Chapter 26: Flower Blooming in the Plague (1)

The flowers that survive the harshest beasts are bound to grow thorns.

But the thorny flowers cannot embrace each other in the coldest winter.

***

The adults' conversation didn't end until late afternoon.

After the meeting, the Head Butler briefly glanced out the window.

With dark clouds gathering over a city that already saw little sun, the line between day and night had blurred.

So he shifted his gaze from the window to his wrist.

18:24.

“...Won’t you stay the night?”

The Head Butler asked Shen, who was putting on his overcoat.

But Shen replied as he wrapped his scarf.

“It’s alright, Elder.”

“It’s late. And with the snow coming down like this, if you were to go missing out there, it would be quite embarrassing for the Young Master and myself.”

At the mention of the ‘Young Master,’ Shen’s shoulders flinched.

But he soon shook his head, declining the butler’s offer.

“I’m not a Mage, but I have enough of a knack to be called a Wizard. This much snow is no problem.”

Shen softly uttered a chant.

“Coalor carpolaris, sungel.”

With the short spell, a faint heat rose from his skin.

“As long as I’m not trying to start a fire outside my body, raising my own body heat is possible without a magic tool. More importantly…”

Shen trailed off, tightening his scarf.

“I am not yet qualified to be inside The Revered One’s fence.”

“...I suppose it wouldn’t be right to hold you here if you are uncomfortable. Yes. Be careful on your way down.”

“Thank you, Elder. If you need us again, please call on us anytime.”

Shen bowed his head and left the Reception Room.

The Head Butler stood by the window, watching Shen disappear into the city’s white darkness.

For a while, the Head Butler’s gaze followed the thin line drawn on the snowy path.

And just as that line etched into the snowfield was covered by fresh snow again.

The Head Butler drew the curtains and turned off the lights in the Reception Room.

***

Time passed.

Just as the force of the heavy snow began to subside.

“Ugh, it’s cold. Is this for real?”

Erika left the Annex, clutching her overcoat.

Today was her regular check-up day.

It was the day she met Yulian for the management of her chronic illness, PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria), and to receive a Heparin injection.

Usually, Yulian would make a house call to the Annex, but today she had been summoned to the Main Building as he had business there.

Crunch, crunch.

She pouted as she walked through the snow that came up to her ankles.

‘To think I have a check-up on a day like this.’

Even if the heavy snow had let up, the wind was still fierce.

Sniffling, Erika walked towards the Main Building.

The Main Building was located on the opposite side of the Annex, with a garden between them.

“Why did the passage have to collapse of all things…”

Originally, there was a proper roofed connecting passage between the Annex and the Main Building that offered shelter from rain and snow.

But unable to bear the weight of the snow that had relentlessly poured down for days, half of the passage roof had collapsed with a crash last night.

Because of this, the passage was completely closed, and the only way to get from the Annex to the Main Building was to cross the wide-open outdoor garden directly.

It went without saying that the Baronial Family's Precious Person, Young Master Yulian, could not make a house call through this snowfield.

To be precise, he himself didn't mind, but a certain Head Butler had opposed it, foaming at the mouth, making it impossible.

As a result, Erika, the patient, had no choice but to brave the cold to go for her check-up.

“Ugh… why is it so far.”

Crunch, crunch.

After a few minutes of crossing the garden, leaving footprints in her wake.

Erika finally arrived in front of a four-story building made of stone.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time here.’

Erika thought as she brushed the snow off her body in front of the building.

Ever since Erika came to this mansion, her radius of activity had been completely confined to the Annex.

The first place she woke up in when she arrived at the mansion was the Annex, and the place she commuted to and from work was also the Annex.

For her, who used to live on the streets, the two-story brick house with her own room felt cozy enough, so she had no reason to explore the Main Building.

But today, she had set foot in the Main Building by a chance opportunity.

“Wow… The ceiling is practically touching the sky.”

As soon as she opened the door to the Main Building and stepped inside, Erika’s jaw dropped.

A cozy space, filled with the light of a brass chandelier hanging from the ceiling, stretched out endlessly.

“Was the mansion this big?”

Looking at the corridor lined with marble statues and gold-rimmed frames, she tilted her head.

The baronial family’s mansion had seemed large enough from the outside, but it didn't seem as spacious as what she was seeing now.

But her question didn't last long.

At the end of the long corridor.

A small human figure walking towards her caught her interest.

It was a tiny girl with her silver-white hair neatly braided.

‘Wow, I didn't know there was such a cute kid here.’

Erika was a girl too.

A girl on the cusp of adolescence who couldn't resist cute things and wanted to befriend others her age.

To her, that small, cute girl was an existence she simply couldn't ignore.

The child was bowing deeply to an elderly maid passing by with a feather duster.

— “Al█ays ap███iate it, █████”

— ”Th█nk you! And g██d w█rk!”

They were too far away for her to hear clearly, but it was obvious the child was greeting the elderly maid.

Watching the scene, a very rational and obvious conclusion quickly formed in Erika’s head.

