Book 2 Chapter 5

Episode 29

The man found a suitable table in front of a street shop and sat down. When the server approached, he politely said, "Two chicken skewers and one meal coffee."

"Just get to the point quickly. What are you doing, keeping a busy person waiting?"

"It seems my explanation was insufficient. There's no need to be so wary, Wijak. I'm not here to interrogate you about why you're going to the black market."

The children of nobles who had not yet inherited their territory were all called Wijak (僞作).

But most people usually called them young master or young lady… Yet, this person was strangely formal in every single word they spoke.

He kept smiling brightly, making it difficult to read his expression, but it was clear that the depth of his magical power was considerable.

"So, I'm telling you to get to the point."

"First, let me introduce myself. I am Doran Slade. I work for the Magic Alliance's Special Operations Department."

As if to prove his words, Doran took out an iron pocket watch from his pocket and placed it on the table.

The rune for 'Alliance' (盟), symbolizing the Magic Alliance, was embossed in gold, and below it, the Draconic word 'Dirutus,' meaning 'Special Operations,' was engraved.

"If I were to also introduce my personal background, I was the freshman secretary when Marquess Kayven Ludwig was the student council president. Ah, those were truly enjoyable times."

"So?"

"I'm telling you there's no need to be so wary. I'm on Wijak's side. I just have a few things to confirm."

Doran picked up the watch, blew off some dust that had settled on it, and continued speaking.

"The magic that captured the mutated queen said to have appeared in the Red Mountains, was that the magic used by Wijak Ludwig?"

Rain raised an eyebrow for a moment.

This guy, his skill at calmly pursuing the truth was no joke.

"Bart Party hasn't visited a magic shop recently. Even if we assume he bought it before then, there's no seller. Because no Glados (4-star) mage has created a flame magic scroll of such power in the last 10 years."

"…!"

"So I asked Marquess Scourge Ludwig if he had made and given it to his grandson for self-defense, but that wasn't the case either. Then there's only one conclusion."

Doran rested his chin on his clasped hands and stared at Rain, the smile vanishing from his eyes, leaving his gaze fully exposed. It was a cold, snake-like gaze that already knew everything.

"It wasn't exactly a secret. There was just one thing I was worried about. If you were trying to threaten me with that, you really missed the mark."

"A worrisome element, ah, could you possibly be referring to a black mage?"

Rain inhaled sharply for a moment.

This guy, does he know that the queen was being controlled by black magic? Or is he simply probing?

How long did that suffocating silence last, when suddenly, a presence was felt.

"Chicken skewers are here~!"

At that, a bright smile returned to Doran's face, and he salivated.

"Oh, there's no need to divide it into two plates. Just give it all to me. I'm going to eat it all by myself."

The server looked flustered, and Rain's eyes widened in disbelief. No, don't people usually share?

"This is ridiculous… You just keep beating around the bush. I'll be leaving now."

As Rain rose from his chair, Doran wiped off the juice dripping from his half-eaten chicken skewer and spoke.

"Let's finish the preamble and get to the main point. I want to scout Wijak for the Magic Alliance's Special Operations Department."

"I'm still a student."

"Of course, I'm talking about after graduation. Senior Kayven is still hale and hearty, so it will take time for you to inherit the family anyway, won't it?"

The Magic Alliance's Special Operations Department was a combat organization responsible for punishing mages who committed magical crimes and independently investigating matters related to black magic.

Since it was composed only of excellent and young battle mages, being selected for the Special Operations Department was like building an incredible career as a mage.

However, Rain, who had little interest in social prestige and was already fed up with fighting black magic, turned his back without hesitation.

"I'm not interested in the Special Operations Department, so I'm leaving."

Then Doran spoke a profound truth in a playful voice, stopping Rain in his tracks.

"The Black Church's activities are becoming more active."

"…!"

