Chapter Seventy-Eight: Such Is Fate

“Are you really leaving? There’s a magic academy here in the imperial capital as well.”
Tinasia, after returning to Magiona’s home, was still eager to stop them from leaving. She couldn’t understand why the two insisted on studying in another city. She had grown accustomed to life with Magiona, and now the idea of her departure felt unbearably cruel.
“We agreed to leave long ago. You’re not a child; stop clinging to me every day.”
Compared to Tinasia’s reluctance, Magiona was far more decisive. Perhaps her words seemed cold, but if she showed even a hint of hesitation, the green-haired princess would burst into tears, which would only complicate matters further.
“I know you said so, but...”
Tinasia glanced at Ruby, unable to articulate her feelings clearly. She had thought she’d only be sad about Magiona’s departure, but now it was doubled—she didn’t want Ruby to leave either. She knew they would leave, but hadn’t realized how quickly time had flown. A month felt like mere days, and now the Rhine Magic Academy’s admissions had already begun.
“Eat well, don’t pick at your food like Magiona.”
The princess herself seemed unaware of how aggrieved she looked. Ruby’s only worry, seeing her expression, was that she’d end up as spoiled as Magiona.
“That’s not the reason!”
Tinasia couldn’t stop them from leaving. On the day they set out, many came to see them off. Laen hugged Ruby and patted his shoulder, while the old pope kept reminding Magiona to take care of herself and to immediately report if Ruby bullied her, acting just like a doting family member.
“Time always flies when I’m with you... Could you indulge one selfish request?”
Living with Ruby had made Phylocys forget her original purpose; only when they were about to leave did she remember she had come for her clan. The cards Ruby crafted were already stored in her space item. He had done so much for her just because she asked, and she couldn’t deny feeling happy.
“Alright.”
“Kiss... Hug me, please.”
The moment Phylocys spoke, the Mage girl flinched. She changed her request not out of fear of Magiona’s silent pressure, but knowing Ruby wouldn’t agree if she asked for a kiss. Lowering her expectations, she hoped for at least a hug.
Ruby saw nothing wrong with a hug. He opened his arms and embraced Phylocys. It was the first time the poison dragon lady experienced Ruby’s embrace. His chest was not broad, and the hug wasn’t particularly comfortable, but she liked it immensely. When they parted, she rubbed her cheek several times against Ruby’s face—a gesture dragons use in their true forms to express intimacy, but as a human, it was her first time. After their final goodbye, she dragged away the sobbing Moers, who was crying so pitifully that even in midair his plaintive wails of “My wife, my wife!” echoed.
“Nana, you must write to me. If I don’t get your letters, I’ll die.”
Tinasia clung to Magiona, reluctant to let go. With fewer chances to see her, she wanted to prolong this moment as much as possible.
“I know, now let go of me.”
Magiona gently patted the green-haired princess’s back, offering comfort. After they separated, Tinasia looked at Ruby, biting her lip, unsure what to say. She’d seen Phylocys hug Ruby, and was wondering if she should do the same.
“Parting is for the next reunion. I’ll look forward to seeing you again.”
Ruby gently patted Tinasia’s head, drawing a gentle close to their farewell.
“You really do attract trouble.”
As they crossed through space, Magiona suddenly slowed down. The surroundings were a dazzling corridor of strange colors. Before Ruby could take it all in, she spoke.
“Me?”
“I only brought you to the capital to get a resident stone, and even if you stayed, I just wanted to keep you in the house. Who knew you’d meet so many people?”
Magiona said this without a hint of embarrassment, as if Ruby was already her possession. If she’d stuck to her plan, there wouldn’t have been so many scenes of separation.
“I’m not your pet.”
Ruby was used to the Mage girl’s presumptuousness and could only reply helplessly.
“Pretty much.”
“This is the Rhine Magic Academy.”
With the teleportation complete, the two stood before the golden gates. Ruby couldn’t help but marvel that Magiona was truly an indispensable companion for travel.
“This door is remarkable.”
Ruby admired the golden gates with an artist’s eye. On Earth, only the Arc de Triomphe could compare, but even that didn’t boast such lavish doors. Here, he saw the crystallization of otherworldly human craftsmanship and couldn’t praise it enough.
“Right? My teacher always says he’d like to move it someday.”
“Who told you that...”
Had it not been for the crowd, Ruby would have wanted to pinch Magiona’s lips. Her irreverent remarks spoiled the atmosphere.
The guards who once stopped Phylocys now halted Ruby and Magiona, but upon hearing their purpose, let them through. On the open field, a group was already queuing for some kind of inspection.
“What are they doing?”
“Probably a magic level test or something. I’ve never done it, so I’m not sure.”
Magiona herself was uncertain. Yura had acted as her tutor, and his teachings differed from the academy’s, so she’d never undergone such tests.
“But they’re all girls...”
Ruby noticed the dozen or so students in line were all female. Was it a girls’ school? He’d never heard that.
“Seems so. Look over there.”
Magiona nodded, scanning the area and pointing to the shadow of the massive school building. Ruby squinted for a long time before noticing a ‘♂’ symbol. If it wasn’t a bathroom or changing room, it must be the admissions office.
“I’ll head over. See you in a bit.”
“Alright.”
Magiona nodded and went off for her magic test. Neither considered how Ruby would pass a magic test to enroll.
“Are you here to apply?”
As Ruby approached the shadow of the school, a head suddenly emerged from the ground—a bald, middle-aged head, followed by a plump face. He sized Ruby up for a few moments, then put away the sign with the male symbol.
“Huh? Yes, I am.”
Luckily, Ruby was used to all sorts of strange magic and wasn’t frightened. He had no idea how admissions worked in this world, but if the man meant applying as a student, he wasn’t wrong, so he nodded.
“Good. Follow me.”
The shadow mage grabbed Ruby by the ankle and dragged him into the shadows. When Ruby saw daylight again, he was in a spacious office.
“My name is Shudor. You’ve probably heard of me.”
“An honor, truly.”
He hadn’t heard of him... but Ruby wouldn’t admit that. For someone of apparent status, he responded with a few polite platitudes.
“Tell me, what can you do?”
Shudor slumped into his chair, relieved to have smuggled Ruby in. The rest would be easier.
“Me? Other than magic, pretty much everything.”
Ruby thought for a moment. As long as Shudor didn’t ask anything strange, and given the right materials, he could even build an atomic bomb.
“A real young master, huh? Let me make this clear: even though your family paid handsomely to get you in, this isn’t a place for you to mess with girls. I’ll give you an easy post—starting today, you’re the self-study class teacher.”
To Shudor, Ruby’s answer sounded like that of a useless young master, but this matched the dossier. He settled Ruby’s future with a wave.
“Huh, me?”
“In short, keep a low profile. If the headmaster finds out I let you in through the back door, we’re both done for, got it?”
------------------------------------------------------------------
PS
Ruby: How does an ordinary person with no magic end up as a teacher?
So when Shudor speaks to him: The faculty has decided, you’ll be the teacher.
Ruby: Maybe you should find someone more qualified.
Shudor: It’s already been decided.
Ruby: Damn...
Magic Overlord: Damn what, get back home and cook!