CHAPTER 113
CHAPTER 113
Mana Instability
“Do you know about the Overlord Technique? Brother?”
“The Overlord Technique… you mean the hereditary secret art of the Betelgeuse ducal family?
Of course I’ve heard of it. But it’s extremely difficult to master, and I heard the current duke can no longer use it due to his injuries.”
“Yes. Lady Idnia is a master of that very Overlord Technique.
Even without magic, she must be an extraordinary fighter.
Her confidence and dignified attitude must stem from that. So everyone, please do not insult her carelessly.
She is a frightening person. I have seen her wield the Overlord Technique myself. It was so terrifying that I trembled and could not even dare to face her.”
Isolde warned her friends like that.
It was meant as a caution so they would not provoke Idnia carelessly, but their reaction was something else entirely.
“Ah, the Overlord Technique… but isn’t that aura?”
“I heard it’s a martial art passed down in the Betelgeuse family. But this is a magic academy, isn’t it?”
“It’s not like we’d duel with swords. Mages duel with magic, don’t they?”
Surprisingly, they were convinced that Idnia could not strike them with the Overlord Technique.
“Then are you confident you could win a duel?”
Isolde asked in disbelief.
Even Idnia’s magic was not something to be taken lightly—what were they thinking?
But…
“Oh my, we can just refuse a duel.”
“We are daughters of the gentry class. There’s no reason for us to accept duels.”
“But refusing a duel is dishonorable even for a mage…”
“We only need a diploma from Dunaise Academy. It’s not like we actually want to be mages…”
Nora, Kate, and Mina were all daughters of wealthy gentry families.
Merchant houses that had risen through industries like textiles, cooking oil, and dyeing had entered the social circles of the capital, Dunaise. Their parents, wanting their daughters not to be looked down upon, had provided them with wealth and attendants in abundance.
Unlike Isolde, who wished to excel in magic and rise to high office to gain honor and authority, they already had vast inheritances awaiting them.
Rather than striving like Isolde, they had come to the academy simply to add another line to their credentials.
‘Ah, I really dislike this.’
Isolde had grown close to them because her mother, Aura Polchen, had been their etiquette instructor, but in terms of wealth, they were far richer than even Countess Polchen, the Emperor’s consort.
Since childhood, they had been accompanied by personal servants and had enjoyed wealth surpassing even that of many nobles. Their arrogance reached the heavens.
The nobles found them distasteful.
They disliked how these upstart commoners flaunted their wealth, yet many noble families in the capital were indebted to the gentry, so they could not treat them harshly.
Instead, they subtly ostracized them based on their origins and bloodline, which in turn gave the gentry even more reason to resent the nobility.
The tension between the wealthy gentry and the declining nobles was deep-rooted and insidious, not something that could be resolved with a few words.
The reason they could maintain a relationship with Isolde was because her mother had taught them etiquette, and because Isolde herself, as the daughter of a consort, was seen as a flawed noble.
‘Come to think of it, they only befriended me because I’m the daughter of a consort. If I show even the slightest weakness, they’ll tear into me like piranhas drawn to blood.’
Isolde knew all too well how frightening these girls were within high society, so she did not want to fall out of favor with them just to defend Idnia.
It might seem strange to feel such fear even among friends, but that was simply the reality of noble girls’ social circles.
“Isolde, you wanted to succeed as a mage, didn’t you? Hmm… well…”
Nora gave a meaningful smile.
She was clearly enjoying the difference between themselves—who would inherit fortunes and live leisurely—and Isolde.
Isolde tried to dissuade her friends, but achieved little, and soon entered Professor Magram’s class.
“Well then, although the order has been reversed, let’s learn retrieval magic.”
Smiling, Magram drew a scimitar.
The elegantly curved blade gleamed, reflecting the flames burning from his body.
Without warning, he hurled the blade straight toward a student.
The scimitar flew directly at Athos, a male student from Euros, who had been secretly eating a donut at his desk.
“Eek?!”
“Gah?!”
At that shocking moment…
Magram spread his hand, and the scimitar was pulled back into his grasp with a snap.
“Huh?”
“O-oh…”
Everyone gasped in admiration at the display.
In truth, retrieval magic was far simpler than even the lowest-level spirit summoning. Many of the students could already perform it.
However, that was when pulling stationary objects into one’s hand. Retrieving a thrown blade mid-air like Magram had done was extremely difficult.
“As you all know… throwing a blade and calling it back is actually very dangerous. It’s the kind of spell that always comes with a ‘don’t try this at home’ warning… and as you know, dozens of foolish mages die each year attempting it. But… it looks cool, doesn’t it?”
Magram grinned and looked at Athos.
