Grimgal of Ashes and Illusion - Volume 14.1 - Chapter 3.08

8. The Last

“Girlie,” Grandfather announced.

“...What is it?” Shihoru managed.

“You must think I’m an old fart who’s all talk.”

“Not at all...”

“No. You do. You absolutely do. I can tell these things, you know? Ever since that one time, your attitude towards me has changed. Massively, too. I’m honestly not that senile, you know? You know that, at least.”

“I-If you aren’t senile, could we not have this same conversation several times a day... please?”

“Ah! Ahhh! Ahhhhh!”

“Wh-What is it?”

“Are you suuuure it’s okay? Talking to a wizard like that? I think it’s a weeee bit rude. Now, listen. I didn’t just get old without doing anything, you know? Yet I’m not feeling the sliiiightest bit of respect. I don’t knoooow. Is that okay? You’re hurting me here. If you’d give me a massage, though, girlie, this pain miiiight go away.”

In a classroom alone with Grandfather, Shihoru hung her head, letting out the latest of who knew how many hundreds of sighs.

Why? Why had Shihoru refused Wizard Yoruka’s kind offer that time?

Yoruka was cool and analytical, and they said she was the youngest wizard. Even from the short exchanges they’d had, she could tell the woman was very smart. A little frightening, maybe, but if she had to learn from someone, a person like that was the best.

Shihoru was probably spoiled. A little harsh treatment was sure to be good for her.

Grandfather, meanwhile, was a depraved pervert.

He seemed to know more about magic, and having been, according to his own claim, practicing as a mage for ninety years, it would be strange if he didn’t. Grandfather said he’d been a mage for ninety years, but a man for over a hundred, so it was only natural that his male instincts would win out over the intellectual curiosity, spirit of discovery, and drive for self-improvement that came with being a mage.

She sort of understood that logic, and sort of didn’t. No, she understood what he was saying; it was just, uh, super gross. If there was a person still obsessing over carnal lust at over one hundred years of age, Shihoru could only think they were a monster. So why...?

There was just one thing that might have sufficed as a reason: what Yoruka had said.

“His teachings will, undoubtedly, become an invaluable asset to you as a mage. You may not understand that now, but with time, you will.”

It was true, she absolutely did not understand now.

However, she felt Wizard Yoruka was far more trustworthy than Grandfather. Because Grandfather was a liar, while Yoruka probably wasn’t.

Yoruka had told her that, if Shihoru found herself unable to deal with the old coot’s behavior, she was willing to take over as her instructor for the rest of her basic training. But that could also be interpreted as her advising that, if she could tolerate him, it would be better to have Grandfather teach her.

That suggested Grandfather’s basic training would have enough value that it was worth bearing with the unpleasant treatment.

And there was one other thing. If Shihoru had Yoruka teach her, that would mean, for a certainty, that she would have to sit next to Adachi. She did, to some degree, want to avoid that. His type, the kind of person who thought he was a genius, actually was sharp, and looked down on others, was hard for her to deal with. Even being around him was suffocating.

“I-I’m not... g-giving you a massage,” Shihoru said. “I mean, I can’t.”

“Just a liiiight one is fine. If you’d just ever so sooooftly touch the places I tell you to, that would be perfect.”

“I’m sure you’re planning to make me touch you in weird places... right?”

“Weird places, like wheeeere? Could you teeeell me? Well, girlie? Where? What spot? What spoooot?”

“I-I don’t know! H-How would I...?!”

“Aww, you’re soooo cuuuute. Getting all embarrassed. Girlie, you’re cuuuute. Uweheheh!”

“I-I’m not cute at all!” Shihoru cried. “I-I’m... f-fat...”

“Nweheheh! You certainly do have a bit of meat on your bones, girlie.”

“I-I know. That’s why I told you, I’m fat...”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Grandfather smirked. “It comes with youth. Besides, your meat is of good quality. It’ll feel excellent to touch. Eheheheheh...”

“Urrrrrrrrrrrgh...!” Shihoru felt a chill.

But...

Shihoru’s face was turned down, but her lips were secretly turned up.

She’d won.

Shihoru had overcome this trial.

“Gufufufuh... Nuhuhuhuhuhuhuh... Hahh! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah...! Hahhhhhhh...”

Grandfather let out a sigh that was far too big.

“It’s already ending, huh.”

Yes. That was right.

Grandfather had taken every chance to try and touch Shihoru, make her touch him, say obscene things, and make her say them, so her basic training felt like it had lasted an eternity, but finally it was ending.

Looking back on it, the time she had spent in Grandfather’s lectures laced with obscene stories as she’d learned about elementals and magic, the times she’d meditated in front of the old man who was distraction incarnate, the times she’d practiced casting simple spells under his malicious direction, they were all good memories—was one thing she would never say, even under pain of death, but they had been at least somewhat to her benefit.

If nothing else, there was a feeling of accomplishment that came with having endured.

It was unlikely she’d ever go through anything this unpleasant again, too.

It might not be a good memory, but it had been a good experience—maybe.

“Grandfather... thank you for taking care of me,” Shihoru said.

