Book 13 Chapter 9
5화
“Just when we thought we’d finally harvested, it suddenly started pouring… It seems like even the temporary dike we built will soon collapse.”
From the autumn she was eleven, she could no longer perform ‘magic biological experiments.’ It was truly a regrettable turn of events.
This was because the Archmage always accompanied her whenever there was an outing, but honestly, she quite enjoyed the time spent with the Archmage, so she had no major complaints.
However, she was a little disappointed that, unlike biological experiments, she couldn’t acquire vast spoils.
This was because while mages demanded substantial fees to cast providence-altering spells, the Archmage demanded nothing beyond food, clothing, and shelter.
- What would I demand when this isn't my power?
- It's your magic, Archmage.
- You’ll understand later. For now, just think of it as studying.
Indeed. If this too was studying to become the [Strongest Mage], she could not refuse.
“Isn’t there any way, Mage?”
In any case, even while accompanying the Archmage, she was able to use magic quite freely.
The problem was that her field of activity was mainly confined to water, earth, and wind attribute magic, unrelated to combat, but it wouldn't be bad to develop her skill in handling fundamental attributes.
Her childhood goal was to become like the Grand Mage Zernix.
In her opinion, Zernix was a being close to the strongest. After all, he was a genius Grand Mage who could freely use the elements of eight attributes.
“Could you wait a moment? Our Rin is thinking.”
She decided to consider methods of mixing three attributes to erect a temporary dike.
“First, I’ll establish the central magic circle as a square, that is, with earth attribute magic. Then, I’ll superimpose a circle inside it. To solidify the earth from within using water attribute magic.”
“What about the last one?”
“That one too, with earth magic.”
“No, that won’t do. If the last magic circle is earth, there won’t be enough water, and it won’t compact properly.”
“Then should I use water?”
“No, if you add more water, there’s a risk that the earth won’t compact but will flow away as mud. Ahh~ it would be wonderful if we could extract only the core from the fundamental elements.”
This must be an indication to turn her attention to the minor elements. The Archmage always guided her to reach the answer in this way.
“If it’s minor elements… then I’ll mix in an octagonal magic circle. Steel attribute. I read in a book that dwarves embed rebar during construction. I’ll apply that to fortify the earth’s foundation and solidify the inside and outside with water.”
“Hmm, that’s a very good idea!”
Of course, this wasn't just her idea, but a conclusion reached through discussion with the Archmage.
This time, she liked.
This time itself, she just liked.
She enjoyed the time she spent offering opinions on magic and receiving enthusiastic praise from the Archmage as if she had done it all herself.
There was no one, no one who had praised her like this before.
And she never met another mage afterwards who could so well pinpoint the shortcomings of someone like her, who had mastered 3-star magic long ago with the goal of becoming the [Strongest Mage]. She truly had no idea why the Archmage was of Atlas (3-star) rank.
“Everyone, please step back. Our Rin is going to cast a spell.”
“Not the Archmage, but that child?”
As if resonating with the ultrafast calculations happening in her mind, a flower of light began to bloom brilliantly in her palm.
The first magic circle was a square.
As the second magic circle bound itself within, the magical wind pressure soon grew strong enough to scatter her hair.
Next was the third magic circle.
As the octagon enveloped the square’s perimeter, the light reached its zenith, and a dull shockwave instantly cleared the rain, spreading in all directions.
“Rune engraving, imbued with the properties of Du (阧; rising), Bo (補; repairing), and Taeng (撐; supporting).”
The binding of the runes and the magic circle demanded a mathematical solution that providence could handle the anomaly of power, and the coordinates where the transformation of power would occur.
There were no problems with the calculation either.
Magic circles, runes, mathematical formulas… When the series of processes were all resolved, the power that transformed chaotic disorder into clear order transformed the earth.
“…?!”
“…?!”
“…?!”
The poorly constructed dike, which had been barely holding back the rainwater, collapsed.
In its place, the earth newly surged upwards.
The earth was already solidified like rock with the help of water. Rebar formed the skeleton, supporting the shape of the dam.
“How could this be….”
The scale of the dam was immense, large enough to fill the gap between the mountains, the natural gully where rainwater used to collect and cause floods that engulfed the villages.
Phew…
It had been a long time since she had exhausted her magic to the point where her *Jujul* (呪結) tingled and ached.
“We, we’re saved!”
“Now we don’t have to worry about the rain overflowing!”
“Thank you, thank you so much, young Mage.”
It felt strange for the villagers and the chief to hold her hands and express their gratitude.
She had clearly said.
That she was merely conducting a magic experiment, that it was something she did for her own sake, so why were they making such a fuss?
But that moment was good…
In those moments, every time she received praise, she could see the Archmage’s face, smiling brighter and more joyfully than anyone else.
“Well done, Rin. So very well done. But I wish it had been a little more modest.”
“The [Strongest Mage] also needs an artistic side, you know.”
“In this kind of civilian relief, what’s important isn’t art, but ease of repair.”
“As long as it’s cool, that’s what matters.”
The [Strongest Mage] must be cool. So, she was right.
“Alright, I understand. How can I stop you. Well, since today’s work is definitely finished, shall we do ‘that’ in front of all these people?”
What?
Why?
Her hands and feet trembled, and cold sweat poured from her entire body.
“Phew, th-th-th-th-then perhaps it’s better not to have artistic talent? I thought wrong.”
“It’s too late. The Osarius School of Magic?”
“…It is a school that will become a grand school.”
“Louder!”
“Ughh… A grand school… that will… (sobs)… become a grand school…”
Through such torment, the Archmage was firmly establishing the hierarchy. Even the [Strongest Mage] had moments of weakness.
“Thank you!”
“Goodbye, Archmage!”
“You too, little Mage, goodbye!”
Every time such an event concluded, the villagers would offer newly made rice cakes or other snacks for them to eat on their way back to the magic tower.
The Archmage always made her carry them in her arms. This was clearly food… yet it felt almost like life itself.
Knowing that its warmth would not last forever and would soon cool, she felt a poignant feeling, as if holding a dying life.
“Rin, where there is life, there is always warmth. That food, too, came from a village where there was life, so it has warmth.”
“But it will cool soon.”
“The warmth of all life eventually cools. But Rin, remember. It was you who protected the warmth of this day, this single moment. Remember the value, the weight of that warmth.”
Now that she thought about it…
Perhaps the Archmage, before raising her as a mage, first sought to make her a human being.
Just as fathers and mothers do with their children.