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The witch's son. Red Tower Master. Helena Balon. A genius among geniuses who reached 4 Circles at twenty and ascended to the youngest Red Tower Master ever. Until Delvin Lehart, the imperial princess, was hailed as the genius of the century, the term "continent's greatest genius" referred to her.
How impressive was she? Enough to briefly pique Elise Sethris's interest.
—Not bad. Meh.
Of course, that was the end of Elise's assessment. Their relationship shattered over it, but that was meaningless anyway. Elise wouldn't give a damn.
But not for Helena.
'That damn bitch.'
'How dare she—.'
She remembered being looked down on and dismissed. Clutching that memory, Helena ground her teeth and delved into magic research. She finally reached 6 Circles and claimed the Tower Master seat.
After the previous Red Tower Master—who claimed to be a chantless mage—was murdered. That propelled Helena to the Tower Master position and into the once-in-history Archmage Conference.
That was the turning point.
—Pathetic. The day Elise shredded her mana.
—Keep your eyes down, you worms. The day every mage there bowed to one woman.
The day a massive stain and trauma etched itself into Helena's life. It had to be that day.
'Elise.' Someday, she'd make her kneel and mock her from above. Even if the world deemed it impossible, Helena believed she'd pull it off somehow.
And the result?
'7 Circles is right around the corner.' Her 6-Circle was now just one step from the next. The wall was simply too thick; she had no idea how to breach it.
Ideally, she'd hole up in her tower, researching and training magic nonstop.
But then—
—What? Chantless? All attributes? Elise's son?
Intel came flying in. Colton was bringing something bizarre to the palace. He'd not only snagged a divine relic from the north but dragged back someone with unprecedented chantless magic and all attributes.
And get this: Elise's son.
—What kind of bullshit is that?
She didn't buy it. How could she, with so many impossibilities crammed in?
But mages were knowledge monsters. What if the absurd was true? Even if not...
'Elise's son.' She'd want to see him regardless.
Elise, who took no disciples—not even the princess, whose talent she dismissed—had accepted one. Every Tower Master was curious; it was natural. The hype was justified.
Even Helena, who hated and despised Elise.
'How impressive must he be for that vicious witch to take him as disciple. And adopted son.'
Then...
"...What the hell is that kid?"
Helena felt all common sense and expectations shatter.
"What is that?"
As mages, they sensed it. Mages who'd all been called geniuses with lofty talents. Beings who carried mana purely. They knew the boy ahead was freakishly bizarre.
"...My mana’s reacting on its own."
"Feels like it’s getting sucked in?"
"...What’s going on?"
Mana swirled chaotically. They controlled their own, but around the boy, something alien prickled only for them.
What was he looking at? His light green gaze fixed on them, yet seemed elsewhere.
Where?
As the inscrutable stare lingered—
"Huh—."
The boy murmured. He clutched his chest.
"Huh? What’s this?"
He fiddled with his flat, scrawny chest.
"...Why’d this get bigger?"
Uttering nonsense. What had grown? Incomprehensible. They just stared blankly. His fierce eyes contrasted a strangely dim, clueless vibe. Was it nothing? A fluke? Circle reaction just coincidence?
Then—
"Ha—."
The boy laughed.
Clank.
Vrrr—!!!
"...!"
Emotions stirred mana. They hastily suppressed it. The mana in their hearts kept trying to surge.
"...Unbelievable."
Gold Tower Master Tom Jenel muttered through a sharp breath. He eyed the boy with intrigued fascination.
"Hey."
Tom Jenel moved. Floating midair, he drifted toward the boy. The boy's gaze finally shifted.
"You're the witch's son?"
Witch's son. The boy tilted his head at that.
"You know my mom?"
"..."
"..."
"Mom" hit like a gut punch. A word utterly unfit for Elise. Tom chuckled dryly.
"Yeah. Know her well. No mage alive doesn't know your mom."
"Whoa, she's famous..."
He nodded, seemingly pleased. What the hell was this kid? Helena's face twisted.
"Kid."
Tom asked, eyeing him.
"Heard you do chantless. That true?"
All eyes turned. Impossible to ignore "chantless."
"Yeah. For now."
"...Amusing answer."
Tom grinned.
"Show us. Everyone here's gathered for that."
Proof of chantless. The whole point of this meeting. Just as they wondered if they'd glimpse the secret—
"Why should I?"
"Huh?"
The Tower Masters froze at the boy's words.
"...What'd he say?"
"Why should I show you?"
"What do you mean? You're here to prove—"
"I never said I'd prove anything."
"What?"
Tom's face crumpled. No proof? What?
"I just came to check my vibrator since it's apparently important. Not to prove chantless."
"Ha...?"
"Just do it if you want. Why prove anything? What do I get...?"
"This little shit...?"
Tom's aura flared. He looked ready to act—
"Gold Tower Master."
Clank.
His mana halted at the sound.
"What are you planning?"
A chilling question. Colton Clay. The empire's sword had drawn its edge.
"Duke Colton?"
"Spare the needless threats. Mage Ruin is His Majesty's guest. This is a conference, not an inquisition. He's a guest bearing a divine relic, so your actions are illegal."
Tom Jenel narrowed his eyes. He glanced at the boy.
Ruin, the scrawny thirteen-year-old. Smirking right at him.
'Well, well?'
Tom read Ruin's thoughts.
'This punk.'
