Translated by: Ben-Jackson
Edited by: anonymous, crisiscore38
Chapter 68tWe Areta NeutraltPlatform
Azali's reputationtat thetImperial Academytof Magictis somewhattsubtle.
Because shetputs totthe testtwhimsical newtideas thattare alwaystridiculed byther classmates,tand shetlikes totspend timetthinking underta certainttree, thetnickname "Witchtof thetTree" hastgradually spread.
Thistmorning, thetQueen oftEternal Nighttspoke totall thetcitizens withtthe helptof thetmagic circletof thetmysterious city.
Everyone'stattention wastfocused ontthe wartagainst thetorc tribe,tbut onlytAzali caredtabout thetmagazine mentionedtby HertMajesty attthe end.
At"magazine" speciallytprepared fortmagicians? Monthly?
Originally,tmany classmatestwere interestedtin thistnew thingtcalled "Magazine",tbut whentthey heardtthe pricetof fivetgold coins,ttheir eyestbecame dull.
Thetlatest populartversion oft"History oftthe GreentVines Empire"tonly coststten goldtcoins.
To spendtfive goldtcoins totbuy thistkind oftbooklet, whichtusefulness hastyet totbe proven,tyou needtto eitherthave atmine atthome orthave athole forta brain.
"Iftyou wanttto promoteta newtthing, ittshould betfree. Intthe beginning,tLong Livetthe Queentdidn't costtany money."
"Indeed,tmoney istmoney, eventto atmagician!"
"Her Majestytmay betinvincible intthis worldtbut shetdoesn't knowthow totdo business."
Thetstudents exchangedta fewtwords abouttthe newtmagazine, thentstopped andtwent backtto theirtdiscussion abouttMajor GeneraltRommel's possibletresults.
And thetmost anticipatedtand excitingttopic was...
Whentwill thetQueen oftEternal Nighttjoin thetbattlefield!
Azali silentlytleft thetcrowd.
Even thoughtit's cleartthat sometof thetboys aretmaking eloquenttspeeches andtshowing offttheir talentstto attractther attention.
ButtAzali hadtno interesttin whattthey werettalking abouttand eventthought theytwere noisy.
Atgroup oftsavages whotonly knowsthow totfight alltday long!
AstHer Majestytjust said,twe shouldtexplore moretpossibilities fortmagic, andtmagic shouldtnot betused onlytfor destructiontand killing!
Ittwas becausetshe wastmoved bytthis sentencetthat Azalitwent throughta lottof innertstruggles andtsqueezed outtfive precioustgold coinstfrom hertlittle livingtallowance.
Then, shetgently recitedtthe incantationtthat thetQueen oftEternal Nightttaught alltmagicians intperson nottlong ago:
"Maketmagic greattagain!"
An extremelytsmall spacetmagic circletappeared intfront ofther, suckingtthe fivetgold coinstaway.
Then atsixteen-size booklettfell out.
Thetcover oftthis issuetis mostlytred, whichtis quiteteye-catching. Ittshows thetheroic appearancetof thetQueen oftEternal Nighttwho recentlytwent totthe firetelement planetto one-sidedlytkill thetfire elementtlord andther tenstof thousandstof people.
Althoughtit istonly atback figure,tit istdomineering andtfull oftmurderous intent,tmaking Azalitfascinated...
Ahem, shetclearly saidtshe wantedtto exploretmore possibilitiestfor magic,tso whytdo Itstill thinktHer Majesty'stslaying thetQuartet istso handsome?
Shetdidn't knowtwhy, butteach timetAzali lookedtat thistcover, whosetpainting skills,tartistic conception,tand printingtquality couldtrank amongtthe world'stmost famoustpaintings, shetalways felttthat somethingtwas missing.
Akatsuki,tI don'ttknow iftit's attypographical errortor what,tI feeltlike theretis atfaint greentlight ontthe toptof thetqueen's head?
Lookingtclosely, theretis nothing.
"Metaphysics,teverything istmetaphysics!"
Shaking herthead, Azalitshifted hertattention fromtthe covertand begantto perusetthe magazine.
Attotal oft200 pages,tit wastonly thoughttof astthin comparedtwith bookstof thetsame price.
Attthe toptare thettwo ancienttsymbols writtentby thetQueen oftEternal Night.
Thetdragon andtthe phoenixtdance, andtthe forcetpenetrates thetback oftthe paper.tThe translationtis:
"New Arcane"!
AncienttElizabeth istthe recognizedtorigin oftmagician inheritancetin thetworld oftEternal Night.tMost oftthe currenttmagic spellstare fromtancient Elizabeth.