[A little kid who politely uses formal speech with an elderly maid] = [The youngest newbie maid who just got here.]

It was a very rational and logical conclusion.

The corners of Erika’s mouth curled up.

Unlike other noble families, the Nihilrit Family had a very low turnover rate for servants.

Because of this, new servants rarely came in unless one retired, and as a result, Erika was still the youngest in the Annex.

Even after two whole years!

But that sad life as the youngest was finally over.

‘I have a junior now!’

Erika, a playful smile on her face, stealthily approached the child from behind.

Then, with a somewhat mischievous grin, she spoke abruptly.

“Hey there, has this cute little Young Lady lost her way?”

Erika used the slick way of talking she had learned from Wangcho’s subordinates.

Startled by the tone that didn't match the voice, the child whipped her head around.

Transparent, glacier-colored eyes widened as they met Erika’s.

“Yes…?”

“Are you lost because it’s your first day?”

“What do you mean…”

“The family here is nice, so you'll be fine, but it’s not good for a servant to wander around too much.”

“Unnie will...”

Erika unconsciously grabbed the child’s cheeks and stretched them.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if this was okay to do to someone she had just met, but that thought quickly vanished.

Feeling the ecstatic squishiness at her fingertips, things like etiquette no longer seemed to matter.

“Woooow…”

“Huuueeee…”

“Ah, what was I about to say?”

“E-Excuse me…”

“Right. Where are you assigned? The kitchen? Or the laundry room? Just say the word. If you let me touch your cheeks, Unnie will take you there.”

Stretch.

Erika, excited, stretched the little girl’s squishy cheeks this way and that.

The silver-haired girl’s face turned red as a tomato as she just moved her lips without a sound.

It was then.

"Erika."

A familiar voice came from behind her.

Erika's hands, which had been happily squishing, froze.

Her head slowly turned, and she saw Yulian standing behind her.

It was the Teacher, with his usual gentle smile.

But for some reason, Erika felt a chill run down her spine.

“Uh… T-Teacher?”

“It was about time for our appointment, so I was coming to get you, but I didn’t expect to find you like this.”

Yulian’s gaze shifted to the child whose cheeks Erika was holding.

“By the way, Erika. Just like with me, you seem to need to learn how to treat people you’ve just met with more caution.”

Erika tilted her head.

“Huh? What do you mean…”

Yulian ignored Erika and spoke to the silver-haired child.

“Freya, are you alright?”

Freya.

The moment she heard that name, Erika’s mind went blank.

Even Erika, who was indifferent to her surroundings, had heard a few things.

Freya Nihilrit.

The only daughter of the Nihilrit Family, and the young lady of this mansion.

“Uh… um…”

“Ah, hello…”

Freya greeted her awkwardly, rubbing her reddened cheeks.

“You’re Erika… right?”

“...”

“My older brother told me about you. He said you have the potential to be a great Mage…”

“...”

“My older brother summoned me and Unnie because he had something to tell us…”

But Freya’s cautious greeting did not reach Erika’s ears.

Erika stood frozen like a stone for a moment, then looked down briefly before extending her hand towards Yulian and speaking.

“So… can we call it even with just my left wrist?”

Flick!

Yulian’s forehead flick landed squarely on Erika’s forehead.

***

“Owowowow…”

Inside my room.

Erika sat on a chair, rubbing her red, swollen forehead.

“Roll up your sleeve.”

“Okay…”

I had Erika sit on a small chair and immediately prepared for the check-up.

Meanwhile, Erika looked around my room.

“I thought it looked familiar. It’s similar to our clinic.”

True.

My study was closer to a clinic than the study of an elegant young nobleman.

I suppose since I organized patient charts and research records in my room, it naturally ended up looking like a clinic when I wasn't paying attention.

I briefly glanced over Erika’s shoulder.

Behind Erika, Freya was sitting on the leather sofa in a corner of the room.

“So this is what Older Brother’s clinic looks like…”

Hearing Erika’s words, Freya nodded slowly.

Even so, she was still rubbing her tingling cheeks while stealing glances at Erika.

An awkward air flowed between the two.

“...”

“...”

And the one who broke the silence was none other than Erika.

“Ouch!”

When I pricked her arm without warning, Erika let out a cute scream.

“It’s not your first time.”

“At least let me mentally prepare!”

“You just tense up your muscles when you mentally prepare.”

“But injections hurt.”

“I’m telling you it hurts more because you tense up…”

After finishing the injection as smoothly as flowing water, I applied a cotton ball and said.

“Press down on it firmly.”

“Kay.”

While Erika was pressing on the cotton ball, I looked at Freya sitting next to her.

“Freya, your turn.”

“Yes, Older Brother.”

Erika, who had been handed a hemostasis cotton ball, stepped back rubbing her arm, and Freya sat on the chair.

I placed my hand on Freya’s forehead, checked her tongue, and felt around her neck.

Hmm. All normal.

“Freya. Has that cough you had at night subsided?”

