Chapter 272
Chapter Title: The Original Incantation
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The End.
Since the dawn of magical history.
The ultimate spell, boasting the greatest power of all.
Countless magical geniuses had appeared throughout the long history of magic.
But the reason none of those geniuses were ever considered to have surpassed the Progenitor of the Nebula, Luna Rubinence, was precisely because of The End.
And ever since the spell known as The End was created…
No mage other than its creator, Luna, could use it perfectly.
*...or so history claims,*
Leo muttered to himself.
Of course, the legacy of The End was still being maintained in the current era.
Not only was it maintained, but it still held the title of the ultimate spell.
But it was by no means the original.
*Besides, the Star Magic used today isn't the original either.*
Star Magic was originally Luna’s unique magic system.
Like Leo’s unique magic system, the Bible, it was magic that utilized the unique properties of Luna’s mana.
The current Star Magic was a version of that formula, refined over a long time to suit the racial traits of elves.
And as for The End…
*Seirun, the Sorcerer of the Comet, revived it 3,000 years ago.*
One of the Heroes of the Beginning.
Seirun, the Sorcerer of the Comet.
In elven history, he was a mage hailed as the greatest genius after Luna.
*Well, he was a genius, that's for sure.*
After the Age of Calamity came to an end.
Countless sects were born among the elves, all seeking to master Star Magic based on the grimoires Luna left behind.
The result was that Star Magic became the elves’ unique magic, but it completely lacked uniformity.
Each sect specialized in a different attribute, and there were spells that could be learned by some sects but not others.
There were also many elves who couldn't learn Star Magic at all.
It was in this situation that Seirun, the Sorcerer of the Comet, appeared.
Seirun re-established the magic Luna had left behind from the ground up.
The result was the Star Magic system that the elves of today learn.
And history records Seirun as the second mage after Luna to use The End.
*Well, actually, I was the second one to use it.*
The Star Magic Leo used.
It wasn't the system re-established by Seirun, but the original that Luna herself had used.
Leo was using Luna's magic through his unique magic, the Bible.
*Though the power of the magic is worlds apart from Luna's.*
No matter how perfectly Leo used Luna's magic, in the end, it was just imitation.
*The quality of my mana. And the capacity and output. None of it even comes close to Luna's.*
To give a simple example, if Kyle in his prime had used The End with a power comparable to Luna's, his mana would have been completely depleted.
But Luna could use magic of that magnitude multiple times and still be full of energy.
*That girl’s capacity and output were monstrous.*
It was no wonder she was the genius archmage who had turned the tide of battle several times when the fate of the world hung in the balance.
In any case, the current Leo was, without exaggeration, the one and only person who could use the original version of The End.
Which had all but disappeared after Luna.
At Leo's words, Levet’s face contorted.
“Student Lunia didn't receive any reward from conquering the Founder's world, did she?”
“Officially, yes. It would cause quite a stir if the truth were known.”
At Leo's words, Levet looked at Lunia.
“Student Lunia, what magic did you receive as a conquest reward?”
“Um… well…”
“The End.”
At Leo’s answer, Levet's eyes widened.
The ultimate magic that only chosen elves could learn.
The End, the symbol of the Progenitor of the Nebula…
*She received it as a conquest reward back in her first year…!*
One of the conditions for becoming the Seirun student council president.
It was the ability to use The End.
The elves bestowed the title of ‘Successor to the Founder's Will’ upon users of The End.
“Nonsense! The Founder's world you conquered was clearly that of her childhood! I heard it was from before she perfected Star Magic! There's no way the Founder of that era could have used The End…”
“Are you doubting Lady Luna's abilities right now?”
“...!”
At Leo's words, Levet fell silent.
*Of course, in that era, Luna had just laid the foundations of Star Magic. Naturally, The End was also far from complete.*
It was not only incomplete, but she probably hadn't even conceived of it yet.
Luna completed The End after joining the subjugation force.
*But how are you guys going to confirm that?*
In this world, no detailed history of Luna remains.
Thus, no one knows exactly when she completed The End.
So, an elf like Levet could only be rendered speechless by that one phrase.
*‘Are you doubting Lady Luna's abilities right now?’*
Levet's body trembled.
*If… if what he says is true… then Lunia El Lundua is… practically the Founder's direct successor!*
Even the Sorcerer of the Comet couldn't use the original version of The End.
And not a single elf had ever obtained The End as a conquest reward from Luna's world.
Levet pointed at Lunia.
“Nonsense! If you obtained the Founder's magic as a reward, why didn't you announce it, and why haven't you used it!”
“She hasn't used it because she's still too inexperienced. Lady Luna's magic is far too powerful for the current Lunia to handle with her limited mana.”
Leo stood beside Lunia.
“Will you continue to persecute Lunia, the one who carries on Lady Luna's will?”
At Leo's question, Levet ground his teeth.
“Student Lunia. If you have truly obtained The End… you will have to prove it!”
Leaving those words behind, Levet fled as if escaping.
There was no way to know immediately whether Lunia had learned The End or not.
But if it were true, Lunia's status in elven society would far surpass Levet's.
*It's not just about surpassing…! My own position could be finished!*
Levet glanced back.
