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Zero Library Delicacy #1

'A book from the Zero Library?' Kurt III and Blundell's expression changed at the same time.

Of course, they knew how valuable the books from the Zero Library were to magicians. The books could raise the person's learning ability or even give a magical protection. These were treasures which even Superior magicians found difficult to borrow.

However, were the treasures amazing enough when the person could get any wish they wanted?

Kurt III understood Theodore's words first and opened his mouth, "A book from the Zero Library… It isn't difficult to rent, but it seems like you are asking for something else."

"Yes, that's right."

"Do you want ownership of the book?"

Like this, the context was right. Obtaining ownership of one book from the Zero Library was worthy of a wish, even if it wasn't a national treasure.

Those who understood the meaning of Theo's wish showed different responses. Blundell made a perplexed expression as he fidgeted with his beard, while Veronica squinted at Theo with interested eyes. Whereas Sylvia wriggled uncomfortably, and Vince nodded knowingly as he was the only one who understood the situation fully.

As the owner of Gluttony, Theodore could transform reading the book directly into proficiency, so it was hard to find a better reward. If he obtained a book from the Zero Library, then he could learn an ability like Alfred's Magic Bullet and the ancient elemental.

Kurt III worried for a moment but made a decision within minutes. "…Okay."

Fortunately, his answer was positive. Kurt III looked down at Theo with a serious expression. "I will give you a book from the Zero Library. However, if you ever fail to properly fulfill your obligations, then you, Theodore Miller, will return the book to the Zero Library."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's generosity."

The king spoke in a roundabout manner, but he was basically just giving it to Theo. The obligation to pass on the accumulated knowledge to later generations was a matter of course for any magician, and the book could be retrieved after his death.

In any case, Kurt III determined that Theodore's achievement deserved such a reward.

"Veronica."

"Yes? Why did you call me Your Majesty?" The Red Tower Master asked from where she occupied one of the armchairs.

"I want you to accompany Theodore Miller and assist in the screening of the books from the Zero Library. And you should be aware of this, but you can't take anything out from it."

"Well… okay! It has been a long time since I've smelled a book."

"Then that will be all." Kurt looked around before raising his body.

As he stood up, the people in the room naturally bent their knees. Blundell and Veronica were the only ones still standing. The two tower masters simply bowed their heads as goodbye to the master of Meltor.

"Thank you once again for your merits. I hope that you enjoy your duties and responsibilities for the Meltor Kingdom in the future. I can't believe that it has been a fortnight, and I've already seen your faces twice."

At the unexpected words, Theodore and Sylvia shouted in unison, "As Your Majesty commands!"

Finally, their second encounter with the king came to an end.

***

"Now, shall we go to the Zero Library?" Veronica clung to Theo again as Kurt left.

Veronica might be powerful, but her distinctive scent and soft touch were dangerous to Theo's senses. Sylvia had left with Blundell. So, it was fortunate that Vince was accompanying Theo.

"Tower Master, Theo is uncomfortable."

"Huh? Is that so?"

As Theo met Veronica's golden eyes, he couldn't help stammering, "A-A bit…"

"Ah, that reminds me, I emit a lot of heat. I don't feel it, so I forget sometimes. I've been doing it since I was born." She pulled away the arm which was around Theo's neck.

As soon as the contact surface was reduced, Theo's hot body immediately became cold again. That said, this heat wasn't due to her magical accomplishment but had been present since birth?

"Well, people already know this story." Veronica noticed his curiosity and said cheerfully, "I have the blood of a red dragon."

She spoke casually like she was just revealing she had soup with white bread for breakfast. Theo unconsciously stopped walking, but Vince already knew the story and walked on with a blasé face.

As Theo regained his spirit and quickly caught up with her, Veronica shrugged it off. "It isn't such a great thing. It isn't even half but a quarter. I just live a little longer than ordinary people, and my hair and eyes are vivid."

Nevertheless, Veronica had inherited the blood of the dragon which was considered the toughest species on this earth, so she could never be ordinary. The limitless magic power and the sensitivity capable of dominating nature wasn't a realm which could be touched by humans. Her lineage must have contributed to the fact that she had reached Blundell's level at a younger age.

Veronica brushed back her hair and muttered, "I can push down consciously to reduce the heat… but it is hard to walk around normally. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I was too insensitive."

"It's okay." Maybe it was due to her embarrassed expression but Theo answered reflexively, "It was just a little warmer."

To be honest, it was pretty hot, but he wasn't an idiot who couldn't figure out the atmosphere. It was likely she must've only had idiots around her.

"…You have a good mouth for a kid." Veronica tried to look casual, but her stride widened in response. Indeed, her reactions were really honest. It was a different feeling from the cute Sylvia. Their arrival at the destination was 10 minutes earlier than expected because Theodore and Vince had to hurry to catch up with Veronica's lengthened stride.

The door of the Zero Library was impressive in many ways. When Theo saw the door carved from opaque ice, he muttered, "No, that is adamantium alloy."

While he muttered in a soft voice, Veronica banged on the door several times.

Kwang! The blows were powerful enough to cause a loud sound, but the door didn't move. Rather, her white fist became red as it bounced from the impact.

Veronica went on to explain, "If I want to destroy it, I need to use a full day to gather all my strength. It's the same for a sword master. This place is equal to the secret warehouse of the royal palace. It is impossible to pass through with space movement because this wall surrounds the entire room."

There still wasn't a consensus on what the best metal was, but it was clear what the strongest metal was; Adamantium was the king of metals. Once refined, it was a metal which would block all physical and magical attacks. It couldn't be used to make a weapon like a sword, but it was absolutely effective as a wall that protected something.

Veronica turned to Vince before opening the door of the Zero Library. "Vince, you wait here. I'm sorry, but you aren't eligible to enter this library. Theodore was the only one who received permission from His Majesty."

"Of course. Go ahead."

As Vince stepped away from Theodore, Veronica stretched out her hand toward the door.

Huuuuuuong! As soon as her palm touched the surface, a powerful wave of magic power spread everywhere.

The scale of the magic was at least that of a 6th Circle magician. It might even have reached the 7th Circle. This meant that the keyhole wouldn't appear if a person didn't have this much magic power!

Veronica charged the magic power at once and placed the key which she'd pulled out into the center of the magic circle on the door.

Simultaneously, the two people suddenly disappeared.

***

Flash! Veronica and Theodore disappeared with a brilliant light and appeared inside. The space movement magic was triggered through the temporarily opened gap and accepted the two people. It was a short distance, so he wasn't affected like last time.

Theo immediately looked around. 'This… it is the Zero Library?'

It was a space which was lacking realism. The room was bright despite being a fully enclosed space. This was due to the light tool on the ceiling. The light magic functioned semi-permanently, and books were kept in glass boxes.

There were sometimes empty glasses boxes, and Veronica explained these to him, "People borrowed or lost these books. The boxes are left in the hope they will return one day. However, I have yet to see a book returned to the Zero Library."

"How do they get lost?"

"Let's see…? All the lost ones so far has been when someone died and the book was stolen. How can we punish a dead person?"

Indeed, there was no magician who would neglect a book from the Zero Library. It was more realistic for the book to be stolen than for it to be lost through the carelessness of the owner.

Theodore was convinced by the answer and started to look at the books surrounding him without saying anything more. The glass boxes were opened without the need for a separate procedure.

'Appraisal.'

A reddish book giving off magic power attracted his interest.

[Hell Fire]

[This book contains the method to summon a flame which exists in the Demon World, a flame which burns all matter. Once called, the flames of hell can't be turned off in a normal method but only when the user's power is exhausted or his life force is cut off. This is magic that is difficult to heal. The author of this book has hidden their refinement method.

* The rating of this magic book is 'Treasure.'

* Acquisition Conditions: 7 circles, affinity for fire magic is required.

* When consumed, 'Hell Fire' will be learned.

* When consumed, your ability in fire magic will increase greatly.

* This is the original copy which was written directly by the author. There is a very low probability of absorbing some of the author's proficiency.]

It was the 7th Circle Magic, Hell Fire! Apart from the Red Tower Master, it was one of the highest ranked magic which no one could handle freely. Even a sword master would be suicidal if they moved into the path of that magic.

The power of Hell Fire was famous for burning down any aura which tried to defend against it.

However, Theo saw the conditions to acquire it and returned the book to its place without making a fuss. It would take a few years or even decades to reach the 7th Circle.

The discovery of a 'Treasure' ranked book at the start had excited him, but that feeling didn't last long.

Theodore looked at the books around him with bitterness and complained inwardly, 'This book is too sophisticated, and the condition to acquire this one… I need to gouge out one eyeball? There is magic for a one-eyed person? Is it similar to the magic that can only be learned if the person is a female or if they are bald?'

As the level of the books went up, the conditions to eat them seemed to get harder. He needed to be of the 6th or 7th Circle to eat some books. He didn���t even consider the ones which demanded a loss or impairment of the body.

Since normally only Prime magicians entered this place, there were few magic spells which could be mastered by Theo, who was a 5th Circle magician. However, at this moment…

"Eh…?" A leather cover with a gold leaf on it caught Theo's attention.

His sensory perception tickled his neck. The instinctive desire to grab that book caused Theo to stretch out his hand.

'Appraisal.'

The information from Appraisal stretched out in front of him.

[Battle Song]

[This book contains various ways to strengthen your body in order to fight in close combat. As it was designed by a child from a high ranking family who couldn't use aura, Battle Song greatly strengthens the body using magic power. The efficiency is superior to any secondary magic, so it is difficult to find an analogy. However, there is one drawback to using this magic.

