Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 144:

Translator: MarcTempest

Proofreader: naturallyInconsistent

Chapter 144: …Marriage? Flan, marriage?

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

I repeated the two words I had just heard.

“Marriage?”

“Yes. Marriage.”

Isaac nodded as if confirming my thoughts. 

So, he wanted me to become legally married to Trixie.

“No.”

I answered calmly. 

I had no trouble stamping some papers, and marriage was not something that could bind me.

“As expected, you would not accept it easily.”

Isaac’s face was still expressionless. His voice had no intonation, but I could tell that he was more serious.

“Flan, you can tell by looking at your eyes. To you, marriage is nothing more than a contract on paper.”

“That’s what marriage is in reality.”

“Yes. But, the marriage I’m talking about is different.”

Isaac tapped the floor with his cane, making a loud noise. Then, the large flower bud next to him reacted.

The thick book covers that formed the shape of petals on that strange plant opened wide and spat out the documents they had been holding.

“I’ve finished my investigation on you. It was meant to satisfy a small curiosity, but the more I learned, the more curious I became.”

“Is that something only you know?”

“You’re not used to being called ‘you’, are you?”

Isaac stroked his beard a few times and nodded.

“This information is known only to me. I didn’t bother telling my daughter. There was no need for that.”

“I see. Then, if you have any questions, ask me directly.”

“Yes, Flan. I want what you have, to become von Fritz’s weapon. Judith’s reputation, your unique ability circuit, your conviction and magic skills.”

“Von Fritz’s weapon…”

“Think about it. What would happen if combustion and blue flame merged? Wouldn’t it be sublime? I shiver just imagining it.”

Thud-

He tapped the floor with his cane again.

“However.”

The papers that had been scattered on the floor were sucked back into the flower bud. Or, maybe it would be better to call it a ‘book bud’.

“As you know, it’s hard to expect such a result from a couple on paper. Therefore, I have no choice but to ask you one more thing.”

“I think I know what it is.”

“Yes, Flan. It’s an obvious question. Can you live as my daughter’s true husband?”

It was exactly the question I had anticipated.

Without any emotion, Isaac continued.

“I’m asking you if you can ever learn the magic called love.”

Love.

The word made my temples ache. 

At the same time, my heart throbbed.

-Kaplan!

I heard a voice in my ear. 

A voice that I could never hear again, that was only in my memory.

“…”

I don’t know love.

No, I shouldn’t know love.

“Impossible.”

“Is that so? I see.”

Isaac nodded blankly.

“I thought you would answer like that. Then, pretend to be married for a short time. Also, I will add one more condition.”

“What is it?”

He pointed to his back with his chin. 

The sight that could be called a forest of magic books.

“Sort out all the magic books in this garden without missing a single one.”

“Do they call these magic books in this world too?”

“This world… You really like the word ‘this world’. Indeed, your curiousness grows even now.”

Isaac’s facial muscles moved very slightly. 

He seemed to be smiling.

“Anyway, back to the point. Many people think I created this garden, but that’s not true.”

“You just couldn’t sort them out.”

“That’s right. Magic books change their contents periodically, and they are mixed with different languages. In the end, these are the ones that failed to decipher.”

I picked up one of the magic books first. I wanted to estimate how long it would take to sort out the garden.

“It’s quite tricky.”

Magic books are not written for ‘readers’. 

The formulæ are all twisted, and it’s common for each letter to be written in a different language.

But.

I find these things interesting.

‘They would be good for training.’

This would be a great experience for Becky, Louis, and Trixie.

“One month.”

Also, a month seemed to be enough time.

“…One month?”

Isaac’s facial muscles twitched noticeably. 

Considering that he had been expressionless all along, this was a huge change.

“I expected it to take at least a year, but will it be done in a month?”

“It might be even shorter. It won’t take long.”

“Amazing. I admit I had high hopes after seeing your achievements, but I didn’t expect this much.”

I quietly took a sip of tea. 

To be honest, I liked the exquisite taste of this tea more than the compliment.

“You might not notice, but I’m quite surprised. Especially, your recent paper on three-dimensional magic was very innovative.”

“Let’s skip the irrelevant talk.”

I just wanted to ask him a question that came to my mind.

