Chapter 206
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 206
The Millennium Riddle.
An ancient secret of the magical world and the long-held ambition of countless mages. Even now, the brightest minds on the continent spent sleepless nights huddled together, desperately trying to unravel its mysteries.
And now, she was expected to solve such a monumental problem?
Bell took a deep breath, her heart hammering against her ribs as she began to scan the problems one by one, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. She focused with every ounce of her being, reading through the Millennium Riddle.
‘What in the world is this…?’
The sheer density of the characters made her vision swim and her head spin. Even with her level of knowledge, these riddles were nearly impossible to comprehend. They were leagues beyond the general problems she had tackled earlier.
How could a mere undergraduate student possibly solve a riddle that had stumped the continent's greatest scholars for centuries?
“Haa.”
Her confidence shattered, Bell’s shoulders slumped.
‘It’s impossible.’
Her gaze drifted toward the red forfeit button on the table.
‘Should I just end it here?’
All she had to do was press that button, and the torment would be over. She wouldn't have to rack her brain over impossible equations or suffer the crushing weight of comparing herself to the other geniuses in the room.
As Bell resigned herself to defeat…
“Hoo.”
She took one more deep breath and quietly clenched her fists.
‘Still… let’s look at it one last time.’
Bell didn’t believe in her own talent. She knew she was only slightly better at her studies than her peers and felt she lacked the skills to even stand in a place like this.
However.
‘I trust Roen's judgment.’
The fact that Roen had sent her to the Olympiad meant there had to be at least a sliver of a chance. To give up so easily would be to betray the expectations of the man who had given her this incredible opportunity.
Her resolve hardened, and Bell examined the Millennium Riddle once more. This time, she didn't just read the text; she infused her mana into the box, beginning to manipulate the mana particles within.
Vwoom—.
Countless mana particles shifted and combined according to Bell’s will. She didn't fully grasp the logic behind her own actions, but she pushed forward, pouring everything into the attempt.
It happened as she was re-examining the problems and infusing her mana.
Problem #24.
Thump—.
The moment her mana touched the box for that specific problem, Bell’s heart thundered in her chest. A scorching heat surged through her veins.
‘Huh?’
It was a sensation similar to when she had poured her power into the crystal orb at Roen's request. No, this was even more primal, more impulsive. The mana of the Extreme Flame began to swirl violently within Bell's Mana Heart.
Writhe—.
The mana squirmed as if it possessed a life of its own, independent of her will. This endlessly burning Extreme Flame soon melted the mana particles inside the box, forging them into an entirely new form.
Like sand fusing into glass, the mana particles coalesced into transparent, beautiful formulas. The talent that had lain dormant within Bell had finally blossomed, carving out a new path before her eyes.
“……”
Bell stared blankly at the manifestation of her own awakening, surrendering her body to the instinctive flow of mana.
*
“……”
Richard McDowell.
The Tower Master of Meister Tower and a Grand Duke of the Cassandra Empire. He was a true titan among the influential figures of the magical academic world.
He was also the father of Meyer McDowell, the president of Meister Academy. Currently, he sat in the judges' section with his chin propped on his hand, quietly surveying the hall.
Faces he didn't care for and unpolished gems were gathered in one place, focused on the task at hand. Of course, his tower had no need for "talent" that could merely solve pre-existing problems, so the Grand Duke usually had little interest in such events.
‘How boring.’
Grand Duke McDowell raised his head, looking toward the second-floor audience. His eyes quickly found and settled on a black-haired boy.
‘Roen Devalis.’
The Student Council President of the Union… and before that, a boy notorious for being a world-class scoundrel.
Normally, the Grand Duke wouldn't have spared him a second glance, but the situation had changed. Roen had declared the revival of Valerian Academy in front of everyone—including His Majesty the Emperor.
The implications were massive.
Was this a declaration that the Devalis family intended to step into continental politics, abandoning their post at the Great Wall? Or was it merely the naive bravado of a young delinquent?
Ordinarily, he would have assumed the latter, but according to the reports from his son, Meyer, the boy wasn't to be taken lightly. Although confined to the academy, Roen's recent actions had been unconventional and calculated.
His dull-witted son had faced Roen directly and lost, so the information had to be reliable. Putting the pieces together, Roen had changed so much it was as if he were a different person entirely.
But people don't change that easily. On the contrary.
‘It's more likely he's finally revealing the true colors he's kept hidden until now.’
That made more sense than the world's worst scoundrel suddenly developing genius-level talent overnight. If so, why reveal himself now? And why tie it to the revival of Valerian Academy?
Tap, tap—.
There was a clear intention behind it all. His visit to the academic conference was undoubtedly part of the play.
“……”
Grand Duke McDowell watched Roen in silence before shifting his gaze. He looked toward the girl named Bell, the one Roen had entered into the Olympiad.
He’d assumed there must be something special about an undergraduate participating in such a high-level event, but…
‘What is he trying to show me?’
Grand Duke McDowell frowned as he watched Bell.
The girl was currently tearing her hair out in despair, slumping over her desk, and then thumping her head against the wood in frustration. After taking a full ten minutes to solve the very first problem, she had made no further progress. She looked ready to burst into tears, her rabbit-like eyes scanning the problems frantically.
Watching her, it seemed her internal struggle was reaching a breaking point.
Then, it happened.
The girl selected the Millennium Riddle section and began to recklessly pour her mana into it. A searing mana erupted from her body, melting the mana particles inside the magic cube and forging them anew.