* The rating of this magic book is 'Treasure.'

* Acquisition Conditions: At least the 5th Circle.

* When consumed, 'Battle Song' will be learned.

* When consumed, your ability in close combat is greatly enhanced.

* This is the original copy which was directly written by the author. When consumed, some of the author's abilities will be handed down according to your fitness level.]

Zero Library Delicacy #2

Theodore's eyes widened as he read the information window. 'A magician can fight in close combat? Is that really possible?'

Theo had pride in being a magician, but he also acknowledged the strength of aura users. No matter how much he strengthened his body with secondary magic, it would be impossible for him to deal with a real swordsman like Randolph.

Aura, an extremely refined bio-energy, was a power which gave terrific physical abilities in exchange for giving up other possibilities. Even if a 7th Circle magician used Haste, it would be difficult to respond to Randolph's sword.

"Ah, is that Battle Song? It has been a while." At this moment, Veronica approached and looked over Theo's shoulder at the book he had picked up.

As a tower master, she could freely go back and forth from the Zero Library, so it wasn't strange that she knew about the Battle Song. It might be awkward, but she truly was qualified to be his guide.

Theo turned around naturally and asked, "Is it a famous book?"

"Huh? Rather than famous… it is a bit wicked?" Veronica thought for a moment before explaining why. "Usually, ordinary magicians won't touch this. It is popular with our kids, so studying it is a requirement, but it is more difficult to find someone who has actually learned it."

"Why? Magic that assists in close combat would be useful in any situation."

It was as Theo said.

Battle Song reinforced the lack of physical abilities, so it wasn't just limited to war mages. It was a magic which could take care of a magician's only weakness! So, why did other magicians ignore this magic?

Veronica smiled like she knew what Theo was thinking. "Everyone who sees the book for the first time will say something similar. Kid, Battle Song is a magic that is as great as you think. If you are a skilled war mage, then it is possible to move at the level of aura users."

That wasn't all, so she continued speaking, "However, Battle Song is permanent magic, unlike Haste or Strength. Do you understand what I mean?"

"…Perhaps."

"It is like this. If you want to use Battle Song, you have to allocate at least four circles and chant the order without stopping. Which one is more risky?"

Indeed, Theodore had no choice but to accept it.

Just as Veronica said, this was different from magic which would be kept in effect automatically. In order for the effect to persist, he had to spin his circles continually in order to maintain it. Additionally, the flow of magic power had to be fixed by chanting the spell without interruption.

If a 5th Circle magician used 'Battle Song', they would only be able to use 1st Circle magic. In that case, it would be better to stand in place and chant a spell.

'Apart from war magicians, it is a good idea to avoid this…'

Even 7th Circle magicians would be limited to magic of the 3rd Circle when Battle Song was used. If they weren't war mages who had perfected their fighting skills to the master level, the disadvantages far outweighed the benefits. Even if a magician could move at the speed of an aura user, it would useless if they didn't know any fighting techniques.

Despite the fact that Theo could use Alfred's Magic Missile with only one circle, it was hard to trust his unstable fifth circle. While Theo was worrying about Battle Song…

–User, select this book.

Out of nowhere, a familiar voice was heard in his head.

'Gluttony?'

He was glad that Veronica was standing behind him instead of before him. She didn't get to see the astonishment which had formed on Theo's face, then he recovered after realizing it wasn't a hallucination.

–Don���t ask questions you already know. It is a waste of time.

'You, can you speak through this method?'

–It is a function that returned some time ago. Isn't it welcome since you want to hide my existence?

It made a lot of sense. Right now, Theodore's choice of magic book was more important than a minor addition to Gluttony. So, Theo asked for advice about the magic book.

'What is the reason for selecting this book?'

-It is Treasure rank, so it is a prey to release the 3rd seal. In addition, the function that will be released from the 3rd seal will allow you to use this magic more efficiently.

'…You can't tell me what that function is?'

-That's right.

At the end of the day, the one with the final decision was Theo. He looked at the book in his hand and the glass boxes around him. There was only one choice available to Theo at present, but one day, he would come back for the wisdom in another book.

In the end, Theodore picked up [Battle Song]. Veronica nodded with a pleased expression at his choice. It seemed like many of those who learned this magic were from the Red Tower.

"Well, it isn't a bad choice! The magic that a kid like you can learn in here isn't easy, so you should pick something that is in your scope."

"Yes, thank you."

"I will be staying in the capital for a while, so you should visit Vince and have a good night's sleep. We can talk about your circles later, okay?"

It seemed Veronica wasn't the friendly type to adjust her schedule for others. She poured magic power into the wall while tapping Theo's head with her other hand. Despite it being a truly awkward touch, he could tell that she was expressing her affection.

"See you later, Theodore!"

Theodore was sent out alone before he even realized that he had been kicked out of the Zero Library.

***

After finishing his work in the Zero Library, Theodore headed to his private room with Vince. The magic towers and Magic Society were greatly enlarged on the inside, so there were rooms to accommodate 1,000 magicians.

Of course, the conditions for a private room were tricky, but it wasn't hard when the person was a Superior magician.

After an early dinner, the conversation between the two people began in earnest.

"…So, that's what happened."

Vince listened seriously to the story and was amazed.

It had only been a fortnight since Theo's tournament finals, but it seemed like the owner of a grimoire could never live an uneventful life. As soon as Theo returned home, he'd had an encounter with an elder lich and Death's Worship.

After Theo finished telling his story, he bowed his head and apologized, "I'm sorry Master. The dimension pocket that you lent me…"

"No, your judgement was correct. It would be a disaster if that grimoire was running free. If the issue could be resolved with one dimension pocket, then everything is fine. Consequently, the dimension pocket has been reissued and the grimoire is sealed, so this is the best result," Vince praised Theo's decision.

Despite borrowing the power of the grimoire, the salvation of the Miller Barony was a feat which had been accomplished by Theo.

It was a heroic accomplishment which had saved hundreds of lives and prevented the unprecedented disaster that might have followed. There would be no idiot who would disparage Theo just because of one dimension pocket.

Vince wanted to lighten the mood, so he switched to another topic. "By the way, I didn't know that Tower Master would like you so much. She has a temper and is fickle in many ways, so it isn't easy for people to approach her."

"…Is that so?" Theo's expression changed subtly.

As soon as they met, she had put her arm around his shoulders and dragged him along. She hadn't showed any signs of dislike toward Sylvia or Vince; she just seemed more interested in Theo. Her facial expression had been the same when looking at the muscular Blundell.

However, Vince spoke decisively, "She is someone who gives off a bad first impression like a dragon, and it takes time for her to get to know a person. In my case, I remember that it took two years until I was called by name."

"I-It is tricky."

"It isn't just me. In any case, I thought you might have chosen for Gluttony to eat something that would be wrong for you." Vince thought it would be a poison like Hell Fire, but he then saw the book next to Theo and whispered in a moist voice, "Is this Battle Song? It must've been 10 years since I last read a copy."

"Master also learned this?"

"Of course. It is appealing to have a melee ability even though it is limited. Even if it can't be used often, it is a hidden trick."

Duplicated copies of the books in the Zero Library existed. If duplication magic didn't work with it, then it meant it was a duplicate. The special power in the book couldn't be copied, but it wasn't a problem to distribute the knowledge contained in it.

Books were archived in the Zero Library were treated as special because they were original copies, but most of the knowledge itself was widespread through the duplicate copies. Of course, there were some prohibited and forbidden books, but… it was impossible for them to be read, unless the person was a tower master or the king.

Vince had also learned the Battle Song and repeated all the words. The memory of a senior magician wouldn't dim even after a few years had passed.

"If you don't understand something, you can ask me. I don't know what you will get from this book, but I haven't forgotten any of the verses of the song."

"Thank you."

"Does this mean you will come to the Red Tower?" Vince's question might sound strange, but in fact, a mentor and his disciple weren't obligated to belong to the same tower. Even though they were split into four towers, the root was still the Magic Society. So, regardless of the tower they belonged to, there was no impact on their relationship.

Every magician had the right to belong to the tower they wanted to, and Theo chose the Red Tower. "Yes, I want to go to the Red Tower."

He had become quite interested in the Yellow Tower until he returned home. Theodore had a contract with Mitra the earth elemental, so he'd thought that the Yellow Tower would be good. However, that idea was overturned after meeting the powerful elder lich. Theo had a hunch that his life would never flow calmly.

'Power is required. If I don't become stronger than I am now, I am bound to be overtaken by the grimoire. This time, I managed to get out from the situation, but I shouldn't expect the same luck next time!'

From the very beginning, Theo hadn't want to live as a researcher. He wanted to live like the adventurous magicians he'd read about during his childhood. Theo wanted to save people and find treasures… He had been obsessed with living the special life of magicians.

After meeting the grimoire, Gluttony, he'd thought his dream had come true, but in the end, he was still an immature magician.

As Theo's desire was made clear, Vince nodded firmly. "Okay, I will go and complete the entrance procedure now. Since you are an Average magician, you will be given a private room inside the Red Tower."

"Thank you, Master."

"Well, then I'll be going. Read it at once."

As Vince left with a warm expression, Theo opened up [Battle Song]. "Uhh… There are a lot of ambiguous words."

It seemed like the myth that the Battle Song had originated from a foreign magician was true as strange words were mixed into the song. So, the translation of some words were difficult. It was a tricky book worthy of being kept in the Zero Library, but it wasn't beyond Theo's comprehension.

His eyes fixed on the characters and started to move back and forth in a mechanical manner.

