Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 247
Chapter Title: 94. The Mage's Desire (3)
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"Come to think of it, I heard that the world isn't made up of four elements, but five. Mages use that fifth one, apparently."
"What? Not four elements, but five? What the hell is that? Isn't it just earth, fire, wind, and water?"
"Mind."
"Ah...!"
"Without the mind, it's not true magic. Those worthless mages studying formulas and all that crap—it's all a waste. They've forgotten the real important lesson. The most fundamental ingredient in magic is our own hearts. Without this warm heart, magic can't even be born!"
"Where do you pick up knowledge like that?"
"I read it in the latest issue of Maxim magazine."
"Ah, that one..."
A faint blush crept across the knights' faces before quickly fading.
"Truly an enlightening publication."
"You got that right."
"It's essential for knightly life. Especially for trainees."
"Hahaha..."
Another knight picked up the thread.
"You all know this? Supposedly, very young babies can actually use magic."
"What?"
"Because they have pure, untainted hearts—the perfect state for wielding magic. And a tiny fraction of them even remember their past lives. They forget as they grow older, but the ones who retain those memories wield magic freely through their pure hearts and recollections."
"For real? Isn't that a bit of a stretch?"
"You don't know about that Hindu boy? In the Libretta territory called Hindu, there was this kid who..."
The conversation, which had started with black magic, soon veered into supernatural phenomena the study-abroad knights had picked up from here and there.
"The identity of those unidentified flying objects sometimes seen in the sky is..."
"A kid who can bend spoons with psychic powers..."
"The mention of black magic, which doesn't even exist, is actually an international imperialist capitalist conspiracy..."
"Watch out. They say people who know the truth about black magic get surveillance spells planted in their ears..."
The crystal orb on the table across from them began to vibrate even faster.
But the study-abroad knights' voices were so loud that no one heard it.
"Anyway, black magic doesn't exist!"
Someone shouted at the top of his lungs.
"That's right! Black magic is a lie!"
"It doesn't exist!"
"It's just a conspiracy theory!"
They cried out in unison.
At that moment, the crystal orb exploded, shattering into pieces that flew everywhere, pelting the knights.
"Wh-what the hell?"
"An attack?"
"They're persecuting us for knowing the truth!"
As trained knights, they weren't seriously hurt, but some had scratches that drew blood.
Thick smoke filled the meeting room.
The knights fanned away the smoke and instinctively drew their swords. Dozens of blades gleamed in the room.
As visibility returned, they noticed someone sitting in the ornate chair across from them.
It was an elderly man with a full head of white hair. His white beard reached down to his waist. He slumped in the chair, hand pressed to his forehead.
"Damn it. I'm so pissed off I could..."
His voice was gravelly with age, but booming with power.
The study-abroad knights widened their eyes and began murmuring.
"No way, is that...?"
"The Mage Tower Master?"
"Have you come to admit we're right?"
"Tell the people outside the truth!"
The old man waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed. And just like that, all the study-abroad knights vanished.
The noisy meeting room fell silent.
Left alone, the old man sighed heavily before standing and heading toward the entrance.
No sound came from the meeting room after the study-abroad knights entered.
Jared tilted his head.
"Maybe they're just sitting there quietly?"
"The meeting room blocks all sound from outside."
"I see."
Yuri crossed his arms and glared at the door.
"According to my guess, it won't be long now."
"Pardon?"
The study-abroad knights had only just gone in.
Hernando scoffed.
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? If it were that easy, why would Marirose and I have gone through all that trouble?"
If results came as quickly as Yuri predicted, it would make all Hernando's efforts feel pointless.
He kept criticizing Yuri.
"Your idea is creative, Your Highness, but it won't play out like that. You think spouting nonsense is the solution?"
"Is that so?"
"Yes. If mere babble in the meeting room would make him come out, why did Marirose and I scour the entire Mage Tower? We checked every workshop..."
At that moment, the meeting room door suddenly opened.
Hernando grew even more animated.
"See? The knights are coming out already. It was all for nothing..."
But it wasn't the knights who emerged—it was a white-haired, bearded old man. Hernando fell silent at the sight.
"..."
Sudden silence blanketed the area in front of the meeting room.
Yuri soon let out a smirk. Guessing the old man's identity wasn't hard.
Hernando spoke up.
"Master...?"
Marirose calmly bowed her head.
"It's been a while, Sir Sidhurst."
The old man replied.
"Indeed. It's been ages, all of you."
He was Sidhurst, the Master of the Mage Tower and the object of all mages' reverence.
After greeting Hernando and Marirose, Sidhurst turned to Yuri.
"I received your gift."
"I hope it suited your tastes."
"It nearly sent my blood pressure through the roof."
Yuri lifted his chin and grinned.
"Good thing you came out before you collapsed."
Yuri extended his hand, and Sidhurst shook it firmly.
"Those two couldn't get the job done, so I had to come myself."
"I suspected as much, but you're decisive."
He glanced at Hernando and Marirose in turn.
"You two still have a long way to go."
Hernando and Marirose simply bowed their heads without a word.
At a glance, Sidhurst looked ancient—likely older than the combined years Hernando and Marirose had lived, having shouldered the Mage Tower for far longer.
Yuri said,
"Master, I need to discuss black magic urgently today."
