Book 1 Chapter 4

Episode 3

Under the spring sky, a sea of flowers with tulips dazzlingly spread out to the horizon.

This place was Sias Tulipika.

As the home of tulips representing Richland, the rich central region, the Ludwig Marquisate family owned one-third of the area.

"The weather is absolutely fantastic…"

Rain, who had been lying sprawled on his back with a foxtail grass in his mouth, staring blankly at the sky, suddenly sat up the next moment.

"To achieve something, one must inherently have long-term and short-term goals."

The extreme of magic, Truth (眞理).

Now that he had resolved to see it, he couldn't waste a single day, even in his youth.

'Then, shall I call out RudiyËn again first?'

RudiyËn (RudiyËn).

It is an ancient word meaning "guide."

That's why Rin gave this name to the guide magic he created when he was intensely devoted to exploring magic.

"Oppa, what are you doing?"

He was spreading a large sheet of drawing paper on the grass and drawing a magic circle on it when his younger sister toddled over.

'Ugh, this is annoying…'

She kept bothering him ever since he had been kind to her once. Every time he tried to push her away, Lystra's voice echoed in his head…

"I'm trying to set up a guideline."

"Gui-do?"

"Shall I make one for you too?"

At that, Serri Ludwig began to dance energetically.

"Waa~ Waaaaah! Waa~!"

It meant she was very happy.

That kid's linguistic expression was always like that, as if there was something wrong with her brain.

"The form of the magic circle is a multi-variant, and the runes to be inscribed are Ju (pillar), Yu (stay), Du (stop), Je (ladder)."

Four runes.

This makes one spell possess a total of four properties. This is 4-star magic, the stage of a Supreme Mage, of whom there are only ten in the current Holy Human Empire.

"Waa-h!"

As magic power vigorously flowed into the magic circle drawn on the drawing paper, the light of a different power began to spark like electricity.

Crackle, crackle-crack…!

The next moment, he felt a hot sensation in his body, then his nose started bleeding profusely, and a stinging pain arose in his Jujyeol (呪結). Jujyeol is the organ where magic power gathers.

'So, I still don't have enough magic power to use 4-star magic…'

It was fortunate that this was guide magic with low magic power consumption; if it had been combat magic, the Jujyeol would have burst from the rebound, wouldn't it?

'What a garbage body…'

From physical strength to magic power.

There's no end to what needs to be trained.

As he held his nose, feeling a childish irritation, the storm of magic power soon subsided, and light appeared in the form of a butterfly.

"Come here, RudiyËn."

A butterfly, it was a butterfly.

A butterfly of extraordinary power, clear bluish-white, characteristic of magic power, scattering particles of light with every flap of its wings.

"Waa-h."

When Serri stretched out her hand, it landed on her finger and gently preened its wings.

Rosushigietra

It detects the target's magic circuit and magical aptitude, as well as the magic power obtainable from the surroundings.

Particles of light flowing from its wings gathered together, projecting a string of light characters into the air.

This was RudiyËn's function.

It found and taught him what he needed to study now, what he needed to learn, and what he could obtain from his surroundings.

'The Ju (pillar) rune, when used in guide magic, teaches about basic magic power, and the Yu (stay) rune about magic power utilization…'

To put it simply, all runes good for learning were just crammed in.

Simply, to the point of being crude.

That's why it's a 4-star spell. There's a reason why Rin, of all people, couldn't cast it by mental calculation and had to draw a magic circle.

"Do you like it?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Then go over there and study by yourself."

Did it understand its creator's words?

As RudiyËn flew forward from Serri's finger, Serri smiled and ran towards it.

'First, magic power recovery…'

He sat in a cross-legged position to recover his magic power until the sun reached its zenith, then summoned the second RudiyËn.

Gustaba: Objectifies the caster's physical state into mathematical values.

ㆍJu (pillar); Current magic power: 3024.

ㆍYu (stay); Current magic line: 77.

ㆍDu (stop); Physical strength\/mental strength: 64.

Is my magic power less than even that of a novice mage?

The magic line (璇) is an internal brain ability for mental calculation.

And physical strength…

This physical strength is a world apart from Rin, who grew up as an orphan. Just raising it to 300 would be quite an effort, wouldn't it?

Je (ladder); The secret art of the bloodline limit has been detected and deemed acquirable.

ㆍBell Sidius \/ Bell Curias.

At this, his eyes trembled slightly.

Bell Sidius…

Right, now that I think about it, I was the eldest son of the Ludwig Marquisate, a powerful magic family in the Empire.

'This, I like it…'

Around the time he was traveling extensively with Lystra, a youngster came and claimed he would prove himself to be the Empire's greatest mage and join their party in his place.

There was nothing special about him.

He was nothing special.

He recalled what made him tricky: his eyes with special power. He could see through all the magic I used and countered it.

