episode_0063

Asel’s magic power is fluid. Rather than the flow being smooth, it feels like its properties change as he desires. Of course, the flow is also smooth, but the property changes that occur freely are a more distinctive feature of his magic power.

Considering that there are times when magic power acts against its master’s will, this was a characteristic with many advantages. An absolute magic power that is never affected by the interference of others and obeys only the master’s commands.

It was not an easy feat even with the magic power manipulation ability of a great mage. Asel’s talent easily surpassed even this difference in hierarchy. If mages who struggled in the 5th and 6th ranks for decades were to see this, it would be enough to make them froth at the mouth.

It wasn’t for nothing that the 5th and 6th ranks were called the mages’ graveyard. Although one could certainly do their part at that level, if they intended to be satisfied there, they wouldn’t have become a mage in the first place.

As lofty as the thirst for knowledge and the spirit of inquiry was the desire for rank advancement. This is why there are quite a few mages who aim for rank advancement through human sacrifice or sinister rituals. Perhaps the perception of mages today was largely shaped by such corrupted mages.

Most proper mages were either affiliated with an organization or sat alone in a room conducting research. As rumored, mad mages were only a tiny minority, but that minority was frequently exposed to the outside, shattering the perception.

Just Asel alone has already met Zerbil and Virsia, hasn’t he? They were both monstrous individuals, so the magic they used is still vividly imprinted in his mind.

Even if by some chance he were to meet them again, continuous research was essential to avoid being helplessly defeated, at the very least. Research through Aleph was also a part of this.

[Ignition (燔燐)]

On a blank page, Aleph personally consecrates the formula, then consumes Asel’s absorbed magic power as is to manifest the magic. Then, a will-o’-the-wisp the size of a fist appears above Aleph. Aleph rotated it freely while speaking.

[There is no hindrance to the manifestation of magic. This is fascinating. Even I had to accept a certain degree of inconvenience when borrowing the master’s magic to use it.]

Asel ignored Aleph’s admiration and tried moving the rising will-o’-the-wisp himself. Fortunately, perhaps because the magic power used for the magic manifestation was his own, the will-o’-the-wisp flew through the air according to Asel’s will, emitting heat.

‘Even if I manifest the magic pre-inscribed in Aleph, direct manipulation is possible.’

Although it was possible to manipulate the magic with Aleph’s will, it would have been quite troublesome if she stopped operating while the magic was manifested. Fortunately, it seemed there was no need to worry about that. With this, there was ample room to actively use Aleph in combat as well.

Not only substitute chanting for defensive formulas but also double chanting would be as comfortable as breathing from now on.

Although he had no choice but to stand in the vanguard during the battle with the doppelganger, with Aleph’s help, he might be able to exchange attacks and defenses with a warrior in the front line according to his own will. It seemed possible already, but it was clear that the difficulty would drastically decrease.

“It’s good.”

Asel chuckled and said so, then continued to manifest formulas until Aleph’s magic power was completely depleted. Aleph, far from expressing dissatisfaction despite her activity level rapidly decreasing, seemed excited by the fact that she could fire magic indiscriminately and followed his commands.

As a result, it was concluded that the total number of spells Aleph could use in a day without any hindrance was 7.

All were based on lower-level magic. There was nothing preventing her from going beyond that, but in that case, it was much more advantageous in battle for Asel to manifest mid-level magic himself and leave the rest to Aleph as support. Unless it was a special situation, there seemed no need to specifically expect mid-level or higher magic from Aleph.

[With one more question, the remaining activity level for today will likely be entirely consumed. Is there anything you wish to ask?]

After all the research was finished.

Aleph, who had only a minimal amount of power left, asked cautiously. Asel pondered deeply while brushing off the fragments of electrical magic power remaining on his hand. Then, he eventually spoke in a voice as if it were nothing important.

“What benefits could I gain by continuing to attend the academy? Compared to wandering the continent by going outside, which is better?”

As described, mages have a strong desire for rank advancement, as much as their thirst for knowledge and spirit of inquiry. This was the same for Asel.

The 6th rank reached at a speed unprecedented in history.

It wasn’t about age. Officially, he was the first to reach the 6th rank from being an ordinary person in just 9 years after entering magic.

However, Asel was unable to advance further at this point and remained stagnant.

