The Hero Met a Young Mage 3
Even becoming a fifth-circle mage would ensure no one looked down on you anywhere. Those born with mana affinity strong enough to manifest the mysteries of magic were exceedingly rare. Its power and majesty were said to originate from the language of dragons, making any further explanation unnecessary. The Magic Tower, where such mages gathered, was the very definition of an asymmetric force. As a result, its mages were rarely exposed to violence. When it occurred at all, it was usually limited to political maneuvering inside the tower or childish scuffles between young apprentices. They discussed formulas, debated truths, and advanced magitech. Called the intellect of humanity and entrusted with vital duties, they viewed physical combat as barbaric.
So….
Leon’s arrival was like dropping a snakehead into a small bowl filled with nothing but goldfish.
“I heard the hero was supposed to be righteous, but I never imagined he’d be such a reckless brute!”
“Ahaha….”
“Lexi, was it? Is the hero always like that?”
“I… I haven’t known him very long, so I’m not entirely sure….”
The brown-haired girl called Lexi was actually Lucy. Since she had infiltrated the tower, she had wanted an alias. When she asked Leon what name she should use, he had casually told her to go with Lexi.
Roughly…! When I’m the one helping him!
Of course she kept that complaint to herself. She had already grumbled once; saying anything more would definitely earn her a beating.
In any case, following her prior instructions, she now sat inside the laboratory of Semiranne, a fifth-circle mage, exchanging introductions.
The woman had long, wavy golden hair and sparkling pink eyes—the very picture of a nobleman’s daughter. She radiated the bright cheer and gentle kindness typical of highborn young ladies.
Lucy was not accustomed to dealing with such people, so she simply sat there sweating.
“So you were discovered by the hero on the front lines, where he recognized your mana affinity and brought you here?”
“Yes… that’s correct.”
That was the story they had prepared. Leon had coincidentally found a girl named Lexi with strong mana affinity on the battlefield and brought her to the Magic Tower.
Originally the tower had practiced discrimination based on birth and legitimacy. There had been an era when it was taken for granted that only noble blood responded to mana. But as time passed, movements arose to discard such outdated thinking. Leading that charge were the current Tower Lords, the Twin Stars Exion and Ellendra.
Both high nobles from the Pale Kingdom, they had championed the principle that respect inside the Magic Tower must be earned solely through magical ability. Through that conviction they had driven innovation and won widespread recognition.
So no one openly displays territorial behavior… but you can still feel the subtle undercurrents.
On the surface all discrimination seemed to have vanished, yet completely erasing those implicit glances was nearly impossible. Still, Lucy thought this environment was livable enough.
“Then shall we begin with the aptitude test?”
Having calmed from the excitement of Leon’s shocking entrance, Semiranne handed Lucy the crystal orb resting on the table. Inside the transparent, perfectly smooth sphere, a blue substance sloshed like liquid.
“What is this?”
“It’s mana crystallized in liquid form. The most common tool used to examine beginners in various ways.”
“I see….”
Mana originally existed in all things. Even a pebble rolling down the road contained it.
“This is what people commonly call a mana crystal. They appear as monster byproducts or are mined from veins.”
Semiranne opened a drawer and showed her a blue-glowing fragment. It sparkled so brilliantly under the light that ordinary gemstones seemed dull by comparison.
“But this solid form has an overly stable mana structure, making it unsuitable for detailed testing. That’s why we process it into liquid form through special methods and seal it inside a crystal orb that blocks external interference.”
“Oh… So what will we test with it?”
“We’ll measure the mana structure your body is most familiar with, along with the strength of your affinity.”
Every human possessed an innate disposition—the trait of being familiar with and easily accepting a specific mana structure.
“Just a moment….”
Semiranne placed her palm over the crystal orb Lucy held carefully in both hands. The liquefied mana inside immediately began to spin, rapidly forming a vortex.
“When it moves consistently in one direction like this, we say the mage was born with a revolving trait—specifically a spiral one. That’s exactly what I have.”
“I see… Wow, how interesting.”
“And from the first test we can gauge affinity level by the speed and strength of the reaction. Your level is quite excellent.”
Finishing her explanation, Semiranne removed her hand with a cheerful laugh. Her irritation toward the hero had already faded, replaced by clear delight at teaching someone.
“Don’t be nervous. Close your eyes and focus your mind on the palms of both hands.”
“R-right now? I’m not ready…!”
“Ehehe, there’s no need to be too tense. It’s a very basic test—if you have affinity, it’s easy.”
Lucy looked back and forth between the orb and Semiranne’s face in a panic. After all, she had never once taken interest in magic in her entire life. To her it had always seemed like a realm from another dimension, an unreachable world.
Can I really do this? Why does the hero keep dragging me into these things…!
After a brief hesitation, Lucy squeezed her eyes shut.
I don’t know. If I just try my best, I probably won’t get scolded later….
Concentrate. Focus on the palms. She repeated the words inwardly and poured in effort.
“Oh my! It worked right away! Open your eyes, Lexi!”