'That was Bell Sidius.'

The bloodline limit of the Ludwig family.

It was said to be able to discern what magic an opponent was using just from the flow of magic power.

This was truly an amazing ability.

'Because if the skills were equal in magic, it was a battle of who could counter better…'

And Bell Curias…

It is said that only three individuals in the history of Imperial magic have succeeded in awakening those legendary eyes.

"If Bell Sidius peeks at the opponent's magic, Bell Curias is said to steal the opponent's magic."

The Ludwig family was given the epithet 'Stealing Mages' precisely because of those eyes, which they successfully awakened.

'I don't know the details, but…'

I heard it had an absurd ability, like erasing the opponent's magic or making it its own… Anyway.

'If so.'

His goals for childhood were slowly beginning to take shape.

First, basic physical strength and magic power.

Without physical strength and magic power, he couldn't do anything. To rise to the ranks of an Archmage again.

"Rain."

Turning slightly at the voice he heard then, he saw his father approaching with the dignified gait of a nobleman.

"Do you know that a bloodline limit exists in our family?"

What is it?

Was he watching from behind?

"Yes, well…"

"It's still an early age, but do you have a mind to learn about the bloodline limit?"

Are things resolving this easily?

Hmm…

It wouldn't be bad to just keep the theory in mind for now, and then master it once my physical strength and magic power are sufficient?

"Yes."

"Then, starting today, Ellin will guide your education. Only while I am away at the academic conference. When I return, I will personally guide you."

"Ellin?"

Oh, what is it?

It was definitely a name in Rain's memories… but who was that?

"She has a kind heart and exceptional magical talent, holding a professorship at <Delaiten>. More than anything, she loves her nephew more than anyone else. You met her when you were little."

Then, as he heard rustling footsteps on the grass, Rain's expression turned pale.

"Eh…"

It was an unconventional outfit, breaking all aristocratic rules.

White jade earrings jingling from both ears, a short hem, a narrow fit, and the Ludwig family's ceremonial robe daringly altered to reveal her figure.

"Eek…"

The sharp, cat-faced beauty seemed to look down at Rain disdainfully, then folded her arms and frowned.

"Honestly, am I, the genius professor Ellin Ludwig, supposed to personally instruct this brat who has neither charm nor talent?"

Kayven smiled brightly and pointed to Ellin Ludwig.

"Here, this is your Aunt Ellin Ludwig, who loves you as much as I do! It must be the first time you've met since you were six years old. Say hello."

Father.

Do you not know what love is?

* * *

"Do you know who I am?"

"You're Aunt Ellin, aren't you?"

"Hmph, I'm known as the genius professor Ellin Ludwig. Genius professor. The genius professor who absolutely detests dullards who can't understand things in one go."

Seeing her constantly emphasize being a "genius professor," it seemed that nickname really pleased her.

"So, never ask me questions about anything I've taught you once. Understood?"

Thus, the bloodline limit education began.

Bloodline limit.

In other words, Family Tradition Magic (家傳魔法).

It is said that Family Tradition Magic knowledge is never documented, perhaps due to fear of theft by other mages.

To learn it, one absolutely had to face a superior from the family and receive the knowledge inscribed in their mind.

"Just watch once."

As Ellin concentrated magic power in her eyes, they glowed fiery red, and a silver-white symbol of death was etched onto her eyeballs.

That was Bell Sidius.

Feeling that sensation he had experienced before—a gaze that seemed to scan his body and soul—Rain let out a childish gasp.

"Wow!"

"How about it, isn't it cool? To use this, you know. You have to be able to perform three magical calculations simultaneously. Three, I said, three! Can a youngster like you even do it?"

Satisfied that Rain's eyes were sparkling, Ellin proudly shrugged her shoulders and wrote down a few formulas on the drawing paper.

Magic Speed Calculation.

Magic Analysis.

Magic Discernment.

Rain examined the formulas closely, nodding thoughtfully.

'I thought that for a bloodline limit, it would heavily rely on innate sensitivity, but the theoretical component is larger than I expected?'

If Ryuken, the family's progenitor, hadn't petty-mindedly imposed genetic restrictions, Rin from the past could have used it too.

"You don't get it, do you? You don't get it, do you? You won't get it even after looking at it several times, will you? You can't understand it, can you?"

"No, I think I'll be fine with just some time to roughly organize it."

"Ugh, there's no hope. I guess I'll have to teach you especially… What?"

"Thank you for the guidance. From now on, I will handle it myself."

He bowed politely and spread out the drawing paper.

That was Rin's original personality.

He preferred opening books, contemplating, and exploring by himself rather than learning directly from someone. What's more, he was an Archmage to begin with, so what was there for him to learn…?

