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Chapter 17
“It’s Senior Dierden.”
“What’s going on…?”
“They look like outsiders.”
Once we sat down in the banquet hall, I could see his face and confirm that the voice from earlier really was Dierden’s.
Apparently, I was the only one sharp-eared enough to recognize him by voice alone—Leta, Lucy, and Senior Lang only realized who it was after sitting down and looking toward the crowd that had gathered.
“First, deliver this letter to Lady Rivera. I’ll head straight to the Imperial Palace.”
“Then what about Seryl—”
“Track her with a magic trace. Roy, Heinell, you two go find Seryl’s whereabouts.”
Diel tidied up his utensils and spoke to the group in robes beside him.
‘Those around him look like they’re all from the Magic Division too…’
If my guess was right, a few of the students sitting closest to Diel stood and followed him out.
“What’s the rush?”
“They look older than us…”
Just as Leta said, the two people Diel had called “Roy” and “Heinell” looked older than him.
“Roy and Heinell graduated from the National Academy’s 84th class. When Dierden enrolled last year, they lived together in the Magic Division, and thanks to their skills, they now work in the Mage Tower.”
“So they are outsiders. But if they’re from the Mage Tower…”
“Yeah. That means something’s happened. Dierden never loses his calm composure, so for him to rush out like that, it must be something serious.”
I tried recalling if there had been any major incidents involving the Mage Tower in the original story, but no matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t remember any.
“Hmm… well, he seems in a hurry, so I’ll just ask later in a letter.”
Since I couldn’t stand being curious, I was wondering when I should write to him, gnawing on my meat, when I suddenly realized the noisy surroundings had gone oddly quiet.
“…What?”
It wasn’t my imagination—Leta, Lucy, and Senior Lang were all frozen, as if someone had paused time at our table.
I couldn’t understand what had made them react that way, so I looked around nervously until Leta gave a wry laugh and spoke first.
“No, it’s just… weird to actually see you getting special treatment.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you’d write a letter—to Dierden, right?”
“Yeah, but why?”
I genuinely didn’t get what she meant, but my confusion seemed to shock Leta even more.
She scowled like some villain in a crime movie who couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
For a moment, I wondered if I’d said something I shouldn’t have.
“Hey, don’t make that face…”
“Are you seriously pretending not to know? You’re impossible.”
“You’re acting just like Bella again. What’s your problem?”
“You mean to tell me that Dierden—the guy who can’t write, doesn’t like writing, and never sends personal letters—actually exchanges letters with you?”
Leta even set her fork down to lecture me about Dierden.
“He’s not the type to talk about personal matters with anyone unless it’s strictly business. He’s not talkative at all—and he never writes letters.”
“…Diel doesn’t?”
“Exactly. You need to realize how special you are to him.”
Hearing that from Leta—someone completely unrelated to him—felt different from hearing it from his sister, Bella.
It made me realize anew that I must occupy quite an important place in Diel’s life.
‘But… I still don’t understand why he likes me.’
Well, both of us had too much on our plates right now, so it wasn’t the time to think about that.
“Anyway, if a whole group from the Mage Tower showed up, it must be something huge, right? Like a war, or the end of the world?”
“Can’t you think of a normal example for once?”
“That’s all that comes to mind.”
“It could be something internal to the Mage Tower. Still, since Lady Rivera’s name came up, it’s clearly not trivial.”
“Oh, by the way—who’s Lady Rivera?”
This time, Leta looked as if she’d just heard the most unbelievable thing in the world.
‘Seriously, Leta, you’re making me want to hit you.’
“Stop making that face and just tell me.”
“How can you not know the name of the former Master of the Mage Tower? Are you sure you’re a citizen of the Spes Empire?”
“I swear, if you say that one more time, I will hit you.”
Her question did sting a bit, but technically I was a citizen—so I shamelessly brushed it off.
“Anyway, if we’re done eating, let’s go. We’ll be here all night at this rate.”
“Shua, I think this is for you.”
When I came back from washing up, Lucy suddenly held out a white piece of paper.
“Huh?”
“A white bird flew in earlier, so I opened the window just in case—and it actually came straight into our room.”
“A carrier pigeon, then. So?”
She nodded at my question and continued.
“It was shaking its leg, so I checked, and this paper was tied to it. But no one would send me something like this.”
True, Lucy was pretty enough to attract admirers, but none who’d go as far as secretly sending letters through carrier birds.
If my hunch was right…
‘As expected.’
The familiar stationery belonged to Diel.
‘He must be so busy, yet he still wrote to me before I could even send one. That’s… unexpectedly cute.’
Amused by my own thoughts, I unfolded the paper and saw his familiar handwriting.
[Hello, Shua.]
