The Vortex of Greed
Time buries everything. In that obvious truth, Lyzel was no exception. His past had become something far too distant now. Everything was blurred, with not a single trace left behind. Yet even so, not everything had faded.
In a world where most things had grown hazy, the one memory Lyzel still recalled clearly was the beginning of it all.
“I hate it! I said I hate it! Give it back! That magic is mine—!”
The sight of the mage crumbling as his magic was stolen from him. Lyzel still remembered it vividly. The young Lyzel hadn’t understood what was happening, but the current Lyzel knew exactly what it was.
Succession of magic. The unique element known as Greed had simply changed owners. No one understood the miserable end that awaited a bearer of the Greed element better than the bearer himself. After all, he had devoured the previous owner and become the current one.
It was only natural. That was why Lyzel had no intention of handing the Greed element over to anyone. Not to a single soul.
“Why? Why won’t it come to me! Greed element!”
Two hundred years ago, when the next successor of the Greed element finally appeared, Lyzel had devoured him instead. In the battle of desire, Lyzel had triumphed over the successor. The implications were enormous. It proved that simply because a successor appeared, it didn’t mean they were doomed to a tragic end. As long as one maintained a greater desire. As long as one remained stronger. The Greed element could be possessed forever.
And to do that, magic was necessary. He needed to steal even more magic. He needed to claim even more spells for himself.
The magic derived from the Greed element varied wildly depending on the bearer. In Lyzel’s case, the conditions were excessively strict. He had to hear a direct explanation of the magic from the opponent, witness it three times, and experience it personally. But precisely because of that, no matter how strong the opponent was, as long as the conditions were met, he could steal their magic.
In the beginning, fulfilling those conditions had been incredibly difficult. But after he happened to obtain the unique magic Distortion, everything began to flow smoothly for Lyzel. And it was the same now. Having finally obtained Balance, there was no longer anyone who could stop him.
Lyzel looked at the foolish mage and met Ruina’s eyes. Every mage who had their magic stolen showed the same reaction. Denial. Rage. Resignation. Feeling the waves of those emotions was one of Lyzel’s favorite hobbies.
Under Lyzel’s gaze, Ruina slowly opened her mouth.
“A magic that steals the opponent’s spells? That really is an amazing ability, isn’t it?”
Ruina’s eyes sparkled. At that pure reaction, Lyzel momentarily wondered if his Distortion hadn’t been dispelled yet. He thought she still saw him as her older brother. But Distortion had already been broken long ago, and Ruina clearly recognized him as an enemy. And yet she was reacting like this. She must not have grasped the situation yet.
Lyzel kindly explained it to her.
“This Balance is mine now.”
“But that’s my Balance.”
“No amount of stubbornness will change the facts. Face reality.”
Creak.
The scales tilted in Lyzel’s hand. At its beautiful form, Lyzel was filled with excitement. Balance was a magnificent magic. Depending on how it was used, it could even trade away lifespan. There were no limits. If properly developed to around the seventh tier, it was a magic that opened infinite possibilities.
When Ruina had first used Balance to ‘share’ magic, Lyzel had been astonished. The fact that ‘sharing’ was possible meant that no matter how far apart they were, the two parties who traded would remain connected. In other words, it meant Balance was linked to the Great Laws themselves.
That would place it at the second stage. To have already grown Balance that far was no easy feat. He would give her credit for that much.
However.
He could not tolerate someone who didn’t even know what they possessed, who failed to understand its value, and who threw away gold into a trash can.
A great magic whose owner’s name would be recorded in history each time it appeared. Balance. He would teach her how to use it properly from now on.
“You foolish girl. You don’t understand at all what it means to handle causality. Balance is not meant to be used that way. Watch.”
Lyzel raised the scales high and shouted.
“O Great Laws! I offer the magic I have gathered upon the scales in perfect balance! In return, grant me infinite mana for a moment!”
Being connected to the Great Laws meant one could trade with them. The Great Laws were the very root of the world, something even the gods could not defy. To trade with such a thing. Truly, anything was possible. Anything at all.
Lyzel closed his eyes, expecting omnipotence. The amount of magic he had collected over the years was enormous. Among them were spells he had never been able to use due to insufficient mana. But not anymore. Now Lyzel had truly become complete. He had become a god—!
…….
“Huh?”
“O Great Laws!”
Lyzel screamed until his throat felt like it would burst. But nothing happened. The moment the bewildered Lyzel looked down at the scales—
“My Balance doesn’t work that way.”
Ruina murmured softly. Lyzel lifted his head. Her clear, light green eyes pierced straight through him.
The price of Balance had to be perfectly fair. It didn’t simply mean equal. It had to be fair. The weights in each other’s hearts had to match.
Why had it been designed that way? The answer was simple. Because the one who created it had made it so. That was the nature of fairness that Ruina had realized.