"Black magic, eh..."
Sidhurst stroked his chin beard. The white strands swayed softly.
"Very well. Come inside."
Sidhurst gestured to the meeting room and entered first.
Yuri followed, tilting his head curiously.
Unlike before, it was now an entirely new space.
A sheer cliffside.
"Ah..."
Yuri peered over the edge. Forests stretched to the horizon, rivers snaking out like roots in every direction, filling his view. A fierce wind tousled his hair as it whipped past.
"Where is this...?"
"My favorite spot."
"What about those knights from earlier?"
"I sent them back. If I'd heard any more, I might've lost control and burned them all."
Sidhurst, having admired the view, sat in a chair off to one side. Across from him was a long table with three chairs.
Yuri took the center seat, while Hernando and Marirose, entering late and marveling at the scenery, sat on either side of him.
Sidhurst looked at each of them in turn.
"So, why have you come to see me?"
"You already know."
"Who knows? I haven't a clue."
Hernando, still seated, spoke up.
"We've been requesting a meeting nonstop—why hide from us?"
"Hide? I was just focused on my work."
"Don't play dumb. We know you've been watching us."
"If you knew, why couldn't you find me? Hernando, you're still far from ready."
"Yes, yes, fine. But that's not the point right now. The state of affairs demands action."
"What state of affairs?"
"Black magic."
Hernando leaned forward.
"It's throwing the world into chaos. The Mage Tower must step up. We mages have to fix this."
"Why?"
Sidhurst shook his head.
"No need to."
"Pardon?"
"Black magic... yes?"
"Black magic has grown into a massive force by now."
Sidhurst furrowed his brow.
"I agree it's repulsive and evil."
"And?"
"Does that mean we have to step in?"
Sidhurst raised an eyebrow.
"Rashly opposing black magic would paint a target on our backs. No need to stir things up. Especially not after what they've summoned lately..."
Yuri realized Sidhurst knew far more than expected.
Yuri spoke.
"So, you're holding back out of fear of danger. Is that it?"
"To some extent."
"I see."
Sidhurst stroked his chin beard and continued.
"Better to watch quietly from the shadows than draw attention first. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Now's not the time."
It was the cunning survival tactic of a seasoned mage.
Hernando frowned.
"A disappointing answer."
"Can't be helped. I've spent more years with magic than you'll live. The reckless ones died off long ago. My caution is why I've guarded the Mage Tower this long."
"Even as people die and black magic threatens the continent, the Tower's safety comes first?"
"Yes."
Sidhurst said,
"So what will you do?"
"What can we do?"
This time, Yuri answered.
"Cooperate now, before it's too late."
"Why should I?"
"It's dangerous."
"True, black magic is dangerous. But the one wielding it is reasonable."
"Not black magic."
"What?"
"Me."
Yuri placed his hand on the table.
"I won't ask for much—just acknowledge black magic's existence."
"I said no."
"You only fear black magic."
Yuri stood.
"Looks like living so long made you discard shame and conscience. But you still have fear, so I'll stoke that instead of appealing to your morals to move the Mage Tower's Master. You'll do as I say then, right?"
"Ho..."
Sidhurst chuckled.
"I've heard your sword skills are exceptional. A genius, they say?"
"Yes."
"But is your power truly that great? Threatening me here..."
Sidhurst rose as well.
"Time to teach you a lesson, brat."
"An old man with nothing but fear and a big mouth talks too much."
"Insolent!"
Sidhurst swung his arm through the air, and a staff appeared in his hand. Light rippled from the crystal orb at its tip.
Hernando and Marirose tried to dispel the magic, but Sidhurst struck first.
"Stay out of this!"
The two froze in place, rigid as stone.
Sidhurst's eyes fixed on Yuri.
"I respect opposing black magic, but touch the Tower, and I have no choice but to act. Prepare to be schooled."
"You coward, cowering in silence to avoid losses—think you can school me?"
Yuri laughed—not forced, but genuine, shoulders shaking as if he couldn't hold it in.
"Fine. I'll cut that chin beard off you today."
"Arrogant fool..."
Light burst from Sidhurst's staff.
Yuri's vision shifted.
He had been sitting across a table on the cliff, but now surroundings warped, placing him amid roaring flames.
Scorching heat pressed from all sides.
Sidhurst appeared through the blaze beyond.
The surrounding inferno closed in on Yuri.
"Time to show this arrogant brat my fire."
Yuri didn't respond.
Instead, he drew Guilty.
Its keen edge gleamed blue amid the flames.
As Sidhurst swung his staff and chanted toward Yuri, Yuri closed his eyes, then opened them.
His world entered the realm of Heart-Soul Severing.
Sidhurst's suspicious actions had made Yuri wonder if he was tainted by black magic, but he wasn't.
Sidhurst's body was pristine, untainted.
Yuri deepened the Heart-Soul realm.
Magic was no different from black magic flows.
At its core, magic was human will. Before Heart-Soul Severing, which cleaved soul and heart, pure magic was just another target.
The mana flows Sidhurst wielded became visible, tangible. They shaped forms, altering the world.
Yuri eyed the magical flames encircling him, the mana arrays his opponent formed.
And the trembling chin beard at their end.
He slashed once.