PHATFO 65

~Chapter 65~

The man who had muttered without thinking looked at Lian’s face and sucked in a breath. His face was twisted with an ugly expression.

“I-I should go work on my assignment.”

“Me too!”

“Oh, what was that thing Baron Berr told us to do?”

“Growing a life-flower!”

After the apprentice magicians all disappeared in a rush, Lian looked around the now-empty space and opened a book.

But he couldn’t even turn one page. His mind was scattered, and his eyes just drifted over the text.

‘A student? You, Aisha?’

He remembered when he first entered the Magician’s Garden.

Though he was a noble, he had been poor. At a young age, his talent was recognized, and he was allowed to enter this place.

His parents had high hopes he would revive the family, and the magician who opened the path of magic for him always praised his talent.

Lian had been a little arrogant.

He believed he was superior, different from others, chosen.

But that thought shattered the moment he met Aisha.

[“Do you think I’ll praise you just because you can shoot a fireball? There are tons like you.”]
[“If you understand, move. I have more important things to do than deal with you.”]

It was the first time he’d felt such coldness and disdain, but he couldn’t even express his resentment.

In the Garden, skill was everything, and a talented magician ruled all.

The only comfort was that he wasn’t the only one Aisha had humiliated.

She had never been satisfied with anyone brought to her.

‘Yeah, I wasn’t wrong.’

He consoled himself. Aisha was just eccentric; his talent wasn’t worthless.

But now there was a magician Aisha recognized? And younger than him?

‘It must be a mistake.’

But if it was true—if Aisha had truly taken a student—

Looking toward the central building where the test was happening, he muttered:

‘Come out with a terrible result.’

So everyone would know Aisha’s judgment was awful. He wished it, over and over.

I was with Aisha and Duke Durnar in the mana test room.

To gain entry to the Magician’s Garden, my mana had to be measured.

“The method is simple.”

Aisha told me to stand before a round table. On it sat a single object like a crystal orb.

“Place your hand on the orb. Right or left, doesn’t matter.”

No need to force mana in—just stand still.

“The Garden isn’t only for magicians. Anyone with potential can enter. This tool was made to test them all.”

“Since Miss Bella can already use magic, the numbers should be good.”

The Duke was calm and polite, unlike his stiff, curt son. His few words put me at ease.

I slowly placed my hand on the orb. It drew in my mana, glowing faint yellow and lighting the space softly.

As a mana-measuring tool, it showed the amount as numbers—though in a spot the test-taker couldn’t see.

From my position, only Aisha and the Duke could read it under the table.

They silently read, then both looked up at once.

“Uh… Bella?”

“Did something go wrong?”

The Duke smiled and shook his head.

“It’s nothing. These devices tend to malfunction. Try removing your hand and placing it again.”

I did as he said.

But his faintly odd expression didn’t fade. Looking at Aisha, he asked:

“Is it broken?”

He placed his own hand on it and read the numbers.

“No… not broken.”

“…”

This time the silence was heavier.

“So… there really is a problem?”

“No. But Miss Bella…”

“Yes?”

Then his voice took on a strange warmth.

“Would you like to become my daughter?”

“…What?”

While I was still stunned—

Whack!

“Ugh!”

With a painful sound, the Duke collapsed into a seat.

“This man loses his mind when he sees a magician. Ignore him, Bella. He’s always like this.”

“Hey, how can I not lose it after seeing those numbers?!”

The Duke raised his voice. Aisha sighed and rubbed her forehead.

“My numbers… were high?”

“To be honest, yes.”

“They’re overwhelming! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

The Duke sprang up and grabbed my hand.

“That’s why I’m saying—won’t you be my daughter? I’ve always wanted a daughter! Not a dark, brooding son—a cute, clever girl! With the Durnar family backing you, your magical career will soar!”

“Stop clinging, you’re blocking the numbers.”

Clearly, this wasn’t the first time. Aisha shoved him aside and began writing on a report—likely to submit the results to higher authorities.

“All done… Bella?”

Setting the report aside, Aisha asked:

“Shall we talk outside?”

The Duke stayed behind, grumbling, ‘I’m the only one without a cute daughter.’ Talking to him seemed impossible.

“Alright.”

Right next to the test room was a lounge.

There, Aisha seated me on a sofa, took a deep breath, and chose her words.

“That guy’s crazy, but… think about his offer seriously.”

You just called him crazy…

“Do you know the Grand Duke plans to make you Count of Rohilton?”

“I… had no idea.”

I didn’t. Armin had never mentioned Rohilton in front of me.

“The Duke of Durnar is the King of the East, and Rohilton is under him. Even if there’s noise about succession, one word from the Duke will silence it.”

“I’ve never thought about being a count.”

“Of course not—you’ve lost your memory.”

Aisha accepted my situation easily.

“Or, we could try finding your mother’s family.”

“My mother’s family?”

“Magic isn’t possible without talent, and talent doesn’t come from nowhere. Usually, it’s bloodline. Like me—my mother was a wandering magician.”

It was natural for her to suspect my mother’s side, since no Rohilton count had ever been a magician.

“So… you mean there could be a magician among my relatives, and we could find them?”

“Exactly. If we prove your magic comes from your bloodline, succession would be easier.”

“…”

“And even if not… meeting family is a good thing. Exciting.”

She patted my back gently.

“Anyway, think about it. There are many ways to find a magician relative.”

“Aisha said we could trace the mana in my bloodline to find relatives.”

When I finished explaining, Armin asked:

“So what does Bella want to do?”

“To be honest… I don’t want to. If they never came for me until now, there must be a reason.”

Whether they had died, or simply didn’t want to see me.

“I don’t feel the need to confirm it.”

“Are you afraid?”

“It’s selfish. I think the odds are high they wouldn’t help with succession anyway.”

I was imagining the worst before hoping for the best.

If I did find relatives, how likely would they be to leave me alone without demanding something?

“You’ve said before that you’re selfish. Do you think I dislike people like that?”