Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Conference (3)
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"That concludes my prepared presentation. Um, does anyone have any questions?"
The presenter asked, visibly tense. Several mages seated in the audience raised their hands.
"I have a question."
"Ah, yes. Please go ahead."
"I'm Hegler from the Conventual. It was somewhat intriguing overall. But I can't shake the feeling that there's something theoretically dubious about it."
The presenter wiped away cold sweat as the middle-aged mage posed his question.
"Yes, what part struck you that way?"
"The idea of using fire attributes to suppress fires. Not bad in itself. The Mage Tower does have occasional explosion accidents during experiments, after all."
"Th-thank you."
"But the theory seems riddled with flaws. For instance, you said it controls the fire attribute with attribute control and uses wind attributes to rotate and absorb the flames, right?"
"That's correct..."
"Doesn't that feel full of holes when you say it out loud?"
"......"
"Why the silence?"
The middle-aged mage shook his head and clicked his tongue as if time were wasting. The presenter desperately racked his brain, trying to figure out what he'd done wrong.
'Why is he doing this? Could it be because of that?'
Thinking it might be a very basic question, the presenter hurriedly responded.
"Um... are you referring to the instability of attribute mana when suppressing fires caused by magic?"
"Exactly. When magic fails, the attributes in the surrounding mana become highly unstable."
But the presenter's magic had no solution for that very issue.
"Moreover, you said during your presentation that if this magic is refined, it could provide sturdier defenses against fire-attribute attacks even on the battlefield."
"Yes... but that was just an example."
"Tch. Why is a young fellow like you so shortsighted? Dreaming of such futures with magic that's not even proven to handle attribute imbalances from failed spells?"
He was dismantling the opponent point by point with polite words, thoroughly crushing their spirit.
Of course, even Jun could see the flaws in the presenter's logic.
'But it's not so much a lack of logic as poor framing from the start.'
It might have been different if he'd focused solely on general fire suppression rather than other mages' magic or fire-attribute attacks.
Was it overconfidence in his own magic? Or simple ambition not to let it be pigeonholed as mere fire suppression?
'If he'd just presented it as fire suppression from the outset... it could have had plenty of commercial potential.'
For example, enchanting scrolls with it and selling them on the market.
The more stably it suppressed fires, the more interest merchant guilds would show.
Fires were something you wanted to extinguish as quickly as possible to minimize damage.
It would be popular among civilians, and even sell well to various lords.
"Hah, really. He came here to present something like that?"
"Utterly ridiculous."
"Commercializing trash like that... His head's filled with nothing but vulgar thoughts of money."
But the cold stares didn't end there.
They weren't just pointing out flaws—they were belittling the very presenter who developed the magic.
As soon as that atmosphere formed, the thoroughly deflated presenter slunk away with his head hung low.
And several more such presentations followed.
Jun couldn't help furrowing his brow.
"Is that what you call a mage?"
"Which Mage Tower is he from?"
"Tch tch... Of course it's some no-name outside the Conventual."
"Not all Mage Towers are equal, you know."
Such remarks flew about constantly. Beside him, Ranes's lips twitched.
[What a laughable situation. In my eyes, there's not much difference in skill between Conventual mages and outsiders.]
Jun nodded unconsciously at the voice echoing in his mind.
Truly groundbreaking magic rarely appeared at venues like this.
Who would reveal a Mage Tower's secret spells here?
Most magic was bound to be mediocre.
But what disgusted Jun, Ranes, and Beles wasn't that.
[Isn't it blatant? They nitpick outsiders but sit quietly through their own affiliates' presentations. Look at them.]
As Ranes said, it was overtly blatant.
[Then why do most mages just watch this behavior?]
Ranes replied with a somewhat bitter expression.
[Those fools do protect mages' interests, after all. At least nominally. In the past, they actually did so several times.]
In the past, mages often fell victim to scams or intimidation over unjust matters.
Handling powers beyond common sense, they faced witch-hunt-like incidents similar to what Jun had seen on Earth.
And to prevent that, the Conventual Sorcerers were formed.
Thanks to their efforts, perhaps.
Over time, those who dared harass mages dwindled, and their authority soared.
But still water stagnates and rots.
