Mere Groundless Fears (3)
Illusion magic. Its potential was ample, yet its limitations were all too glaring.
“To compensate for the extreme mana consumption, I experimented with various modifications during the interference phase. And among them, I obtained several results worth noting.”
As much as he had personally reviewed it himself.
His disciple's presentation was correct.
The glaring limitation of illusion magic lay precisely in that extreme mana drain.
'However, it is inevitable.'
Yes, every magic had its limits.
But even accepting limits that could not be overcome,
he believed the value and potential of illusion magic surpassed all other schools.
Nasrow thought this with utmost sincerity.
'That is why I, Nasrow himself, chose it.'
It was no strange thing.
What was the position of senior mage? They were the utmost authorities of their magical school, fittingly so.
For them to regard their own magic as supreme was, in a way, only natural.
No, if they harbored doubts and failed to deem it supreme,
they never would have ascended to the rank of senior mage.
Thus,
it was no wonder Nasrow burned with anger.
“Wh-what do you mean by that?”
“Acknowledging the limit. I asked if that truly is the best path.”
“The limit... you mean the extreme mana consumption...?”
Up to that point, Nasrow had only sneered.
'Mentioning limits, of all things.'
He had even scoffed openly at Hoyeol.
That was no mere critique; it was a blatant blunder.
As stated, every magic had limits, regardless of field.
'He shoots himself in the foot.'
But then came Hoyeol's follow-up gambit.
Nasrow's expression began to twist.
This was no self-inflicted wound.
'The audacity...!'
It was a bold challenge, daring him to match wits.
“A shift in thinking is required. Do you truly believe illusion magic creates something from nothing? If so, your entire exploration process is flawed from the start.”
The reason Nasrow had been captivated by illusion magic?
Simple.
Illusion magic could create what did not exist.
Unlike other magics, its target did not exist in reality.
Thus, the mana consumption was inevitably extreme.
'And what nonsense does he spout now?'
Not guilty? That denied the very essence of illusion magic!
Yet Nasrow's fury did not endure.
Hoyeol's next words followed.
“As long as mana exists, there is no such thing as 'nothing' in magic.”
The gambit continued.
Nasrow could not counter that.
'...True.'
Tracing back, it held no falsehood.
The target of illusion magic's exploration was mana itself.
Hence the limit of mana efficiency.
“You must abandon the notion that only pure mana can serve as the target for illusion magic. Overcoming its limits begins with correcting that error in exploration.”
Treating it as an error.
Even hearing it again, did this not deny illusion magic from its foundations?
Nasrow endured.
'Those words demand accountability.'
Hoyeol had denied the essence of illusion magic.
He must provide evidence.
Otherwise, it was mere grasping at clouds.
Nasrow listened intently to what followed.
“The target could be light, or the air in the atmosphere. It would be far more efficient than targeting mana. Selecting the appropriate target based on the surrounding environment—that too is essential to overcoming illusion magic's limits.”
......Light and air as targets?
Nasrow flinched.
Likewise,
the skilled mages who grasped the implication spoke up.
“B-but...”
“Indeed. It demands superior talent in exploration.”
“Th-that...!”
Nasrow fell silent.
'There is merit.'
Yes, just as Hoyeol said.
Without fixating on mana as the target,
but selecting based on the environment,
perhaps illusion magic's limits could be overcome.
'Any such target would outstrip pure mana's efficiency.'
But it was no easy task.
It meant familiarizing oneself with not one or two, but countless targets.
Yet Hoyeol pressed on.
“It is the illusion magic you chose. Grow accustomed to its weight.”
Those words struck Nasrow like a blow to the back of the head.
“......!”
Yes, the reason he had chosen illusion magic.
His conviction that it surpassed all others.
That illusion magic reigned supreme over every other school...!
To grow accustomed to that weight.
To acquire the ability to bear it.
Naturally, that included the superior exploratory talent Hoyeol had just mentioned.
'It encompasses that as well.'
Nasrow gazed at Hoyeol.
'...How, precisely?'
No matter one's magical knowledge,
this was a solution born of deep contemplation.
In other words,
Hoyeol had seriously pondered illusion magic.
Nasrow thought,
'Is he truly a mage?'
As kin, he knew.
Mages were the epitome of selfishness.
Yet Hoyeol was different.
Nasrow, deep in thought, murmured lowly.
“Unintentionally, I've incurred a debt.”
The regular conference had only just begun.
Yet from the outset, he—not even a skilled mage, but a senior—owed Hoyeol a debt.
*
“......What the hell is that even mean?”
“Exploration? Interference? Manifestation—what's that crap?!”
“Seriously! What's the translation function even for if it won't translate this?!”
To know is to see.
This time, he wouldn't sleep.
His firm resolve proved futile.
Sighs poured endlessly from the players.
“Hey, Nam Taemin. You get any of that? Does Brother Cheolmin understand?”
A Gaon Guild mage-class player asked into her earpiece.
A boisterous voice hammered her eardrum.
“Right? I don't get it, but he exudes total expert vibes.”
“The Mage Tower mages can't even respond?”
......Yeah, I should've asked the barbarian too.
As stated, the players gathered in the Crystal Hall had staked much on this regular conference.
What if they snagged a quest and cleared it, entering the Mage Tower like Hoyeol?
A connection to the Mage Tower—no mere trifle, but an immense quest reward.
Guilds swarming was only natural.
“Come on, say something. You all heard it, right?”
Thus, players whispering into earpieces were legion.
But answers were not forthcoming.
Even with guild analysts glued to their ears,
the incomprehensible remained so.
『Magic』 and [skills] are utterly distinct.
Even Hoyeol had taken days to realize that fact.
Players pooling heads wouldn't grasp it either.
Yet one exception.
Jessie Haynes was different.
