Witch's Son

Witch's son. The timeline was twisted. A world where at least seventeen years had passed compared to the one I knew. This was completely out of left field from what I'd expected.

'Did I fuck up?' My brain wasn't working right, so I must've missed something. It'd be funny, but yeah, maybe.

"Nah, think positive."

No real problem here. Like I know the full story of this world anyway. It's just a different timeline. I don't know the history. The only thing is that the original heroine, Rachel, died. So if you think about it, no big deal.

"Right? Fuck."

It is a big deal. What the hell isn't a big deal if this isn't? "Oh shit, this is bad."

Did I know? That the protagonist couple would end up like this. Hell, how was I supposed to know they even got married and had a daughter?

"Is this a spoiler? It's a spoiler! I haven't even finished the story!"

Not that I planned to, but still!

"Aaaah."

I flopped onto the bed and thrashed around. "...Now what?" Then I just lay there blankly.

The protagonist was dead. I'd always wanted to meet her someday. As a fellow reincarnate from Korea, we'd at least speak the same language.

'This place.' Someone who could remind me it wasn't just this scary, barren world, but a romance fantasy one. I'd hoped to meet her at least once.

"Haa...."

Failed. Failed before I even started.

"Goddamn it."

With this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠much time passed, what could I even do? "...What now?" One of my key goals was gone. What should I do?

'Survive.' But she wasn't completely erased. Conclusion: one thing only.

I had to learn magic. Raise my circles, learn more spells. And first and foremost, cure this mana sickness.

"...Sucks not getting to see the protagonist."

But that's secondary in the end. If the timeline's different from what I know, just find a way within it.

"Perfect timing too—meeting some big shots tomorrow."

Shouldn't I snag some opportunities as a mage there? Yeah, let's go with that.

Bzzz—!!!

As if responding to my words, the vibrator reacted. This thing.

"Stayed dead quiet till now, and now you show up?"

Bzzz....

Dead silent around Mirai. I thought it was broken.

"Fine, even for your sake, I gotta go anyway."

World Tree Relic. Called a divine object. The empire trip was non-negotiable since this thing chose my hand.

"Gotta go for chantless casting too."

Had to go to manifest chantless magic anyway. The capital scared me a bit, but Colton said,

'Mom'll make sure nothing happens.'

Mess with me without cause, and the empire's fucked. A single mage can't do that much, but...

'Her reputation's insane.'

Elise's fame seemed enormous. Fame? More like infamy.

Anyway.

'Landed a jackpot mom.'

Thought the gacha was screwed, but it hits like this sometimes. Not some shitcoin or whatever.

'Elise Coin is the real god.'

Let's moon. Can't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let my life tank like this. If it goes to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shit, just off myself. Whatever.

"Tomorrow, right?"

I lay on the bed. "Scared shitless, but..."

What could go wrong? I-it'll, it'll be f-f-fine. Ignoring my chattering guts, I closed my eyes.

Nothing'll happen. That's what I told myself as I tried to sleep.

But deep down, I knew. Something was 100% gonna go wrong.

Lehart capital. Within the imperial palace, accessible only to the nobility. Inside the Sun Palace where the emperor resides.

Four mages had gathered.

"Do you truly believe chantless casting is possible?"

In the meeting room without the emperor, a white-haired elder spoke curtly. Ben Orian, White Tower Master and 7-circle mage.

"Impossible."

Answering was another elder beside him. Celine Jaykan, Blue Tower Master.

"We debated it at the White Tower years ago. The conclusion hasn't changed. You knew that."

"But now we have reports. Even witnesses. Still think it's fake? Raylin. You too?"

Orian turned to the woman beside him. Kelai Raylin, Green Tower Master.

She replied with a troubled expression. "I think not as well. They must've seen wrong. Or used some trick to mimic chantless casting."

Years ago. Yeah, about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ten years back. The debate on chantless casting back then was because someone claimed to be a 'chantless mage.'

It looked real at first glance, shocking everyone.

"But that turned out fake too."

Digging deeper revealed it was all smoke. It did establish new rules for incantation casting, but the conclusion remained: chantless doesn't exist.

The issue was.

"The one pulling that trick is..."

Raylin glanced warily somewhere. There sat a woman brimming with fury. Helena Balon, Red Tower Master.

"Sethris's son, right."

Elise Sethris. Her name dropped silence over the room.

Grand Archmage. One of only two on the continent, alongside absent Magic Association President Roll Aphron. An otherworldly 8-circle being.

Besides grand archmage, she had another title: the Worst Witch.

"...Tch."

Helena Balon clicked her tongue.