It feels like it’s been forever since I last wrote a letter.
I had to leave in a hurry today and didn’t get to explain the situation to anyone—but I figured you’d be curious, so I took out new stationery for you.
This will probably become known soon anyway, so I’ll just tell you directly.
One of the Mage Tower’s magicians, Seryl, has been kidnapped.
At first, we thought it was just a disappearance, but traces of defensive magic were found in the central research lab—where she was last seen—so it’s now classified as an abduction.
We still don’t know how anyone managed to breach the Tower’s security to take her.
Seryl wasn’t the strongest magician, but she had enough power to defend herself, so we don’t yet know why or by whom this was done.
By the time you read this letter, the pigeon should have brought you a necklace imbued with defensive magic.
If you ever find yourself in danger and I’m not there, it’ll protect you. Don’t feel pressured—it’s just because I worry about you.
I don’t think I’ll be able to return to the Academy soon.
Both His Majesty and Lady Rivera have taken this very seriously and have ordered a joint investigation with the regional guard.
Until I come back, please stay safe and unhurt.
I hope you’re healthy and well.
— Diel
Just like his previous letter, it was filled with gentle words.
Feeling an odd warmth rise inside me, I reached for a new sheet of paper to write back—when I heard a tapping sound at the window.
Tok—tok tok.
“Oh, perfect timing.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah. Diel said he’d send a necklace imbued with protective magic.”
I answered Lucy and opened the window to let in the familiar white carrier pigeon.
“If you’re going to enchant a necklace, couldn’t you pick something more ordinary…?”
‘Then again, maybe this is ordinary for someone as rich as Diel.’
I put on the sparkling sapphire necklace, shaking my head at the thought that at least it wasn’t diamonds.
“Hey, Lucy—can you help me with this?”
“Ha, I knew it. Necklaces are always tricky to put on alone.”
“Yeah…”
While Lucy fastened the clasp for me, I absently stroked the pigeon.
“Softer than I expected.”
“All done, Shua.”
“Thanks…”
I walked to the mirror to see how it looked.
The blue jewel complemented my pink hair nicely. I was admiring it when I noticed Lucy staring blankly in the reflection.
“Lucy? What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh… it’s just, you sometimes say the strangest things. It’s kind of fascinating.”
“I… oh.”
Then I realized what I’d just said and froze.
‘I can’t even pull off a proper noble accent—why do I keep blurting weird phrases like that?’
I remembered Noah saying something similar recently and decided I really needed to watch my wording more carefully.
‘Lucy’s more perceptive than she looks.’
“Shua?”
“Oh, I, uh—learned that from Emily! I have no idea where she picks up her expressions.”
“Ah, I see…”
Seeing her nod in understanding, I silently apologized to Emily in my head.
‘Sorry, Emily. I’ll buy you something nice when I get back.’
“I’m going to read for a bit, Shua.”
“Sure.”
While Lucy read, I sat down to write my reply.
As the pigeon perched beside me, I realized I’d never once called it by name.
“Hmm…”
Now that I’d thought of it, I couldn’t rest until I asked.
[Hello, Diel.]
I received your letter and the necklace safely.
Thank you for worrying about me—but I hope you’ll also take care of yourself.
Everyone at the Academy knows how strong you are, and you probably know it too, but since you’re acting as the Mage Tower’s master now, you never know when danger might strike.
Since I don’t know when you’ll be back, I’d better make sure to stay healthy until then.
You’ll probably be busy for a while, and I’m not sure if you’ll even have time to exchange letters, but if you ever find a spare moment, please write to tell me how you’re doing.
Just like you worry about me, I’ll always be worrying about you too.
P.S. Does this pigeon have a name? If so, please tell me—I’d like to call it by name.
— Shua
This time, I even added a postscript to ask about the pigeon’s name.
It felt like the more names I learned, the more precious things I gained—but that couldn’t be helped. I’d always been someone who grew attached easily, and it was too late to change that now.
“Mom! Letter!”
“Another one? Mommy already has so many.”
“I don’t care! Take it!”
“Alright, alright~ You have that much to say to me?”
Whenever I wrote letters, I’d sometimes recall the happier times I had with my mother.
There was a time—long ago—when I thought I was living an ordinary, maybe even happy life.
Later I realized it had all been an illusion, a fleeting phase—but back then, I truly believed I was loved. I thought she loved me too.
In the end, I came to feel both love and hatred toward her—and that lingering affection made it hard to let go.
But as I grew older, the hatred won out, and that gave me the courage to sever ties.
Unlike my mother, my father was someone I had only hatred for.
— “Let’s just die together today, you and me.”
— “Aagh! No—!”
“Huff…”
Just remembering that scene from my past life made my throat tighten as if invisible hands were strangling me.
