21 - 30

Outside the Academy #3

Cheolkeok!

Theodore closed the door to Professor Vince's laboratory and headed back to his dorm room.

There was no need to rush, but he wanted to feed Gluttony the 'original' as soon as possible. Maybe a special phenomenon would happen, like when he received Alfred's memories through [Ballistics Magic].

'It should be time for Gluttony to wake up.'

He lined up the books on the bed and waited for his sleeping partner to wake up. How long did he wait until…?

-…H-Hungry. Come, feed me.

The hungry Gluttony finally opened its mouth.

[Gluttony has awoken from its sleep and is complaining about an empty stomach.]

[The regular meals have reduced his hunger a lot. There is more room to choose its food. Gluttony will answer one question after eating one book and will immediately fall asleep after eating two books. The remaining time is 1 hour.]

Theo's expression changed subtly as he listened to the guide voice.

After eating 'Roaring Flames' and reaching the E rank, Gluttony's hunger had reduced. The quota of one or two books a day was much lower compared to the five books it had required after waking up for the first time.

Theo might have welcomed the change during his days of secret eating the library books, but that wasn't the case anymore.

'If this is the case, won't I have to be more selective about the books…? Once more seals are released, it might wake up every few days instead of once a day.'

Or it might only want to eat Rare grade magic books as its food…

A magician should always calculate all the possibilities to get the best results. Theodore worried about how Gluttony's changes would affect him and decided to discuss it with Professor Vince next time.

Today, he would focus on [Introduction to Elemental Magic]. Theo shook his head and spread open his palm.

"Come out, eat."

At those words, the tongue stretched out towards the two books on the quilt. As if it wanted to eat the appetizer before the main meal, the tongue started from [Understanding of Healing Magic] which was next to [Introduction to Elemental Magic].

['Understanding of Healing Magic' has been consumed. Your understanding is very high.]

[Proficiency with the 2nd Circle magic 'Cure' has increased. You can heal wounds efficiently.]

A cool breeze blew through his head, and a soft sensation seemed to permeate through him. Theo understood how to use magic on the blood vessels, muscles, and bones. He knew the tricks and tips which magicians at healing clinics used. Now, he could attach sliced off fingers back on.

However, Gluttony didn't end there. Next was today's main dish; [Introduction to Elemental Magic] was sucked into Theo's left hand.

Gulp!

Theo couldn't help gulping along with Gluttony.

[Introduction to Elemental Magic' has been consumed. Your understanding is very high.]

[Your proficiency in elemental magic has increased significantly.]

[An original book has been consumed. Promoting a connection to Myrdal Herseim… success. Myrdal Herseim has accepted the connection with the user.]

[Connect is starting.]

That's it! Theo formed a fist when he heard 'Connect'. Last time, he had heard the word 'Synchro'. This time, a new word had popped out. Theo wondered what the difference was. However, there was no time to think about this question.

Kiiiiing-

"Ack!"

Despite his determination, the sharp sound gouged at his head.

There was a feeling of uncertainty, as if his spirit had left his body and was being lifted into the air. He was aware that it was futile to resist, but the fear of looking into the abyss aroused his reluctance.

Was this the feeling of taking a carriage to a marriage meeting?

'D-Damn…'

Theodore's pointless resistance ended, and his consciousness fell into the abyss.

Myrdal Herseim was waiting for him.

* * *

Fresh grass, moist air, and a sweet scent…

The warm wind tickled his skin, and he was lying on a bed which felt like it was made of cobwebs. Theodore, who was enjoying the coziness, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Ah!" Theo got up with a startled expression.

The hammock, tied between two trees, swung roughly, but it turned out fine. A moment ago, he had been on the bed of his dormitory, and now, he was in a place like this. The only possible reason for this was that Gluttony had eaten the [Introduction to Elemental Magic].

Theo looked down and saw that he was in his own body.

'This time, my body hasn't changed. Is it different from last time?'

It wasn't Synchro but Connect. He didn't understand the meaning, but the two words seemed to trigger different phenomenons.

Synchro was assimilation, while Connect was connecting to something. Theo decided to think about the two words in that sense.

It was at this moment that…

"Ah, you are a noisy child."

A decrepit voice filled with the weight of years spoke out from behind him. Theo looked back hurriedly.

There was an old man with a white beard and long hair. The moment he tried to speak, Theodore realized there was something strange. His eyes widened, but his body didn't move.

'W-What? Why don't I have a voice?

His body became stiff the moment he met the old man's gaze. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move even a finger. How could the eyes of the old man exert this type of binding force when he didn't give off any pressure?

The confused Theo continued staring into the old man's eyes, and he soon realized the reason why.

–Your presence is lacking in front of this grandeur.

The white hair of the old man was like an ice-capped mountain peak, while the shabby body reminded him of the greatest mountain range on the continent. His eyes were clear as the sea and seemed to see right through Theo.

'T-This person, is he a human…?!'

A magnificent mountain in the shape of a man seemed to be before him. The huge presence was like a weight on Theo's shoulders.

There was no doubt about the man's identity. He was the greatest elementalist of the century, Myrdal Herseim. With a pure lineage, the one who opened the door to the elemental world…

He was a genius who would've reached the ultimate nirvana if he had lived longer and succeeded in calling an elemental king.

"Hrmm… Let me look at you, " he said in a low voice as his eyes became sunken.

Myrdal's blue eyes pierced through Theodore Miller. It was with the perception and wisdom that he had acquired as a magician. The eyes of the old man, who had reached the peak in both fields, gazed into Theo's essence.

Elementals wouldn't open their hearts to the impure or the false. They only reached out to sincere people. Inevitably, the eyes of an elementalist looked closely at this essence.

After looking at Theodore for a long time, Myrdal opened his mouth. "You don't know how to burn like fire. You avoid burning yourself and don't enjoy reckless challenges. A fire elemental would not go well with you."

It made a lot of sense. Theo was a magician who moved with a cold head rather than a hot heart. As Theo grew as a magician, he didn't have a fire-like nature as he'd tried to suppress all impulsive behaviour.

"You're not free like the wind. You are strict on yourself and hate acting without purpose. The wind spirits won't feel any interest towards you."

Myrdal saw it correctly. Theodore had always condemned his talent and worked hard to overcome it. Every act which wasted time was a sin, so relaxing was regarded as laziness.

"You're not as flexible as water. You have defined your life and will move along the set course. That rigidity is certainly wonderful, but the water elementals who always change shape won't welcome such a person."

This too made a lot of sense.

Theo had walked the path of a magician until the end, even when he was mocked and told to give up. Instead of acknowledging his insufficiency, he added more effort. Despite knowing that it was pointless, he couldn't give up on such a life.

'Are you saying that I'm wrong? Is it wrong to not be as hot as fire, as free as the wind, or as flexible as water?'

Theo, who was rejected by three types of elementals, bit his lip with a bitter expression. That bitterness… it was like protesting that he did have talent.

However, Myrdal wasn't finished.

"But you know how to persevere. No matter how large a rock is, it will someday become sand. The rock has to endure hot lava and have its rough surface smoothed by rain. Fire, wind, and water. Nothing can shake that perseverance."

Then Myrdal's mouth, half-obscured by the white beard, rose upwards in a smile. He tapped the floor with the staff in his hand, while Theo was still immobile.

"I will call the elemental that is suitable for your stupid honesty!"

Simultaneously, a bright glow emerged from the end of his staff and brightened the surroundings. Theo blinked unintentionally because of the light, then tears started welling up in his eyes.

'A young child…?'

The shape of a young child was vaguely visible. It was at least the size of an adult's palm…?

A small child made of clay floated in the light toward him. Then it hit its head lightly against Theodore's forehead.

"Hahaha! That child likes you! The child's name is Mitra, a forgotten ancient elemental."

Myrdal's voice was getting further away. Was the connection with him ending? Myrdal's voice became increasingly faint as Theo's consciousness faded. Only the tiny dot of soil on his forehead became clearer.

The earth elemental, Mitra…

As the strange bond formed with Theo, his consciousness returned to reality.

[The connection with Myrdal Herseim has been terminated.]

[You have formed a contract with the forgotten earth elemental, 'Mitra.']

[Affinity to earth has increased significantly.]

[Gluttony is satisfied with the food it has consumed. Having fed it two books, it falls back into a deep sleep.]

TL Note: I checked the comments on chapter 20 in the raw and apparently there was a part that ended up missing when the author posted the chapter and he couldn't fix it.

Anyway, it is basically about the how duplicate magic couldn't be used on another duplicate. Here is the part that is missing:

"Then wouldn't the original have to be kept separately?"

"It is enough to make a physical copy of the duplicate and then use duplication magic on that copy."

But in that case, it won't have the abilities of the 'original'. It would have the same affect as a copy.

The author also stated that the original and second physical copy can be distinguished because a mark if left when doing this. If any illegal copying takes place without the mark being left, those caught will be severely punished.

Outside the Academy #4

Three days later, Theodore stood by the gates of Bergen Academy in the early morning.

Instead of his normal uniform, he wore casual clothing and carried a few large pieces of luggage on his back. If he hadn't exercised for two months, he wouldn't have been able to take even a few steps.

'H-Heavy! I only brought what I needed, but this is still…'

Theo only brought his clothes and daily necessities. Despite that, his backpacks were thick and bulging.

In order to reach Mana-vil from Bergen, it was said to take 14 days, with 10 days being the fastest. In that time, he had to deliver between 15 to 30 books to Gluttony. If he had known this, he would have learned how to enchant objects with a weight reduction spell. However, he had previously decided to postpone it due to a lack of comprehension.

'Do I have to ask the professor again?'

Theo dropped his luggage and massaged his stiff shoulders.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had a lot more to do than I thought."

Professor Vince showed up in casual clothes he rarely wore. It seemed like the procedure to participate in the magic contest was quite complicated. In the recent days, even Theodore had found it difficult to meet him.

Vince wiped the sweat off his brow and looked at the luggage Theo had put down.

"I forgot to tell you something since I've been so deluged with things."

"What do you mean?"

"It is better to show you directly, rather than talk with my mouth."

Then Vince took out something.

'A pouch…?'

It looked like a pouch made of shabby leather. Vince aimed the opening at Theo's baggage and muttered a word, "Storage!"

Simultaneously, the entrance of the pouch widened, and there was a strange suction.

Strangely, the suction didn't touch the air or the other objects. It just sucked up the designated target—Theo's luggage. The scene of a backpack 10 times the size of the pouch it was being sucked into… just didn't seem real.

