Chapter 83 – What Do You Think of Me?
2024.01.22
“It’s okay now. I’ve just decided to accept that my father is that kind of terrible person. I probably won’t ever truly understand him.”
“You don’t have to cling to blood ties. There are families you’re better off without. Like my younger brother.”
“Come to think of it, compared to Maximilian, my father was actually bearable.”
“Don’t bear it. Why would you?”
“I won’t. So I’d really like it if you stopped giving him money. Just thinking about my father and brother living in luxury off your money makes me furious—money I’ve never even touched.”
Cordelia grumbled. The largest sum she’d ever had in her life was the three thousand linkits her mother had secretly handed her, yet her father and younger brother received fifty thousand linkits every month—money earned by selling off his own daughter.
The more she thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed. She begrudged her father even a single coin.
“I’d already decided to stop sending them money after you went to Abrams.”
“Then that’s settled.”
With a visibly lighter heart, she turned the other way to gaze out over the sea.
“I’m not irritated with you anymore, and all my anger’s gone.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Hearing her definitive answer, Leonard, who had been slightly tense, finally felt relieved. At the same time, he realized just how sensitive he was to her emotions.
I’ve really lost it.
He had always looked down on men who lost their heads over women, thinking they were pathetic—but now that he was in their position, he found himself laughing at his past self.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say his whole day was determined by her.
When Cordelia smiled, his mood instantly brightened. When she cried, it tore at his chest. He wanted to give her anything she asked for…
It was as if he’d become a puppet dancing at the pull of her strings. And strangely enough, he didn’t really mind it.
“We must be almost there. I can see Wilas now.”
She pointed toward the distant island. But Leonard’s attention was fixed not on the island, but on her small, pale, soft-looking hand.
He wanted to grab it, intertwine their fingers, then bring it to his lips. She’d probably be startled, her face turning red. Maybe she’d try to pull her hand away—and then he’d say,
I love your green eyes.
“Artil, Sir Artilay!”
“Sir Artilay has returned!”
They must have already heard that he was alive, but the members of the Magic Association reacted to Leonard’s appearance as though the dead had risen from the grave. Their reaction when Cordelia had revealed herself to be his disciple had been intense enough, but today’s was even wilder.
“Sob… I knew you’d come back. Of course! You’re not the type to go out in such a pitiful way.”
“Sir Artilaaay!”
They hadn’t even reached the Hall of Stars yet, but more than five people had already dropped to their knees in tears at the sight of him. Even more surprising was how naturally Leonard accepted their behavior—it was clear this wasn’t the first time.
“Stop bawling and move.”
“Your voice sounds so strong! I could die without regrets now.”
“Don’t die in front of me. That’s annoying.”
“To think you worry for me so— I’ll never forget this kindness!”
Leonard had only thrown out a few curt words, yet an elderly mage—clearly of baronial knightly rank—acted as if he’d been granted some great favor.
Cordelia suddenly understood why Leonard had grown up so imperious. If she’d been surrounded by people like this since childhood, her own personality might not have turned out much better.
They finally passed through the Hall of Stars, only for an elderly man—clearly a Seirius—to appear. His distinctive long cloak made him impossible to miss.
Cordelia hadn’t seen him the last time she’d been here.
“Click, click. I sent you letter after letter telling you to come, and you show up after more than two months?”
“Do you think I’m a man with nothing to do? I had to sort out the family I’d left unattended, and track down the younger brother who stabbed me in the gut. I’ve had plenty on my plate.”
“So did you catch that younger brother?”
“I caught him, but he slipped away. I’m chasing him again.”
“Well done, well done. I told you to watch out for that Maximilian brat—his eyes are unhinged—but nooo… You idiot. What’s the point of learning magic if you’re going to get stabbed to death by your own brother?”
Cordelia’s jaw dropped at the old man’s brazen scolding. The fact that someone dared speak to Leonard like this was astonishing.
“Did I teach you to be this way?”
“Anyone hearing you would think I studied under you for ten years. You only taught me for one.”
The exchange made sense now—of course Leonard had a teacher of his own.
“Ah, you brat. You wrung everything I had to teach out of me in just a year. And what about this one here? Is she your disciple?”