Balance was a magic born from a single person’s wish. A desperate desire that had sublimated into a single spell. And the name of that wish was—
Ruina becoming happy.
“It only activates in situations where I become happy. That’s what this magic does.”
The only situations where Ruina was happy involved magic. The Great Laws were the root of the great world, but they could not bestow magic. Therefore, Ruina did not trade with the Great Laws. She could not. Because the only thing she desired was magic.
Thus, Balance had discarded countless other functions and specialized solely in magic. Instead of receiving lifespan from others or trading with the Great Laws, it had pushed every function related to magic to the absolute limit.
Ruina had not grown Balance to enable ‘sharing.’ It had been created this way from the very beginning.
“That… that can’t possibly—”
“But it does.”
Ruina cut Lyzel’s words short. Then she whispered as if singing.
“That magic looks delicious, doesn’t it?”
At those words. At that greedy remark, Lyzel realized.
You. You are—
“The current generation’s successor of the Greed element!”
Flames erupted.
Then the inside of the cavern lit up brightly.
*
A red line dyed the air. I fired flame bombardment magic while observing Lyzel. A black hole formed in Lyzel’s hand, and all the flames were sucked into it.
Lyzel drew a line through the air with his finger. Screeech! The thread of wind that shot from his hand collided with the wooden giant, spreading a bizarre sound. After lightly exchanging spells, Lyzel spoke in a welcoming voice.
“You must want to steal magic too, right? You want to take it for yourself and never hand it over to anyone, don’t you?”
“Uh… um.”
What is this guy suddenly talking about? I answered calmly.
“Did you perhaps drink something while I wasn’t looking?”
“Answer me. You’re obsessed with magic. You want to monopolize it all for yourself, right?”
“Not really.”
“You don’t?”
I didn’t particularly have any desire to monopolize anything. Didn’t the fact that I taught Noa magic prove that? I was of the opinion that magic should be shared with everyone. That way, even better magic could be created.
“What… Then why do you collect magic?”
“Because magic is wonderful, of course.”
“Isn’t that the same as wanting to monopolize it! The desire to collect it all and lock it away in a warehouse!”
“I said that’s not it.”
I have no idea why he keeps assuming what’s in my heart. I’m not collecting magic. I’m the furthest thing from a collector. Because—
“It’s sad when magic isn’t used. Magic exists to be used.”
That was also why I didn’t forcibly steal magic. It would be too pitiful for the magic.
“……”
Lyzel shut his mouth. I didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding he had fallen into, but it didn’t really matter. In the end, I only had one demand.
Hand over the magic.
“This is different from greed. What the hell is this?”
“Come here.”
Predatory flames bloomed on the wooden giant’s fist. The flames devoured the wooden giant to increase its size, and the predatory flames, now amplified to their limit, crashed down on Lyzel.
Hisssss!
An ice castle blocked the wooden giant’s fist. Rumble. The cannons on the castle walls opened, and ice shells poured down on the wooden giant. I want that magic.
I summoned several wooden soldiers and made them climb the ice castle. From the top of the castle, Lyzel pointed his hand into the air. Immediately after, a sphere of water formed and a waterfall poured out from it. That magic too.
A stone spear split the air. In response, a stone shield protected Lyzel. That magic as well.
Flame arrows flew, and a curtain of water blocked everything. That magic.
Extremely compressed flames shot out in a straight line, and a black sphere swallowed it all. The predatory flames grew larger by devouring the ice castle, only to be crushed and erased by a hound of light. That magic too.
I want all of them. Every single one.
Emotion stirred. Emotion surged. I want to obtain magic. I want to use magic. I want to cherish magic. Magic… is just too wonderful.
“N-no, this can’t be!”
Lyzel panicked and waved his hands wildly. It was my chance. I activated my strongest spell. A giant snake made of wood—one that had failed to become a dragon—opened its maw. Flames gathered. Flames compressed beyond their limit scattered in every direction inside Steel’s mouth, and then they were released.
The red light pierced through everything. Hand over the magic!
A translucent curtain created by Lyzel’s hand distorted everything. I poured in more and more mana, focusing my mind. That was when it happened.
Kihihi.
A strange laugh came from somewhere.
“No!”
I frowned at the peculiar sensation rising within me. What is this?
“Give it to me!”
Lyzel shouted furiously as he charged forward. He continued.
“That! That is my magic—!”
At the same time, Lyzel began to collapse from his feet. As he crumbled like sand, the translucent barrier vanished, and the red light that had been blocked pierced straight through him.
The brightened world returned to normal. I looked at the spot where Lyzel had been standing. There was nothing there. No ashes, no bone fragments, nothing at all.
Flash.
Countless lights burst out from where Lyzel had stood and scattered in every direction. One of those lights flew straight into me.
Feeling that Balance had returned, I quietly examined my new family member.
So.
What exactly is the Greed element? You should at least explain before you die. Or give me more magic before you die. You’re really no help at all. No help whatsoever.