The Third Research - The Archdevil Lucifeles (4)

Tellorian gained many insights while toying with Lucifeles. In particular, by observing how a Transcendent handled mana, he learned how to break mana down to the particle level and manipulate it.

He had now acquired a second Lore after Flame Lore. The famous spells belonging to Arcane Lore were as follows: Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Telekinesis, Blink, Force Field Deployment, Mysterious Explosion, Teleport, and Will of Force.

‘Most of the spells that come to mind first are combat-oriented, but Arcane magic is incredibly useful for research as well. After all, it forms the foundation of all magic.’

However, Arcane magic had terrible cost-efficiency, so it wasn’t a Lore favored by low-level mages. Still, in this playthrough, he would never run out of mana.

It was about time to objectively assess his strength. First, level 13 signified a powerhouse renowned even in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠small territory. The knight representing a barony was typically level 13.

‘If we compare a barony to modern times, it would be like a district in Seoul. So level 13 is enough to claim the title of strongest in Dobong-gu.’

But he wasn’t an ordinary level 13 mage—he was a level 13 Lore Master. In other words, he was the strongest in Gangnam-gu, a district filled with academic zealots.

‘Still, it’s far from enough to serve as the court mage of a count’s household. Especially if it’s a powerful count like the Mace Count.’

To use a metaphor, he had the career suitable for an aide to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Gangnam-gu mayor, yet he had been appointed as an aide to the Gyeonggi Province governor after curing the only daughter’s mental illness.

However—

No one knew he was level 13.

‘…Because my stats are ridiculously high.’

In Sinear RPG, no matter how strong a human became, they could never possess stats on the level of monsters or Transcendents. Instead, they had to raise their class level and gather companions. In other words, mortals were inherently weak but could form specialized teams to stand against monsters and Transcendents.

‘That’s why human adventurers alone can defeat dragons and devils. Individually weak, but when they form a party, synergy emerges.’

But.

He didn’t need a party.

Mana: 40+++

Intelligence: 35++

These stats would make even active Archmages gasp in shock. Only Archangels or lesser gods would have comparable numbers. Thanks to this, he appeared far stronger than his level suggested. Roughly twice as strong?

‘A level 26 mage would be worth recruiting by the royal palace. That’s also why the Mace Count and his vassals treat me with such respect.’

It was fortunate that he had chosen Magic Talent Stage 5 when creating his character in his previous life. Anyway, this was enough for assessing his stats. He could revisit the unchecked sections when the need arose.

BOOM!

The rocky mountain where trolls resided. The wave of mana unleashed from his right hand completely shattered the solid cliff face. Lucifeles, who had been watching, whistled and clapped his hands again.

Tellorian shrugged.

…Lucifeles couldn’t understand Tellorian’s explanation. The boy was using the word “fair” to mean something idiotic. True fairness was when he held the advantage. Just as a fair rule meant a rule where he won.

Lucifeles felt like crying. He had tried to swindle Tellorian using the laws of Hell, only to get beaten down by laws he had never even heard of. Natural law, law of all peoples, customary law, imperial law, kingdom law, territorial law, church law… Why did these insignificant humans have so many laws?

No matter how polite Lucifeles appeared, he was still a devil. A devil who simply preferred wordplay over using his claws. That was half of his innate nature.

He patted his friend on the back and examined the treasures Lucifeles had brought. A transparent flask. An ancient tome with a suspicious cover. A ceramic vase painted with an Eastern dragon.

The mage crossed his arms.

While putting a long pipe in his mouth.

Damn spell-slinging bastard!

He’s holding a grudge to the very end!

…In summary, it meant serving as Tellorian’s servant for two days a month. To the fearsome Grand Duke Lucifeles who ruled Gehenna!

There was simply no way to defeat Tellorian through legal interpretation. Just what kind of monster was this guy? A twenty-year-old human trapping a five-hundred-year-old archdevil? It made no sense unless he was a being from another dimension!

‘…I must be quite insane myself.’

If the boy were an otherworlder, he would have noticed the moment they met. Otherworlders had souls with far more intense colors than ordinary humans.

Snort.

A devil’s true feelings didn’t matter one way or another. A devil could love someone enough to die for them tonight, then hate them more than their parents’ murderer by tomorrow morning.

‘Though it’s not just devils who are like that.’

In the end, both devils and angels were beings born from human emotions. Their values were merely extreme amplifications of certain human emotions; they did not possess feelings humans could not understand.

That was why Tellorian believed that what controlled human behavior was not innate disposition, but circumstance. Humans were creatures who became evil in evil situations and good in good ones.

“Belladia!”

Therefore—

Belladia was a valuable specimen.

Could even a human born with a devil’s nature be reformed? If she learned to resolve her abnormal desires in socially acceptable ways and received sufficient affection, could Belladia change?

Lucifeles, having returned to human form, acted like an Eastern nobleman. He praised Belladia’s beauty and gracefully kissed the back of her hand.

Belladia carefully recalled the political lessons Tellorian had given her. Then, combining that with the history and theology she had learned as the count’s heir…

The Church of the Sun God considered magic a sin. There was the historical original sin of the ancient Mage Kings who had challenged the gods, and the antisocial behavior displayed by modern mages made them easy targets for condemnation.

The Church turns a blind eye.

The rulers do not cross the line.

He nodded.

A clever child.

Belladia pouted, pushing her lips out in a sulky expression. It was such perfect acting that it gave him chills, but he didn’t show it. It was proof that Belladia’s socialization was progressing successfully.

He handed her the empty flask.

Belladia’s eyes sparkled as she examined the flask meticulously. But she couldn’t find any contents. Not even the tiniest speck.

Belladia’s voice grew heavy.

He handed her the magitech scope.

Click.

She peered through the flask.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Belladia’s eyes. There really was something there. Perhaps the day would come when she could feel emotions just like everyone else.

But the scope of self-love was extremely narrow. After all, it was love that knew only oneself.

The current Belladia was in a state completely like a monster. If hungry, she ate. If thirsty, she drank. There were no emotions or concepts of good and evil in such actions.

Belladia thought that although she had gained the position of junior viscount under Tellorian’s guidance, she still had many fatal weaknesses. She needed Tellorian’s guidance. At least for the time being…

With a deeply reluctant expression, Lucifeles handed over the ancient tome. The cover featuring a goat was extremely suspicious. It was the original copy of the Pindish Grimoire, known as the introductory text for warlocks. In the game, it had been considered a Hero-grade item.