Book 1 Chapter 17
Episode 16
“I was just curious about what kind of place the Local Development Magic Club was.”
“Yeah.”
“I definitely didn’t follow you. Understand?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It was the fifth time he had heard those words.
The Local Development Magic Club was located on the 3rd floor of the Dragon Blazing Hall (龍烿館), the west annex. Kristar told him it wasn’t a particularly good location.
The door was half-open, but just as he was about to knock out of politeness, he was startled by a loud voice that burst out.
“I’m absolutely not giving up this club! How can you expect me to accept such ridiculous terms!”
It was the voice of a thin man.
It was a voice full of agitation and fear, but the voice of the man receiving his words was so full of composure it almost seemed arrogant.
“The strong one becomes the owner. They say that’s a <Delighten> club rule, so what do you want me to do? You know better than I do, Senior, don’t you?”
This voice…?
As Kristar raised an eyebrow cautiously, he looked at her with eyes demanding an explanation.
“Don’t you know? It’s Logan. The successor of Chaihark.”
“The Chaihark School…”
“What do you know? It’s a school that specializes in producing only Wing-type mages.”
“Who said I didn’t know?”
In the use of magic, there are three mainstream schools.
One is Remedier.
It means ‘readers.’
A school that uses magic by completing all magic circle construction, rune inscription, and mathematical calculations with written work, using these diagrams as catalysts.
Most Southern mages belong to this school; its advantage is the easy entry difficulty, but its drawback is the low ceiling, meaning they cannot advance to higher stages.
Another is Wing.
It means ‘body activation,’ and this school focuses more on martial arts than magic.
It’s a type where they draw magic circles on their bodies and activate them as needed to enhance their physical abilities.
Naturally, because they primarily focus on close combat, they were once called heretics among mages.
The Slaide family and the Chaihark School can be said to be the leading representatives of these Wing-type mages.
The other is Bargante.
It means ‘fingers.’
By forming hand seals (手印) that embody runes, they simplify the processes of magic circle construction and rune inscription, showing an overwhelming advantage in casting speed.
Of course, due to the simplified runes and magic circles, there are significant disadvantages in terms of power.
Unlike the South (Northerners call all humans south of the Eleanor Grand River Southerners), which pursues skill and art in magic, all Northern mages, who prioritize practicality, are Bargante types.
For reference, the Osarius School of the North, famous for producing the Archmage Lynn, represents these Bargante-type mages.
Nevertheless, the ultimate goal of all three major schools was one: the Jörgen type. Jörgen means ‘the thinker.’
Those who reach the stage of using all magic through mental calculation are called Jörgen. Without being a Jörgen type, one could not even receive the rank of Archmage, let alone Sage.
However, Jörgen are very few, perhaps the exclusive possession of those born truly as geniuses.
Thus, most Southern mages live content with the Remedier type, and Northern mages with the Bargante type.
Those who wish to become stronger a little more easily and quickly also train by learning all three schools and adopting only their advantages.
“So, let’s settle this with a magic duel and clearly determine the winner? I’m offering the best possible terms because Senior doesn’t have the guts to fight.”
“…!”
“Local development, in the first place? Why do we need such a club? Who’s going to recognize it?”
It seems like I’ve gotten caught up in some trouble. He asked with his eyes what on earth was going on.
“It’s nothing unusual. The number of clubs is limited, after all. As many as there are clubrooms.”
“?”
“So, if you want to create a club but there are no vacancies, you can overpower another club with force, with your magic skills.”
The educational philosophy of <Delighten>, which champions limitless competition, applies to clubs too, Kristar added as if it were obvious.
“Does that mean everything is solved with magic?”
“Isn’t that good?”
“That’s true.”
It certainly doesn’t seem like a bad method.
If survival is determined by a struggle for power, then one can’t neglect studies or club activities. One would have to work several times harder.
‘So it seems like that guy from the Chaihark School is trying to take over this club to create a new one…’
If that’s the case… I refuse to get involved in troublesome matters. Let them sort it out themselves.
‘I didn’t even come to join in the first place; I just came to see if there was anything interesting…’
He turned away without hesitation to leave, but the man shouted, his voice suppressing as much fear as possible.
“You eight great schools’ pampered scholars may never know it until you die, but the development of mathematical research or academic societies isn’t all there is to magic!”
“Hm, then what is there?”
“Magic still hasn’t been properly applied to relief efforts such as farming or civil engineering!”
“So?”
“If a system where such people can receive help from magic were established, the problem of poverty might be easily solved! This is a club founded by our seniors precisely to research that! I will never hand it over!”
At that moment, that single shout, that resonance, an echo as if returned from the past, momentarily gripped his feet.
“Ha, damn it…”
Rain frowned, then scratched his head vigorously, finally letting out a deep sigh. How long was he going to keep nagging…?
“Rain? Hey.”
Then he turned his body towards the clubroom. The conversation continued inside.
“Hahahaha! Are you serious? If such a thing were possible, the archmages and sages would have already accomplished it!”
“…!”
“To think you can’t even protect a single club against a first-year, what nerve do you have to be running your mouth?”
“I, I mean, that kind of magic isn’t everything!”