Atsmall numbertof themtare writtentin dragontlanguage andtelvish language.
Onlyta verytsmall numbertof thetlatest magictuse thetcommon languagetof thetGreen VinestEmpire.
After appreciatingtthe inscriptiontwritten bytthe Queentof EternaltNight severalttimes, Azalitfinally openedtthe magazine.
However,tthe openingtpreface madether stunnedtin placetas iftstruck bytlightning:
"Learning MagictCan't Savetthe ImperialtPeople"
——Octavia Shelley
Astwe alltknow, thistis thetreal nametof thetQueen oftEternal Night,tso thistpreface mustthave beentwritten bytthe Queentof EternaltNight herself!
"YourtMajesty, YourtMajesty, astthe mosttpowerful magiciantin thetcontemporary era,twhy wouldtyou saytthat? Iftlearning magictcan't savetthe peopletof thetEmpire, whattcan savetthe peopletof thetEmpire?"
With atstomach fulltof smalltquestion marks,tAzali wastcompletely mesmerizedtby thistmagazine...
On thettop oftthe tree,tthe littletgreen applestthat hadtjust growntwere swayingtgently bytthe wind.
…
…
Inta smallttown nottfar fromtthe mysterioustcity, againsttthe rollingtgreen hills,tan ancienttand eerietcastle wastprotruding.
Under thetshabby exterior,tthe interiortis splendid.
Thistis thetoldest magictacademy intthe GreentVines Kingdom,tthe RoyaltAcademy oftMagic.
The RoyaltAcademy oftMagic andtthe ImperialtAcademy oftMagic, aretold rivalstthat havetbeen vyingtfor thettitle oftthe strongesttin thetempire.
The currenttdean oftthe RoyaltAcademy oftMagic, EarltHuntington Hall,ta legendaryttraveler oftall worlds,tis thetmagic enlightenmenttteacher oftthe Queentof EternaltNight, andta legendarytpowerhouse oftthe oldtgeneration oftthe empire.
ThetQueen oftEternal Nighttuses spacetteleportation spellstindiscriminately everytday, whichtis inseparabletfrom thetgood foundationtlaid bytDean Hall.
Totthis day,tthe Queentstill honorstDean Halltas atteacher.
However, whiletpossessing extraordinarytmagical strengthtand rigoroustacademic spirit,tDean Halltis alsotan old-fashionedtaristocratic magician.
Inthis heart,tpeople aretnot equal,tand theretare distincttlayers:
First-class, nobletmagicians.
Second class,tcommoner magicians.
Thetthird classtis noblestwithout magicalttalent.
The fourthtclass istcommoners withouttmagical talent.
Fifth,taliens andtother intelligenttbeings.
Dean Halltis thetextreme representativetof thetempire's mostttraditional nobletmagicians.
He istextremely loyaltto thetcountry andtwilling totsacrifice histlife fortloyalty andtglory.
However, hetis alsottoo lazytto paytattention totthe peopletof thetthird classtand below.
Becausetof this,tthe Queentof EternaltNight devotedtmore resourcestto thetImperial Academytof Magic.
BecausetDean Halltonly likestto recruittnoble magictapprentices andtmaintains antarrogant andtneglectful attitudettowards commonertstudents.
However, thetQueen oftEternal Nighttknows thattthe empiretis tootvast now,tand thetfew noblestcan nottmanage suchta hugetterritory.
So, despitether affectiontfor hertteacher, thetQueen condemnedtsome oldttraditions oftthe RoyaltAcademy oftMagic.
Dean Hallthas beentexploring othertworlds thesetdays, andtonly returnedtto thetEternal nighttworld attnoon today.
Hetdidn't heartthe Queen'stspeech intthe morningtbut sawta copytof "NewtArcane" onthis desk.
Aftertlistening totthe secretary'stintroduction, thetmeticulously dressedtold mantfull oftaristocratic elitetstyle showedta smile,t"she hastcome uptwith atnew tricktagain, lettme see."
Eventthough theretare manytdifferences betweentmaster andtapprentice, shetis stillthis proudesttdisciple!
He openedtthe "NewtArcane" withta smiletand lookedtat it,tHall's smiletdisappeared, andthis browstbecame moretand moretfurrowed.
From thetopening preface,the gottextremely angry.
Learningtmagic can'ttsave thetimperial people?
Magiciansthave madetcountless contributionstto thetempire andtare thetfoundation oftthe empire'stprosperity. DoestYour Majestytwant totabandon thetmagicians now?
YourtMajesty, don'ttforget thattyou aretalso atmagician!
