Ch.148148. Organizing and Preparing (1)

Humans are extremely inferior beings compared to Elves.

Only occasionally do those at the pinnacle of their pyramid—royalty, imperial families, and sometimes nobles who have inherited exceptional blood—stand on the same level as us. Just that and nothing more.

The vast majority of them are inferior, short-lived creatures with nothing to boast about compared to us Elves except their numbers.

The innate abilities of humans versus those of Elves. The lifespan granted to humans versus that given to us, the children of the forest.

Unless they are humans who have inherited or newly received a great destiny according to divine will.

They can never catch up to us.

Among all skills, the gap in spirit magic is especially absolute.

Humans have the least talent for spirit magic among all races with personhood, and their racial limitations set a low ceiling for their potential.

Conversely, Elves are superior to anyone else when it comes to spirit magic. The gap between the two races can rightfully be called absolute.

Therefore, it is commonly accepted that for a human to gain an advantage over an Elves in spirit magic is like reaching for the stars.

“…You are more skilled at handling spirit magic than I expected.”

Ray was different.

His technique was quite impressive.

From what I’ve investigated, he was supposed to be the worst of the worst among those wretched humans, a commoner of the lowest class.

Moreover, being male, how could he have accumulated Mana and developed such understanding of spirit magic?

‘As far as I know, he has no master.’

A commoner by birth.

If he had revealed to the slave merchant that he could use magic…

A male slave who can use magic would be quite the coveted commodity.

Those who live and die for money would have spread rumors across the continent to sell him quickly at a higher price.

A special-grade male slave with confirmed magical abilities.

In that case, acknowledging his uniqueness, royal families from various countries or heads of major trading companies would have paid astronomical sums that a mere marginal count could never afford.

But since such rumors didn’t spread, it means Ray concealed his abilities…

‘How curious.’

If he hid his abilities, there would have been no one to become his teacher, nor anyone to find him a teacher.

How could he demonstrate such skillful operation as if he had been immersed in spirit magic for years under a capable master?

Moreover, to keep his ability to use magic a secret, he must have had extremely limited time to practice spirit magic.

Friel, who had been gauging his level, began to smile deeply enough to form dimples.

‘Could this truly be heaven-sent talent?’

The more her thoughts branched out and spread, the deeper her interest grew.

Moreover, as if this little game wasn’t enough, an even stronger scent of spirits began to permeate the air.

Given the situation,

It was quite a struggle to suppress the greed that was slowly emerging, which she had temporarily set aside for the sake of the important young lady in their care.

As Friel quietly observed him, Ray, who had been smiling with a somewhat chilling edge, said:

“I merely acted as my instincts guided me.”

Thump. Thump.

As soon as he finished speaking, someone’s footsteps could be heard.

It was Elisa, who had been quietly watching from behind Friel.

She too seemed quite impressed by what she had just witnessed, showing an expression rarely seen on her face.

Elisa’s usual colorless poker face had crumbled.

With wide eyes, she took in the sight of the wind endlessly circulating above Ray’s hand.

Then, Elisa quietly slipped behind Friel’s form and whispered:

“…Lord Friel, did you perhaps go easy on that human?”

“Hmm—”

Friel glanced at Elisa, turning her head slightly, and shrugged with a playful smile.

“It’s true I didn’t take it too seriously, but it’s also true that I had no intention of going easy on him.”

“…I see.”

“According to the rumors, a single arrow wrapped in magic supposedly annihilated a Demon. Don’t you want to see it with your own eyes, Elisa?”

“Yes, I would very much like to confirm it.”

“Good, then let’s ask him.”

With those words, Friel shifted her attention from Elisa back to Ray.

“Ray, that arrow of yours that pierced through the Demon. Could you show us the magic you wrapped around it?”

Ray looked at Friel Arielt and gently shook his head.

“I’m sorry. Such a dangerous display might be difficult here. However, I did say I could show Lady Elisa something just as interesting.”

The sphere above Ray’s hand gradually expanded in volume.

After swelling to a certain size, it suddenly transformed into a bright red light source, illuminating the surroundings with a crimson glow.

Pop!

The sphere burst. The concentrated wind and wind paths scattered in all directions.

The widely spread wind paths expanded like musical staves on a white background. Flames flowed along them as if they were musical notes.

