Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Misaligned Standards
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"Pardon? Ah! Is this something I shouldn't use?"
"..."
Moria's mouth fell open in bewilderment.
'What the hell is this guy doing?'
Esoteric magic was a unique form of spellcasting that warped the properties of mana using one's own energy.
It required an understanding of personalization, and to wield it proficiently, a certain level of magical power and affinity was necessary.
The 6th Circle was the standard benchmark, making esoteric magic a product of the 6th Circle.
It was basic common knowledge, something even a novice who had only studied theory for a year would know.
Yet he was acting as if he had no idea that esoteric magic was 6th Circle magic.
Even as a 6th Circle mage casting it himself.
Moria tried to discern the intent behind Rishir's actions.
It wasn't easy.
Taking his behavior at face value made no sense,
and dismissing it as a cheap trick for the spar seemed too half-baked.
Moria believed in the value of magic.
She couldn't imagine an idiot who would pull something like that just to cheat in a spar achieving such a level at his age.
"..."
So, what the hell was it?
This inexplicable behavior.
If it was all a ploy to sow confusion, it was working perfectly.
Rishir's mental assault was overloading Moria's thought processes.
Rishir looked at her and apologized politely.
"I'm sorry. I don't know much about this spell, so I must have made an unintended mistake."
"?"
It was an apology worse than none at all.
Moria's thoughts, which had just started to settle, plunged back into chaos.
Esoteric magic was a mage's identity.
The teachings and insights of a mage affiliated with a school were established and advanced through their esoteric magic.
And he was saying what about it?
'I don't know much about it?'
A mage talking like that about their own esoteric magic.
It was a first in Moria's long life spanning two lifetimes.
Probably a first in the entire ancient history of magic, too.
'What a freak. Better not to engage.'
Moria decided not to think seriously about him anymore.
-Srrrr...
The sandstorm swirling around Rishir dissipated. The grains of sand on the floor scattered naturally and vanished.
Rishir, having withdrawn his esoteric magic, spoke.
"I'm glad we cleared that up before the real spar begins. If it's alright, shall we continue?"
Rishir said, looking alternately at Moria and Palag.
"..."
"..."
Moria and Palag exchanged disgusted looks and nodded reluctantly.
At that moment, Rishir glanced at Moria's waist and cried out urgently.
"Ah, sorry! Before we continue the spar, there's one more thing I want to confirm! Miss Moria—"
He looked at Moria while fiddling with the sword at his own waist.
"Blue Breathing is your specialty, right?"
Even though she was now a mage, not a swordsman, she could still wield a swordsman's breathing technique.
It proved Moria's exceptional mana affinity.
In that sense, Blue Breathing was indeed her forte.
But was it just her imagination?
Rishir's question felt laced with a different intent.
Moria brushed it off and replied.
"And? Why do you ask?"
"But you left your sword behind?"
"?"
Why would she bring it?
'Does he mean I should use Blue Breathing since I can, combining magic and swordplay?'
Switching between a mage's breathing and a swordsman's.
Even focusing entirely in place required risking mana backlash and overload.
And he expected her to use it mid-combat?
'Is he mocking me right now?'
In the end, Moria judged Rishir's actions as such.
She belatedly noticed the sword hanging at his waist.
"So I'm asking: Is this spar purely a test of magical prowess? Only magic allowed—"
Preparing props so meticulously just to mock her.
Moria resolved not to be fooled by his tidy demeanor and cute appearance anymore.
A lowly punk.
-Crackle
Chilling hostility turned into icy needles.
Numerous icy needles floating around Moria shot toward Rishir.
"If I say no, you're planning to use that sword, right? No way you'd bring a sword you won't use to a spar!"
Moria shouted. Not at Rishir, but at the surrounding spectators.
A high priestess knew well how to handle arrogant noble brats.
"Yeah, it's a magic duel—why bring a sword?"
"He gonna show off some sword trick or what?"
"Oh yeah, now that you mention it—I think I've heard he uses that sword in back alleys—"
"The story's veering weird. Isn't he a mage?"
"Mage or swordsman, who cares! If he handles both well, that's it—"
"No, it's not that simple—"
By focusing attention on his sword, he'd get tripped up by his own fragile pride and ego. Nobles were like that.
"I permit it as your opponent! Use that sword! Prove why you brought it!"
The icy needles surged toward Rishir.
-Whoooosh!
Rishir didn't use his sword.
He summoned a gust to lightly deflect their paths.
The aimless needles crashed into the floor and walls, bursting with pops.
Instead of launching the rest, Moria let them drop to the ground.
They shattered limply, making accusing noises.
As if scolding Rishir for killing the mood.
"What happened? That was your chance for your fancy sword to shine!"
Moria had set the stage for the crowd to mock Rishir.
Most spectators, true to their noble nature, didn't miss the chance to tear someone down.
"Looks like this Rishir guy's losing momentum. Am I seeing that right? I'm no expert on magic—"
"Dunno the details, but seems Rishir tried to tease Moria with that sword and got burned."
"Felt off when a mage showed up with a sword. So that's it?"
