Akatsuki Translations

In the sun-dappled garden of Valois Palace, a man lay sprawled on a bench, engrossed in his book. 

His attire, a robe predominantly white and red, hinted at his status as one of the esteemed court magicians of the Kingdom of Valois. 

On the shoulder of his robe, there were magical characters known as arcane glyphs — symbols utilized to aid the practice of magic — with seven numerals intricately stitched, which served as a testament to his esteemed position as the seventh-ranking court magician. 

“Senpai! Farsa-senpai! So, you were here. I’ve been looking for you,” a young girl, clad in a robe of the same white and red hues, exclaimed breathlessly as she approached the man lying on the bench. 

Her robe bore no numbers, suggesting she was probably an apprentice court mage. However, even as an apprentice, being selected and appointed to the royal palace was evidence of possessing considerable magical talent. Among them, individuals of exceptional caliber were given prestigious positions. 

Referred to colloquially as the “Chief Court Magician,” the top-ranked position was considered to indicate the highest level of skill, meaning, the smaller the number the greater the proficiency. The man engrossed in reading at this moment found himself in the seventh position among the court magicians. 

Generally, apprentice magicians and those with assigned rankings were often collectively referred to as court magicians, or simply magicians for brevity. 

Furthermore, those who wielded magic were commonly known as wizards, encompassing all practitioners of the mystical arts. 

In essence, being a court magician meant being among the select few chosen from the ranks of wizards, the epitome of the magical elite. 

“Oh? Ah, it’s you. What’s the rush? It seems a bit early for tea time,” Farsa casually replied to his junior mage, unperturbed by the situation. 

It was a time slightly past noon, and indeed, it appeared to be too early for tea. Even in the palace gardens, noble individuals would gather for tea, but at present, the area was relatively quiet, allowing Farsa to enjoy his reading undisturbed. 

“Senpai, you’re so mean! I’m not that much of a glutton! More importantly, the princess is furious! If you slack off, she’ll complain to me,” the girl replied, her demeanor conveying her annoyance. 

Farsa couldn’t help but think she was a rather spirited young girl, albeit somewhat temperamental. However, he didn’t feel particularly bothered by it. 

Normally, apprentice court magicians would serve as disciples to the seated court magicians. However, Farsa’s situation was different. 

Due to the recommendation of an infamous and capricious princess, he had been forcibly appointed as a court mage. Furthermore, his lineage remained uncertain, resulting in him being resented and disregarded by the other magicians. 

Nevertheless, his undeniable skill had secured him the seventh seat among the court magicians. Yet, for many apprentice court magicians, there was no reason to become Farsa’s disciple since he lacked connections and a distinguished background, regardless of his prowess. 

In the world of court magicians, there were roughly two paths to advancement for apprentices, and one of them was to secure a position like Farsa, with a seat of distinction. Naturally, this was an exceedingly difficult and narrow path to tread. 

Among the court magicians with seats of distinction, including Farsa, there were only seven individuals. With hundreds of apprentices vying for that coveted status, they had to patiently wait for an opening while dedicating themselves to daily training and research. Naturally, individuals with such endurance were few and far between. 

In most cases, the second path was the more common choice: becoming a personal magician to a noble or wealthy merchant. By leveraging connections and lineage, these apprentices would receive introductions from their esteemed mentors with seats of distinction, aiming to be hired by upper-class nobles at handsome salaries. 

Therefore, it was only natural that people wouldn’t flock to Farsa, who was an upstart and an outsider, no matter how talented he might be. However, the spirited girl before him seemed to be an exception. 

That is why, no matter how talented one may be, it is unlikely for people to gather around someone like Farsa, who is nothing more than an upstart. However, it seems that this hot-tempered girl standing here is different. 

“What’s with all that commotion? What are they doing in this sacred palace?”  

A knight-like girl, who had spotted the Farsa and his companion in the garden from a distance, directed a question at the girl beside her, who seemed to be her colleague. 

Her golden hair cascaded around her shoulders, meticulously trimmed at the neckline. Her emerald eyes glistened with a sharpness that seemed to pierce through anyone who dared to meet her gaze, emanating an aura that made approaching her an intimidating task. 

