Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Roan's Secret Technique
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Genius Demon-Hunting Mage
Chapter 73
Roan let out a scoff in response to the warning devoid of even a hint of humor.
"Heh, are you saying you're going to kill me right now?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Do you even have the power to do that?"
"......"
The guy had become even more infuriating since I last saw him.
But I had no real rebuttal.
As much as I hated to admit it, Roan was currently stronger than me.
Even if he pulled some strange trick, I had no way to counter it right now.
But.
"Power can be built up."
No matter what level he had reached or what strength he possessed...
It didn't matter.
I had growth potential that wouldn't lose to anyone.
I was confident I could catch up to him in no time, one way or another.
Did he glimpse that resolve in my expression?
"Haha, don't make such a face. It was just a joke."
Roan, who had been deadly serious, suddenly relaxed his features.
"A joke?"
"Yeah. Threatening Miss Kayla and leaking this dangerous mana—all of it was just a joke."
Swoosh.
The blue mana swirling around him from earlier subsided.
"Well, you seem to think I had bad intentions... but there's no reason for that, right? I'd only just met Miss Kayla, and we've never had a bad relationship before."
He wasn't wrong.
If anything, from my perspective, it was bewildering that he was suddenly acting so out of character.
It really could have been just as he said—a joke.
A bit bizarre, but...
'He's always been like that.'
Right from our first meeting.
I'd already branded him a psycho once before, hadn't I?
Of course, this was just the possibility.
But brushing off this incident as mere playfulness was a stretch.
'That killing intent back then was real.'
No one could argue that the moment he launched that ice spear at Kayla wasn't dead serious.
How could anyone call that a joke?
Something was definitely wrong, even if I didn't know what.
Yet with the person involved dismissing it like this... I couldn't even call him out on it.
What was the point of me ranting? He said it was a joke.
"......Fine. I hope you're being sincere."
"I guarantee it. No malice at all—just glad to see you after so long, you know?"
"You didn't exactly look thrilled."
"Oh dear! If that's how it came across, I'm sorry to hear it."
"......"
Roan, rendering me speechless with his exaggerated gestures and tone.
Feeling like continuing the conversation was pointless, I changed the subject.
"So, what did you do to your body?"
Something related to Roan's power.
Honestly, I was curious how he could grow so much in such a short time.
And whether I could use the same method, if possible.
Of course, his response made it clear I couldn't.
"I got some help from my family after a while."
"Your family?"
"Yeah, even if it doesn't look it, my house is pretty renowned in magic. ...Though we cut ties for a bit."
I'd heard of the Bilgeff family, Roan's house.
A lineage of frost mages with a hundred years of history?
A hundred years wasn't that long for a family, but they were famous for nearly every member possessing exceptional magical talent.
In short, a prestigious house that rivaled anywhere in matters of magic.
'A family secret, huh...'
I pondered ways to grow through similar routes.
One thing immediately came to mind.
'A secret art.'
In this world, prestigious families usually had at least one secret technique.
A knightly house might have their unique aura operation method; a mage house, a superior mana breathing technique.
Of course, it could be mana manipulation, ancestral high-tier spells, or various other kinds—not just breathing methods.
'That's why being born a noble makes the game so much easier.'
A path forever out of reach for a beggar like me.
Anyway, the "family help" Roan mentioned was surely something like that.
"What kind of secret art?"
"Hmm......"
Whoosh.
The moment I asked, a chill swept through, and ice crystals formed atop Roan's staff.
Intricate and beautiful crystals.
They looked just like magnified ice.
"A secret art for handling chill as chill should be handled."
"What does that......"
"I can't say more. Unless... are you thinking of joining my family?"
"......No, never mind. Pass."
"What a shame. Someone of your caliber, Yoo Han, would be welcomed with open arms in our house."
I tried to pry more info, but Roan deflected with an awkward question.
Fair enough—if it were that easy to extract, it wouldn't be called a secret art.
As I thought that, Roan extended his hand.
"Well then, let's keep getting along."
"With what?"
"Hmm, a friendly rivalry?"
For some reason, I could see a burning desire to win in his eyes.
Just like back when we first greeted each other in Aldeon.
He was saying let's compete in magic once more.
"Sure. Just wait a bit."
As I shook his hand, Roan smirked and turned away.
Step, step.
Roan gradually walked off.
I waited until his back fully vanished before opening my hand.
It had been itching since earlier.
Thump, thump, thump!
'It might actually work...'
Whoosh—.
The chill I summoned myself gathered on my hand, forming a shape.