“Wow…”

Sione, who was behind me, let out a dazed voice, entranced by the beautiful scene unfolding in the bright daylight.

Ray, or rather I, smiled gently at that voice and continued:

“Though not as grand as that time, I’ll show you quite an impressive spell.”

I summoned my concentration.

In my hands now, there was neither a magic-infused arrow nor a small stone.

Since I needed to fill the empty air with the miracle I was about to manifest, I gradually dulled my perception of the world’s flow.

My field of vision gradually narrowed. I didn’t need to see beyond the range where my magic would take effect.

I suppressed my senses. Right now, I didn’t need senses to feel the wind or the warmth of sunlight.

Suppressing my five senses, I opened only the sixth sense that perceives and handles Mana.

‘First, the wind.’

The air began to stir.

As my Mana was consumed, turbulence arose and began to swirl.

The short weeds on the ground bent with the wind, and the newly sprouted small leaves on branches shook busily.

The essence of wind, condensed and compressed.

‘Next, fire.’

I squeezed out Mana into it to create the essence of fire.

Making it hotter, changing its color from red to blue before inserting it. The colorless current. Like a drop of red paint in water, the blue energy spread.

‘How did I use so much Mana already…’

Though it seemed like I hadn’t done much, over 50% of my Mana had already been depleted.

There was nothing more to add, and just maintaining the current state consumed quite a bit of Mana.

Without hesitation, I shot the compressed magic skyward.

Whoosh!

The essence of fire rose on an intense updraft.

After reaching a certain altitude, it burst with a small explosion, releasing beautiful flames.

Like fireworks. Blue flames bloomed brilliantly, illuminating the world, and below them, flames that had cooled as their Mana supply was cut off.

The flames, returning to a red color, burst and spread gorgeously along the dispersing turbulence.

Then, these sparks all became a beautiful rain, falling to the ground and vanishing.

‘It’s a waste of Mana, but…’

From summoning turbulence and compressing it to creating small essences of flame.

Without a decent understanding of spirit magic and some talent, this would be a wasteful display that most couldn’t even attempt. For a man in this world who seemed cursed in terms of Mana, it was quite a high-level art.

This should be enough to impress even the Elves.

‘Besides—’

This, when shot more aggressively and sharply, was the same magic I used to pierce through the Demon.

Elves confident in spirit magic would surely recognize that what I just showed wasn’t merely a performance.

I composed myself and looked at the Elves before me.

As expected.

“How was it? This—”

Friel and Elisa were silently looking up at the sky, then turned to me with subdued eyes.

Their serious expressions as they watched my spirit magic indicated that they acknowledged my skill to some extent.

“Did you enjoy it?”

It didn’t matter if they didn’t smile brightly.

A human they had always dismissed was beautifully using spirit magic—a domain they considered their exclusive territory, a sanctuary that the inferior, short-lived race could never reach.

I understood the confusion they must be feeling.

And I was enjoying the situation on their behalf.

The one showing a smile in this situation was…

“Wow. Wow.”

Sione, who seemed somewhat broken, alternating her gaze between me and the sky while expressing her amazement, was enough.

* * *

A woman in a maid’s uniform came to the training ground.

The maid who always assisted Ainel Sianella sought out Siabel and Diolia, and the two greeted her.

“The head of the family is looking for Lady Diolia.”

“The head of the family, you say?”

“Yes, she said she has important matters to discuss, so please tidy yourself up before coming.”

“Hmm. In that case…”

Diolia, who had been taking a short rest, rose from her seat and bowed to Siabel.

“Lady Siabel, I’m afraid I must go to the head of the family now.”

“If Mother is calling, it can’t be helped. Good work today.”

“Yes, as our training sessions continue… Lady Siabel, your swordsmanship has been becoming more diverse lately, so clear progress will come soon. Today was enjoyable as well.”

“Hehe, what will we do if a knight’s flattery skills improve faster than their swordsmanship? Go on now. Mother won’t like it if you’re too late.”

“Then… I’ll be going ahead.”

Just as Diolia left with the maid:

“Hmm…?”

A ball of fire rising into the sky.

Bang!

Followed by an explosion.

As fire spread across the sky not too far away:

“What on earth is…”

Siabel, who had been quietly looking at the sky, frowned and said:

“An attack…?”

Siabel grabbed a real sword instead of a practice one and left the training ground.