Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Wizards' Night (5)
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The Festival of Magical Scholarship, Wizards' Night.
Though the event was structured so even ordinary folk ignorant of magic could enjoy it, not every program was like that. Take the Grand Magical Symposium, for instance.
The Grand Magical Symposium.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the entire Wizards' Night existed for this one event.
Not every mage belonged to a mage tower.
Most joined for access to cutting-edge research facilities and budgets that could make your ears ring... but there were always those eccentric oddballs who didn't.
Some couldn't trust others' skills.
Others preferred solitary research over collaboration.
Or maybe they just had personalities too rotten to fit in.
The point was, there were mages who researched alone in remote corners for all sorts of reasons. And even those weirdos always made an appearance at the Grand Magical Symposium.
Mages gathered from every corner of the land.
Court mages from the royal palace.
And high-ranking officials from the colored mage towers.
This was the Grand Magical Symposium: where all the luminaries of the magical world assembled to coldly judge the results of research presented on stage.
"It's called a banquet, but it's hardly a place for enjoyment."
Brick Geovan, lord of the Blue Mage Tower.
He muttered as he draped his crisp robe over his shoulders.
"Hundreds of mages staring daggers— their judgments are merciless. Find the tiniest flaw, and they'll rip you apart like rabid dogs. Some of those eccentrics don't give a damn about the towers' reputations either."
Most mages did mind the towers' opinions.
No point in making enemies when there was nothing to gain. But the hermits holed up in the boonies doing their own thing? They played by different rules.
"They tear into you like maniacs. No mercy, no matter who you are."
A smile curled at Brick's lips.
"That's why this stage is perfect."
Perfect for what?
"For humiliating that arrogant little brat, there's no better venue."
Lania van Trias.
To teach that girl—who looked just like that insufferable Ashen Mage—a bitter lesson about the magical world's harsh side, the Grand Magical Symposium was ideal.
"Fine. Do as you please."
Yetoal, who'd been shooting Brick irritated glances at his sinister mumbling, let out a deep sigh.
'How the hell did it come to this?'
Brick hadn't always been this hostile toward Lania. Sure, he'd disliked her just for sharing a family with the Ashen Mage... but.
'Originally, the one meant for humiliation was the Ashen Mage himself, right?'
Somehow, the target had shifted to Lania.
Yetoal, who knew the two were the same person, couldn't laugh at the irony... but it was absurd all the same.
'What the hell did she do in those few days to grind his gears that bad?'
Brick was gnashing his teeth like a madman.
"It's almost time."
Oblivious to Yetoal's inner thoughts, Brick brushed off his robe and stood.
"Today, I'll etch a new legend for the Blue Mage Tower right here. Watch my triumph, Yetoal."
Confidence oozed from him.
His perpetually hunched back was ramrod straight today, shoulders squared with power. Every step radiated certainty of victory.
"I'll prove I was right all along... right here."
Brick clenched his fist tight.
Watching him, Yetoal silently rubbed his eyes.
To Yetoal—who knew Lania van Trias's true identity—Brick looked like a fool marching straight into hell on his own two feet.
"...Do your best."
He really would need to.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
The Grand Magical Symposium unfolded in the vast central plaza.
Some watched from the balconies of surrounding luxury restaurants, sipping wine. Others lounged haphazardly on the plaza stones, soaking in the atmosphere.
They all fixed their gazes—postures varied—on the stage.
Already, quite a few mages had taken the stage and stepped down amid the presentations.
With Wizards' Night moved up, many had rushed to complete their research. Naturally, they'd all been torn to shreds with praise and curses alike before descending.
'Even heckling's getting old now.'
Mages sprawled across the plaza eyed the stage with boredom. It fell short of expectations. Disappointment colored the faces of those who'd traveled from afar to the capital.
Just as they sighed...
[Next up: Brick Geovan, lord of the Blue Mage Tower.]
A name worth their interest rang out.
The audience's dulled eyes snapped wide.
'Brick Geovan.'
Lord of the Blue Mage Tower, who hadn't presented at a symposium in nearly seven years. News of his return sparked intrigue.
'Finally unveiling years of research?'