"No, you don't need to learn? Hey, hey, don't show off…"

When her nephew, cold-heartedly resolute, spread out his writing tools on the desk and began to study alone, Ellin just blinked blankly, then soon pouted her lips as if to say, "We'll see about that."

"Fine, go ahead and do as you please! Not that it's going to work! Just don't come clinging to me crying later!"

Ellin, who had loudly declared this, sat cross-legged opposite the desk. However, she kept glancing at her nephew, pretending to read "Statistics Only Geniuses Understand."

"Hmm…"

Then, at the moment her nephew furrowed his brow, seemingly getting stuck while organizing the formula.

"!"

Didn't she just smoothly take the parchment to her side, solve the part Rain seemed to struggle with dozens of times more easily, and then give it back?

"?"

When Rain looked up, wondering what on earth was going on, Ellin raised her book to cover her face, pretending to read. Of course, it didn't last even three minutes.

"Hmm…"

He had only raised an eyebrow while solving a formula, but she snatched the parchment again, wrote down various tips and explanations, and then returned it.

"???"

It was peculiar.

So peculiar that Rain just stared intently for a while at the mathematical equations Ellin had neatly and meticulously written on the parchment.

'What is this? Is this how modern magic education works? Or is she testing me now?'

The boy's mother, Brim, watched her sister-in-law's behavior with satisfaction, then took the opportunity when Ellin briefly left her seat to approach her son.

"Rain, Rain."

"Yes?"

"Auntie's a bit strange, isn't she?"

"Yes."

"It's because she can't be honest. She's actually so eager to teach you everything that she acts like that. Please ask her many questions. Even if it's something you already know."

Remembering her past when she attended magic school with Kayven, Brim smiled refreshingly and gently stroked her son's cheeks.

"She was like that even when she used to follow your father and me around. She was so cute."

For Rin, it was an incomprehensible type of person.

No… where did the genius professor go, who said she detested dullards who couldn't understand things in one go?

Finally, when Ellin returned, he subtly raised his head, pretending to concentrate on the formulas.

'Good heavens…'

He couldn't help but be astonished.

Despite whistling as if utterly uninterested, she didn't read the book at all and kept glancing at his parchment.

Then, when their eyes met, she hastily covered her face with the book, but in less than 10 seconds, she slowly lowered it again and furtively peered at his parchment.

'Annoying… how can you be more annoying than six-year-old Serri, Auntie…'

He couldn't just leave her like that; he couldn't concentrate either… Barely suppressing the irritation rising to his chin, he opened his mouth.

"Auntie, I really don't understand this part. What should I do?"

At that, Ellin slammed her book shut with a sharp sound, as if reluctantly answering his call. But just as his mother had said, she was clearly struggling to suppress a smile that threatened to split her ears.

"Ehh~ sigh! You don't know this? Really? Ha… our family is finished, finished! Give it here. What is it?"

"This part."

"This is like this! Look, how easy is it if you do it like this! Ugh!"

"I see."

"Oh dear! Here, if you use this formula, it's several times easier! You don't know this?"

"I'm sorry."

"You have mountains of things you don't know! What have you been doing until you're nine years old?"

"I know, right?"

She said that, but her expression showed she was immensely happy to have so much to teach.

Hmm, I see.

There are no normal people in this family.

Who was it again who said never to ask questions even if I didn't understand?

"Then what about this?"

"Ha… there's really nothing I can do. I'll just teach you this one thing."

"Then what about that?"

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk! This is really the last one, okay? Just try asking another question. I'll just *thump* your head…"

"Auntie, what about this?"

"Ugh, ugh ugh! What's so hard about this… This is really, really the last one!"

Ellin's teaching was like that.

Although she was quite an annoying character, thanks to her, the time it would take to acquire theoretical knowledge and practical experience was significantly shortened.

On the tenth day of lessons, Rain felt a burning pain, as if the retinas of his eyes were searing.

'Pain in my eyes… no, the headache is worse.'

As if blood had rushed to his head, the world began to turn red, and his eyes glowed crimson, with a silver-shining symbol of death etched onto them.

010101010010110101.

No, what is this? Rain could barely draw in a ragged breath.

Everything appeared as numbers.

Everything in creation was interpreted as binary mathematical equations, directly transmitting information to his mind. As if he had become the Creator.

'Magic, magic is…?'

When he tried to deploy a basic spell, 01010101001, the runes and mathematical equations composing the magic circle were instantly transmitted to his mind.

'Aha, so that's how it was…!'

That youngster from before, when he competed with me, seeing through all my magic—this must have been how he did it.

'This is really amazing, isn't it?'

Just then, he felt a burning gaze and looked up, his eyes meeting Ellin Ludwig's.

"You, this, this thing, now, in te-ten days… how…?"

Her mouth was trembling.

Not just her mouth, but her eyes as well.