Theo was amazed as he grasped the identity of the pouch, "Space pocket!"

As Vince put the space pocket away, he agreed, "This item is famous in many ways. It is also convenient." Indeed, if there was a space pocket, then he didn't need to carry his baggage around like Theodore. It was a high grade artifact which could carry as much things as possible.

'What is the rating of that space pocket?' Theo wanted to ask but postponed it as Vince walked ahead.

"Time is a little tight. We can talk while moving."

"I understand."

The two walked through the main gates and headed towards the city at a fast pace. At first, they walked silently, but then Vince, who was a few steps ahead, turned back and asked, "Theodore, can you show me the elemental that you made a contract with?"

An ancient elemental… Vince majored in archaeology, so he would naturally find it attractive. He couldn't hide the overwhelming curiosity in his eyes. This was an incurable disease for a magician. The usual coldness was gone from his eyes, leaving him with bright eyes like those of a child's.

Theodore laughed lightly and talked to the girl inside him, 'Mitra.' The sleeping girl opened her eyes at his call.

"Ohh…!" A cry of admiration emerged from Vince's mouth.

It was because the lump of dirt at Theo's feet had changed into the shape of a little girl. Her eyes and nose were vague. However, a general spirit could barely take the image of a beast, let alone a human. This was only possible for upper ranked elementals.

Yet the elemental, Mitra, became a human figure as soon as she'd made a contract with Theo.

"Is it possible to talk with her?" Vince asked in a trembling voice.

If it was possible to communicate, then Mitra's potential was almost the same as an elemental king. However, Theo shook his head with a regretful expression. "I've tried talking to her."

Mitra felt Theo's gaze and said, [Huing?]

It sounded like the cry of a puppy.

"I can only hear this sound."

"Do you know what it means?"

"Well… it is a little subtle."

Theo focused on the feeling which was being passed to him from Mitra. The contract with the elemental was a connection of their souls. It was a simple matter to read each other's surface thoughts, but the situation would be overwhelming if the elemental was more mature.

However, Theodore soon opened his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"It feels like I am dealing with a child who doesn't know how to speak yet. There are only simple words like good, no, I don't understand."

"But communication itself is possible. Very interesting."

Unlike Theo, Vince's eyes shone. It was different from the intermediate and low grade elementals who only passively followed their contractor's will. Vince gave advice to Theo, who was holding Mitra in his arms, "Call her often to talk. An ancient elemental is an individual spirit, so the exchanges it has with its contractor is a great way to grow."

"She just whined about being called continuously."

"Hoh, there is already a self-consciousness!"

Vince was amazed again and eventually wrote down things about Mitra in his notebook.

There were a few more things he would like to ask. Where would he get a more interesting study material? Talking to Theo for a few days was much more beneficial than years of research at Bergen Academy.

A big smile, which didn't seem to suit Vince, was on Vince's face thanks to his disciple.

"Professor, do you mind if I ask you one thing?"

This time, Theo had a question. He waited until Vince finished writing in the notebook and asked, "How are we getting to Mana-vil? I know that the current transportation arrangements won't work."

The west side of Bergen contained the mountain range and toward the north was the Moya River. Thanks to this, invasion from other lands could be avoided easily. However, the journey to Mana-vil, to the northwest of Bergen, would be compromised in several ways.

On the assumption that the horse-drawn carriage didn't rest, it could take anywhere between 10 days to a month. In order to participate in the magic contest, they had to arrive in 10 days.

"Well, don't worry about that. I thought about it in advance."

However, Vince smiled leisurely and kept moving.

"There are many people leaving for Mana-vil Capital during this time. Tourists, magicians, foreigners from another kingdom… Do you know who values this period of time the most?"

Theo was puzzled by the unexpected question, but he soon reached the answer that Vince wanted. "…Merchants?"

"That is correct. The number of people will be 10 times more than usual, and there will be magicians with thick wallets. Merchants who can smell money won't miss such an opportunity. They will try to get as much profit as possible."

It was no exception for the merchants of Bergen. They ended up creating a new path through the mountain range in order to shorten the travel time. Vince was thinking of using that.

"I've used it a few times in the past. It is rare for individuals to use that path, and normally only upper ranked companies can enter. There are several monster dens, and it is also haunted by bandits."

"I guess it is fast enough to accept that risk.

"As I recall, it took me around a week. Compared to conventional travel methods, it is twice as fast."

Merchants, who realized the idea that time was money, couldn't ignore such a path.

A simple calculation was that double the speed equaled double the profit. Threats such as monsters and bandits were easily taken care of by hiring mercenaries to escort them. The money earned was greater than what they paid, so the upper-ranked companies almost always took this path.

Theo saw a procession in the distance. Their destination must be Mana-vil because he counted close to 30 wagons. There were also at least 100 mercenaries resting nearby.

Then the moment when the two people approached the procession…

"Oh! You came!" A middle-aged man in a tunic suddenly popped out of the procession. He was a big figure in the company, but his attitude was like a peasant who hadn't seen a noble before. The man bowed toward Vince, who looked impassive as usual.

"There is no better luck than having Professor join us!"

"I should be thanking you, Boss Gordon."

"Hahaha, you can relax! By the way, is this your disciple?"

As Vince nodded, Gordon grabbed a merchant passing by and gave him instructions.

"Prepare a carriage and bring it here. These two are precious guests and shouldn't be disrespected."

"Yes, I understand!"

Looking at his attitude, Theo realized the reason for the hospitality—5th Circle master, Vince Haidel.

In other words, Vince's presence was equivalent to 100 or more mercenaries. Being a powerful magician in itself was a precious identity…

And Theodore Miller would be one as well.

Night in the Nadun Mountain Ranges #1

Not long after the two people joined, the massive procession began to move. The sight of 30 wagons and a few hundred people moving together was really spectacular. Dust rose up from the earth like a cloud, accompanied by the sound of mercenaries marching.

"Then I will be going now. If you need anything, please look for me straight away. I'll come running immediately."

"Thanks for your consideration."

"Haha, no problem. Please relax!"

Gordon maintained the respectful attitude until the end as he bowed and then moved to the front of the procession. He was a model example of a reputable merchant who refrained from extreme flattery. Even though Theo was wary and vigilant against other people, Gordon left a good impression on him.

Vince stroked his seat a few times and nodded.

'…A good carriage. He is resourceful to be capable of preparing such a carriage in advance. After a few years, Gordon may become a key figure in this company.'

The carriage Gordon offered to the two men was one which would only be arranged for VIP guests.

It hardly shook while travelling on the steep mountain trail, and the blanketed floor gave off a soft warmth. Additionally, the curtains hanging over the elaborately carved windows were able to give some shade. It was just like a travelling inn room.

'I didn't think I would be able to see the Nadun Mountain Ranges in this way…'

As they left the academy, Theodore looked out the window with a feeling of excitement.

The people of Meltor Kingdom knew the harshness of the Nadun Mountain Ranges. It was a land where numerous groups of monsters fought. In the deepest parts of the mountains, there were many dangerous things which would cause even famous adventurers to die.

This massive procession was merely passing through the outskirts, never going near the depths.

However, Theo's interest soon faded.

'Apart from the thickness of the vegetation, it is just a normal mountain.'

All types of strange creatures grew in the depths. There were no such things in the outskirts where the massive procession was moving.

He lost interest in the procession and watched the spectacular sight of the mercenaries climbing up the mountain for a bit. There was nothing much for Theo to see, so he soon turned his attention to something else again.

"Mitra."

The girl answered his call like she had been waiting.

[Huing!]

It seemed like she was in a good mood. Mitra loved all the soil around her as she spun round and round! She ran around every corner of the carriage. Theo laughed as he watched her and extended a finger unconsciously.

[Huung.]

Mitra clung to his finger. The moist texture of the soil was unpleasant, but her behaviour was so cute that he left it alone. As his right hand gently stroked her head, she swung herself on his finger. He doubted if this would be helpful like Professor Vince said, but at least he wouldn't be bored.

Thus, Theodore took the time to play with Mitra while the carriage headed to Mana-vil.

* * *

In the end, the procession didn't encounter any obstacles and the sky gradually turned dim. The people, who had climbed the steep mountain trail all day, took out pots and dishes to make dinner, pushing away the cool evening breeze with a campfire.

Thanks to Vince, Theo was also treated as a VIP and was able to eat stew and a few pieces of soft bread.

'Isn't it quite a treat for eating outside? Indeed, merchants won't go around chewing on things like dried sardines.'

Eating was one of the most important things on a long distance trip. Even if the purpose was nutrition, a meal which didn't have a minimum of taste would just disturb the people's minds and bodies.

A warm and delicious meal didn't just alleviate physical fatigue but mental fatigue as well. The group which realized this faster than anyone else and devised a solution was a high-ranked company.

After finishing the satisfactory meal, Theo looked at the head of the procession and muttered, "Hoo, I feel sorry that I am more comfortable than the professor."

Vince had gone to install alarm magic near the campsite after his meal. It was also possible for Theo, but the reliability of a 5th Circle alarm compared to a 3rd Circle alarm was like the difference between heaven and earth. The practical effect would differ significantly depending on the level.

As a result, Theo was left alone with nothing to do.

'Well, it isn't necessary for me to do anything.'

Rather than returning to the boring carriage, he called Mitra and set her down on the ground.

Mitra cocked her head hesitantly for a moment, before sitting down and using her hands to play with the dirt. The soil touched by her hand became soft or hard and turned into her desired shape. This was possible because Mitra was an earth elemental. Mitra had just completed the fifth of her small earth carriages when…

'-Uh?!' A cold chill ran down the back of Theo's neck suddenly.

"Detect Evil!" It was a magic to detect enemies.

A magician of the 3rd Circle could detect enemies up to 50 meters away. So, with Theo at the center, a wave of magic power spread out over 50 meters. Theo ignored the confusion of mercenaries around him and focused on analyzing the results of the magic wave.

'…It didn��t catch anything? That is impossible!'

Alfred's perception was still predicting the approach of enemies. He couldn't tell where it was coming from, but the chill which hit his neck was freezing. It was proof that a threat was approaching.

Theo thought about where he'd gone wrong. Detect Evil was a magic which sensed the enemy on the surface. Even if an enemy magician neutralized the magic, it couldn't hide the fact that someone existed.

'No, wait a minute.'

"It can't be…!"

Theo's eyes fell to the ground where Mitra was playing.

"Mitra! Go into the ground!"

