Episode 594. One Way Traffic (3)

Ttogak.

First, I took a few steps toward the audience. The action didn’t mean much. Just to find some composure. Did I want to confirm the presence of my trustworthy Grandfell?

Because I know Grandfell’s temperament.

‘His back and posture are still stiff.’

I didn’t expect Grandfell to leave on a whim, and thankfully, I was right. He kept his mouth shut. Even in a situation where everything is entrusted to me, it seems like he can’t tolerate a bad appearance.

I arrange the brooches neatly.

‘If you really have the spirit to organize your clothes……!’

What the hell am I supposed to do about this situation?!

I, Lee Hoyeol, was panicking like crazy.

I face the gazes that are falling on me with a straight face.

It was the first step of the 『Reversal Magic School』.

‘According to the rules of the Magic Tower, seniors are not allowed to attend.’

Thanks to this, the majority of the audience were apprentice mages.

Adept mages who had just gotten out of their apprenticeship.

At that point, someone might ask.

Well, if it’s just apprentice and adept, why not just skip it? Even if there was something wrong with my lessons, who would dare to question the Chief Mage of the Magic Tower.

I will hold back my patience and answer.

‘You said most, not all.’

Yes, I conceded, it was understandable that Master Marcelo was in the audience. Why, even his handwriting on the parchment we’d exchanged showed his feelings.

‘There is a rule about seniors, but there is no rule about Tower Master…….’

It doesn’t exist in the Magic Tower’s vast rules, and Marcelo would never read my uncomfortable feelings and ask me difficult questions.

‘Let’s just say Marcelo understands.’

But why are you all there!

Pure-blooded Mage clan, Twilight Descendants.

The Twilight Descendants, including Mary, occupy the audience, their distinctive violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. I can hear their telepathic whispers in my ear.

“You’re being reticent, Claudi.”

“He’s giving me time to prepare, to accept the knowledge.”

“I can’t wait! Reversal Magic. What kind of interference process is there?”

I’m overwhelmed, really.

My gaze traveled the entire length of the Crystal Hall.

My gaze finally stops at the players.

‘Jesse Heinness.’

Or, more accurately, Jesse’s cone hat. Inside that cone hat is the former Tower Master. A grumpy cat’s face comes to mind, and I feel a heat rush through my head.

‘If I have that personality and stutter.’

Through the innocent Jesse, who knows nothing.

He’s going to ask me a million questions that will embarrass me.

I speak for the last time.

To Grandfell, who was practicing silence inside me.

‘I may have been a bit of a jerk, but honestly, you’re a jerk, aren’t you?’

Grandfell, you’re the one who started it.

So why don’t we make up here?

Let’s be honest about everything….

Grandfell’s response to my request?

Instead of answering, the snout suddenly starts moving.

It was no different from a declaration of war.

“Well, let’s begin.”

Begin?

On your terms?

What are you really doing to me?!

*

Hoyeol was uncharacteristically quiet.

Well, Hoyeol paces the podium like an eager puppy.

Hoyeol only cares for his beloved brooch.

It was quite possible for me to notice something different from usual.

Unfortunately.

Marcelo’s mind was filled with only one thought.

‘I wonder if I’ll ever understand.’

Reversal Magic.

In fact, the interference process couldn’t have been simpler.

All you had to do was reverse the process.

However, no one else could properly manifest Reversal Magic, except for Chief Lee. Not even the Twilight Descendants who had exceptional talents, let alone in the Magic Tower.

‘Because they can’t keep up with the phenomenal speed of computation.’

In short, the realm of talent.

Those who lacked talent could not be surpassed, which meant that unless one was as talented as Chief Lee, they would not even be able to properly manifest Reversal Magic.

‘It’s a magic that’s like an illusion in a painting.’

One might ask, then.

Even if apprentice or adept mages don’t have the knowledge to recognize the truth, why did they attend the event despite knowing everything?

Marcelo raised a small smile.

‘It’s just a little bit of expectation.’

Expectations as the founder of Theoretical Magic.

Before Marcelo founded Theoretical Magic, magic was truly a sanctuary for the chosen few.

It was more about following sparks of inspiration than logic.

Even the most exceptionally gifted could spend years manifesting and mastering a single minor magic.

‘Regardless of the level, it was no different from Lord’s reversal magic.’

However, after understanding the manifester’s intention.

And theorizing about that intent.

With the advent of theoretical magic, mages could move toward truth through effort, not talent.

That made Marcelo more nervous than anyone.

‘Do I dare to think I can understand the Lord’s intentions?’

Marcelo realized.

It didn’t depend on his own efforts.

It depends on his intentions.

Like teaching a child to walk.

It would only be possible, he thought, if the Lord had mercy on him.

The corners of his mouth that had gone up suddenly became distorted bitterly.

‘……I feel ridiculous for having expectations.’

The Lord had already shown me great mercy.

It is only my lack of understanding that is lacking.

It was the moment when Marcelo scolded himself.

“The reversal magic has begun.”

Hoyeol’s words were unexpected.

“That’s right. From my desperate struggles.”

