Chapter 48

Released:

“It’s become a hassle now. Around the time we’ll be on summer break from the academy, the Holy Empire will already be quite hot, so I had no intention of visiting during summer.”

Returning to the room, Estelle let out a deep sigh and gave Theo and Iris an apologetic look.

“Summer in the Holy Empire, huh? Yeah, traveling then would definitely be tough.”

Theo, who generally preferred winter over summer, seemed to feel this even more strongly.

“I’m really sorry, Sir Theo. I got you involved with that weirdo.”

Calling the Holy Emperor a “weirdo” was something only Estelle could do, even in a private setting.

“It’s fine. By then, I’ll just learn temperature control magic, and it’ll be all good.”

Theo didn’t seem particularly worried about it.

There were many spells designed to make daily life more convenient, and one of them was a magic that controlled temperature for a designated period.

This magic was often used during extreme summers or winters and was usually provided to people for a hefty price. However, more commonly, it was applied to things like refrigerators, storage jars, or other items where temperature regulation was important for preserving quality.

Although the magic was expensive, saving energy was considered beneficial to the country. As such, it was one of the government-sponsored initiatives, with most businesses increasingly relying on this magic. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the majority of providers benefited from its use.

“You’re already proficient in both ice magic and fire magic, Sir Theo, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to learn. Actually, you’re perfectly capable of it. You just don’t know how to approach it yet.”

Estelle smiled as she spoke. Theo had a somewhat uncertain expression on his face, but he realized she was right.

It wasn’t common to find someone like Theo who could use multiple elements. If someone could freely use both ice and fire, they could easily adapt their usage to other magical applications.

Of course, that level of freedom required a large mana pool and excellent mana control. But in Theo’s case, he already possessed both. His mana pool was vast, and his skill in controlling it was extraordinary.

Anyone who saw Theo use magic even once would naturally come to the same conclusion.

“Aren’t you flattering me a bit too much?”

“But honestly, I think you could do it right now if you tried.”

“Well… I’ll give it a shot.”

Theo had now reached the point where he could fully perceive the flow of mana within his body.

No, it wasn’t just a matter of perception; he had almost completely mastered it. His ability to manipulate mana had reached the level that other mages considered an apex of magical achievement, though Theo himself remained unaware of it.

“Try imagining creating a barrier that matches the desired temperature and wrapping it around your body. It’ll require some delicate temperature control, but I think you’ll handle it just fine.”

While Estelle suddenly gave Theo an instant magic lesson, Iris enjoyed a leisurely sip of tea brought in by Estelle’s servants.

To be honest, she wanted to join their conversation as well.

…But I have no clue about magic.

Of course, Iris knew how to use and handle a certain degree of magic.

However, when it came to such advanced-level techniques, there was no way she could teach anything. If this were back when Theo was still learning basic magic from Estelle, that might have been a different story.

Now, though, she was fully aware that Theo had long surpassed her own magical abilities. Since she knew this, she simply sat quietly while sipping her tea.

It’s a bit warm?

The Holy Empire was undeniably a hot place during the summer. It started to heat up even while the Ermunt Empire still enjoyed the cool breezes of a warm spring.

And so, it was only natural that the temperature here felt oppressively warm after having just left Ermunt moments ago.

For the people of the Holy Empire, this level of heat hardly counted as hot, so they wouldn’t have started using air conditioning yet. That’s why most Ermunt citizens tended to avoid traveling to the Holy Empire during this time of year.

“Phew…”

Feeling slightly overheated, she raised her arm to wipe away some sweat and let out a faint sigh.

“Huh…?”

Suddenly, it felt as if something was wrapping around her body, and she began to feel remarkably cool.

“How is it, Iris? You looked a bit hot, so I thought I’d give it a try,”

And when Iris looked up, there was Theo. His eyes were sparkling with excitement as he enjoyed mastering something new.

A faint magical barrier also surrounded Theo’s body, indicating that he hadn’t just used her as an experiment. Instead, having already succeeded, he had thoughtfully used his magic to help cool Iris down.

“…It feels wonderfully cool. Sir Theo, it’s shining…”

“Oh, was it really that hot? You should have said something earlier. I could’ve asked Estelle to do it for you.”

