Landa's summer possessed an enchanting allure, a distinction amidst the prevailing conditions.
Reasonably so, as little else held such appeal.
Being the world's most affluent, glamorous, and advanced city did not exempt it from an overcast climate.
How else could one fathom the weather's alleged link to the city's distressing suicide rates?
Nevertheless, summer emerged as an anomaly.
Remarkably, the typically overcast Landa transformed into a haven of clarity and gentle warmth during this season.
Proof lay in the surge of park-goers, seeking solace outdoors.
Certainly, some souls met their demise during the ensuing cold nights, yet this narrative was unrelated to Theodore Brant.
Cold held no sway over him—the Grand Master of the esteemed School of Life Magic. Cold posed no threat.
"It's a nice bit of warmth, real comfy, eh?"
A voice resonated from Grand Master Theodore Brant's chamber, the very heart of the School of Life Magic.
Truly, a space reserved for his solitude.
Unperturbed, he recognized the speaker's identity.
"You still got a knack for poppin' up outta nowhere, Merlin."
Leaning forward from his chair, Theodore caught sight of his lifelong friend, who had materialized through magic.
"Understand me, mate. You know I'm one for just showin' up unannounced, don't ya? …Besides, you sent a surprise invite to me and my disciple."
Merlin gently placed the invitation he held onto the table's surface.
The invitation extended a cordial summons to a collaborative conference between the School of Life Magic and Life Alchemy.
Upon glancing at the invitation, Theodore stood from his seat.
Remarkably, the figure that rose from the grand chair seemed far younger than an octogenarian.
His appearance appeared to align more with someone in their late thirties or early forties.
Furthermore, his features possessed a striking attractiveness, easily capturing one's attention.
At least, these were the standards prevailing in contemporary society.
His artificially lustrous golden hair, reminiscent of his grandson's, kind and benevolent eyes, unblemished fair skin, a well-toned muscular frame, long legs, impeccable posture, and unaided vision—all contributed to Theodore's captivating presence.
It almost seemed as though he had been purposefully designed this way.
This served as a clear exemplar of why numerous affluent individuals, including those in Landa, invested substantial sums into the School of Life Magic.
In contrast, Merlin's countenance as he faced Theodore appeared somewhat pitiable.
His visage bore the unmistakable marks of age—wrinkles etched like stories on his face, cheeks with a sunken aspect, a balding crown reminiscent of a peeled egg, and thinning hair with little remaining allure.
Even the coat he wore appeared antiquated, accentuating his somewhat disheveled appearance.
To an outsider's eyes, the camaraderie shared between these two, lifelong friends who acknowledged each other through the years, might seem an unexpected connection.
"Is it rude to ask a mate over just to show off what you've been workin' on?"
"…Don't ya remember I've left all that behind?"
Indeed, Merlin had once been deeply absorbed in eugenics, conducting a myriad of both lawful and illicit experiments on humans to an extent that even Theodore found disconcerting. Yet, one day, he abruptly relinquished his research—this occurred after he had ascended to the rank of Archiver, surpassing even Theodore himself.
This particular memory still bore a bitter tinge for Theodore.
"Maybe you've had a change of heart? Been a fair while, hasn't it?"
"…Not a change, a return. But still, I'll say no thanks, politely."
"That's a shame. I told folks you might be comin'. The ones at the conference'll be a bit let down."
"Sorry 'bout that, mate."
"You thinkin' of tellin' your disciple to stay home too? Him… what's his name, Kevin?"
"That's right. I asked him, and he's keen. Said he couldn't pass up a chance like this."
"Smart kid. For someone of inferior breed. Hope you won't be stoppin' him. You're not part of the Magic Tower anymore."
"That's the plan… Is this conference your last hurrah?"
"Last hurrah? What're you on about! I'll keep goin' as long as I'm breathin'. Just another step forward. Business as usual."
This characteristic was quintessentially Theodore. He was unfamiliar with the concept of resting.
This was why Merlin held his academic accomplishments in high regard, yet also nursed some concerns.
A car in perpetual motion is destined to collide; such is the law of the world.
Merlin desired to halt his friend, yet his hands were tied, and this was a source of lamentation.
"So, you're takin' it easy in retirement, eh?"
"What're you talkin' about? I'm retired, ain't I?"
"Ah, right? Must've slipped my mind. Heard you were off in the Sleeping Forest to find a princess."
"…You been keepin' tabs on me?"
"Ha! No way. How game would I have to be to watch an Archiver? I even acquiesced to your request, and let go of that warlock who suddenly intruded my laboratory."
Theodore's sneer was overt. The discourse between these two men, who were gradually advancing in age, bore a slightly juvenile cadence, yet it attested to their enduring friendship.
"I owe you one for that, mate."
"Don't worry 'bout it. You must've had your reasons. That Sleeping Forest must be important… And just so you know, I didn't spy on you. Got mates who tell me things."
Merlin opted not to elaborate further.
Indeed, the pervasive influence of the School of Life Magic was undeniable, and he no longer wished to pry into his friend's affairs.
Moreover, the clock has already started ticking, and rash interference was unwise.
He could only navigate in accordance with the unfolding current.
Merlin stood from his seat, ruminating on his impotence.
"Off so soon?"
"Got research waitin'."
"You?"
"Yeah. I've still got plenty to learn. So don't get too wrapped up in it all. We can't sort out the whole world, can we?"
Theodore remained silent.
What words could he summon when confronted with an entity potentially several strides, if not more, ahead of himself?
He simply offered a smile and refrained from further speech.
"Take care, mate."
"Come back sometime… no need for a reason, we could just have a cold one."
Merlin bid his friend farewell and departed, leaving Theodore to mutter softly.
"That cheeky bloke…"
****
Swoosh-
Swoosh-
Oliver came to the deck and continuously listened to the sound of the sea.