[Hoing!]

As soon as he gave the order, Mitra instantly plunged into the ground. While she sank into the ground like it was water, she showed Theo the landscape under the ground. The connection of their souls was a strong bond, so it wasn't hard to share audio and visual.

Theo's and Mitra's vision captured the enemy.

'Hobgoblins?!'

Creatures with dark blue skin and ugly faces were coming up through a tunnel in the ground. The axes in their hands indicated that they weren't friendly. The headcount was approximately 20-30 enemies. It was a force which could do considerable damage if they did a surprise attack in the rear.

"Professor, I have to tell Professor Vince…!"

Theodore reflexively turned his gaze and saw a scene of flames rising in the front of the procession.

Kwaang!

There was an intense wave of magic power! This was a spell which was possible for 5th Circle magicians. The head of the procession was probably also being attacked by enemies. In this situation, it might cause unnecessary confusion for Theo to try and contact Vince now. Additionally, there was no time left.

The hobgoblins in the tunnel were 5 meters below the surface. The time remaining was less than 15 seconds. Theo only had one option remaining.

'I have to respond on my own!'

Preparing his mind, Theodore took deep breaths and shouted like he had never done before, "O-h-h-h-h!!"

He hadn't enhanced his voice with magic, but the desperate yell was enough to reach the mercenaries near him.

"W-W-What?!"

"Ooh, what a surprise!"

"What is that kid suddenly doing?"

However, Theo just dropped his palm near the ground where the hobgoblins were coming up. Now, it was 4 meters—no, 3 meters. If he didn't adjust his timing properly, chances were that he would fail. Nevertheless, Theo didn't worry that he would fail. Instead, he concentrated on using elemental magic through Mitra.

'Right now!'

"[Turn into mud!]"

The advantage of elemental magic was that he didn't need a magic formula; he just needed a clear image to get results. After accepting Theo's power, Mitra naturally transformed the surrounding area into mud. This was a disaster for the hobgoblins about to come out of the tunnel.

Kurruk? Kwieeeek!

Kwuaaack!

Kyaak! Kuwaaaack!

Some of them slammed their heads into the mud, while others got their waists stuck, and some hobgoblins only managed to get their heads out. However, all the hobgoblins stuck in the mud were furious.

That said, Theodore wasn't done.

"[Stiff like a stone!]"

His magic power swept the ground once again, and the mud solidified. It was just a temporary phenomenon, but the power was great. The hobgoblins screamed as the ground hardened into a grey clay, and they became stuck. The ones who were hardened at the top slumped down.

Theo wiped the sweat off his face and shouted at the mercenaries standing around him, "What are you doing? Kill them now!"

"A-Ah!"

"What is going on?"

They lived on the battlefield, so they soon realized the situation. It was currently a good opportunity. The hobgoblins, which had their heads or upper bodies exposed, were killed, just like crops being harvested. Halberds broke the hobgoblins' heads, while others were smashed to death.

In an instant, the 30 hobgoblins from the tunnel had been wiped out. However, the chill Theo felt hadn't disappeared yet.

Pew pew puet—

If it wasn't for his extreme concentration, he wouldn't have noticed the sound. Theo turned in the direction of the sound and saw something familiar.

'Arrows!'

The hobgoblins were monsters who used tools like humans and also attacked tactically. If Theo hadn't responded to the ambush, then many mercenaries would've died from the previous attack. This was why hobgoblins were troublesome and dangerous monsters. They stole loot from humans and used them to attack humans.

In his head, he recalled Alfred's memories.

–The speed is normal, with a wooden shaft and metal tip.

If this was the case, the arrows could be stopped without much difficulty. Together with that intuition, Theo instantly created a wide area wind barrier. There was no need to stop it with armor.

He just needed to affect the trajectory to kill the power of the arrows. After encountering a headwind, the power of the projectiles would fall by half.

"Aerial Defender!"

The evening breeze passing by lent a hand. Strong winds were helpful in this situation. Just a slight change in direction could reduce the threat of the arrow. The arrows affected by the headwind eventually fell to the ground before they reached the procession.

Theo was satisfied with the results, but his eyes narrowed as he gazed in the direction of the arrows.

'…They are coming.'

The hobgoblins, hiding in the shadows, started to move after knowing that two ambushes had failed. In the darkness beyond the campfire, eerie shrieks and red eyes could be seen.

During the night in the Nadun Mountain Ranges, a full-fledged battle began.

Night in the Nadun Mountain Ranges #2

Meanwhile, at the head of the procession, an entirely different scene was unfolding.

The number of hobgoblins at the front was incomparable to the those at the rear. It was difficult to measure the number of hobgoblins appearing in the darkness, and they charged forward while equipped with armour and weapons.

Kuwaaaack!

Kieeek! Kiyaaak!

Around 10 minutes after that…

Pasak!

Vince stepped on a lump of charcoal at his feet with a cold expression. Few traces were left of the hobgoblins who had just been attacking. The only thing left behind was the melted metal from their armor.

The imposing figure of one man was standing over the traces. There were over 100 traces struck together, which meant at least 100 hobgoblins had been killed in 10 minutes.

'T-This is a 5th Circle master…!'

Gordon's eyes were wide with astonishment as he looked at Vince.

He'd thought he understood the significance of the existence of a magician, but the scene Vince had just showed was much more than he had ever imagined. Gordon clearly realized why it wasn't knights but magicians who were said to dominate the battlefield.

Above all else, the fearsome thing wasn't the horror created by the flames.

"How trivial."

The magician who had turned 100 hobgoblins into chunks of charcoal was the terrifying thing.

Even though they were hobgoblins and not people, Vince had casually burned 100 of them to death. Thanks to that, Vince and the others had survived, but the mercenaries couldn't help gulping with expressions which didn't hide their horror.

No, in a way, this was Vince's essence.

He had the image of a good teacher at the academy, but the number of humans which Vince had killed on the battlefield couldn't be counted. The power of a 5th Circle war magician, especially a fire war magician, was literally at the level of a siege weapon. Over the decades of his life, Vince had killed more than 100 people in one battle.

At one time, he had been called, 'Destruction by Fire' or 'Fire Killer Vince.'

"Gordon."

"Huh? Ah, ah, yes!" Gordon was surprised at the sudden call and barely replied.

"Send some people to the rear. Perhaps the hobgoblins also hit that area. It looks like they have responded properly, but there might be more than one commander."

Vince wanted to go to the rear, but if he left his current location, the whole front lines would be in danger.

The hobgoblins had already been defeated, but there was still the commander. If Vince left without finishing off the commander, he would be leaving behind deadly consequences. The defeated hobgoblins would evolve into more cunning and vicious enemies.

Standing there was a hobgoblin shaman holding a staff.

"…Is it an artifact?"

It was a wooden staff with a purple crystal embedded in it. Despite the coarse workmanship, the level of magic power coming from it was significant. Perhaps the staff was what allowed the hobgoblin to withstand his fire.

Vince hadn't expected to find such a good gift in this place.

"I guess I better hurry."

He could feel that the waves of magic power in the rear were becoming more intense. The sound of metal screaming didn't stop. If a commander-level enemy appeared in the rear, then Theodore would suffer.

Vince let go of the force which had been restrained due to the surrounding people.

Clack!

As soon as his fingers moved, a terrible fire pillar emerged from the ground.

* * *

The flames at the front were so warm that they could even be felt in the rear. Of course, it was possible that Theo was deluding himself, but it was still a spectacular scene.

Theo, who had just aimed a Fire Bolt at a hobgoblin's head, looked at the front.

"Wah, it seems like a real mess is happening over there."

Fire-based magic was considered to be the best in a large army. The shockwaves generated by the explosion would burst the intestines of those who came in direct contact with it, while the aftermath of the flames and high heat would damage the lungs.

If a Fireball from the 3rd Circle was that powerful, there was no need to talk about the 4th or 5th Circle.

'Blaze Shell… no, Flare Burst. If I was right next to the professor, then I would be roasted right now.'

Theo clicked his tongue and fired a Lightning Bolt at a hobgoblin who was preparing to attack the back of a mercenary. The hobgoblin was hit by the lightning bolt and twitched before falling to the ground. For enemies which were creatures, lightning magic was extremely effective. Theo realized it again as he used his magic power.

'However, Lightning Bolt consumes too much magic power. I can't use a Fireball in this situation where it is a melee.'

He didn't have enough magic power to keep using single-attack spells, while there was a possibility that his allies might be affected if he used a wide-area spell. Inexperienced battle magicians often didn't know how to act in this situation, but Theo moved without much hesitation.

If it was a melee, he would take advantage of it.

"Shock Bolt," as Theo spoke in a loud voice, eight lightning arrows appeared.

Their strength was far less than Lightning Bolt, making it hard to even catch a rat. It was a magic which students forgot about after learning it.

However, this was enough.

Paijijik!

The eight Shock Bolts aimed towards the hobgoblins. The magic was slower than natural lightning, but it was at a speed which the hobgoblins couldn't avoid. Additionally, they were holding swords which attracted the lightning.

Kiruruk?!

Kiyaaak?

Static rose all over the bodies of the hobgoblins. An electrocuted body would temporarily lose control, with pain and instincts momentarily paralyzed. Of course, it was only for a few seconds, but that was enough.

"What? Why did I get a bruise all of a sudden?"

"Get lost!"

It created a gap for the mercenaries fighting them. The hobgoblins, who suddenly stopped moving, had their heads cut off or necks sliced, and fell to the ground.

Some of the mercenaries knew it was due to Theo's help and raised their thumbs. Theo also gave a thumbs up and used Mitra or Ignite to help the mercenaries fighting the hobgoblins.

As this continued, the balance between the two groups began to crumble, and the humans gained the advantage.

'It is almost over.'

Theo took a moment to recover as he looked at the hobgoblins, whose number had been reduced by more than half. The mercenaries had few casualties except for a few unfortunate ones. Those who were injured took a moment to bandage their wounds before running back into the battle.

If this continued, the situation would be cleaned up in less than 30 minutes. However, the moment he put his mind at ease…

Kwaang!

The reason Theo avoided the blow was thanks to pure luck and a sense of urgency. Theo, who had rolled forward reflexively, stood up and looked at the place where he had been standing.

The ground was cracked and his skin irritated from the shock wave. If it had been a direct hit, it was obvious that his bones and flesh would've burst.

"Keuk, this… spear?!"

