The Patient Wizard Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – Calculation (2)

The classroom was shocked, terrified, and fell into silence at Henry’s quiet death. Normally, the wizards of the Magic Tower did look down on the children of nobles. However, they didn’t expect that someone would kill a noble just because they weren’t quiet. Moreover, he wasn’t from a fallen noble family but the second son of a Count’s family who owned vast territories.

William spoke in a casual voice as if nothing had happened.

“Those who felt magic, step forward.”

No one dared to ignore his command. Thirty-six apprentices stepped forward.

“Welcome to the world of wizards.”

Then he left the classroom, taking them along. Only the failures and a corpse remained in the classroom. Before the wizard appeared, the classroom had been very noisy, but now that he had left, no one opened their mouths.

Shortly after, four gentlemen with yellow belts entered and removed Henry’s corpse. One of them said,

“Return to the classroom in two months.”

Smith asked,

“What do we do for two months?”

A business-like answer came back,

“You need to feel the magic.”

*    *    *

The members of Group 1, except for Alex and Catherine, who had followed William, returned to the Lion Hall after class and were sprawled in the reception room. Everyone looked dazed. The shock was too great for them to attempt doing anything else.

Chris was also sitting in a daze. David had said that wizards were superior to nobles. Chris had taken it to mean that wizards were that impressive. He hadn’t fully trusted his words.

In the Baronial Estate of Xavier, the fire wizard Randall had burned Jack to death, but Chris thought that was possible because Jack was an insignificant slave.

But today, William had decisively killed the second son of a Count’s family.

David had been sincere in what he said, and other wizards also seemed to regard nobles as trivial. It was surprising. This made Chris want to become a wizard even more.

Chris recalled what had happened when he lived in the Baronial Estate of Xavier. The Baron’s second son was a short man with a loud voice. After learning archery from a knight, he called over Chris who was walking on the road for ‘practice’ and made him lean against a tree.

At that time, Chris didn’t know what was going to happen. He didn’t know until an apple was placed on his head. Even as he watched the boy draw his bowstring, he thought, ‘Surely not, surely not.’ He couldn’t imagine that someone would shoot an arrow at an apple placed on a person’s head. The boy committed this unimaginable, crazy act.

It was fortunate that his skills were terrible. The arrow flew off in the wrong direction. It didn’t even come close. If his skills had been decent, the arrow would have flown near the target, and Chris would have been seriously injured or killed.

Recalling that day made his body tremble anew. He wasn’t trembling from fear but from anger.

Chris imagined returning home after becoming a wizard.

How satisfying would it be to burn that bastard with fire?

“What are you thinking about?” Smith asked.

“About becoming a wizard.”

Tony shouted,

“Wizards are crazy.”

Prince Mark said,

“They’re calculating, not crazy.”

“Are you saying it was a planned action?”

“Tony, have you ever been in the military?”

“I haven’t enlisted, but I’ve seen plenty of territory soldiers.”

“When new recruits enter the military, they say they break one person to establish discipline.”

Tony’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying they deliberately killed Henry to establish discipline?”

“That’s what I think.”

Tony pointed at Chris.

“If that was the purpose for murder, they should have used that slave over there. Not the second son of a Count’s family.”

“They probably did it deliberately to create a bigger shock. If a slave had died, we wouldn’t have been this shocked.”

“That’s… True.”

“The message is probably that nobles aren’t a big deal in the Magic Tower, so be obedient. That’s what it means.”

Listening to their conversation, Chris suddenly had a thought and shouted,

“Andrew!”

Tony was irritated.

“You’re loud.”

His irritation seemed to grow over time, making him act like Alex.

“I treated you nicely, and now you shout while nobles are talking! Such bad manners.”

Mark stopped him.

“Wait, let’s hear what he has to say.”

He looked at Chris.

“What about Andrew?”

“Andrew was the first one caught.”

“The first?”

“A month ago, Wizard William was about to kill Andrew. But at the last moment, he changed his mind. I wonder why?”

“Hearing your observation, I’m convinced that my thoughts were correct.”

“You mean your idea that he deliberately killed for discipline?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“I just told you earlier.”

“Pardon? What…?”

“Andrew is a commoner. Killing a commoner would have less impact, I suppose. So he waited until a noble offended him.”

“Ah, that could be the case.”

But is that all there is to it?

Chris tilted his head to the side.

He definitely was going to kill him.

William seemed to dislike troublesome things.

Would someone like him discriminate between commoners and nobles?

It seemed like there was some other reason. One thing was certain, Wizards are extremely dangerous beings.

I need to be more careful if I want to survive.

Tony said,

“Why are you talking with someone of lower status? When you treat them nicely, they try to climb up. Please interact with them moderately.”

Chris thought,

He speaks so prettily.

With Alex gone, Tony is acting like Alex.

Faye wrapped her arms around her shoulders and said,

“I want to go home.”

The nobles nodded as if they agreed. But Chris shook his head from side to side. Chris found the Magic Tower much better than Baron Xavier’s estate. Here, at least there was hope. Hope that life will get better.

