Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Ars Nova #2
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〈 Chapter 130 〉 Ars Nova #2
Sir Peltor, the black sorcerer, had been called the most brilliant man among the Highroad sages.
Past tense, that is, because he had lost his mind.
That said, it was whispered that every now and then, like sunlight piercing through clouds to touch the earth, his genius would sparkle once more.
“Sir Peltor, do you have something to say? What did you just say?”
That was why the Highroad mages always listened closely whenever Sir Peltor spoke.
Since the black sorcerer had opened his mouth for once, we all waited eagerly to hear what would come from his lips.
As if sensing our anticipation, he rose from his seat and bellowed like a grand orator.
“Murder—! Death—! Destruction—! Slaughter—!”
Then he clambered onto the table and started thrashing about wildly. Watching this, the blue mage Ocean rubbed his forehead and sighed.
“It's starting again. Did he miss his meds?”
Of course, oblivious to it all, Sir Peltor the black sorcerer foamed at the mouth as he rampaged in every direction.
“Hee hee—! Destruction—!”
Just as the chaos reached a fever pitch, and we could no longer simply watch, Sage Council Chairman Hainax drew a long staff from thin air.
—Advanced Sleep Magic. Somnus—.
With a strange glow, Peltor collapsed in a heap on the floor. Hainax let out a heavy sigh.
“Finally calmed down. Forgive him. Sir Peltor's mind snapped a bit after breaking through to the 6th Circle. He peered too closely into the truth.”
He spun a finger in a circle next to his head while staring at the sleeping black sorcerer—like Elga mocking Aira from behind—and I nearly burst out laughing.
But Sir Peltor had pointed at me and said, “Solomon.”
It was a relief we'd dismissed it as mad ravings. Still, it didn't feel like coincidence to me.
Mirna, however, didn't seem pleased with the situation.
“What kind of nonsense is this? In any case, you lot clearly know something about King Solomon's grand incantations. You're going to tell me everything you know about them.”
“Very well.”
Hainax nodded readily at Mirna's words.
Stroking his beard, he finally began to speak, slowly and deliberately.
“Demon King Solomon created 72 magics for the world. From the 72nd to the 1st. Each one astonishing enough to shake the world. Especially the final four he completed—they were on another level entirely.”
“Those would be the four grand incantations of Ars Nova, each with their own egos. Every child who’s even dipped a toe into magic knows the tale.”
Mirna gave a light explanation. I knew a bit about Ars Nova myself. King Solomon's final masterpieces, the grand magics he'd poured his heart into.
They were practically new orders unto themselves.
That new order—the four grand incantations—was Ars Nova.
And Gamigin, the magic I'd acquired and which had tormented Professor Ballan, was one of them.
「Composed situational judgment!
Acquired experience points via talent 《Composed Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
I hadn't been slacking; I'd studied hard.
Srrk.
Hainax drew a long pipe, snapped his fingers to light it, puffed thoughtfully, and exhaled smoke as he spoke.
“But Solomon went mad in the end, like Peltor there. And ironically, the incantations he made for humanity slaughtered them by the droves.”
Hainax traced his face with his staff. His features and body began melting horrifically—I nearly stopped breathing.
It was too grotesque to describe properly. Ugh, even watching hurts.
“I fought in the Great War of Evil. Horrific doesn't cover it. This scar's from then. It won't heal. But it was worth the life I sacrificed.”
Srrk.
He traced his face again with the staff, and it returned to normal—or rather, the illusion magic concealed the burns.
He continued.
“As Miss Mirna said, your family and many heroes and champions joined forces to tear Solomon limb from limb. His 72 magics that formed his body were torn apart as well. Many of those spells are sealed here in Sanctuary Arc.”
“Ah.”
I thought as much.
Now I understood why Arc's dome was built so impenetrably sturdy.
They'd woven barriers here to guard King Solomon's incantations.
No wonder this place became the final bastion.
Fascinating lore.
As I marveled, Mirna asked.
“Then why was the 4th incantation, Gamigin, released?”
“An accident. Twenty years ago, two adventure-hungry, justice-driven Arc cadets cracked open a taboo seal. Gamigin must've been the one that slipped out.”
“Cracking a taboo seal? Who would do such a thing?”
Mirna recoiled in disbelief, but I had my suspicions. I knew of the incident from twenty years ago.
“Friga Nightfall. It had to be the Saintess.”
Hainax nodded reluctantly at my pointed guess.
“Indeed. No idea how you knew that, but it shortens my explanation.”
Hainax explained the incident from twenty years prior.
“Agares, the 2nd, broke free and turned everything upside down. We resealed it, but at great cost. That's when our Sage Council formed.”
Agares.
I remembered the name.
I'd seen the Agares magic circle when I enrolled. But I couldn't use the 'Agares' incantation. Couldn't absorb it, perhaps.