“They are the rumored upstart magicians. There is no need for Zenobia to bother with such insignificant beings. Come, let’s go.” -Female Colleague 

“Hmph, those swine are only interested in their own advancement. Instead of wasting time on such things, they should at least engage in some training. It’s because you lot can’t fight properly that knights like us end up suffering the consequences.” 

With a disdainful expression, she snorted in Farsa and the girl’s directions, looking down on them, and following her colleague’s words, the knight-like girl—Zenobia—walked away from the scene. 

Their armors were smeared with dirt, and sweat glistened on their foreheads and necks. The beautiful faces and hands were marked with bruises. 

Just by looking at them, one could easily imagine the intensity of their training. It was no wonder that Zenobia would hurl harsh words at Farsa and his apprentice, who seemed to be lazily loitering around the garden. 

However, there were other reasons behind Zenobia’s harsh treatment of the court magicians, reasons that Farsa, who was engaged in conversation with his junior magician in the garden, had yet to discover. 

“It’s not like I’m slacking off. I’m just taking it easy because I’ve finished my work for today. Besides, spending a whole day on making mana potions or magical tools is ridiculous. The quality of my magical tools is shoddy anyway, and the training itself is nothing more than children’s play. Such training seems like a waste of time, don’t you think?” -Farsa 

Mana potions were elixirs created by combining ingredients while stabilizing magical energy, and magical tools were completed by assembling magical circuits using intricate runes and infusing them with mana. 

Both processes required advanced knowledge and experience, and they were meant to be meticulously crafted over a considerable amount of time. 

The court magicians and apprentices assigned to specific ranks each had quotas to fulfill, and at this time, they should be sequestered in their laboratories diligently working on their creations. 

During this period, the only ones who appeared to have leisure time were Farsa, who had already completed his tasks, and the court magicians of higher ranks who were delegating their work to their personal apprentices. 

There was also training for handling magic, but from Farsa’s perspective, it was far from practical and seemed more like child’s play. 

Typically, the training methods were determined by the higher-ranked magicians, who would then instruct the candidates individually or organize joint training sessions involving all the magicians of the court. 

However, Farsa, who despised wasting time, showcased his own abilities to those around him during the initial joint training and subsequently refused to participate in any further sessions. 

As a result, the workload assigned to Farsa was more than double that of the other court magicians, but he effortlessly completed it by mid-morning and spent the afternoon leisurely reading. 

Occasionally, they were assigned arduous tasks as if to harass them, but Farsa effortlessly handled them all, so outwardly, no one complained. 

Naturally, behind the scenes, it was a different story, but Farsa himself paid no mind to it. 

“T-That’s because Farsa-senpai is a genius! Your amount of magical power and control is on a completely different level! And it’s strange for someone like you to be ranked seventh!” -Apprentice 

While it was publicly stated that the positions of the court magicians were determined by their abilities, Farsa was an exception. 

Court magicians, for the most part, were individuals who had been undergoing magical training since a young age, children of noble families who possessed the financial means to hire magic teachers. 

The realm of magical arts was a power with many unexplored aspects, making its system still unclear. No matter how talented one was in magic, without someone capable of guiding them in its usage, their potential would go to waste. 

However, within the realm of magic, the uncharted territories often led to conflicting views even among the magicians themselves. The Court Magicians, in particular, held diverse opinions within their factions, engaging in daily debates over magical theories. 

These Court Magicians were indispensable to the kingdom, for mana potions and magical tools were not only used in battles but also sold to the nobility within the country and even exported to other nations. 

The creation of such advanced technology—although simple for individuals like Farsa—was a rarity, naturally driving up its price. 

With their mastery of powerful magic, their technological prowess bringing wealth, and their noble lineage, which most of them possessed, the position of leading the group placed Farsa in a precarious situation. It was inevitable for there to be resistance, and thus, he had to settle for the seventh rank. 

Ironically, despite the circumstances, Farsa possessed an overwhelming ability that allowed him to attain such a position. However, he had deliberately downplayed his true strength, a result of reflecting on his involvement with the Demon Lord’s army, where he had unexpectedly risen to the rank of one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Farsa had made a conscious effort not to reveal his full potential in the presence of humans, yet his power remained unrivaled. 

“Well, you can’t rely solely on ideals when it comes to an organization. If everything is based on meritocracy, unnecessary conflicts arise. Besides, having a unifying force is essential for those in positions of authority.” -Farsa 

If only that were a valid approach, Farsa added silently in his mind. 

