Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Madman, and Nightmare (3)
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The new semester dawned.
Students moved according to their pre-planned schedules. The campus, which had been deathly quiet for the past couple of months, buzzed with life once more. And there was one person watching all of this from afar.
"......"
The Fourth Princess, Aila.
Gazing out the window from her dormitory room, she recalled the information she'd heard a few days ago.
"The madman, Kelrhalhm, has arrived at Aphria."
It was intel from the Hounds embedded in Aphria. So it has come, Aila murmured to herself, biting her lip hard.
The meaning of the prophecy whispered by the stars was still unclear.
But one thing was certain: the situation it foretold was approaching by the moment. Whether tomorrow or a thousand years from now... she could never let her guard down.
...I can't trust anything.
She had to suspect everything.
Aila sharpened her nerves. The stars remained silent, leaving her to stand alone. Steel ing her resolve, she left the dormitory.
A day without stars began anew.
In the unfamiliar surroundings, Aila steadied her breathing.
2.
A guest had arrived at Aphria.
The academy introduced him as a talented mage from a distant foreign land. Along with the introduction came a warning: stay away from him if possible.
"He despises any interruption to his time for thought, meditation, and contemplation more than anything. Don't speak to him or hover nearby unless absolutely necessary."
It was Dean Aron's advisory.
"Anyway, just don't go near him!"
It was the first time the usually gentle dean had spoken so sternly, so neither students nor faculty approached the visitor unless there was a pressing reason.
Only occasional sightings were reported.
Someone saw him strolling through the campus gardens. Another spotted him sitting on a bench, staring blankly at the sky... Some even claimed he'd spoken to them and asked questions.
Students perked up at those stories. They were intrigued by this guest from afar.
His status and name were unknown, but the dean treated him with utmost respect. Rumors spread of Aron bowing repeatedly, sweat beading on his brow.
Curiosity and interest grew relentlessly.
A young mage in his mid-to-late twenties.
A mage the dean treated deferentially.
A mysterious figure from an unknown origin.
As students eyed him with fascination, a notice went up on the campus bulletin board. It was about a short special lecture at the start of the semester.
<Utilization of Elemental Magic>
A special lecture on elemental magic, the specialty of Wizard-class students. Details were sparse. Even the instructor was mentioned in just one line.
<Instructor: External Guest Lecturer>
Origin unknown. Name unknown.
Only that single line: "External Guest Lecturer." But it was enough.
"It has to be him!"
Drawn by rumors of the guest, most Wizard-class students signed up for the lecture.
"Oh."
And the applicants weren't just students.
A professor standing before the bulletin board let out a short exclamation, stroking his chin.
"He’s got roots."
The ash-gray-haired professor.
Lania van Trias gave a slight nod and tore off a lecture application form posted beside the notice.
"...Professor Lania?"
The professors who saw her gulped dryly.
Their minds flashed back to last semester.
[Purpose of Observation: Reference for teaching methods.]
The incident where she'd submitted those curt observation requests—like challenges—to every class. Those who remembered swallowed hard.
What’s she up to now?
Professors who'd received her "challenge" and ended up with shattered confidence, canceling classes for days, eyed Lania suspiciously.
There were many of them. Ash-gray hair.
A color that now symbolized nightmares.
Bathed in their stares, she simply walked the hallway with her usual light steps.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The ash-gray next Mage Tower Lord, Resti.
She was spending extremely busy days.
Majoring in both Summoner and Wizard classes, her schedule was twice as packed as other students'.
Two majors.
Plus Professor Lania's special lecture.
And the Mage Tower's miscellaneous duties and personal research.
Resti handled it all simultaneously. It was a murderous schedule that would make even the sleep-deprived assistants click their tongues... yet Resti showed no sign of strain.
This is nothing new for me.
She'd even signed up for one more special lecture recently.
She was heading to it now. Walking the noisy hallway, she spotted a lecture hall crowded with students.
-That's him...
-Yeah, the one from outside...
Many students clustered at the small window, peeking inside. Gently pushing them aside, Resti entered the lecture hall.
Creak.
As she opened the door, a man in a pristine robe stood at the podium. Resti met his eyes. He was younger than expected.
This is the one from the rumors...
Ash-gray eyes and deep black hair.
For some reason, her first impression reminded her of Professor Lania. The youth and air of mystery were similar.
"......"
Resti bowed her head silently.
Raising it again, the professor at the podium was still staring at her. His eyes held an inexplicable discomfort.
"Oh, Resti."
It was then.
"You signed up too?"
A familiar voice echoed in her ear.
Resti turned. The expected figure stood behind her.
"Professor Lania?"
"Yeah. Why are you standing? Go sit down."
Lania half-pushed her toward the back seats. As they passed the podium, she muttered something.
"...Be careful."
The man seemed to hear and replied curtly.
Resti, who hadn't caught it, tilted her head.
"What did you say?"
"Huh? Nothing. Let's sit."
They took their seats, and after about five minutes, the bell rang. As it tolled, the professor at the podium spoke.
"Welcome."
His voice was flat, devoid of inflection.