Now, their original purpose had completely warped, treating non-Conventual mages like heretics.
[So this is a show of force, then.]
[Spot on. It's a warning: don't mess with us, given our unity.]
And if you didn't join in?
'Like the reception we faced yesterday—total isolation. Or getting hammered on presentation day like this?'
In other words, ostracism.
Only then did Jun understand why they were so eager to target him.
'Other Mage Towers get smacked during presentations, but Ranes's Tower couldn't be touched.'
Of course. Ranes was publicly known as a 7th-circle grand mage.
It'd be hard to nitpick a near-perfect mage outside the Conventual—especially given her background.
'They see me as her weakness.'
Then why did Ranes leave such an organization alone?
Publicly declaring her 8th-circle prowess would deter even such attempts.
'Necessary evil. Maybe that's her judgment.'
When external threats arose, they did mobilize organizationally to protect mages' interests.
Even for non-affiliates.
They'd make no secret of their disgust and swallow most of the gains, but still extended a hand of sorts.
You might think it's better without them.
Not entirely.
At least now, mages didn't fear for their lives. Much of that credit went to the Conventual Sorcerers.
[Plus, they often steal magic ideas presented at these conferences outright.]
Isn't that too much?
[And you just let it happen?]
[Yes.]
It defied Jun's common sense.
How could protectors of mages' interests steal others'?
[Ignorance breeds it. Most mages lack business sense, but the Conventual has dedicated handlers. They even give presenters token 'support funds' from the pilfered profits.]
[Sickening—wound them, then sell the cure.]
[Precisely.]
Naturally, the quality of magic presented at conferences suffered.
Just skip them, right?
'Then you'd face real exclusion.'
They'd cut off all contact and starve you out, rumor had it.
Not common, but not unheard of.
'That's why Ranes attends.'
Jun couldn't tear his eyes from Ranes, unable to hide her bitterness.
'A tough problem. They firmly believe this attitude is their right. That's why such crises erupt in the future too.'
In the game, even as the Empire crumbled under the Heavenly Demon Cult, mages hesitated to act.
The war threatened massive changes to mage society and the privileges they held dear.
So they played it safe, brewing potions in the rear and selling at exorbitant prices.
Only when cornered did they abandon everything and join the fray.
'And it was Ranes who made that possible.'
The 8th-circle mage who dashed across the front lines until the very end to reform mage perceptions.
Even after the war, she remained the greatest mage...
Only after her death did the game's mage association repent and appear on the battlefield.
'I don't want that future.'
An 8th-circle grand mage.
Her death would push an already chaotic battlefield into catastrophe.
Even without that future, Jun no longer wanted to lose Ranes so carelessly.
'I have justification too.'
So before such a crisis, he had to uproot these rotten mages.
'Not easy, but unavoidable.'
Until meeting Ranes, he'd never planned to step up.
He'd half-given up on mages from the start.
Approaching her first would seem odd, and he hadn't expected such trust from her.
'But with the board set like this, I can't ignore it.'
His life so far had been that way.
He'd always tried not to cross his set lines...
But each time, the lines receded on their own. Signals to act, and he'd followed.
'Time to smash them properly here.'
Not outright enmity.
Just overwhelm with superior skill.
Crush them with the theory they so love.
So when his turn came, Jun could face aggressive questions with confidence.
* * *
"The next presenter is... Jun Mage, temporary affiliate of Ranes Mage Tower and Captain of the White Whale Mercenary Corps."
Murmurs erupted instantly throughout the hall at the moderator's announcement.
"That rumored mage?"
"He wasn't just making a cameo yesterday?"
"The presentation rumor was true."
"Hah, end times. Towerless mercenary mage?"
"Why did Lady Ranes accept a guy like that?"
"Who knows... maybe he's young and virile."
Jealousy, disdain—sharp gazes stabbed at him. Even doubting Ranes's fame now.
Anyone would tremble under such scrutiny, but Jun ascended the podium unfazed.
'Your stares are ignorable, even without skill power.'
How many 6th-circle mages among these conference attendees?
How many more experienced than him?
Instead, Jun faced the assembled mages with bold confidence and opened his mouth.
"First, I'll state the title of my paper."
Why is Modern Magic So Unstable?