Section 2 Seat Dispute

A day passed, and Lion Hall returned to its usual scenery. Chris ate a hearty breakfast and moved to the place where Alex had meditated, just in case. Sitting on the bench, he calmed his mind and breathed carefully while reciting the spell.

‘Era sultinsiavi era ummododisia.’

He didn’t think about anything else, not even a tiny bit. He only thought about magic.

I feel it! I feel it!

He opened his eyes wide at the chilling sensation.

Is this it?

It wasn’t. It was just goosebumps from the cold wind blowing on his skin.

As he was slumping with his shoulders drooping, Tony approached and said,

“Move.”

“…?”

“This is my seat.”

“This is Alex’s seat.”

“I’ve decided to take over Alex’s seat.”

“Did Alex tell you to do so?”

Tony burst into anger.

“Is Alex your friend? Use honorifics!”

It doesn’t cost money to use honorifics, nor is it difficult. Chris did as requested.

“Did you get Lord Alex’s permission?”

“Alex and I are equals. I don’t need permission. Besides, Alex wouldn’t want a slave’s lowly bottom dirtying the seat he sat on.”

Given Alex’s personality, that would certainly be the case.

“You have a point.”

Chris vacated the bench. However, he didn’t go far. He sat on the ground a little distance away, which made Tony’s eyebrows twitch with displeasure.

“Go somewhere else.”

“Isn’t this where Lord Alex felt it?”

It felt strange to say he ‘felt it’ outdoors.

“I also want to share some of the good energy that helped Lord Alex succeed.”

Then he closed his eyes and fell into meditation. Chris expected Tony to make a fuss, but he didn’t. He seemed satisfied with having taken the bench.

Tony’s meditation didn’t last long. Prince Mark appeared.

“I’m sorry, but I’d like you to vacate the seat.”

Chris watched the two and laughed inwardly.

The prince seems to believe this is a prime spot too.

Tony was in a difficult position.

“I claimed this seat first.”

“Tony!”

The prince’s tone became stern.

Chris inwardly exclaimed,

Oh! Is this the dignity of a prince?

Dignity that had naturally accumulated over years of commanding people with just a nod was emanating from his behavior. Although Tony was also a noble, he couldn’t withstand the prince’s dignity. He reluctantly stood up.

The prince claimed the bench and asked Chris,

“Why are you sitting there?”

“I’m trying to get even the leftover good energy.”

“It’s bothersome.”

“Yes.”

Chris moved without argument.

This is where Catherine meditated.

As he was about to sit on a rock, Faye appeared. Faye said primly,

“This is the women’s spot.”

“Are there separate spots for men and women?”

“Perhaps… The energy is different.”

Hearing that, it seemed plausible.

“Well, this spot might be suitable for women.”

Returning to the place where he had meditated for a month, Alice approached. Chris narrowed his eyes.

“Surely you’re not after my spot?”

Alice chuckled.

“Why would I particularly want a spot that had no effect for a month?”

“Then what’s your business?”

“I saw you moving around. It was amusing.”

“Hmm.”

Chris made a sad expression and sighed.

“Do you find my humiliation entertaining?”

“You don’t think it’s humiliating, do you? Or am I wrong?”

“Does it seem that way?”

“Yes.”

“You’re wrong.”

Chris lowered his eyes and swept the ground with the sole of his foot.

“I’m very miserable and unhappy.”

Alice laughed heartily.

“Chris, you’re a terrible actor.”

Then she came closer and lowered her voice.

“You’re no longer a slave. Why do you act so subserviently?”

“As you said, I’m not a slave, but…”

“But?”

“I’m poor.”

“Are you trying to please them to make money?”

“That’s right.”

“What do you want to do with the money?”

“I heard there’s a mysterious helmet that helps you feel magic.”

“You’re not only bad at acting but also at making jokes.”

“I’m not joking.”

*    *    *

Neither Alex’s spot claimed by Prince Mark nor Catherine’s spot inherited by Faye had any effect. They watched hopefully, but they couldn’t feel the magic. It wasn’t about the location; Alex and Catherine were special.

A few days later, the two who had been taken by William returned to Lion Hall. The group members rushed toward them.

Faye grabbed Catherine and asked,

“What have you been doing all this time?”

“Receiving special education.”

“What kind of special education?”

“History of magic. Fundamentals of magic.”

“Ah.”

Faye exclaimed.

“That must have been nice.”

Mark spoke to Alex,

“What kind of magic did you learn?”

Alex tilted his head arrogantly.

“I was ordered not to tell outsiders. Sorry.”

He said ‘sorry’ with an attitude that wasn’t sorry at all.

Mark seemed upset.

“We’re not outsiders.”

“You’re mistaken. Apprentices are not members of the Magic Tower. They’re just apprentices. To be precise, wizard aspirants.”

Then he flicked the yellow belt around his waist.

“I’m tired, so I’ll go in first.”

Alex pushed Chris aside and said,

“A genius is passing by. Get out of the way, lowly one.”

The king of rudeness had also equipped bragging. Chris was used to being treated this way, so he just accepted it, but Mark seemed displeased with his arrogant attitude and grumbled for a while. Perhaps stimulated by this, from the next day, Mark began to rise early and devote himself to training.