I'm a court magician. Recently, I’ve been worrying about the princess staring at me. - Chapter 8
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- I'm a court magician. Recently, I’ve been worrying about the princess staring at me.
- Chapter 8 - A bout of morning grief.
Being a court magician is usually a job to be applied for after graduating from the Royal Grantina Magic Academy, located in the western part of the royal capital. The acceptance rate is extraordinarily low; maybe one in a hundred. Of course, as consolation, those who fail can usually take an examination to become royal palace officials. The working conditions are above average, and the salary is incomparable to that of most other jobs. Of course, the salary of a court magician is even greater.
The majority of court magicians have taken this standard route to where they are today, but this is not the only way.
There is a so-called secret route to becoming a court magician.
In fact, there are multiple, requiring either the recommendation of several current court magicians or a demonstrable ability to perform outstanding feats of powerful magic.
In my case, I was the third kind—I was scouted by the director of the current department for being able to use such outstanding and powerful magic, and became a court magician.
…I say scouted, but it was borderline kidnapping.
Anyways, I’m sorry to those who obtained this job through normal means, but I didn’t take the court magician’s exam, and in fact I didn’t even graduate from the Academy. Frankly speaking, I still can’t believe I’m a court magician.
Until a few months ago, I was hunting demons and selling goods outside the city, and a job like this was inconceivable to me. At the time, my pay was about half of what it is now. With this level of income, I can send a considerable amount of money to my sister.
I have my master to thank for helping me practice my magic. I hope he’s doing well.
The department to which I was assigned is notably special. The faculty is small, and every member is an outstanding magician.
The crux of the matter is this: when I became a court magician, I was forced by the management to undergo a magical operation.
I didn’t know what it meant at first, but after the events of yesterday and today, I understand a little more now.
***
“…”
Roused by the sunlight streaming through my window, I slowly opened my eyes and sat up in my bed. After parting with the princess yesterday, I had returned to my boarding house near the royal palace.
I was never a morning person to begin with, but today was particularly unpleasant.
My body felt sluggish, and my vision went in and out of focus. I was nauseous, and the scars from my operation months ago were burning intensely.
Most of all, I couldn’t quite place the feeling that I had lost something important to me. All that I knew was an uncertain sorrow that gripped my heart.
“…Mana deficiency, I guess.”
Some of these symptoms suggested a dangerously low level of mana in my body. It wasn’t life-threatening, but mana deficiency is a serious affliction for magicians who fight using magic.
Exerting no small amount of effort, I lifted my body out of bed and shuffled into the washroom. After filling the sink with water and splashing my face, I looked at myself in the mirror with newfound clarity.
I almost didn’t recognize the weary face staring back at me. My skin is usually on the lighter end, but right now I was abnormally pale. Meanwhile, dark circles were prominent under my eyes. I thought I’d slept well, but an observer might assume I had pulled three all-nighters in a row.
“…Should I go to work?”
I reached for a towel hanging from the wall to dry my face. After some deliberation, I changed into my uniform.
Before leaving my room, I noticed the scars on my neck glowing faintly before disappearing.
***
“I see. Is this your first time experiencing it, Raize?”
Arina-san and Elt-san were sitting opposite me, on a sofa in my office with tea in their hands.
“That’s tough.”
“It is. My heart hurts like crazy. I seriously wanted to die at first.”
“That being said, you look like you’re struggling to pretend like it’s nothing.”
Trying to act tough wouldn’t work, I guess. Let’s change the subject.
“Why are you both just having tea in my office? Well, I guess it’s my fault for serving it. Neither of you have finished your work yet, I’m guessing?”
“You idiot, I don’t have to work. It’s against my moral code to do anything that seems bothersome.”
“What a way to put it… What about you, Arina-san?”
“You’ll end up doing it for me anyways, right?”
“No way. Take care of it on your own.”
I sighed. To think that they were both older than I was…
“Well, in any case—”
“You’ll do it?”
“I won’t! I still want to know why you’re here.”
“Hey, that’s not how you should speak to your seniors. We came out of worry and the goodness of our own hearts.”
Elt-san chuckled. I wasn’t as amused.
“What, you’re worried?”
“Don’t be so cynical. Your mental state isn’t great, you feel a sense of loss, and your eyes sometimes go out of focus. You haven’t done anything to bring your mana levels down this much, so instead I’m guessing that it caused some sort of forced memory purification.”
“…Why are you never this sharp when you need to be?”
He was clearly contemplating the situation. This was unlike the Elt-san I knew: unscrupulous and a terrible senior.
I felt transparent, but his logic was sound. In fact, having someone to discuss this with made me feel better.
“Could it be the Pledge Geass? It manifests when certain conditions are met.”
“Seems like it. The contract forced upon us is [I don’t remember the name of the royal family]. If you did learn the name, the magic would forcibly erase that memory in your sleep using your own mana.”
“Why is this even a thing?”
“You don’t know, Raize?”
“I don’t.”
Elt-san cleared his throat and began talking.
“During the ancient war, there was a powerful magician in the kingdom. He fought in the front lines, was honored with numerous medals, and contributed greatly to our eventual victory. But when he returned, he was captured by the king under false accusations and sentenced to be burned at the stake. During the execution, he screamed and cursed the king’s name as he died.”
“Sounds like a fairy tale’s tragic ending.”
“But that wasn’t the end. After the magician died, the king was afflicted with great pain for seven days and seven nights. In the end, he went mad and slit his throat with a dagger.”
“So based on that tradition, do you mean these pledges…”
“This pledge is forcibly established upon anybody with exceptional magical power who wishes to enter the royal capital.”
I sipped my tea, hoping it would calm me.
“These people aren’t treated like humans. By these people, I mean us.”
“That’s right. The management doesn’t see us as humans or even magicians. We’re… no more than weapons to them.”
“…”
In a lapse of strength, I sank lower on the sofa.
Now that I thought about it, I didn’t remember the name of Her Royal Highness, which I had learned just yesterday. Did she know about this? Was she so cruel as to ask me to call her by her name, knowing what would come about afterwards?
An inkling of regret wormed its way into my heart. I had no complaints about my job itself. Certainly, being a court magician meant that I was treated well.
But… we’re not weapons. I have emotions. I have character. I have a will of my own. Just like any other human being.
The idea was demoralizing. Maybe I had made the wrong choice back then.
Ah… I want to run away. I don’t want to work.
Arina-san, who was sitting silently in front of me, suddenly stood up and moved to my side.
“Arina-san?”
She didn’t respond to my calling her name. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my slender body. My head rested on something extraordinarily soft.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Not knowing the name of the royal family won’t hurt you.”
“Um…”
“And just so you know, this is something that only the king knows among the royal family. The princess probably isn’t aware. Even the aristocrats who know the story aren’t allowed to discuss it. “
“And somehow you found out?”
“Well, I have my ways.”
Arina-san spoke with confidence, stroking my head.
That’s great and all, but I’d like you to release me before acting all proud. Please, I’m embarrassed about the position I’m in right now.
“Raize, you’re still just a kid.”
“Do you want me to kill you from close range? Please go and finish your work.”
I did have to admit, however, that talking to the two of them helped my emotions settle down. Companionship truly is wonderful.
Also, please let go. Why is this hug starting to feel painful? My bones are creaking!
“You know, you’re surprisingly comfortable to hold.”
This is anything but comfortable! Is this how I die!?
I struggled for another minute, miraculously surviving long enough for her to release me.
I might have developed a new phobia today.