"Of course, the Magic Alliance higher-ups, intoxicated by peace, deny it, but something big is coming. It wouldn't be too late to prepare starting now."

It's a serious matter, probably.

But he didn't particularly feel obligated to fight the Black Church. If he had to choose, he'd rather decline unless he was directly attacked first.

He had already fought enough in his previous life. Even now, the thought of fighting those intensely mad bastards sent shivers down his spine.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'll think about it."

Now, you guys figure it out yourselves.

This senior wants to rest.

If it really doesn't work out, then I'll help… He tried to end the conversation that way, but Doran caught his ankle one last time.

"If there's something you absolutely need to acquire from the black market, look carefully for the 'VIP Escort' mission at the guild when midterms are over and the holidays begin."

"…?"

"Because most of them will be attending the black market held in <Ledacable>."

Rain glanced back. Doran, with his bright smile, was tilting his teacup.

"This is information I'm giving you in exchange for your valuable time. Of course, if you promise to join the Special Operations Department, I can tell you an easier way."

Rain sighed, shook his head, and continued walking.

Terrifying.

He was truly the type of person he didn't want to get involved with.

* * *

How long had it been since Rain left, when four people, each doing their own thing around the street—eating a meal, or performing magic tricks—began to gather around Doran one by one.

Their attire was diverse and even shabby for them all to be excellent mages of the Special Operations Department.

But it wasn't surprising. Commoner attire, meant to conceal their identities as mages, was a characteristic of the Special Operations Department.

"How was it?"

"He said he'd think about it."

"Doesn't that mean he won't do it?"

The mustached man, who had been performing magic tricks, chuckled, and a woman who had been napping on a pub roof yawned as she jumped down.

"So why do you always have to choose that genius (天災) young master, you imbecile, even when trying to scout? This year's <Delighten> freshmen are called the Golden Generation, and even picking just one from them would be better than him."

Then Doran Slade grinned as he put on his old fedora.

"Indeed, Rain Wijak probably doesn't belong to that Golden Generation."

"Then why!"

"There were things I needed to confirm, weren't there? Since he doesn't seem to have had contact with Turena, let's look for the next suspect."

"But would there really be someone among the <Delighten> chicks who contacted Turena?"

"This is my intuition, but there probably is. Perhaps they were connected even before admission."

As he said that, there was no trace of a smile in Doran's eyes as he glanced back at the spot Rain had left.

'Yes, how could one dare say he belongs to the Golden Generation?'

To place him in the same group as the freshmen, who are called the Golden Generation… The difference in level was too overwhelming. Soon, his eyes curved like crescent moons again.

'Senior Kayven, Senior Brim. The two of you have created a formidable monster. This is the first time I've encountered a being whose future is so terrifying.'

* * *

Librarian Karen, who had been told that the book couldn't be obtained, gave a wry smile.

"It's alright, Young Master. I'm already in a lot of debt. More than that, I'm worried that something might happen to you while you're trying to get the book."

"You don't need to worry. Everything is going well. But by any chance, did you talk about me and the black market to a man dressed like a beggar?"

Karen tilted her head at that.

"Dressed like a beggar? Now that you mention it, someone from the Magic Alliance's Special Operations Department did come to the library for a short while… but he didn't speak to me, a low-ranking librarian."

"Then who did he talk to when he came?"

"The senior librarians. It seemed like they just reminisced about old times, saying they were old acquaintances, and then he left."

So he did come. But he didn't even talk to Karen… Then how did he know?

Doubts remained, but since there was work to be done, he quickly returned to his dorm.

There was nothing grand about the work, it was about the Imaginary Barrier ability he had recently acquired. He simply couldn't wait until his magical power reached 20,000.

"Ah, they're here just in time."

In front of his dorm room door, two glass spheres, 86cm in diameter, which he had bought for one gold coin at a magic tool shop on his way, had been delivered.

The name of these spheres was Spirit Orb (靈珠).

