Chapter 213
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Persuasion
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“How dare you pull that out in front of me!”
Unlike before, Heger was genuinely furious as he glared at Jun and bellowed.
Fortunately, Jun had cast a soundproofing spell, or else the roar would have echoed throughout the entire mansion.
I expected this, but the reaction is intense.
The idea had first come to him on the day of the opening ceremony.
Heger.
He was an NPC Jun knew from the game.
After Ranes' death in the game, he was the one who most passionately persuaded the mages to join the war.
This memory had surfaced quite late.
It couldn't be helped—unlike what he'd mentioned earlier, Heger wasn't a major character in the game.
He was only referenced in a few lines: the mages participated in the war, and Heger played that role.
I don't know the full story, but he even became a playable character later on.
Not a hero-tier character, just an extra NPC without proper illustrations.
On top of that, he unlocked in the mid-to-late game as a mediocre 6th-circle mage.
His specs were too ambiguous for combat deployment.
Naturally, most players ignored the character Heger.
It makes sense. Mages are expensive anyway, and players usually hired Ranes Mage Tower NPCs skilled in combat magic.
Anyway, once the fact clicked, Jun contacted Chails via the World Tree's essence to gather related info.
Chails quickly compiled it, and some intriguing details emerged.
He was deeply shocked by his master's death.
He still visited the grave every year on the same day.
And his actions for the mages shown in the game.
Considering that, Heger was someone who genuinely cared about mage society more than anyone—his methods were just misguided.
If I can persuade this man, he could be a huge help later.
The Imperial Family was preparing for war.
In other words, events beyond what Jun and his companions could handle alone were approaching.
Scrambling to prepare then would be too late.
So, he needed to convince this middle-aged mage before him and accelerate mage participation.
With that in mind, Jun smiled brazenly and spoke.
“Lord Heger, you've implanted lightning affinity into your circles.”
“What?”
As Jun suddenly shifted from his master's paper to another topic, Heger's eyebrow twitched violently.
“I implanted fire affinity into mine. Well, it was more forced than by choice.”
“……What are you saying?”
Being somewhat politically savvy, Heger caught that Jun was speaking in past tense, not present.
Implanted? Not anymore?
Only then did Heger recall how adeptly Jun wielded lightning magic.
Even for low-circle spells, it was overly refined.
Had he succeeded in removing the affinity from his circles?
Impossible...
He wanted to say that, but...
He was a 6th-circle mage, after all.
Biased or not, he wasn't foolish enough to deny the evidence before his eyes.
“But even so, how could you possibly...”
To Heger, separating affinity from circles was akin to taboo.
It wasn't mere prejudice.
Research on detaching affinity from circles...
It paralleled his late master's work.
“There's no way something like that could...”
“It is possible.”
“Proof?”
“No need to hide it.”
Jun immediately summoned fire infused with [Flame Detection] and water with [Soul Drain] in his hands.
Not a 6th-circle spell.
Just manifesting two affinities.
Even so, Heger's eyes widened in shock.
“What have you infused into the affinities?”
“Imagery.”
Infusing imagery into affinities to alter their properties.
Normally required affinities implanted in circles.
Yet Jun did it with opposing elements.
The two affinities clashed not at all, fully under Jun's control.
“……How is that possible?”
“In my case, my constitution and various fortunes made it feasible. But as I said, it's achievable to some degree for others.”
“……So you came to me with that paper because of this?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps too stunned, Heger gazed at his master's paper with a calmer—no, pained—expression.
The master who picked up a beggar boy scavenging the streets.
Grouchy like other mages, occasionally violent.
But when he taught magic knowledge and Jun absorbed it...
How happy the master looked.
Yet his research was rejected by mage society.
The Origin of Modern Magic?
His master recognized the rigidifying mage society and researched solutions.
He dissected anything hindering mage growth.
One culprit: affinities implanted in circles.
Most mages saw it as an honor.
Even now, how much more back then?
But the master's paper directly refuted it, earning scorn from countless mages.
No one accepted it; trading partners cut ties.
Leaving his disciple, the master departed on a distant journey.
And I inherited it.
Heger despaired.