"That bitch. Said no interest in disciples, then drags in some toy from who-knows-where?"

Famously bad blood with Elise. More like one-sided hate from her end.

"Turned down even the imperial princess. Then picks up some nobody as a disciple. Ridiculous."

Clearly pissed, Helena ground her teeth.

"...Helena. Calm down. He hasn't even arrived."

"That's why I'm holding back. If he shows and it's another fake... even that Elise might end up the fool."

"..."

That's the goal, huh. Raylin read it in her attitude.

A 6-circle mage. Youngest Red Tower Master, but her fiery nature showed sometimes, tied to her attribute maybe.

'...Will this be okay?'

Raylin sighed inwardly. Elise's adopted son was reportedly only 2-circle. The report came from Colton Clay, surprisingly.

He was known for harsh evaluations.

'Even he...'

Raylin narrowed her eyes at the paper before her. Genius. Colton boldly wrote two letters for the thirteen-year-old boy.

Praise he gave no one. Not even his own granddaughter, the Hero.

'What kind of being...?'

As Raylin and the others pondered, the door creaked open.

"Ah, damn. Looks like I'm last."

A brown-haired man entered with a grin. Helena ground her teeth at the sight.

"Tom. Still treating time like shit?"

"Helena. You're cute when mad today too?"

"...You...!"

Tom Jenel, Gold Tower Master. Heat leaked from Helena's body at his words.

"Sorry, sorry."

Tom waved hurriedly. "Busy as hell, ran late. Cut me some slack—you know how it is. Let's be understanding."

"...Grit."

Helena held back, though she looked ready to burst into flames. This wasn't a tower—it was the palace. Emperor due soon. Even she couldn't flare up.

Everyone knew the Gold Tower Master was swamped.

"All here, so quick chat. So."

Tom glanced around. "Something amazing's coming?"

"How much did you hear?" Orian asked.

Tom tilted his head. "Northern orphan. Genius enough for Elise to disciple. Chantless magic and..." His eyes narrowed. "First all-attributes."

"..."

Silence fell.

All-attributes. Chantless was wild, but this was absurd. No historical mage had all-attributes. Triple-attribute mages numbered five on the continent.

But.

"All five? Haha!"

Tom burst out laughing. "A god descending or what?"

Chantless and all-attributes? Insane specs.

"Heh..."

"What's so funny?" Helena snapped, displeased.

Tom wiped tears. "It's too ridiculous. The situation's hilarious. Especially since..." His grin faded. "The Hero just appeared."

"Tom Jenel."

Jaykan cut him off. "Watch your words. That's classified."

"Just us. Who cares."

Tom shrugged. "Anyway. We gotta check if the kid's real."

"And also..."

"Rule out demonkin in disguise?"

Demonkin. Checking if disguised as human. That's why they gathered.

"One tower master'd suffice for that. All here means you're all curious too."

"..."

No one replied. True. Chantless and all-attributes. Mages couldn't stay away.

"...Eh, whatever."

Tom trailed off, looking bored. "How impressive can a kid be..."

Bzzz.

"...!"

"Huh?"

The tower masters turned to the door.

Tap. Tap.

Small footsteps. Echoing hugely down the hall.

Gazes fixed there. Shock dawned in their eyes.

'Mana.'

Helena checked herself. Her controlled circle stirred wildly. Mana flowed protectively, now surging.

'What the?'

Her own mana. Yet suddenly slipping control.

Possible?

'...No way.'

Helena recalled. Not long ago. Ten-ish years back. Facing the grand archmage.

-Arrogant, huh?

Magenta eyes looking down. Tearing her mana apart, smirking arrogantly.

That unnatural helplessness. Mana scattering wildly—now it returned.

"Impossible."

Not exactly same. Then, mana fled in fear. Now...

'Like it's—.'

Returning home. As if not truly hers. Like it had an original owner, constantly trying to flow away.

How?

As she puzzled—

Creeeak—!!

Door opened. Someone entered.

Colton Clay. Empire's sword.

But not first.

'...Kid?'

Looked barely over fifteen. Black hair, pale green eyes. Fierce glare. Only standout trait: black hair.

Yet all mages tensed at the boy.

Blank gaze, her quaking mana. Eerily bizarre aura.

'What is that?'

What is he? Cold sweat trickled down Helena's cheek.

Then.

"Hello?"

The boy smiled.

Whoosh—!!!! Mages' circles jolted. All recalled the same face.

-Eyes down, worms.

They knew.

'...Witch's son.'

Elise Sethris brought a monster mirroring herself.

That was the Five Great Tower Masters' first impression of the boy later called the God of Magic.