Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Prodigy
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Dmitri Square.
In front of a casual clothing store, a full-length mirror.
Looking at my reflection in it, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Heh heh heh heh…….”
Others stared at me like I was some lunatic, but I didn’t care one bit.
“Heh heh heh…… Yes, this is what a mage looks like.”
My top and bottoms were the [Hard Ladder Armor] set, with even higher defense than before.
Joints protected by [Minion Leather Guards].
In my right hand, the heroic artifact I’d squeezed out for free, the [Holy Staff].
And topping it off, a black robe—the symbol of a mage.
With the gold coins from Lena, I’d equipped everything. Now, anyone could see I was unmistakably a mage.
Finally, I had the full mage getup.
“The wand looks like a rotten tree branch, though…….”
That would be resolved once I met the [Holy Staff]’s release conditions.
When that happened, it would take on an appearance befitting the word “holy.”
“Heh heh heh heh……!”
“What’s up with that guy?”
“Dunno, he was like that earlier and he’s still going. It’s been over 30 minutes already. ……Think he’s on drugs or something?”
“……Shh, he heard us. He’s looking this way. Let’s go.”
……Hmm, did I overdo it? I was starting to feel the stares around me.
To others, I must’ve looked like a total nutcase.
“……Ahem, time to get moving?”
I finally snapped out of it and took a step.
I was already wanted; getting reported to the guards would be a hassle.
My destination was the library.
The reason I came here…… Well, I’d blown all my money, so this was the only place I could go.
Still, my steps were light.
“Time to gather info on the last 100 years…… Not a bad idea.”
Beep!
There was an identity scanner at the entrance, so I swiped my wooden ID badge and strode in confidently.
The sheer scale of the library left me in awe.
‘Whoa, all these books are free to read?’
I’d visited the District 6 central library a few times in the game, but it must’ve been rebuilt— it was way bigger and more expansive than I remembered.
As expected from 100 years in the future; even the library had advanced accordingly.
After admiring it for a bit, I headed to the history section, grabbed the thickest book I could find, and looked for a seat.
That’s when I noticed.
‘Huh?’
In the dead center of the library, a young man was reading.
Around 20 years old, maybe?
What caught my eye was his outfit.
‘Damn, how much did all that cost?’
The guy reeked of mage, decked out in baggy clothes and accessories—all high-end luxury goods up close.
‘That’s an [Ashtar Ring], and that’s definitely a [Recovery Pendant]…… What? Even the robe’s an artifact?’
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was draped head to toe in gold coins.
Put their prices together, and you’d easily surpass 10,000 gold.
‘Some duke’s kid or something……?’
As I pondered, my gaze dropped reflexively.
My own gear suddenly looked shabby.
‘Sigh…… Some of us are strutting around with 50 gold worth of gear.’
I’d just been riding high on my upgrades, and now my shoulders slumped.
‘……Money’s king in every world. All else is pointless. Utterly pointless.’
I let out a deep sigh and slunk off to the most remote seat available.
No need to sit near that guy and compare myself.
As I sat there sulkily, flipping pages blankly, a voice came from behind.
“Excuse me…… are you a mage?”
I turned around.
It was that rich kid from earlier.
I nodded silently, and he continued.
“Oh, to meet a mage here of all places…… I’m Roan Bilgeff, a student at the academy.”
“And?”
“Mind if I sit here for a bit?”
“……Sure, whatever.”
My tone came out snappier than intended, but Roan pulled out a chair and sat like he didn’t mind at all.
“Perfect timing. I was getting bored and looking for someone to talk magic with.”
“Magic talk?”
“Yeah. What do you think about the conventional mana circulation methods? Oh, before that—have you read the latest paper on mana? Man, the moment I read it, it was like enlightenment hit me out of nowhere.”
“…….”
I was speechless.
What the hell was this guy babbling about, coming up to me out of nowhere? Attention whore?
“……Uh, yeah.”
Flutter—flutter—.
Best to ignore types like this. I replied with a disinterested vibe and kept flipping pages.
But the guy wouldn’t shut up.
“Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird. Mana inside the body and mana floating in nature—they’re the same mana, yet used differently. If what the paper says is true……”
……This dude talks way too much. And I don’t even get what he’s saying.
No choice—I closed my book with a thud and said sharply.
“Forgot this is a library? You’re so loud, everyone around is glaring—”
That’s when it happened.
“Oh, my bad. Got too excited and forgot.”
The guy smiled leisurely, casually extended his hand, and mana rushed in around us.
‘Ambush?’
I tensed up instinctively, but my heart was fine—no ambush.
Chiiiing—.
Staying still, a translucent barrier soon enclosed me and him.
I knew the spell.
A convenience magic that perfectly blocked sound from leaking out.
[Silence Barrier].