They were used for magic power reaction experiments or when teaching five- or six-year-old children how to use magic, and could store magical power within them for up to 24 hours.

'Since I bought the biggest, most expensive, and best ones, I should be able to pour about 4,000 into each.'

If I combine the stored magical power with my current magical power, I should barely exceed 20,000. If my calculations are correct, I'll be able to test the Imaginary Barrier.

"Here I go."

As he placed his hand on the Spirit Orb and concentrated, a squeezing pressure surged through his main core, and the sphere began to emit an intense clear light (淸光).

By the time cold sweat flowed all over his body, magical power was swirling, creating strange undulations, inside the blindingly bright glass sphere.

"With this, it's complete…"

He took a deep breath, and immediately sat cross-legged to enter meditation.

He regulated the scattered flow of magical power, and stabilized his main core so it could create new magical power.

By the time all his magical power had recovered, the twilight of the next day was streaming through the window. As he opened his eyes, he formed a mudra (手印) with both hands.

Ra (羅).

An attribute bestowal that envelops and expands.

The mudra symbolizing this rune was to form two triangles and a circle with both hands.

"Imaginary Construct, Yuryang Sejon."

At that moment, a furious storm of magical power raged, and suddenly, with a crack, the glass sphere where the magical power had been swirling, cracked and then shattered.

Simultaneously, a pain like his main core being scraped with a chisel erupted, accompanied by him spitting blood.

'Was it a failure after all…?'

It was then, just as he was about to sigh in defeat. The § symbol carved into his left palm emitted intense heat, as if burning his skin, and created a new world (新世界) of light.

<流> <量>

O

<尊> <世>

A mysterious magic circle greatly unfolded, centered around Rain.

The magic circle had a total of five circles, and in the four circles at the east, west, south, and north, excluding the one where Rain sat, one rune of Yuryang Sejon was engraved in each, flickering brilliantly.

Yu (流): The attribute of 'flow.'

Ryang (量): The attribute of 'measurement.'

Se (世): The attribute of 'world.'

Jon (尊): The attribute of 'augmentation.'

And even more surprising than this was the magical circuit connecting the central circle with the respective runes.

Yun (蝡), Ro (癆), Eun (齦), Rin Infinite Function, Variable Wave, and so on…

Were not the incomplete runes and mathematical theories that Rin had devised so far densely gathered, forming lines?

Literally an Imaginary Barrier, it seemed as if thoughts in his mind had been constructed into a single barrier.

"No way…"

Let's try using the flame magic he had experimented with before at Jeonryongjang.

Voom!

Then, the Rune of Yun (蝡) and the matrix mechanics theory required for the casting of that magic began to glow and rise, and the stroke of Yun (蝡) was modified to Yun (蜳), and several other formulas were added to the matrix mechanics theory.

'This can't be.'

He couldn't believe his eyes. Was it providing the optimal choices for using the magic he thought of, in this way? And complementing his underdeveloped aspects like this?

'This is absurd…'

It was truly an unbelievable ability.

No one could teach magic of 5-star or higher. It was a realm of self-study that one had to figure out alone, but could it be learned like this?

"This is totally awesome, isn't it?"

His burst of laughter ended there.

A stabbing pain arose in his main core, and soon, the magic circle that had fully covered the room vanished into particles of light.

This meant his magical power was depleted.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo-hee-hee-hee…!"

Rain fell backward and laughed like a child. Not caring about the chills that ran through his body, cold and drenched in sweat.

"The Imaginary Barrier is like a mirror reflecting the caster's mind."

The Second Sage, Riot Warden, said so. Referring to that, one could immediately understand the unique nature of Rain's Yuryang Sejon.

The Imaginary Barrier is a mirror reflecting the mind, and what was in the boy's mind was only a steadfast, infinite, and innocent spirit of inquiry towards truth.

The manifestation of that mental image, 'the yearning for truth,' was precisely Yuryang Sejon.