It was a spear… a spear entirely made of metal! The weight alone made it hard to swing, so how could a hobgoblin throw it with the same speed as an arrow? If it had been blocked with a shield, the spear would have penetrated the body through the shield.

Theodore held his trembling arms close to his body and looked in the direction from which the spear had been thrown.

In that direction, a figure appeared.

Kuwaaaaack―!

As the figure ran out of the forest, an axe flashed and sliced apart two bodies in front of him. The bodies weren't cut but torn apart. As the upper halves of the two mercenaries fell to the ground, one mercenary barely managed to block the swinging axe with his shield.

"M-Monster!"

"Killing Jones in one shot…?"

"Hobgoblin chief!"

The scream revealed the identity of the enemy.

'Chief…! This guy has appeared…'

Theo knew it as well.

Hobgoblin chief… A chief was someone who led at least 100 people, with many presiding over thousands of people. Simply being superior in leadership or intelligence wouldn't allow them to become a chief. As always, the world of the wild turned to the law of the strong.

The chief had to be the strongest in the group.

Kururuk, kuraaaack!

The chief picked up the spear he'd thrown and pointed it at Theo while holding the axe in his other hand.

It seemed like Theo was his target. This meant that he knew about the existence of a magician. As if he had no desire to escape, the hobgoblin chief held the spear boldly like he would throw it at any time.

This couldn't be avoided.

Theodore sensed this and withdrew his magic power instead of raising it. It would be good if he didn't have to fight, but if there was no exit, he would need to make sure to win against the opponent.

Alfred's memories pushed at him, saying he would have to deal with this enemy.

"Come!"

Kaaaak!

As a cold wind blew, the magician and monster ran toward each other.

Night in the Nadun Mountain Ranges #3

The strength of a magician was their ability to easily overpower a person with their firepower from a safe distance away. Even war magicians trained in martial arts would become headless bodies the moment they got into close range with knights.

The same thing applied to the hobgoblin chief who possessed greater physical abilities than humans.

However, Theodore ran forward first.

'If I retreat, I will die!'

A naive magician would've stepped back and died. Instead of ignoring the advice of his senses, Theo gritted his teeth and charged. Backing away was absolutely not a wise choice.

Theo only took five steps before he was within the range of the chief's spear. No, the chief wouldn't be able to kill him now by throwing the spear. However, Theo wouldn't be able to defeat the spear head on with 3rd Circle magic. Even if he avoided the spear, the axe would slice off his head.

"Haste!" The acceleration magic wrapped around Theo's body. Theo's movements were faster, and the ugly face of the hobgoblin chief was soon right in front of him.

The chief was holding the axe over his head like he would bring it down at any moment. Theo had only exercised for two months and his speed was only slightly faster, so it was a blow which couldn't be avoided.

He called out to Mitra while sliding, "Now!"

At the same time, the right leg of the hobgoblin chief moved, and the balance of his body collapsed. Mitra had penetrated the ground and created a pit at the chief's feet. It was only 30cm deep, but thanks to that, the axe hit empty air.

Huoong!

As Theo listened to the sound of air blowing above his head, he aimed at the side of the hobgoblin chief.

"Fireball!"

The fireball got a direct hit to the chief's side.

Kwaang!

The shock waves caused by the explosion made Theo take a few steps back. Usually it would've ended here for the hobgoblins, but it wouldn't be a fatal wound for the chief. Theo stared at the grey smoke emerging from the center.

'Damn, if his head was exposed, then I would've used the Magic Bullet.'

Alfred-style Magic Missile, also known as Magic Bullet, would've penetrated the hobgoblin chief's skin without any difficulty.

However, the lethal force was exerted only when it hit the vital points.

The skin of a monster was much tougher than a human's, and their body structure was also different. So, Theo needed to hit the right place for a fatal wound. Unfortunately, he had never read a book about the hobgoblin's body.

So, he had used Fireball instead of Magic Bullet.

Kuwaaaah!

The chief roared with a mixture of pain and anger from within the smoke. Fireball had hit the chief's skin, and the sizzling was painful to watch. Nevertheless, the hobgoblin's combat power was still going strong.

"Fireball is insufficient," Theo muttered as he saw the chief's state.

In the 3rd circle and below, Fireball was the magic with the strongest firepower. If it wasn't effective, then he only had two choices left… two means of attack to overcome that defense.

'Blaze Shell or Magic Bullet.'

The first was dismissed. Theo was able to use Blaze Shell as a one-time ability after eating 'Roaring Flames,' but the preparation took too long. He would've died 10 times by the time he managed to gather the magic power and chant the spell.

It would be a different story if the other mercenaries tied up the hobgoblin chief during that time, but…

'Hoo, I was wrong to expect a lot.'

The mercenaries had retreated after seeing the difference in skill and were taking care of the hobgoblins instead. No matter how good the money was, it would be no use if they died. The mercenaries had no desire to confront the hobgoblin chief when it was likely that they would die. Rather, it was fortunate they hadn't escaped and were instead blocking the other hobgoblins.

"…Okay, I will try it once."

Theo stared at the hobgoblin chief's red eyes and gathered magic power in his arms. He only had two chances.

If Theo shot with all his power to penetrate the hobgoblin chief's defense, he would only be able to use the magic twice. It would be different if he was Alfred, but this was the limit for Theo who hadn't completely mastered the magic yet.

The hobgoblin chief was panting, while Theodore Miller gathered magic power in his arms. The confrontation between the two beings was suddenly broken.

Kurwaaak!

The hobgoblin chief ran out of patience and attacked.

Swaeeek!

He charged with his spear and tried to pierce Theo's body with it. If Theo hadn't moved back hurriedly, then he would've been skewered like a chicken. This was followed up with a slash from the axe. It was obvious that the axe had enough power to break down a huge log.

"Mitra!"

Mitra responded to Theo's call and made a pit under the chief's feet like before.

Kuruk, kururuk!

Instead of wielding the axe, the hobgoblin chief jumped over the pit. Then he scoffed at Theo. The anger filling the chief's eyes disappeared. Despite the pain, he was cunning and knew how to use sly tricks. He hadn't forgotten about the trap he'd once fallen into.

As he thought that, Theo sneered.

Puk!

Another pit suddenly appeared. This time, it was at Theo's feet instead of under the hobgoblin.

Huoong!

As the axe missed Theo, who had suddenly fallen down, confusion filled the face of the hobgoblin chief. While lying on the ground, which had become soft thanks to Mitra, Theo pointed his index finger at the chief's face. At this distance, the chief wouldn't be able to avoid the Magic Bullet.

A blue flash launched from Theo's fingertip.

Piyuuuong!

The extremely compressed magic power broke through the wall of sound and tore apart the wind. The power was enough to penetrate armour and turn thick leather into a piece of cloth. The flash reached the head of the hobgoblin chief.

'Hit!'

It wasn't unreasonable to feel confident. The blow was precisely timed. However, perhaps due to the wild nature or a warrior's instincts, the chief's axe moved desperately and blocked the flash.

Kakang!

Pieces of the axe scattered, and the hobgoblin chief was pushed back with a hole in his forehead. Despite the blood splattering on Theo's face, Theo got up hurriedly and looked at where the hobgoblin chief was.

The chief had already gotten up and grabbed his wounded forehead.

"Dammit, too shallow!"

The wound was too shallow. The flash had faded away before piercing the skull. It was because quite a bit of power had been consumed to break the axe. With this, Theo only had one shot of Magic Bullet remaining. It would end with the next attack.

Kuruk, kururururu…

Theodore's Magic Bullet was too threatening, so the chief didn't dare to approach. Rather, he grasped the spear and kept swinging it. He moved swiftly to the left and right, not leaving any gaps. Theo wasn't confident about hitting a target moving at such high speed.

In the end, the narrow gap widened to a greater distance than it had been at the beginning.

'That posture…!'

The chief's arm was flexed like a bow, and the spear was pulled back like an arrow. It was the typical posture of someone preparing to throw the spear. A fearsome blow which would threaten Theodore's life was about to be used again.

Theo raised his right arm, which still had one Magic Bullet remaining.

Hwiiiing!

A chilly wind blew past as the two beings aimed for each other's lives.

The tension was intense, and even the mercenaries and hobgoblins became breathless as they watched the confrontation. The winning side would gain the advantage… Everybody instinctively understood this fact.

So, it was no wonder that the hobgoblin chief moved first.

Kuraaaaaah-!

The speed at which he rushed was like the wind. At that speed, the distance would be narrowed down in five seconds or less. Theo's spine grew damp with tension. However, the chief understood the horror of the Magic Bullet and jumped into the air.

'He's coming!'

Theo had planned this, but he couldn't help feeling nervous. Even if he had Alfred's memories, this was still his first battle. The vivid smell of blood and widespread killing intent tickled his nerves. However, a magician fought with their heads, not their bodies. Theo pulled out the card he had prepared.

'Memorize.

All Slots Open.'

The three magic spells, which had previously been stored, were now used at the same time.

"Rise! Walls of Earth!"

The spear couldn't be blocked by one layer, and two layers were still insufficient. If that was the case, he would block it with three layers. Earth Wall, the 3rd Circle defense magic, was used three times. It was further enhanced by his contract with Mitra, turning the Earth Wall completely solid.

The iron spear struck down on the triple barrier.

Kwaaaaang!

The outermost barrier broke. After that, the second barrier started crumbling down. Finally, the last and thickest barrier blocked the fierce momentum of the spear.

Kwajik!

The spear seemed like it was going to pierce through to Theo behind the barrier, but then it stopped.

Theodore inserted his finger through a crack in the barrier and said, "I got you."

His sharp eyes didn't miss the target which was still in the air. It was different from the ground where the chief could move easily. No animal could move freely through the air without wings. At least, that was the case for the hobgoblins. The same was true for the chief.

A second flash penetrated through the darkness of the sky.

Piiing!

The hobgoblin chief crossed his arms in front of his face to block it somehow, but the Magic Bullet wouldn't be stopped by such a clumsy thing. The blue flash lit up the two arms and the head behind it.

Then the body which lost its life fell to the ground.

Kuuong!

There was a loud noise, and a pit formed around the body. It was close to 2 meters deep, showing the weight of the corpse.

Theo placed his foot on the body of the hobgoblin chief and threw his head back. Then he raised his clenched fist.

"Ohhhhhhh!" The mercenaries who witnessed his victory cheered.

The remaining hobgoblins soon realized they've been defeated and fled to the forest, leaving only the corpses of the hobgoblins behind.

Theo's first battle in the Nadun Mountain Ranges ended spectacularly.