Come to think of it, there was that rumor.
The Blue Mage Tower lord was dueling the Ashen Mage. Sure, some girl from the same family was standing in... but.
'He's not the type to hold back.'
Everyone knew the Blue lord staked his tower's prestige on such things.
He'd crush her thoroughly.
The audience expected as much.
For the first time since the symposium began, anticipation gleamed in their eyes. A tower lord representing an entire school of magic, grinding his teeth to showcase his work.
Not like the riffraff.
To meet that hype, Brick Geovan flicked his raised arm.
"Prepare."
Blue Mage Tower mages bustled onstage, setting something up. After brief commotion, a roughly one-meter cube emerged.
"What I'll show today is augmentation magitech. The Blue Mage Tower's specialty."
Augmentation magitech.
A reinforcement branch that boosted other magic tools' power. The Blue lord tapped the cubic tool with his knuckles and continued.
"Hate to admit it, but until now, Blue Mage Tower tools lagged behind the Ashen Mage Tower in refinement. I'm sure everyone here knows."
It was true.
About seven years ago, the Ashen Tower released tools cheaper than Blue's... yet a step superior in performance.
"Forced us through a rough patch. But mages speak through results, right?"
A smile played on Brick's lips.
"Unlike the Ashen Tower, stuck chasing past glories, we steadily pursued the 'next' step. Behold the result."
Brick extended a hand to a Blue researcher beside him. They handed him a pickaxe-shaped magic tool.
"A tool miners love in mana stone quarries. Uses rechargeable mana stones, so no personal mana needed—versatile. But..."
He swung lightly at a pre-placed mana stone on stage.
Clang!
Not even a scratch.
"Output's too damn weak. Boost it, and you inevitably need mana-hungry tools."
Magitech's eternal dilemma.
Mentioning it, Brick placed the pickaxe atop his cubic tool.
"This solves it."
The cube split open with a click, swallowing the pickaxe.
"Augmentation Hexahedron."
Ten seconds later, the pickaxe emerged, bluish-coated. Brick gripped it and spoke.
"A single augmentation lasts about three days. And the power..."
He swung lightly.
Thud—the tip grazed the mana stone.
Crack!
Pristine before, now it split clean in half just from the touch. Audience eyes widened.
"Roughly sevenfold improvement confirmed. Limited to simple, mana-free tools like this, but..."
Brick set the pickaxe down.
"You all grasp the value."
The crowd fell silent for a beat.
As mages tied to mana stone mining industries, they understood perfectly.
Boosted efficiency.
Higher yields.
Increased supply.
Mana stones fueled countless studies—the ripple effects would be massive.
"Questions."
"I have a question!"
"Lord Blue, about that tool..."
Queries poured toward the Blue lord.
Brick smiled leisurely, answering one by one.
"Your top concern's obvious: cost-performance. Mainly for mining sites—can't commercialize without good value."
He tapped the hexahedron.
"One mid-to-high-grade standard mana stone augments about thirty tools."
Not stellar, but profitable enough.
"This is just the prototype. Blue magitech pursues constant evolution. Promise: better cost, better quality, ongoing releases."
The bored mages were gone. Eyes alight, they showered praise on the Blue lord's reveal.
Countless mages.
The thrill of turning their cold scrutiny to awe was incomparable.
"Thanks for the warm cheers."
Brick's smile widened.
Victory was assured. High on the mood, he blabbered on.
"The Ashen Tower clings to past legacies. Glorious once, sure. But obsess over yesterday, and tomorrow passes you by."
Aimed at the next presenter.
Lania van Trias.
He sneered her way.
"Mages must advance. Toward the future."
Amid thunderous applause, Brick descended.
As he passed, a girl with ashen hair brushed by, heading up.
"Know your place."
Brick hissed coldly past her ear. She paused mid-step, turning to look.
Snicker.
She just smirked mockingly.
Brick scowled at the derision on her lips.
'Hasn't learned her lesson yet.'
She would soon.
With that thought, he walked on.
3.
Before the heat from the Blue lord's demo faded, the next presenter ascended.
"......"
