Chapter 12: The Grand Sorceress Vigephat

Page (1/3)

The process of getting the manuscript approved proved somewhat more difficult than Ron had imagined.

He spent three days writing nearly fifty thousand words, and in the end, White Dew only barely approved the draft.

In truth, ordinary people did not demand such a high standard. But Ron was a Resonance Creator.

His novels existed to obtain Character Cards and increase their strength, so naturally, the required quality was different.

During this time, Vivian did not return to Palavi City as originally planned. Instead, she temporarily settled in a village near the bandit stronghold.

Partly, this was to practice and consolidate the magic Ron had taught her. On the other hand, she wanted to observe the ruins of the stronghold.

There was definitely someone behind this bandit group, and that person possessed considerable ability and status.

Otherwise, if a bandit group had run rampant during the harvest season, the army of Palavi City should not have remained entirely inactive.

Vivian suspected that after losing contact with the bandits, their backer would certainly send someone to investigate.

She intended to use that as a breakthrough and find out exactly who wanted to make her the sacrifice in the containment ritual.

Vivian still refused to believe that her teacher would betray her.

Her plan was indeed quite sound...

[You stand on the ridge between the fields, watching Vivian wave her staff in the wheat field, and fall into a long silence.]

[Why has she started helping the villagers harvest wheat? Wasn't she supposed to be keeping watch?!]

[Vivian chants a spell. As magic bursts forth, the wheat around her begins to sway violently.]

[Before long, a massive storm takes shape with Vivian at its center.]

[The fully ripened ears of wheat are torn free by the force of the wind, spinning and dancing through the air.]

["How amazing, Lady Vivian!" The children from the village clap excitedly as they watch.]

[Buoyed by the children's praise, Vivian begins arranging the ears of wheat in the air into all kinds of shapes, eliciting wave after wave of cheers.]

[Suddenly, the enormous dragon formed from wheat in the sky shatters apart.]

[Countless stalks of wheat pour down like torrential rain, burying Vivian beneath them.]

[Looking at the small mountain of wheat piled up before you, you shake your head helplessly.]

["Help... help... help..." A faint cry for assistance comes from within the mound.]

This girl... Is she really reliable?

Why is she playing with children now?

The village where Vivian had taken shelter was the largest village nearest to the bandit stronghold.

The only reason it had survived the bandits' rampage was that the able-bodied men of the village had resisted to the death.

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

For that reason, when Vivian arrived in the village, nearly every young man bore some kind of injury.

Vivian herself had been born in the countryside, so she naturally understood what it meant for so many able-bodied workers to be injured during harvest season.

If the wheat was not harvested in time, the ripe grain might begin to sprout. That would mean the food supply for the entire village could be jeopardized for the coming year.

Understanding was one thing.

But helping the villagers harvest wheat hardly seemed like a plotline that could stand on its own.

[The children cry out in surprise as they dig through the piles of wheat and pull Vivian out from the very bottom.]

[Vivian is in a miserable state, but she cannot help bursting into laughter.]

[The children around her begin laughing as well.]

Oh, well...

Looking at the heartwarming scene, Ron could not bring himself to disturb them.

[You turn around and stroll toward Vivian.]

[You do not dare act alone. The cats in the village are far too ferocious.]

As Ron read this sentence, some unpleasant memories seemed to flash through his mind.

If there was one particularly unforgettable lesson from his Resonance experience ten years ago...

Never kiss a catgirl with your tongue might well be one of them.

["Lady Vivian." A villager comes running over in a panic. "Just now, a mage flew over the outskirts of the village and headed in the direction you mentioned!"]

[While Vivian helped the village harvest its wheat, the villagers had also become her eyes and ears, watching the situation around the bandit stronghold at all times.]

Ron narrowed his eyes.

Has he arrived?

[Vivian's smile fades. She rises to her feet and brushes the dried grass and wheat from her clothes.]

["I have to leave." Vivian speaks to the children.]

[The children cry out and plead with her to stay.]

[Vivian leaves with determination.]

[She does not want to bring disaster upon this village.]

[Before coming here, she had already seen several villages completely slaughtered by the bandits.]

[I must drag that bastard into the light.]

[Even if it really is my own teacher.]

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

["I never expected you to have so much fun playing with a group of children, Vivian." As Vivian leaves the village, a cold, aloof woman's voice comes from nearby.]

[Vivian turns to look.]

[A tall woman sits cross-legged beneath a dead tree. She wears a standard mage's robe similar to Vivian's, while her pale-red hair sways in the gentle breeze.]

[Vigefat Rota, Grand Magus and Vivian's teacher.]

["Teacher?!" Vivian's heart jolts.]

[Her heart is instantly filled with conflicting emotions.]

[Vigefat casts a cold glance over Vivian and you. "What? You don't want to see me?"]

["Of course not, Teacher." Vivian hurries to Vigefat's side. "I just didn't expect you to come here."]

["How is your examination going?" Vigefat asks directly, wasting no time on pleasantries.]

[Vivian already has an answer prepared. "That bandit group has overwhelming numbers. I am currently gathering information."]

[Of course, she would never admit that she had destroyed the stronghold. If she did, she would have no way to explain the whereabouts of the fragment of the Demon King's soul.]

[Vigefat looks deeply at Vivian but says nothing more. "You don't need to go there anymore. Come back to Palavi with me."]

["What? Then what about my examination?" Vivian looks as though she is worried she will be unable to graduate.]

["That bandit group has already been wiped out." Vigefat speaks calmly. "I will arrange a new graduation assignment for you."]

[As she speaks, she raises her staff without giving Vivian any chance to object.]

[As magic surges, a complex golden magic circle appears beneath the two of them.]

[The halo flickers.]

[Vivian feels her vision swim. When she opens her eyes again, she is already in Vigefat's library.]

[Not far away, several magic apprentices are holding blueprints and pointing at the charred bookshelves and windowsills, discussing how to repair them.]

[Those were the places Vivian had set alight not long ago.]

["I still have a few matters to deal with. Go back and rest for now..." Vigefat pauses, then emphasizes, "Do not use magic in the library!"]

[With a flicker of light and shadow, Vigefat vanishes before Vivian's eyes.]

["My teacher's teleportation magic is incredible." Vivian speaks with some envy.]

["Naturally." You speak up out of nowhere. "After all, it's the power of the Mad Demon King."]

Page (3/3)