Jared Murphy’s Despair 6

“I don’t mean to intrude on your privacy, but information is always moving, and we can not make a decision without such information.”

“No, I understand. Rumors have already been spreading within the academy, so I’m already fairly used to it.”

“I truly am sorry…”

Jared couldn’t take it anymore with the pitiful gazes that were being sent towards him.

“It is fine. For now, I’m prepared to become a Court Magician, but the question now would be ‘how to become one.’”

“Thank you very much. Then, the Magic Association is already fully aware of Murphy-sama’s skill, talent, personality, and backing. The Association has already deemed these qualities suitable, but we want you to have more achievements. Even though you subjugated a dragon, it’s threat level was no more than a quasi-disaster class, and as such, will make little to no contributions to your selection. Aside from that, there is also your age. You are currently 16 years old. Many Court Magician Divisions will not recognize your skill unless you present them with a great achievement.”

The majority of the members in such divisions were adults, and they all could be considered elites. Among them, there were a few extremists, demanding proper age and achievements for an individual to warrant the post of Court Magician.

For that reason, he could understand where Dennis was coming from, but the question was ‘how’ he would attain those achievements. No doubt, it would not be an easy task.

“And so, I have a suggestion from the Royal Palace.”

“A suggestion?”

(TLN: More like a “task” given out)

“The current Court Magicians earned their achievements through wars and some skirmishes, but now, such conflicts are currently on a small scale. As a citizen, I too wish for no such battles to happen, and I want to keep it that way.”

“Agreed.”

Jared didn’t want to go that far to become Court Magician if it would mean hurting people.

“But such conflicts are unavoidable, and some problems can’t be solved unless you’re a magician.”

“And they are giving that task to us, to ‘resolve’ such conflicts and earn the achievements to become a Court Magician?”

“It is as you say. I cannot tell you the details, but please note that there is a possibility that you may lose your life.”

“I understand. As a magician, one must tread on the path of life and death constantly. ”

“Thank you for your understanding. Then I will be returning to the Association and informing them as well as the Royal Palace of Murphy-sama’s validation of his candidacy. I’m sure one of them will contact you soon, after all, it has been three years since a Court Magician candidate has been chosen! I am honored to be the one responsible for Murphy-sama!”

A man in his thirties was acting and celebrating like a child in front of him. Jared couldn’t help but laugh at the man’s words.

That was what it meant to be a Court Magician, a Magician that stood on top of other magicians. Even someone such as he felt the importance of such a role from Dennis’s words.

He was still unsure if he could stand on the same level as his mother stood, but his uneasiness only made him more excited.

Curious and inquisitive, he wanted to know whether he was just an ordinary mage or an extraordinary one.

“I will tell you the details of the task when we next meet. Would you still be willing to accept subjugation requests from the Association?”

“Of course. I am already thankful for such a learning experience, but to earn a reward on top of that, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Thank you. We can only give the Academy our requests, so please talk with your advisor regarding that matter. There should be a request coming in a day from now.”

“I understand. Then I will be waiting.”

Dennis stood up.

“I don’t know what the task is, but I’m sure Murphy-sama will become a splendid Court Magician.”

“Please don’t pressure me Dennis-san, I’m still fairly uncertain about this”

“Hahaha, forgive me then. As a member of the Association, I am personally rooting for you, so do your best!”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Jared firmly grasped Dennis’s hand that was held out to him.

Jared wanted to send Dennis off the Academy gates, but they parted in the reception room.

He went on towards the Faculty room, informing the teacher he met earlier that the meeting was over. Kirisi wanted to know more about the details of their meeting, but Jared departed from the Faculty Room.

Since lessons were already starting, there were no people in the hallways. He was not obliged to attend classes, but he wanted to talk to Krista, so he opted to take them. It was at that moment when he felt a presence.

“Who’s there?”

He stopped walking and called out to the individual whom he could feel behind him. He turned around as he readied his body, and was preparing to cast a spell. They were banned from using magic within the Academy’s grounds, but he assumed a combat stance regardless.