He looked around at the vast blue sea and the sky even bluer than the sea.
It was quite a fresh experience. To be on a ship and out at sea.
Not to boast, but since Landa was the largest city in the world, he thought he wouldn't see any more thrilling views, but it seemed to be a pleasant misconception.
Being close to the ocean, which he had only seen from afar, was indeed refreshing.
The icy land and the sea. They had a wonder different from human-made structures.
He didn't know what he would see at the conference yet, but this alone was satisfying.
"Is this your first time on a ship?"
Kevin asked, coming up on the deck.
As the Red skin Man appeared on the deck only available to first-class passengers, well-dressed guests threw curious glances, like a drop of water on an oil barrel.
Those who looked like wizards ignored Kevin, knowing who he was, but ordinary passengers kept staring, as if seeing an exotic animal.
"Yes, this is my first time on a ship."
"That's surprising."
"I just never had the opportunity… Have you been on a ship many times, Professor?"
"Not that I wanted to, but yes, I have been. When I was a war wizard, I had to travel here and there… We'll be arriving at Halfway soon."
Halfway.
A region across the Celant Sea on the continent.
Located between Galos and central mainland, it was the place where the conference would be held.
Due to its geographical characteristics, it wasn't Galos or central mainland, so interference was minimal, and safety was relatively assured.
"That's a shame. I wanted to be on the ship a little longer."
"You say that because you're in first class. Those in third class wouldn't."
Those in third class were students attending the conference with Edith's support.
Their number was around ten. Originally, more students wanted to attend, but Edith, unwilling to support fools with his money, conducted one-on-one interviews to support only those he deemed worth the investment, leading to this small number.
By the way, during this process, Edith had a brief and profound conversation with Kevin.
‘A fool?'
‘If you want to go somewhere but can't because you have no money, you're a fool, aren't you? You should even steal to make money.'
Oliver just quietly watched this unfold.
It seemed he had done enough, and he thought that Edith's words made sense, so…
Anyway, the students who had received Edith's support were going there in third class.
“Do the students who really followed us really not need our guidance?"
"Ah, I'm a professor, not a nanny. Besides our students, there will be other students, and the Magic Tower administration staff will guide them instead. Magic Tower hates professors neglecting their work for such matters."
That seemed pretty good. Everyone could focus on their work.
“It's just like when I first left the mine.”
“What?”
"It's my first time on a boat, and my first time going abroad… it reminds me of when I was taken by my master and left the mine for the first time.”
“Was it good?”
“Yes, it was fine. The innkeeper and staff tried to kill my master and me, but overall, it was good. It was the first time I had been to the outside world.”
Kevin looked at Oliver in silence. Every time he asked a question, an unexpected answer came out… No, maybe it was good.
"It could be bad."
“Pardon?”
“The place we're going is not entirely safe. Although it's near Galos, it's also close to the mainland center. So don't be careless like when you first left the mine.”
“I understand… But why are they holding the conference there?”
Oliver asked with real curiosity.
Although he didn't know well, it seemed common sense to hold a conference in a safe place.
Kevin answered.
“Places with guaranteed safety are under the jurisdiction of the state, and most of them have high interference. Magic Tower is an exception, but not a complete one… Anyway, we take risks in remote places to avoid interference. It's a common case. Like Mountain Pace.”
“Ah……"
"Also, many influential people come to the conference to network or trade. Anyway, they prefer a place without surveillance or interference, even if it’s risky.”
"I see.”
“So be careful in many ways. Not only Magic Tower and Rokuri University, but also small and medium-sized magical families from the central continent will be there. If you make a mistake, it could be a headache.”
Oliver agreed, and the dock appeared in sight.
They had arrived at Halfway.
***
Heeeing…!
When they disembarked and picked up their luggage to take the reserved carriage to the conference venue, a minor hitch occurred.
Many of the horses that were waiting for their reserved guests suddenly became frightened, uncontrollable, and unable to work.
Tired passengers, already fatigued from the boat ride, became frustrated at the unexpected commotion, and the coachmen also seemed troubled.
It would be understandable if only one or two were behaving like this, but suddenly all the previously calm horses were frightened.
As a result, the area around the dock fell into unexpected chaos.
Nobody knew the reason why… Oh, correction. Only one person knew.
“Is there… no way to ride a carriage?”
Oliver asked Felix, who was squeezed between the crowds.
Felix answered with a troubled expression.
“There probably won't be. Well, you might find one, but it'll be very hard. Carriages are widely used here, not individual cars."
“As if it's some country village.”
Derick interjected with an irritated voice.
Oliver looked at the coachmen again. Over a hundred horses continued to be restless, showing no signs of calming down.
Oliver slipped through the crowd and whispered to Kevin.
“Professor.”
“What? If it's not important, tell me later.”
"It seems a bit important.”
Kevin looked at Oliver with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
“Is it alright if I run there myself?”
“You know where the conference venue is?”
“I read the pamphlet before coming, and I checked the location on the latest map. I can go there.”
“Did you check how far it is?”
“I did. It will take some time, but if I stay here, it will continue to be delayed.”
“…? What are you talking about?”
“Animals seem to hate me.”
Though it was a sudden absurd statement, Kevin's face lit up with understanding.
He had seen a spirit he summoned get scared of Oliver before.
He was not only convinced but also wondered why he hadn't realized it before.
“… What's the reason?”
“I'm not sure. They just… seem to dislike my smell."
“So you want to go alone?”
“Why would he go alone?”
During Kevin and Oliver's conversation, an energetic voice naturally intervened.
Turning their heads, they saw a man.
It was Terence of the Roar family, who had taken over for Oliver while he was on vacation.
He raised his hand cheerfully.
“Hey.”
