Tou no Madoushi

The city of Renlil is full of dead wood, and the people on the road walk in their coats and shrink themselves.

Solar stones also seem to have the effect of regulating temperatures according to the season.

When the exam approaches, all Renlil people suddenly start to sow.

It's okay, the apprentice magicians who bracketed Taka that they still have enough time until the exam are also taking notes out of their pockets trying to memorize the magic language in the gap time, whimpering and whispering.

On the morning of the exam, Lynn was ready to go out.

"These are the things that are scattered around the room. Go back where you belong."

Clothes, books, ink and pens, and paperwork scattered over Lynn's bed as Lynn waves her wand, by the way, rise and return to their original place.

Theo is right. This magic is ready to be used.

It's easy if you remember.

Simply engrave magic letters and marks on the ends of clothing and books to cast a spell. That was enough if I was to put something as light as a book or clothes back in place.

All right, let's go.

"Yeah."

Lynn and Theo headed to the exam venue as usual for the two of us.

College entrance exams are conducted in 50 hierarchies, college districts.

The apprentice magic instructors, who are barred from entering more than 50 tiers, were also allowed to enter the College District only during the exam.

"Finally."

Lynn spoke to Theo.

"Oh......"

That's right. Theo seems nervous, too.

I was silent at all times and didn't hear the usual slack.

For Lynn, eight months, and for Theo, the fruits of a year's hard work are questioned.

I couldn't help but be nervous.

The two boarded an elevator to go to college silently.

People from all over the city in Renlil pushed over to the college on this day.

Everyone takes a written exam.

Lynn became anxious to see if she could pass from so many people.

When I submitted my exam form at reception, I was instructed to go to the classroom, so I headed there.

When the examiner showed up after a while, he briefly explained the exam, handed out the form and told him to start the exam.

Lynn was surprised when someone slammed into her desk and slept when the exam started. Turns out they're just giving up the exam because they're obligated. Many of those giving up were older people.

Until it started, I was anxious, but I didn't think it would be that hard when I went to the exams. I wondered if I had solved about 80-90%, which was Lynn's feeling.

On his way home he returned to the nest of dove rats, saying his thoughts on Theo and the exam.

"That was easier than I thought," Theo also said.

The results of the test were announced in January. So they had passed the exam.

There were the names of Lynn and Theo on the bulletin board to put the names of the successful candidates on.

"Yay. I did it, Theo."

Lynn was just delighted to cry out.

Theo makes room for "I wonder if this is the case".

The two went straight to the association and completed their registration.

Lynn and Theo changed classes from apprenticeship to college.

It was my uncle who managed to say that the college exams weren't sweet or something when he first registered me for Lynn's apprenticeship magician registration process.

He seemed to remember Lynn.

His expression was heartless or bitter when he pressed the baking mark of registration on Lynn's back of his hand.

The next day, when I went to work at the factory, I had already learned all over the workplace who had passed.

It seemed like Lynn and Theo were the only ones passing in the compartment where Lynn worked.

That day, Lynn was in an embarrassingly complicated mood that seemed to be a pleasure to be brought to everyone's attention.

"Hey, you."

"Yes?"

As Lynn was taking a break, an older person talked to him.

He's the one who's always been offended by Theo.

Looks like she's been talking to me anticipating when Lynn isn't with Theo.

"I hear you passed the college exam. Congratulations."

"Thank you"

"Isn't it amazing that you're just here? How the hell did you pass that difficult exam?

Apparently he has fallen through many exams. That should be it, too. Because it is Terriul's wand that is held in his hand.

"What? It's easy."

Lynn was getting a little better at it. I'll teach you while letting the elder breeze blow.

"You just have to buy a cane for the higher one. That way..."

"No, that's good for the cheaper. It's better to buy something cheaper because you can turn your money around on other things. I have definite ideas about how to spend my money. Tell me the real trick sooner than that. I guess there's something else, huh? Tell me without hiding it."

Lynn was gnawed.

Sometimes it was because he was suddenly denied, but it was bigger than that because he talked about exactly the same thing he had said to Theo before.

It's like my past self appeared in front of me as a ghost...... I felt that way.

"No, you know what? In this case, the idea of buying time instead of buying a product…"

"What are you talking about? You. The cheaper ones would be better decided economically. Absolutely must be. Think about it. Sometimes your salary suddenly drops or you lose your job. When that happens, what will you do if you get lost on the street? What do you say? You're anxious there's no storage for a time of need?

"That's... yes..."

"I guess so. Whatever you think, you should buy a cheap cane. Tell me the real trick."

(Even if they tell me...)

Lynn tried to figure it out. How can I tell him what it feels like to buy this time?

But that is an impossible story. Knowledge with a sense of reality cannot be understood without actually going through it.

Lynn felt like she finally figured out why Theo said such a thrust when buying the wand.

"Hey Lynn!

Lynn was hazy when she was called her own name. Turning to his voice, Theo was there.

"How long have you been resting? Back to your stations!

"Ugh, yeah. Um, well, then I'll do it."

Lynn walks off to Theo with the sleaze and the spot. The man who had begged for teaching looked like a bum when Theo interrupted him. Lynn was relieved and horrified from his pursuit.

"Were you talking to him about something?.

"Oh, they want me to tell you the trick to pass the exam"

"It's no use dealing with a guy like that. Leave me alone."

……

"I'm too hard on my head. I don't listen when I ask people for advice."

"... sounds like it.

"I'm just finishing my job."

Theo tries to get back to his place of business.

"Theo, wait."

Lynn stopped Theo looking chopped. I still had to ask Theo something.

"He was saying. He said it would be more economical to buy cheap canes. He said he could turn his money around for something else."

"Stupid! I do this job in this city, and I put money on anything but a cane," Theo told me to throw up.

"... yeah"

He will also fall for the exam next year, Lynn thought.

But Lynn didn't feel like laughing at him.

Lynn and I used to have exactly the same economic concept as him. If I hadn't listened honestly to Theo then, maybe Lynn would have followed the same path as him. Lynn freaked out thinking that. Because he was over 20 years older than Lynn, no matter what he thought.

Lynn glimpsed the streets of Renlil through the aisle window before returning to the holding area. As always, there are many people and buildings hissing in this town. When he first came to Renlil, he made his heart dance to the streets. But now I felt like there was too much extra in this city.

Lynn worked well, learned well, and played well through April, when college classes began.

Theo was always with me next door.

At this time of year, Lynn saw everything she saw shining. In fact, if you think of the tough training to begin, the numerous trials, the busy days that pass like a storm, this period may have been the calmest day for Lynn.

Lynn slipped away from all sorts of people as she walked through the city of Renlil.

Some of them were not only apprentice magicians, but also graduate students in deep red robes, as well as high-ranking magicians in blue and yellow robes.

But I never finally saw the girl in the white robe, the girl who was praying in front of that stone statue, Atrea.

Next time, Episode 11: The Girl with the Dim Laugh