Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Unrivaled Genius
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The changes weren't limited to the surrounding air.
Breathing grew labored, balance became difficult to maintain, and strain built up in the joints...
Rumble! Rrrrrumble!
On top of that, a faint vibration spread throughout the entire castle.
"What is this...?"
Cailius couldn't comprehend what was happening.
And he wasn't the only one.
No one present could fully accept the situation.
"A-already?"
"What kind of magic is this...?"
"As expected, he doesn't disappoint."
Just as the situation grew increasingly dire...
"S-stop!"
Sensing instinctively that continuing further would be dangerous, Cailius shouted urgently.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At his command, Yoo Han bowed his head and withdrew his mana.
Rumble...
Only then did the castle's vibrations cease, and the abnormal symptoms in their bodies faded away.
'...It's real?'
It wasn't a coincidence.
The mage before him had truly caused this phenomenon.
Cailius immediately turned to the royal mage, Calian Asheron.
"Calian, what magic was described in that tome?"
The confidential grimoires he'd given them contained the same spell.
Calian would know the answer to this phenomenon.
As expected, Calian replied, his hand trembling faintly.
"...It's Gravity Amplification magic."
Gravity Amplification magic.
No further explanation was needed for that term alone.
Yoo Han.
The man they'd dismissed as all looks had truly mastered the spell from the confidential grimoire and demonstrated it on the spot.
Cailius then turned to the scribe.
"Scribe, how much time has passed?"
"Your Majesty, exactly one hour has elapsed."
"One hour... One hour... Hahaha!"
In the end, Cailius couldn't hold back his laughter.
But this wasn't laughter of the same kind as before.
It was pure admiration.
"Incredible!"
Until now, he'd maintained a composed demeanor, but now Cailius continued in an intensely excited tone.
"I've encountered and experienced countless mages in my time, but a mage like you is truly a first!"
"Is that so?"
"Indeed! To master a spell from a confidential grimoire in just one hour? As you said, this is undoubtedly exceptional talent!"
"Thank you for the kind words. It was possible only because of the high-quality grimoire."
"Hahaha, no need for humility now. You have every right to take pride in yourself. Hmm, let me think..."
Stroking his chin as he pondered, Cailius spoke up.
"In my view, your talents suit a royal mage far more than a commander. What do you say? Any interest?"
It was a completely unexpected proposal.
Not just for Yoo Han, but for everyone else as well.
At those words, everyone froze for a moment.
And understandably so—royal mage was the most prestigious position among all royal offices.
It ranked several levels above the original goal of royal commander.
Such a proposal was naturally unprecedented.
But the shock was fleeting.
'...He's right. Commander was my own desire.'
Elbert quickly accepted Cailius's suggestion.
Yoo Han was exceptional at command, but not to the level of his magical talent.
He'd simply wanted him as a subordinate; rationally, the path of royal mage was the correct one.
No one would waste a mage of that caliber commanding mere soldiers or knights.
On the other hand, Calian...
'What? Making him a royal mage?'
A massive wave of dissatisfaction built up inside him.
And he had every reason to feel that way.
How hard had he worked to reach this point?
He'd surpassed every notable mage in Asteron through blood, sweat, and tears, mobilized his family and connections to catch the king's eye.
That grueling effort had barely earned him the royal mage position.
And now...
'This nobody who crawled out of who-knows-where?'
Appointing some commoner with no pedigree as royal mage?
He couldn't accept it.
Not even if it came from the king himself, Cailius.
'I acknowledge the talent, but this can't happen like this.'
Determined to stop it somehow, Calian glared and spoke up.
A sudden possibility had just flashed through his mind.
"Your Majesty, if I may humbly offer my thoughts... I believe this man used a trick."
"A trick?"
All eyes turned to Calian.
It was a burdensome situation, but Calian spoke confidently without flinching.
"Yes. I think he could already use Gravity Amplification magic from the start."
"...What?"
"No matter how talented, no one masters a spell that quickly. Even basic attribute magic requires hours of investment."
"And?"
"If basic magic is like that, what about a confidential spell—one unrelated to other attributes, like Gravity Amplification? Even a once-in-a-century genius couldn't master it in one hour. It's absolutely impossible."
His reasoning was sound.
Not mere slander, but speculation grounded in reality.
It was enough to make anyone suspicious.
"...Calian, how long would it take you?"
"For magic at this level... at least a day, Your Majesty."
"..."
With that answer, silence fell over the room.
