Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Mage Conference (2)
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Jun was shocked by the sudden proposal, but that only lasted a moment.
He quickly accepted the situation.
'No, even so, isn't it too late to mention it just two weeks before?'
He thought that, but...
'She held back on purpose because of the attribute separation.'
It was Ranes's own way of showing consideration, ensuring Jun could focus solely on assimilating the Sea Serpent's attributes.
'Still, it's just as ridiculous.'
What could he do?
Even after falling into this world and turning cynical, Jun wasn't ungrateful.
'A paper worthy of presenting at the Mage Conference.'
So, he immediately racked his brain for something suitable to announce right away.
This was his first time in such a setting, but right beside him were an 8th-circle archmage and her disciple.
Thanks to them, picking a topic and organizing the relevant information didn't take long.
Typically, Jun would toss out a clever idea, Ranes would calmly assess its feasibility, and once she gave the OK, Belles would refine it.
That's how they spent their time productively inside the flying carriage.
And gradually, the conference date drew near.
"Hoo..."
"This must be your first time seeing such a sight."
"Indeed it is."
The 5th layer of the Dragon Mountains.
Once known as the place where the Dragon Lord drew his final breath, it resembled a colossal wall soaring endlessly into the sky.
The view was already overwhelming, but with a faint blue mist shrouding the peaks, it created an even more mystical scene.
"The conference is held in that central gorge."
"Impressive. To build structures in a place like that."
"Heh. It's not as great as it looks."
In truth, the central gorge had such dense mana concentrations that recklessly using magic there was difficult.
Yet, that same high mana density made it an ideal habitat for monsters, costing a fortune each year in subjugation efforts.
Still, its symbolic value kept it beloved by orthodox mages to this day.
"Enough about that. We're almost there."
Soon, the carriage pierced through fierce winds and entered the mystical blue mist.
Beyond it loomed a massive mansion.
The carriage landed softly on the ground and sped along a well-paved road as if nothing had happened.
"Most of them arrived before us. Heh, of course. I told them we'd be coming."
"...?"
As Jun puzzled over Ranes's mutterings, Belles chimed in from the side.
"We announced your attendance. It piqued the mages' interest in all sorts of ways."
"They gathered like that because of me...?"
His growth had been explosive, but he was still just a 6th-circle mage.
And coming from outside the towers, temporarily affiliated with the lowly Ranes Mage Tower in mages' eyes.
"Master bragged about you so much. They're curious."
A bizarre mage society where masters barely taught their disciples but felt shame if they lagged behind other towers' pupils.
In that context, Jun—a tower outsider with meteoric growth—must feel like a challenge to them.
'6th-circle and above are rare to begin with.'
Even 7th-circle mages became tower lords; how many 6th-circle ones could there be below that?
Jun had reached a position in mage society that couldn't be easily dismissed.
Jun nodded as if he got the gist from Belles's explanation.
Listening to her, they arrived at the mansion's entrance.
"Welcome. Tower Lord Ranes."
As they disembarked, a neatly dressed mage greeted the trio.
Unlike the rumors, he showed proper respect—directed mostly at Ranes.
"Mm. Long time no see, Azel. Five years?"
"Yes, Tower Lord."
"Any progress on that research from back then?"
"Thanks to your advice, there was significant advancement, but it's still lacking."
"That's because you're holed up in your room doing nothing but research. Get out and see the world—it'll change your perspective."
"Haha..."
The mage laughed awkwardly and brushed it off.
In that brief exchange, Jun got a sense of Ranes's image here.
'Like a real old-timer dealing with a young upstart.'
Though Ranes's tower was seen as lowly, who would dare say it to her face—a publicly known 7th-circle mage?
They'd act normal upfront and gossip behind her back.
'And the other evaluation might be me.'
As they entered the mansion, Jun felt eyes on him from all directions.
'Is that the rumored mage?'
'Younger than I thought.'
'Not just looks—he's accomplished something.'
'That's impressive in itself. But he was definitely 3rd-circle last year.'
'Such absurd growth...'
Few were positive; most were skeptical or hostile.
'Hostile, huh.'
A gaze from the 2nd-floor terrace.