“……!”
A primal flame capable of deconstructing the arrangement of mana particles at a fundamental level to create new matter. Grand Duke McDowell’s eyes snapped wide at the sight.
‘Could it be?’
That girl is from the Ludwig clan… a wielder of the Extreme Flame who has inherited its very essence!
Now that he looked closer, he saw the red eyes and snow-white hair characteristic of the Ludwig bloodline. To think a descendant of a clan thought to have been wiped out in the ancient witch hunts would appear right before him.
The boundless potential of the Extreme Flame would bring a revolution to the magical world.
‘Don't tell me… did he want me to see this?’
Grand Duke McDowell lifted his head back toward the second-floor audience.
Roen.
As if he had been waiting for that exact moment, Roen met the Grand Duke's gaze. He gave a slight, knowing nod, then turned and left with his maid.
*
After the Olympiad ended.
“I’m ruined, totally ruined…” Bell muttered over and over like a broken record.
Despite drawing out the Extreme Flame, Bell had ultimately failed to solve the riddle. No matter how great her latent talent, there was no way she could solve a Millennium Riddle with such a haphazard, instinctive approach.
I offered her some comfort. “No, you did more than enough. Straighten your shoulders.”
“You said… I could solve it.”
“Did I say that?”
“Hey!”
When I feigned ignorance, Bell's eyes sharpened—a stark contrast to her usual meek demeanor. Seeing the normally timid Bell get so worked up was actually a little intimidating.
In any case, while one of the Millennium Riddles was indeed a perfect match for Bell’s affinity, actually solving it was a different story. She was a brilliant talent who would eventually open new horizons in magic, but she was still a fledgling.
All I had done was pick a problem that would force her talent to blossom and give her the courage to try.
I patted Bell’s shoulder. “We achieved our goal. You definitely caught the judges' attention.”
I remembered the look in Grand Duke McDowell’s eyes. Magical engineering and pure elementalism might be different fields, but the eye for talent is the same. He would surely try to recruit her now.
Between Grand Duke McDowell and Beatrice, Bell was now on the fast track to success. If she had any political savvy, she could play them against each other to maximize her benefits, but…
“Ugh.”
Looking at Bell’s pouting face, that was probably asking too much.
By the time we left the hall, the sky had grown dark. The festival at night had a completely different energy than the day. Colorful lanterns and magical lights illuminated the booths, creating the vibrant atmosphere of a night market.
I headed toward the crowded food stalls with Bell and Ciel.
“Two servings of stir-fry, please!”
“Excuse me, can we get some fried squid, too?”
The savory steam of fresh corn wafted through the air, and the scent of charcoal-grilled meat tickled my nose. The aroma alone was enough to make my stomach growl.
I stopped at a slightly less crowded booth.
“I'll take one of everything from here to there. Pack it all up and have it delivered to sectors A-4 and G-1. Keep the change.”
I ordered a mountain of skewers and stir-fried noodles for the Alchemy Club members, who were likely exhausted from a long day of selling carbonated water.
Clink—.
“Ye… Yes, sir!” The employee’s face lit up as I handed over several gold coins. They were probably starving by now, so I was sure they’d appreciate the feast.
Meanwhile, Bell was eyeing another stall.
“Roen, I want to eat that.”
“Alright. Ciel?”
“I am fine with this, Master.”
Bell, who had a surprisingly large appetite, ordered an extra-large beef rice bowl, while Ciel opted for a simple sweet glazed donut.
“Alright. Now that we’ve got the goods, let’s move.”
We headed back to the Alchemy Club booth. Even though it was evening, the line hadn't shrunk at all. People were still flocking to get a taste of the cheap, novel carbonated water.
“Welcome~!”
As I stepped inside, Yulina greeted me with a practiced, business-like smile. But the moment she recognized me, the mask slipped.
“What? It’s just you?” she asked bluntly.
I looked at Yulina in her apron and offered a compliment. “That apron suits you. You’ve got a knack for the service industry.”
“I don't need a knack for this. Now that you're here, I'm taking a break.”
Yulina looked dead on her feet. She yanked off her apron and retreated into the prep area where the carbonated water makers were located. I followed her inside with Bell and Ciel, who were already busy munching on their food.
Whirrr—.
The machines hummed as they worked. Yulina slumped onto a stool, massaging her calves and groaning.
“Agh. I’m not doing this tomorrow. No way.”
“Then go stir the syrup inside.”
The syrup needed constant stirring to ensure the flavor remained consistent.
“Forget it. There are plenty of other people for that. I’m high-skilled labor, you know. Besides, I want to actually enjoy the festival.”
“Think of it as building character. These are the memories you'll cherish later.”
“Stop talking like an exploitative sweatshop owner.”
Yulina stayed on her stool, sipping a carbonated drink she’d set aside for herself.
Slurp—.
“It does taste good, though.”
“That’s why the line is around the block.”
It was also why I was so confident in launching the franchise business. I handed stools to Ciel and Bell, who were nibbling on their snacks beside me.
“Here, sit and eat.”
I gave Yulina a hot dog I’d picked up and took one for myself. The smoky flavor of the sausage and the soft bun were a perfect match.
As we were enjoying our simple dinner in the back of the booth, some familiar faces arrived.
“Yo, I came to hang out~”
A stunning woman exuding a familiar, dangerous aura, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses. Beside her stood a massive, elderly man.
It was Rebecca, the undisputed ruler of the underworld, and her loyal shadow, Alfredo.