Chapter 324
Chapter 324
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 324
Chapter Title: Initiation (1)
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Kevin snorted derisively after using the black magic gathered in his hand to break free of the mana chains and dispatching the enemies with spells.
It was all to play the part of someone strong and unflappable, in line with the mage tower's culture.
In a place where looking more accomplished than you actually were was what mattered.
However, contrary to his outward bravado, Kevin was genuinely taken aback inside.
By his sheer luck in having learned black magic just in time for this moment, and by the results he'd achieved in such a short period.
It felt for an instant like a god had lent him a hand. A god, no less...
"Hah, black magic?"
"What in the world...?"
The mages, blocked off on all sides by the thick fog wall and nearly skewered after being bound tight by mana chains, gaped in shock once more at the sight of Kevin.
Kevin could understand their reaction.
Even mages who overlooked most taboos for the sake of knowledge drew a hard line at black magic.
But Kevin decided to focus on the situation at hand for now.
He launched a preemptive strike first against the other demonstration hall mages who were in cahoots with the professor.
They had been about to follow up with their own attacks after the professor fell.
Kevin channeled mana into the ground through his feet, activating an earth spell laced with fire magic. Stone spears erupted from beneath the enemies' feet.
Kwarrr rumble boom!!
The spears of dirt and rock shot up endlessly from below, piercing numerous foes—but the enemies were skilled mages in their own right.
A good number dodged Kevin's assault with beastly agility and spells, or even leaped atop the rising spikes.
They weren't your average lot, that was clear.
'Whatever. Doesn't matter.'
Firecracker
Earth spikes ignite internally, exploding to engulf surroundings in flames, heat, and shrapnel.
As Kevin chanted, the fire magic infused in the earth spell detonated.
Explosions ripped through the stone spears, assailing nearby enemies with flames, searing heat, and flying debris.
The area where the spears had erupted turned into a blazing inferno as if shelled by artillery, inflicting massive casualties on foes who had let their guard down after evading the first strike.
Only two or three survivors remained, but their will to fight shattered by the overwhelming firepower, they fled outright.
The moment Kevin confirmed it, he channeled mana into his hand again, forcibly snapping the mana chains binding Derek.
Designed to restrain mages, they proved surprisingly vulnerable to black magic.
"Professor...?"
Derek, freed from the chains, asked with a rare stunned expression for him.
Kevin decided to brazen it out. Lies worked best when delivered shamelessly.
"Picked it up during my time as a field mage for work and research purposes. No need to freak out."
"B-but..."
"You really think this is the time to quibble over that?"
Kevin spoke to Derek just as he had to soldiers on past battlefields.
And it was the right call.
The current chaos was no different from war.
With Landa's mage tower, Galos' Rokuri University, central continent mage families, and more gathered here—and the hosts from Rokuri University launching the assault—it wasn't hyperbole to call it war.
Thankfully, Derek got the point and realized the priority was the madness unfolding before them.
Kevin's use of black magic was a minor personal issue by comparison; this situation was light-years from normal.
'And no way a lunatic pulled this off solo... There have to be higher-ups involved.'
Kevin felt certain as he eyed the fog that had completely dominated the surrounding space.
He couldn't gauge its precise effects or power, but its sheer scale marked it as no ordinary barrier.
At minimum, a One Master... no, a Grand Master or higher had to be behind it.
Thinking he needed to act fast, Kevin freed Felix's mana chains next and turned to call Oliver.
"Xenon. You too—"
"—I'm fine."
Oliver spoke toward Kevin, who was turning around. In fact, he'd already escaped the chains without Kevin's help.
It stood in stark contrast to the majority of mages around them, still struggling and grunting to break free.
Felix, too stunned to think straight, blurted out,
"How'd you undo it?"
"By adjusting my mana flow and incantation to counter the interfering mana?"
Oliver stated the obvious as if it were nothing—as if it should be obvious, when it shouldn't be.
The very reason Kevin had resorted to black magic was how tricky that method was.
Proof lay in the fact that only five or six other mages here had managed it on their own, and only just now.
For a mere staffer at the mage tower—not even a student—to wield such precise mana control.
Even Derek and Felix, who knew Oliver wasn't ordinary, couldn't help but be impressed anew... though it soon ceased to matter.
The fog encircling them churned, morphing into a massive white maw that swallowed the entire space.
"Don't you find it unfair?"
Theodore Brandt, head of the School of Life Sciences, spoke abruptly from the top-floor hotel suite repurposed as a conference room.
He looked half his actual age as he gazed out the fog-shrouded window, with Philip Lore—honorary Grand Master of the Pure Mana School— and Tilda Iceeye, One Master of the Scardi Minor School, seated behind him.
They had come alone as requested, without escorts, and uncharacteristically, Theodore felt a twinge of gratitude.
It showed how much they trusted him—a rare virtue these days.
"Hmm... Theodore. Mind if I ask two questions?"
Philip, patriarch of the Lore family, spoke courteously despite his advanced years.
Out of respect for Theodore, who returned it in kind.
