Chapter 317: Something is Strange (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 317: Something is Strange (4)
Exactly one week had passed since Alon arrived at the Magic Tower.
[Preparation is complete.]
Alon heard from Heinkel that the perfect interpretation of the Phrases was finished.
Quite a bit of time had already slipped by, but—
“It ended sooner than I expected,” Alon couldn't help but remark to Heinkel.
[Really? I hit the deadline exactly.]
Heinkel wore a puzzled expression.
“...If it were me, I probably wouldn't have been able to do it.”
“Me neither...”
Penia, standing beside him, added her confirmation with a heavy sigh.
The reason was simple: a few days ago, they had received a direct lesson from Heinkel on how to interpret magic.
‘Even with Penia and me focusing on it together, we made almost zero progress.’
At first, Alon had been reasonably confident. He had Penia, who possessed a natural genius for magic, by his side. In their research so far, they had managed to solve any difficulties that arose relatively quickly.
However, searching for information within Tier Magic was beyond anything he had imagined. It was difficult to the point of being nearly impossible.
Heinkel had casually demonstrated an Ice Spear, claiming she was simply "removing what was unnecessary" from the existing array as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But Alon and Penia couldn't even accurately distinguish what was "unnecessary" in the magic, let alone exclude it.
Just yesterday, he and Penia had spent over two hours debating whether the idea of information existing within Tier Magic was merely Heinkel’s personal theory and an unattainable dream for them.
Regardless, having experienced the difficulty firsthand, Alon offered Heinkel his sincere praise.
[Hmph, hmph—well, I used to be quite the big deal back in the day.]
Heinkel’s shoulders puffed up as she basked in the compliment before getting down to business.
[Now, enough idle chatter. Let’s get straight to it.]
“Right here?”
[Why not?]
“Should we move to the training grounds on the first floor?”
Heinkel didn't seem particularly keen on the idea.
[I don’t see why doing it here would be a problem. It’s just a Light spell.]
“I—I agree, but the first floor has artifacts that can visualize and categorize the movement of mana... I thought we might be able to learn something extra...!”
As Penia subtly chimed in, Heinkel pondered for a moment.
[Hmm, well, if you put it that way—]
She gave a reluctant shrug of agreement.
To head down to the first floor, Alon and Penia took the lead and boarded a transport device similar to an elevator.
“By the way, Marquis.”
As soon as Alon boarded the device, Evan leaned in as if he had been waiting for the chance to ask.
“What is it?”
“Is the magic you’re demonstrating this time really just Light?”
“Yes.”
“Is there... really a need to check the mana type for that?”
Alon thought for a moment before answering Evan’s question.
“...Well, strictly speaking, it’s not absolutely necessary.”
Light.
In Tier Magic, it was a 1st Tier spell, the very first thing every mage learned alongside Magic Bolt. Naturally, its three core components—mana quantity, structure, and array—were incredibly simple.
In other words, one didn't need to go to a demonstration hall to see the mana type; any mage worth their salt would know the array by heart just by looking at it.
Alon himself had wondered if it was necessary to go all the way to the first floor for a mere "Light" spell. However, that was only if the magic manifested as an ordinary Light spell.
“It’s different if it’s manifested through Phrases. It will certainly be helpful for future magic interpretations.”
“Hmm—I did overhear a bit. The words you’re using sounded quite grand for something called Light.”
Evan nodded.
“They are,” Alon agreed.
The "Sentence made of Phrases" that Heinkel had taught Alon after interpreting the Light spell did indeed have a solemn weight to it.
‘I am curious to see how the magic will actually manifest.’
Not long after that thought crossed Alon's mind, they arrived at the 1st Layer and headed straight for the demonstration hall.
“...Huh?”
“Hmm?”
There, they unexpectedly encountered a large crowd of mages.
“...There are a lot of people.”
“You’re right...? It’s not a Magic Society day, so it should be empty...?”
As Penia muttered with a puzzled look, a familiar face emerged from the crowd.
“Sister?”
“...Pellin?”
It was Penia’s younger brother. In the short time since they last met, he had clearly transitioned from a boy to a young man.
Alon briefly recalled that it had been quite a while since he last saw Pellin.
“What are you doing here? You said you were going to the Marquis’s estate the other day—”
Penia answered Pellin’s follow-up question.
“I told you, didn't I? That I’d be back soon.”
“You did say that. I just didn't think it would be this soon.”
“Whatever. So, what’s with this crowd?”
Penia gestured with her chin toward the mages filling the demonstration hall.
“You might not have known, Sister, but today is the day we demonstrate the research project we’ve been working on with the Green Magic Tower.”
“? Don't you usually clear those things out during the Magic Society meetings?”
“Well—the scale is a bit large this time. We decided to skip the meeting and focus on perfecting the implementation first—”
“And everyone gathered at this timing?”
“Yes, quite a few people showed up since the other Magic Towers are very interested. However—”
Pellin sighed, adding that the problem was the guys preparing the demonstration were being lazy. He then looked at Alon and asked, “Do you need to use the demonstration hall?”
“Yes, I do.”
