Chapter 649. The One Who Left But Hasn’t Left (2) #PART 1
Practical Magic Guidance and Instruction.
The intention is admirable. Since actual combat magic casting is fundamentally prohibited within the Magic Tower, the idea is to test the essence of combat magic through duels held under strict regulations.
‘The problem is the temperament of the mages, though.’
A mage who uses the rule of Practical Magic Guidance and Instruction as originally intended? I can say with confidence: not a single one in the entire history of the Magic Tower!
‘In the end, it’s just a way of saying, “Let’s throw away ranks and fight.”’
Let’s think back to when I first stepped foot in the Magic Tower.
Not only between the elder mages and the Chief, but even among the senior mages, there seemed to be invisible walls. When Vangrit—no, when he was being manipulated by demon worshippers—how did the other senior mages treat him?
‘They clearly disapproved of him.’
Now we’re close, having been through hell and back together—quite literally—but before I arrived, there was basically no interaction among the senior mages.
Well, it wasn’t hard to understand why.
‘There are only twenty senior mage positions.’
In a way, they’re all competitors.
Why would competitors clash using their school’s ultimate magic spells?
‘Of course they wouldn’t.’
The same goes for adept mages within each school.
In that sense, Practical Magic Guidance and Instruction was never meant to be a constructive event. Which is exactly why I was clutching this parchment and screaming…!
“…Isn’t this a bit too much?”
Twenty.
All twenty senior mages.
Not a single one missing—every one of them aiming for my neck.
I could hardly believe my eyes.
“Wait, even Senior Bellier?”
I just heard she had regained consciousness in the healing school’s chamber. And now, the moment she woke up, she requested a combat magic session with me? Just how much had she been holding in…!!
Shuffle shuffle.
Diend approached quietly and muttered:
“Indeed, you are truly our lord.”
“What now?”
“To be held in such high esteem by so many.”
“Are you kidding me? Cut it out.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Moments like this made me miss Hiel’s perceptiveness.
[Hiel Chrysiad Four Seasons Leaf: On break]
Hiel had returned as my contracted spirit. But perhaps due to lingering exhaustion, she was currently resting in the spirit realm.
I added to Diend,
“You do understand how serious this situation is, right?”
“I apologize, my lord. My insight is lacking…”
“Forget it. I didn’t say it to hear an apology.”
What good would it do to scold Diend? In the end, this was my own karma.
That damned rule!
The one who enforced absolute silence and strict discipline?
It was me—or to be precise, Grandfell, you.
At any rate, I had no grounds to refuse the requests from the senior mages.
‘Even if I’m leaving, what use is an excuse now?’
Even if I wanted to ignore it, I couldn’t. That was the problem.
I turned my eyes away from the parchment and checked the flashing message:
[※Warning: There are still unresolved tasks.]
That’s right.
If I didn’t resolve this issue, the [Relationships] and [Influence] I’d built in the Magic Tower would naturally decline.
Which meant my plan to keep siphoning benefits from the Magic Tower would fall apart…!
‘Is this something I’ll just have to endure through clenched teeth?’
There’s a saying: If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
I’d love to ask whoever said that—do you even know what senior mages are?
The vast Arcana continent.
Countless magical families scattered across it.
Among those, only the most gifted individuals are allowed into the Magic Tower. And from them, the top twenty become senior mages—true geniuses.
Scratch scratch.
As I scribbled ‘Approved’ with a feather pen, my mind was racing.
“Whew.”
Leaving Bellier aside since she wasn’t fully recovered yet, could I really win against nineteen senior mages in actual combat?
‘Maybe one or two… but the rest?’
As I said, senior mages aren’t uncut gems.
They’ve already become polished jewels.
Frankly, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of them achieved a new realm just from watching one of these duels.
So then—
“It can’t be helped.”
Looks like there’s only one way.
I, Lee Hoyeol,
put down the feather pen with determined resolve.
Though the full-length mirror in the corner of the office had already been taken away,
I walked over to that spot
and straightened my outfit without hesitation.
“Alright.”
I’ll accept it, senior mages. Gladly.
If I’m going to settle my karma from the Magic Tower anyway,
might as well settle it properly.
*