Ch.58The Greatest Magic Tower Tournament (6)

“What is this…?”

I came to see what kind of game they were making, but…

“I-I’m not really sure either…”

Blood Mages were gathered together casting spells…

They were actually cutting objects with Blood Magic.

‘This isn’t bad, actually?’

I was worried they might be playing some strange game, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.

Rather, if you think of it as an opportunity to practice offensive Blood Magic, there’s nothing better than this.

Above all, the magic that the Blood Mages here were using could be considered a monumental spell for me.

‘Blood Cutter, is it.’

Blood Cutter.

A simple spell that sprays blood and shoots it at high speed.

It’s a kind of hydraulic cutter, but unlike ordinary water magic, it uses powerful blood directly infused with magical power as a medium, making it more powerful than water magic.

The more magical power contained in the blood, and the faster, stronger, and thinner it’s projected, the more powerful this magic becomes. In terms of cutting power, it has the highest potential of any magic.

You can understand this by remembering how I tore through the Blood Magic Tower’s ceiling like paper during the meeting.

That shows how much the power can differ depending on who uses it.

In the case of the Blood Cutter I used, I could proudly say there was nothing it couldn’t cut.

‘They must have found the Blood Cutter I showed back then quite fascinating.’

While Blood Magic itself is about freely manipulating blood, the power of the Blood Cutter I demonstrated must have been at an unimaginable level for them.

I found out later that the walls of each Magic Tower had protective magic directly cast by Eterna.

I tore through that like paper with just one Blood Cutter, so it’s not strange that Blood Mages would admire it.

However…

‘They can’t even project it properly…’

They still lack the knack for it. Far from shooting blood at high speed, they’re just swinging blood quickly to cut things.

Even then, the power weakens as it travels further…

“Ah, this is… one of the recent trends.”

As I looked around at these people struggling to even cut rocks with a contemptuous expression, Razak beside me spoke with shining eyes.

“Oh? Have you tried it too?”

“Ah… well… um… yes.”

“You’ve tried it? What about Irina?”

“I’ve tried it too!”

So everyone has tried it.

It seems the trends in the Blood Tower have been constantly evolving without my knowledge.

“How far have you managed to cut?”

“Well… actually, originally I couldn’t even cut wood.”

“What?”

I showed a surprised expression at Razak’s words.

If the magic can’t even cut wood, there’s no reason to use it.

If a technique that puts all its points into cutting power has low cutting power, what’s the point of using it?

“B-but after receiving Midir’s Blood Strengthening Art, I can cut through logs now!”

“Oh… that’s good.”

I was about to move on, thinking that being able to cut logs at least gives the magic some value, but…

‘Wait.’

That means…

“Are you saying that countless students couldn’t even properly cut logs before I used the Blood Strengthening Art on them?”

“Ah, well…”

Razak stammered with a flustered expression at my words, then nodded.

“Yes, that’s right… most couldn’t even cut logs…”

Is that really true…?

“How could that be…”

“They’ve improved a lot after receiving the Blood Strengthening Art.”

Despite Razak speaking with a genuinely moved expression, I couldn’t shake off my shock.

This technique could be considered the most basic of the Blood Claw Art.

Of course, it’s clearly difficult to significantly increase its power, but considering that the method to increase its power is simply to project it as fast and thin as possible without complicated movements, one can see that the technique itself is much easier than other techniques.

Nevertheless, the fact that many couldn’t even cut logs meant that the level of Blood Magic was seriously lacking until I arrived.

‘It would have truly collapsed if not for me…’

There was a reason Blood Magic was called such an ambiguous magic.

Still, it was fortunate that now many could cut not just logs but even rocks.

“Irina, how far have you cut?”

“Me?”

Irina made a contemplative expression, looked around, and then pointed in one direction.

“That.”

“You went that far?”

What I could see where Irina was pointing were people trying to cut metal.

Most of them were only able to make scratches on the metal.

“Hmm… metal is difficult after all.”

If the metal were soft, it wouldn’t be difficult to cut, but I heard the metal they were using was extremely hard.

I’m not a blacksmith so I don’t know exactly how hard it is, but seeing how even Blood Mages who had reached that level were struggling and unable to cut it, it was clearly quite hard.

“Huh? No! I cut that!”

However, at my words, she shook her head saying that wasn’t the case, and instead claimed she had cut the metal.

Not just anything, but metal, and considering what’s used in a place like this, it wouldn’t be soft but extremely hard, yet she claimed to have cut it.

“You cut it? Really?”

“Yes! It was a bit difficult, but once I got the hang of it, it was easy!”

Looking at Irina laughing with an “ehehe,” I clicked my tongue.

I reached this level after practicing Blood Claw Art for decades.

Irina was truly amazing, to the point where I wondered if she was born into the wrong species.

‘If she had been born a vampire, she would have literally devoured the world…’

If she had become a True Ancestor like me…

I can’t even explain how incredible that would be.

Anyway…

“I want to try it too.”

“Someone of Midir’s caliber can cut anything, can’t you?”

“That may be true, but when my subordinate mages are working so hard, shouldn’t I provide some guidance?”

This requires a certain knack, you know.

Unlike me, who found the most optimal method through trial and error, my subordinate Blood Mages would prefer an easier path if possible.

Just because parents lived difficult lives doesn’t mean they want their children to live difficult lives too, right?

“That’s a fair point, but…”

Razak said with a bewildered expression.

“Above all… hm?”

As I was about to speak while turning to Irina.

I noticed Irina’s gaze fixed in one direction.

Did something happen?

“Irina?”

At my call, Irina startled with an “Ah!” and turned toward me.

“Did something happen?”

“Huh?”

After being momentarily surprised at my concerned question, Irina laughed “huhu” and raised her finger to point in one direction.

Or more precisely, she tried to point.

“That… oof?!”

Just as Irina was about to point out something she’d discovered, Razak’s hand shot out with lightning speed and covered her mouth.

“Mmm?”

Irina looked up at Razak with wide eyes, but Razak made a gesture suggesting she shouldn’t mention it and should keep quiet.

“Is there something there?”

Seeing such a reaction made me suspect they were hiding something.

At my question, Razak smiled awkwardly, insisting there was absolutely nothing, but I smiled wryly and waved my hand saying there was no need to hide it.

From the moment they showed such behavior while I was watching with wide-open eyes, hiding it became impossible.

“Irina, tell me. What’s there?”

“There are so many photos of big sister! I want to go see, big sister!”

Looking at Irina with her eyes sparkling as she spoke, I laughed with curiosity.

Many photos of me…

“Razak, I think I need an explanation of what’s going on.”

“No, well… that is…”

At my words, Razak stammered with a troubled expression.

I don’t want to hear any more excuses.

“We’re going there right now.”

If you don’t take me there, I won’t let this slide.

As I spread such an aura while speaking, Razak bowed his head deeply and reluctantly agreed.

There’s a saying.

If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

“What is this…”

“Ah, ahaha…”

“Ooh, there are so many big sisters!”

I gazed into the abyss.

Unintentionally, that is.