I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 859 – Side Story 133: Qualification for Proof (1)

Two people were lying quietly on the sofa. The room was filled with splendid and beautiful magical formulas. The rest they could enjoy amidst the exquisite and luminous clusters of light was a privilege only the two of them, as mages, could possess.

While resting like this, Rudger asked.

"Is the family business going well?" 

"That's unexpected. I didn't think you'd ask about that." 

"Until now, I believed you were handling everything well on your own." 

"But not now?" 

"You're even helping out with the vice-chancellor's work, aren't you? The work as head of House Lumos alone seems quite overwhelming, yet if you're helping me here on top of that, I don't think you'd have any time left. Of course I'm grateful, but I can't help but worry about you."

Flora let out a small sigh at Rudger's words.

"If you say it like that, I can't even answer that I'm fine, even as empty words." 

"Is that so?" 

"The family business is quite busy. It's a duchy, how could it not be? I still have much left to prove."

Proof. It was what Flora needed most.

She was a noble born with noble blood but half of it was a concubine's blood. Because of that, the previous head, Caiden Lumos, despised and ignored Flora.

If she had been from any other noble family, her life would have ended there.

Flora had the talent to overturn such a fate. Overwhelming talent for magic.

The characteristic of magical synesthesia that felt the color and scent of magic. Along with excellent intuition for magic and a sharp mind that could grasp characteristics at a glance of theories.

It was talent worthy of saying she was born to become a mage.

Thus Flora proved herself with her talent. Yet Caiden still wouldn't acknowledge her. No matter how much Flora distinguished herself, they couldn't accept the base blood flowing in her.

Then what method remained?

Rebellion.

If said this way, Flora would look bad. Naturally, Flora ascended to the head's position with very rational and irreproachable justification.

The previous head, Caiden Lumos, was a traitor who had colluded with the Bretus Holy Kingdom during the holy war. Having threatened the Empire's security, from the Empire's standpoint, they would have nothing to say even if House Lumos was erased.

In the gap of that chaos, Flora made the choice to overturn her fate.

She pushed out Caiden Lumos and made a deal with the Imperial Family to take that seat instead.

'From the Imperial Family's standpoint, erasing House Lumos would have been a bit troublesome.'

Even with justification, erasing a family with history and tradition was never an easy matter. Moreover, it was one of only three grand ducal houses in the Empire. They couldn't predict how the other two ducal houses would react if they touched Lumos.

'And if House Lumos, led by Caiden Lumos, had seriously raised a rebellion, the Empire would have suffered great losses.'

That's why even the Imperial Family wanted to handle it as quietly as possible with minimal damage. What made that possible was Flora, a duchess who pushed out her father and siblings to ascend to the head's position by her own power.

Because the Imperial Family supported her and the other ducal houses backed Flora, the process itself was very smooth.

'But you can't satisfy everyone.'

Nobles also have ears to hear and eyes to see. They couldn't not know what kind of treatment Flora usually received in her own family, even if they only heard it in passing.

Some believed Flora hadn't succeeded legitimately. Others thought the Imperial Family, unable to erase Lumos, deliberately used Flora to install a puppet.

This was the proof Flora had to provide.

She needed to firmly imprint on those who still watched her with suspicious eyes that she was the head of House Lumos.

And Flora had been doing very well since graduating from Theon. Even Rudger didn't know Flora would do this well.

'Elder Heiback Kadatushan also came to me and said so. That Flora was born with a ruler's charisma. Only hidden by Caiden's shadow, her qualifications surpassed any head of House Lumos.'

But proof wasn't something that could be finished in a day or two. Flora sighing like that was also because that task still remained.

"Still, if you just keep doing what you've been doing, I think you can do it sufficiently." 

"Well, I think so too. Actually, I'm expanding my influence among the nobles well right now. There are still voices doubting me, but that's closer to jealousy toward me for reaching this position at a young age. Even if they try to bite at me using that as an excuse someday, would I dare give them such an opening?"

Flora would never do that. The Flora Rudger saw was a very noble aristocrat. The teeth of those full only of desire, wearing the mask of nobles, wouldn't even graze the hem of her clothes.

"If there's a problem, umm......" 

"What is it? Go ahead and talk about it. You won't get an answer just by worrying about it alone." 

"Phew. I don't know if I should say this, but there's one really important proof."

From Flora's determined voice, Rudger sensed there was something he didn't know about.

"You know what the symbol of House Lumos is, right?" 

"It's hazy. Was it an eagle?"

The Empire's three great ducal houses each had their own symbol.

The wolf of Ulburg. The mountain goat of Kadatushan. The eagle of Lumos.

"Considering the previous head's nature, it was closer to a snake though." 

"Pfft. But he's still my father, you know? Is it okay to say such things in front of me?" 

"Is that something the person who laughed should say?"

"That's true too. A snake. I've never thought of it that way, but it seems to fit perfectly. Ahaha."

Flora, who had never thought of the previous head Caiden that way, laughed greatly at this part.

"Haa. Anyway, each family having an animal as their symbol isn't just for show." 

"......Was that so?" 

"You're not very curious or surprised? Do you have some idea about it?"

"I've seen the divine beast of Ulburg."

The divine beast, or rather spirit beast, that served and accompanied House Ulburg. Rudger had seen the wolf that ran riding the wind.