'Life energy flows in the body, just like magic power and aura. The body's performance will change drastically depending on the direction it flows, and the magic described in the book aims to direct this change…'

In the room where Theo remained alone, silence flowed. This tranquility was a haven for magicians acquiring wisdom. His consciousness quickly sank to the depths as his uncommon level of concentration remained focused on the book in front of him. If he could use the Appraisal ability on himself, he would witness his understanding level rise quickly.

95% was the minimum of understanding required to extract an essence. It was the so-called 'very high' level when Theo paused halfway through the book. The combination of exotic vocabulary and extraordinary knowledge reduced his concentration.

Nevertheless, he chose to push himself in order to learn the strange form which was different from the existing magic he already knew.

***

On the sixth day, Theodore finally put down the book.

Zero Library Delicacy #3

"The preparations are finished," Theo said.

Vince, who was also immersed in reading, looked at Theo. Vince knew how much Theo had concentrated in the past six days, but he couldn't help exclaiming with admiration. The book [Battle Song] was famous for its theory and vocabulary which was different from existing magic systems. There were a few phrases which were unclear, attesting to their foreign origin.

'But taking less than a week to comprehend it… Theo's comprehension is beyond my expectations!'

The cover of the book had become even more tattered during the last six days. In a situation where the understanding didn't reach 100%, calling it 'complete' might be offensive. However, it was difficult to understand any more of the book's contents without the author.

The differences in perception between the author and reader: the noise caused by the gaps between the eras and civilizations; the various interpretations of different expressions; and so forth… When such errors were reduced, Theo's understanding was at 95%.

Vince already had nothing he could teach Theo about 'Battle Song.' In fact, Theo might have a deeper understanding in some parts. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that skill in magic was different from comprehension.

For Theo to improve the magic as a 5th Circle magician, it was impossible. If it was that simple, then other magicians would've already announced the improved magic. The current situation was one in which he could only have Gluttony eat the book.

"Hooo… Then I shall start." Theo took a deep breath and extended his hand.

This was the third time he would experience something like this.

The first time had been when Gluttony ate Alfred Bellontes' [Ballistics Magic] and shared Alfred's experience on the battlefield. The memory of shooting the Magic Bullet was still engraved vividly in his mind.

The second time had been when [Introduction to Elemental Magic] had been eaten and he'd met Myrdal. Myrdal had casually seen through Theo and called Mitra for Theo to make a contract with.

'What will happen this time?'

The previous two times had been 'Rare' books, but the rank of this book was 'Treasure.' It was likely that an unpredictable phenomenon would occur.

"…Eat."

–I have been waiting, User!

Theo's left hand was held open, and the tongue emerged and found its prey. Gluttony paused for a moment like it was enjoying the taste of [Battle Song] before swallowing it. This was the moment when a book from the Zero Library would be permanently lost.

['Battle Song' has been consumed. Your understanding is very high.]

[The unique magic 'Battle Song' has been acquired.]

[An original book has been consumed. Checking synchro rate with Lee Yoonsung… It is judged to be at a very suitable level. Lee Yoonsung will interact with the user. Lee Yoonsung has accepted the spiritual connection.]

[Synchro is starting.]

His ears started ringing when he heard the familiar voice of the guide. As he felt the sense of confusion which came with his consciousness being separated forcibly, Theo collapsed silently onto the bed.

Vince's worried voice echoed as Theo's consciousness was sucked away.

Theo fell into the infinite abyss of knowledge inside Gluttony.

***

Wuuuong…

As Theodore regained consciousness, a refreshing wind blew against his face. It wasn't a wind which could be felt on the plains. He knew from his past experiences playing in an old mountain valley.

This was a light wind which could be felt near a mountain peak. Theo's lips moved by themselves as he understood this fact.

"…How is it? Is this a good wind?" It was a voice Theo had never heard before.

Since he had already entered Alfred's body, Theo quickly accepted the situation. He had been half confident when he lost consciousness while hearing the word 'synchro.' Then the owner of this body must be the magician, Lee Yoonsung, who wrote [Battle Song].

'By the way, who was he talking to just now?'

"You, the person who is in my body right now."

'Heok!' Theodore jolted with a surprised expression as he was spoken to.

Whether he believed it or not, the man was standing and pointing his finger in one direction. Theodore's gaze followed that finger. Then in the distance, a wooden building which looked like a large mansion came into his view. Even though he was looking down from a mountain peak, the structure was clearly visible.

"I was born into the Fairy Dance Lee family which protects the Baekun Mountains. If this were in the western countries, it would be similar to being the successor of a family of knights."

'Western countries? Perhaps an Eastern person?'

"Yes, it seems like this wasn't known after my death."

'An Eastern person!' Theodore's consciousness stirred for a moment.

There was a place to the southeast of the Meltor Kingdom and could only be reached by crossing the sea. It was a place where aura was more predominant than magic, so magicians were reborn as independent magicians.

'How did an Eastern person come to Meltor and create his own magic like Battle Song?' It was natural for Theo to wonder about that.

"Well, just listen to me," Lee Yoonsung said with a bitter smile. "I was born with a high status, but the path of my life was never straight. I was born with a body that was unable to use aura. As soon as this fact was revealed to my family, I was removed from the family register and driven to the peaks."

Lee Yoonsung's voice was calm as he looked back through the memories of his life. There was a shabby hut that looked like it was on the verge of collapsing, and images of eating food left by a servant passed through Theodore��s mind. Lee Yoonsung's memories flowed naturally into Theo due to the influence of synchro.

"That was my destiny, but I couldn't accept it."

Fortunately, Lee Yoonsung had been an intelligent boy. After months of preparation, he had left the hut in the east and decided to turn his eyes toward magic.

At the age of 15, he had left the rugged mountain ranges to enter a magic kingdom. There were a few almost deadly experiences, but he had managed to cross the continent using jewels he'd stole from his family.

After several twists and turns, he had arrived at Meltor.

"Fortunately, I met a good teacher. Thanks to him, I was able to start my research in a magic tower and developed a magic based on the secrets of my family that I remembered from my childhood. That is the 'Battle Song.' I managed to complete it in 20 years."

'…That's amazing.' Theodore truly admired him.

Not only had he crossed continents at the age of 15, Lee Yoonsung had finished his purpose in an unknown country. Despite having no talent, he had pioneered his own fate.

"But that magic wasn't perfect. Since it was based on my family, I added in unnecessary things in order to fill that guilt. I will try to teach you the complete version of 'Battle Song' before you leave." As Lee Yoonsung spoke, he took on a stance.

Simultaneously, the circles on his heart started burning. Akin to a waterwheel, magic power flowed out like streams of water and filled up the body. As the magic flowed in accordance to his heartbeat, the sound of the song, 'Battle Song,' resonated in the body shared by the two people. It was a violent flow which was intense enough to cause his shoulders to shake.

"Since we are called the Fairy Dance clan, my family's martial art is close to a rhythmic dance. I recreated the aura flow through 'Battle Song' for me, who wasn't allowed to use it!" Lee Yoonsung spoke furiously while moving his body.

Then as the uncontrollable passion escaped, his gentle dance changed forms.

Kung! His feet were firm against the ground.

'A fearsome power…!'

As Lee Yoonsung firmly centered himself on the ground like a tortoise shell, he stretched out his fist. His fist was so powerful that the air exploded from a shock wave.

Peeng!

Lee Yoonsung unfolded his martial arts without any rest, not even caring if his clothes were blown away. Every time he did a dance move, the ground would shake and the air would explode. It was an outburst of violence which he couldn't imagine as a magician.

Magic born from martial arts, martial arts created with magic…

Theo forgot his admiration and focused as much as possible on Lee Yoonsung knowing he would be a fool to let this once in a lifetime opportunity pass by. Whether or not Lee Yoonsung was conscious of this, he continued moving without any hesitation.

"Later on, I once returned to my family. I wanted to prove that I wasn't a worthless person they could ignore."

Then he roared like a beast and kicked the air with his right foot.

Kwang!

The wind pressure caused by the kick blew the shabby hut away without a trace. His boiling passion moved the magic power even more, enhancing the power of the martial art. After a few more times, Lee Yoonsung stopped kicking the air. Despite making a mess around the hut, he wasn't out of breath at all.

His voice shook like a storm was occurring. "…My father was still alive at that time. His face distorted as he said I sold myself for magic. This was despite the fact that I was better than any other person in the family."

Nothing was left as his passion died down, and Lee Yoonsung was eventually murmuring in an empty voice. As his words came to an end, there was a sadness which hadn't been revealed before. This was the fragment of soul which had been left behind in the [Battle Song] book.

"Then I returned to the Meltor Kingdom and spent the rest of my life there. Perhaps I paid the price of abusing my body during the process of creating this magic."

Creating new spells were a challenge, and numerous magicians had died in their attempts. A single failure with Battle Song would tear the muscles and cause the failure of one's internal organs. As a consequence, Lee Yoonsung was near death after the magic was completed.

He spoke in a voice which sounded lonelier than ever, "I didn't know I would get a successor in this way, but I don't intend to ask you for anything. In the end, I am just a fragment of the foolish Lee Yoonsung. Rather, I would like to thank you."

'Thank me… What does he mean by that?'

"It was a dumb life where I couldn't leave anything behind. The magic I created wasn't complete, and my family didn't acknowledge me. I don't know how I died, but it wasn't a satisfying life," he spoke to no one as he extended his hands into the empty space.

It was a strange posture where his palm was placed over the fist of his other hand. Theo didn't know it well, but it was the eastern etiquette called a fist and palm salute. This was Lee Yoonsung's appreciation for Theodore Miller, who inherited the result of his foolishness.