"Carrying a useless sword like that just gets in the way. What an unserious guy."
Moria smirked at the murmurs around her.
They seemed to think 'Moria' was some easy mark from a rural village, but they'd picked the wrong opponent.
To a high priestess, toying with a young noble punk was child's play.
With words, actions, or magic.
"No. Not yet. It'll shine in a more crucial moment. A so-called trump card."
Rishir grinned nonchalantly.
Moria dismissed it as pathetic bravado and sneered inwardly.
"Of course. But what now? I can't wait to see you use that sword. Ah, this'll do."
-Crackle
Moria conjured icy needles once more.
More of them.
Larger.
As if flaunting their number and size, she made them slowly and menacingly.
"How's this? Important enough for your 'crucial moment'?"
"Getting more important by the second."
Moria smirked mockingly, and Rishir responded with his nonchalant smile.
A brief silence.
Then, a sound slicing the air.
-Shhiiik!
Out of the many icy needles, only one moved.
The smallest one charged with incomparable momentum to the ones Rishir had deflected earlier.
It was an aberrant speed, infused with wind energy.
Everything Moria had shown Rishir was setup for this one strike.
Prior attacks dulled his senses.
Making more, larger needles slowly was to force focus elsewhere than speed.
Multiple properties.
A power nearly impossible for a 5th Circle mage to wield proficiently in combat.
Thus, something Rishir, facing a 5th Circle, wouldn't anticipate.
Exploiting that gap, Moria slipped in her masterstroke.
No way he could react.
The moment she launched the needle, Moria was prepared for the inevitable result.
Rishir failing to counter multiple properties, shattering Palag's protective duel barrier around him.
Just as the needle closed in instantly...
In that split second, Moria's pupils dilated slightly.
Rishir's mana moved faster than she anticipated.
Not reaction—prediction.
Already focused mana responded to his will, whipping up a gale.
Unlike before, it carried flames.
Whoosh!
Steam exploded before Rishir's eyes.
The engulfed needle vanished without trace.
'How—'
Moria couldn't hide her shock at Rishir's counter.
Setting aside the extraordinary flames melting the needle instantly.
Even setting aside perfect multiple properties for a 6th Circle.
'How did he predict it?'
Rishir had precisely anticipated 'acceleration'.
But acceleration wasn't ice magic territory.
Moria could use it as a feint only via multiple properties—wind.
For example.
Rishir had exactly predicted multiple properties from Moria.
Anticipating various threats in battle was prudence.
Overdoing it was folly.
Dedicating focus and mana to multiple properties against a 5th Circle.
Moria tried to chalk it up to foolish luck but failed.
"Did you predict I'd use multiple properties?"
Moria couldn't hold back her question.
"I put myself in your shoes."
"My shoes?"
"Your first attack confirmed regular projectiles are inefficient against my wind magic. Yet you tried the same in the second."
"Same? More numerous, larger?"
"Flaunted blatantly. That felt off. When you could prepare a sneak attack unnoticed, why show off? I sensed intent to distract. So I thought: If it's all for one trick, what is it? Speed came to mind first. Most universal way to enhance ice needles at your level."
"..."
Seemed sharply logical at first glance.
But a fatal leap.
"Multiple properties... the most universal at my level?"
He assumed a 5th Circle mage proficiently handles multiple properties in combat as baseline.
Multiple properties overwhelming even to deploy at 5th Circle.
"Did I make another mistake?"
"...Call it the luck of ignorance. Multiple properties aren't universal for 5th Circle. Which 5th Circle handles them proficiently in battle?"
"Is that so? Per you, luck of ignorance. I learned multiple properties at 5th Circle too, so I didn't know."
Rishir swallowed her sarcasm wholesale.
In a utterly casual tone.
Revealing how he saw 5th Circle proficient multiple properties as natural.
"..."
Moria was dumbfounded.
He spotted her trick because he took 5th Circle multiple properties for granted?
And that twisted thinking stemmed from his 'normal' experience?
"...Kyahahaha!!!"
Finally, Moria burst into laughter.
"Didn't know esoteric magic was 6th Circle product. Thought everyone like me masters multiple properties at 5th! Hilarious. Sickeningly hilarious."
Genius.
Moria sneered at Rishir, calling him that.
She judged his misaligned actions as genius pretense.
Mocking her own talk of 'true genius'.
The high priestess's pride was scratched.
Emotional, she reached an irrational conclusion harming her grand plan.
Show true genius so he couldn't pretend anymore.
A superior power even a 6th Circle couldn't take for granted, even acting.
The 7th Circle mystery: 'Conceptualization'.
Then, her reason spoke.
-How to deal with aftermath?
Unjust talent invites suspicion.
Even multiple properties needed explaining to Palag.
Using conceptualization before him?
Exposing high priestess fragments hidden as genius?
Would Palag just admire purely?
Or wield suspicion until his ex-tower lord curiosity was sated?
Foolish.
Moria's reason understood perfectly.
Yet she couldn't heed it.
Her lifelong genius was mocked, toyed with.
By that pathetic punk.
How to stand by?
Moria silently peppered Rishir with icy needles.