Athos’s mouth hung open with a donut still in it. As it nearly fell, his hand reflexively caught it.
“Uh… I’m sorry.”
“No need. Everyone, I am in charge of the academy store and minor profit ventures. I don’t wish to give demerits or punishment for eating food purchased legitimately within the academy. Of course, other professors may differ, but that’s my stance. And just now, I only threw the blade because I was 100% confident I could retrieve it, so don’t worry—go ahead and finish your food.”
“……”
“Go on, finish it. Heh.”
At Magram’s words, Athos actually put the dropped food back into his mouth.
‘He told him to eat it, and he actually did?’
Just as everyone marveled at Athos’s shamelessness—
Whoosh!
Magram threw the scimitar at him again.
The spinning blade flew toward Athos’s neck.
“Gah?!”
“Eek!?”
But in the next instant, the blade vanished and reappeared in Magram’s hand.
“Huh?”
“T-teleport retrieval?”
“Yes, as you saw, the implementation method was different this time. Retrieval magic may be simple, but depending on how you execute it, the difficulty varies greatly.”
Magram smiled casually and gestured to Athos again.
“Uh…”
“Yes, eat. Go on.”
“……”
No matter how bold Athos was, surely he wouldn’t eat again…
But he did.
“Wow.”
Idnia watched in admiration.
“Now then, the activation phrase for retrieval magic is ‘nae-son-eu-ro.’ There are many ways to implement it, but since the phrase is standardized, alternative methods tend to be too slow to be practical. Let’s try a simple version first.”
Magram flicked flames from his fingertips, forming an illusion that displayed the structure of the spell.
Marie, sitting beside Idnia, narrowed her eyes and focused intently.
“Is your eyesight bad?”
Curious, Idnia asked, but Marie blushed and shook her head.
“No, it’s just easier to understand the structure this way. This seems similar to telekinesis, is that right?”
“Yes. It pulls objects using telekinesis. For those who can already use telekinesis, it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Idnia said it casually.
The structure was simple, and the principle was straightforward.
For Idnia, who already knew telekinesis, it was an easy task.
Not just her—many students smirked, finding it too easy.
“Ah, yes. Very easy, isn’t it? I believe you have already learned telekinesis from Professor Buremhyde. However, today’s task is… to use retrieval magic without a wand to bring your wand into your hand.”
“…What?”
“Without a wand?”
“Yes. You’re not going to use retrieval magic to pick up things like TV remotes, game controllers, or wireless mice from your desk, are you?”
The students tilted their heads in confusion.
Remote? Controller? Mouse?
They had no idea what he was talking about.
‘…That almost gave me a heart attack.’
Idnia realized Magram was watching her reaction and quickly controlled her expression.
‘You really can’t let your guard down around him. Just what is he thinking?’
Seeing no reaction from her, Magram seemed disappointed and snapped his fingers.
Assistants appeared.
“Alright, under the assistants’ guidance, you will practice casting retrieval magic with your bare hands, without a wand. Since it’s just an application of telekinesis, everyone should be able to do it within this class.”
But for students attempting magic without a wand for the first time, it was terrifying.
“nae-son-eu-ro?! Gah?! What is this?!”
Their wands flew toward them at frightening speeds, nearly impaling them.
An assistant quickly intervened with telekinesis, catching the wand mid-air.
“Are you alright?”
“Y-yes, thank you!”
“Whoa… I can’t control it!”
Those who had always relied on wands now realized how difficult it was to cast magic without one.
Either the spell wouldn’t activate at all, or it would activate uncontrollably.
But Marie succeeded on her first try.
“Ah!”
Her wand flew through the air and landed neatly in her hand.
Even the assistant whistled in admiration.
“Wow, that was clean. First try?”
“Y-yes. Idnia! Look, I…”
Marie wanted to show Idnia her success.
Idnia had helped her so much—guiding her through lessons, helping her study. She wanted to show her this achievement.
But…
“Oh…?”
Idnia looked flustered.
“Idnia?”
Marie was startled.
Idnia had always been the one leading her. She had never imagined that Marie would succeed instantly while Idnia would fail.
Was it because she didn’t have her wand?
But even when Idnia tried again, something strange happened.
Her mana wouldn’t move at all.
“Are you alright?”
Even if Idnia suddenly couldn’t use magic, Marie’s respect for her would not change.
Even if Idnia lost all magical talent, Marie would still admire her for her kindness and leadership.
The real problem was Idnia herself.
‘What is going on? My mana isn’t moving at all.’
Idnia steadied her breathing and recited the activation phrase again.
“My hand!”
Perfect Korean, spoken like a native.
But the wand did not move at all.