A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 32 Seven out of ten thousand

"A greeting gift? Why a pike? Hmm, it's well-preserved. Not bad casting technique."

Rorschach placed a bag of pike on the table, and Cano naturally opened the paper bag to look inside. Rorschach then explained what had happened on the way to the Starlight Torch Tower.

Kano nodded: "We need to be more discreet when we make moves in the future. There are always religious fanatics and charlatans causing us trouble. These monkeys can't really do anything to us, but they always manage to waste our precious time."

After saying that, he pushed the plate of meat sauce and bean paste to Rorschach: "Haven't eaten yet? Try some."

"Thank you, but I've already eaten."

"What a pity, I was hoping you would eat them for me. Now that I've eaten too many beans, it's always impolite of me."

"Is it not to your liking? I'll get right away," the waiter asked nervously. Cano waved his hand. "Don't do that. I don't want to trouble the chef; he's already working so hard. Please tell our head chef: it's delicious, but please don't prepare any beans for me except for the soup. Also, you may all leave now and rest."

The waiter nodded, and the other waiters also dispersed to keep their distance from Rorschach's table.

"How's Caroline doing in the capital? Is she doing alright?"

Rorschach nodded: "Professor Caroline is a very good educator, teaching us the course 'Space, Time and Astrology'."

After finishing his pancakes, Cano began eating other foods—the opposite of most people who eat dessert after a meal: "Sigh, this child doesn't want to stay in the Holy Kingdom."

Rorschach recalled their conversation before his departure, remembering a detail: "Professor Caroline said that she preferred the Royal Academy to the Thirteen Magic Towers."

"Oh? Why?"

"Professor Caroline said that this is the reason why a student like me can study magic at the academy."

"Oh, you must be from the countryside," Kano judged before he even finished listening. He started eating the fish, first cutting off the fattest and most tender part of the belly from the whole grilled fish.

Rorschach nodded.

"She's always like this. Little Rorschach, what do you think of this restaurant?"

"It's better than the restaurant next to our college near Moonlight Lake."

"What kind of talk is that! When it comes to food, of course it's better than the Imperial! What I'm trying to say is, why isn't such a good restaurant open for brunch?"

Master Kano brandished his silver fork, which also held a piece of fish belly: "Because I'm eating here, because I don't like dining with too many people."

So unless the visitors were His Majesty the King or a cardinal, the waiters would only say to prominent lawyers, nobles, and the like, in front of these people and their female companions: "Sorry, sir, we are not in business."

Luo Xia watched Mr. Cano perform quietly. After he finished speaking, he put the fish into his mouth, and a little juice dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Kano wiped his mouth with a napkin and continued, "So here's the question, Master Rorschach, you should know that such a position is like the very tip of a tower. How many people can stand on that 'tip'?"

"Seven out of ten thousand, including priests and bishops in monasteries, including people like us, because they can manipulate ether, oh you call it magic, and enjoy such treatment, such delicious food and wine, as well as the huge resources consumed in researching magic."

As if knowing that Rorschach was unaware, Cano continued eating and said, "Second question, Rorschach, how many humans are capable of manipulating ether like us?"

Three per thousand! This is the result of a secret sampling study conducted by the Magic Guild across the entire continent. Oh, and this result is also a secret—a secret that can be revealed to bastards like you and me.

Perhaps some lucky ones will become other professions, using inner ether to enhance themselves and become stronger warriors, more agile rangers, or paladins who can receive divine grace. Most people, however, will never know what magic is all about!

"You mean, the Empire's magic academies, hoping that the Empire's mages will outnumber the population?"

"The more the better! If everyone with inner ether could cast spells, would we be here enjoying delicious food and meeting? Would His Majesty the King be polite to rows and rows of countless mages?"

The empire desires spellcasters to profit immensely, and that's why you, the farmer's son, are able to learn magic!

Kano realized his words were rude and tried to make amends: "I apologize, Mage Rorschach. I was not criticizing your background, but rather trying to point out that if a mage is trained in the Thirteen Magic Towers like a poet or philosopher, oh, he also has magical and wonderful powers, he can enter and leave magnificent palaces and possess countless riches and glory."

If mages are mass-produced like officers and craftsmen, then the powerful will have no choice but to send them to the battlefield or workshops!

Rorschach laughed: "Then, workshops and armies with magical powers will defeat a country that only has poets."

"Yes, yes, you're a smart person. Oh, what mage is a fool? So, please tell me, do you like this ending?"

"What I hope for is that anyone, even if not born into nobility or wealth, as long as they have talent and ideas, can choose to become a poet, philosopher, or magician. Uh... no, not an ending, but a new beginning."

"I'm starting to doubt if you're a traditionalist from the Empire, Mage Rorschach, you're so romantic!"

"Our world has gods and magic, there's nothing wrong with being a little romantic."

"You're right, God, you're the most interesting Imperial guy I've ever met!" Kano finally started eating the meat sauce beans he didn't want to touch. "How did we get to this point? Let's get down to business and talk about your arrangements in the Tower of Stars."

Archmage Cano picked up a bottle of sparkling wine and handed it to Rorschach: "How did you freeze the fish? Let me see."

Rorschach took the bottle, held it, and cooled it to the right temperature, just like he had done with iced cola in his previous life.

Cano poured a glass for both himself and Rorschach, the crystal goblets covered in fine water droplets, a testament to the perfect application of the [Touch of Ice].

"Ah~ Excellent, absolutely perfect!" Cano exclaimed after tasting the iced sparkling wine.

"Caroline was vague about your spellcasting abilities, only praising your theoretical knowledge, which made me worry. This perfectly chilled sparkling wine at least proves that you have a sophisticated grasp of ether."

"I have made a lot of progress on the journey, and I also want to thank Teacher Caroline for her encouragement."

"Alright, alright, she can't hear you anyway, why are you flattering her from afar?"

I heard you're a bit strapped for cash. So, besides the classes you need to attend for research and adaptation studies, could you cover one more class for me? I'll give you teaching assistant privileges and a salary—five Kings a month. It'll be a bit of a hassle for you though.

Using "His Majesty the King" to refer to the gold coins carries the sorcerer's mockery of the Holy Kingdom's ruler, especially when discussing the number of coins.

"Thank you for your consideration, it's a reasonable arrangement." Shall we clink glasses next? Rorschach prepared to grasp the neck of the wine glass.

"Thanks so much, I'll come and share some beans, hurry up."

(End of this chapter)