“If you need it right now, it shouldn't be a problem. Our preparations aren't finished yet. However, if it’s a secret research project... it might be difficult to get all these mages to leave—”
As his voice trailed off, Alon glanced around to check with Heinkel. Even if Alon was the one performing the demonstration, Heinkel was the one who had interpreted the Tier Magic.
But.
“?”
Heinkel, who had been there just a moment ago, had vanished as if by magic, leaving him momentarily bewildered. He slowly scanned the surroundings.
He eventually spotted her peeking out from the ceiling of the Magic Tower. Realizing that Heinkel was intentionally hiding her presence for some reason, Alon read her lips.
‘Do whatever you want.’
Alon turned back to Pellin.
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Then you should be able to use it right away. ...By the way, if I may ask, what kind of magic are you planning to demonstrate?”
Pellin finally let his curiosity show. After a brief pause, Alon answered slowly.
“Light.”
“...Light?”
“Yes.”
“...That Light?”
“Oh, just move!”
Perhaps because she was in front of a familiar face, Penia’s temper flared. She shoved Pellin aside with a sharp remark, and he stumbled back helplessly. Alon followed behind Penia as she marched into the demonstration hall without hesitation.
“Hmm?”
“Is that—”
“Marquis Palatio?”
The mages began to whisper as they appeared.
“I heard from a disciple near the entrance. Marquis Palatio is going to demonstrate some magic.”
“The Marquis himself?”
“Yes.”
“Ho...”
“But—I heard the magic he’s demonstrating is Light.”
“...Huh? Light? ...You mean the 1st Tier spell?”
“That’s right.”
“...He came all the way to the demonstration hall for that?”
The news of Alon’s arrival spread rapidly through the room. Alon, calmly exhaling as he ignored the murmurs, felt a wave of awkwardness.
‘Maybe I should have said I’d do it after their demonstration was over?’
Even though he had learned the Phrases and the Sentence from Heinkel, the magic he was about to use was, in the end, Light. The weight of the expectations he felt from all directions was becoming a bit burdensome.
However, he had already walked into the hall with a composed air. It would be ridiculous to leave now, so he took a deep breath and recalled Heinkel’s words.
‘The first thing you must do to extract the information you want from Tier Magic is to delete what is unnecessary.’
He then began to mutter the Phrases he needed to use.
‘Once the dregs are removed and the original form of the magic is perfectly implemented, you must interpret it.’
‘It’s not hard. From that moment on, the remaining information becomes quite clear. These three Phrases will be enough for you.’
And so.
‘All that’s left are the two Sentences. Finding the Sentences isn't hard either. You just combine the information you used to find the Phrases and look at it again. Only this time, you’re not looking for similarities in the array. You’re looking for them in the mana structure. If you do that—’
“Light. Heat Source. Fixation.”
‘—Even if you didn't get the Beastkin, you can obtain all the information available through Tier Magic.’
“Silence of Dark Shadow.”
Having finally reviewed all his memories, Alon quietly formed a seal.
* * *
At first, Pellin thought he had misheard his sister, Penia. But now, Pellin realized. That wasn't the case.
“...”
Alon stood in the center of the demonstration hall, which looked like a grand arena. And the small light floating in front of him was...
It was incredibly weak. It was so dim that even a 1st Tier mage might have produced something brighter.
“What, is it really just Light?”
“...Is this a joke?”
“No, the Marquis doesn't seem like the type to play such pranks.”
“True, but it really is just that Light, isn't it?”
“...I think a new recruit could do better than that.”
Pellin heard the mages whispering behind him. Just as the expectations that had swelled with Marquis Palatio’s appearance were about to turn into doubt and disappointment, a small murmur escaped Alon’s lips.
And then.
“...Hmm?”
A strange groan escaped one mage’s mouth. Following that, a silence that didn't permit even the slightest noise enveloped the mages.
A mutation was observed in the Light spell created before the Marquis.
‘The light—’
‘—is being consumed?’
It was exactly as it looked. A transparent something appeared in the center of the manifested magic. "It" began to grow, devouring the light created by the spell. The flickering light began to swallow its surroundings.
First, the demonstration hall. Then, the spectator seats where the mages sat. Then, the mages' eyes. And finally, the entire hall, greedily.
‘That... is Light?’
That thought flashed through the minds of Pellin—no, all the mages present. But no one could deny it. They had seen it with their own eyes. The fact that "it" had been derived from Light, a 1st Tier spell.
And when "it" finally revealed itself after absorbing all the light—
The mages' breathing grew heavy, and a ripple of shock broke the silence of the hall. It was only natural.
“This is—”
“It can’t be—”
What had been created in front of Alon after all the light faded was...
Sizzle—!!!!
It resembled a sun. It was a miniature sun itself, melting its surroundings as if it would burn everything to ash.
“Eye of the Sun.”
Following Alon’s low chant, the sun left his hand.
KABOOM—!!!
It effortlessly shattered the demonstration hall, which was protected by dozens of layers of magic circles, and then proceeded to demolish the outer wall.
““...””
Silence returned to the demonstration hall. It was different from the silence before. It was a stillness filled with awe.
‘W-What is this...?’
And in the center of it all, Alon, who had demonstrated the magic...
‘This... is Light?’
...was, of course, thinking the exact same thing.