Not mere dismissal—pure hatred aimed their way.
You might ask how he knew, but having crossed death's door countless times and read his mercenary comrades' eyes, Jun was all too familiar.
'That mark.'
The emblem on their robes was one Jun knew well.
"Conventional Sorcerers."
Belles, right beside him, named them.
"That's the group on the terrace."
"They call themselves the Orthodox Magic Society, right?"
"Oh, you knew?"
"Roughly."
Belles sometimes marveled at how little Jun knew about mage society when they discussed it.
She'd assumed he didn't know this time either.
But the Conventional Sorcerers Magic Society was one even Jun knew about.
Beyond roughly—he knew them well.
'In the game, they caused and resolved plenty of issues.'
A complex bunch.
'From the start, they're a society gathered under 'orthodoxy' for various motives.'
The honorary chairman had no real power, changing every two years.
But they didn't exist for nothing.
'Like a modern mages' rights group?'
They doggedly sought and tackled issues benefiting or harming mage society at large.
The chairman's influence surged then, sometimes leading to re-election.
'And those guys see me as an enemy.'
To outsiders, it might seem unfair.
'But they don't care about my growth.'
His rise didn't harm them much.
But that 'much' was key.
There was clear damage to them from his ascent.
Big damage, in their eyes.
"Don't mind it too much. Even a little talent draws jealous glares everywhere."
Belles, unaware, comforted him, but Jun felt no hurt.
On the contrary...
'Good. That's why I came—to crush types like them.'
His enthusiasm for the conference burned hotter.
In truth, he'd initially dreaded coming to the Mage Society.
Natural, after all.
Since arriving in this world, Jun had always been wary of other mages.
But now, things were different.
'Why should I be scared?'
Unlike before, he had power and backing.
How long could he fear those freezing hearts?
Once that thought took root, his mercenary mage's fighting spirit surged.
And...
'Your presentations? Nothing special.'
After Ranes showed him last conference's materials, he felt it even more.
Just rote magic common sense.
Mages should seek new truths and enlightenment, not weed a self-made pen.
'Not dismissing your efforts, but I won't let you dismiss mine.'
Plus, Ranes and Belles's attention had boosted his confidence sky-high.
An 8th-circle mage and her disciple's endorsement? Lack of confidence would be weirder.
'I'll grind them underfoot.'
And they still tried absurd smears?
'Then my mercenary rudeness comes out.'
Fueled by such combative thoughts, his steps brimmed with confidence.
He wanted to unveil his paper right now.
"My heart's pounding for some reason. When does the conference start?"
"Tomorrow. Today's the opening banquet."
"Ah."
His fire cooled instantly.
Surprisingly, the banquet passed quietly.
He'd fantasized about gauntlets thrown for duels.
Or fake clumsiness spilling food.
Such dramatic nonsense—but nothing happened; the day ended uneventfully.
Perfectly natural.
What mad mage would pull that in front of publicly 7th-circle Ranes?
Plus, as a 6th-circle himself, no one dared approach Jun rashly.
It was so quiet it confused him.
'This isn't it... These cliches are boring... Where'd all that initial attention go?'
Glancing at Belles, she caught on immediately.
"Th-that time, I was just immature!"
"Ah... Sure."
Her maturity hit suddenly, it seemed.
With his cooled fervor settling into calm focus the next day...
"You came to present something this trivial?"
The atmosphere had flipped 180 degrees.
After breakfast.
Mages who'd chattered amiably at yesterday's banquet entered the presentation hall tense.
'Not all of them? Just some have those expressions.'
The schedule spanned a full week with countless talks.
'Why so nervous?'
A few standout mages seemed oddly strained.
He didn't know why at first.
"Then, we'll begin with Mage Batara of Mulli Tower."
"May mana bless us. I'm Batara of the Conventional Sorcerers. An honor to meet my seniors and juniors."
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Even watching the first presenter, doubts lingered...
"Uh, hello. I'm Sandersen of Ventur Tower. Please take care of me."
......
From the second, the hall fell deathly silent.
The difference? One.
'Omitting Conventional Sorcerers affiliation?'
Blatant discrimination.