He lacked the knowledge to revive and spread his master's paper.
Impossible.
In the meantime, Heger broke in many ways.
“Clinging to the impossible led to despair!”
So, dream of the possible.
Humans must.
Or they'll break.
Twisted thoughts took root.
“But if this is possible...”
And his master, unable to prove it, took his own life...
“Ah...”
Hot something trailed down his cheek.
Tears he thought dried up since his master's death and abandoning the paper.
“Uh...”
Jun panicked.
Was it this bad?
He knew Heger deeply loved his master.
But Jun expected only a slight softening of his bias upon proving the paper right.
Didn't expect this drama.
Heger wept bitterly, stroking and hugging the paper for a while.
Once calmed, Jun continued.
“Ranes read that paper long ago. He shared similar thoughts and even tried it once.”
“And?”
“Failed. But with my case recently, he's delving deep again.”
“Any progress?”
“Somewhat.”
Even his lifelong obsessed master couldn't solve it, but Ranes did?
“Because of you?”
“It's Ranes.”
“...True.”
Who could match a genius among geniuses?
But that wasn't the point.
A 7th-circle archmage valuing his master's paper mattered.
“And a shift in thinking helped.”
“Shift?”
“Yes. Circles are still the standard. He built theory on mid-level mages, but...”
Lately, Ranes targeted magic novices without even 1st circles.
Paths blocking before opened slightly.
“So he's gathering data.”
“Ranes Mage Tower alone won't suffice.”
“Exactly.”
Mages were money pits—sadly true.
Research costs money.
Aspiring mages were nobles' children or from wealthy families.
They sought mainstream Conventional Sorcerers' teachings, not others.
Ranes Mage Tower wasn't exempt.
In fact, less appealing.
Joining meant combat magic and risking life in Blackout.
“So you came to me? To take our apprentices?”
“Not exactly. Publish the paper; use it anywhere. Ranes never minded.”
How long have they known Ranes to speak for him?
But Jun was right.
Ranes placed no restrictions on using his papers, warning only against malicious use.
“Hoo...”
Heger pondered deeply, then startled at his wrinkled hands—like his master's.
The beggar boy who held those hands had risen here.
All thanks to his master.
Resolving, he spoke firmly.
“Personally, I can help. But I can't change Conventional Sorcerers' stance.”
“I know.”
That alone was more than enough.
People resist change fiercely.
Yet Heger bent his long-held stubbornness for personal aid.
Info says he's criticized in the academy but has followers.
He secretly scouted orphanages for talented kids.
Gaining him as an ally meant pulling mage society figures to their side.
No plans to ask him for Cheoncheon Cult stuff yet.
Just planting seeds for later.
Heger would be the first.
Grow tall and help.
Possible.
With Ranes Mage Tower's backing—and mine—far from impossible.
So, satisfied for now.
With that, Jun left Heger's room.
Self-satisfied with the gains.
But the next day, he realized he was wrong.
Never dreamed I'd hook a monster fish like this.
The closing banquet on the final day.
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Endo, elder of the Conventional Sorcerers—undeservedly.”
Endo.
A 7th-circle mage handling mage society's external affairs.
His appearance lit Jun's eyes.
The academy's closing banquet was crucial even for non-Conventional mages.
Mages ragged on by Heger all conference brightened—thanks to Ran's arrival.
Mage Ran.
As Conventional's external handler, he excelled at securing research funds everywhere.
Opportunities for non-Conventional mages too.
Though they hog most.
Still, a credential and name exposure for mages.
Leading to personal investments for more research.
They vied to catch Ran's eye.
Ran knew it best.
Tsk tsk. Looks thrilled.
Jun watched Ran closely.
Ran.
The man who showed faint killing intent toward Jun during the Heger duel.
No Evil Spirit Orb, so unsure if linked to Cheoncheon Cult.
Seemed just content with status, not devoted fanatic.
Talented, though...
Jun needed certainty.
Ran's master, holding investment authority.
7th-circle archmage Endo.
“Found you.”
Spotting Endo amid mages, Jun's eyes gleamed coldly.
7th-circle archmage Endo. He swallowed the Evil Spirit Orb.