"Go ahead. You have every right."
"What exactly do you mean by 'unfair'?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes. The unfair social structure, the unfair laws of nature—everything. Tell me this: who among humanity holds the highest knowledge and greatest power?"
"...Us mages."
"Right... Then, who led humanity's golden age?"
"...That would be us mages too."
"Exactly. It's all us mages. Magic wields the greatest influence in the world today, and we oversee it. Yet look at our position now. Does that make any sense?"
Theodore spoke with genuine grievance and fury.
Even though it was history's most prosperous era for mages.
"I've never understood it. Why do politicians who cozy up to capitalists—the only thing those merchants have is money—stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us mages? And royals with no achievements beyond birth lording over us? Is that truly just?"
Philip and Tilda, titans of the mage towers, said nothing.
They weren't shocked by Theodore's radical words.
Having read his papers since their youth and corresponded personally, they knew his ideology well.
So the statements didn't jolt them.
Besides, as mages themselves, they shared his views to varying degrees. Only...
"No reaction? Think I'm wrong?"
"Not at all... We might differ on details, but I fully agree mages are superior. We do what ordinary humans can't. We're special."
"That gladdens me, Philip."
"But what do you mean by the unfair laws of nature?"
Philip pressed on calmly, even as he eyed the ominous fog beyond the window.
To understand this elder statesman of mage society, once even considered for Archmage.
"The human lifespan decreed by the gods."
"......"
"Doesn't it gall you? You two have amassed knowledge, power, and achievements anywhere would envy. You've honed yourselves lifelong. Yet see—we're all slowly succumbing to the curse of aging, inching toward death. Isn't it infuriating?!"
Theodore raged and feared truly. And rightly so.
They'd stockpiled vaults of inexhaustible gold over generations, knowledge to briefly restore youth, power rivaling natural disasters—yet an absolute, inescapable death ordained from above tightened its grip.
"How futile, how unjust... But what infuriates and terrifies me more is something else."
Emotion crept into Theodore's voice.
"Dying before reaching our goals... Despite endless effort and refinement, perishing short of our aspirations. Tragic, isn't it? What right has the heavens? What right have the gods? To dismiss our toil and block our triumphs!!"
Less persuasion than a roar—but shockingly, his most convincing words yet.
Philip and Tilda, like countless mages, hadn't reached their goals either.
They knew that indescribable dread better than most.
"But escape heaven's fate, and paths open. Flee finite life for eternity, shed aging's curse, gain time to attain our heights. Infinite time."
"Hmm... Intriguing overall."
Tilda, One Master of the Scardi Minor School, finally broke her silence.
Her usual icy demeanor gave nothing away.
"Unfair society ignoring merit, nature denying effort's reward. I grasp what you're driving at, Grand Master."
"Knew you'd understand."
"And if I'm right, you plan to fix it."
"Yes. And I want your help."
To dismantle society's order and defy heaven's laws—radical words.
Yet Philip and Tilda, seasoned mages, didn't flinch.
"How? Since you've brought it up, you must have a plan."
Theodore turned to face them.
"Using Lake Billy Village as a starting point, I'll build a new mage tower. Not a loose alliance, but a perfect organization—a true mage tower for true mages."
"Then wage war on the nations?"
"No need. A new era dawns soon; we just prepare."
New era. Sudden, fantastical words—but they didn't dismiss them.
Theodore was radical, but no empty talker.
"New era?"
"The world will soon open its gates."
Questions only bred more.
But it didn't end there.
"In that chaos, only the chosen survive. Take my hand, and I'll grant youth and immortality."
Unrealistic, yet they didn't brush it off.
Arrogant but prideful—he wasn't one for such lies.
"Just us two here... You've convinced the rest? The One Masters of Agni and Enril Minor Schools?"
"My grandson's handling them. Fine mages, but not on your level."
"Hmm... Think your grandson can sway them?"
"He's my blood. And if not, no matter. I can use refusals too."
"Sounds like it applies to us."
"It does. But don't misunderstand. It's my last resort. I respect you. Choose wisely."
Theodore spoke with brazen confidence, and Philip stroked his mane-like beard.
"...One more question?"
"Second one?"
"No, a new one."
"What?"
"You offer youth and immortality, but does the School of Life Sciences have that tech now?"
"Honestly, it's unstable. We've gathered, developed, refined techniques—but lack one key piece. Soon resolved, though."
"Basis?"
"Found the perfect ingredient."
Theodore brimmed with confidence, as if everything unfolding was for this.
"Cryptic... Perfect ingredient?"
"No need to know. That's my burden. Yours is accepting or not."
Theodore pressed for an answer, implying refusal meant alternative use.
Philip smiled, released the miniaturization spell on his spear, and cast an improved enlargement.
"Extend."
The staff shot forward like a bullet per his command.
Piiing—boom!!
Though Theodore caught it effortlessly with mana-clad hands.
"...Pity. Truly. I thought you'd understand."
"Grow."
With Philip's word, the extended staff ballooned dozens of times over, shredding Theodore's hand.
"......Hah."