Guild ranking number one.
Thanks to Shining's full backing? No, Jessie wasn't even wearing earphones.
Indeed.
She had merely her pointed hat mentor.
And her interview with Hoyeol.
“Wow.”
Even so,
Jessie hadn't grasped much.
Neglecting rift assaults, monster hunts, all for poring over magic tomes all day.
Only now did she comprehend the structure: exploration, interference, manifestation.
But that sufficed.
“Amazing!”
To recognize Hoyeol's extraordinary nature.
The pointed hat sighed as ever.
“Teaching daily yields nothing. In a single day, mere hours of Q&A, my disciple is stolen. Such is this feeling.”
Yet notwithstanding,
the pointed hat had to concede.
“That's beyond talent. Merely evaluating and suggesting improvements—vast as heaven and earth between them. Talent essential, yet demanding time and deliberation.”
The pointed hat quivered.
“As expected of the man who piqued my interest.”
A man intriguing a grand archmage.
How grand a compliment that was.
He wished to tell the man himself,
yet could not—infuriating.
Still, not so bad.
“Feels like a proper conference after ages. Pursuit beyond satisfaction, piercing limits. A gratifying sight even for a grand archmage.”
He wished to convey how grand that was too.
Unable to bear it, the pointed hat whispered to its disciple.
“Disciple. One day, perch me atop that man's head, will you not?”
Prickly temperament, unlikely to permit it.
But excuses aplenty, no?
Yes.
Like that magic school movie—fabricate one!
I can speak like that hat, so not a lie...
But the pointed hat trailed off.
The next presentation began.
Silent till now, Hoyeol spoke again.
“I have a question.”
“......!”
“Even if appearances resemble, myriad elixirs differ utterly in effect and mechanism. For instance, Laglari leaves and Caniria petals.”
A posture ramrod straight, legs uncrossed.
Speech direct, unvarnished.
Straighter than his posture.
“These two elixirs match in form and habitat, yet their effects differ starkly. Do you believe your proposed cultivation method yields uniform results across all elixirs, including these two?”
The pointed hat could scarce contain its shock.
“......Even knowledge of elixir herbs?!”
As stated, no mere talent sufficed.
Time and earnest deliberation required.
A possibility dawned, chaining endlessly.
“Don't tell me he reviewed every research for this conference...!”
Not content with mere perusal.
Deliberating improvements to such depth?
Yes, to know is to see.
Thus, the shocked was not the pointed hat alone.
“!”
Starting with Nasrow.
Bellie Yusia, senior healing mage.
Curtain Revel, Mya, Garfield too.
“!!!”
As presentations continued.
With each utterance from Hoyeol.
The shock only swelled.
Prior sentiments from pre-verification?
Ill looks toward Hoyeol?
Such trifles had long vanished.
Rather, some senior mages now reflected deeply.
'Even I, a senior, conceived no such insight...!'
'Has he pondered more deeply than I?'
'Shameful. I lack even senior qualifications!'
Yet,
as if gazes meant naught from the start.
Hoyeol's complexion betrayed no change.
He merely called the next presenter.
“Next. Senior mage, Banggrit Tom.”
*
A fish in water.
Surely coined for such moments.
Not mere observer,
but chief and moderator of the regular conference.
Its weight he ought feel keenly.
'Yet every time I open my mouth...'
I was utterly thriving like a fish in water!
Poking holes in every research.
From the presenter's view,
how loathsome I must seem.
'Put myself in their shoes.'
Thus, the depth of my folly dawned.
Like a professor, boss nitpicking endlessly?
Insultingly so?
'Is that truly your best?!'
'Of course—why present otherwise?!'
I was the fish in water, nay, the loach supreme.
Why, one loach muddies the waters.
My presence muddied far more.
Yet shamelessly I thought,
'If it irks, don't assign next time.'
Yes, better mad dog than half-hearted.
As resolved, brazenly conclude the conference.
At least a mercy:
I spouted no drivel.
'Worth the toil.'
Poring over tomes.
Back when magic was gibberish to me.
Last conference, for instance.
Then, pure Grandfell's talent, spouting freely.
Now, knowledge filled my head.
'All to survive, of course...'
Every scrap, hoarded for utility, proved aid.
Though aiding my antics was the issue.
Chief Mage's Burden (Repeat) ▲
● Conduct verification in Topaz Hall. (Success)
● Successfully conduct the regular conference. (In Progress)
Anyway, conference and quest near end.
I called the final presenter.
“Next. Senior mage, Banggrit Tom.”
Pure mana school's senior mage, Banggrit Tom.
The sole senior presenting at this conference.
Amid pure mana school's continued slump,
preparing a renewal presentation, so heard.
Seniors skipped pre-verification.
His face unseen.
'His mindset, I can guess.'
Banggrit Tom.
I recalled him via bribery.
“Senior pure mana mage Banggrit Tom. Here for congratulations and a modest token of sincerity. Might I enter briefly?”
The moment all seniors acknowledged me.
He who knocked my lab door: Banggrit Tom.
'Precarious perch, clinging to parachute.'
......No kind words forthcoming, I sense.
My foreboding struck true, in a manner.
For I could not speak.
Silence—
Despite my call, Banggrit appeared not in Crystal Hall.
At some point, Banggrit Tom vanished from Crystal Hall.
Senior mages murmured.
“Where'd he go?”
“He was at the far end just now...”
“Some urgent matter?”
“What outranks the conference?!”
Murmurs swelled.
Wait continued.
Yet Banggrit showed no sign.
I rose.
Banggrit Tom.
What plight befell him,
unknown to me.
One certainty:
This conference I moderate.
Quest demands successful conclusion.
My pride tolerates no such variable.
Amid focused gazes,
I spoke.
“In accordance with procedure...”