Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 133:

Translator: MarcTempest

Proofreader: naturallyInconsistent

Chapter 133

A day had passed since I finished the verification lecture.

When I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw Maiev sitting on the floor, sorting out a large amount of documents.

She asked me, without looking away from the papers.

“Did you sleep well?”

I stared at her blankly.

She quickly realized that something was wrong, and slapped her mouth to correct herself.

I nodded my head then.

“How did you do the verification lecture? I thought it was all over, but more investors have joined.”

“There will be more to come.”

“Oh… right. Starting tomorrow, there will be a festival at the magic department.”

As if her eyes went dark, Maiev covered both of them with one palm.

I slowly sat down at the desk.

Maiev poured some fine tea into a cup and placed it in front of me.

“Is there poison in it?”

“How long will you doubt me?”

“I’m not asking because I don’t know.”

“…Yes, there is.”

Maiev coughed and changed the topic.

“Anyway, I didn’t expect the second princess to push for the tower construction. It’s quite surprising.”

The princess had set one condition for supporting the investor recruitment by holding a festival at the magic department.

─Later, we have to talk alone.

It wasn’t a difficult condition, so I accepted it. I sipped the tea, recalling her words.

Lately, Maiev’s clumsy assassination attempts had enhanced the taste of the tea.

Well, it makes sense.

To disguise the poisoned tea, it had to have an excellent flavor. But unfortunately, I had no intention of succumbing to her poison.

I purified it once and enjoyed the tea leisurely.

“We need a plan for managing the investors… Oh, and master. The vampires are also very interested.”

Maiev handed me a record sheet.

“I got this from the void. They were also curious and passing it around among themselves.”

“Report everything you find out.”

“I was thinking based on your idea, master.”

Maiev calmly continued her explanation.

“The priority is to get the power source. Then, they want to build their own monuments, just like you want to build a tower.”

“Is that so?”

The tower I would build.

It would be called the cradle of magic, and it would be a pity to research only human magic there.

It would be better if the vampires were interested.

In other words, they would come as experimental subjects.

“You should be careful, master. They are incomprehensible to human minds. Their thoughts, actions, and the dark magic they use.”

“That’s why I’m looking forward to it.”

I nodded my head.

“But, what do you think of this situation?”

“Well… That’s a meaningless question. She is a being beyond imagination, and once she makes a plan, it will surely come true. I just accept it.”

Maiev was referring to the princess of the vampires.

I was naturally intrigued by someone who always realized what they planned.

“You’ve become quite honest.”

“Honesty also helps with assassination.”

Maiev has become quite honest lately.

I looked at her anew. She was still sitting on the floor, examining the documents.

“Maiev.”

“…!”

Maiev shuddered instinctively. She put down the papers and raised her hand, adding.

“I’m sorry, master.”

But I didn’t call her to scold her. I snapped my fingers and created a small desk for her.

“Do your work sitting down from now on.”

“…?”

Maiev blinked her deer-like eyes.

◈

The festival hosted by the second princess, Aurora.

‘The Advent Festival’.

It was held only 24 hours after Aurora planned it, and people could feel how powerful she was from that alone.

But it wasn’t much different from a ball.

It had a grand name because it came from the royal family, but in the end, it was a form of socializing where people danced and mingled.

“Hmm.”

My outfit was neat and black. 

During the festival period, the students were allowed to take off their academy uniforms.

“Flan, are you ready?”

In front of the dormitory, Becky greeted me with a wave of her hand.

“…Huh.”

The next moment, her mouth opened wide and her hand dropped weakly. Becky blinked her eyes and looked me over.

“Fl-Flan…?”

“Can’t you recognize me?”

“No, it’s just different. Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way. It’s a compliment! A compliment! You look especially… um…”

Becky nodded her head several times with a flushed face. I narrowed my eyes and stared at her, then slowly reached out my hand.

“Uh, yes?”

“Don’t move.”

“Wha…? Wha…!”

As my hand approached, Becky closed her eyes tightly.

I gently smoothed out her clothes. 

I removed the remaining dust with telekinesis. 

I couldn’t just ignore it because it was so dirty.

Becky looked at herself after she became cleaner.

“Wow. You made me clean. Much better!”

“You’d better buy new ones.”

Becky’s casual dress was old and shabby, and it was hopeless to fix it a little.

‘Come to think of it.’

Dean Conette had given me an unlimited pass to a clothing store called ‘The Witch’s Forest’. 

It seemed like a good time to use it.

Anyway, we headed to the magic department’s plaza. 

As we walked calmly, Louis and Trixie naturally joined us.

I flicked my finger once.

At the same time, Hera formed a transparent shield and wrapped the three magicians’ bodies. 

In situations where I wasn’t around, Hera would protect them.

“A shield? Who do you think is a kid?”

“You are. In terms of magical attainment.”

“…”

Trixie shut her mouth as if she was angry.

She glanced at me a few times afterwards, as if she had a lot to say, but she never uttered a word until the end. 

As we walked, we soon reached the magic department’s plaza.

“Wow, what are all those?”

Becky exclaimed.

A white carpet was laid across the plaza. 

The crowd left the carpet empty and stood, and there were stairs at the end of the carpet.

It was a truly splendid sight that I had never seen before while attending the magic department.

“I heard that the second princess won’t be coming?”

“That’s right.”

Louis nodded and continued.

“She’s not visiting in person, but she did that to make sure the Advent Festival could start grandly.”

“I see. She did that much for the magic department…?”

“It’s not that surprising. After all, the magic department won all the events in the Sword and Magic Competition. This is just a celebration.”

“Oh, I get it.”

Becky turned her head toward me.

“It’s all thanks to you, Flan!”

“Ahaha… I guess so?”

“Quiet.”

I cut off the conversation and looked around.

The crowd was huge because it was an event hosted by the royal family. 

There were bureaucrats, magicians from outside the academy, and even knights.

Among them, there was someone who caught my eye.

The Knight of the Flickering Flame, Scarlet.

She was looking at me. Her eyes were empty and hollow, but they were clearly focused on me.

“…”

Our eyes met and she quickly looked away.

Bang!

Magic fireworks exploded in the sky. 

Music and cheers followed to announce the start of the festival.

Soon after, a blue portal appeared and grew in size, and the crowd’s cheers grew proportionally.

From within, a long leg emerged and stepped on the ground.

The dean of the magic department, Conette.

Her hair flowed down to her waist and her eyes sparkled strangely. 

The person who led the magic department.

She walked on the white carpet that she received from the princess. 

The students who learned magic were sincerely happy about the unprecedented event of the magic department.

And then, Conette reached the end of the stairs.

“It is an honor to be part of the start of this festival.”

After that, pleasant words continued.

She also seemed to be quite moved by this event.

Bang─!

Boom─!

The magic fireworks kept exploding.

The sound grew louder and louder, and the people’s excitement rose accordingly.

Then, suddenly, I felt a gaze again.

I thought it was a passing glance, but it wasn’t.

It was a gaze that seemed to pierce through me, directed only at me.

I turned my head and immediately saw the cause.

Scarlet was still looking at me….

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