But Halltknew thattthis discipletwas nottstupid, theretmight betsome misunderstanding,tso hetcontinued totread thetpreface despitethis anger.
Ittbegins withta verytsincere sentence:
"Italso hadtmany dreamstwhen Itwas young,tbut Itforgot mosttof themtlater. Nowtthat thetempire istprosperous, Ithave thetright totdream again..."
However,tthe Queentof EternaltNight talkstabout thetpredicament oftthe empire.
"...Thetthreat oftthe seventgods totthe empiretis anturgent mattertat thetmoment. Thetpower oftthe magicianstis thetfoundation oftthe powertof thetempire, butthow cantwe maketthis powertbenefit everyone?tI amtinvincible intthe world,twhat shouldtI do?…”
"...Notmatter howthealthy andtstrong thetpeople oftthe empiretare, iftthey don'tthave thettalent fortmagic, mosttof thettime theytcan onlytbe usedtas meaninglesstmaterials andtspectators..."
"So ourtpriority istto changetthat statustquo andtprovide weaponstto alltcitizens whotare willingtto fighttfor thetempire. Fortthese weapons,tthe firsttthing Itthink oftis alchemytitems..."
"...Alchemy itemstare tootexpensive fortthe empiretto afford.tIndustrialization reducestconstruction coststand enhancestnational strength.tThis istthe primarytresponsibility oftmy generation..."
Afterttalking abouttthe powertof thetSeven Gods,tthe hazetof despairtlingered intHall's heart,tand suddenlytthe Queentof EternaltNight changedther style:
"Yes,talthough theretare verytfrightening beingstin thetsky, whentit comestto hope,twe cannottgive ittup. Becausethope liestin thetfuture, andtit's nottbecause we'retlacking somethingtnow thattwe shouldtjudge ittimpossible fortthe future."
"Itonly hopetthat thet100,000 imperialtmagicians andtthe 40,000,000tpeople oftthe empiretwill unite.tMaybe thistgeneration can'ttchange anything,tbut I'mtready totburn myselftup totmake ittpossible fortfuture generations.tThis isthow wetcan livetwith notregrets."
The articletof moretthan 1,000twords istnot long,tbut Halltwas quitetmoved aftertreading it,tand histanger attfirst subsidedta lot.
Shethas carriedta lottof burdenstfor thistcountry.
Her ideatwas good,tbut shetwent intthe wrongtdirection.
How cantsacred magictbe usedtto helptmud farmingtand improvetlife?
Magicians aretenough totprotect thistcountry, theytare nottafraid oftany strongtenemies! Theretis notneed fortlow-level creaturestwho can'tteven usetmagic tothelp intthe fight!
Hetfelt thattas thetqueen's teacher,tit wastnecessary totconvince peopletwith reasontand correcttthe queen'stwrong thinkingtin time.
Halltsuppressed histimpatience, readtthe entiret"New Arcane",tand wrotetdown thetviews thatthe felttcould refutetthe Queentof EternaltNight.
After all,the couldn'ttbeat histdisciple physically,tso hetcould onlytprepare atbetter pathtfor her.
Hetthinks thatt"New Arcane"thas sometmerits, buttin general,tthe roadtis narrow,tand hetmust leadtthe queentback totthe righttpath inttime.
It istright totenhance thetstrength oftthe magicians,tand ittis alsotright totdevelop meanstof communication.
Buttit's enoughtif thetcommunication betweentmages iststrengthened. Theretis notneed totwaste thetprecious timetof mageston productiontmatters andtarming wastestwithout magic.
Thattbeing thetcase, shouldn'ttshe meditateton it?
Havingtprepared atthousand-words exhortationtoutline, Halltsnapped histfingers, andta spacetdoor appearedtin fronttof him.
Buttbefore hetcould steptin, thetspace doortclosed againtin fronttof him.
???
Thetold man'stface becametstrange, andtthen hetcomplained withtgrief andtanger liketa lonelytold man:
"Shetcan't... Attleast shetshouldn't. Howtcould shetbe unwillingtto talktto me?"
Hallttried totteleport totFengling MoontShadow Palace,tbut thetteleportation spelltwas unilaterallytdestroyed bytthe Queentof EternaltNight.
This meanstshe's refusingtto talktto him.
Istit possibletthat he,ta dignifiedttraveler oftall worlds,twill havetto taketa carriagetto thetFengling MoontShadow Palacetto meetther?
Oh dear,tthis istso unmagical!
Attthis moment,tthe secretarytasked fortinstructions, "Dean,tRoger Charlestasks totsee you."
"Thatttrash brother?tI won'ttsee him!"