Mana-vil Capital #1 (End of Book 1)

The raid on the first night was really fierce, but the damage was less than expected.

Hundreds of the hobgoblins had been turned into charcoal due to Vince's flames, while Theodore's appropriate actions had taken care of the ambush in the rear. His merit was especially big since the chief had died.

After that raid, nothing had occurred. Was it because they repelled the hobgoblins who ruled the whole area?

Thanks to their weapons being soaked in the blood of the hobgoblins, monsters such as goblins, kobolds, and direwolves didn't dare charge toward the procession. There were a few trolls who attempted an attack, but they were soon butchered by the bloodthirsty mercenaries.

'Speaking of which, can't a troll's blood be used as a raw ingredient for potions? It's no wonder they fought harder against the trolls than the hobgoblins.'

There was no need for Vince and Theodore to interfere. No, the mercenaries were likely to be angry if the magicians interfered. Fire was most effective in killing a troll, but the raw blood couldn't be obtained.

There would be many complaints if they went and burned the trolls with a Fireball.

Therefore, Theo was staring out the window when he saw someone on a horse approach their carriage. The horse had a glossy brown mane, and there was only one person in the procession who would ride such a horse. It was Gordon, the general manager of this procession.

He approached without hesitation and praised the two people, "This time, I really survived thanks to the two of you! If the professor hadn't accompanied me, I would've suffered enormous damage. At least half the procession would've been wiped out! The professors of Bergen Academy really have great skills."

"Thank you."

"And your disciple as well."

Gordon bowed his head to Theo as well as Vince.

The leader of such a large procession was bowing to a 3rd Circle magician, but it was appropriate treatment after Theo's actions. Theo had killed a hobgoblin chief!

The one who led the attack had been the chief of the Surprising River village.

Depending on the size of the group, the strength of the hobgoblin chief was at least a C rank. It meant they were tough opponents for 4th Circle magicians. If Theo hadn't stopped the chief, the rear of the procession would've been destroyed.

However, a 3rd Circle magician had defeated a hobgoblin chief in a one-on-one match…?

If it hadn't been for the mercenaries saying the same thing, Gordon wouldn't have believed it. Still, Gordon's mind was fairly flexible as he was an excellent merchant. He was convinced about Theodore's value, despite not truly understanding.

"I can't repay this favor with just my mouth, so I've personally prepared something to repay you. My conscience will be more comfortable if you both receive it."

"Hrmm, if you say so…"

"Ah, you will accept it?"

Vince nodded, and Gordon took out a box he had placed on his saddle.

The metal box had chains and a lock wrapped around it, making the item seem quite valuable. Gordon took out a key from his pocket and unlocked it. After the chains were released, the box opened its mouth with a rumbling sound.

Inside it was a crystal shining strangely. It was a ball which occasionally changed colours, turning from blue to red.

When Theo saw it, he couldn't help asking doubtfully, "This…?"

There were many encyclopedias in the library about magic stones, but this was the first time he had seen such a strange ball. However, Gordon didn't give a satisfactory answer.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. It is something that the Magic Society has been searching for these days, but since the quantity is too low, this company could only obtain a few. I am hoping that it will be helpful to both of you."

"Can we take such a precious thing?" Vince said as he looked at it closely.

At the positive reply, Gordon nodded with a bright expression. If he could form a relationship with a magician by using this unknown crystal, it would be a few times more profitable than selling it.

"Of course! If you weren't here, I might have lost everything. This is under my sole discretion."

"Then… I really appreciate it."

"Hahaha! Now my mind can feel at ease! Ah, would you like to return with us after the magic contest is over? I'll provide a better carriage than the one you currently have."

"Well, okay."

After exchanging a few more courtesies, Gordon returned to the front of the procession with a brighter look than before.

From his standpoint, he had been able to prevent the hobgoblins' attack without much damage. He had also been able to form a relationship with a strong magician. With these, his evaluation within the company would increase greatly. Therefore, Gordon rode off in a good mood.

However, Vince made a noise of derision as he picked up the crystal. "This is why ignorance is truly scary. That merchant didn't know what he was carrying."

"Professor, do you know what this is?"

"…I've seen it a few times in the north. Technically speaking, this isn't a crystal. Sometimes plants that absorb the blood of monsters will make berries filled with magic power. This one, the Magic Society calls it, 'Monster Berry.'" Vince explained as he placed the crystal back in the box and locked it with the key he received from Gordon. Then he placed it in his space pocket with swift movements.

"Monster Berries tempt nearby monsters with its fragrance and will strengthen the monster who eats it. The hobgoblins on the first night probably came for this."

No matter how hard it was to climb the Nadun Mountain Ranges, such a large group of monsters wouldn't be living on the outskirts. The monsters were well aware of the damage they would suffer if they neared human territory. The hobgoblins were more cunning than other monsters, so they wouldn't have been unaware of this fact.

The reason why the hobgoblins had carried out such an unreasonable attack was now revealed.

Vince touched his chin and muttered in an interested tone, "I remember it as an object which use was unknown… Maybe a use for it might have been discovered recently."

"Discovered?"

"The gifts that I will give you may increase by one."

'Gifts?' Theo stared at him with a puzzled expression.

At that moment, someone shouted from outside the carriage, "It is the capital! I see Mana-vil Capital!"

Theo might be a magician, but in the end, he was a boy from the country. He soon forgot to ask about the gift and looked out the window. Every person in the Meltor Kingdom dreamed of living in Mana-vil Capital. It was said to be a heavenly city where white spires pierced the sky.

Theodore Miller had grown up surrounded by the rice fields of the Miller Barony, so he had dreamed about the big city many times as a child. Finally, the moment came when his expectations were rewarded.

"Wow…" Theodore had no choice but to let out a cry of admiration when he saw Mana-vil.

There was still a while until the procession reached Mana-vil, but the towering spires could be seen in the distance. The city surrounded by white walls truly seemed like a heavenly city. Carriages were flying over it like part of a fairy tale landscape.

This was the capital of the Meltor Kingdom, Mana-vil…

The place which people called the home of magic. Even the empire with the strongest national power didn't have such a city. There were myths which said the dwarves and elves had help to build the city in the past. The city was a symbol of the extreme architecture which couldn't be reproduced by the skills and manpower of modern humanity.

As Vince sat beside Theo, who was filled with admiration, he looked at the capital he had returned to after a long time.

'It is still stunning.'

Vince hated the politics and had removed himself to Bergen Academy, but he couldn't help pay tribute to the city as a magician. He then pulled out a robe from his space pocket and put it on. It was a luxurious robe made of an impressive red colour. Vince didn't know how many years it had been since he last wore this.

The robe symbolized that he was Vince Haidel of the Red Magic Tower.

He muttered as if he was talking to himself, "As soon as we pass through the gates, I will take you to the Magic Society."

The magic contest drew a huge crowd to Mana-vil. Vince remembered the scene from a few years ago, which was why he had started moving a few days earlier. If he procrastinated, one day of work could turn into 10 days.

It would also become annoying if the Red Magic Tower knew about Theodore's existence.

'I have to avoid them as much as possible.'

The Red Magic Tower didn't focus on development as a magician but on fostering magicians specialized in combat. From their point of view, Theodore would be a rising star.

Mana-vil Capital #2

As the capital of the kingdom, Mana-vil was famous for its strict checkpoints during the magic contest.

In fact, a fool had been dragged to jail after trying to cross the checkpoints without any proof of identity. It was said that he'd spent a month in jail chewing on hard bread until he heard from his family.

Therefore, the tourists, travelers, and delegates lined up at the capital's main gate couldn't hide their tension. It was for good reason since the event they had been preparing for several months could all be in vain. Gordon couldn't hide his nervous smile either.

However, Professor Vince looked the same as always. He walked out of the procession confidently with Theo and spoke to Gordon, "Leader, we'll be going first."

"Huh?…Ah! You don't need to wait here?"

"I have a letter of invitation."

Vince nodded as he looked down at the envelop in his hand. It was an invitation to the magic contest. The invitation letter to the magic contest wasn't just a measure of the person's reputation and status but a clear identification card.

The magician who held it had the right to preferentially pass through the Mana-vil checkpoints, and all the stores in Mana-vil would be cheaper for the duration of the magic contest. They also had a bonus right to pick their accommodation.

Gordon looked at the invitation with envy, but it only allowed the magician to bring their assistant. So, Vince couldn't bring the hundreds of people in with him. In the end, Gordon decided to be satisfied with leaving a good impression.

"Things turned out well thanks to Professor. If you need anything, come and find me at any time. I will help you as much as I can."

"Thank you for your kind words. Then I'll see you next time."

"Yes, please go ahead!"

Gordon bowed politely. Vince and Theo left Gordon behind and moved forward, past the long line. Whistles and chatter came from the crowd, but nobody cared about it. Anybody with a normal head on their shoulders would understand what Vince's red robe meant.

'Professor Vince, he belongs to the Red Tower.'

Theo couldn't ask about it and swallowed back the words. He was a student of Bergen Academy, so how could he not know about the four towers of the capital?

The four towers built in the north, south, east, and west surrounded the Magic Society, which stood in the center. The outer walls of each magic tower was said to be painted in a colour which symbolized the four elements.

Among them, the place where the fire magicians mainly resided was the Red Tower. It was the most militant magic tower which raised magicians excellent in battle. The mercenary industry was filled with instructions that they shouldn't confront a magician with a red robe.

Most of the members were excellent warriors who formed the core power of the Meltor Kingdom. The idiots who fought with those war magicians didn't deserve to step into Mana-vil. The same was true for the guards at the main entrance's checkpoint.

"Excuse me!" The guard saluted as soon as he saw Vince's red robes.

By default, those with an invitation card had to be at least of the 5th Circle and equivalent to a viscount. Even Mana-vil's guards, who were superior to the guards of the noble estates, would have to pay homage to them.

Vince received the salute naturally and handed over the invitation.

"I am Professor Vince Haidel from Bergen Academy, a Superior of the Red Tower. The last time I visited Mana-vil was seven years ago. Are there no errors?"

"Yes, that is correct."

The guard confirmed the identity with a tool which contained all the information about magicians recorded in the Magic Society. Then he asked some questions about the information which had appeared on the tool. After confirming there were no problems with the answers, he returned the invitation to Vince.

Then the guard saluted again, "Excuse me, Professor! You can now pass!"

"I'm sorry that you will be so busy. Then, do your best."

"Yes, thank you!"