Calm and composed outwardly.
Inwardly, thoughts whirled chaotically.
Calm down. Must endure. Another way exists.
"No."
Finally, she murmured coldly, swinging her arm.
Icy needles around her plummeted earthward.
-Crash!
They shattered into fragments.
Those fragments reformed into one icy needle.
Clearly single-property magic.
But infused with disassembled conceptualization mystery.
A power not fully permitted to current Moria.
Throb!
Moria's magical foundation weakened.
Youth and genius from vast power faded.
Tiny wrinkles formed on her once-smooth skin.
Her body aged years in moments.
Still youthful.
Changes not overtly visible—
"Come on, genius! Block this too!"
But the power gained shone plainly.
Moria
Level: 33(61) → 40(61)
A massive icy needle shaped by will surged at Rishir.
Slower than the wind-infused one.
Before it closed, rising flame gales met it.
-Roooar!!!
The flame storm swallowing the needle spewed steam.
The weapon-shaped ice melted, losing form gradually.
Just as Moria's attack seemed foiled—
"...Huh?"
Rishir's brow twitched.
Dispersing steam gathered toward—not away from—the flame gale.
Rushed at it.
"This is—"
Rishir felt his gale's mana fading.
Not loss—erosion.
Moria's will eroded his magic.
Soon, the needle vanished traceless.
Only the flame gale remained.
-Fwoosh!
Moria's flame gale.
"Kyahahaha!!!"
Moria cackled at flustered Rishir.
She swung her arm with full force.
His former gale engulfed him.
Through it, she clearly felt.
The duel barrier around Rishir weakening.
'Got him.'
Ended the punk's fake genius act.
The fact brought her no small pleasure.
"..."
But the pleasure didn't last.
Euphoria yielded to exhaustion.
Her heated blood cooled rapidly, turning icy.
She felt Palag and Drei's piercing gazes.
They knew.
How absurd her actions were.
Beyond mere genius.
Would they accept it?
Could she justify it to them?
Moria turned heavily.
Facing Palag and Drei's reactions.
"..."
"..."
Palag and Drei.
They were smiling.
Ecstasy and thrill undisguised.
Then, cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Ah."
Moria felt the air permeating her body.
She realized.
She'd misunderstood genius all along.
True genius didn't beg understanding subserviently.
If comprehensible, not genius.
A talent impossible to convey, no matter the effort.
That was true genius.
Like what she'd just shown.
"Ah..."
This moment.
Moria truly understood genius.
She was no longer a fabricated, false genius.
Moria.
She gazed at the fiercely burning flame gale still devouring Rishir.
Victory sealed.
With winner's leisure, she smiled and gestured.
Dismissing her new flame gale.
"...?"
Her face twisted then.
She swung repeatedly, staring blankly at her hand.
Not imagination.
The mana in the flame gale.
Gone.
"You really are an absurd genius."
Rishir's elated voice came then.
Whoosh!
The flame gale dispersed.
Amid scattering embers, he smiled.
"Never imagined mana control like this at 5th Circle."
Pure admiration in his smile.
"..."
Again.
He still knew nothing.
Rishir took Moria's 7th Circle fragments as natural for a 5th Circle pretender.
"Learned something."
And as 6th Circle himself, handled those fragments casually.
More proficiently than her.
Scattered embers regathered into flame gale.
"..."
Moria stared blankly at the rippling flames.
She believed his attitude pure mockery.
But now, nothing made sense.
"How..."
Events before her eyes warped her standards.
Began crumbling her world.
The chaos affected her inner world.
The magic forming 'genius Moria' cracked.
Collapse accelerated.
Skin wrinkled slackly.
Hair lost vitality, faded; eyes dimmed slowly.
As if time flowed askew only where she stood.
Moria, young rural genius mage.
Aging before eyes.
No—reverting to true form.
Vast power, damaged but returning slowly.
"...Ha, haha... I get it, I get it!!!"
Moria cried with unfocused eyes.
Unable to view herself objectively.
Saw magic collapse ruining 'Moria' as opportunity, not crisis.
Yes.
This magic power can beat him.
I was toyed with only because pretending 5th Circle.
He's no genius.
No incomprehensible enigma.
Moria felt surging power.
The moment she moved to unleash full force—
"...Huh?"
Rishir vanished from her sight.
Rishir, approaching, had crouched.
Step.
A low, clear footfall echoed in her ear.
Already, Rishir was before her, arm swung.
In stretched time, their eyes met.
Crucial moment.
Rishir's eyes solemn yet playfully mischievous.
His swung arm held a sheathed sword.
The one from his waist.
Thud.
A heavy sound; Moria's jaw shook.
Her body crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.
Thump.
Piercing silence fell.
"""Waaaaaaah!!!"""
Belated crowd cheers shattered it.
Applause poured.
Glorious, fierce duel. Fitting dramatic end.
All expressed boundless admiration.
"..."
"..."
Glorious, fierce duel. Fitting dramatic end.
Except those fully grasping details.
Palag and Drei.
Who moments ago couldn't hide ecstasy at Moria.
Now scowled at Rishir.