Chapter 186

Episode 186

I offered her my hand to help her up. Ophelia hesitated for a moment, then got up on her own without taking my hand.

“How did you sense my presence? There are only a few people in the Magic Tower who can sense my presence.”

“That means you were deliberately hiding your presence, I presume.”

“I-I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop!”

Who wrote this game script? To include such a cliché line…

I had kept ‘Automatic Combat’ activated ever since the mages arrived at Aslan Village. I couldn’t predict what might happen.

“If you need to talk, knock. We’re comrades now, aren’t we?”

“…Huh?!”

Ophelia, realizing belatedly that I was still holding her hand, flinched. Her face flushed red again.

“Come in. We were just talking about the Veil Sea. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”

Ophelia hesitated for a moment before entering my room. Jericho stood up and greeted her politely.

“Lady Ophelia, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I heard you’ve become comrades with the Inspector. My name is Jericho. Hahaha. I look forward to working with you.”

“Ah, you’re that old guy. The descendant of the ancient Crusaders, right? I heard from Fabian earlier.”

“…That old guy?”

I could clearly see Jericho suppressing his embarrassment and anger.

I explained instead.

“He’s not ‘that old guy.’ If I remember correctly, he’s twenty-five this year, so he’s still a young man. Jericho, I told you to shave. You look old.”

“Sigh, it won’t grow if I shave.”

“You’re surprisingly self-aware in unnecessary areas. Now, please have a seat.”

Ophelia sat alone across from us. It seemed the word “comrade” was just a formality, as she was still wary of us. She didn’t let go of her staff.

I was very interested in Ophelia.

Not in a romantic way, but because she was a combat-oriented mage.

‘And she seems to have mastered fire magic, so I have a lot to ask her.’

For example, I could visually compare my Fireball with Ophelia’s Fireball.

We could just cast them and see how big and powerful they were.

Fortunately, we had a high-performance sandbag right here, so it was possible.

First, I needed to break the ice. With three mages gathered, we could talk about magic all night long.

“You don’t call Fabian ‘brother’ even in private?”

“That’s the rule of the Magic Tower. Magical talent is largely genetic, and there are quite a few people who work in the Magic Tower as families. Besides, Fabian and I are twins, so our talents are bound to be similar.”

“I see. It seems even if you inherit magical talent, you don’t inherit the attribute.”

“It usually follows the mage’s personality.”

Fire attribute was passionate. Ophelia’s personality was quite similar to the nature of that attribute.

Fabian, on the other hand, had a more laid-back vibe.

“It was my wish to meet a mage who could properly use attribute magic. So I was very happy to be able to welcome the mages from the Magic Tower.”

“If you can mimic my secret magic, aren’t you a master-level mage yourself?”

“No. I can use attribute magic, but I have trouble applying it.”

“Well, application is the domain of the Magic Tower. They’ve been experimenting and researching for thousands of years.”

Her face was full of pride. It seemed like she would open up if I flattered her a bit.

“Does the Magic Tower also classify magic into ranks?”

“Generally, yes. Ancient magic and rune magic are the strongest, and below that, there’s high, intermediate, and low magic. Knights are divided into six ranks, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Wait a minute. Don’t tell me… you can also use aura?”

“How did you know?”

“You answered my question about the six ranks so naturally. I’ve seen a few skilled aura users, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone who can also use magic.”

I smiled modestly. But she was still suspicious, her gaze sharp.

“Is the Firebolt spell classified as low-level magic?”

“That’s right. It’s one of the most basic spells, commonly known as bolt magic.”

“I’ve had a few opportunities to use it, and it was quite versatile. I think it’s the best attribute among the five.”

I deliberately praised fire attribute magic. This tsundere mage’s shoulders were gradually rising.

“Well, if you want, I can show you a proper Firebolt spell.”

“I’d like to see it.”

Ophelia stood up with a triumphant smile. She chanted a spell, holding her staff, and powerful magic gathered at the tip of her staff.

“Firebolt.”

*Whoosh!*

Fire projectiles were created in succession. I counted a total of five.

‘My magic is stronger than I thought.’

I could create ten Firebolts at once. Just based on numbers alone, it meant I was twice as strong as a fire magic master.

“Why don’t you show me yours? I’ll give you some pointers. I’ll make an exception since we’re comrades.”

It seemed like she wanted to show off her knowledge rather than help me as a comrade.

“Firebolt.”

*Whoosh!*

I only created three Firebolts. If I had created all ten, Ophelia might have given up on magic altogether.

Then she started her lecture.

“The reason you created fewer projectiles is because your magic level is low. Usually, the number of projectiles increases as the level of low-level magic increases. The power of intermediate-level magic increases. You have two more levels to go before you reach master level. If you practice enough and gain enlightenment, you’ll be able to create five someday.”