Vince and Theo crossed the checkpoint and passed through the gate. All the basic checks, including examining their luggage, were skipped, allowing them to enter Mana-vil faster than anyone else.

This was the privilege of a magician who had received an invitation. Theodore once again realized the identity of the person who accompanied him.

Thus, Theodore took his first steps into Mana-vil Capital, the headquarters of magicians.

* * *

The 'Sky Wagon' was an exotic method of transportation which existed only in Mana-vil.

The word 'wagon' wasn't appropriate, but there was no other proper term for it. The magician, who played the role of the wagon driver, would supply magic power to the mana stones, and the wagons would move through the air using the magic power.

Of course, it wasn't flying magic, so the speed of the wagons was quite slow. However, looking over Mana-vil from the air was considered a great tourist attraction. A single sky wagon flew over Mana-vil and settled down gently at the front door of the Magic Society.

"We've arrived at Magic Society's front door. 30 silver!"

"That is a lot higher than before. Hoo, I guess that is inflation," Vince grumbled and gave the driver three silver coins worth 10 silver each.

They'd used a sky wagon which nobles and wealthy merchants often used, so the fee was incomparable to a normal sky wagon. If Theo had come alone, then he would've chosen to make his way through the terrifying crowd.

"Now, let's hurry."

"Yes."

The two people got off the wagon and immediately entered through the Magic Society's front door.

As soon as Theo passed through the two antique pillars and wide open gates, his expression changed.

Any magician would be able to feel the density of mana in the air. Their precision might be different, but they could distinguish between a deep or light density. Theo, however, was much better at distinguishing the difference due to his sensory perception.

'Four or five times what is outside… No, maybe even more than that.'

It had only been a short period of time since he stepped inside, but his breathing was already rough. He struggled with his breathing as he followed behind Vince. Occasionally, a magician with rare garments or one with strong magic would catch his eye, but he managed to make it to his destination without getting lost.

The destination was the reception desk in the center where any external work related to the Magic Society was handled. Vince found an empty spot and extended his letter. "Vince Haidel, a Superior of the Red Tower."

"Please wait a moment." Since this was the magic society, the staff at the reception desk was also a magician. He used a magic tool to verify the authenticity of the invitation.

"Yes, it is verified."

After completing the simple confirmation procedure, the staff returned the invitation and started to explain the schedule for the magic contest this year. It was an explanation which had probably emerged from his mouth hundreds of times.

After the full explanation, the staff member took a short breath.

"…That is all. Do you have any questions?"

Vince was organizing the information in his head, so he nodded one beat late. He glanced at Theo behind him and brought up the reason why they were here.

"I want to ask for a registration form for my student to apply and enter the Pupil Tournament."

"Ah, I will be happy to complete that for you."

The staff member was familiar with this, so he got a piece of paper from a drawer and started asking questions about Theo.

"Please tell me the name and age."

"Theodore Miller, 19 years old."

"What do you belong to?"

"I am a student of Bergen Academy."

"And…"

"..."

10 minutes later, all of Theodore Miller's personal information was filled in. The staff member was about to put the application in the filing cabinet when he remembered something he had missed. It was an omitted question because he had always gotten the same answer back.

"Is your disciple of the 4th Circle?"

It was a question that he didn't even need to ask. They had to be the most talented person in the academy to come to the magic contest and participate in the competitions.

As well as having financial support, all the participates were talented 4th Circle magicians. While the 5th Circle could only be achieved through separate enlightenment or achievements, the 4th Circle could easily be reached by accumulating enough magic power to overcome the threshold.

For that reason, all the participants of the Pupil Tournament were 4th Circle magicians. That was why Vince's answer was even more confusing.

"3rd Circle."

"…Huh?"

"I said the 3rd Circle."

The employee was confused and said with a bitter smile, "I'm sorry, but can you ask your disciple again? All other participants of the Pupil Tournament are 4th Circle magicians. There are basic safeguards, but every year, someone is wounded and even sometimes killed."

The staff member was afraid to accept the participation of a 3rd Circle magician and therefore explained desperately. It was common sense. Overcoming the difference between circles was never easy. It was difficult for a veteran magician, let along an academy student.

However, Vince looked back with a casual expression and asked Theo, "That's what he said. What do you think?"

"I will do it," Theo replied without any hesitation.

On the way to Mana-vil, he had knocked down a hobgoblin chief alone.

In the process, Alfred's memories and experiences had integrated into his body, so his self-confidence became stronger. No matter how strong the participant, he didn't think they would be stronger than a hobgoblin chief.

However, the staff member still hesitated as he sighed over the application. He was afraid that the responsibility of the student's death would come back to him. It was at this moment that…

"What, only a 3rd Circle? If the disciple is being raised by the Red Tower, then he might be able to overcome the difference of one circle. There's no clause that states a person has to be of the 4th Circle to participate." Someone's voice was heard behind Vince and Theo.

"Hrmm?" Vince looked back with a strange expression and saw a blue-robed magician approach.

A blue robe was a symbol of the Blue Magic Tower. In many ways, they were as famous as the Red Tower.

The blue-robed magician approached Vince without hesitation and spoke in a mock friendly manner, "This is a face that I don't remember. It looks like this is the first tournament for your pupil, right?"

"That's right," Vince gave a short response.

A battle of nerves began, causing the surrounding mana to shrivel. If a 5th Circle magician's emotions got intense, the atmosphere would shake a little bit.

Despite Vince's chilly answer, the blue-robed man wriggled his eyebrows and lowered his voice as he said, "I came to give you some advice, but your reaction is so cold. Don't you know that the rules have changed since last year?"

"The rules of the tournament have changed?" Vince's voice raised slightly at the unexpected words.

This caused the blue-robed magician to smile and nod. "Maybe I can help you."

No matter how he appeared, his expression wasn't one which gave off good intentions.

Mana-vil Capital #3

"A scramble?"

"That's right."

Loren, an Average from the Blue Tower, walked ahead of them while speaking.

His explanation was quite detailed, unlike the suspicious expression he had shown at their first meeting. Theodore, who knew nothing about the Pupil Tournament, was able to understand it easily.

"The participants received an application and, at the same time, one of the token payments. Now, you are called Theodore, right? You should've received something from the reception desk earlier."

"Ah…!"

Theo pulled out the item.

It was a gold medal which looked like a coin, but it was attached to a string, so it could be hung around the neck. The number 132 was engraved on it, indicating his registration number.

Loren confirmed it and nodded. "Yes, the participants demonstrate their superiority by leaving this token intact. The loser will be deprived of all the tokens he has, and the number of tokens last owned will become the official record."

Vince said, "This method wasn't used in the past."

"Well, there were several things that happened."

It was a strange story for Vince, who had left Mana-vil seven years ago. Although he had heard news periodically from his friends in the capital, Vince never heard anything about the Pupil Competition.

Loren noticed Vince's attention and quickly opened his mouth, "The root cause is that there are too many participants."

That's right. As the number of participants who joined the magic contest increased, problems occurred. The rise in the number of incoming magicians meant the number of disciples brought with them also increased.

For high ranking magicians, a direct duel was burdensome, so the fight spread unconsciously to the Pupil Tournament. In addition, the goods set as prizes from the Meltor Palace fanned the flames.

"As you know, the competition was originally a round-robin tournament, but that start is too late. The Pupil Competition must be finished before the magic contest starts."

"…So, it became a scramble."

"There are some who say it is barbaric, but I don't think it is a bad change. You can challenge an opponent and lose in the first round because you have no luck."

His words weren't wrong. This competition format had been decided at the end of a rational discussion. Compared to a round-robin, there were advantages and almost no disadvantages.

A competent participant could quickly rise in the rankings by knocking out participants with a large number of tokens, while incompetent participants would fall first. Obviously, this dog-eat-dog type of competition was recommended because it was faithful to the laws of the magic towers.

However, Vince didn't miss the loopholes in rules of this competition format.

"What happens if a person aims for a tired opponent, or a participant gains a moderate number of tokens and then avoids having another fight? Is there a means of urging the participants?"

"Hoh, good points." Loren slightly admired the magician from the Red Tower.

He had never seen Vince's face before, so he had thought Vince was just someone from the countryside. Never would he have imagined that the other person would be famous in the Red Tower. However, it was too late. With a scoff of derision, he pointed to the stadium at which they had arrived.

"I'll explain first. This year's Pupil Tournament takes place in the multi-stadium, Pentarium. It consists of five independent stadiums, with the main space open only in the finals."

"Hmm, they look moderately durable."

"Hahaha! Even if both of us used all our power, we wouldn't be able to scratch the outside wall of the stadium."

Without such durability, the lives of the audience members would be in danger. A 4th Circle magician had strong attack spells which affected a wide area. Like Loren said, the solidarity of Pentarium could be compared to the gates of a large city.

Of course, Vince didn't agree with the words.

Loren spoke up to there and looked back at Vince and Theo. "Well, my explanation ends here. I don't know if it helped you."

"…It was a lot of help. Thank you."

The explanation that Loren gave was truly informative. Vince had to discard all the strategies he had planned for a round robin. One disagreeable point was the reason why Loren was being so friendly.

As expected, the question was resolved in an unexpected way.

"Huhu, that isn't necessary. From now on, it will be your turn to help me." Loren smiled, giving off a sly feeling. He gestured to a boy standing nearby, revealing the reason why he had brought Theo this far. It was closely related to the loopholes Vince had pointed out a little while ago.

"Say hello. This is my disciple and the son of Viscount Gullock, Philip Gullock."

"It is nice to meet you."

However, Vince remained silent.

Loren was uncomfortable by the reaction and said a beat late, "Hmm, cough. It was pointed out last year, but some participants were slow to fight. So, this year, there are a few rules to speed things up."

"Too verbose. Can you cut to the chase?"

"Yes, for example… can a person with only one token deny the challenge of another participant?" Loren asked his disciple Philip, who smiled and applied for a match with Theo.

If this rule was true, then there was no way to avoid a fight. Loren had brought Theodore as a meal for his disciple. It was a cowardly trick taking advantage of the rules.

"Kuhuhu, don't think that this is cowardly. Don't magicians from the Red Tower often do this? It is your fault for overlooking the mistake."

However, instead of getting frustrated, Vince just clicked his tongue. Loren, who didn't understand how to be vigilant, had probably just reached the Average status. Thus, he was trying to increase his career through his disciple.

"The Blue Tower is still using such petty tricks. Are you acting like this despite knowing that reputation?"

"W-W-What?"