At that moment, Lee Yoonsung's world started to collapse.

"I hope this will help you a little bit in your life, Young Man."

There was no time to respond to his gracious words as the world collapsed. Then as always, Gluttony's unkind function expelled Theo's consciousness. As the appearance of Lee Yoonsung looking around the Baekun Mountains became distant, Theo's third synchro experience came to an end.

[The synchronization with Lee Yoonsung has ended.]

[The synchro rate is 92.8%, the experience is maintained.]

[The unique magic 'Battle Song' has been restored to its perfect state. Lee Yoonsung's experience has turned into proficiency for that magic.]

[The suitability between Lee Yoonsung and the user Theodore Miller is quite high. Depending on the user's body, some of Lee Yoonsung's skills and abilities will be handed down. As the user's physical abilities will increase significantly, a long period of sleep is required. In the meantime, Gluttony will also go to sleep.]

[At the present time, you will sleep for 30 hours and 12 minutes.]

Zero Library Delicacy #4

After exactly 30 hours and 12 minutes, Theodore regained consciousness.

As soon as he recovered his mind, he felt a strange incompatibility with his body. His body felt both heavier and lighter. Either way, the weight difference couldn't be confirmed. His five senses also seemed sharp and several times more sensitive.

Sarok… saruruk… A soft sound tickled at his eardrums. His eyes, which hadn't opened yet, twitched in response to the noise.

'…This, is it the rustling sound of the hem of a robe?' The sound was coming from somewhere near him.

As Theo's consciousness gradually became clearer, his tightly closed eyelids opened to reveal blue-green eyes. Just like his hearing, his eyesight also seemed to have improved, as the stains on the ceiling had become much clearer. It was strange since Theodore's eyesight had been worsening due to all the books he'd read in the library.

Theo quickly realized that he was lying on Vince's bed and slowly raised his body. His limbs were stiff due to not moving for 30 hours, so as blood flowed back into his stiff limbs, a moan naturally emerged.

"Ummm…"

"Oh! Have you woken up? What is the status of your body?" When Vince heard his voice, he immediately jumped up. Theo had collapsed suddenly, so Vince had prepared a few emergency potions in case there was a problem. Fortunately, there seemed to be no external issues.

Vince sat back down on his chair and said, "It has been around 30 hours since you consumed [Battle Song]. I don't know what happened, but you should first take a look in the mirror."

"Mirror… What are you saying?" Theo got up with a bewildered expression.

He soon had no choice but to look down at himself. It was because the clothes he had been wearing before Gluttony ate [Battle Song] had almost been turned into rags. His shirt sleeves were fine. However, his chest area, and so on, were snug, and his thigh areas were covered with holes, like the wrong size had been forced on. Then Theo didn't hesitate anymore and followed Vince's advice.

He stood in front of the full-body mirror in the room and found himself lost for words. "Eh?"

Truth be told, Theodore Miller's body had been in a poor state. He had been exercising for a few months, but his body was still skinny. He wouldn't be able to win against an apprentice knight if he didn't use magic. He might have some real life experience with weapons, but it was the same as putting a pearl necklace on a pig.

However, what was with this reflection in the mirror?

"…This is ridiculous," Theo unconsciously muttered when he saw his body. It was because the image reflected in the mirror was strange.

The shoulders which had exposed shoulder bones a few days ago were now covered with thick muscles, and he would fill up any previously baggy clothes. His two legs, which had been as thin as branches, were now as strong as a warrior's. If he had a sword hanging from his waist and wore armour then, he would look like a young swordsman.

'It isn't just that. My strength, stamina, and senses have also improved.'

Theo carefully made a fist. The series of movements stimulated his frontal muscles, and his forearm rose up sharply. The strong muscles were like twisted ropes. He could feel a tremendous strength gathering in the palm of his hand. If he was holding an apple, then some juices might be leaking out right now.

Despite having only gained some of Lee Yoonsung's abilities, Theo was now at the level of a decent knight. Then that meant Lee Yoonsung must've been a monster. He had probably devoted himself to training despite not having the constitution for aura.

That persistence was equal to Theo, who hadn't gave up on the academy despite his low sensitivity.

'…Your dream, I've surely received it.' Theo recalled the lonely back of Lee Yoonsung and bowed solemnly. He had left without being able to say any of his gratitude.

The completed 'Battle Song,' the magic which had been created in order to prove the worth of Lee Yoonsung's life, had been left to Theo.

After expressing his respect to his satisfaction, Theodore turned to Vince. "Master, I wanted to ask you one thing."

"Hrmm? You can ask me anything."

However, before Theo asked his question, he looked at himself again. The result of the third eating experience was more than imagined. He had just wanted the ability to respond in close combat, but the power he got from Lee Yoonsung completely overcame his weakness as a magician.

Theo's hardened forearm could now withstand the recoil of a strong Magic Bullet, and fighting in close combat would be no problem if he combined Battle Song with secondary magic.

Above all, Gluttony's third awakened function was fearsome.

"The Red Tower Master, Veronica… how can I contact her?"

Now, Theodore had one challenge remaining: to complete the unstable 5th Circle.

***

Every magic tower had their own role in the Meltor Kingdom.

With their high versatility, the Blue Tower used their life magic to install laundry and hygiene facilities all throughout the kingdom. The majority of magicians in the Yellow Tower were alchemists, and they contributed to the kingdom in fields such as construction and metallurgy. The members of the White Tower, however, were sources of information.

If so, what about the Red Tower which was famous for its war mages? Of course, their role involved fighting.

"Tower Master, a pair of trolls have emerged in Viscount Bermund's territory. Forces have been sent from the estate, but a many people are suffering, so there is an urgent request to dispatch war mages.

A man rushed to the top of the Red Tower and read the report to the Red Tower Master. He knew her personality, so he also knew what she disliked.

Veronica responded to the man's request only after dealing with one of her documents. "Send Superior David. Additionally, ask for two knights to join as escorts. There will be no problems with a group like that."

"I will do as you say!"

As the man rushed out, another magician entered the tower. He also quickly delivered his report. "Tower Master, a large group of robbers was detected near Marquis Orten's territory. Marquis Orten has sent a request for help, so how should we handle it?"

"Orten? Oh, that mustache guy. Why is someone with many knights asking for our help? Tell him to take care of it."

"Yes, I will."

While taking care of the two dispatch requests, Veronica had signed over 10 documents. It wasn't just cursory signing as she read over them first. She had the ability to remember everything and didn't miss the slightest typo or error. Despite her hot-blooded and violent behaviour, she was an extremely competent 8th Circle magician.

The problem was that the extent of her abilities depended on her patience.

"Ah, damn! Why is this my only work these days? Why are they asking the Magic Tower for help with their own security? We aren't dogs to be sent around the royal court!"

In the end, Veronica reached the limits of her patience and tore up the papers. Her eight circles responded to her wrath and burned down the torn documents without leaving a trace behind. She shook off the ashes and placed her legs on her desk. As Veronica lay down, someone popped up in her head.

'I found an interesting guy… No matter how relaxed I am, 10 days is too much. Does he think he can stand me up after I guided him to the Zero Library?'

The bloodline of a red dragon meant that the most important thing to her was whether she was interested or not. She didn't want to see people or things that weren't interesting. Veronica's nature meant she couldn't ignore her duties, but she could refuse to entertain empty words.

It was at this moment that…

"Tower Master!" Someone entered the room once again.

"Ah, what is it this time?"

The man turned pale at Veronica's temperamental reaction and quickly prepared to read out the report in his hand. After all, he couldn't just make up an excuse to leave the room.

"There is a request to meet you."

"Meet me? Who?"

"A new magician who just entered the Red Tower, an Average magician called Theodore Miller…"

Veronica popped out of her seat at the name. "Send him in! Right now!"

"Yes, yes?"

"No, don't do that. It will be faster if I go personally. Hey, go and call an elder to sit here. I have a task to do, so I will leave the rest to them."

"Huh?"

"Then I'll be going!" Veronica ignored the man's bemused expression and rushed down the tower. It didn't matter what happened as long as she could get away from that damned paperwork. Additionally, she was going to meet a very interesting kid.

'Your timing is praiseworthy, Kid!'

Thanks to her exceptional physical abilities as a quarter dragon, Veronica quickly arrived at the Red Tower's waiting room. As soon as she arrived, she kicked open the door and was met with Theo's surprised face.

Simultaneously, Veronica's footsteps slowed. "Huh…?"

Something had changed. She felt a sense of discomfort, and instead of rushing, she looked Theo up and down slowly. Her mediocre impression of him had disappeared after just 10 days. Theo's standing posture was the same, however, his center of gravity had shifted like he had learned a solid martial art.

'Can a human change this much in just 10 days?'

Theo greeted the puzzled Veronica first, "Thank you for your time, Tower Master."

"Yes? Well, I told you to come and find me. Is it about what I mentioned last time?"

"Yes, that's right."

The phenomenon involving his circle was a problem which couldn't be understood through books, and Veronica had asserted it couldn't be resolved with time. In order to resolve this issue, Theo had come to ask Veronica for help. After all, aside from Veronica, there was no better teacher for this task.

"You are welcome at any time, but… um…" Her golden eyes shone with a strange light as she looked at Theo.

It was impossible to hide his skills in front of Veronica as she could see through him with one glance. Fortunately, she just marveled at Theo's change instead of feeling curious.

"Well, it doesn't really matter since I like this better! But don't be inspired by someone disgusting like Blundell. That is unreasonable."