He knew it was greed. To feel impatient looking up at the 7th rank shortly after reaching the 6th. It was so ridiculous that the wizened mages of the Magic Tower would hit him over the head, telling him not to spout nonsense, if they heard it.

No matter how natural a talent one possessed, there was a limit. Even renowned geniuses took a very long time to reach the 7th rank from the 6th. Asel had not spent even a quarter of that time.

Far from feeling impatient, he still had enough latitude to live thankfully with what he had been given.

But Asel could not be satisfied.

It felt like he could reach out and touch it.

He didn’t even aspire to be a great mage. That distant realm was still beyond his grasp.

But the 7th rank felt like it was right before his eyes. He just couldn’t grasp it, as if blocked by an invisible curtain.

That’s why he felt impatient.

Although the degree wasn’t severe yet, no one knew what would happen in the future.

Thus, he had been mulling it over repeatedly recently. Just as the academy was also on break, he was given enough time to contemplate the future.

Whether to continue staying at the academy, prioritizing stability, or to drop out and wander the continent, crossing between life and death.

He thought about it with a light heart and asked Aleph about it.

“……?”

But even after a long time, no answer came from Aleph. Asel wondered if she had used up all her magic power in that short time and reached out his hand towards Aleph.

At that moment, writing slowly began to appear on the silent page. Asel looked down at it and furrowed his brows.

‘…The handwriting is different.’

Sharp letters, different from Aleph’s usual round handwriting, were etched onto the blank page.

It was handwriting like dried branches struck by lightning. Thin and sharp. The sizes were jumbled, and the letters themselves were such a mess that they were difficult to understand. It was a look completely opposite to the intelligent appearance Aleph usually showed.

“……Aleph?”

He called her name just in case, but there was no reply. Only the shattered handwriting continued to be etched onto the page. At that moment, Asel sensed something unusual and stood up from his seat.

[Sage’s Tomb.]

The randomly written letters aligned themselves in a single line. Asel realized it was a feast of numerous words and furrowed his brow.

[Root of the beginning. The start of everything. Serendipitous encounter. Destiny. Swapped master and disciple. Milky Way. Star cluster. Arrangement.]

“This is…”

[The child holding a sword. The woman stained with blood. The girl swallowed by fate. The beguiled fox. Gift. Countless worlds. Hundreds of millions of lives.]

[And the direction you will proceed.]

Bzzzzt!!!

The moment Asel read the last word, black current flared up above the book.

It happened in the blink of an eye. The current burned only the written letters and then vanished without a trace. Asel wasn’t even given a moment to do anything.

“……”

A situation that felt bizarre, beyond being absurd. But instead of panicking, Asel tried to cool his head and observe the current situation.

Aleph, which suddenly stopped working. The intervention of someone whose identity was unknown. A feast of words whose meaning was unknown.

And the black lightning.

“……”

Asel’s brain worked furiously. ‘Something’ that descended after consuming all of Aleph’s remaining magic power. It was clear that this being, whether friendly or hostile, conveyed some message through Aleph.

The fact that it spoke only in words rather than complete sentences was probably because the magic power embedded in Aleph was on the verge of depletion.

Given that it remained dormant until he asked about the academy, it was clear there must have been a trigger. Rather than thinking it had been watching this place all along, it was more reasonable to think that it had hidden some device in Aleph and waited for it to be activated.

Perhaps it wasn’t the case, but still, it was undeniable that something unknown had spoken to him.

Neither Aleph herself nor the Demon of Knowledge who created her. The Demon of Knowledge had long since perished, and the atmosphere and magic power felt did not belong to her, making it unlikely that Aleph had done it.

The intrusion of a third party whose identity was unknown. A being of whom he couldn’t even guess whether it was a high-ranking sorcerer, a demon, or some other transcendent being.

“……”

He had asked for an answer, but his mind only became more complicated.

Asel’s eyes sank low.

***

“The reason for the collapse of that mighty Magic Kingdom was all due to the extravagance and corruption of the royal family. However, the actual reason was the royal family’s demon summoning rituals.”

In the end, another week passed, but Asel did not get a clear answer. He mulled over what the words left by the suddenly intervening being were and what they meant, but no suitable answer came to mind.

Aleph also could not provide any particularly clear answer. In the first place, she was in a state where she didn’t even know her own consciousness had disappeared.