"You know about that? And when exactly did you see it?" 

"Since you brought this up, does that mean House Lumos also has a related spirit beast?" 

"Yes. As you say. House Lumos has been connected with one spirit beast since ancient times. An eagle spirit beast resembling the beast that symbolizes the family." 

"That's surprising. I didn't sense any sign of a spirit beast."

Rudger recalled his memory of when he pushed out Caiden Lumos at that time. Even though such an event occurred in the family, the spirit beast hadn't shown itself.

Flora smiled bitterly.

"My father, the previous head, drove out the spirit beast because there were problems with it." 

"Ah. I'm getting the picture."

Caiden Lumos was an extreme Lumensis devotee. The connection with the spirit beast that had been passed down through generations of the family was also cast aside because of that old-fashioned faith.

"I didn't know either that our family was related to a spirit beast. I only learned about it after seeing the materials passed down to the heads through generations." 

"Do you want to improve relations with that spirit beast again?" 

"If I could, I should. If I can create a friendly relationship with the spirit beast again and prove its existence, the public's suspicion toward me would completely disappear." 

"I see why you're worried. Indeed, finding a spirit beast that could be anywhere and creating a friendly relationship again wouldn't be easy."

Spirit beasts weren't ordinary animals. They had lifespans longer than humans and were very intelligent. The connection arbitrarily severed by the previous head - there was no way they would properly listen if you just went and asked to restore it.

That must be why Flora was troubled.

"I've never properly seen a spirit beast in my life to begin with. So since I don't know about this field, I have many worries in various ways."

Rudger, watching such Flora, pointed at himself with his finger.

"......? What? Why are you pointing at yourself?" 

"Me." 

"You? You what?"

Flora was silent for a moment.

"......Don't tell me, you want to say you know well about spirit beasts?"

Rudger nodded.

"Perhaps, among existing humanity, I might know the most about spirit beasts. And I also know one younger sibling who can easily communicate with spirit beasts." 

"Wait, hold on."

Flora, as if not understanding the situation, pressed her forehead with her hand. She fell into thought for a moment, then swept her hair back with her hand and looked at Rudger.

"Phew. Fine. Let me hear what you're going to do." 

"You believe me surprisingly easily." 

"You don't bluff or lie about things like this. And besides, being an 8th circle mage is far more preposterous anyway, so what's communing with spirit beasts?"

Hmm. That's true too. Rudger nodded inwardly in agreement. Though he was a bit disappointed. He wanted to see Flora greatly surprised, but her reaction was more lukewarm than expected.

"Anyway, if you have knowledge, what are you planning to do?" 

"First, we need to find that spirit beast." 

"To find it, we'd have to go to where our family is located though."

Rudger extended his hand to Flora.

"We're going right now?" 

"Since we've brought it up, it would be better to handle it right away. It's hard to have time when we're both free like today." 

"......I wanted to take a more leisurely rest though." 

"Think of it as going on a brief outing."

How is going to find a spirit beast an outing? Flora suppressed her urge to protest because she knew well that Rudger stepping forward so actively was for her sake.

Flora took Rudger's hand.

Thus the two were swallowed by shadows and moved through space.

Where Rudger and Flora appeared was the Lumos ducal territory. Between the mountain range that rose towering with snow-white peaks, the appearance of the majestic Lumos mansion could be seen.

Even that mansion, which resembled a castle up close, looked quite small when looking down from atop this massive mountain range.

Flora exhaled. Though winter should have ended, since this was a highland area, her breath naturally came out.

"Indeed. I wondered why the Lumos ducal territory was close to such a mountainous region, but if a spirit beast resides here, it makes perfect sense." 

"This is my first time coming here like this though. So, how do we find the spirit beast now?"

Flora asked while looking around. Rocks and dry trees, some sheer cliffs and snow-covered mountain peaks. Nowhere looked like it would be easy to find a spirit beast.

"Since it's an eagle spirit beast, is it nesting somewhere?" 

"That's probably highly likely." 

"Then wouldn't it be even harder to find? It's likely hiding in a very deep place." 

"That's why I'm stepping forward. Flora, how much do you know about spirit beasts?"

"I don't know much. Since I've never properly seen one." 

"Spirit beasts fundamentally have high intelligence. And unlike ordinary beasts, they're born with magical power, which transforms their bodies, giving them extraordinarily powerful strength." 

"I know that much since it's basic knowledge about spirit beasts." 

"Being such spirit beasts, they never encounter rivals in the natural ecosystem. They're at the top of the ecosystem. They reign in the position of kings in nature itself. Do you know what the characteristic of such creatures is?" 

"Uh, um. Arrogant?"

At Flora's answer hitting the mark, Rudger chuckled.

"You're smart. Yes, spirit beasts are fundamentally arrogant. They're overflowing with confidence in their territory, so they don't welcome intruders. Then here's another question. What do you think I'll do to find such a creature?"

Flora's eyes widened. Just from that reaction, Rudger was certain she knew the answer.

"There's no need to search. Just call it."

Rudger raised his palm high toward the sky.

Zzzziiiing.

Lines of blue magical power were drawn in the air, creating splendid and complex diagrams. Waves of mana intense enough to shake the atmosphere. High-density formulas too complex to gauge their level.

Soon it manifested magic and soared up, splitting the sky.