"Ah, I understand."

"Okay, then shall we go?" Veronica started moving.

Theo followed her despite not knowing the destination. As if she knew what he was thinking, Veronica looked back and added, "It is probably a place that you know."

Veronica's Special Training #1

It was just as Veronica said. The two of them stopped at a place Theodore was familiar with.

They were at the five stadium Pentarium where the Pupil Tournament had taken place. Veronica entered the central stadium where the final match had been held. The person who seemed like the caretaker opened the door as soon as they saw Veronica's face.

Maybe she had come here more than once or twice.

"Isn't there much more space here than at the Magic Society? It is usually used as a training ground or a place to demonstrate magic when a tournament isn't occurring," Veronica explained as she stretched her flexible limbs.

She wasn't wearing much under her red robes. As every movement she made revealed a part of her body, Theo didn't know where to look.

It was like she had no idea how provocative she was being as she continued her explanation. "The best solution to the disharmony you are experiencing is to completely reproduce the situation at the time your circles increased, but that isn't possible. So, we will use the second way."

"…What is it?" Theo asked while trying look unconcerned. It was hard for his gaze to not rest on specific areas of her body.

"It is simple. In the end, the disharmony is a discrepancy between the body and the mind, so we just need to make it into one."

Once the warm up was completed, Veronica stopped stretching her limbs and stood in place. Her stance seemed to reveal gaps all over her body. However, Alfred's sensory perception was crying out the reverse: those gaps were dangerous. Theodore accepted the contradictory analysis.

Veronica smiled when she saw Theo instinctively lower his posture.

"I will help you reach the limit." Shortly after she said this, the heat around Veronica's body began to boil

Huuwoook…!

The ground turned red, and the hot wind blew into the air. Due to the wind pressure, her red robes were fluttering. Awe filled Theodore's eyes as his skin tingled despite the distance.

'She isn't intentionally doing this. She is just releasing her magic power…!'

It wasn't a special phenomenon. A magician who reached a certain level would naturally affect the environment. For example, water never dried up around the Blue Tower, and the White Tower always had a breeze around it. Additionally, snow would never accumulate around the Red Tower.

However, this was on a different scale. Even if dozens of senior magicians gathered together, they would only cause the temperature to rise or drop a little bit. However, Veronica was burning like a living flame!

Her voice resonated in the haze, "Then kid, do you want to play with me?"

She only looked at him, yet there was a blast of hot wind. Theo got rid of the hot wind with simple wind magic and responded to Veronica, whose form was unclear. He said, "Spar? With you?"

"I'll give you some concessions. I won't use magic of the 5th Circle and above, and I won't attack in any direction other than the front. I will adjust my strength too, so don't worry."

One of the two greatest magicians in the Meltor Kingdom was right before him, so Theo's concentration level reached its peak. Even if she attached 100 types of penalties, she wasn't a person he could face easily.

In general, 7th Circle magicians were on the same level as a sword master, and Veronica's power was one step beyond that. So, Theodore couldn't fathom it. However, despite his sober judgement, he could feel his spirit boiling. "I understand."

Her titles, as being one quarter dragon as well as an 8th Circle magician, were brilliant, but Theodore was the owner of a grimoire. He wouldn't shrink back just because of his opponent's name. Regardless of victory or defeat, this was a chance to test things out. It would be nice to make Veronica's relaxed face look shocked.

'I will try it once.���

It was possible to spar with Veronica if Theo combined Gluttony's third function with Battle Song. He would see if it was effective or not.

Theo looked down at his left hand and was reminded of the ability which had awakened.

[Grimoire "Gluttony" / D Rank]

[One of the seals containing Gluttony's power has been removed. From now on, Gluttony will tell you the origin of the artifact or chant a spell in a voice which can't be heard by anyone else. The former owners called this feature as 'Another,' but you can change the name if you want.

* 'Another' activates magic with the user's magic power. However, magic which hasn't been mastered by the user isn't available.]

It was a ridiculous ability. The ability, 'Another,' which had been unlocked from the third seal, was literally a cheat.

For magicians, there was always the risk that they would be attacked while chanting a spell. It was highly likely for the magician to fail in the chant if they were moving. However, a magician who stood still would be exposed to attacks.

So, if Theo' had 'Another,' he would be able to use magic without any risk.

'It is also possible to apply it this way!'

Five circles revolved within Theo's body. He used his shaky 5th Circle as an aid while building up the magic formula of 'Blaze Shell' within his other four circles. Simultaneously, the mouth on his left hand chanted the spell for 'Catapult' in a voice which only Theo could hear. It was Theodore's strongest Fusion Magic, 'Volcanic Shell,' which he'd used in the final match of the tournament.

'It is magic similar to Memorize, but-'

It was possible to complete the two magics in an instant, as if there were two people.

"Volcanic Shell!" As soon as a giant rock emerged, red flames appeared around it.

The combination of mass and firepower was more intense than before thanks to the aid of the 5th Circle. It could destroy any 5th Circle defense magic with one blow, and Theo shot it without any hesitation.

Veronica extended her hand with a nonchalant expression. "Oho, is that Fusion Magic?"

There was no chance to be impatient as the Volcanic Shell flew towards her. Magic power surged around her palms, and a red flaming spear popped out. The spear shot forward like a flash of light and pierced the shell.

Kuwaaang!

The pieces of shattered stone scattered in every direction. Fire Spear was just a 4th Circle magic, but Veronica had made it stronger. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to destroy Volcanic Shell in a frontal move like that.

Veronica truly was going to use only 4th Circle magic. She deemed it would be enough to overwhelm Theo. At that moment, dark smoke filled the stadium, and there was a temporary lull.

Huuk!

Suddenly, a human shape shot out from the smoke. It was faster than it seemed, and Veronica involuntarily let out a sound, "Eh?"

She'd expected Theo to use magic to cover her field of vision and drag her into close combat, but his speed was too fast. Even if he used Battle Song, those weren't the movements of a magician. It was an acceleration speed allowed only for Theodore, who had mastered the full version.

'Battle Song.

'Sonata of Speed.

'Vivace.'

Theo ran like he was just grazing against the ground. He wouldn't have achieved this speed if he hadn't received some of Lee Yoonsung's abilities. With a perfect center of gravity, Theo's body neared Veronica and leapt forward like a thunderbolt. Then he used the momentum to knee her in the abdomen!

Paaang!

There was a heavy sound, and Veronica took a few steps back. She couldn't believe that a man's knee had hit her as the impact was so powerful. The attack had forced Veronica to leave her spot. However, instead of taking joy from his successful hit, Theo turned pale after the collision. '…What, this feeling?'

At the moment of conflict, a devastating image passed through the mind of the attacker, Theodore. It felt like a child's fist hitting a wall several meters thick or like a young child going against a heavily armed infantry unit.

Unsurprisingly, a strange smile flashed on Veronica's face. "Good, isn't this pretty exciting?"

Theo felt a sense of impending crisis from Veronica's beautiful voice.

He moved as soon as he felt a chill go down his spine. Theo wasn't late because he had jumped back desperately.

Peeng! The air burst due to her fist.

Theo had seen this scene during his synchro with Lee Yoonsung. It was a fist which could shatter a rock in one hit, crossing the barrier of sound. His bones would break from that strike, even if he activated Battle Song.

As one quarter dragon, the blood flowing through Veronica's body gave her an ability equivalent to an aura user.

"Good movements. Haven't you become a completely different person in 10 days? Why is it that I get so curious every time I see you? You are the best!"

"That— tha—nk— you," Theodore replied through clenched teeth.

Veronica's hand-to-hand combat skills were terrible. She did nothing aside from punch or kick. Even so, the absurd strength and speed of her attack made it beyond the level of a human.

In the first place, techniques were just for efficiency. It was what the weak studied to figure out how to defeat the strong. However, Veronica had been born with sufficient strength, so techniques were unnecessary for her.

'I can't fight her in close combat! Widen the distance!' Lee Yoonsung's experience and Alfred's intuition told him this.

Veronica's combat skills were bad, but there was no way for him to win in close combat. The analysis was contradictory, but it was reality. While escaping, Theo prepared magic with 'Another' and aimed his right hand at the approaching fist.

'Memorize.

'All Slots Open.

'Double Blaze Shell.'

Two fireballs shot out hastily.

"You can use magic while moving?" Veronica's eyes widened with surprise. Interest and surprise filled her golden eyes as the two fireballs headed towards her. "But it won't work!"

Wind Cutter was invoked with a single gesture. Countless gusts of wind overlapped and broke the two shells.

Despite the 4th Circle magic being destroyed by 2nd Circle magic, Theo was able to achieve his purpose of widening the distance between them. Veronica approached Theodore but suddenly stopped moving.

She smiled brightly and clapped several times. "Wow, amazing! Learning the Battle Song in 10 days… Your movements are great as well. Moreover, you can use Fusion Magic and even cast while moving. This is enough to take down a few 6th Circle magicians that I know."

She was praising him. However, Theo just listened instead of rejoicing. The result was that he'd failed to land a single strike on Veronica, and he hadn't reached his limits. Talking in the middle of this situation meant there was something else.

She brushed away the dust on her robe as she spoke, "But that isn't enough. Kid, do you still have any other means left? You will only feel the limit after using everything possible."

"I also heard it from the Blue Tower Master. Didn't you reproduce Alfred's Magic Missile? Even if Alfred returned alive, he won't be able to beat me. He isn't a match for me."

As she spoke, Veronica threw off her robe. "From now on, prepare to die. I'll make you regret going in front of me."

