Chapter 89: The Earl’s Entrance Examination

"My level... has already surpassed what you ordinary mages can imagine..."

Looking at the young Earl sitting before him, Arnel felt that these words were not particularly harmful, but they were extremely insulting!

However...

This was indeed the cruel reality, because among everyone present including Sibelle, who was a full-fledged mage none of them could conjure a fireball by hand!

Not even the grand mages of Saint Lawrence could do it!

Which meant that this young Earl before them actually possessed power beyond that of a grand mage?!!

At this thought, everyone present was utterly shocked!

"But if that's the case... Earl, why don't you study the magic arrays yourself? Why leave all the research to us?" After a moment, Arnel finally asked.

"Laziness!"

"Wha... What?" Arnel felt like he had misheard.

"I said, it's because I'm quite lazy. If I can sit, I won't stand; if I can lie down, I won't sit. So, leaving all this to you guys to research is much less of a hassle. After all... you are the ones I trust the most!"

Bruno secretly thought to himself: If I had known that building the Citadel of Namur would turn me into a mage, I wouldn't have dragged you all here to study magic arrays!

Hearing Bruno's words, aside from Arnel, who still had some doubts, the other mage apprentices were all moved to tears.

Lord Bruno of Idar... truly is our benefactor!

For these mage apprentices who had been looked down upon by other mages and had to leave their homeland it was incredibly touching that someone placed such high expectations on them.

It was deeply moving!

"Thud!"

A sound of knees hitting the ground. Lett suddenly knelt down.

For the first time, in Bruno's words, Lett felt trust and support from someone else something he had never experienced in Saint Lawrence.

"Earl... please, become our mentor!"

Lett spoke with great emotion.

His words seemed to awaken the other mage apprentices. Yes! Since the Earl, who pioneered the theory of magical flow, was an unparalleled grand mage, then...

"Earl! Please become our mentor!"

Except for Sibelle, all the mage apprentices pleaded earnestly.

For these apprentices, accepting Bruno as their mentor did not feel burdensome at all.

After all, they were only apprentices. Before receiving in-depth guidance from their so called "mentors" in Saint Lawrence, they did not officially belong to any particular school of magic.

So after leaving the mage tower of Saint Lawrence, they were free to join another grand mage's tutelage.

However...

Sibelle couldn't do the same.

Because he was already a full-fledged mage, registered with the Mage Guild as part of the Illun School of Magic!

If he rashly took on a new mentor now, he would be despised by other mages.

Moreover, different schools of magic often looked down on one another, each believing their own was the most orthodox.

So, the Earl before him might even demand that he leave...

"My lord..." Sibelle hesitated.

He was caught in a dilemma.

He was deeply interested in the study of magic arrays he had witnessed in Idar, yet his identity as an Illun School mage made it difficult for him to speak up.

"Idar still lacks a mage advisor. Would you be interested in taking on that role?" Bruno asked proactively.

After all, Sibelle was the only official mage in Idar besides Bruno himself and he already knew about Idar's research into magic arrays!

So no matter what, Bruno had to keep Sibelle in Idar.

If Sibelle accepted, it would be the best outcome.

If not, Bruno would have to intervene personally.

Hearing Bruno's words, Sibelle was obviously taken aback.

Was the Earl trying to recruit him?

At this moment, Sibelle found it hard to believe.

After all, a new school of magic was emerging in the eastern empire, right here in Idar. Yet, as an Illun School mage, he could still stay?

Seeing the doubt in Sibelle's heart, Bruno said:

"I never believed that one school of magic dominating all others was a good thing. Even the theories I've created—I would rather Idar become a place where elites from all magic schools can gather."

"The Illun School has been passed down for many years in the western continent. Naturally, it has its unique strengths. With the influence of the Illun School, my own theories might be further refined."

Hearing this, Sibelle was deeply moved. He then performed a formal mage's salute to Bruno as a sign of respect.

"I am willing to serve as Idar's mage advisor." Sibelle said solemnly.

At this point, Bruno finally turned his attention to the mage apprentices who wished to become his students.

Although he was quite excited internally, he cleared his throat and said nonchalantly:

"Become my students? Do you think it's so easy to be a student of mine? Allowing you to participate in the most basic magic array research is already a great privilege for you."

"However... if you truly wish to become my students, there might be a way..." Bruno suddenly added.

"Earl, please tell us!"

"I need you to work together to create something for me. If you succeed, I will take you all under my tutelage. But if you fail..."

"Earl, rest assured! We will do our utmost to fulfill your request!" Lett was the first to declare.

"Yes! Please instruct us!" The others followed suit.

After all... opportunities like this only came once. And these apprentices, who had suffered through hardship, were unwilling to let it slip away.

"I need you to apply your research on magic arrays to create a batch of bombs for Idar." Bruno finally said.

"Bom... bombs?"

The mage apprentices exchanged puzzled glances.

If one ignored the existence of magic, this world was still in the era of cold weapons. The term "bomb" was completely unfamiliar to them.

"Bombs..." Bruno paused, then tried to explain:

"...are a new type of weapon that uses magically reactive materials as a medium. By engraving the proper magic arrays or other structures onto them, they detonate at a predetermined moment, causing massive destruction!"