Connections and lineage were two sides of the same coin, representing trustworthiness. The fact that a court magician of high standing recommended someone instilled a sense of security. The reputation of a noble lineage lessened concerns of betrayal. These advantages were significant. 

Especially for the head court magician who often engaged in confidential matters between nations, it was only natural that such an individual could not be entrusted to someone lacking credibility. 

Furthermore, magic played a crucial role in the palace’s security, with various enchantments and magical devices detecting intruders. Although members of different factions of court magicians took turns monitoring the security, problems rarely arose. However, if a traitor were to emerge from within, it would put the royal family residing in the palace in danger. 

This was precisely why Farsa, who was mocked as an upstart, struggled to gain trust. Despite possessing considerable power, he had become a court magician less than a year ago, and earning trust proved to be a challenging task. 

Yet, it wasn’t just for valid reasons. Many individuals feared that Farsa’s overwhelming strength would jeopardize their own positions, leading to numerous attempts to sabotage them. 

Rumors were spread, claiming Farsa was a foreign spy, a hidden member of a demon race, or scheming to usurp the royal family using Princess Aurelia. While some of these rumors held some truth, many were baseless fabrications. 

Moreover, due to their frequent access to classified information, court magicians often fell prey to bribery from aristocrats aiming to bring down their political opponents. 

The court magicians had transformed into a gathering of individuals proficient not only in magic but also in political maneuvering. Chaos had become the norm within their ranks. 

Those who held the reins of power in the Valois Kingdom, including the King of Valois himself, were grappling with the role and presence of court magicians at the core of the kingdom’s politics. Yet, they found it challenging to intervene due to the crucial role these magicians played in the nation. 

However, despite these circumstances, Farsa, the rising star, faced the majority opinion that his abilities were insufficient due to his background. Apart from Princess Aurelia, he received a lukewarm response, neither fully embraced nor completely shunned. 

Various motives and schemes resulted in Farsa’s current position as the seventh-ranked court magician—an ambiguous state. 

“I don’t really understand complicated stuff, but Farsa-senpai is so smart and incredible at magic. I envy you!” -Apprentice 

Why did this child become a magician? Farsa couldn’t help but wonder if they were truly suited for it. 

Fundamentally, those who call themselves wizards are beings who voraciously devour various books, extracting fragmentary ancient lost magical techniques and conducting research on magic. 

Gradually, these endeavors took shape and eventually became utilized for military purposes and the production of magical tools. Generally, those who identify as wizards are recognized as intelligent individuals. 

If one were to specialize in specific magics such as enhancement magic like knights, it would still require studying how to manipulate magical power and understanding the effects that manifest when handling various forms of magic. One must learn through practice, experiencing and memorizing each individual outcome. 

That is why many nobles, who possess both education and wealth, tend to be involved in this pursuit. However, Farsa couldn’t comprehend what exactly was going through the mind of the girl before him. 

“Well, if I could do anything, I wouldn’t be here. Rather, since Princess Aura is calling, I should head there. You should return to your work as well. Apologies for the inconvenience I’ve caused.” -Farsa 

“Understood, sir! Then I shall take my leave, sir!” -Apprentice 

With a cheerful salute, the junior wizard ran off, and Farsa slowly stood up, walking with a seemingly listless gait. 

Because he couldn’t do everything, he made mistakes. He traveled alone throughout the Valois Kingdom in search of that girl from back then. However, now that he had encountered Princess Aurelia and confirmed the girl’s safety, he didn’t have much reason to stay in this country. 

His work as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord’s army was becoming increasingly demanding, so perhaps it was time to bid farewell to Princess Aura. With that thought in mind, Farsa walked down the corridors of the royal palace. 

Taking breaks whenever he could, he had traveled the human lands for five years before meeting Princess Aurelia and starting his service in the palace, which had already been more than a year. 

While the demon race had its own tendencies towards racial exclusivity, the Demon Lord’s army, which placed emphasis on meritocracy, provided a much more comfortable environment compared to the court magicians 

The human world, more Farsa had imagined, was far more tainted by greed, where individuals of low ability were often given high positions based solely on their family background. Especially among the local nobles, many abused their unchecked power, causing suffering among the people. 

At this time, Farsa harbored little favorable sentiment towards the human race. He couldn’t help but question why his own father had married a human woman in the first place.