I listened with one ear and let it out the other. I already knew that.

“But where did you learn magic? Even creating three isn’t easy.”

“I mimicked your secret magic, but you think it’s strange that My bolt magic is weaker? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“That’s… Ugh, you’re right. Are you a hermit?”

A hermit.

I had heard about them from Jericho before. They were mages who had run away from the Magic Tower or were secretly teaching magic.

Hermits had negative feelings towards the Magic Tower, so if there was an incident at the Magic Tower, it was usually related to them.

They would massacre people or sometimes control monsters.

Of course, the world was vast, and there were good people among them, but their reputation was inevitably bad.

“No. My background has been verified since I was a child. I’m a former assistant from the butler’s office. House Kalisto is known for thoroughly vetting the backgrounds of its servants. If I were a hermit, I wouldn’t have been able to enter House Kalisto.”

“Then what are you? Who taught you magic?”

“Didn’t we agree that you would learn about magic by observing?”

“…”

If I kept pushing, she would pull away. I needed to pull her in at the right time.

“I’ll make an exception this time. Jericho, would you explain?”

“I’m the one who taught the Inspector magic.”

“this guy?”

“I told you I’m not ‘that guy’!”

Ophelia flinched when Jericho raised his voice. But she recovered quickly.

“Explain it in detail. You can’t just teach someone magic.”

“The Inspector couldn’t sense mana before.”

“…What?”

“There’s a secret meditation technique in our family. He learned to sense mana and even magic with that. It took less than a day.”

“That’s impossible! Don’t lie. Even if he was lucky enough to awaken to mana, you can’t learn magic overnight!”

“What do I gain from lying to you, Lady Ophelia?”

Ophelia, hit where it hurt, bit her lip. Jericho shrugged, and she turned to glare at me.

“You’re not going to answer even if I ask, are you?”

“Of course not.”

To be precise, it wasn’t that I wouldn’t answer, but that I couldn’t. She wouldn’t understand the concept of a possessor’s perk.

“Let’s stop talking about magic. It’s just frustrating. I feel like you’re hiding something. You said you were talking about the Veil Sea earlier? What were you talking about?”

“Actually, our goal lies beyond the Veil Sea. We were planning that.”

“I’m curious how you’re going to cross it. It’s a place where all the forces of nature converge and erupt. It’s not an ordinary dangerous place.”

“Have you been there yourself?”

“N-No?”

“But you’re talking as if you have.”

“Of course, I read it in a book…”

“Books are just someone’s account of what they heard or saw. It’s best to see the truth with your own eyes. It seems the Magic Tower doesn’t teach you these things.”

“Are you telling me to risk my life just to confirm that truth? Tell me. I’m risking my life too, so I deserve to know.”

“I don’t know the exact method either.”

“That’s an irresponsible answer!”

Ophelia yelled, then coughed, realizing she had raised her voice.

“…Sir.”

She corrected her informal speech to formal speech. She was definitely a tsundere.

“One of my subordinates crossed the Veil Sea to reach this continent. We’re planning to use that method.”

“Your subordinate… Have I seen them?”

I nodded.

I had already received Selendis’s permission. I needed a large-scale event to win over Ophelia and Fabian.

I activated ‘Mind’s Eye’ because it was an important moment.

“What I’m about to tell you is top secret information within the Inspection Unit. If you promise to keep it a secret until this is over, I’ll tell you.”

“I’ll keep it a secret. I don’t have many people I’m close to anyway.”

A white light flickered in her eyes. Then I revealed Selendis’s true identity.

“…That knight is a princess?”

“She’s the rightful heir to the fallen Savion royal family. We’re going there to punish the traitors and restore her kingdom.”

Ophelia’s gaze towards me changed. It was a sign that things were going according to plan.

“You’re not just an ordinary Inspector. To have mastered aura and magic, and even have a princess as a subordinate… Don’t tell me that silver-haired woman is also a noble?”

“She’s Freya, the eldest daughter of House Whitefield. She has left her family and become my subordinate.”

“Impossible! The Margrave’s eldest daughter?”

I smiled and nodded. Her expression was priceless.

“Is there even a chance of success? You’ll need an army to defeat the rebels.”

“I made a promise to Lady Selendis, and I don’t make promises I can’t keep. If you feel burdened, you don’t have to come with us.”

Ophelia pondered for a moment and sighed deeply.

“I can’t back out now, or I’ll be labeled a coward. I’ll go with you. I really want to see the Veil Sea and the new continent.”

“You’ve made a wise decision. Then let me ask you something. What kind of mage was Muon?”