Book 3 Chapter 20

Episode 69

Count Willem of the Imperial Court, who had been blankly blinking and gazing up at the wall of nature.

For this middle-aged man, who, as the First Administrator of the Elector, had personally received these damage reports every summer, the shock was bound to be even greater.

The western part of the Empire has a weak ground foundation due to its humidity all year round. It was a land where flood damage was concentrated in the summer.

"C-Can this, this, this actually be used?"

"Yes."

"Distance. Do you know how much distance it covers when actually used?"

"The magic contained in the scroll is different from when I use it, so it's hard to say precisely, but I don't think 3-4km would be difficult."

3-4km?

Such a figure couldn't possibly be true, or rather, isn't it not entirely impossible?

‘Last summer, didn't some unidentified ultimate-grade mage accomplish something similar?’

As Willem thought of that incident, his mouth momentarily opened on its own accord.

"Giriten."

"?"

"That embankment in the Giriten region… was it really made by Rein Wizak?"

He had made inquiries to seek the same help but couldn't find him. No, he had heard it from villagers, but he couldn't believe it.

That a genius (natural disaster) young master did such a thing; they should say something believable.

But was it really true? In fact, by this point, it was strange to be suspicious.

"Giriten? Ah, Giriten."

Rein also nodded, as if pleased to hear the name of that region.

"It was the magic I used to help them. Thanks to that, I found good magic to put on the exam, so it's mutually beneficial."

If so.

If that was the case.

There was no need to hesitate any longer. Count Willem quickly raised three fingers.

"Three scrolls, give me all three!"

He wished he could take all hundred scrolls piled there, but unfortunately, each judge could only buy three scrolls.

"Please wait a moment."

Rein immediately took out writing tools and began scribbling magic circles and mathematical formulas on parchment. Willem turned to Crown Prince Lyda.

"Your Royal Highness, please use all three scrolls given to you here as well!"

Lyda, who had been mesmerized, watching the mystery of the magic that easily blocked the flood, finally raised his head.

"What?"

"This is an absolutely necessary magic for us, who always suffer from flood damage. Your Royal Highness must know that well!"

He certainly knew that.

But it was a bit embarrassing to enthusiastically ask for all three from someone of lower status than himself, someone who looked at best his peer.

"But our royal palace also has a wizard grandpa of Gladoss (4-star) rank."

"We can use it where Duke Alfred cannot go! And if we bring this as a sample, we might even be able to mass-produce the scrolls!"

Right now, even if he wanted to, he couldn't. Already countless people were clamoring, shouting for scrolls from Rein.

"One for me too, one!"

"I'll take two! Oh, why did I get one with that weird muscle-something magic!"

"Give me all three!"

Whether a lord of a small region or a village chief, flood damage in summer was a common concern.

Not everyone could have a high-ranking mage like the Elector as their court mage.

From that perspective, the magic Rein demonstrated was like a secret weapon that could help them safely overcome next year's floods.

"Magic for flood damage, huh, an interesting idea you've got there."

Chief Professor Marhena's eyes gleamed with interest. Associate Professor Kyle chuckled.

"Yes. Summer floods are a problem everyone experiences except in the north, so it's a very good approach."

But with only 35 minutes left, no matter how many orders there were, if he couldn't make them all, it was meaningless.

‘Because he can only prepare three scrolls in advance.’

Parchment made into scrolls is a very expensive item. But what if he drew magic circles all over that precious paper, and the student only sold ten sheets, let alone a hundred?

The remaining ninety sheets would all have to be discarded.

That's why this traditional rule has always been applied in this exam.

‘It's a bit cruel, but… if you start late, no matter what you do, you can't be in the top 5.’

And the magic Rein Ludwig chose was a 3-star magic. Just drawing those complex and intricate formulas would take an enormous amount of time.

‘It's strange. In such a desperate situation, Rein Ludwig, instead of worrying about what you'll do, I find myself anticipating it…’

Perhaps realizing the limits of manual work, Rein suddenly stopped and called the assistants, asking for extra writing tools.

"You asked to bring all you have? Not just one?"

"Yes."

"What is that… What on earth is the reason?"

"Aren't all necessary items for the exam provided?"

The assistants were flustered by a request they'd never heard before, but to avoid hearing complaints from powerful families later, they brought as many writing tools as requested.

And as they watched to see what grand feat he intended to perform with such a request… soon a shiver (of terror) swept through their bodies.

"The brushes…?!"

"They're floating…?!"

And on the parchments, similarly suspended in the air, the brushes swiftly scribbled ink, constructing magic circles and mathematical formulas.

"This is… Telekinesis?!"

By then, not only the judges but everyone in the audience had their eyes fixed on Rein Ludwig.

They couldn't take their eyes off him.

Like a single performance.

The mysterious sight of six brushes simultaneously rising and uniformly drawing magic circles on the parchment was a feat that money couldn't buy.

"Does that even make sense?"

"He can control such minute details simultaneously with telekinesis?"

"Vice Dean, what on earth is that…?"

Mages know.

Because they are mages, they are even more shocked.

They understood better than ordinary people what Rein Ludwig was doing.

"He's performing multi-processing with six telekinetic powers."