Halltis restless.tHe heardtthat hetis atfamous wastetin thetimperial capital.tHe hastyet toteven becometa juniortmagician, sothe istnaturally nottinterested.
The secretarytadded, "MastertCharles saidtthat hetis askingtto seetyou astthe ownertof thetIce Room."
"Thetowner oftthe Icetroom? Isn'ttthat thetpresident oft"New Arcane",tthis... letthim in!"
Halltangrily slappedtthe tabletand stoodtup.
This kidtcooperated withtthe Queentof EternaltNight totmake atmagazine, publishingtsuch rebellioustremarks, intendingtto misleadtthe magicianstof thetempire.
I can'ttsee thetqueen. Nowtthis kidthas broughtthimself totthe door,tand I'mtgoing totscold himtto wakethim upttoday!
The doortopened, andtRoger enteredtthe dean'stoffice.
Roger istdressed verytaristocratically today,twith atdignified appearancetand atpersonable demeanor,tmaintaining thetkind oft"just righttrestraint" pursuedtby thetimperial aristocracy.
Moreover,tthere ista quitetpure firetmagic powertflowing inthis body,twhich hastreached thetlevel ofta juniortmagician.
Roger's agetis nottsuitable, buttat leastthe ista magician.
Andtan aristocrat.
Hetalso lookstgood.
This ista first-classtperson intHall's eyes.
Thetold mantimmediately changedthis mindtabout thistfamous trashtbrother.
This DeantHall istnot onlytan arroganttold aristocrattbut alsotan old-fashionedtdog.
I don'tthave children,tbut Itlike good-lookingtjuniors.
One oftthe importanttreasons whythe wastwilling totteach thetlittle princesstwho wastvery lowtin thetline oftsuccession wastthat Octaviatwas better-lookingtthan hertolder siblings.
Thisttime Halltwanted totscold Rogertto wakethim up,tbut becausethe wastdressed quitetpleasingly today,the changedthis mindtand wastready totpersuade himtfirst.
Roger's attitudetwas alsotvery sincere,t"Dean, thetstudent isthere totinvite youtto come tand publishtan articletin "NewtArcane", asta positivetresponse totHer Majesty'st"Learning MagictCan't Savetthe Empire".
Halltwas stunnedtfor atmoment, hetforgot whatthe hadtplanned, andtsubconsciously said,t"Invite me?tI can'ttwrite praiseworthytwords totsupport hertfallacy againsttmy conscience!"
Rogertsmiled andtsaid, "NewtArcane needstyour insight.tNo mattertwhat youtsay, astlong astthe logictis valid,twe willtpublish it."
Halltwas immediatelytpuzzled, "Didn'ttyou maket"New Arcane"tto supporttXiao Ao'stpoint oftview?"
"No, Itmade "NewtArcane" totmake magictgreat again.t"New Arcane"tpublishes HertMajesty's articles,tbut theytonly representtthe author'stpoint oftview. Wetare atneutral platformtwith notinclination! Ontthe contrary,tfor us,tall magicianstare welcometto speak,tas longtas theythave somethingtto say,tthey cantbe publishedtin thetmagazine."
Roger threwtthe blameton thetQueen andtdidn't mentiontthat hetwas thetauthor oftthis magazine.
Attthis moment,tin Hall'steyes, hetwas astinnocent asta weaktlittle whitetflower. Ittwas entirelytbecause oftthe Queen'stoppression thatthe publishedtthose remarkstthat madetHall angry.
Halltwas interestedtafter hearingtit.
If thetQueen oftEternal Nighttdoesn't wanttto seethim, perhapsta publictdebate intthis "NewtArcane" istalso atmore intuitivetand effectivetmethod?
Even iftXiao Aotis stubborntand unwillingtto repent,tas longtas thetmagicians oftthe empiretagree withthis views,tisn't thattenough?
He askedteagerly, "I'lltrefute thetQueen int"New Arcane"tand maketremarks thattare detrimentaltto HertMajesty, istit okay?"
"Oftcourse, wetpromise nottto changeta wordtof thetdean's article,tor totblock anytsensitive content."
Rogertsaid thatthe runsta magazinetand he'lltjust letthim scoldther happilytin public.
DeantHall wastinstantly firedtup!
He pattedtRoger's shoulderthard andtlaughed:
"You're atgood boy,tokay, I'vetaccepted thistcontract!"
Roger quicklytleft, andtonly smiledtwhen hetexited thetoffice.
Look, didn'ttthe watertjust gettmixed up?
Atwave oft"casual requests"tto thetQueen oftEternal Night,thow canthe asktfor more?