Chapter 419
Chapter 419
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 419
>Chapter Title: I'm a Man Who Knows Manners
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The journey from the North to Arafurgin was peaceful enough.
With hundreds of migrants riding horses, it was inevitable that the local garrisons would tail us...
"Refugees. This is guaranteed by Iris, the rightful successor to Lamburk."
Showing them the duchy seal along with Master's name allowed us to pass through most territories without issue.
Occasionally, some nobles insisted on verifying it themselves and held us up, but they confirmed the truth within a day and let us go.
It seemed simple, but it was a combination born from the influence of three powerhouses: Senior Muspellun, the Third Princess, and Master.
Something only I could wield...
'...Magic.'
Yes, magic.
Tasting the sweetness of power like this, I could somewhat understand why nobles were so obsessed with it.
Even though I was just borrowing someone else's clout.
'So fulfilling.'
This sense of pride welling up from the depths of my heart.
They say once you've tasted power, you can't let it go—and it was certainly true.
"Tower Lord... You're even more impressive than I thought. Are you secretly of imperial blood?"
As Yurbuke's respect for me soared day by day.
Senior Muspellun's message arrived when we were about halfway to the Arafurgin Mountains.
[Come to the Second Black-White Slums immediately.]
With that, the senior unilaterally cut off communication. Naturally, I was puzzled.
'...Why?'
Not only was the summons sudden, but the senior's voice had been gravely serious, unlike usual.
When I explained the situation, the parasite stepped up readily.
"Don't worry about Pushk and go. Master Senior's teacher wouldn't call for no reason."
It was helpful, and I had no reason to refuse.
And so.
[We're off, then. Take care, you uncivilized brute... Ack!]
"You half-baked lizard, you'd better fix that mouth of yours by the time you get back."
After the wyvern mouthed off and took a solid hit, we headed to the Second Black-White Slums on Yongyong.
The group was me, the wyvern, and Yongyong. That aside...
'...This one's getting cockier by the day.'
It was satisfying to see him get disciplined, but the wyvern was starting to bare his teeth at me too. I'd have to tighten the reins next time I had a chance.
Anyway, we set off.
And sure enough, Yongyong was fast.
We arrived at the Second Black-White Slums before it even felt like a proper journey.
I got off near the Second Black-White Slums, ordered Yongyong to wait, and started walking.
"...Hmm."
Was it because it had been so long? It felt strangely nostalgic.
They said investments had increased since becoming the Grand Duke, with support from the imperial family too—and indeed...
"...It's unrecognizable."
Passing the checkpoint and entering the city, the changes were palpable.
Neatly paved main roads.
The alleys once crawling with drunks were cleaned up, and the passersby looked far more presentable.
But the most striking change was the children.
Even in midwinter, they were all plump and rosy-cheeked—clear signs they were eating and sleeping well.
I paused for a moment, taking in the sight with a warm heart...
"What're you staring at?"
One of the bigger kids huddled together glared and snapped.
"...Me?"
"Yeah, you little runt. Hey, perfect timing. Come here."
He naturally slung an arm around my shoulder and led me into an alley.
"Hand over what you've got. Things are good these days, so just half... Ack!"
"Pathetic..."
I gave the alley boss wannabe a lesson and exited the alley. The wyvern, who had been following in stealth mode, eyed me coldly.
[Trash.]
"Hey! Trash? He just hadn't learned yet..."
[You, trash. Extorted, shakedown.]
It seemed he was referring to me shaking down the alley boss...
"It's a tuition fee."
I taught him that you have to pick your marks for a shakedown. And considering his "kind" intent to take only half, I took all the money but only hit him once.
'But this area's orphanage kids, right...'
Didn't they say Svetlana manages the orphanage these days? I'd have to tell Boss Timur to crack down harder later.
I could overlook survival shakedowns from kids who were poorly taught, poorly clothed, and starving—but play shakedowns from fat-bellied brats? No way.
'Tsk, back in my day, it wasn't like this.'
Everyone was doing it out of hunger, for survival.
Anyway, after walking some more.
I gazed at the Grand Duke's residence, built after demolishing a few buildings, then pulled a mask from my pocket and put it on. Since I'd concealed my presence, no one saw.
Now, how to get in.
I could probably sneak in, and that seemed easiest.
...In the end, I chose infiltration.
'Senior's really moved up in the world.'
It felt like just yesterday he was setting up barriers in that rundown Great Forest structure, and now he owned a mansion this grand.
What a novel feeling.
That aside.
'Is it okay for security to be this lax?'
The security artifacts were shoddy, and the guards were mediocre. Sakwol seniors patrolled occasionally, but overall, the level was too low.
As I grew newly concerned for Senior Muspellun's safety.
"You're here."
"Ah, damn, you scared me."
I shuddered at the sudden voice behind me.