“The corrupted royal family engaged in corruption and abuse of power, bathed in blood, consumed human flesh, and so on. They committed a variety of extremely strange acts. These are all things that demon worshipers would do. Yes, in fact, they worshiped demons.”

What on earth did he see then? What kind of being, in order to convey something, didn’t appear directly but spoke through Aleph? How high-level a being must it be that even Aleph, created by a demon, couldn’t sense its presence?

What connection on earth could there be between the academy and that being that made the trigger a question related to the academy? Isn’t it too uncanny to dismiss it as simple coincidence?

“……Sel.”

No matter how much he racked his brain, no answer was visible. Asel let out a deep sigh and rested his chin with a complicated expression.

“Asel!”

At the same time, Celine, who was sitting next to him, grabbed his shoulder and shook him. Thanks to that, he snapped back to his senses and looked back at Celine.

“Why?”

Instead of answering, Celine cautiously extended her finger and pointed to the podium. Asel saw the history professor standing at its end and choked, swallowing his breath. He let out a coughing fit due to the sudden jolt.

The professor smiled faintly upon seeing him.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind? You’ve been staring blankly out the window since earlier. I gave you hints several times, you know.”

“Cough…! I, *cough*. I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. Your mind might be complicated. It’s after something like that happened, after all.”

The first day after the temporary suspension of the academy ended. A history class held without distinguishing departments, embracing the chaotic atmosphere. Even if it was a class where a novice professor would be swept up by the atmosphere, unable to do anything and just let things drift, if a seasoned professor led it, a different dynamic would be created.

“Then, shall we end today’s class here? It’s almost time to finish anyway.”

Professor Weller, the history major professor, said so and sharply closed his book. Then, sounds of released breaths were heard from here and there.

Professor Weller’s classes were easy to listen to and interesting, but they were equally notorious for making students ridiculously sleepy. Perhaps the students who were fighting the relentless drowsiness were finally exhaling the breath they had been holding, upon realizing they were liberated.

Weller looked at the students who were closing their books after him and the students stretching, and said with a smile.

“Although the atmosphere at the academy is chaotic, I hope everyone works hard nonetheless. Prepare well for the mid-term exams and the grade competition next month. Also, today is the start date for 1st-year club applications, so I hope everyone doesn’t forget and joins a club that suits them. Class dismissed!”

As soon as Weller finished speaking, she left the classroom. Asel didn’t close the book he had open and let out a long breath until she was completely out of sight. Celine, who also closed her book, turned to him and asked.

“What are you thinking about so deeply that you couldn’t even hear the professor calling your name?”

“Just have a few things to think about.”

“What is it? Tell this unnie everything honestly.”

“‘Unnie’? What nonsense.”

Asel chuckled and got up from his seat. Celine followed close behind him.

“More importantly, I heard you were very worried. I heard it from Elena.”

On the first day the news of Asel’s disappearance spread. Celine was the only one who went directly to the professors, arguing the justness and inappropriateness of the current situation, and furthermore, even directly knocking on the Dean’s office door. She even went so far as to personally hire mercenaries and form a search party to rescue him.

Although the plans she made fell through, it was true that he was grateful for her efforts alone. However, Celine herself seemed embarrassed by the fact, grumbling while avoiding Asel’s gaze.

“W-why did she go around saying that? It’s embarrassing.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing! More importantly, have you decided which club you’ll join?”

“Ah… club…”

Asel scratched his head and trailed off.

He had known about the existence of clubs long ago, but he hadn’t thought about them recently because he was too busy. As it was, he had many things to think about, and the capacity of his brain was insufficient to worry about clubs as well.

It was impossible not to join a club. No matter how much it was an activity chosen voluntarily, strictly speaking, it was part of the academy’s curriculum. Since there were many academic schedules involving fighting and clashing, there was a deep meaning behind saying that cultural knowledge should be accumulated in clubs. Therefore, regardless of the grade, joining a club was mandatory for everyone.

From Asel’s perspective, it was just bothersome, but Celine seemed subtly expectant, her face brightening as she folded her arms.

“Oh dear, I knew it. Anyway, you only know magic, don’t you?”

Celine smiled and spoke before Asel could even reply.

“Come along. Let’s at least go on a tour together.”