“Isaac. I don’t see any connection between deciphering the magic book and the fake marriage.”

“There is a big one.”

Our eyes met in the air.

“But don’t ask me yet, Flan.”

A brief silence fell over the von Fritz’s garden.

His deep blue eyes stared at my face as if to pierce through it. 

I still don’t know what he’s hiding there.

But it doesn’t matter.

“Okay.”

I nodded without hesitation.

“As long as I can build the tower, I don’t care about anything else.”

◈

A week later.

Judith’s mansion, sword training ground.

“Ugh!”

Scarlet stopped her swinging arm forcefully and grabbed it. 

The innate ability ‘Flickering Flame’ that she tried to use out of habit. She wanted to avoid using it.

“…You can’t rely on it.”

What she pursued lately was pure swordsmanship.

Her life had been defined by the innate ability called ‘Flickering Flame’, but from now on, she wanted to put her own life into her sword.

This effort was also a reflection, if not a penance.

“Miss.”

Then, maid Catarina appeared with a towel. Scarlet took it with her other hand and wiped her sweaty body carefully.

Then, she remembered something and slowly opened her lips.

“Is Flan still in the von Fritz’s territory?”

“Yes. It’s certain. I updated and received the information just two hours ago and it hasn’t changed.”

Catarina answered politely as usual. After all, she wouldn’t lie to Scarlet.

“Miss. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard these days?”

“No.”

“No, you are. You only swing your sword except for eating and sleeping. I’m worried about you.”

Scarlet just lowered her head.

She still remembered the past she had glimpsed.

If she thought about what Flan had to endure and overcome, her current efforts to hone herself was nothing.

Then, some other maids came over. 

They whispered something to Catarina with serious expressions.

“Why is Flan… huh?”

The moment she heard that name.

Flan, the man’s name. 

Scarlet felt an indescribable sensation.

“What’s going on?”

Scarlet broke the silence and asked. Catarina swallowed her throat and looked at her.

She nodded as if to say it was okay.

“Don’t hesitate to talk about Flan. And don’t discriminate against him either.”

“Oh, yes. Miss…”

But Catarina’s reaction was not very satisfying. In other words, there was another problem for the maid.

“You don’t have to beat around the bush.”

“…”

In front of Catarina’s silence, Scarlet thought. 

She didn’t want to hear the next words.

The ominous feeling was like a current that swept through her body. 

It was the intuition of a knight, and also her own intuition.

Eventually, Scarlet hardened her expression. Her impatience turned into anger.

“Just say it.”

“Well, he…”

Every second that Catarina dragged on, Scarlet’s heart tightened.

“The von Fritz family has a daughter, right?”

“The daughter of the von Fritz family… The Blue Flame?”

“Yes. Trixie, that’s right.”

Scarlet knew her name and face too. After all, she was the female student who participated in the Sword and Magic Tournament with Flan.

“Why Trixie?”

“…Hey, give me that.”

Catarina received something from the maid next to her. 

Scarlet almost snatched the paper that was handed to her.

“….”

Scarlet’s expression went blank as she saw the paper.

The shock was indescribable. Her mind went completely white.

After a long while, Scarlet muttered in a daze.

“Flan… marriage…?”

Her grip loosened and the sword and towel fell to the floor. 

She swayed like a scarecrow in the wind.

“What does this mean?”

Scarlet stared at Catarina’s face.

“Flan, Flan… why is he getting married?”

It was an unbelievable story.

Flutter─

The paper slipped from her hand and flew in the air. But none of the people here paid any attention to it.

“Why…?”

She unconsciously brought her hand to her mouth. 

Yes, this was not the time to swing a sword. 

She had to find out the truth as soon as possible.

No, wait.

She stopped her steps that were about to go somewhere.

No matter what kind of past she had, she was Flan’s sister now. 

Flan was her brother.

I am Flan’s sister, Flan is my brother, I am Flan’s sister, Flan is my brother.

I am Flan’s….

Flan’s….

“….”

Her chest tightened.

A faint sensation of her heart breaking into pieces like a puzzle.

She couldn’t figure out what this emotion was. But she knew one thing.

She was still, maybe.

…just standing there blankly.