"What will you do, Theodore? I think the date of the match can be decided by the person who was challenged," Vince asked Theo, blatantly ignoring Loren.

Theo had no intention of avoiding this fight. The fool's disciple didn't seem that great, and above all, his personality wasn't the type to delay annoying things. Rather, Theodore asked Vince, "Professor, is there anything else scheduled for today?"

"Uhh… I booked a restaurant for dinner this evening."

Theodore's eyes shone as he heard the words. In recent years, he had been filling his stomach in the academy's cafeteria. Bergen Academy's meals weren't bad, but they couldn't be compared to a restaurant in Mana-vil.

Theo felt motivated and nodded enthusiastically. "I will finish it as soon as possible."

His first fight in the tournament occurred like this.

* * *

Was it because the competition had yet to really start?

Pentarium, which had four stadiums, immediately started Theo and Philip's match.

The two people each received a robe with three hanging crystals from the host. According to the host's explanation, these crystals would be able to block spells belonging to the 4th Circle and below.

It was the same as the participant's health. Once all three crystals were destroyed, the participant was defeated.

Theo asked the host, "Aren't these quite expensive artifacts?"

"They are disposable, so they aren't that expensive. I heard they are a few gold."

"A-A few gold…" Theo stuttered in amazement.

Philip sneered. "As expected from a hillbilly. It is only a few gold, yet you are making such a commotion."

"I bet you've never earned a single gold coin yourself."

"…It seems like you haven't been educated properly."

The atmosphere between the two people became more tense, but the host approached and pushed them to either side of the stadium.

Ready to fire a spell at any time, they looked at the spectators wrapped in a transparent shield. Theo and Philip were nameless, so there were no people in the stands. There were only Vince and Loren sitting across from each other.

Since that was the case, there was no need to wait any longer.

The host confirmed that the two competitors were prepared and immediately signaled the start of the match.

Peng~!

The 1st Circle magic, Light, was used.

As a small ball of light appeared in the centre, the magic power of each magician started to rise. Philip, who was proud of his superior magic power, acted first. "Icicle Bolt!"

The ice magic caused the ambient temperature to drop rapidly. Icicles formed from the cold air, and dozens of ice arrows soon formed in front of Philip. The strength of the refined ice magic power was temporarily equal to iron. The solid mass meant that the arrows could contain a power which Fire Bolt and Lightning Bolt didn't have.

"Go!"

The blue arrows flew through the air. The speed of the arrows was less than that of actual arrows from an archer, but the wounds caused by the icy bolts were deadly. If one of them hit, Theo's speed would slow down, then he would lost his life with the next one. This was the scary part about ice magic.

However, Theodore countered it without the slightest bit of discomfort. "Shock Wave!"

The arrows were different from the hobgoblin's attack. Straight arrows would lose strength immediately upon colliding with something. Therefore, he had refined the existing Shock Wave formula by making its area wider and improving the way it blocked. In this manner, Theo��s magic power blasted against the blue arrows.

Pew pew pew pew puk!

Despite not completely killing their strength, the arrows lost their momentum and struck the ground. A shot which didn't hit its goal was wasted effort. The confused Philip hesitated, and Theodore took the initiative.

Theo promptly aimed his finger, triggering a magic formula which had already been calculated.

Ttaak!

Ignite was invoked without an order and suddenly appeared in front of Philip. Even if there was no damage, few people would be able to feel brave with fire right before them. It was no wonder that Philip tried to take a step back.

"U-Uh?" Philip then slipped due to the Grease magic that Theo had activated along with Ignite.

As people usually turned their heads when falling, before Philip could even recover, something hit him in the neck. It was the 2nd Circle attack magic, Wind Cutter.

Pakang!

In exchange for taking the damage, one of the crystals hanging from Philip's robe was broken.

He stared at Theo with a blank face. Theo faced him with a comfortable expression.

Then Theo said, "What? This is tidying up."

Mana-vil Capital #4

Theo had used Ignite to distract Philip and Grease to make him fall, then Theo ended it with Wind Cutter. The combination of 1st and 2nd Circle magic had created such a result, with no spells from the 3rd Circle.

If this had been a battlefield instead of a competition, Philip's head would already be rolling around on the ground. In fact, Philip touched his neck a few times to reassure himself.

Then he got up and spat out angrily, "Y-You bastard! Don't you know how shameless it is to use such coarse magic, you hillbilly!"

"What?"

As soon as Philip stood up, Theo fired the magic he'd gathered in his hand.

Pajijik!

It was an arrow with blue discharge around it―the 2nd Circle magic, Lightning Bolt.

The speed, derived from the characteristics of the lightning attribute, greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the 2nd Circle magic. By the time the opponent saw the lightning spell with their eyes, it was already too late.

However, Philip wasn't that incompetent.

"Don't expect to surprise me twice!"

Even if he'd been born in a good family and had rich support, he still had to rely on his own talents and efforts. Compared to Theo, his head wasn't as good, but his sensitivity was several times better. Philip witnessed the discharge of Lightning Bolt and reflexively prepared the magic formula for Shield.

The moment that he was about to shout out the magic with a confident face…

Puk!

"Shie…ld―aack?"

The ground suddenly rose and swallowed Philip's right foot. The magic formula he had been preparing shattered just before it was completed, and the lightning struck Philip's face as his magic power dispersed.

He grabbed his tattered face as he fell, before rolling around. It was truly a sight to behold.

Pakang!

Once again, the crystal which absorbed the damage was shattered. Now, Philip only had one crystal remaining. If one more was broken, Philip's defeat would be confirmed, and all the tokens he possessed would go to Theodore.

Theodore looked up as victory appeared before him in an instant.

'So much silliness… No, is this type of guy common?' He started thinking about it.

Where would people who studied at academies or with a private tutor experience true fights? They might be praised during a relaxed spar or at best, experience being attacked while surrounded by guards. The true meaning of a 'fight' had never once been felt by them.

After absorbing Alfred's experience and the fight with the hobgoblin, Philip was like a child compared to the tempered Theodore.

However, Philip's thoughts were different. "Kuaack! Damn hillbilly! Don't you have the desire to fight fairly as a magician? It is insulting to use 1st and 2nd Circle magic in an honourable duel!"

"You, are you stupid? Why does the circle matter, as long as it is magic?"

Vince, who was sitting in the stands, nodded in agreement with Theo's disbelieving feelings.

It was rarely the case that big magic was used in a battle against a large army. Whether it was from Hellfire or Fireball, they still died. The spotlight of small-scale magical battles was dealing a blow to the neck with a small magic spell.

On the other side, Loren hit his forehead at his disciple's stupidity. Perhaps it was thoughtless to just teach him battle magic.

Theo's next words were like daggers stabbing Loren. "If your teacher tells you differently, can you really be proud of such a teacher? Or maybe you haven't learned this part yet?"

"Kuk!" Philip grew silent as the nail had been hit on the head.

The expressions of the two magicians watching the argument were interesting. A smile broke through Vince's poker face. Meanwhile, Loren's face swelled like he was going to explode; his blood pressure rose because of Theo's words.

Had a wise man said this? A person who lost to words could only swear or throw a punch.

Philip Gullock was a person who didn't fall far from that category. "Shut up! Soldiers from the frozen ground, hear my call!"

As he drew up magic power angrily, the temperature around him fell rapidly. Frost covered the smooth stone floor, and a chill, which seemed like it would turn everyone into statues, began to gather. Once completed, Theodore Miller would find it hard to prevent the 4th Circle magic, 'Frozen Orb.'

Of course, if it was completed.

"Don't you know not to use big things?"

Theo raised his fingers like he had been waiting.

Ttaak!

It was an action which was no different from when he cast Ignite.

'Is he trying to do the same thing again?' Philip scoffed and moved his head back. He hadn't known it the first time, but he wouldn't fall for something after experiencing it already. If Philip didn't back away, he wouldn't fall, and his spell wouldn't fail again.

That was the crucial mistake.

Puk!

"Keo… Huu…uk?" An unexplained pang occurred in the vicinity of his hips. The crystals which absorbed damage didn't completely erase the pain.

Pakang!

Philip didn't care about the last crystal which broke, but as he looked down, he managed to see what caused the terrible suffering. It was a sharpened piece of stone made to resemble a spear. The stone had emerged from the ground and pierced his hip at a precise angle.

Needless to say, it was a collaboration between Theodore and Mitra.

"That, cooperation, ha… keek." Philip couldn't finish what he was saying as he fell to the ground. For someone who wasn't used to pain, this injury was really terrible.

Even the host turned to Theo with a pale expression. Theo scratched his head as if he had made a mistake.

"Mitra, let's make the end a little more blunt next time."

[Huing?] Mitra made a sound as she emerged from the ground and looked at Philip with a naive face.

* * *

Philip looked so terrible that the host called for a stretcher and sent him away. Damage was mostly absorbed by the crystals, so the host had never seen such a terribly wounded person before.

He tried to make a calm expression as he told Theo the result of the match, "Theodore, congratulations on your first victory in the Pupil Tournament."

"Ah, thank you."

"You have achieved one victory and obtained Philip Gullock's four tokens. It doesn't matter if you lose them, but you are responsible for any damages, so please be careful."

The four tokens were placed on Theo's palm. Due to the metal material, they were heavy. Theo realized it was his first victory and stared at them blankly until Vince neared him.

"How was it? Isn't it easier than you thought?"

"Yes, it wasn't a big deal."

"That is the difference of experience. When you received Alfred's memories, you had already become familiar with fighting. Students who grow up like plants in a greenhouse aren't a match for you."

It was the reason why Vince had allowed Theodore to participate in the Pupil Tournament.

Skilled war magicians penetrated through the armour and helmets of vigilant knights and were grim reapers who could kill senior magicians. Practical experience made a big difference, and Theo's sensory perception wasn't much different from the intuition of a warrior who had been on the battlefield for decades. He could find small gaps in the opponent and dig into that to defeat them.

So, it wouldn't be too hard for him to win this type of competition. As the two people were thinking hopefully, someone approached them. "Hey, Vince Haidel!"

"What―?" Vince, who hadn't felt the person's presence, looked behind with a confused expression.

Then he immediately sucked in his breath. No matter how much he'd fought on the battlefield, it was rare to see such a person. Vince's face distorted strangely as he confirmed the other person's face. "Aren't you too busy to come to a place like this?"

