise Chrystina-jou, she didn't show much reaction. But according to the butler, that was her being embarrassed.

Well, she's at a difficult age, isn't she.