Red magic power rose from her body like lava.

Ku ku ku kung…

The violent presence swelled even more. Veronica had intentionally activated her dragon blood. This meant the scale of her power before couldn't even be compared to what Theodore had previously experienced.

Even people a few kilometers away would flee from this presence. Any sickly person in the Pentarium might have their heart stop beating.

Standing before her, Theo raised his finger. "I will surprise you once more."

Veronica's Special Training #2

Certainly, Theo didn't have many means left to face Veronica.

Alfred's Magic Missile, aka the Magic Bullet, could penetrate even 6th Circle magic defenses. Veronica had decided to only use up to 4th Circle magic, so she didn't have the means to prevent the Magic Bullet.

'Well, it won't be that easy.' However, Theodore never lost his vigilance.

Even Alfred, who had turned numerous knights and magicians into corpses, had rarely faced a master level. According to the records, he'd been defeated by Blue Tower Master Blundell who had been of the 7th Circle at the time.

In other words, even the Magic Bullet's utility against a master level magician wasn't absolute.

"…Stop and raise the index finger," Theo muttered as he looked at his index finger several times.

In order to use Magic Bullet with its original force, he had to train his fingers. The strength of Theo's body had increased considerably after receiving some of Lee Yoonsung's abilities, but unlike Alfred, Theo's range was limited to the mid-range. However, it was, of course, a great improvement compared to when it could only be used several times a day.

Fortunately, Veronica waited until he finished thinking. It was an attitude which showed she was confident in her strength. There were still gaps, but he had no way to dig into them.

'Is there any way I can catch her weakness again? I felt like I had hit a wall with my knee, but it should be somehow okay if I use Magic Bullet. I can't think of any other way… Okay.'

As Theo finished his preparation, Theodore's magic power settled down. While his magic power remained still, it was like the calm before a storm. Veronica detected this and started circulating her four circles. Then shortly after that…

Pak! Theo triggered Battle Song, and his body disappeared in an instant. It was at a speed which exceeded a human's eyesight.

Theo would maintain a large distance between them the moment he realized there was no chance for him to win in close combat. That seemed like the most plausible move he would make, but Veronica's keen vision quickly caught his movements.

"Coming to the medium range? I like you even more." As Veronica spoke, she created fire arrows.

One Fire Bolt had enough power to pierce through any heavy armour. There were roughly 100 of such arrows. The arrows were completed in the blink of an eye and flew forward.

Dudududududu! The stadium floor was soon punctured with holes like a honeycomb.

Sweat dripped down Theo's face as he barely avoided the fire arrows without any damage. He had used Battle Song to strengthen his skin as much as possible, but if he had blocked the attack from the front, he couldn't guarantee that any 5th Circle defensive magic would've been able to block it.

It was reckless to fight against her with fire magic. Theo experienced this fact directly and immediately changed his attribute.

"Earth Wave!"

The ground shook from where he touched it with his palm, and the already tattered stadium floor moved like a wave towards Veronica. Having an enormous mass of earth rising up to swallow her would be really annoying, even for Veronica.

Kwaang! A wave of fireballs shattered the wave.

The destructive power was even stronger than normal Blaze Shells! Hot air blew away from the blast. It was a pressure which didn't let up even when smoke was covering Veronica. She looked forward with no fear.

However, instead of being overwhelmed by the pressure, Theo poured magic power into the ground with a smile of satisfaction. 'Mitra, now!'

[Hoing!] Mitra had been sent near Veronica with Earth Wave, and she now responded to his signal. This was Ground Spear, the trap which had taken one of Sylvia's points. It might be incomplete, but its power and size was incomparable due to Theo reaching the 5th Circle.

The problem was that his opponent was too absurd.

"Ah, an elemental." Veronica instantly knew about the existence of Mitra and stomped lightly on the ground.

Kung!

[Hoyayang!]

Mitra, who was preparing a spell, was hit by a shock wave and went into hiding in the ground with a cute scream. She didn't seem hurt, but she had received a big surprise. Theodore spoke to her a few times but didn't receive any replies. Mitra was closer to a spirit than a solid form, so the emotional impact was transmitted to him directly.

Still, Theo's goal of grabbing Veronica's feet was achieved.

'Memorize. All Slots Charge.'

It was incomplete, but he now had five circles, so Memorize had five slots. Theo filled up all the slots while she was looking down at the ground. If he unleashed five magic spells at the same time, then he could complete one combination. It was Theodore's original magic which was different from traditional Fusion Magic.

'This is currently the strongest magic I can use!'

In theory, Veronica wouldn't be able to neglect it since it had the power equal to an upper 5th Circle or low 6th Circle. As Theodore gathered all his magic power, his eyes glowed blue. The magic power in the air shuddered, and when Veronica noticed it, she halted. Perhaps it was because she expected the attack.

However, Theo overturned that prediction as he rushed forward once again.

"Again?" Veronica looked at him with a confused expression.

Theo should've understood that close combat was no use. So, she didn't know what the meaning of this approach was, especially when he hadn't used Alfred's Magic Missile yet. Whatever the case, she would smash everything he'd planned.

Hwaruruk!

Veronica once again created fire arrows. The number of fire arrows was double what she'd made earlier. 200 arrows aimed directly at Theo. She would make him run side by side, so that he couldn't approach the front.

Of course, Theodore anticipated this as well.

-Illusion Track!

As the mouth on his left hand cried out, dozens of Theo copies appeared in the stadium.

"Illusion magic? Additionally, he's using Battle Song at the same time?" Veronica's shock caused her reaction to be delayed by half a beat.

This was because it went against common sense. It was unimaginable that a 5th Circle magician could invoke Battle Song in conjunction with illusion magic which was at least of the 3rd Circle. Despite Veronica's dragon senses and high sensitivity, it would take her a short amount of time to see through the dozens of illusions.

As a result, Theodore was ahead of her by one beat.

"Master of heat, Surtr. Blow away those who dare desire your power!" This was a chant he had learned from Sylvia.

It was a top circle magic, but it was possible to reproduce some of its power by omitting some things. His lacking sensitivity was covered up by Memorize. This was the fire version of the 7th Circle ice magic, Blizzard.

'Minor Force. Inferno.'

The fearsome storm raged and struck Veronica.

"…Indeed, I should become serious."

If Veronica were a pure-blooded red dragon which swam in lava, she could endure this with her bare body. However, she was only a quarter dragon. Putting her hand in a bonfire was fine, but she couldn't face these flames, which could melt down rocks, without doing something else first.

The moment that Veronica was caught up in the fire storm…

'Now!' Theo raised his index and middle fingers of both hands, and aimed the four fingers at the front.

However, Theo didn't think the attack would be effective, even if he reproduced the 7th Circle Inferno.

His opponent was the Red Tower Master, literally the strongest magician who reigned at the peak of fire magic. This was Theo's best attack, but Veronica would only struggle a little bit. He knew from the beginning that he couldn't win through firepower.

In the end, the heat was just a cover.

His eyes shone gold as he used Hawkeye to see through the flames and aimed as soon as he confirmed the Veronica's presence within the flames. Even a master magician couldn't perfectly defend against a surprise attack.

Aimed at Veronica's forehead, philtrum, heart, and stomach, four streaks of blue light pierced the flames.

Kiiiing.

As the wind blew, there were sharp sounds as four holes formed in the flames. Theo's attack could even pierce through the power of Inferno. This was the moment that the Magic Missle of the war hero, Alfred Bellontes, returned to the world in a true sense.

"Cough!" Blood spurted from Theodore's mouth.

This was the cost of activating his circles to the limit. He staggered as the flames went out.

"Nice!" Finally, the Queen of Fire who kicked away Inferno appeared.

There was a nice smile on her face as well as a line of blood which hadn't been there before. It was the mark of the Magic Bullet, which had lost most of its strength against the defense of the quarter dragon.

'Only one shot connected. It is still lacking…'

Veronica had phenomenal reflexes. Theodore sighed deeply as he guessed the reason. The flow of magic power around her body was familiar to him. It was the incomplete version of Battle Song, but it still enhanced Veronica's physical ability. It allowed her to withstand Inferno as well as respond to Magic Bullet. He couldn't come up with any more means to win.

***

On the other hand, Veronica was shaking with joy. 'Is my spine shivering?'

Despite the penalties, there had been only one person in the city who could make her so nervous until now. It was the great magician, Blundell Adruncus. With the exception of this old man, no one else could excite her. However, she wouldn't get a chance to fight him as both of them were the pillars of this country.

However, what about this kid called Theodore?

'If he keeps growing like this for 20… No, 10 years…'

He would grow into someone powerful enough to threaten Veronica. She imagined the day which had yet to come, and her nervousness became a cheerful feeling. Even Theo's looks were good. Veronica had never been interested in the opposite sex before, but this wasn't bad. No, she rather liked it.

It would've been nice if Vince hadn't found him first, but unfortunately, she had to give up on taking the role of mentor.

She pulled a potion out of her dimension pocket. "Drink this now. The blood is clogged around the circles on your heart, so it is better to drink and treat this."

"Ah, thank you."

"And the attack you showed at the end was really good! Keep doing this in the future."

Theo stiffened as he asked, "…Future. Does that mean?"

"Yes!" Veronica nodded with a bright expression and dropped the expected bomb. "Drink the potion and rest for 30 minutes. We will spar half a dozen times a day. Results will usually emerge after less than a month. Are you going to be one of those whiny children who say they won't do it again?"

Theodore stiffened as he looked at the shattered stadium, torn attire, and blood he had thrown up. Veronica's smile caused him to feel a chill, despite it containing no ill will.

