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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Kindergarten Reckoning
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The children's testimonies kept circling in his mind.
'That boy must have bullied and teased the kids for being a mage more times than I can count.'
And the teachers knew but turned a blind eye.
Once his thoughts reached that point, Majia recalled yet another issue.
'When the kitten came to my lab...'
The first time Nibelria came to the kindergarten, these same teachers had lost track of her.
Back then, Majia had found and protected her himself, so he hadn't made a big fuss.
But looking back now, it wasn't something to brush off so easily.
"......"
Majia turned his gaze to Armifera.
Understanding the implication, she nodded with a smiling face.
"Hey, kids, how's it going?"
With that, she stepped into the kindergarten classroom.
"My name is Feranda, the Mercenary King from far-off Raturo in the west. And this cute, adorable kitten is Ater, the Mercenary King's friend."
Armifera skillfully tended to the remaining children at the kindergarten.
Soon, cheers erupted from the kids.
There was no better guardian to watch over children than the Mercenary King.
'Truly my sparkling water.'
The daughter from another house who perfectly washed away all his worries.
The plucky one who chewed up the lungs of the holy knight he despised most.
Thanks to Armifera, Majia could now have a serious talk with the kindergarten teachers without a care.
"Mom said to give this honey bun to Grandpa."
"This one's made from grinding up Ater's scales. The Grand Witch made it herself. Everyone in our family ate one."
"Hmm, probably Aunt Della, Uncle Monatos, and..."
Majia flicked his tongue, chasing the fading tangy fruit flavor in his mouth.
He needed something to keep his mind sharp.
Alec was summoned to the Magic Tower Lord's office right after his treatment.
He stepped into the room of the Magic Tower Lord he so admired—the parlor reserved only for esteemed guests.
But he felt no joy whatsoever.
The expensive leather sofa was softer and cozier than fluffy fur.
Yet to Alec, it might as well have been a torture chair binding his limbs with iron chains.
The Magic Tower Lord sitting before him didn't smile once.
"......"
He simply watched in silence.
That alone nearly brought Alec to tears.
"Alec."
Just before he broke down crying, Majia spoke.
"Wouldn't you like something to eat?"
"N-No, I'm fine..."
"No, no. Kids need to eat well to grow big and strong."
Majia pulled a bundle of snacks from his cloak pocket—candies flavored like summer fruits and chocolates filled with jam.
With a snap of his fingers, he conjured a glass of cool milk from somewhere.
"I'm not calling you here to scold you. I just have a few questions."
"Q-Questions?"
"Yeah."
Only then did Alec relax a bit and pop a chocolate into his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, the chocolate melted smoothly, letting apple jam flow out. With a hint of cinnamon, the tangy bite was exquisite.
"Tasty, right?"
"Yes!"
Majia grinned.
"Do you know who made that chocolate?"
"You, Lord Tower Master?"
"Of course, I'm good at everything. Oh, how are your parents doing?"
"Great!"
Alec popped another chocolate as he replied.
The boy's family consisted of grandparents who were mages, and parents who were mages too.
'Mage families that pass it down generations are rare indeed.'
His grandparents were comrades who had fought alongside Majia in the Crepatna War forty years ago.
'But these two aren't.'
Those who fought in the war each had their own personalities and stubborn streaks.
But after enlisting, a miraculous common thread emerged among that colorful bunch.
'Don't mess with the Saintess.'
No elders were unaware that Nibelria was the Saintess's granddaughter.
How could they not know, when she resembled Muniel so closely?
One elder had snuck a peek at Nibelria at the kindergarten, only to recall getting beaten by the Saintess during the war and spend days in agony.
'So their son and daughter-in-law...'
Which of the two had already planted such rotten ideas in this child?
"My dad praises me every day."
"Oh?"
Majia smiled.
"He says I'm amazing! Mages don't usually pass it down generations, right? But he was thrilled that our family became a mage lineage the moment I was born."
"I see."
The brighter Alec chatted, the deeper Majia's smile grew.
"I think the same as Dad. Honestly, mages are so strong they could rule the world...!"
"Alec."
Majia dropped his smile and asked.