“I’ll ask once more. Who’s there?”

A small voice rang out, and the intimidating presence vanished. A maid came out from shadows of the hallway.

“A maid?”

Jared was surprised.

There were no maids employed by the Academy. She was not one of those who worked in the cafeteria and stalls, although they were permitted to go in and out of the Academy, nor was she a person serving a noble lady within the Academy since maids were prohibited from entering.

All in all, there shouldn’t be a maid standing in front of him. If he had to guess, she was here to deliver something forgotten by her mistress.

“What does a maid want with me?”

He wasn’t planning on letting his guard down even if she was a maid. He couldn’t dispose of the thought that a fighter could be dressed up as this maid, and like in all households, maids were trained to protect their masters.

Unless she reveals her intentions, he couldn’t let his guard down.

“Please excuse my rudeness. I am Trené Grestler. I am from the Alway household.”

“Hm, I have a bad feeling about this..”

The maid that called herself Trené was a 20-year-old beauty. The girl who looked at him with an expressionless face had light blue hair and tied her hair up in a ponytail. She was wearing a standard maid uniform, with an average height but a stuffed up bosom. She was staring intently at him.

“First, I would like to congratulate you on being chosen as a Court Magician candidate. Who would have thought that you would already be on the path of becoming a Court Magician when only two days had passed? Even Olivier-sama was surprised. However, it is as expected of Jared Murphy-sama, possessor of the Great Earth attribute.”

“Honestly, how does word travel so fast?”

“The Duke’s information network is amazing. Please accept this as an explanation for now.”

“How unfortunate. You won’t tell me how you do it after all.”

He wasn’t frustrated that he couldn’t learn how information networks worked within the nobles, but this much was to be expected of them.

For now, he knew he wasn’t being monitored. He still couldn’t let his guard down. Some people specialized in gaining information, and with the Duke’s household, you wouldn’t know who’s working for who.

“This is bad… At this rate, I’ll have trust issues.”

“Is there something wrong?”

Without changing her expression, Trené returned a question.

“So what does a maid from the Alway household want with me?”

“Yes, before that allow me to correct you first. It is true that I am a maid from the Alway household, but I serve Olivier Alway as her maid, and as such, I am not employed under the Duke himself.”

“Is that really of such importance?”

“It is more important than my life.”

“I understand. You are Olivier-sama’s personal maid. I’ll take note of that. You had something to tell me, right? Could you please tell me now? I want to get to the classroom soon.”

He wanted to escape from Trené as he had just finished his meeting with Dennis from the Magic Association, but she tilted her head in confusion to his words.

“It is unfortunate, but you will not be going to your classroom. Olivier-sama has requested Jared-sama see her. She wants to congratulate you on your candidacy to become a Court Magician.”

“Then I’ll just thank her for her greeting…”

“You cannot.”

“Then on another day…”

“I cannot accept such an answer.”

In her mind, she had already decided to get Jared to her mistress’ place. It didn’t seem like he would be able to get away from her, so he resigned himself to his fate.

“I understand. Then I will meet with Olivier-sama.”

“Thank you very much, then shall we get going?”

“Where to?”

“To the residence where Olivier-sama and the Madame are waiting.”

“Of course it’s there. Aaah, I have a bad feeling about this. ”

His stomach grumbled as he was reminded that he would meet Olivier again.

Even though he knew that the rumors surrounding her had nothing to do with it, Olivier still had a personality that was difficult to deal with, able to coerce him into doing the impossible.

It wasn’t like he didn’t want to see her, he just didn’t know what do in front of his fiancé that he got engaged to but a day ago.

He wasn’t even sure if it was appropriate to greet her with a smile as she might think him rude if he did such a thing.

“A horse carriage has already been prepared. Shall we?”

Jared followed Trené from behind as she headed out into the grounds.

He apologized to Krista in his heart for not being able to see her today.

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Here are some visuals to help with the Character visualization. I’ll leave it to you guys to guess who’s who.