Mages gossiping about the revolutionary tool fell silent. Eyes shifted to the girl taking the stage.
Ashen hair swayed.
She had a captivating presence that drew gazes.
Watching her hair ripple with each step, mages recalled her name.
'Lania van Trias.'
From the same family as the Ashen Mage.
Currently a professor at Aphria Academy.
Everyone had heard the rumors: a capable educator.
'Artificial singularity formation, plus solid foundational circuit knowledge.'
A prodigy in magical theory.
Rumors of her personal combat prowess surpassing average battle mages too.
But that was that.
'Magitech's a different beast.'
This was this.
Magitech wasn't conquered by book smarts alone. It demanded years of hands-on experience and trial-and-error.
'Presenting magitech research? Against the Blue Tower's veterans in their domain?'
'Young and green.'
Most mages thought as much.
Her arrogance earned no sympathy.
"What I've prepared is augmentation magitech."
Snickers leaked here and there.
Same subfield, no less.
Credit for guts after that prior demo, but that's it.
Mages eyed Lania indifferently.
Rustle.
No elaborate setup.
She simply drew something from her robe: a palm-sized cubic magic tool.
Tiny.
Portable, sure—but low output was the trade-off. What could she do with that?
As doubts formed...
Lania grabbed the two leftover pickaxes onstage. One Blue-augmented, one plain.
"No long explanations. Seeing is faster."
She pressed her tool to the plain pickaxe. It split with a click, glowing bluish.
The pickaxe shone vivid blue.
The audience sensed anomaly.
Too vibrant. Sharper than the Blue lord's version. Eyes narrowed on the girl's pickaxe.
Then, she clashed both pickaxes.
No force. Just a light tap.
Crunch.
One crumbled to dust.
The other unscratched.
"...Huh?"
Stark result rounded eyes. Naturally, the shattered one was the Blue-augmented pickaxe.
"Based on ancient magitech, adapted for modern use. Same base conditions as Lord Blue's tool."
With the crowd stunned, Lania explained. She rolled the tool on her palm.
"Small for portability, but limited uses. About ten on this pickaxe."
...Duration?
A question flew; Lania answered.
"Until the tool breaks."
"...Breaks?"
"Lasts as long as the pickaxe endures."
She added,
"It's like overclocking the tool's performance, so lifespan shortens. Roughly a month estimated."
...Ruins the tool after use.
But a month of use.
Audience crunched numbers. Pickaxes were cheap in bulk, but monthly replacements hurt.
'Double the speed, though.'
Remained the augment tool's price.
Performance like that wouldn't be cheap. As they prepared questions...
"Mass-producible and commercializable."
Another girl joined onstage.
Ashen robes symbolizing the tower's pinnacle. Resti Eleanor, next Ashen Mage Tower lord.
"This augment tool was left incomplete (or complete?) by former next-lord Raniel van Trias. Perfected by our Lania van Trias here."
The girl who'd aggressively seized Ashen Tower dominance.
Resti Eleanor—rumored heartless—spoke flatly.
"Ashen Tower's ready for mass production, promises market supply at fair prices."
She named the price.
Two or three zeros below expectations. Delivering that tech at such cost was staggering.
"...Exclusive tech?"
A question.
Resti replied.
"Yes. Exclusive contract with Ashen Tower by Lania van Trias here."
Exclusive.
Ashen-led commercialization.
Yet reasonably priced.
"More questions?"
Silence met Lania's query.
She and Resti moved to descend, but paused.
"......"
Her gaze fixed on one mage in the plaza. All followed. There stood Blue lord Brick Geovan.
Soul drained from his face.
The duel was obvious to all.
Performance, cost, refinement—Lania van Trias's total victory. Brick hadn't even quoted prices... another loss unspoken.
"What the..."
His certain win now left him pale as death. Lania offered no long speech.
"Seems clinging to the past isn't the Ashen Tower's sin."
One line, then she walked on.
That loaded remark shook Brick's pupils wildly.
"See? Told you that kid would win!"
As silence blanketed the plaza, the White Mage Tower lord shook his wine glass from the balcony, voice booming.
"Serves him right!"
No need for snacks—he looked utterly satisfied.
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