"Earlier, I asked who made that chocolate, remember?"
"Uh..."
Alec hesitated and nodded, startled by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"Do you know who made it?"
"...No."
"The owner of a very famous dessert shop made it."
That person isn't a mage.
Majia pointed to the half-empty glass of milk.
"What about this milk? This glass?"
"......"
"This comes from folks running dairy farms in Kapra territory. The glass is the work of artisans from the Iaru workshop."
And naturally, neither was a mage.
"Even the sofa you're sitting on wasn't made by a mage."
"......"
"The clothes you and I are wearing? Made by non-mages. In this room, the only thing made by a mage might be that crystal orb on the desk?"
Or is there something else I don't know about?
Majia stroked his chin, pretending to ponder deeply, then glanced over.
Alec's face flushed red with shame. He understood what Majia meant.
Majia moved to sit beside Alec.
"Alec Inerka."
But Alec couldn't respond.
"Mages are strong, no doubt. And I'm strong enough to rule the world."
Then why not rule it?
The answer was simple.
"The world is too complex and tough for mages to live among themselves."
If they farmed, the plants would wither and die.
Clumsy at sewing, they'd freeze to death in winter wrapped in rags.
Unable to craft pretty glasses or tales or music, their sense of beauty would dry up.
A mage without culture? Horrifying.
He shuddered dramatically in mock fear.
"And there are people stronger than mages."
"Wh-Who?"
"The Saintess."
Forty years ago.
The monstrous Saintess soaked in the blood of beasts and men, who ended that grueling war.
That woman more beastly than the beasts.
"...And the Mercenary King is strong too."
He wanted to add that even his precious dad was no match for the Mercenary King, but stopped there.
"So don't discriminate based on whether someone can use magic."
Majia spoke with sincerity.
"It's a cruel thing that turns you into a loner."
Advice born from the bitter experience of a foolish senior mage who had raged like that and lived nearly 200 years undying.
Thankfully, Majia's sincerity got through to Alec.
"Actually, earlier my friends said I was bad. That I shouldn't say things like that."
The sight of his friends standing up to protect Nibelria.
Honestly, it scared and shocked him. And shamed him too.
Alec promised Majia he'd never think that way again.
And he'd apologize to Nibelria too.
But today's events would be reported to both families.
Kids had fought, after all—parents needed to know. Children's character was a matter of home upbringing.
And the Magic Tower Kindergarten posted a notice seeking a new teacher. A non-mage, specifically.
"...This is what happened at the Magic Tower today."
Dether, who had picked up Nibelria and Arep, relayed the situation she'd heard from the Magic Tower Lord to Kaleo.
In Kaleo's hand was a letter handwritten by Majia.
The contents were straightforward.
[Your daughter's punches pack a wallop.]
That summed it up.
"Nini won!"
And Nibelria boasted of her victory.
Of course, she didn't forget her excuse.
"Nini didn't wanna fight. For real."
Prayer hands clasped, eyelids fluttering like hummingbird wings, begging to be believed.
"Believe meee!"
"...Where'd you learn that?"
Kaleo recoiled at his daughter's unfamiliar cuteness.
But it was adorable, so he let it slide.
"Did you make up with that friend?"
"Not a friend. He came first and said sorry to Nini. Wanted to be my minion, but Nini said no..."
Nibelria squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously with a "Kuh!"
She couldn't take just anyone as a minion. Even she had standards.
"Hmm."
Kaleo folded the letter neatly.
In the end, it was just kids fighting.
And the instigator was the other side. Nibelria's violence had its justifications.
In other words.
"My daughter."
Kaleo stepped from behind his desk and spread his arms wide.
"Well done! Come here!"
"Daddyyy!"
Nibelria dove into his embrace.
Kaleo kissed not just her hair, but her forehead and both cheeks.
"My girl can't go losing anywhere!"
"Nope!"
"Who picks a fight with you? For every bit of pain they cause you, you give them utter devastation in return."
"Yeah!"
Nibelria nodded eagerly.
"Nini, that's why you don't strike first. Hold back once—that gives you the excuse to hit back."
Justification, plain and simple.
