episode_0091

Magic is activated in three stages.

1. Awaken mana. 2. Channel it into the incantation. 3. Magic is activated according to the mana and incantation.

At first glance, it might seem quite difficult, but it’s not really that complicated.

To put it simply, mana is the ingredient, the incantation is the cooking, and magic is the cooked food.

Just as selecting ingredients and the appropriate cooking method are crucial for making delicious food…

…using outstanding magic requires mana control and precise incantations.

Of course, there are bound to be other opinions.

French cuisine, often called French, is particularly complex and meticulous in its cooking process.

While not completely ignoring ingredients, it could be said that refined cooking methods have been developed to elevate even low-quality ingredients to exquisite tastes.

The innovative use of various spices, as well as boiling, steaming, grilling, and frying—it’s generally recognized as being very labor-intensive.

And what’s the result?

Even tough, low-value meat transforms into a top-grade steak that melts in your mouth the moment you put it in after plating.

For a time, the magical world of the Nifrantz Kingdom held the same logic as French cuisine.

From the beginning, magic was precious.

The mere fact that one could bring about divine miracles with human hands meant that mages were greatly revered by the ancients.

Naturally, those who could use magic became religious leaders and tribal chiefs.

Julius Nifrantz, who showed exceptional aptitude for magic, was chosen as the first king and founded the nation.

Naturally, magic became the exclusive property of the privileged.

The idea that the few who could use magic should dedicate themselves to its development and lead everyone else was widely accepted.

Mana control?

That was only too natural for those select few.

For those who awakened to the flow of mana as an innate talent from birth, using mana freely was no different from walking on two legs.

So what they set their sights on was ‘shoes’ and ‘cooking’.

After countless studies, their answer to how to transform this mana into higher-level magic was…

…to push the refinement of the incantation to its limits.

The moment multiplication was added to the existing magical incantation worldview, which was only addition and subtraction, the world changed dramatically.

Even with the same amount of mana, the newly created incantations were far more complex and detailed, requiring highly sophisticated chanting.

As a result, the power of the activated magic, or ‘magical power,’ became incomparably stronger.

The status of the Incantation Faction soared.

Great mages from across the kingdom gathered to create only precise incantations.

They built the Magic Tower.

When reclusive masters with long white beards put their heads together and researched all day…

…they continuously invented more complex incantations capable of producing powerful magical power, as if mass-producing them in a factory.

More than half of the magic curriculum at the Nifrantz Academy is based on those advanced incantations.

For a while, the perception that ‘magic = incantation’ was considered the established truth and definition in the Nifrantz Kingdom.

Magic was something only the ‘blessed’ with talent for mana control could use.

It was a worldly proof passed down through generations within the confines of that privileged class.

It became a clear means of discrimination, separating the magical and non-magical worlds.

“Incantation? What’s that?”

One day, a self-proclaimed great mage, a madman who appeared like a comet…

“That’s not how you use magic—”

…until he completely shattered the magical world of the Nifrantz Kingdom.

…

…

…

Leonardo Priest still vividly remembers that day.

The upright pillars and ceiling, the sky itself… every word uttered by the self-evident great mages of the Magic Tower was law and justice to them.

The then-master of the Magic Tower, along with the great masters of magic holding positions throughout the kingdom…

…were mowed down like weeds by a single girl.

Paang—!!

“It’s over already?”

The ultra-beautiful girl with flowing raven-black hair tilted her head and spoke.

Her innocent gaze, looking down on everyone, was filled not only with arrogance but also with excitement at the situation, and…

…Leonardo couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“Kheuk… Since you’ve beaten me- you’re the new Magic Tower Master…”

“What’s that…is it something you eat?”

“—?!”

Stretching and yawning, the girl turned away as if she had no interest.

“I wouldn’t take that even if you gave it to me. It’s useless.”

“Damn it…!!”

It was the day everything changed.

The sight of the great mages, once considered the strongest, cowering on the ground…

…was a tremendous shock to him.

And a tremendous excitement.

The world he had believed was the truth had shattered. Leonardo had experienced breaking free from the small shell surrounding him.

By a single girl.

“Th-Thank you for your hard work…!!”

When he came to his senses, he had already bowed deeply.