He knew Tom's position well. Exploiting the untouchability. Aware of Colton backing him.
'Acting out after gauging how I'd respond.'
Outmaneuvered. The initial shock compounded.
'Freaky little bastard.'
Freakish. An artificial poise no thirteen-year-old should have. Tom felt disgust toward the boy.
"Amusing."
Her Circles itched. Mana kept reacting to the boy.
"...Very amusing. You take after your mom a lot."
"That's an insult, right?"
"Not a compliment."
Whoosh.
Tom Jenel floated up. Dirt gathered under his soles, supporting him.
"You've got too many guardians. But you seem worldly enough, so I'll adjust my tone."
"Getting more polite?"
"If you wish—"
"Don't really want polite... Can I just say what I want?"
"What you want?"
"If you wanna see my magic."
His light green eyes sparkled, scanning the Tower Masters.
"Show me yours first."
Huh? The five Tower Masters tilted their heads in unison.
Show magic?
"Something basic. Like 2 or 3 Circle spells."
He said, eyes gleaming.
Green Tower Master Kelai Raylin finally spoke.
"Not teach, but show? What do you mean?"
Teaching would make sense. But just showing? Pointless.
"Teaching wouldn't balance out. Just show me. That should be enough."
"...What does that...?"
"Arrogant brat."
Before Raylin finished, Helena shot up, unable to hold back.
"You. Know what you're saying?"
Sizzle.
Heat prickled. The boy's eyes followed Helena. Raylin winced.
"Spoiled rotten, thinking this is your living room?"
"Wasn't spoiled, and no one's crazy enough to think this is home."
Bold as hell. It grated even more.
"You know that and still strut in like this?"
"Never strutted. Just said—let's exchange what we each want if needed."
"What you want?"
Helena smirked.
"What do you gain from seeing my magic?"
"What I gain?"
Ruin mirrored her smile.
"If I'm lucky, that spell."
"...What?"
Incomprehensible.
Interpreted literally—
"You can copy magic just by watching? That it?"
"Dunno. Feels like it."
"Ha!"
Arrogance on this level? Copy by sight alone? Laughable nonsense. Even heaven's Elise Sethris couldn't.
Magic was formulas, matching attributes, chant forms. Mana resonance to execute. Same chant didn't cut it. Endless failures, mastery—then you barely got it.
'Copy instantly by watching?'
Her eyes blazed venomously. Helena raised her hand.
"...Fine. Great. Try it."
Vrrr.
Her mana stirred slowly.
"I'll show you. As requested. Copy it."
"Helena... That's."
Raylin tried to stop her, but too late.
"If you really copy my magic—"
Her eyes gleamed.
"I'll serve you as master."
"...O? For real?"
"Yes. Red Tower Master Helena Balon swears on her name. But fail, and you'll get punished hard. Still wanna try?"
"Punishment's not my kink, but..."
Ruin's gaze dropped straight to Helena's chest. Voluptuous peaks there.
"...Might not be bad. Even if I can't eat it, it's a feast for the eyes."
He nodded, calculations done. Helena felt oddly unsettled, but pulverizing his attitude came first.
"You said 3 Circle down to 2. But to copy, it'd have to be 2 Circle."
Reports said 2 Circles. Less than two months since awakening. Yet 2 Circles? Genius territory—
"Nah, I'm 3 Circles."
"What?"
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
"...What?"
Not just Tower Masters—even Colton Clay behind reacted.
Colton narrowed his eyes at Ruin.
"...3 Circles?"
"Yeah."
"When the hell did you advance?"
"Just now?"
What insane bullshit? All dumbfounded, uncomprehending—
"...You're crazy. Or Elise is. Whatever. Just show it."
Irritated, Helena extended her hand. Clearly doubting Ruin.
"The constellation of crimson flames rises upon its pedestal, the rings entwined there..."
Blue Tower Master Celine Jaykan gasped at the chant.
"...She's pissed. Using Inferno Ring."
White Tower Master Ben Orian shook his head.
"Inferno Ring's high difficulty even among fire spells. Overkill on a kid."
Inferno Ring. Multi-attribute mage Orian—lightning and fire—knew it well. Among 3-Circle spells, top-tier difficulty. Forming ring-shaped flames to bind foes was tough; fire, the wildest attribute, sucked for restraint magic. Fire mages' prowess was judged by defense and binding skill.
And now—
"Making him copy a fire restraint spell."
Known to succeed only at 3 or 4 Circles.
"Ultimately binding the feet of the world. Thus, it shall burn."
Whoosh—!!!
Flame handcuff rings materialized in Helena's hand.
"Come on, try it."
Orian foresaw Ruin's failure.
'Impressive.' Admiring Helena mid-thought. Last year, her Inferno Ring chant took 15 seconds. Now under 10. Incredible growth.
"At this rate, 7 Circles soon..."
Whoosh—.
"...Not that I... Huh...?"
Orian halted.
"...Huh...?"
Others too. Air froze.
Inevitable. Right after Helena finished chanting and completed her spell—
An identical ring formed instantly over the boy's hand.
"...Huhh...?"
Helena stared at Ruin's ring. What? Why there? Unrecognized. Mouth agape. Not even a second passed.
Yet there it was.
As her pupils quaked wildly—
"What're you doing."
Ruin smiled at her.
"Greet your master first, yeah?"
Tall, busty, arrogant slave. Acquired.