Soon, an ice crystal emerged.
"......Whoa."
Not quite as perfect as Roan's, but still a beautiful crystal.
Unbelievable for a first try.
"......What monstrous talent."
Roan, further strengthened by inheriting his family's secret art.
Catching up to him didn't seem like it would take long at all.
***
The academy president's office, where Asion Gail usually resided.
After finishing my talk with Roan, I headed straight there.
To drag out Thompson, who was probably loitering awkwardly.
However.
"Oh, the top student."
"Yoo Han's here?"
Contrary to my expectations, the president and Thompson were there, sipping tea and chatting.
Looks like the timing worked out luckily by coincidence.
"You seemed to make up some story that didn't exist, huh, Yoo Han?"
"......Sorry. There were extenuating circumstances."
"Eh, whatever. It was something that needed deciding anyway."
"How'd it go? Did the talk go well?"
The president nodded, and Thompson continued.
"Three times a week, lessons in body transformation magic."
"Nice. Three times should fit fine with other schedules."
"Heh, the president said this is the first class and it'll be one-on-one. A real honor."
First class, one-on-one instruction.
Meaning the other academy students weren't learning body transformation magic.
Thompson must have caught the president's eye...
"Why's that? President."
When I asked for the exact reason, the president replied:
"Until now, there hadn't been anyone suitable to teach it to."
"Suitable talent?"
Nodding, the president began removing his clothes one by one.
Until his bare skin was exposed.
"What are you......"
Caught off guard by the sudden exposure.
The president tapped his body, urging me to look.
Scars dotted his body—from fingernail-sized ones to gashes that must have threatened his life.
But more shocking was.
"His body..."
"Whoa......"
The muscles covering the president's entire frame.
Hidden under his clothes, it was incredibly well-maintained—astonishingly muscular even for a middle-aged man.
His frame was huge, like a fusion of Thompson and Barundel's builds.
That's when I finally understood the prerequisite for body transformation magic.
"You need a body like that to use it?"
"Exactly. That's why I wanted to teach it but couldn't."
It made sense.
Most mages had frail, skinny bodies.
If it required such rigorous physical conditioning, no wonder he couldn't teach it easily.
"Plus, it's a magic only those who handle earth attribute can use."
Now I got why he called Thompson "talent."
A sturdy body and a main attribute of earth—perfect mage fit.
"Uncle Thompson's the ideal candidate."
Even publicly advertising probably wouldn't yield someone like him easily.
Nodding in agreement, the president asked with a curious look.
"I heard you're volunteering as a war mercenary—is that true?"
"Ah, yes. Not fully decided yet, but probably."
"Most would avoid war, but that's an unusual choice."
"I thought experiencing war once might not be bad."
"I see."
My vague excuse seemed to land, as the president redressed and nodded.
"Anyway, Thompson's body transformation will take quite some time. Probably only usable a bit after the war ends."
"That's fine. It wasn't in my original plans anyway."
"After the war, I'll bump the lessons from three to five times a week. That alright, Thompson?"
"Gosh, I'd be grateful just to be taught."
Thompson showed his clenched fist, signaling his eagerness.
Then, something I'd overlooked came to mind.
"Oh, what about Kayla's enrollment?"
She'd lost the spar, but that didn't mean rejection.
The president had said he'd judge separately from the spar results.
As promised.
"Miss Kayla's enrollment is approved. The message should have reached her already."
The president announced Kayla's acceptance.
In a way, it was only natural.
Though she lost the spar, her magic had clearly surpassed academy student level by any measure.
"Good call. She's got outstanding talent. And tons of passion."
"I heard. She's getting special training from Professor Jairen right now?"
"Ah, yes."
Had he gotten a telepathic report or something?
The news had spread faster than expected.
"Then Miss Kayla's skills will grow quickly too."
"Has this happened before?"
"Three in total, I think. Students under Professor Jairen's special training improved fast."
So it wasn't my imagination—Kayla really was growing.
Though a few hours wouldn't yield huge gains.
As I thought that, I brought up the last topic.
"What about Roan?"
The president probably hadn't talked to him yet, but you never know.
A mage superior to me might have noticed something.
As expected, the president knew quite a bit.
"From his mana... looks like he inherited the Bilgeff family's secret art. Definitely their aura. ...A pity he ended up with that power."
The president shook his head regretfully.
"Why's that?"
When I asked.
"The Bilgeff secret art has a side effect. Emotions gradually numb."
He revealed a fact I hadn't known.
'......Emotions numb?'
That was the moment I realized what was off about Roan.