Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: If I Could Burn Like the Sun -1
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The world is terribly, awfully dark.
Even if the sun is up, it's not daytime. Even if the moon is out, it's not nighttime. If you're living a dark life, day and night are just pitch black all the same.
What is the joy of living? Why was I born into this world? What should I do from here? Is the world really filled only with suffering...
Instead.
To survive, you have to watch your neighbors. If you don't want to be sold off to some creepy pervert noble or a madman, you have to kill your family. If you're not ruthless, you die. If you're the one getting screwed over, you're just an idiot...
I failed to learn what I should have and learned what I shouldn't have.
"Selbia, you were born with such pretty hair."
"With hair like this, it'll be a huge help to our family. We might even get gold coins for it."
"I'll sell you to a good place. If you become an adopted daughter in a noble house, your life will bloom, won't it? Even if nights are a bit tough, what a happy life that would be!"
These were the words Selbia heard from her mom and dad.
Back in her childhood, she didn't even notice how twisted they were. That's how she was raised in her hometown. Her family, neighbors, friends—everyone thought that way.
Parents go through all the trouble of giving birth to and raising kids, so it's only natural for the children to repay them by being sold off. They have to repay the grace of being raised with their bodies.
If you don't meet your quota, you starve. If you can't have your own kids due to circumstances, steal someone else's and sell them.
And if you don't want to be sold, you have no choice but to become the seller...
On the outskirts of the village, children huddled together, chatting.
"My dad's face has this huge scar from killing his own dad. He's eyeing me like a hawk... Should I kill him before I get sold off?"
"Me, I'm just... gonna get sold. I'll meet my real mom and dad there and live happily. I can't stand being home anymore..."
"Your mom keeps staring at you, Selbia. Bet she plans to kidnap and sell you on the sly. I'll tell you if you tell me what your brother's up to?"
Words no child should utter. But no one saw anything wrong with it. The village was isolated from the outside, designed as a "continuous mountain sacrifice supply farm" of sorts.
In the early days, illusion magic influenced it. It lowered the villagers' morals and instilled a passivity like livestock. But now, after so much time, not even magic is needed.
Long-standing evil habits had hardened into culture. No outside stimulus could shake them now. They truly believed and taught it that way.
The dark underbelly of a village that seemed so upright and ordinary.
Selbia's hometown, Mountain Hare Village, was insane.
Everyone lived with their mind's eyes shut. No one sang of the sky's blue, the birds' chirps, or life's happiness. The world was terribly, awfully dark.
But they didn't even know it was dark. Because they didn't know light.
That's why, that's why...
"You're Selbia, huh? Nice to meet you. My name's ▒▒▒, but..."
That boy was more special than anyone.
Selbia's sun, who taught her the brilliant life shining in rainbow hues.
......
After staring at the sun, even closing your eyes leaves an afterimage. The brighter the light, the more so. That's probably why.
Why his figure danced on her cornea even with eyes shut. Why dreams kept replaying meetings with him.
Rustle. She wiped her eyes.
Even now, rising from her blankets in the Crimson Magic Tower dorms, the afterimage swam in the darkness under her eyelids, mingled with tears.
Because he was so dazzlingly bright.
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Beep beep beep beep.
Beep-!
She smacked the phoenix-shaped alarm-magic-clock's head to silence it.
Even with the academy on impromptu break and her schedule wide open, Selbia had zero intention of wasting time.
She'd hone her skills with zeal, earn the Crimson Magic Tower Master's recognition, and become her direct disciple. And then.
Using the "Wish Voucher" the Tower Master gifts her disciples, she'd ask to find her childhood friend.
Every bit of effort shortened the time till reunion. Where was there room to slack?
Fortunately, Selbia had talent.
Not cut out to be an archmage at magic's pinnacle, but evaluators said she'd definitely rise to continent-shaking heights.
Already a 2-star genius with Tuning and Resonance achieved.
Her sense for catching and manipulating mana flow was exceptional, and her improvisation and coping skills, honed by experience, were top-notch. Thanks to some lunatic wizard putting her through every ordeal, tentacles even felt cute now.
The only lacking bit: mana quantity.
That had meaningfully grown too, thanks to the academy's "guaranteed growth" power. Whether she'd hit Fullness needed testing, but.
Maybe... she could aim for the Crimson Tower Master's disciple spot.
"No, I can do it."
Selbia clenched her fist and stepped out of her room.
The Crimson Tower was hot and steamy. Inevitably so, with flame magic research everywhere jacking up the temperature. Past records mentioned heatstroke outbreaks.
But as time passed and magic advanced—after a chain spontaneous combustion incident roasted three or four wizards alive (priests covered costs, no deaths)—
"To crank up firepower more here, we need to renovate the tower structure first."
They called in architecture experts and rebuilt.
Open design to vent heat.
Huge windows dotted every corner. Hallways and rooms styled like terraces. Privacy took a hit, but safety from accidents improved.
Passersby peeking curiously was annoying, but the tourist crowds scattered quick from the forge-like heat blasts.
Plus, they pushed annual exchanges with the Azure Magic Tower.
Ostensibly for friendship and research collab between towers, but really? They just needed human AC units. Azure needed human heaters.
The exchange wizard from Azure researches freely with Crimson support, cooling the tower with their chill.
