Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 246: The Last Wish

One Year Later

In the Garden of the Fritz Family

In a place where the scent of flowers tickled the nose, Trixie now surveyed the landscape meticulously as the head of the family.

“Winter has come around again.”

The season when the snow would soon start to fall had returned.

The flowers in the Fritz garden grew by absorbing mana as nutrients. Trixie had worked tirelessly so that the garden’s flowers could bloom even in this cold weather.

Even when the weather turned chilly, the people of the Fritz family never froze. On the contrary, they worked with even more vitality, like puppies playing in the snow.

A liveliness that would have been unimaginable in the past.

Something small, yet so grand: happiness.

“I wonder if Fritz is quite happy now.”

Buried in a pile of happiness, Trixie reminisced about the past. It was about three years ago in terms of dates.

“I was young.”

Back then, she had truly believed she was all grown up, but now, looking back, she realized how young she had been. A young person who believed herself to be very mature.

Well… she had always tried to confine herself to the frame of being mature and aimed to be an adult, which is why she was where she was now.

“Honestly, I wanted to attend the academy longer.”

Graduating from the academy.

In fact, Trixie hadn’t wanted to graduate from the academy. Looking back on her life, the academy had been where the most significant changes occurred.

If she had stayed at the academy, she could have spent more time with that man. The very man who had now become the dean of the academy.

Anyway, where were the maids?

Although she could see the servants working, none of the head maids or the main maids were in sight. Trixie made her way inside the mansion.

They were neither here nor there.

Finally, she reached the pantry.

“…?”

“Oh, it’s the lady!”

The maids, who hadn’t expected Trixie to appear, reacted with surprise as they gathered and whispered among themselves.

For some reason, none of the maids could meet Trixie’s gaze, causing her to furrow her brows unconsciously.

“What is this? What’s going on?”

“Ah, hello, mistress.”

“Why are you all gathered here?”

The head maid seemed at a loss.

Recently, not just the head maid but many of the maids had been avoiding Trixie.

The head maid, unsure of what to do, finally spoke up.

“You startled me… Do you need something in the pantry?”

However, perhaps thinking she couldn’t escape Trixie’s gaze, the head maid sighed deeply.

“Yes. Of course… We were having a meeting about an important matter.”

“How many days have you been investing in this meeting?”

In the Fritz estate, meetings rarely lasted more than two days. Everyone here knew well which direction the family should head.

Trixie listened to the head maid’s story for a while.

“…You were looking for an opponent? What kind of opponent?”

Because the story was so unexpected, Trixie tilted her head unconsciously.

### Managing the Family’s Wealth or Discussing Land Use

I thought they were talking about managing the family’s wealth or discussing how to utilize certain lands… but the maids’ topic was completely out of the blue.

“So, this partner.”

The head maid cautiously unrolled something. As Trixie picked it up, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

“…A marriage contract?”

“Yes. It’s a marriage contract.”

As Trixie looked at the head maid in disbelief, the head maid hurriedly began to explain, almost as if making excuses.

“No, no! Mistress! Please don’t look at us like that.”

“What?”

“In the end, there’s no magic that allows eternal life, right? But even if people die, the will of Fritz must continue! Isn’t that so?”

“Well, that’s true.”

The maids smiled contentedly at Trixie’s words.

“Yes, exactly. That’s why marriage is absolutely necessary.”

The maids were as diligent and kind as ever. But lately, they seemed to be acting as if they thought of Trixie like a daughter, becoming increasingly affectionate.

“Anyway, mistress, you need to start considering it seriously.”

“I am considering it.”

Trixie gave a perfunctory answer and dismissed the maids. For some reason, they left with pleased smiles on their faces.

“Ugh.”

With a deep sigh, Trixie was about to stash the marriage contract into a drawer. At that moment, she found herself lost in thought about whom she should marry if she ever did.

Returning to her room, she blankly stared at a glove hanging on the wall.

“…Huh.”

A contented smile unknowingly escaped her lips. Memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

No matter what happened, the fact that ‘Teacher’ had guided her to this point did not change. Yes, it was Flan.

Trixie felt a warmth in a corner of her heart. Unlike her own blue flame that engulfed everything, this flame had a gentle warmth that heated her gently.

In the end, she nodded.

“As expected.”

If she were to marry, there was only one person.

◈

### The Dean’s Office at Märchen Academy

In the previous world, the highest rank of a magician was called ‘Märchen.’ And by some coincidence, I was now the dean of Märchen Academy.

In this space, decorated entirely to my liking, I was indulging in reading more comfortably than ever.

There’s always a variety of things to read. Newspapers, books, letters, gifts from others…

Swish— Swish—

In one corner of the space, documents automatically inked themselves and organized themselves. This was the ‘automation’ system devised by Becky, who had nearly died from overwork.

[Scarlet Judith]

[Flan, how have you been?

Thanks to you, I am also doing well.

I think of you every moment I swing my sword.

The simple act of being able to wield my sword is the greatest happiness for me, and it’s entirely thanks to you that I’ve learned this immense happiness.

So… I am still happy.

Thanks to you.]

“The knight, her writing skills have improved.”

### Other Letters

I usually don’t read other letters immediately, or I read them late, but I often read Scarlet’s letters.

Even though she lost one arm, her swordsmanship has actually improved. It seems she has awakened a new unique ability, and the public is now pointing to Scarlet as the next hero.

[Scarlet Judith, a Prominent Hero Candidate. Will the Judith Family Produce the Next Hero?]

Thanks to this, the headlines in recent newspapers are all like this. Well, since it’s not a bad story, I don’t have to worry about it.

I put on my coat and left the dean’s office.

It was a chilly but nice day. The temperature was low, but the wind wasn’t strong, and occasionally, pure white snowflakes fell from the sky.

It was a truly beautiful day.

Bzzz— Bzzz—

The trinket in my pocket vibrated loudly. It was undoubtedly Becky urging me. She is diligent in her duties as a secretary.

Anyway, today, after a year, we all had a promise to meet and have a meal together. I hurried my steps.

### The Top Floor of the Magic Tower

To some, just entering this revered space is a dream.

Louis, Ivan, Trixie, Conette, Maiev, Violet, Becky… there were so many familiar and welcome faces.

“Hey! Flan! Hurry up!”

Becky raised her hand and shouted. It seemed they hadn’t touched the cake yet because I hadn’t arrived.

As I stood in front of the cake, Becky exclaimed.

“Alright, everyone! Today marks the first anniversary of our new dean’s inauguration! Enjoy!”

At that moment, the world turned black and white.

Time stopped.

In the frozen world, a familiar figure suddenly appeared.

“Flan.”

A figure in a suit but with a blank face.

“You are…”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s been a long time.”

It was the one who had sent me to this world.

He shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“I am impressed and moved. You have truly proven your abilities in this world!”

Before I could react, he hurriedly continued. The calmness he had before was gone, and he was very excited.

“As a reward, I will grant you a wish! Any wish is fine! You can create or destroy a world. Just say the word!”

“…”

I blinked a couple of times, thinking. I looked around, recalling my thoughts.

Everyone was smiling peacefully, their smiles falling like snowflakes.

“Hmm.”

Watching them happier than ever, I thought.

And coming to a conclusion wasn’t difficult.

“I wish for them to be happy.”

“Is that really all?”

“Yes.”

“Wish accepted. However…”

Time, which had been stopped, began to flow again.

Colors returned to the world.

Everyone’s eyes turned to me.

They all shouted in unison.

“Flan─!”

And I heard a whisper from the figure who had vanished.

“…That wish has already been granted.”

This is a story that holds a brief testament of mine.