“No, I much prefer that you did it yourself, Sir Theo.”

“Me too! I like it much better when Sir Theo does it, so please do it for me too!”

Estelle, who had been quietly watching from the side with a hint of envy, suddenly stepped forward and eagerly hinted that she wanted Theo to cast the temperature control spell on her as well.

“Huh? But you can do it yourself, Estelle.”

“Well, yes, but still…! I thought it might be a good idea for you to practice it too… you know, for experience!”

“Oh! Then I suppose that makes sense. I’ll probably use this spell a lot, so let me give it another go.”

Since Theo believed that practice made perfect, he naturally extended the temperature control magic to Estelle as well.

“This spell’s duration depends on how much mana I use, right?”

“Yes, exactly! Sir Theo, you’re incredible. Whenever I teach you one thing, you seem to master ten more! Truly amazing!”

“Come on, don’t flatter me too much. It’s embarrassing.”

Theo scratched his head with a sheepish grin.

Still, it was definitely impressive that he had not only learned what he was taught but also applied and expanded upon it on his own.

“Next time I go home, I’ll have to adjust a few things.”

He also thought about regularly visiting his parents, who worked tirelessly regardless of the heat or cold, to cast this temperature control magic for them.

Although the spell created a faint magical barrier, it only adjusted the temperature and didn’t interfere with other daily activities, so it was remarkably convenient.

“I changed a few things the last time I went, but it’s about time to go back for some maintenance.”

Estelle hadn’t been able to directly help Theo’s parents, but she had already enchanted various appliances in Theo’s house that required electricity or heat.

“Oh, really? My mom will love it. She’ll wonder why the electricity and gas bills suddenly disappeared.”

For ordinary people, the biggest concerns were always bills, rent, and living expenses.

Among those, the heating bills that skyrocketed in winter or the electricity costs from using air conditioning in the summer were ongoing problems.

“Magic really is amazing.”

Theo genuinely thought so.

He couldn’t help but feel that if he’d had this kind of magic in his previous life, he probably would have achieved great success, given how convenient it was.

Of course, that level of convenience was only possible because Theo had an exceptionally large mana pool and could regulate his mana as effortlessly as breathing.

“Well, then, how about we go and do some maintenance after we finish today’s tasks?”

“Ah, would that be okay? Won’t you two be too tired?”

Theo, of course, wanted nothing more than to rush over immediately and adjust the temperature for his parents. He knew it would be a great help to their farming.

However, he considered that Estelle had her own tasks to complete, and Iris, who came all the way to the Holy Empire might want to spend more time enjoying herself. So, he decided to ask for their opinions.

“For me, it’s absolutely fine. Sir Theo’s home feels like my second home anyway. And your parents feel like my parents too!”

At Estelle’s subtle attempt to express her feelings, Iris frowned deeply and interjected.

“Well, for me, Sir Theo’s parents already feel like my own. That’s why I’ve been sending them various supplies and support. I just hope they’re using them well.”

Unbeknownst to Theo, Iris had been secretly sending all sorts of new items to his home and even hired workers to make farming easier for his parents.

“What? You’ve been sending them things without telling me?”

Theo looked at Iris with a deeply moved expression.

Contrary to his initial expectation that he would lose touch with his parents after entering the academy, Iris had been contacting them more frequently than he did and made sure their needs were met.

Not only Iris but also Estelle had quietly been helping maintain and repair his house, even though she didn’t speak much about it. This realization left Theo profoundly touched.

“Both of you, really, thank you so much.”

“There’s no need to thank us. It’s your home, and they’re your parents. It’s only natural to look after them.”

“That’s right. They’re the people Sir Theo loves most.”

At the phrase “the people Theo loves most,” he gave a small, amused smile.

They were a family he hadn’t originally had, and the time he’d spent with them was ridiculously short. But Theo truly cherished them.

He had no desire to return to the solitary world of his previous life. In fact, he often thought about how, once he graduated from the academy, he would absolutely return home.

“Still, since we’re here in the Holy Empire, let’s take some time to explore before heading back,” Iris suggested.

“Great idea! I’ll guide you around! We can buy lots of delicious treats and bring them home too,”

“I’ll let my mom know in advance.”

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