“ ……! ”

Marcelo felt the shock of a slap to the back of his head.

He was sure of it.

Reversal Magic was the most pedantic and beautiful process of interference he knew.

‘That reversal magic started from struggling……?’

I couldn’t believe it, but I didn’t pay attention to it.

As I said, theoretical magic begins with understanding the intent of the magic.

The Lord raised a topic.

‘From then on, I’ll figure out the true intentions of the Lord.’

I thought I had to do it.

From Hoyeol’s mouth.

More unbelievable words pour out of his mouth.

“No one has unlimited magic power. It is an unchanging common knowledge, and even I am no exception. Reversal Magic was created to produce more efficiency than the amount consumed even with insufficient magic power.”

Even more shocking than before.

‘Why.’

Marcelo muttered to himself.

“Why would you say that?”

He could feel it in his gut.

Chief Lee is telling ‘white lies’.

Marcelo had seen Hoyeol magic manifestation many times before.

It was natural for him to question.

Chief Lee’s unrivaled magic power.

Where does it come from?

“Chief Lee is a man who never lies.”

And yet, to say that his magic power is lacking.

Marcelo’s shoulders trembled slightly.

‘No way, even if you break your convictions.’

Give us a chance to learn.

You mean to show us mercy?

Marcelo’s vision blurred for a moment.

He was moved to tears.

Marcelo was not even given time to realize.

‘Your mercy will not be in vain, my lord.’

*

Let’s see, if we go back further.

‘Technically, I am the creator of reversal magic.’

Our good sir Grandfell doesn’t even need crude reversal magic, right? At the point when Grandfell closed his mouth, there was no way to make a grand package.

Eventually, I began to speak honestly.

‘How long can you keep fooling me?’

Truly a desperate struggle……

A time when there was not even a trace of magical power. Furthermore, it was a time when sword skills were a mess, and due to the limitations of the class called [Demon Hunter], even facing common gnolls struggled.

“True reversal begins with recognizing yourself.”

I, Lee Hoyeol, realized the topic early on and persevered. This means that I have been able to survive until now with the reversal magic……!

“This is more like a confession than a lecture.”

I’m sorry, Grandfell.

My reverse-magic confession may have just destroyed the image you’ve built up of yourself as a prodigious talent. But I snorted shamelessly.

‘Well, if you didn’t like it, you shouldn’t have kept your mouth shut.’

Lack of magic power.

If you look closely, it is an interference process that is nothing special.

Summarized in one word: trick.

When I finished speaking, there was silence in the Crystal Hall.

By the looks on their faces.

Everyone was quite shocked.

‘It’s more relaxing than I thought and it’s okay.’

Why, I can’t stand it because I’m embarrassed when others reveal my secrets.

It’s not a bad feeling to confess to myself.

What should I say, it’s more than pleasant, it’s exhilarating?

‘It’s time to let the bubble burst.’

I’ve always said that great expectations lead to great disappointments.

The bigger the expectations I had for myself, the worse it was for me.

Of course, Grandfell has proven underestimation and made overestimation a reality.

‘I guess it’s a perspective you don’t understand.’

I opened my mouth.

“I’ll take questions.”

It was a formal statement.

‘What questions does everyone have?’

I couldn’t think of anything to ask.

I can tell you how much I suffered from a lack of magical power. If someone really asked, I could answer honestly. It was common for me to suffer magical exhaustion from a common mob that was less than level 100.

However.

It looks like everyone is really shocked by this.

How could they be so quiet?

I stare at the Crystal Hall in disbelief.

‘Marcelo, are you crying?’

Marcelo was pressing his pale hands to the corners of his eyes!

Are you crying out of sadness because your fantasy about me has been shattered?

Maybe you’re crying because you miss Grandfell, not me.

Wait a minute, if Marcelo is so sad that he wipes the corners of his eyes, what about the others…? It was a moment when I, Lee Hoyeol, grasped the situation at an unprecedented speed.

Clap.

From somewhere.

Clap clap clap.

The applause began to erupt. Soon, I was roughly stunned by the sound of applause filling the Crystal Hall. Why is everyone suddenly acting so scary?

‘No, I didn’t do anything!’

And that was it.

It stayed still the whole time.

Grandfell’s snout spoke again.

“As expected.”

What’s going on? What are you talking about, really!

“As expected.”

Not just one ray.

Grandfell stared at the light, now even more brilliant.

And he thought.

The time has come for your light to shine for all, not just me.

So, then.

‘Just as you guided me.’

I, too, am just guiding you.

My dear. (그대여)

That you may recognize your own warmth.

“One after another.”

The applause died down as he spoke.

Grandfell hid his emotions well beneath his iron skin, and he continued speaking according to his plan. This too, if you are the person I have been watching for so long, you will be able to do it.

“As of this moment.”

You may think it’s a one way road.

Please understand.

After all.

“We will hold a special conference hosted by the Chief.”

Because every path is prepared for you.

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tl/n :

그대여 mean:

1. If the listener is a friend or younger, a formal pronoun for that person.
2. Pronouns that call people intimately, usually in song lyrics or writing.