"First, an overview."
The class began the instant the bell stopped. Without a second's delay, he commenced the lecture.
"I don't know how much you know about elemental spells. I don't have time to gauge all your levels while at Aphria. With limited time, I'll use it efficiently."
Therefore, he said.
"If you chose Wizard, you know the limits of elemental spells. I'll cover how to overcome them."
He picked up chalk and wrote on the blackboard.
Pointing to the completed words, he declared.
"This is how I define the limits of elemental spells."
Affinities.
"Affinity is the limit of elemental spells. No matter how powerful, every elemental spell has an inevitable counter."
With his right hand, a circle.
With his left, a triangle.
He manifested spells in each hand. The seamless double-casting made students hold their breath.
"Fireball and water orb. The classic example."
He flicked his fingers.
Fire and water clashed in midair. Equal mana invested, but only water remained. The expected result. He focused on that obviousness.
"Fire to water, water to ice, ice back to fire. The basic triangular cycle. Even lower-grade spells can counter if affinities match."
Spells manifested again.
A small water orb, yet it still engulfed the fireball.
"This is the blind spot of elemental spells. Most Wizards major in one attribute. Mastering even one takes immense time."
That's why the Wizard class is criticized for efficiency. Wizards who handle all attributes freely are rare.
"A first-rate mage mastering one attribute to the extreme can lose to a third-rate who dabbles in two. So, is learning diverse attributes always better?"
He posed the question.
An age-old debate among Wizard majors, unresolved.
Is mastering one attribute to the limit right?
Or.
Is balancing multiple attributes better, without extremes?
"Neither."
He concluded the unresolved topic.
Students frowned. Some observing professors looked uncomfortable too. Ignoring them, he continued.
"Master one element to the extreme. But explore not just power, but utilization... and affinities become irrelevant."
Explore utilization.
With those words, he flicked his fingers again.
"Utilization overcomes limits."
One hand formed the same water orb; the other, a fireball circuit.
"Think."
But the shape differed from before.
"Mastering one spell is enough. If you utilize it to the extreme, that mage surpasses one who memorizes hundreds."
One stroke.
Splitting the fireball circuit in half.
"Spell utilization isn't just adding or modifying circuits."
Two strokes.
Splitting the halves again.
"Anyone can modify or add. The answer lies in what no one can."
One circuit became four.
"Divide."
Mana seeped into the four circuits.
"Split one spell."
The circuit quartered, but the spell remained one.
"Then bind."
Two strokes dividing the circuit.
Hooking his finger at the center, he pulled the split circuits like spinning a sling. Mana-infused circuits transformed.
Fwoosh.
Embers ignited.
Four small fireballs rotated around a point. He tossed them lightly.
They collided with the water orb.
Same experiment, different result. Fireballs pierced through.
Sizzle.
Two vanished, but the remaining two spun on. A spell defying affinity. Students' eyes widened at the novel utilization.
"Don't be bound by convention. Magic is the freest discipline."
He dusted his hands lightly.
The fireballs melted into the air.
"I titled it 'Utilization of Elemental Spells,' but it's interchangeable with 'Circuit Utilization.' Anyway, this is what I'll teach you."
As students fell silent, he spoke.
"...Lately, I've heard ridiculous nonsense."
His expressionless face and monotone voice continued.
"Elemental spells have clear limits. Unovercomable ones, so switch to Battle Mage class. I've heard that often."
Battle Mage.
A seated professor flinched at the term. Undeterred, he pressed on.
"I acknowledge Battle Mage efficiency. But fleeing to another class because of limits? Those without grit hit walls soon. Avoid them."
Thud. He slammed the blackboard emphatically.
"Most Battle Mages lack roots. Don't forget yours."
Wizard students, long compared unfavorably to Battle Mages and wounded in pride, lit up at his words.
"No matter what, a mage's root is Wizard."
Nod. Some professors nodded.
Wizard students warmed to the professor. Proud their class was validated by a skilled mage.
"Continuing."
The lecture proceeded in a softened atmosphere.
3.
"Behold. Utilization has many forms. Today’s methods fall into three main categories..."
The lecture continued.
High-level content, smooth explanations... but they fell on deaf ears for Lania.
Rootless things.
One sentence echoed in her mind.
Lania hunched, shoulders trembling. She hadn't known, but it was a class she'd created. It felt like her child being insulted.
Who are you to talk roots, you bastard? You fight better than me? You ever cut down a Four Heavenly King? Huh? Did you, you dog?!
The words rose to her throat... but she held them back. Not because of the students. She could say it after class if she wanted.
Damn it, damn it!
But she lacked the will.
Battle Mage? That rootless class?
She had a conscience.
Recalling her own past words flushed her face red. Context didn't matter; she'd said them.
What kind of idiot made that class?
Idiot.
Lania's shoulders quivered.
She glared at the man on the podium. In that instant, "Kelrhalhm" was etched onto her hit list.
...When faced with fact-based criticism, petty people often lash out at the messenger.
You... someday I'll smash you.
The petty mage ground her teeth.
Author's Note
Rootless