The person's white beard and hair were a sharp contrast to the muscles which could be seen underneath the blue robe. His two forearms were as thick as logs and seemed strong enough to crush a person's head. He carried a staff on his back, since it was too large and heavy. If he had been carrying a greatsword instead of a cane, he would look like a warrior, not a magician.

At Vince's grim answer, the sturdy old man grinned and knocked against Vince's shoulder.

"Hahaha! Don't be like that when I haven't seen you in such a long time!"

"Ugh, wait. Ah, that hurts!"

"A man should at least have this much strength. Now, introduce me to the disciple that you brought!"

Vince, who finally managed to escape from the old man's violence, shuddered as he massaged his shoulder. Despite his trained body, that was enough to hurt his bones.

The old man wasn't known as the Terror of the Blue Tower or the Muscle Master for nothing.

Vince introduced Theo reluctantly, "This is Theodore Miller, a student from Bergen Academy."

"It is nice to meet you."

"Yes, yes! Nice to meet you as well!"

The old man laughed for a moment before it disappeared as he stared at Theo's face. The expression was quite different from the old man who had been laughing just a moment ago. His gaze seemed to see right through people, similar to what Theo had felt from Myrdal.

"…Interesting. Did you get picked up on the battlefield? It is shameful to call you a greenhorn."

The gaze of the old magician was so heavy that Theo turned his head away to escape. In order to change the subject, Theo asked Professor Vince a question, "Professor. This is…?"

However, the attempt was interrupted by the old magician. "Hmph! Why are you asking Vince instead of me? If you are ignoring me because I am an old man, you shouldn't!"

"I-I'm really sorry."

"Huhaha! Well, it doesn't matter!"

The old magician was like a storm. He grabbed Theo's hands, and Theo felt dizzy. There was no magic power in the old man's hands, just simple strength. Maybe it was possible for the old man to pick Theo up with one hand? Questions kept circling inside his head.

As Theo was feeling dizzy, the old man let go and put on an air of importance. Then he squinted at Vince and urged him to speak.

Vince carried a worn out expression as he told Theo the identity of the old man, "Don't be too surprised. He is… the Supreme of the Blue Tower, Blundell Adruncus."

"Ah, indeed… Huh?" The shocked Theo asked with blank eyes.

Then Vince repeated the truth again. He whispered in Theo's ear so the old man couldn't hear, "That old geezer is the Blue Tower Master."

"…?!" Theodore's eyes shook fiercely as he encountered the most important person he'd ever met in his 19 years of life.

Catch the Genius #1

'The Blue Tower Master!' Theodore's mind went blank as he realized what that short title meant.

The magic towers, which defended the Meltor Kingdom, divided their magicians into five stages. It wasn't as strict as noble titles, but magicians did have to treat those higher than them with respect.

New members who had just entered the magic tower were Basic, while those with some experience were called Average.

People who built up fame and merits were Superior, whereas veterans recognized as pioneers of the magic tower were Prime.

Finally, the wise person praised as the master of the tower was Supreme. The Supreme was the absolute magician and could be called more precious than the seven sword masters of the Andras Kingdom. They were also the backbone of the Meltor Kingdom.

The old man standing in front of him was the top magician of the Blue Tower, a Supreme rank!

"B-Bergen Academy's third grade student, Theodore Miller greets Tower Master!" Theodore bowed belatedly as he realized the situation.

This caused Blundell to stroke his beard and laugh. "Huhu, there is no need to be so uptight! It is good to be polite, but don't bow down too much. Isn't that right, Vince?"

"Hah…that's right." Vince immediately replied with a dour expression. It was a shameless approach to someone who seemed to dislike him. Either way, he was a difficult person for Vince to deal with.

Blundell was the master of a magic tower, yet he had approached under the pretense of a pleasant old man. So, he might have approached with an ulterior motive. Vince thought like this and naturally covered for Theo.

"So, what happened?" Vince had a headache because he hadn't thought the master of a magic tower would approach them, but his troubles didn't end here.

As annoyance stiffened Vince's face, Blundell took a step back. It seemed like he knew how disruptive he was. A personality which didn't know how to quit was bad. "Hmm, ahem. It isn't anything big. It's just that it has been a long time since you came to the capital, so I wanted to see what happened. Furthermore, I couldn't believe the rumour that Vince brought a disciple."

"The rumour has already spread?"

"What else would be interesting in these narrow towers? They have no choice but to be curious about the people from outside." Blundell shrugged a few times, but it was more scary than charming.

Theodore was curious about how Blundell had exercised to get that type of body.

Just then, Blundell turned to face him again. "Huhu, the more I see, the more I like you. If I hadn't met another child, then I might have tried to take your disciple."

"You can't just say that… Wait." Vince's eyes widened as he realized something strange.

It was a matter of grave importance if the Blue Tower Master had taken a disciple. No matter how indifferent Vince was to the news, it was a matter he would've definitely heard about. He remembered that the Red Tower Master and Blue Tower Master didn't have students yet, which was why he had tried to avoid them.

"…Does Blue Tower Master have a disciple?"

Blundell laughed at the expected reaction, "Huhuhu, don't be surprised."

It was a laugh to show off his well-raised child. This was an expression which fit well with the phrase, 'a stupid face.' Blundell puffed up his thick chest muscles with a face filled with pride. It was obvious right away that he wanted to boast.

"Your pupil is good, but this year's tournament winner has already been decided."

"What are you talking abo…"

As Vince spoke, a voice announcing the result of a match rang out in the waiting room.

[Stadium 4, the match between Marcus Giovanni and Sylvia has ended. With a time of 24 seconds, it is participant Sylvia's victory. Marcus will exit the tournament with three tokens.]

'…24 seconds?'

The people in the waiting room doubted their ears. It was a difficult record to destroy three crystals in 24 seconds, even if magic was fired from the very start. It would be impossible unless the opponent had stood still like a scarecrow or if they had minimal defense.

In other words, the winner of Stadium 4 had completely overwhelmed the opponent. As dozens of gazes focused on the exit of Stadium 4, one person was stroking his beard with a pleased expression.

Kkiiik…

The door of the Magic Society facility opened and someone entered. The pale magical lights in the room didn't blind them like the sun, but people still rubbed their eyes as they gazed at the exit.

It was because 'she' had a brilliant presence around her.

'Silver hair…?'

Theo's eyes narrowed as he couldn't help feeling in awe.

Her hair was like white snow, and her skin underneath it was also fair. The girl's two eyes were as blue as a clear lake and blended with the blue robes she was wearing. Every time she blinked, there was a mysterious dazzle of magic power.

Dozens of tokens were hanging from a large staff which seemed disproportionate with her body. While everyone was shocked by the presence of the gorgeous and strange girl, she headed toward the three people with a casual walk.

"Master."

"Ohh, good work!"

Blundell laughed and opened his arms, but the girl turned away from him without any hesitation. The old man's expression became grouchy at the girl's cold response, but he soon returned to normal like this exchange was normal.

He patted her head and told the other two people, "The introduction was delayed. This is the child who I have been teaching secretly for a while, Sylvia."

"…Hello," a calm voice entered their ears. It was a voice which showed no emotions, just like her eyes. Most young men would lose their composure if she spoke to them.

Indeed, Theo was astonished by her presence, but it was for a reason other than her beauty. It was due to Alfred's sensitivity which allowed him to glimpse her reality. It said that she was an opponent Theodore Miller couldn't beat!

'No way…! That girl is stronger than the hobgoblin chief?!'

He doubted it a few times, but his inner conviction never wavered. His intuition was telling him that the Blue Tower Master's disciple, Sylvia, was much more formidable than the hobgoblin chief.

The strength of a magician couldn't be judged just through common sense. However, when comparing the appearance and superiority between Theo and Sylvia, he couldn't help feeling incompatible.

"Hrmm―? It seems like you are interested in Sylvia." Blundell saw Theo's trembling eyes and sent him a wry smile. "Why don't the two of you have a match? Isn't this a chance to show Sylvia a wonderful appearance?"

The joke wasn't funny. Theodore now realize why Vince had been sneaky regarding the magic towers. There was no way a top magician wouldn't be able to know Sylvia's skill after seeing her. If he was stupid enough to nod here, he would lose five tokens and Vince's reputation would take a hit.

Theo took his eyes off Sylvia and refused the invitation. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse. Right now, I can only show you an unsightly appearance."

Did her interest disappear? Sylvia's gaze moved away from Theodore.

He felt some regret, but it would be stupid to compete with her right now. It was brave to challenge opponents who were hard to beat, but challenging opponents he couldn't win was just foolishness.

Blundell also clicked his tongue at the answer. "…It is too bad. Then I hope you two will fight later."

With those words, Blundell turned around, and Sylvia bowed before following him. As soon as the two people who boasted different types of presences disappeared, the tension in the room was released. The combination of a muscular old man and a girl with silver hair was truly strange.

However, Theo and Vince were still tense.

Vince was the one who opened his mouth first, "…What about the booked restaurant?"

"Unfortunately, it will have to be for later."

The certainty in victory after his first match had been blown away by an encounter with the strong. Sylvia, the disciple of the Blue Tower Master, Blundell Adruncus…

She had the magician genius which Theo had been longing for since childhood. The fact that she was a disciple despite being younger than him proved this fact. An unknown feeling which might be jealousy or longing exploded in his stomach.

"It is best to avoid her and aim for a high ranking."

"I know that is easy."

A genius like her wouldn't appear that often. The majority of participants would fall victim to her and be eliminated from the tournament rankings. It would be easy for Theo to find people to collect the tokens from and rise in the rankings.

Challenging Sylvia was a foolish act.

"Even so, I want to challenge her."

The genius recognized by the Blue Tower Master, an existence born with the talent Theo didn't possess… However, Theo couldn't regret his talent now. The grimoire he got his hands on was a genius like Sylvia, giving him a talent that might be comparable to her natural one.

Due to this, he wanted to compete against her even more.

"I think it is a ridiculous and foolish choice. But…" A crack appeared on Vince's cold face. It was the face of a beast which had been seen often during his days as a war magician, the Red Tower's 'Fire Killer Vince.'

"My blood is boiling after a long time. I want shock to appear on the face of that old man."

"Oh, that is good. I want to see it too." Theo agreed.

"It really is a great relationship when hearts connect. I didn��t think you would be so motivated."

Vince pulled out his wallet from the space pocket and stared into it with narrowed eyes. Then he muttered in a moderate tone, "Let's go to the artifact stores and bookstores. Tell me if you want anything."

After 10 years of fighting on the battlefield, this was the moment that the thick wallet opened widely.