Theo could see why Vince had called her a natural disaster, but he couldn't go back now. In the end, Theodore dropped his head with a resigned expression.

The fierce one-on-one tutoring with Veronica ended after approximately a fortnight.

The Second Mission #1

It was definitely worth sparring against Veronica, one of the greatest magicians of the present day, despite the harshness. She seemed accustomed to attacking and defending in this way as she acted at a level which Theodore could handle. Moreover, she also used her speed and power to push him to the limit.

'She's coming.' Theo moved his body as soon as his senses noticed it.

He took two steps to the right, and a terrible thunderbolt struck where he had just been standing. His body moved in a way it wouldn't have been able to a fortnight ago, while his sharp five senses read the movement of mana and squeezed out the magic formula one step ahead of his mind.

It was followed by a fearsome rain of fire arrows.

–Arrow Protection.

Theo took one step forward and triggered the water skill. He was already in a state where Battle Song was helping him. Just like a dancer, he moved through the arrows while kicking and blocking things with his fist. They were natural movements but they seemed like clothes borrowed from someone else.

'Battle Song. Rhapsody of Power. Mezzo Forte.'

Theodore's fist filled up with magic power, and he hit a fireball.

Peeeong!

Some of the embers from the scattered fireballs hit his face, but Theo watched Veronica's movements without moving a single eyebrow. It was because missing her position for a brief moment would lead to defeat.

However, Veronica surpassed even that level of concentration.

"Are you looking at an illusion in the distance?" As Veronica's voice rang out behind Theo, a chill ran down his spine. He had missed the moment she used illusion magic when he had been intercepting the fire arrows and fireballs. The shape in front of him was just a refraction of her heat.

'This time, it is only up to here.'

The intervals and timing… Theo couldn't see a way out.

Hwaruruk!

The heat burst. He had predicted the fireballs thanks to the movement of mana. It wasn't a conventional Blaze Shell, but there was no way to stop it at this distance. He had already used the Protection skill a long time ago, and even if he combined Battle Song and Shield, he couldn't avoid the situation.

The moment he tried to open up Shield with a bitter smile…

Clink.

There was a strange sensation in his body, like a misaligned cog clicking back into place. The uncomfortable magic power flow stopped, and the 5th Circle started rotating with the other four circles.

Theodore felt this and unconsciously completed the formula for the 5th Circle defense magic, Protection.

Peeeong!

The wall of blue magic power completely blocked the fireball.

"…Eh?"

Theo couldn't help smiling at the successful defense, and Veronica grabbed him with a bright smile. She realized that Theodore had completely crossed the threshold to the 5th Circle after using Protection.

"You succeeded! Well done Kid!"

"T-Tower Master. Please let go."

Veronica wasn't wearing a robe, so Theo's head became empty at her touch. The skin moist with sweat caused him to feel dizzy.

However, Veronica didn't know what was going on in his head and smiled playfully. "When we are in private, shouldn't you call me 'Sister'? At any rate, the disciple is stubborn, just like his master. This is the last time I will play with you. I'm a little sad."

She had left her position for a fortnight to be Theodore's opponent. In a sense, one of the greatest magicians in Meltor had acted as his private tutor. It was huge when he thought about how he couldn't even afford a single bottle of magic reagent.

Yet, right now, someone this great was asking him to call her 'Sister'? Just as Theodore opened his mouth hesitantly to speak…

"Tsk, there are guests who can't read the atmosphere." Veronica sensed someone approach and moved Theo to an angle in which he wouldn't be visible.

Kkiiik-

A white robed man from the White Tower hurriedly entered Pentarium and bowed to her.

"Tower Master! There is something urgent that you need to look at!"

"The rating?"

"At least the 4th grade of importance."

"…Oh, that is vaguely high. It can't be helped."

She would've ignored it if it was the 5th grade, but Veronica was forced to release Theo. Theo was filled with some regret, but his eyes shook at the next words.

It was because she was giving him an order with a serious expression. "Follow me. I may need your strength."

***

The missions given to war mages and the Red Tower were fundamentally militant.

If it was a mission which involved 'fighting', most magicians would be dispatched from the Red Tower. They were for sent when there were appearances of strong monsters or groups of criminals, or to destroy forces preparing for a revolt.

Therefore, the Red Tower had introduced a policy with two classifications for the missions: the degree of risk; and the degree of importance.

Veronica walked in front of him and explained, "The elder lich that you dealt with in your hometown is 3rd rank in terms of risk, but his importance is unexpectedly low at the 4th or 5th rank. I could handle it without any difficulty. At most, one or two territories would be lost. Oh, grimoires are an exception."

"One or two…"

It sounded scary from the point of view of those territories, but it wasn't such a big deal when looking at the whole country.

According to her, the 1st rank importance was assigned to things like a massive rebellion, invasion from a hostile nation, or the assassination of the king. 2nd rank was associated with large-scale epidemics, natural disasters, and disasters such as a monster wave.

"Then what is the 3rd and 4th rank when it comes to importance?"

"It is simple. Issues that might become the 1st or 2nd rank. But most of these cases can be solved with violence. They are things that we can handle with strength."

Veronica kicked the doors of the tower master's office with a frown. The door was made for such an situation, so it swung open and they entered. The door knob seemed to have no meaning, but nobody cared.

She sat down on her chair and looked at the intelligence member. "Now, let's hear the report."

The magician in the white robe read out the report like he had been waiting. "It was three days ago. Agents of Earl Bergen intercepted talks of 'slavery' while they were watching some merchants. The name of the organization is [Shackler], an organization that is active in the Austen Kingdom."

"Slaves? They didn't hear wrong?" Veronica expression showed that she didn't understand.

It had been 100 years since the great powers in the northern part of the continent, the Andras Empire and the Meltor Kingdom, banned slavery. The knights and magicians had taken action, and the slave trade dried up. Families associated with slavery were destroyed, and those who gained wealth from it became cold corpses in the morning.

The policy remained even now, and few idiots tried to use the Meltor or Andras countries as intermediaries. The intelligence agent from the White Tower nodded in agreement. "I have reviewed this a number of times before telling Tower Master… They truly are slavers. I saw them smuggling several human sized barrels."

"They must want to be killed… Then we will kill them." A creepy killing intent filled Veronica's gold eyes.

Slavers were absolutely not allowed to step foot in Meltor.

The role of the Red Tower was to annihilate any harmful existences to Meltor. No, slavers were just vermin who couldn't be allowed to exist. It was best to kill them right away, without bothering to capture or arrest them.

If this was true, then the importance was at least the 4th rank.

"The species of the slaves being traded?"

"Elves."

"I knew it. If it was just handling human slaves, then the importance would only be at the 6th rank."

The elf species, with their beautiful appearance and long life span, had been popular as pets for the powerful since a long time ago.

At one time, there had been large scale hunting of all elves on the continent. It was to the point where they had been at the risk of becoming extinct, and the rage of the elementals had brought the country into disarray. However, the human greed still hadn't faded.

Therefore, the elves had decided to make their own country separate from humans. The elv es gathered their strength and established a country called Elvenheim, located deep in the northern mountains.

The environment, which humans couldn't easily approach, was a paradise for them. The slavers didn't dare approach the large group of elves. Rather, they were frequently beaten by the elven warriors dispatched to liberate the slaves.

Since then, the sale of elven slaves had become a taboo on the entire continent. However, the number of humans who wanted elf slaves were still too high to be counted, so slavers continued to meet the demand in the shadows.

"…It is a long awaited chance to gain some favour with Elvenheim. You figured out the power of [Shackler], right?"

"Of course." The white robed magician respectfully placed the scrolls on the table.

It seemed he was hesitant to speak in front of Theo, who didn't have any relation to the the mission.

Veronica then opened the scroll with a chant. She frowned as she finished reading the contents. "I can't believe it. Did they bring five senior aura warriors? It means the organization has a large stake in this deal."

The power of the force the slavers brought was enough to sweep away a small or medium sized estate. The price of elven slaves were high, but was it worth bringing so much power?

Frankly, Veronica was skeptical. If this power was to be wiped out then the organization [Shackler] would be almost destroyed.

'Those guys won't do anything that will lose them money. It can't be.'

There was something fishy about this. They didn't need to take such risks for something like the simple sale of elves. It seemed like there was another purpose. The intelligence network of the White Tower didn't seem to have penetrated to this extent, but there was a question at the end of the report about the unsustainability of this venture.

It seemed like Veronica would have to increase the power of the magicians who would be sent. She set the report aside and pressed the bell on her table.

Chaeng! The bell rang through the tower, and a clear of the Red Tower ran up from the bottom of the tower.

"Did you call, Tower Master?"

"I need at least two Superior magicians. Call all the people remaining in the capital right now."

"I understand." The clerk pondered for a moment before his face suddenly turned pale.

Veronica saw his look and frowned. It was clear she wouldn't receive a satisfactory answer from such an expression. Unsurprisingly, the clerk spoke in a small voice like he wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, "T-Tower Master, there is only one Superior war mage left in the capital right now."

"Who is it?"

"Vince Haidel."

Theodore flinched as he suddenly heard his teacher's name. However, Veronica's face distorted as she asked, "What about our veterans?"

"Only Herman remains."

"He can't fight because of an injury. Damn, there is too much work these days, so my hands are twisted like this. I can't take people from the other towers."

It was different if it was a monster subjugation, but it was hard to hand the task of killing people to magicians from another tower. Their minds wouldn't be prepared, and they didn't know the tricks.