Hainax's next words explained why.
“Agares is sealed in the Saintess's body now.”
So that's how it was.
I got it now. Incantations sealed or possessing others' bodies—I couldn't absorb those.
「Composed situational judgment!
Acquired experience points via talent 《Composed Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
As I mulled it over, Hainax continued.
“But that seal won't last forever. If more like Gamigin break free and rampage, it'll weaken. Now, Sir Gospel, I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal for me?”
“You can tell from the word. It's something that should appeal to you, Sir Gospel. Only someone with your special eyes can do it.”
* * *
“Then think it over, Sir Gospel.”
“Farewell. I'll give you an answer soon.”
Mirna and I left the council chamber.
Chatting with the old sages had dragged on until evening, the sun dipping low. Unexpectedly lengthy talk.
Mirna asked.
“Theo, will you accept the sages' proposal?”
“Hmm, not sure.”
Recalling our recent exchange, I thought it over. They wanted me to patrol and maintain the dungeons deep-sealing the Demon King's incantations?
In return, personal lessons in various magics from the sages.
Plus bumping my lectures to A-grades and my tier to Gold—without hindering my activities.
Learning from the continent's handful of grand archmages, plus perks? Hard to resist.
Gold Tier brooch meant a private room, too.
And dungeon crawling meant higher odds of acquiring and absorbing more of Solomon's incantations. Zero downsides for me. Still, I feigned deliberation.
“I need to think about it more.”
“Fair enough. It's potentially dangerous, not to decide lightly. We'll table it and grab dinner together then—”
As Mirna started to suggest something, I heard a creaking noise from the shadows—someone approaching.
“Sir Theo.”
“Professor Ballan.”
It was Professor Ballan. She rose slowly from her maid-pushed wheelchair, then advanced toward me on trembling knees.
Her fawn-like gait screamed unease. But in an instant, she dropped to her knees before me and hugged my waist.
Mirna startled more than I did.
“Professor Ballan, what are you doing?”
“Thank you for saving my life. I wanted to... to greet you properly.”
Her ample chest pressed against my knee, stirring complicated feelings. Comparable to Elga's, even.
“I don't have much to offer in return. B-but, Sir Theo, whatever you desire, I-I'll do it. My studies. My position. Or my body...”
Professor Ballan rubbed her face against my thigh while clinging. My tail nearly stood on end.
“Professor Ballan! What are you saying? Blasphemous! Get off him!”
Mirna hauled her up from my knee and reseated her in the wheelchair.
But Professor Ballan, genuinely grateful, drew something from between her ample cleavage in her fine dress and offered it to me.
What was that?
A key.
“The k-key to my lab. Sir Theo, come anytime, ask whatever. Anytime... I'll always be there...”
I took it, and she vanished into the dark, wheeled away by her maid. Gazing after her, Mirna snapped angrily.
“What an irreverent woman. So weak-willed, no wonder a spell dominated her. Theo, don't listen to her type. Understood?”
“Of course.”
As I spoke, I noticed writing on the keychain.
「I have something to tell you. Come to my lab.」
A secret, perhaps.
I pocketed the key quickly, out of sight.
Truth be told, I had personal questions for Ballan but held back around others.
So at midnight, as time waned and the moon hung high, I slipped from the dorms to her lab.
Her lab was in the upscale A-grade research wing—easy to find.
Knock knock.
A presence stirred inside.
—Who is it?
“Theo Gospel. I have something to discuss. May I come in?”
—Ah, Sir Theo. Of course. I-I gave you the key, so use it and come in.
With permission, I unlocked and entered.
Sunlit windows overlooking the grounds, a spacious room, stuffed animal corpses, bubbling experiments—all hit my eyes.
Eerie like a mad scientist's lair at night.
At its heart sat a woman in a wheelchair. Pale-skinned Professor Ballan in a sheer black negligee.
Candlelight bent her red eyes into crescents. But mine drifted to the deep plunge of her negligee and chest.
Black magic to draw any man's gaze. Impressive.
“I've been waiting. D-didn't know when... Sit here.”
“So, why give me the key? Why summon me here?”
Instead of answering, Professor Ballan rose slowly from her seat.
She walked toward me—straight-backed, defying her wheelchair image.
Srrk, srrk.
Her pale bare feet advanced steadily. I kicked back my chair, drew my wand.
“What's this? Fooling everyone? You can walk fine.”
The limp was a ruse?
The wheelchair just for show? Why pretend?
I was stunned.
But Ballan curved her red eyes further and said something even more unbelievable.
“No need for lies here. You know everything... You're fooling them all too, aren't you?”
“Fooling who?”
“Such a fine actor. B-but useless on me. O great and wise descendant of David. Ballan Sabrnak. I bow to you.”