“Yes…?”
Lucy, who had concentrated so hard her eyelids trembled, slowly cracked one eye open toward the orb. On the surface of the rippling liquid mana, fine particles rose with a soft hiss. It looked exactly like steam rising from boiling water.
“A diffusion type… and specifically a radial type that spreads outward in one direction! Excellent concentration and quite impressive affinity. Congratulations, Lexi.”
“Radial type…?”
Lucy stared into the orb for a long time. Being recognized in a field she had never even considered in her whole life made something inside her chest tingle strangely.
“The hero… really does have an eye for talent. To spot someone with this kind of gift.”
“…….”
Lucy had lived a fierce life in the back alleys. Reaching mid-Expert at a young age proved she possessed combat talent. But the process had involved far too much pain and hardship, leaving her with almost no bright memories.
“…It’s wondrous.”
Yet this moment somehow felt like one she might look back on fondly someday.
“But… what trait does the hero have?”
Lucy slowly raised her head and asked.
“Well… this is his first time at the tower, so… According to the mages who met him outside—”
“Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“The rumor that you were born with every possible trait.”
Though it was an honorary post, Leon had risen to chief mage. He had been granted temporary use of a laboratory by the tower lord. He was roughly sorting books and supplies when a boy suddenly barged in, glared at him, and asked about his traits.
“…If it is, then what? If it isn’t, then what?”
Leon leaned against the table while looking the boy over. The story that he had slammed another chief mage into the floor must have spread by now, yet the boy had still come without fear. It was surprising.
“If it isn’t, then it isn’t. If it is….”
“If it is?”
“I will ask you to become my master.”
What is this nonsense?
Leon stared at the boy with an incredulous expression. About fifteen years old? The apprentice mage robes suggested he was still in the middle of his studies.
“Even dual traits are extremely rare. Do you honestly believe multiple traits—possessing all of them—are possible?”
“…So you’re saying the rumor is false.”
Shaggy blue hair and black eyes burning with resolve. The boy stood with feet planted shoulder-width apart, clearly refusing to leave until he received a definite answer.
“…Why come to me? The Magic Tower has plenty of excellent chief mages—or rather, skilled mages.”
“Because I’m a stagnant type.”
“Huh.”
Stagnant type. The trait where the mana liquid showed no movement at all during the crystal orb test. In other words… a person with zero affinity. It meant they lacked the qualifications to become a mage.
“How did a stagnant type enter the Magic Tower?”
“…I’ll explain that later.”
“You can’t even explain how you entered, yet you suddenly demand to be taken as a disciple. That’s rather arrogant.”
“……Wait. That means—”
The boy looked up at Leon, eyes widening. He had heard the rumors, but even on his way here he hadn’t truly believed them. He had come clutching at straws, yet….
“Even if I possess multiple traits, I can’t specifically change a stagnant type into another one. Will that still be acceptable?”
“…! If you can just make it possible for me to use magic—”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“—?”
The moment he saw the boy nod, Leon immediately switched to casual speech. At the same time he opened his inventory in midair and dumped his belongings onto the floor with a clatter.
“First, start by organizing the luggage.”
“Huh…?”
“What are you waiting for? Move.”
He was inwardly satisfied. He had brought Lucy to handle chores, but she seemed busier than expected and he hadn’t been able to ask her. It’s nice when free labor just walks in on its own.
A free slave had arrived while he was doing nothing. Leon watched the bewildered boy, then rapped him on the crown with his fist before sitting down.
“Ow!”
“Hurry up. That’s an order.”
“…!!”
The boy… began to sense that something had gone terribly wrong. Of course, if the rumor was true he had been ready to kneel, but….
“Ah, no. You still haven’t shown me proof that the rumor is real—”
“Do you believe it now?”
Leon turned his palm upward and gave a slight nod. Mana gathered in the air according to his will and surged like a wave. It soon split into five distinct masses.
A wildly spinning vortex. A fragment hardened into solid crystal. A flow that erratically dispersed and condensed again and again. A vibration spreading from a visibly trembling surface. And even one mass that had fallen into complete, silent stillness.
All five classified traits appeared in the air as clearly as if drawn in a picture.
“…!! I-it can’t be.”
A skilled mage could fake a crystal orb test easily enough. Since traits were ultimately flows of mana, an experienced mage could fabricate them through manipulation. But manifesting the traits visibly in open air without a crystal orb was something else entirely. It required overwhelming mana dominance, and if they were not truly innate, even replicating their appearance would be impossible.
“What’s your name?”
“N-Niel.”
“Good, Niel. Now that you understand….”
With a wave of his hand the divided mana coalesced back into one solid mass and struck Niel’s head again.
“Aaack—!”
“I told you to clean it up quickly, kid.”
Niel looked at Leon with a slightly wronged expression for a moment, then read the room and began picking up the scattered luggage. His head hurt a little, but a faint smile had formed on his lips.
Now I too…!
It was the moment the hero had once again breathed hope into someone.