“For my part, I wish you’d keep on ‘taking care’ of me, girlie...”

“I-I’ll pass.”

“You should give up on this volunteer soldier business, girlie. It’s nothing but danger. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I appreciate your concern, but...”

“Of course I’m concerned! What would I do if my girl got herself hurt?! When I think of any wounds on that young, supple body...”

“I... I have my comrades to consider.”

“Girlie, if you got roughed up by orcs, or goblins, why... I’d be a little, no, very! Very aroused!”

“...Thank you again.”

“My girlieeee! Ohhhhhhhhh! I... I can’t take this...!”

“I’m not yours....”

“Enough!” Grandfather suddenly stood up from his chair. With swift motions, not at all like those of a man who was 107 years old. He was so energetic, it was terrifying. “Girlie! I challenge you!”

“...Say what?”

“Fire a Magic Missile at me!”

“Huh? B-But... that’s...”

“Don’t underestimate me because of my age, girlie! I’ll show you the difference in level between us as mages!”

“Th-The difference in level...? I just entered the guild... I only know one spell, too, there’s no challenge here...”

“It’s fine, just shoot! I’ll show you what true magic is!”

“...True magic?”

That caught her attention, if only a little.

Wizard Yoruka had mentioned it before. Grandfather was one of the few mages in Grimgar who had attained true magic.

What exactly was that true magic? Shihoru had no clue. But Grandfather was saying he was going to teach her now.

It probably wasn’t anything she could understand yet, but like Yoruka said, this might become a valuable asset to her, and come in handy one day.

“O... Okay!”

Shihoru took her training staff, which was leaning against her desk, and stood up.

Grandfather leaned back and looked down his nose at Shihoru. Due to his advanced age, it felt like he might throw out his back if he wasn’t careful doing that, but he could still stand tall if he tried.

Also, despite being over a hundred, Grandfather was tall. He had to be over 180 centimeters. He must have shrunk somewhat, too, so he’d have been even taller in his youth. It wasn’t easy to see at first glance because of his stark white beard and eyebrows, but his skin was glossy, too.

He had an incredible sense of presence.

Shihoru felt suffocated. Her hands quaked. Grandfather was intimidating her.

“This chance doesn’t come often, girlie,” Grandfather grinned. “Let’s review your last lesson. Tell me the four types of elementals.”

“The flaming Arve, the freezing Kanon, the electric Falz, and the shadowy Darsh.”

“Correct. The Arve are like burning red flames.”

When Grandfather said that and raised his right hand, surprisingly, a flaming elemental, an Arve, appeared on his palm.

“The Kanon are like snowflakes.”

The mystery continued. The Arve vanished, and a Kanon appeared—or rather, to Shihoru’s eyes, it appeared the Arve turned into a Kanon.

“The Falz are like lightning.”

The Kanon turned into whirling electricity.

“The Darsh are like dark black masses of seaweed.”

Finally, the electric discharge became a black ball.

“These are the four forms of elementals. Remember them well, girlie. Elementals are everywhere. They appear to feed on the power of our spirits, our magical power, and through it exert their force.”

“I-I know that. You’ve already taught me.”

“You’re a serious one, girlie. Much like Yoruka. However, you mustn’t imitate her. That one’s too hard-headed. Yoruka’s aware of that herself, but she can’t cast away her preconceptions. To be a mage, you must study as deeply as the depths of the land, yet also soar as high as the sky. Even knowing this, though, it is not easily done. Do you understand, girlie?”

“...Y-Yes.”

“Why do all mages learn Magic Missile as their first spell? That is the key. In a way, you’ve been given it from the start. Now it is up to you to put that key into the keyhole, turn it, undo the lock, and open the door.”

“The key...” Shihoru repeated.

“Indeed. Now, face me, and unleash a Magic Missile.”

“Marc...”

As if trying to suck them in, Shihoru drew elemental sigils with her staff as she chanted.

“...em Parc!”

Light gathered at the end of her staff, and formed a bead. The elemental had shown its form.

What elemental was this, though?

For an instant, that doubt crossed her mind, and then she launched the Magic Missile at Grandfather.

Grandfather faced the bead of light. The Darsh was still resting in the palm of his hand.

The bead of light and Darsh made contact. No—they... mixed?

They became one, and then became something else.

It was close to green in color, round, and had little arms and legs growing out of it.

It was unclear what it truly was, but it wobbled in Grandfather’s hand awhile, then, as if burning out, it blinked... and was gone.

“Girlie.” Grandfather sat down in his chair.

She couldn’t imagine it was just because he’d sat down, but Grandfather suddenly looked much, much smaller.

“...No, Shihoru. You are a mage now. There is nothing left for me to teach you. The next time you come to the guild in search of training, I will entrust you to Wizard Yoruka. I’m too old for this. I want to spend what little time I have left on my research. You are the last disciple of Wizard Sarai.”

“Grandfather...”

“If you’d let me rub your boobs just a little, I would teach you again, though.”

“...No. I’ll have Wizard Yoruka teach me. I’ll be fine, thanks.”

“Hmm,” Grandfather said regretfully. “Is that so? What a shame.”