A fluffy towel was in his hands.

All he could do for the girl after their sparring match was this kind of menial work.

She took the towel and smiled brightly.

“Thank you. What’s your name?”

“Le-Leonardo, Leonardo Priest!”

When he lifted his head again, what was before him was…

…a naive and cheerful smile, impossible to believe was the face of someone who had just caused such a catastrophe, far beyond his imagination.

As if hypnotized, Leonardo took her small, soft hand.

“I’m Lea Flora. I walk the path of magic!”

It was both a shocking first encounter with the girl and…

…the moment his new world began.

…

…

…

People with rigid minds fear change.

When something new appears, they label it evil and fiercely condemn it.

Lea couldn’t escape this jealousy-filled reaction.

To begin with, she wasn’t particularly interested in politics, so she didn’t appreciate reacting to such “trivial” things one by one.

But the impact was strong.

Lea’s mana, which had single-handedly defeated the giants of the magical world, had a completely different quality to other magic because of its pure white, mystical and magnificent power.

The magic Lea showed on the day of the sparring match used very simple and easy incantations.

Strengthening the body, attacking, creating a barrier. Only the most basic combat magic incantations.

Yet the effect was enough to shatter highly refined incantations.

There was only one reason.

“Incantations are unnecessary. Ultimately, it’s about how freely you can control mana! That’s the core of magic.”

Her statement completely rejected the existing way of thinking.

But Leonardo, having broken free from his shell, was already ready to accept it. From that moment, he began to wholeheartedly write down and practice her words.

“The flow is the most important. The most basic thing is to feel the mana.”

Mana exists everywhere in this world.

Understanding its nature and feeling its flow is the foundation of magic. Always keep the door of imagination open!

The time he spent learning from her was incredibly enjoyable for Leonardo.

Just listening to his teacher, who had awakened him to the truth, felt like he was freely exploring a newly opened world.

He visited her whenever he had time.

“Thank you very much for today!”

“…You’re too stiff.”

“Yes…?”

After a short lesson, he bowed at a right angle to show his gratitude, but…

…Lea didn’t seem to like it.

“I’ve decided. You’re expelled. I won’t consider you my disciple anymore.”

“No- No!! Please, why are you doing this…!!”

“It’s because of that, that—!!”

With her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed…

…she soon extended her hand.

“Let’s be friends from now on. And drop the honorifics.”

“Fri… friend?”

It was too shocking a moment to fully appreciate the rare sight of him scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“In the palace, the only person I talk to is my husband…so I wanted to have a friend.”

The only person in this country who can call His Majesty the King her husband.

At the shy smile of the girl wearing clothes ill-suited to her position as Queen…

…he felt like he was dreaming.

“Yes! Friend!”

“Drop the honorifics!”

“Okay, friend!”

He wasn’t in his right mind. He was simply happy, simply joyful.

“See you, Leo!”

“Yeah! See you again, Lea!”

The world, which had always flowed as predetermined, began to wildly intertwine at its own whim.

It was because of Lea, his new teacher and friend.

It was thanks to Lea.

Thanks to her appearance in Leo’s life, even walking down this corridor felt joyful.

Tat-tat-!

As he walked back with cheerful steps, he overheard unpleasant words on the day Lea’s twentieth lesson ended.

He suddenly witnessed the sight of senior magicians who had been closely associated with the current Magic Tower Master gathered together and…

…he instinctively hid himself.

“That madman from the Magic Continent…they must be a demon, a Magus, who inherits the blood of demons!”

“Although she’s the Queen, we absolutely cannot leave such vulgar folk alone.”

“Even the nobles have the same reaction, I hear there’s also a problem with her bearing future children…”

He couldn’t just listen idly.

No matter how much older they were, those who insulted his friend couldn’t be forgiven.

Therefore, he calmly remained still. He suppressed his boiling emotions, carefully preserving them until the moment of explosion.

“We can wait no longer. It’s only a matter of time before impure blood is mixed into our great kingdom…”

“We should get rid of her quickly. This is our duty, our mission.”

“We must succeed, even if it means using all the Magic Tower’s forces—!!”

And after the clandestine meeting ended, Leonardo Priest made a vow.

To become the new Master of the Magic Tower.