“If you don’t like it, then win the magic duel. Is there really such a lack of talent? Well, considering the club president is like this—”
“—Fine, let’s do it. A magic duel.”
It wasn’t the voice of the club president that sharply cut off Logan’s words.
The club president’s eyes, wide behind his half-broken glasses as he was pressed against the wall, widened, and Logan, who turned around, furrowed his brow.
“You…”
He wasn’t trying to help a complete stranger or do anything so uncharacteristic.
“Me? The new member who just joined.”
At that time, the boy didn’t know.
What is truth…?
That his intellect as an archmage, who had so desperately searched for truth in the past, was slowly, step by step, drawing closer to the truth.
Socrafres.
- Can inherit the research progress of ‘unique magic’ from the surrounding environment.
- Progress 37.1% => 37.9%.
* * *
- Magic really can do anything.
Was it one day during a journey?
It was the day he created an oasis in the desert with water-attribute magic to cool down and replenish drinking water.
He replied nonchalantly.
- Not everything. There’s a lot it can’t do.
- But imagine if an ordinary fisherman received the benefit of something like what just happened. Wouldn’t they say the same thing as me?
That had actually been a question he had harbored ever since he started learning magic.
If magic is so amazing, why was I born in a slum?
If such power exists, why are there poor people and bandits in the world?
- Lynn, can I ask you one favor?
- What is it?
- When the expedition ends, could you create a few spells? Spells that ordinary people can use simply if they learn how to use mana.
Magic that could make a farmer shed a small tear of relief any day, or a fisherman utter a small cry of joy.
- Lynn, create it with your own hands.
What had crossed his mind as he was about to leave the clubroom earlier was the smile Rista had shown that day. And…
This, this echo, was the reason for his action that he himself couldn’t understand earlier.
No, he could understand, but he just didn’t want to admit it.
In fact, Lynn had wanted to be like Rista in character.
* * *
“Hah, a new member? Hmm…?”
Logan, who had been impudently tilting his head as if dumbfounded, narrowed his eyes the moment he spotted Kristar.
He’d heard that Kristar Warden was currently like a public enemy to the successors of the Eight Great Schools.
Whether it was because of Kristar’s presence or because of his black hair and red eyes, Logan recognized Rain.
“Ah, I was wondering who it was, wasn’t it that… useless-grade… Oh dear, my mistake! My apologies. I have a habit of speaking my thoughts right away.”
Anyone could see it was definitely not a slip of the tongue, but part of a war of nerves.
Utterly childish, like kids.
As the boy put on a calm expression, Logan feigned politeness.
“As a disciple of the Eight Great Schools, I had always intended to personally visit and greet the noble young master someday, and it just so happens this is a good opportunity. But a magic duel, did I hear that correctly?”
Logan’s large frame strode forward and cast an intimidating shadow as he stood before Rain.
Logan’s physique was a head and a half taller than children his age, so even though Rain was already taller than average, he still had to look up.
“You heard right. Since you’re so eager to fight, I’ll take you on.”
“Hahahaha! So you’re saying you’re confident you can easily defeat someone like Logan, is that it?”
A sneer still played on Logan’s lips as he chuckled, but any hint of humor had long vanished from his eyes.
“If you’re not confident, should I give you a handicap? Hmm, perhaps I won’t use any combat magic?”
“Rain, are you out of your mind…?”
“This should work. I’ll only use the magic developed in this club. And I’ll only use three spells. How’s that?”
“Are you serious?”
“Because even then, I don’t think I’ll lose.”
Logan blinked in bewilderment, then promptly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
“This isn’t useless-grade, it’s completely… Ah, my apologies, Young Master. Very well. But are you aware that joining requires three days?”
“?”
“What that means is this can only be an individual magic duel.”
“Just state the main point.”
“If the Young Master wins, very well. I will give up this club. Not only that, but if other ruffians come to cause trouble, I will drive them away on your behalf.”
Offering strangely good terms means there’s certainly an equivalent price to pay.
“But if I win, hmm, the Young Master will submit a withdrawal letter from <Delighten>. The reason for withdrawal will be that you ‘felt a wall’ after seeing Chaihark’s Logan, something like that?”
Kristar took a step forward, as if she felt these were ridiculous terms.
What is essentially required of a scion of a magic noble family is not just magical talent. Academic background is also important.
Here, Rain is the legitimate heir of the Ludwig family. If such a person were to submit a withdrawal letter from <Delighten>?
Not only would the family’s prestige plummet, but even if he were to inherit in the future, there was a possibility he wouldn’t be recognized by other noble families or subordinate families.
“Are you kidding? You’re only giving up one club—”
“—That’s enough, Kristar.”
“Don’t you know what kind of situation this is?”
“Do I need to know what kind of situation it is? I’m going to win anyway.”
Don’t worry.
When he shrugged his shoulders, conveying that meaning, Kristar fell silent.
“Don’t run away. You can set the date and time however you like.”
“Hahahaha! Those were exactly the words I was about to offer. I will arrange for a professor to act as the judge. Without any delay, let’s meet at 6 PM this evening at the Dragon’s Den Arena (龍穴場).”