Calian was one of those once-in-a-century magical geniuses—if they even appeared that often.
That's why he was the royal mage.
And yet...
'Even Calian needs a day, but one hour?'
The gap was too vast.
Even Cailius, who had been beaming moments ago, now considered the doubt.
"Yoo Han, is what he says true?"
"No, Your Majesty. I've never handled gravity magic before today. And this is a confidential grimoire, isn't it? How could I know a spell that's never been revealed to the world...?"
Cailius raised a hand to silence Yoo Han and looked at Elbert.
"Sir Elbert. What are your thoughts?"
"Yoo Han speaks the truth. He's not the type to lie about something like this."
There was no hesitation in his response.
It showed just how much Elbert trusted Yoo Han.
Of course, that didn't mean they could skip verification.
This was something that absolutely needed to be addressed.
"Hmm..."
In the chilly silence, Cailius groaned to himself before standing decisively, as if he'd made up his mind.
Then.
"Someone bring three more confidential grimoires from the royal collection. The most difficult ones."
"...!!"
He issued a shocking command.
Three confidential grimoires.
Undoubtedly, this had never happened before.
But what did that matter?
This was a chance to confirm if the mage before him was a black-haired beast or not.
"Yoo Han. If you're truly innocent, prove it yourself."
And at that moment.
"Yes! Your Majesty."
Yoo Han replied boldly.
Feeling his heartbeat race several times faster than usual.
The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly, at an angle no one could see.
***
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three tomes were placed before him.
These weren't ordinary books.
Confidential grimoires—three of them.
Just seeing them reignited his heart, which had calmed momentarily.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Only one thought filled his mind.
'This is my chance...!'
When he'd used Gravity Amplification earlier.
His chest had swelled more than with any other spell.
Partly because it was one of the first he'd learned from a grimoire, but mostly due to its power.
'It was no ordinary magic.'
Gravity Amplification magic.
He'd felt it the instant he cast it.
This was something you couldn't learn anywhere else.
Only a confidential grimoire could teach it.
And now.
'The most difficult ones—three of them?'
Even better magic lay before him now.
Would such an opportunity come again?
It would be weirder if his heart wasn't pounding.
'I could kiss you for this, Calian. I like you.'
As that thought crossed his mind, the words he'd been waiting for finally came.
"Begin, Yoo Han."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Flip!
Without hesitation, he opened the grimoire.
True to its reputation for difficulty, the first page was packed with dense text and bizarre formulas filling every inch.
Just looking at it furrowed his brow.
But it was no problem.
He had the most reliable ally: [Prodigy of Magic].
-Magic learning speed increased by 300%.
Flip! Flip! Flip!
His vision cleared, and the contents flowed into his eyes. He turned pages as understanding came.
After about ten pages, he grasped the spell's purpose.
'Barrier magic.'
Not like [Silent Barrier], which blocked external noise, or [Curtain of Light], which stopped frontal attacks.
This was an all-around protective barrier enveloping the body in a translucent membrane.
That's what this confidential grimoire contained.
Knowing how valuable it was, he tensed up.
'I have to master it.'
Barrier magic was one of what could be called the flowers of magecraft.
Yet he'd never learned it until now.
Not just because it was rare, but because it was far more advanced than it appeared.
Even in his mage build plans, he'd scheduled it for after reaching 9th circle.
A chance to learn it now was truly astronomical luck.
'I must...!'
Flip! Flip! Flip!
How much time passed?
After earnestly reading through with desperate focus.
He finally reached the last page, closing the book reverently.
Then.
Whoooong!
He immediately drew up his mana.
He couldn't contain his urge to test [Barrier] right away.
Calmly recalling what he'd just read, he implemented it exactly.
Mana circuits, imagery, formulas, shapes—without the slightest deviation.
Then.
Zzzzzing.
A thrilling shiver signaled success, and a translucent membrane formed around him.
No—a sphere, perhaps.
It sealed him perfectly; not even fine dust could enter.
He'd perfectly manifested [Barrier] magic.
Even he was astonished by the speed.
'I can definitely feel I've reached 7th circle.'
[Prodigy of Magic]'s 'magic learning speed increase' boosted it by percentage.
In simple terms, the better his base learning ability, the greater the efficiency.
Reaching 7th circle had dramatically accelerated his spell acquisition.
Which meant...
'The others will be no problem either.'
Filled with certainty, he silently shifted his gaze.
To the two remaining confidential grimoires.
He didn't know what they contained, but one thing was sure.
Soon, they would be his as well.