Retire 370
by Cristae370 The Mages of Marseille (2)
Charlotte Mallet did not consider herself a particularly great mage.
Well, yes, she was an archmage, but that didn’t sum up the worth of a mage. Some might think so, but at least Mallet believed there were many ways to earn respect even without a unique magic.
She was living proof.
For Mallet, being recognized as a mage had nothing to do with her unique magic. She only became an archmage in her sixties. By then, she was already acknowledged in several small societies, a firmly established mage guiding younger generations.
Just because a mage awakened a unique magic didn’t mean they were worthy of respect.
In that sense, the world’s only family of three generations of archmages had completely defied her expectations. The fact that an archmage had married a non-Awakened, an ordinary person, was surprising enough, but that their child became an archmage as well? And then that archmage married another ordinary person and had yet another archmage?
It had meaningfully shaken the rules that had governed the mage world.
That only mages could give birth to mages.
Mallet had invited that third-generation archmage to the Grand Conference because her path was becoming more and more unpredictable.
In a good way, of course.
Just look—
“…You met her?”
Who would have guessed her grandson would run into that mage in a park nearby?
“Yes. She was with a guild colleague.”
“…Guild?”
For once, Mallet was taken aback.
“Why? The guild we talked about this morning—Hong Seok-young’s. That person you said was his disciple.”
“He came too? Why?”
“Said he was here on business and dropped by since the timing worked out.”
Richard showed her his phone. There were a few articles dated two days ago.
Mallet narrowed her eyes, snatching the phone to read. Toulon, guild, dungeon… A Hunter from Korea had worked with Anchor of Toulon to clear a dungeon.
There was a photo of the raid team taken just before the raid. Toulon was close to Marseille, and Anchor of Toulon was a guild Mallet had ties with. Amid familiar faces, there was a striking head of black hair.
“This man?”
“Yes. If he came just to see Kim Chaemin, they must be close?”
Mallet studied the photo. Her grandson was smiling awkwardly as usual, but as president of the European Grand Magic Conference, Mallet had a lot to consider.
If the person Richard spoke of hadn’t been the mage invited from Asia, this could have been a real headache. At least the fact that he’d come from the other side of the world meant it wasn’t some local political scheme aimed at her.
“Oh, and…”
Mallet herself had invited Kim Chaemin with a certain hope, but couldn’t predict what kind of storm she might bring. Old men and women were set in their ways, but for younger mages, someone like Kim Chaemin could be a breath of fresh air. In the rigid world of European magic, that alone was enough.
And lately, Noah Michel had been showing signs of being conscious of Kim Chaemin. That was more than enough.
Richard, unaware of his master’s complicated feelings, continued.
“She asked if her colleague could attend the conference as an observer.”
“…He’s not a mage, is he?”
“She presented those runes last year, remember?”
Mallet nodded, recalling the runes that had shaken the magical world the year before. It was fascinating.
There were always runes passed down through “family,” but they were usually just for assisting in magical training. Mallet’s family had a few. Their main magical attribute had changed over the years, so they’d lost their usefulness.
But the runes that young archmage had presented were different. They could be used as support, but were powerful enough to stand alone. Even Dayeon had announced a way for non-mages—Awakened—to use runes.
Ah. Could it be.
“Is this man involved with that too?”
“Yes.”
Dayeon was linked to the Dasun guild, and it was no secret that Dasun worked closely with Hong Seok-young.
She could see how the connections fit together.
But what Mallet couldn’t guess was the young archmage’s intent. Her next steps. Why she’d use runes as an excuse to invite her colleague to the conference.
Everything except the connections.
Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe they were just coworkers who’d grown closer and wanted to spend time together.
Or maybe…
What did it matter to her?
Anyway, Mallet’s term as conference president ended this year. Whatever happened after, her successor would deal with it.
With a mischievous look, Mallet nodded.
“Give them an invitation.”
“Oh, really? Is that okay?”
“Why not?”
“He’s not a mage…”
“Are you going to refuse an archmage’s request?”
Richard looked like he’d bitten his tongue.
“Of course not.”
“It’s not like the conference is such a big deal.”
“You shouldn’t say that, Master…”
Richard muttered, but Mallet pretended not to hear. Was it something she shouldn’t have said? If anyone could say it, it was her.
No matter how conservative mages were, they couldn’t completely resist the flow of the times. In recent years, the mood at the conference had… Mallet clicked her tongue and looked away.
“So just give them an invitation. Both of them speak French?”
“They’re quite fluent.”
“Good.”
Mallet patted her disciple on the back.
“You should meet some mages your own age. Hand over the invitation and chat a bit.”
“…Calling an archmage a peer seems a bit much.”
“You never know.”
Mallet recalled the rumors about the young archmage’s magic. More like eyewitness accounts than rumors.
