Former Disciple
That night, a single man visited Hazen＝Heim’s mansion.
Lawren＝Seyz.
He was formerly a disciple, but he went independent 8 years ago. Presently, he’d come to be in a position where he had more than a thousand disciples over the entire continent. A Magician who uses Holy Dark Magic like Hazen, and whose abilities are said to be the second in this Academic City, Zagreb.
“Ooh, it sure has been a while huh”
From the wine cellar, he takes a bottle out and pours it into two glasses.
“Hazen-sensei……you seem to be doing well”
“Aah, well, I’ve not been bored”
While thinking back and making a smile, he downs the glass of red wine.
“How are they, your new disciples?”
8 years ago, Hazen had the most disciples under him in all of history. Out of nowhere, he announced to all of his disciples that they were expelled. It was an event that even got recorded in textbooks as an incident that left its mark on the continent’s history.
“Liana……rather than my disciple, she’s my daughter. Well, it may be a given, but I just can’t be strict on her no matter what”
“Hmm……I cannot imagine you having a gentle side though”
“It’s because I have a child quite late. Honestly, she’s unbearably adorable. If it’s for that child’s sake, I have absolute confidence that I can give up my life”
‘He’s already, no different from a simple doting parent’, he makes an awkward smile at the mentor who was only once nothing but an object of terror.
“……you changed huh. How about the other child?”
“Asch huh……he’s, a monster”
Hazen, answers like some part of him is having fun.
“……even though you yourself are an unadulterated monster?”
“Aah. Perhaps, even more so than me. At the very least, at this point in time, his Dark Magic is on par with me……no, maybe even higher than me”
“……”
Lawren met the very young Asch before as well. He knew he had a talent for Dark Magic. However, he nevertheless can’t believe that he has the calibre to surpass Hazen＝Heim, the strongest Magician in history.
“Dissatisfied?”
Mischievously, Hazen asks his former disciple.
“……he is leaning too close to Dark. Any of your disciples would think so without an exception”
Holy Dark Magic. That New Magic(Original), which can be called Hazen’s trademark, manifests enormous energy by combining opposing elements into one. For the sake of inheriting that magic the strongest Magician developed, who knows how many Magicians are burrowing their heads in their research. However, Asch can’t use Light Magic. That fact alone, is enough for one to say that he’s the talent who’s furthest from succeeding Hazen.
“We still, don’t know. The person himself is in the midst of desperately searching for a way to use Light Magic after all; even if he can only use Dark”
“……I do not understand. Why, go so far for him? If it was Liana, I would be able to understand”
She, too, is a genius who took after Hazen greatly. There might come a day when she can use Hazen’s level of Holy Dark Magic. However, when it comes to Asch, it is definitely impossible.
“……do you know why he wants to use Light Magic?”
“It is because he wants to succeed you, right?”
“No, I don’t feel even the slightest bit of that.『To Unravel The Principle Of All Creations』that’s, how he answered me. He doesn’t seem to have any interest; neither in being the strongest Magician nor being the wealthiest man on the continent”
“……”
“His personality is the worst, but he’s straight-laced. His character is rotten, but he doesn’t compromise on his ideal even at the cost of his life. It was my first time ever, encountering such a guy”
Hazen happily downs another glass of red wine.
“……fuu, understood. Well then, I shall give up and withdraw as a former disciple”
Lawren, too, downs the red wine and stands from his seat.
“Didn’t you have some business with me?”
“I have someone promising amongst my disciples. He seemed to be infatuated by you quite a bit, so I was thinking it would be great if you could make him a disciple like them. However, from what I just heard, it does not seem like it will come true”
“……apologies”
He has had Lawren, become the receptacle of those who wish to be Hazen’s disciples. 8 years ago, when he was fascinated by Asch and half-forcefully made all his disciples go independent, he was fully resolved to be hated, but Lawren convinced those disciples with discontent and dissatisfaction, and things stood without any massive incident as of now.
“Your whimsicalness, is already ingrained into my body. Besides, if I visit like this, you will treat me to the best wine. So, let’s call it even, shall we”
Bowing deeply, the former disciple left Hazen’s mansion.
＊
“……to unravel the principle of all creations……huh”
As he’s walking, Lawren mutters. When did it happen. When did his objective become the Magician known as Hazen＝Heim. That concrete goal was too high, he ended up becoming satisfied with just aiming for it. Just when, did he stop having a pure interest in magic.
“……fuu. Looks like I’ve got to revise my thinking as well”
Denying everything he’s done up until now of searching for a vessel that can become Hazen＝Heim and training his disciples. That is, an act of denying the way he lived for more than half his life. But since he ended up realising it, then he can’t carry on living, pretending like he didn’t realise it. ‘I suppose, it probably felt something like this’, while recalling the face of Hazen, his mentor, Lawren laughed to himself.
In front of the entrance of his own mansion, there stood a single youngster.
“Ho-, how did it go? Did Hazen-sensei say anything about me? Anything about my magic today……”
“Krist……”
Bloodshot eyes. He can’t stop feeling pity for the youngster who calls out to him with eyes like they’re begging for something. He’d never seen him so cornered before, and the soft-hearted Lawren, ended up unconsciously going to negotiate directly.
“Hazen-sensei should have been watching. If that coward……if Asch didn’t perform Demon Summoning, he should have lost to me. No, I would have definitely won, and Hazen-sensei would acknowledge me as his successoーー”
“Give up”
“……huh?”
“You’re unable to succeed Hazen-sensei. Recognising your own talents is also something crucial. Besides, that itself might be what’s really important”
“Lawren-sensei. What……are you saying?”
“……fuu. Go back for today. Let’s leave it, to tomorrow”
Tapping on his shoulder, Lawren sighs and returns to his own room.
“……”
Crack Crack Crack Crackkk…..Crack Crack Crack Crackkk……
Those sounds, were reverberating softly, in the quiet night.