Selbia's first encounter with "Snow White," her one-sided rival, started that way too.
"...Hoo."
Selbia fanned herself with her hand as she walked. Thermometer read 36°C, a tad above normal. Could mean one of two: Crimson Tower Master fired up The Sun, or wizards were extra passionate today.
High odds on the latter. Evidence?
"From now on, you are the Flame Funeral Master. Even villains aren't guilty just for being born—burn them with devout, warm flames so their souls shed all corruption and find release..."
"Y-yes...! Not to kill, but to save souls, I burn. My flames will be warm, reverent in silence. I heed the Flame Funeral Bishop."
"No. Don't follow my words—perform your own funerals. Weeping, rage, lament, prayer: all are fine rites. Just don't forget the greater purpose of honoring the living... Walk the path and manifest your will."
"Thank you, Funeral Bishop! Thank you...!!"
The black-haired, red-eyed man like a crow.
That bastard.
No, that bishop—no, that professor... brought a fresh wind to the Crimson Tower.
Crimson Tower's ethos targets flame magic firepower boosts. Ultimately, eternal flames like the sky's sun for infinite energy—that's the final vow.
So most initiates chase raw power. Some outliers pursued lethality or plant growth, but not mainstream.
But since that golden boy professor arrived...
"I made these floral fireworks!"
"Ooh, pretty. You smudged this magic circle on purpose, right? For that soft petal scatter feel."
"Gasp, how'd you know, newbie?"
"Obvious at a glance. Wanna try something funner? Magic circles clashing tanks efficiency but amps effects huge. Like this..."
Side-grading, maybe?
Mages pursuing dev paths unrelated to firepower boomed. A lot. Still spreading.
"...Tch."
Watching irked her somehow.
Didn't care what useless research they did; barely affected her. Temp rose a few degrees—but any research did that.
Maybe her inner drive raged at their mindless play, refusing to forgive laziness? Or...
"Whoa, so pretty. Whoa...!! Newbie, lemme brag to my friends real quick!"
"Bring Melona on the way back!"
"What's that?!"
Maybe because they laughed so happily, played so freely.
I could play too.
If I had someone compatible beside me. If that kind black-haired boy was at my side, I could research all day laughing.
No. Don't waver. Selbia steeled herself. Didn't her childhood friend say the same?
Push forward no matter what.
No detours.
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The Crimson Magic Tower's first floor center holds a massive bulletin board. Crimson mages call it the Gate of Promotion. Or Gate of Despair.
Complete a posted task, become the Tower Master's disciple.
Gate of Promotion tasks fall into three: theory, practical, inspiration.
Theory: Dramatically improve magic theory for efficiency, invent new spells, elucidate unsolved formulas.
"If these magic circles overlap right, power jumps 1.35x."
Inspiration: Present a never-thought-of concept. Or positively accelerate Crimson research.
"Flame magic suits AoE so well, senior. Not just magical fire—mix with physical flames, I think it works. It's a hit."
Practical: Fell famous monsters, subjugate Crimson foes, prove your chops.
"If I solve mana issues, maybe mix it up with a basilisk..."
"......"
Usually, even one is tough. Obviously. If easy, everyone'd be disciples. Hence Gate of Despair, mages lamenting their lacks.
But this professor bastard does all three. Sneaks in hiding his title, newb cosplay, flaunting talent!
Made her chest tight.
Head hot, Selbia punched the side of the lunatic excitedly theory-dumping on mages.
Thwack-!
"Ack...!! Wh-what the sudden?!"
"What're you doing? What the hell here."
"I explained, right? I got shredded into 30 pieces..."
"Can you say something sane for once?!"
The mad wizard smacked his lips sheepishly. Then eyed her face closely, suddenly prying:
"You eating okay lately?"
"...Huh?"
"Dunno, you've been extra snappy. Tower's always hot... Tomatoes or grapefruit maybe? They got this good fairy called vitamin C..."
Thunk.
Selbia's eyes bulged, frozen.
Mad wizard kept yapping, but she couldn't hear. That word just now filled her head.
What'd he say?
Vitamin C.
No one—not a soul—knew that weird term. Not even Professor Alejandro at the academy, or Crimson seniors.
They said they didn't know.
Only one ever mentioned it: her childhood friend.
Mad wizard's words overlapped her memory of the boy's voice.
'Eat balanced, Selbia. Our food has these little nutrition fairies that nicely fill gaps—healthier that way. I'll list 'em—'
"There's this complete food thing. Not saying eat only that, but eggs and tomatoes..."
"...I'm eating them. Tomatoes."
"Huh?"
Mad wizard looked shocked you know that.
Selbia too. How does the professor know this secret word only she and the boy knew?
Chaos. One of his friends her childhood friend? Closer than thought, maybe he...
Black hair, red eyes. Or maybe. Perhaps—
This suspicious, flighty, occasionally screw-loose professor. Could be her memory's boy—
"If you're eating tomatoes right, maybe not nutrition—built-up stress? Or sugar? Wanna grab something sweet?"
"—No way in hell!"
"......"
Selbia shrieked and bolted from the scene. Head pounding. No way, can't be.
If so... means he doesn't recognize me.
Left behind, the mad wizard muttered timidly, heart hurt.
"...No need to hate it that much...?"
It was summer.