“Maybe you’ll learn how to break through your own wall.”
“……”
“Your magic and hers have similarities.”
Richard’s shoulders slumped.
If only he had a bit more confidence in his own abilities. Mallet clicked her tongue again, this time with regret.
“Alain Richard.”
A white man with brown hair, looking rather timid.
I didn’t remember any mage by that name.
Whether Alain Richard died before witnessing the world’s end twenty years from now, or just survived as an unremarkable mage, I couldn’t say.
Charlotte Mallet, though, I knew. An archmage, president of the European Grand Magic Conference. I’d never met her, but she was famous enough for me to remember. Not knowing anything about her disciple? That was odd.
“He’s not particularly gifted, from what I’ve heard.”
Kim Chaemin supplied the answer.
“I heard he’s a distant relative of Mallet. Lost his family in an accident, and Mallet took him in. He became a mage after that.”
“No opinions about his character?”
“I just met him for the first time. Among European mages, he doesn’t have a great reputation.”
“Why?”
“It’s obvious. They say he’s just a nobody relying on a barely-related bloodline.”
“…Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Mages are impossible to understand.
I shook my head. I didn’t know much about Alain Richard, but the restaurant he recommended was the real deal. I hadn’t had such a satisfying meal in ages.
“Why do you think I supported the founding of the American Magic Society?”
“…Did you?”
“Take more interest in your colleagues.”
“You’re so good on your own.”
“Europe really is a nice place for mages. It’s a friendly environment. Whether it’s true or not, it’s called the birthplace of magic.”
Kim Chaemin savored the aroma of her wine.
“But where do you think has led magical theory and practice over the last twenty years? In every field.”
“From the way you say it, it’s not Europe?”
“No.”
She was firm.
“Nantes is still holding on, but the mainstream is in Asia now.”
“Korea?”
“Patriotic, aren’t you? No. India.”
“Oh.”
Indian mages are famous. I nodded.
“In recent years, North American mages have been making great strides, too. The mainstream always shifts.”
She sipped her wine and continued.
“Mallet has always argued that European mages need to break out of their insular ways. If she weren’t in such a position, she’d have been attacked long ago.”
“…So they couldn’t attack Mallet, so they went after her disciple?”
“Pretty much. I think inviting me was an extension of that. Mallet doesn’t deny European magic, after all.”
According to Hope, Mallet didn’t think much of Michel. More precisely, she disliked the way the conference was dominated by Michel’s influence. She didn’t hide her feelings even in front of Michel, and Michel, who thrived on being the center of attention, disliked Mallet in return.
Mallet’s term as conference president ends this year. But that doesn’t mean her influence will vanish.
I didn’t think Mallet was Michel’s enemy. But she didn’t like the power Michel held, and there was no reason not to shake things up from our side. In the end, it’s all about feelings. I don’t expect anything grand. It’s enough if Noah Michel realizes that pests have started to gather in the garden she thought she had under control.
That’s how things come back around in the end.
“She’s coming. Mr. Woo, relax your expression.”
“I’ve never been told I look unfriendly.”
“You must have a lot of people who flatter you, then.”
“What?”
“Richard! Over here.”
“Oh, hello!”
The brown-haired mage approached, smiling shyly. For a mage, he moved with unusual timidity.
Kim Chaemin greeted him brightly and sat him at the table. Since we were outside, Richard, flustered, took the empty seat.
“This place is delicious.”
“Isn’t it? It’s my favorite restaurant in Marseille.”
“I have enough time in the conference schedule, so I’ll come again. Any other recommendations?”
“It depends on what you want to eat.”
Kim Chaemin chatted with Richard at a leisurely pace, but didn’t forget to shoot me a glance.
…How often do you get to have such a peaceful conversation with a mage? Usually, it ended with me making someone cry or storming out in anger.
But I couldn’t do that with Mallet’s disciple. In fact, I was more amazed at how Kim Chaemin could talk so easily without even mentioning magic.
She kicked me under the table.
Come on, even if you want me to be friendly…
“Mage Richard?”
“…Yes! You don’t have to call me ‘mage,’ really. It just makes it longer.”
Richard smiled awkwardly.
I glanced at Kim Chaemin, then at the wine glass on the table.
Well, since I’d come all the way to France…
“Do you know where the movie theater is?”
Richard’s face turned odd. So did Kim Chaemin’s.
“Theater?”
“Yes. I like watching movies. I was curious about the cinemas here.”
Suddenly, I remembered something my father used to say. Work is important, but so is taking time to breathe.
“Or if not movies… is there a show you’d recommend? It would be a shame to come to Marseille and not see something.”
Maybe it was the good weather in Marseille, but for some reason, those words I never used to listen to suddenly came to mind.