If they were experienced veterans, then it would be okay. However, it would take a while for the request to go through. She needed to find a candidate who could be dispatched immediately.

"The remaining ones?"

"There are 23 Average ranked magicians… Most of them have recently upgraded while the rest have started missions already."

"I can't use them. Don't bother telling me."

She bounced her fingers irritably for a moment before shaking her head like it couldn't be helped. Theodore stood awkwardly before that golden gaze.

"Call Superior Vince Haidel to me right now. Vince Haidel and Theodore Miller will be given this mission. Also go to Shugel and request a transfer with space magic."

The magician didn't dare refuse and ran out of the tower.

The Second Mission #2

Soon after receiving Veronica's call, Vince hurried to the Tower Master's office. Veronica told him the whole story and said that he would be one of the two people being dispatched. Vince's expression hardened at the mention of the word 'slave.' To him, a criminal organization which sold intelligent species for money were the worst gutter rats.

"I understand the mission," Vince replied in a tone which was different from his usual cold self. "Liberate the slaves from the organization, [Shackler], and eliminate members of said organization. In addition, find out why they've come to Meltor and investigate the truth behind the deal, right?"

"Exactly. If there is some room, capture the commander. If you can't afford it, torture and kill them."

"I understand."

It was a bloody conversation, but this was normal when it came to Red Tower tasks. Things couldn't always go smoothly, and sometimes violence was needed. The royal family allowed Red Tower magicians to commit violence, and they even had the right of execution depending on the circumstances.

Moreover, utilizing torture in order to extract information was, of course, acceptable. It was why Meltor's villains didn't dare go against red robes. War mages were an existence on an entirely different level to them.

"…Tower Master," Vince spoke to the Red Tower Master instead of immediately leaving the room.

Apart from the difficulty of the mission, he didn't want his disciple to dip his feet in a dirty ditch like this. It was enough for Vince to dirty his hands. He should be able to handle this much of a force on his own.

However, Veronica realized his thoughts and shook her head. "No. I don't have a good feeling about this. The information from the White Tower is excellent, but they couldn't find out everything. If there are more hidden forces, then you won't be strong enough on your own. Take the kid."

"Theodore is still only 19 years old."

"He is also a 5th Circle magician. This Veronica has personally seen that he has a promising future."

The gazes of the two people clashed in the air. Neither of them doubted Theo's skills. Theodore's capabilities had already surpassed the top Average, and he could keep up with his mentor, Vince. Above all, it was important that the person involved, Theodore, didn't intend to refuse the mission.

Theo took a step forward and broke the confrontation between the two people. "I will do it."

"You will?"

"I don't want to send Master to a dangerous place alone. If I can be of assistance, then please let me accompany you."

Veronica smiled at his attitude. "The kid said so, Vince."

"…Then it can't be helped."

"Well, think of this as the price for having a very good disciple. You don't have to worry about him doing well."

In the end, she smiled at Vince and picked up a piece of parchment from her desk drawer. Then she wrote on it roughly with a pen and stamped it with her seal. The stamp had a special ink, which only the Red Tower Master could use, and a certificate holding her name.

Veronica threw the piece of parchment toward Vince. "This is my stamped order. If necessary, use it to ask for the cooperation of Earl Bergen. You may not be able to encircle the organization with just two people."

"Huh? Wouldn't it be a nuisance for you to handle?"

"Hey, if I give it to you, then just accept it. What are you saying?" Veronica shouted, forcing Vince to accept the parchment with a grim expression.

Vince didn't think it was a good idea, but he thanked her anyway. She didn't finish there as she pulled out one more thing. "Kid, take this."

"Huh? Ah." A small pouch was placed on Theodore's palm. The outward appearance of the pouch resembled something he knew. Veronica spoke and reminded him of something he had forgotten about, "Apparently, your dimension pocket hasn't been reissued yet? So, I will lend you mine instead."

"Thank you for your consideration… Huh?" Theo made a confused sound as he found that the pocket had a strange weight.

"Tower Master, are there things inside?"

"Don't mind the clutter. Potions, scrolls… These things aren't very useful to me."

'Why would she leave useless things in her dimension pocket?' Theodore questioned inwardly, but he was able to see the reason after Veronica avoided his gaze. He smiled when he understood her secret intentions, while Veronica fanned her face with her hands. She still couldn't hide her feelings.

"Go. I've said everything I needed to say. Old Man Shugel must be waiting."

"I understand." Vince and Theo answered at almost the same time, but unlike Vince, Theo didn't turn around to leave. Instead, Theo looked at Veronica with a strange expression and said, "I will be back."

These last words were said soundlessly, with only the movement of his lips. He was embarrassed to say them in front of his master. However, the meaning of his words was conveyed. Veronica's eyes widened, then she was smiling like a blooming flower.

***

Flash!

A light suddenly shone in a narrow space. It was an empty space without any furniture, and the dust on the floor rose up like a whirlwind. This was the phenomenon of spatial magic as people moved from Mana-vil Capital to Earl Bergen's territory.

Two people appeared in the distorted space. This time, they weren't accompanied by the caster of the magic, so Theo and Vince were the only ones to appear.

"…Hoo, these damn side effects haven't changed." Vince was no exception to the dizziness caused by spatial magic as he pressed a hand to his forehead. It was an inevitable side effect which affected anyone other than the White Tower elders who crossed space repeatedly.

Theodore was also affected, but it wasn't as bad for him as it was for Vince because Theo had experienced it recently.

"Should we take a rest for a while?"

"No, it is fine. This dizziness will go away quickly." As Vince said, he quickly regained his sense of balance. Then he immediately walked toward the exit.

Their location was a secret mansion on the outskirts of Bergen. It was a facility unavailable to magicians unless they were of a certain rank. Perhaps even Earl Bergen, the master of this territory, didn't know about the existence of the mansion.

The two people from the capital opened the secret door into the back alley and naturally blended with the crowd.

"…I didn't expect to come back to Bergen again. I sent a resignation letter after going to the capital," Vince murmured as he saw the familiar city views.

In retrospect, they had only been gone for around a month. However, there was a strange sensation, like he had been away for a long time.

Theodore felt the same way. 'The hobgoblin chief, Sylvia in the finals… the elder lich, the grimoire, and Veronica.'

He had struggled against monsters and met a genius he never thought he would reach in his lifetime. Theo had also encountered a monster he'd only read about in books and survived. Unexpectedly, Theo had even gotten acquainted with an unimaginable person who asked him to call her, 'Sister.'

Theodore had gone through so much in just one month. Vince had accepted Theo's diploma for him, but that didn't matter. Those days were like a dream in the night.

'…No, it isn't.' Theo denied it firmly as he looked at his heart. The five circles were moving as they followed the instructions of their master. It was clear evidence that the past month hadn't been a dream.

At that moment, Vince spoke quietly, "Theo."

"Yes, Master."

"Let's look around first. We came secretly, so we shouldn't expose ourselves."

"Understood."

Their clothing were different from usual. Theodore and Vince were dressed in casual clothes and didn't look like magicians. The clothes were roughly woven mixtures of brown, grey, and green cloth which could be seen everywhere.

This was a mission to infiltrate the seedy world, so they couldn't be revealed as magicians from the magic towers.

Step, step.

The two people walked along the outskirts. Occasionally, they bought food which couldn't be called delicious from the street stalls. This type of camouflage wasn't difficult.

They walked around for approximately an hour while conversing.

"Foreigners… There seem to be a lot of people from Austen."

"There are aura users and well-trained warriors."

"They are either members of the [Shackler] organization or mercenaries. Either way, this isn't great. It is probably a patrol."

The veteran war mage and Theodore's sensory perception meant they could sense things ordinary people couldn't feel. It was easy to grasp the level of mana or if a person learned martial arts by looking at the movements of someone passing by.

As such, Theo's Hawkeye discovered strangely curved swords on someone's back. Theo pointed it out to Vince who explained,

"They are shamshirs, swords used by Austen warriors. The shape of the handle and the blades are streamlined."

The form made it difficult to stab something, but its utility was excellent. Such weapons were specifically designed for the warriors of the desert kingdom, Austen. It was at this moment that…

"Yes."

"Ah."

The two people recognized it at almost the same time, but they pretended to be ignorant and started moving again. Vince understood that he shared the same feeling with Theo, so he didn't look back as he opened his mouth.

He let out a small whisper which was difficult to hear even at close range, "There is a tail on us."

"Yes, but I don't feel any danger."

"I don't feel any killing intent either. Not assassins… Maybe they are intelligence operatives."

The two of them hadn't done anything which would cause doubts. They didn't know why there was a tail on them so quickly. The two people silently came to the same conclusion and turned toward a place that wasn't populated.

They were going to… 'Catch the tail.'

After a while, they reached an alley with no one around them.

'…?!' The person following them flinched as he sensed something strange, while the two magicians activated their magic power at the same time.

Vince finished his magic one minute earlier than Theo, and a blinding light emerged from his palm.

It was the 4th Circle magic, Burning Flash. This magic was extremely effective when used as a surprise attack. An empty void was revealed amidst the blinding light. Vince and Theo didn't know the method that the person used to hide, but the stealth was exquisite.

Furthermore, in a situation where the target's eyesight was lost, they reflexively prepared for battle. A person unused to fighting might've tried to flee, however, this person was outnumbered. "Ugh, dammit!"

Theo's spell, which was completed afterwards, caused an enormous pressure to tighten around the person following them, and the magic used to hide their body was turned off. However, a strange expression appeared on Theodore's face. "…You?"

The face revealed underneath the magic was of someone Theo knew.