CH 21

「…What the hell is going on, why are you here?」

I stared at the fucking cat – Aldi – with a look of deep disgust on my face. Is it possible that he is trespassing?　……I can’t think of anything else. Okay, let’s pinch it out, let’s do that.

「Maa, don’t say that, Jirei. I’ve—been summoned, I’m a guest?」

「…Haa?」

I said as I grabbed the nape of Aldi’s neck and tried to pinch him out. What the hell is he talking about? No way.

「This suspicious cat is saying something like this…… Char, is it true?」

「Un! I asked Aidi-san to write a letter of recommendation for Jirei-kun! I’ve invited him as a surprise guest today!」

「…………….You’re lying, right?」

She said that with a smiling face and 100% good intentions. Oh, she’s serious.

「…Char, I’ll be back in a minute. I need to talk to this cat.」

I dragged Aldi to the next room and slammed the door behind me so Char wouldn’t hear.

「――Hey, what’s going on here, you fucking cat? Why am I supposed to take your recommendation and go to the magic competition? You have five seconds to give me a convincing reason. Five, four――」

「Wait a minute! I was asked by the lady!」

Aldi waved his hands in front of his face and pleaded his case.

「….Suppose Char asked you to do it. You know I’m not the kind of person who would want to do that, right?」

「N, no…. You used to be like that, but I wonder if that changed……」

「Don’t look away. You knew what you were doing.」

When I questioned him, Aldi averted his eyes and whistled in the opposite direction. It’s too deliberate.

…… Well, to be honest, I don’t mind participating in a magic competition. I’m interested in the prize, which is a magic tool, and the prize money is huge. I’m not complaining about that――

「…I knew it was a bad idea, no further talking! Cancel!」

「Fufu…. It’s too late, Jirei. I’ve already sent the letter of recommendation to the management association and got a ticket….! You’ll have to be quiet and work as an instructor at my school……!!」

Aldi smirked. I want to punch him so badly.

I have no complaints about my participation. But the problem…… is the (1) condition for entry.

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① A person who is a member of a designated organization, institution, or group and has received a recommendation.

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In this case, the situation is that I am a member of the Royal Magical Academy of Magical Arts, and I have been recommended by the headmaster of the school, Aldi Aoudas.

In other words, in order for me to compete, I must belong to the Magikos Magic Academy. But of course, I don’t belong to the academy.

They probably just made up some…… documents and applied as if I belonged to them. Normally I would have checked, but it was a direct recommendation from the head of the school. I’m sure they didn’t even question it.

「Well, it’s okay for a little while!　It’s not that many days until the magic tournament, so just give me a break until then!」

「…What are you really thinking?」

「I’d like to have you stay with us for the rest of my life and study your magic to the fullest.」

「I absolutely hate that.」

When I tried to walk away, telling Char that I wouldn’t be competing, he said, “Please!　Just for a minute!　Just for a minute!” Aldi clung to me.

I contort my face in disgust and try to pull him off. He’s saying it’s only for a little while, but that’s a lie. I already know how persistent he is.

……Thinking about it, the first time I met this guy was four years ago, when I came to Magico Smyrna.

I heard a rumor that an S-ranked magical beast had appeared in the nearby forest, and when I arrived I found Aldi being attacked by the monster.

I immediately used magic to instantly kill the monster and rescue him…… It seems that the monster I defeated was an S-rank magical beast.

Aldi said, “I’ve never seen magic like that!” “Become a teacher at my school!”, he asked me enthusiastically…… and of course, I refused.

I firmly refused to let Aldi chase me and walked away, and for a moment I thought he had given up.

However, what started the next day was a raging recruitment attack.

He’s been popping up everywhere I go, recruiting, sometimes using extras.

「Whoa! That brother of yours has the perfect face to be a lecturer at Magikos Magic Academy!」

Or,

「It’s a recommended meal set! ….Brother, are you by any chance a lecturer at Magikos Magic Academy? If not, you’d better be!」

I was no longer being recruited, but I was being harassed in a sticky manner.

Since then, this damn cat has become one of the people on my black list. Because he’s really persistent.

If I hadn’t been wearing full body armor, hiding my face, and using magic disguise to avoid detection, he would have chased me to the ends of the earth. You’ve got to be kidding me.

「――But, it’s good to see you here. ….You’ve been through a lot since then. Where have you been, really? I looked all over town for the red-haired guy and couldn’t find him….. I thought you were dead.」

Aldi smacks me with his soft paw and smiles happily.

Oh, by the way – I was wearing a red hair wig at that time, due to some circumstances.

I’m still using the Ring of Transfiguration to change my hair to red…… Doesn’t he know that I actually have black hair? Okay, I’m definitely not going to tell him.

「Anyway, I’m definitely not going to be a lecturer or anything troublesome like that so just cancel it.」

That’s all I said to Aldi and headed for Char’s place.

「…Maa, if Jirei says so, I don’t mind. But…. Can I really cancel it?」

Aldi smiles a bad grin as he leaves. ……What are you talking about?　It’s not a problem, he just needs to get down on his knees to the management association. There’s nothing wrong with that.

「Ah…. Jirei-kun! Did you finish talking to him?」

As soon as Char sees me, she gets up from the couch and rushes over to me, looking happy.

I smiled at Char,

「Ahh….. Char, about the magic tournament… Sorry, But I think I’m going to have to cancel my entry.」

I tell her. Then—

「……..Eh?」

Char froze, her face aghast.

And then she started to shed a few tears— Eh? Why??

「I’m sorry…. I didn’t think…. about you…. and did something selfish… I’m sorry, I’m really sorry…」

Char’s eyes trembled in agitation as she shed large tears. Wait a minute, wait a minute, what is this?

「Hey, Char? No, it’s not like you’re bothering me or anything, okay? I just didnt want to leave――」

「Yeah. I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to force you to do something you don’t want to do, Jirei-kun….」

「N, no….」

I tried to calm her down, but she just blamed herself and would not stop crying. Eventually, she started holding her knees. My heart was aching with pain.

「Jirei……..?」

Aldi popped me and put on a calm face. This guy!!

「……I, it was a lie! I’m just kidding, Char!! I’m actually going to compete!!!」

「…Eh? Ah, that was it! I thought I was really bothering you, Jirei-kun! Ehehe…. Thank goodness!」

Char looked deeply relieved, and her chest heaved with relief.

「Congratulations on your new position as an instructor! Welcome!」

「Ghhhh…. This fucking cat…..!」

「We should have a welcome party! Wouldn’t that be great?」

「A, aa…. I’m really happy. I want to make a ball right now and kick you off…..!」

In this way, my participation in the Magikosmia magic contest and my appointment as a lecturer at the magic academy were confirmed. I’m so happy (sarcasm).

I’m so happy that I’m going to…… beat up Aldi later, I promised myself. It’s no wonder he’s so happy to get his hands on me. Yeah, I can’t help it. I really have no choice. There’s no way around it.

…Sigh, I feel like I’ve been talking too much about my schedule lately… *sobbing while laughing*

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter and I’ll really try to get them out more frequently. I promise.