Who? When? Before the questions could linger, I realized only one person could approach me like that.
"Senior."
"Yes."
I turned instinctively to meet his eyes, and chills ran down my spine.
'...What.'
I couldn't tell if this was his peak or if he'd reached an even higher realm. But one thing was clear...
'...He's a monster.'
I straightened up, clasped my hands politely, removed the mask, cast my gaze 45 degrees downward, and bowed my head.
"Greetings, Senior. This is your junior Aster reporting. I hope you've been well despite my absence. I've been doing relatively fine."
"...You've become even more polite."
"I believe I've always been this polite, Senior."
"..."
Senior Muspellun fell silent.
His eyes somehow felt cold.
But it was fine.
'I'm a man who knows manners.'
A guardian of this era's etiquette, always revering my elders.
* * *
Senior Muspellun led me to a reception room.
"Sit."
"Yes, then, with utmost gratitude for your kindness..."
"Excessive courtesy is discourtesy."
"...Ah, yes."
Excessive courtesy is discourtesy... Meaning my politeness had gone overboard.
"But, what brings you here..."
"You seem to be doing well enough, so no need for pleasantries. I've heard some things too."
"Ah, yes."
"First, I have a question."
Senior Muspellun deftly brewed tea and poured me a cup as he asked.
"How many circles have you completed?"
"...?"
I tilted my head. But after a moment, I answered calmly.
"Five. And you, Senior...?"
"I completed six recently. Not easy."
"..."
Already? Six? Completed?
"No need to be so surprised. You know our circles differ. Yours are perfect, while mine are mere imitations."
True.
This wasn't just Senior Muspellun's circles. What I'd passed to the next(?) Tower Lord, Lucifer, was also just copies of mine.
Stacking circles is easier, but the efficiency differs.
Still, even so...
'...Already six?'
Is this the wall of genius?
That thought brought one person to mind.
- Friend!
The clear-eyed madman, the cheerfully insane Damian.
Blandoga's patriarch, Leodis, had taken the Divine Heavenly Origin Art from me to teach Damian.
Genius comprehends in brief contemplation what mortals ponder a lifetime. So, what realm would Damian, properly devoted to magic with the Divine Heavenly Origin Art, reach?
One thing was certain.
'If Damian doesn't lose his way...'
The next Arch Mage would be Damian.
Anyway.
"Five... Indeed, breaking past six isn't easy. For me, with my prior achievements, it's hard to gauge, but assuming a mage trained solely in circles, the sixth is the hurdle."
"The hurdle being...?"
"Transcendence. I see the sixth circle as that wall. The seventh brings maturity... Honestly, eight or nine are unimaginable. But one thing I'm sure of."
Senior Muspellun wet his lips with tea and continued.
"No genius can exceed nine. A theoretical estimate, but certain. So, let's cap it at nine. Then, tell me: how many circles do you think it takes for the 'Arch Mage' realm?"
"Well..."
Honestly, I had no idea.
I didn't know the Arch Mage's exact level.
Lately, I'd realized again that even within transcendence, levels varied wildly.
There are heavens beyond heavens—transcendence isn't the end, but another beginning.
And...
'...My circles are different from others'.'
As I pondered, Senior Muspellun continued calmly.
"In my view, eight circles with mine or Lucifer's would reach Arch Mage level. Of course, assuming pure circle training."
Hearing this, I could roughly gauge it.
For my circles to reach Arch Mage...
"...Around seven, I'd say."
"Seven..."
My circles differ from Senior Muspellun's.
The number of circles hasn't caught up to my enlightenment yet, but from six onward, perhaps the 'circle count' matches the 'enlightenment level'. Unlike Senior Muspellun, whose enlightenment outpaces his six circles.
"As expected. The gap is bigger than I thought."
"Is it?"
"Yes. After the sixth, I realized: up to five, it's just adding circles, but six opens a whole new horizon. You'll see for yourself soon enough."
Anyway.
"The gap between six and seven isn't just one number."
It sounded good at first glance.
'Seven.'
If I made a seventh circle, I could even tangle with Pahren, who held Arch Mage authority—excluding grimoires, of course.
But.
Put differently, this meant:
The realm I'd achieved before circles. Excluding that variable and pure calculation...
'Two circles.'
That was the gap between me and Pahren.
Of course, not perfect math.
Just an estimate.
But even so...
'...Daunting.'
As I thought that far.
Senior Muspellun handed me a letter.
"This is..."
"A Sanctuary observer invitation. Pahren's invited you."
"..."
I silently read it. Amid swirling thoughts, the senior's voice rang in my ears.
Clearly, very clearly.
"Don't go."
"..."
"Whatever his scheme, you can't handle it."
...Even if Pahren fell short of true Arch Mage authority.
That was Senior Muspellun's assessment.