Chapter 95

Aliénor’s practical training continued after that.

To put it simply, Aliénor grew quite a bit.

That’s not to say her level drastically shot up; rather, she was able to significantly improve the quality of the spells she had previously learned only half-heartedly.

“Oh! I can walk firmly on the peatland! I’m not sinking at all!”

On that day, she had become able to walk as if treading on solid ground through a marshy peat bog. It was the “Peatland Walk” spell.

Spells that aren’t used directly for work often end up being neglected. But if you do that, you’ll find yourself in trouble when the time comes. Often, those “moments of truth” are exactly when your overall competence is put to the test. It’s like how you don’t need the knowledge of emergency first aid every three minutes—until you suddenly do.

Because Aliénor was self-employed, she was able to tighten up the areas where she had been lax.

One might say she should have handled this at home since her parents also practice dark magic, but when the distance is too close, it can actually be harder to ask someone to teach you.

She seemed to struggle with the Dragon Skeleton driving lesson from Tototo-senpai, but she eventually managed to handle a small-sized Dragon Skeleton.

“Yeah, that looks good, doesn’t it? Being able to drive even a ‘light’ model is really convenient when you need to haul small loads,” Tototo-senpai said.

I overheard such exchanges within the company. She’s incredibly humble in front of her seniors.

Even at the employee dormitory (which is to say, our house), she handled her cleaning duties and chores properly. She was much more diligent than I had expected.

You might be misled by her words and actions, but Aliénor has a steady personality. It’s just that her reliability doesn’t kick in unless the right “switch” is flipped. She’s the type who does her homework properly but can’t quite manage self-study.

A little over two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

On that day, Aliénor went home first. I had been called in by the President.

“From your perspective, Franz-san, how is she?”

“When I saw her during the training, I had the impression her foundations were shaky. But since coming here, I think she’s rapidly filling in the gaps. If she continues to grow at this pace, I think she’ll be able to make it even after returning to her hometown.”

President Kelkel listened to my story with a look of delight. Then again, the President usually looks delighted.

“I see, I see. I thought it might be necessary to train her fairly hard, but it seems to have worked out. When people reach adulthood without knowing how to grow, it becomes very difficult, but Aliénor-san is still young, so she made it in time.”

I thought that was a very “President-like” perspective. It’s a viewpoint an inexperienced youth couldn’t possibly articulate.

“So, as a testament to her growth, I’m thinking of having her undergo an Initiation. An ‘ordainment rite,’ if you will.”

The smile vanished from the President’s eyes.

“The hurdle is a bit high, but without doing something like this, one cannot gain a true sense of accomplishment. I’d like you to be present as a witness, Franz-san, so I’m telling you about it beforehand.”

“What exactly will it be…?”

“I believe you have learned the spell ‘Conversation with Evil Spirits,’ Franz-san.”

“Ah, yes. The one you taught me, President.”

I’ve learned quite a few dark magic spells that have almost no practical use, and that was one of them. Actually, with that, I pretty much knew what she was planning.

“You mean you’re going to make Aliénor talk to an evil spirit?”

“Precisely.”

President Kelkel’s tail wagged from side to side.

“In a deep part of the forest, about two hours from the Royal Capital, there’s an evil spirit that’s been causing mischief lately. What it does is make people lose their way or show them illusions where dirt looks like food. It’s trivial in a way, but it is a nuisance.”

“So she has to use dialogue to make it stop?”

“Yes. It’s at a level where there’s no danger to her life even if she fails. However, if a Dark Mage’s power is weak, they might get temporarily possessed. In short, they’ll be toyed with. If that happens, it is, of course, a failure. She’ll have to deal with evil spirits in her hometown too, so it’s not a meaningless job.”

Aliénor lives in a place called Morco Forest, after all.

“Understood.”

However, if it was just that, it wouldn’t be worth calling me in beforehand.

“Also, in the event that it doesn’t go well at all—”

President Kelkel’s eyes were still not smiling.

“Could you perhaps advise her, however subtly, that there might be other paths to make a living?”

That was a much harsher request than I expected.

“Are you saying she’s fired? No, she’s self-employed, so that doesn’t make sense…”

“Actually, this is a request from Aliénor-san’s parents—from their company.”

I felt like I was touching the harsh reality of society directly. “Their company” meant Aliénor’s parents. It’s a family business there.

“The results of the previous training were, of course, communicated to them. It seems they also felt that Aliénor-san might lack the talent. They said it’s painful to see their daughter become unhappy by practicing dark magic she isn’t suited for, just because it’s the family business.”

I had a very bad feeling. “Could it be that this mini-study abroad was actually meant to be Aliénor’s ‘final rites’…?”

“At the very least, I did not accept her with such a sentiment,” the President denied firmly. She’s a President who is a bundle of human compassion, after all.

“But… it is a fact that making a living as a self-employed person involves many more difficulties than working for a company. For example, even if your magical techniques are excellent, you won’t last if you lack the ability to negotiate with clients. You have to handle your own accounting. And if the work dries up, you go bankrupt.”

The President likely didn’t want to say these things. Her expression was somber.

“So, if it looks like she can’t do it, you want me to show her that there are other paths…”

“According to her parents, she said she wanted to open a restaurant when she was a child. Yet, at some point, she started saying she would inherit the family business, leading to where she is now.”

So that was why she was so good at cooking!

Should I say being a chef is a better fit for her? But I don’t know if that’s what she actually wants… Being good at something and wanting to do it are two different things…

“I’m sorry to ask something so difficult of you, but I thought it might be more effective coming from a peer like you, Franz-san…”

“I understand,” I said, looking into the President’s eyes. “But that’s only if she fails, right? If she succeeds, I’m going to tell her she has the aptitude and give her a push forward.”

“Yes. Of course. Please do.”

My talk with the President was over. Now, it all depends on whether Aliénor can show her true strength.