*Leo Flove… You cur! Humiliating me in front of everyone? I will not forget this indignity!*
After Levet left, all eyes were on Leo and Lunia.
“Follow me.”
Lunia clenched her teeth, grabbed Leo’s wrist, and ran.
Leo followed her.
After running for a while to a secluded spot, Lunia perked up her ears and checked for any presence nearby.
“There's no one around.”
“What were you thinking, telling a lie like that! I didn't get any conquest reward from Lady Luna's world! And you said all you got was Polium!”
Leo crossed his arms as he looked at Lunia, who was shouting with a flushed face.
“It's true that I received The End as a conquest reward.”
“What?”
As Lunia looked on, stunned, Leo opened his palm.
A complex magical formula floated above it.
Lunia stared at the magical formula, mesmerized.
The formula itself was a masterpiece of beauty, something that could be called a work of art.
Countless mana formulas drew beautiful lines.
And within that beauty slept a formidable destructive power.
“This is…”
“Yes, the original formula for The End, left behind by the Progenitor of the Nebula, Luna.”
Lunia swallowed hard.
“Then, Leo, you… can you use The End?”
If so, it would mean that Leo had achieved a feat that even the Sorcerer of the Comet, who was considered the successor to the Progenitor of the Nebula, had not.
At Lunia's question, Leo smirked.
“No, I can't use it.”
“What?”
“I did get The End as a conquest reward, but my current mana output is far too low.”
The End was a spell that, by itself, was classified as grand magic.
To use this spell properly, a high mana output was required.
*My physical specs are still a long way from my past life's.*
“But if you learn it, you can definitely use it.”
Lunia’s mana output was high.
At Leo’s words, Lunia flinched.
“You’ll teach me? The End? But…”
Lunia hesitated.
For an elf, learning The End was an incredible honor.
But Lunia couldn't answer hastily.
“Leo. It's your conquest reward. Is it okay for me to receive it?”
“I've already told all the students from every academy that you received a reward too. It'll be a problem for me if you don't accept it. And…”
Leo looked at the formula for The End.
“Wouldn't Luna want that? For an elf to carry on her magic.”
At Leo’s words, Lunia clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
“Okay. I'll learn it. But how?”
The pure formula for The End was akin to Luna’s unique magic.
“I’ve thought of a way. I’ve re-established the formula. Of course, it’ll be hard for you to understand in its current state. But this should help.”
Leo took a book from his coat and handed it to Lunia.
The cover read [An Introduction to Star Magic].
It was the thesis written and published by Ren, which was treated as a forbidden text in Seirun.
Leo himself had gained a lot of inspiration after reading the entire thesis.
*I was able to re-establish the formula for The End.*
A re-establishment of the formula that was only possible for Leo, who perfectly understood both Luna's Star Magic and the Bible.
Based on this, Leo was able to reconstruct Luna's magic to suit Lunia.
“First, memorize this completely.”
At Leo's words, Lunia, who received the grimoire with sparkling eyes, shone.
“What's next?”
“We’ll have to do some tutoring.”
“Tutoring? When?”
“At night. You can sneak out, right?”
“Yeah. My roommate is Eiran, so it's possible.”
“That's good. You might not get much sleep for the next two weeks.”
“Got it.”
“And when you come tonight, bring Eiran with you.”
“Why Eiran?”
“I have something to give her.”
At those words, Lunia nodded her head.
Then, in a slightly excited voice, she said.
“To think I can learn the Founder's magic.”
Could there be a greater honor for an elf?
Leo smiled as he watched Lunia tremble with excitement.
“You'd better learn it quickly. You're a step behind.”
“Behind? Behind who? You?”
“No. Ar Tune.”
At Leo’s words, Lunia returned to her usual self.
“I admit Azonia's second-year representative is impressive. But I never thought she was ahead of me.”
“No, she is.”
Leo smirked.
“Ar has already inherited the power of the [Brave Hero] Ar-on.”
“What?”
“She can use Beastification whenever she wants.”
Lunia’s eyes widened.
Constant Beastification.
A power that was synonymous with Ar-on.
Never imagining that Ar had obtained that ability, Lunia clenched her fists.
*Right, my rival… isn't just Leo.*
Lunia's eyes burned fiercely.
*Looks like that was good motivation for her.*
Leo smirked.
*I should probably tutor that foolish cat too.*
Leo looked down at his hand.
As one who inherited the power of his comrades.
Leo had a duty to pass on his comrades’ abilities to future generations.
*If Luna had met Lunia, she would have definitely tried to take her as a disciple.*
Lunia, who had been burning with a competitive spirit towards Ar, looked at Leo.
Then she said.
“What's with that look?”
“What about my look?”
“The pervy look of a middle-aged man staring at a fresh-faced teenager?”
“...You really are a fitting successor to Luna. In my eyes, you're just like her.”
“Oh my, thank you for the compliment!”
Lunia was genuinely delighted.
Watching her, Leo said.
“That wasn't a compliment, it was an insult.”
“How is being like Lady Luna an insult! You're disrespecting her, aren't you!”
Leo sighed as he pushed away Lunia, who was glaring and lunging at him.
*How can their personalities be so identical?*