As soon as I spoke to Freya, my voice became exactly half a tone gentler than when I spoke to Erika.

To Erika, I am a slightly strict teacher, but to Freya, I am the kind older brother persona.

Perhaps noticing the difference, Erika pouted.

But I ignored her silent protest and placed the back of my hand on Freya’s forehead to check for a fever.

“Yes, Older Brother. After I took the syrup medicine you made me yesterday, my sore throat is all better too.”

“That’s a relief. But still, don’t expose yourself to the cold wind for the next few days.”

For reference, the syrup I gave Freya was a Thyme syrup.

I originally planned to use ginger, but Freya couldn't stand the smell, so I changed the ingredient.

…Tsk.

Ginger is hard to get inside these walls.

At least Father and Mother seemed to like it, so I decided to use it for fish dishes.

“Alright, that concludes the check-up.”

I closed the chart and turned my chair to face them.

The real reason I had called Erika and Freya here was for something else.

Freya just had a simple cold and didn't really need my consultation.

The reason I called them both at the same time was none other than ‘magic.’

“Erika, you can now read the Runic language, and you too, Freya. So I believe it’s time for you to learn Exception Handling.”

Exception Handling.

It was one of the absolute basics of magic, used to ensure one’s own spell doesn't affect oneself or one’s allies.

I had planned to teach Erika as soon as she arrived at the mansion, but since she couldn't read, it got delayed a bit.

But as it happened, Freya was also of age, so I decided to teach her as well, killing two birds with one stone.

“Alright, I’ll teach you the basics of Exception Handling.”

“I have a question!”

Erika shot her hand up before the class even began.

“Weren’t you supposed to have a different tutor for this?”

“Look out the window. Do you think a tutor can come?”

“Ah.”

“Then, I’ll begin again.”

I immediately stood up and walked to the front of the chalkboard.

Picking up a piece of chalk, I began to write on the board without any hesitation.

Scrape, scrape, scrape.

The sound of chalk running across the chalkboard filled the room.

「Si jactor = amicus, tunc effectus = nullus.」

「Si jactor ∈ {socii}, tunc damnum → 0.」

「Si objectum.signum = [protectum], tunc penetratio = negatur.」

「∀x ∈ zona_effecti : (x.factio ≠ hostilis) → exemptus(x)」

「Quando vis_refluxus > θ, tunc jactor.exemptus = verus.」

「Si tempus_initii < t₀, tunc omnes_socii → salvus.」

「∃y : (y.distantia < r) ∧ (y.intentio = neutrum) → y.status = immunis.」

“…Huh?”

As I filled the mobile chalkboard with writing, Erika let out a dumbfounded sound.

“…Teacher, you have this memorized?”

“You have to. It's the basics.”

It wasn't that I was special.

Every wizard memorized about this many formulas.

The only difference was that while other wizards only memorized one or two conditional statements they frequently used, I had memorized even the more detailed ones.

“Woooow…”

Freya stared at my back, mesmerized.

Hmph.

How's that.

I may not have a talent for being a Mage, but I am confident that my theory is second to none.

Do you take the genius who finished a 3-year course in 3 months for a joke?

‘CC TAPA… what came next…’

Of course, my mind was too busy reciting the first letters of those formulas to afford any smugness.

And so, I continued scraping the chalkboard for 20 minutes without a break.

Tap.

Only after drawing the last stroke did I put down the chalk.

‘Ah, a work of art.’

Something I realized after my transmigration is that this body’s hardware performance is amazing.

Maybe because it's a fantasy world.

It's like my head works better, as if magical power seeped into it.

‘Did I miss anything…’

What should I call it?

A Memory Palace?

Recently, I’ve become able to use a similar technique.

This wall of formulas on the chalkboard was also accomplished with that technique.

Anyway.

“Now, this is a collection of conditional statements for Exception Handling.”

Tap, tap.

I said, lightly tapping the chalkboard.

“To make your spells avoid your allies, you need to attach these conditions to the runic formula. The combination changes depending on the situation, and with practice, you can get by with just a few of these, but…”

I tapped the chalkboard with the chalk.

“For now, you must master the basics, even if you can't memorize them all. It will change the scope of your magic.”

“A-All of them?”

“All of them.”

Let me repeat, the reason Mages are rare is not for some other reason.

It’s incredibly difficult to get past being a Wizard.

The world is not so kind as to let one become a Mage with just the talent for feeling something.

‘It's not for nothing that families scramble to adopt someone with a talent for being a Mage.’

I said, pushing a piece of paper in front of the two, who were overwhelmed by the text.

“At the very least, memorize the top five.”

“...Just in case, I’d like to ask, how long did it take you to memorize this, Older Brother?”

At Freya’s question, I counted on my fingers for a moment.

Let’s see…

‘I memorized 10 sentences a day, so…’

“Four days?”

At my nonchalant answer, the jaws of the two dropped.

Watching their reaction, I barely managed to keep my lips from curling upwards.

This is why I can’t give up the genius persona.