“Hello. My name is Cordelia Vasquez.”
“Hm.”
Hayden craned his neck to scrutinize her.
“Vasquez? Then Grita Manson is your mother?”
“Huh? You know my mother?”
“Of course. She was one of Matilda’s treasured disciples.”
“Disciple? Does that mean my mother was a mage?”
Cordelia’s eyes went wide. She had never once heard that her mother had studied magic. Her mother had never spoken of it.
“Right. Looks like Grita left without telling you. I’ll introduce you to Matilda later—ask her yourself. I only ran into her a few times in passing.”
“Where is Lady Matilda now? Is she here at the Association?”
Cordelia asked eagerly. To think her mother was a mage—and that her mother’s teacher was still around!
“What’s the rush? Matilda went to investigate a Collapse site. She’ll be back tomorrow.”
“A Collapse? When did that happen?”
“About half a month ago. It was bigger than expected, so Matilda went personally. If you’re curious, come to tomorrow’s meeting.”
Cordelia, not knowing what a Collapse was, just blinked. Thankfully, the topic moved on quickly.
“First, we have to hold the ceremony to appoint Acheron’s successor. That way, if this idiot gets stabbed to death by his brother again, I can sleep easy.”
“You’re really wishing death on me, aren’t you?”
“Why not? You’ve died once already—what’s stopping you from dying twice?”
Hayden chuckled wickedly, mercilessly teasing Leonard. The sight was so unfamiliar that Cordelia couldn’t look away.
Following the bickering pair, she soon saw a small clearing decorated with flowers.
Seven Seirius members were gathered there—some she recognized, some she didn’t. Menupio, the only familiar face from before, was absent.
“Persistent as ever. To think you’re really alive.”
“That man’s life is so tenacious, no one can take it from him.”
“Ugh… to have to see that face again. My stomach already hurts.”
Unlike the other mages, the Seirius seemed almost exasperated by Leonard’s survival.
“What are you standing around for? Both of you, get inside the circle.”
In the center was a ring of white flowers. Cordelia had imagined a knighting ceremony, but the atmosphere was completely different.
The circle was small enough that she had to stand barely an arm’s length from Leonard.
Hayden waved his hand impatiently.
“We’re short on time—let’s get this over with. Take out the ring.”
“Huh? Ring? What ring?”
Cordelia snapped her head toward him, and Hayden looked back at her as if she were ridiculous.
“You didn’t prepare a ring for your master? I knew you’d come empty-handed, but not even a flower? Good grief.”
“I was supposed to prepare it?”
“Don’t bother. I brought one.”
Leonard obediently pulled a ring from his pocket.
Whatever the reason, it seemed the ritual required one. Feeling embarrassed, Cordelia muttered quietly,
“You could’ve told me beforehand.”
“It’s just a formality. Here—use your mana to write your name on it.”
Leonard handed her the ring. Cordelia did as instructed, inscribing her name with magic.
“Now put it on me.”
“Which finger?”
“…Ring finger.”
She thought nothing of it—same as a wedding ring—and slipped the ring onto his left ring finger.
Leonard spoke an incantation, and the Acheron crest appeared on both their bodies at once. She’d seen it before, but it still amazed her.
Then the ring on his finger crumbled into dust, replaced by an intricate tattoo-like design encircling the finger like a ring.
Cordelia stared at it in awe. That was it—the entire ritual. She felt no changes, just as when the Acheron crest was first inscribed.
Hayden, who had been standing a little ways away, approached with a grin.
“My, my… he must really treasure his one and only disciple. Preparing the ring himself, and on the ring finger, no less—”
“Lord Hayden, if you’re going to talk nonsense, why don’t you head inside?”
“We haven’t even started yet.”
Hayden smirked, but thankfully, before he could continue, a young mage came running up, breathless, with startling news.
“Master! Hah… there’s a person—well, that person—”
“Breathe first, child. Who’s here?”
“Haah… Yes. Lady Elfenbaum has arrived!”
“Really now. Was that worth running for?”
“N-no, not Lady Rosenbloom Elfenbaum—her younger sister. Lady Lydia Elfenbaum has just arrived out front!”