The Vice Dean of the Chaihak School muttered with surprised eyes. He swallowed dryly, as if he couldn't believe it himself.

"Isn't multi-processing the domain of Archmages…?"

"Yes. Lyn became famous 300 years ago for her multi-processing."

Multi-processing, simply put, can be understood as the caster simultaneously performing mental calculations of 'n' mathematical formulas in their head.

"It's a realm that even geniuses, let alone ordinary people, dare not reach…"

Could it be that what Owen wrote in his letter was true?

- In my humble opinion, the Ludwig family will lead the next generation of magic. Please, do not reprimand Logan, who lost in the magic great war…

Multi-processing is the pinnacle, a realm that only those with the innate talent to become Archmages can reach.

But Rein, as if not satisfied with even that, suddenly began crossing his hands.

Simultaneously, seeing two more brushes and parchments floating in the air, Tyrintid of the Special Operations Department let out a gasp of disbelief.

"He can use the Bargante type too?"

Born and raised in the South, how can he handle our Northern hand seals so freely?

"That, that is truly, truly amazing."

Associate Professor Kyle expressed genuine admiration. Marhena's lips twitched as she watched Rein with serious eyes.

"It feels like being at a magic performance hall."

Though scorned by mages who research magic in the Magic Tower, magic artists are also legitimate practitioners of magic.

They spread dreams.

The dream of magic, all over the world.

And that dream becomes fertilizer for nurturing future mages. You can tell just by looking at the eyes of those watching Rein from the audience.

"Wow…!"

"Incredible! Eight brushes are moving perfectly simultaneously!"

"That's real magic…!"

And it also plays a role in revealing new possibilities of magic, even for those who won't become mages.

"…!"

Just as a new flame ignited in the heart of Crown Prince Lyda, who was watching this miraculous scene up close.

1. Rein Ludwig: 82 scrolls.

2. Christa Warden: 75 scrolls.

3. Nora Redden: 69 scrolls.

4. Kayden: 68 scrolls.

5. Lillian Carline: 67 scrolls.

Wybare, who was instantly pushed out of the top 5 by Rein's sudden surge to 1st place, could only stare blankly at the scoreboard.

‘This is impossible… He surpassed everyone in just 30 minutes?’

Even if the number of people ordering scrolls exploded, Wybare was not confident he could close the fifteen-scroll gap and pull ahead in the remaining time.

This was normal.

That was abnormal.

What was happening there right now was an unbelievable situation. Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

"I told you to watch carefully, didn't I?"

Elin Ludwig smiled broadly. To her nephews, who were merely staring at Rein, as if enchanted.

"…"

Brim Ludwig silently clapped, wiping away tears of joy that stemmed from an immense pride that made his body tremble.

‘It feels like just yesterday he was toddling around the mansion, and now he's grown up so wonderfully…’

Kayvon, I really wish you could have been here to see this proud back with me.

"Amazing, Rein is truly amazing!"

Kasena, who had been anxiously cheering for Rein, turned to Madelia.

"Can I use magic like that too? Mom, someday!"

Startled by her daughter's passionate display, she gently stroked her daughter's lilac hair.

"Of course. Kasena can become like that too."

While reaching such a level might be impossible, Kasena possesses a bloodline limit that only the lineage of Page can use.

If she could draw out the power left by the progenitor of magic and the one and only great sage to its utmost limit, reaching a comparable level wouldn't be a problem.

"I've never doubted Manager Doran's foresight until now, but…"

Runen of the Special Operations Department let out a hollow laugh and spoke.

"I, too, had a somewhat negative opinion of Rein Ludwig. But this… he truly was a genius worth it."

Tyrintid, who had always expressed negative opinions about Rein, also replied, unable to take his eyes off Rein.

"No."

"Pardon?"

"That's not genius."

Yes, not genius.

Now I understand perfectly. The reason that annoying Doran Slade said Rein Ludwig couldn't fit into <Delighten>'s golden generation.

‘It's not that he 'couldn't' fit, but that he 'didn't' fit…’

Shivering from the goosebumps caused by dumbfounded shock, he added:

"Those Ludwigs, they've created an outrageous monster in three generations…"

When the bell signaling the end of the exam finally echoed through the Dragonblood Hall, the top five names displayed on the scoreboard were as follows:

1. Rein Ludwig: 100 scrolls.

2. Christa Warden: 87 scrolls.

3. Nora Redden: 80 scrolls.

4. Kayden: 79 scrolls.

5. Lillian Carline: 79 scrolls.

Kyle, looking at the list of successful candidates, felt a shiver run through his body and spoke to Marhena with an excited expression.

"Do you know something, Master?"

"You rascal, you should say what you know, shouldn't you?"

"No one has ever depleted all hundred scrolls in a final exam, except for Riot Warden, the 2nd Sage!"

Rein Ludwig had matched that achievement. Marhena then narrowed her brows, as if scolding.

"Yes, until now, that is."

"Pardon?"

"Now, if a rascal comes along in the next generation who depletes a hundred scrolls, shouldn't a different qualifier be attached?"

Kyle, who immediately understood his master's meaning, chuckled. This could be considered the highest praise from Marhena, who was known for being stingy with compliments.

"An achievement no one has accomplished except Riot Warden and Rein Ludwig… Like that, you mean?"