‘……Well, well.’
The key point: this was an advanced spell.
You needed at least 4th circle to cast it solo.
Meaning this young punk had already reached 4th circle…….
Rich, talented, and all?
“How’s this? Better now?”
……God, why is this prick so damn punchable?
***
The evening sky was dyed yellow with twilight.
Amid it, a blond young man who didn’t lose his presence stretched with a relaxed face.
“Whew, that was fun.”
Roan Bilgeff.
He was the top student of the Asteron Academy and society, dubbed a once-in-a-generation genius mage.
“Lord Roan.”
He turned at the voice.
His attendant, assigned by the society for a safe trip home, bowed politely.
Roan waved cheerfully.
“Oh, Jeff. Right on time?”
“……You didn’t send word on when you’d be out, so I’ve been waiting.”
“What? You’ve been standing like that for…… 7 hours? Must’ve been rough.”
“No, sir. It’s only natural for me.”
“Alright, then…… Let’s head out.”
“Yes, this way.”
Roan boarded the carriage first as guided, with Jeff following.
After about 10 minutes.
Jeff glanced at Roan, who gazed out the window with a pleased smile, and asked casually.
“Something good happen, my lord?”
“Oh, was it that obvious?”
Roan chuckled as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Jeff, you’ve heard my eyes are a bit special, right?”
“Yes, I know. You can read others’ mana…….”
“Spot on. Exactly—I read mana. More precisely, the properties of mana. Funny thing is, mana’s properties mirror its owner.”
“Mirror the owner……?”
“Simply put, if the owner’s rough, the mana’s rough. If gentle, the mana’s gentle.”
“So you can tell someone’s personality just from their mana……?”
“Not just personality—status, combat style, potential. All that can be inferred.”
“Wow…….”
Genius really was innate.
Amazed by the ability Jeff had never heard of, he suddenly tilted his head.
“But why bring it up now……?”
He couldn’t figure out why Roan was mentioning this.
At that moment, Roan’s lips curved up again, and he spoke in an excited tone.
“But get this—I saw the most fascinating guy at the library earlier.”
“……A fascinating guy?”
“Yeah. Looked about my age…… with the weirdest mana.”
“Weird mana……? Different color or wild or something?”
“Nah, that’s cliché. This guy’s mana…….”
Jeff swallowed hard with anticipation.
“……was completely still. Like it could shift into any form.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah! First time I’ve ever seen mana like that. Heh heh heh.”
“Wow…… Incredible. Mana you’ve never seen before. Does that make him a genius like you, my lord?”
“I went right over to check. Even chatted him up a bit.”
“How’d it go?”
“Curious?”
Roan’s smile widened.
But his expression suddenly cooled, interest gone.
“Disappointing. Total nobody. Didn’t even notice me prepping a spell.”
“Oh…….”
Jeff’s excitement deflated, but he nodded in understanding.
“Well, of course…… There’s no other genius like you, my lord. Two suns can’t rise at once.”
“Haha, you think?”
“Absolutely. Ah, we’ve arrived.”
“Oh, already? Academy carriages are fast.”
Stepping out, Roan looked up at his destination.
A gray spire towering endlessly high.
“Aldeon…… So this is where I’ll enter.”
The Aldeon Magic Tower.
“Now you’ll soar with wings of light. As the one true sun.”
Roan nodded at Jeff’s words.
“I must…… It’s what the society and I both want.”
But for some reason.
Roan’s focus seemed elsewhere.
Expectation flickered anew in his cooled eyes.
“Still, I hope the evaluation has some fun. Meeting geniuses like me.”
Flash—!
Muttering that, Roan swiped his ID on the tower’s barrier.
Eagerly awaiting the upcoming Aldeon selection evaluation.
His desire to meet a worthy rival was more sincere than anyone’s.
***
Meanwhile, at the Athis Request Office’s main hall.
Bang bang bang!
Lena, who’d finished all her work and was sipping whiskey leisurely, jumped at the knocks on the back door.
“W-What?”
Even in her fifth year on the job, this was rare.
The few times it happened were always bad news.
Lena rushed over and flung the door open.
There stood.
“Huff…… huff……!”
Yoo Han, drenched in sweat from running.
He was always so composed.
Had something gone wrong?
“Lena……! Any quests available right now?”
“W-What’s going on? Didn’t you say you’d rest until the magic tower quest?”
At her worried question, Yoo Han replied.
“I need more gold!”
“……Gold?”
“That damn blond prick—I’ll crush him with money someday!”
“…….”
She still didn’t get it, but one thing was clear.
Seeing this unexpected side, Lena felt a sudden doubt.
‘Can I really trust this guy……?’
A quest that could make or break the Athis Request Office’s future.
Lena wondered if she should’ve been more cautious.