Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Original Lin
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No sooner had the Sandstone Demon God appeared than the Dragon Hole Field erupted into uncontrollable chaos.
"Not only did she precisely control the Bloodline Limit summoning spell, but she even infused it with a new power?"
"If Rain Ludwig represents the pinnacle of masterful simplicity—using exactly the right spells at exactly the right moments—then Christa Warden is the epitome of aristocratic splendor!"
"I thought the next era of magic would be dominated by the promising students from the Eight Great Academies, but now I need to rethink who to align with."
Such rave reviews weren't just coming from the riffraff mages. Even Madelia Page let out a gasp of admiration.
"The Sandstone Demon God's weakness has always been its lack of durability compared to its overwhelming offensive power..."
She found the perfect rune—'Su'—and restructured it into an entirely new spell. That arrangement is sure to become the Warden family's new secret technique passed down through generations.
"No one who hasn't faced the original Sandstone firsthand could appreciate the genius of that arrangement."
Professor Kyle smiled faintly as well.
By constructing the magic barrier array with dual attributes, the inclusion of the 'Su' rune didn't make the equation overly complex.
"The interaction between runes and magic barrier arrays always profoundly influences spell formation. And that variation was born from a perfect understanding of that interaction."
It gave me genuine chills. Just as the world says—this generation is a once-in-a-millennium golden one, unprecedented and unrepeatable.
'And the one who lit the path for Christa Warden to grow without stagnating in her superiority is none other than...'
Professor Kyle's gaze shifted to the black-haired boy overlooking Christa from the stands.
'You, Rain Ludwig.'
Rain smirked, finally realizing just how crucial the adaptation of magic barrier arrays to runes could be.
'Tureina grasped that in less than a week, though.'
How long did it take me?
Hmm, right from the moment I started learning magic basics?
'Still, that's... I'd give her a 90 out of 100.'
Rain wore a warm smile without realizing it, but his expression turned icy cold the next instant.
The stench of blood.
The smell of death approaching.
In Gertrude's empty seat—where she'd been clinging to the railing, excitedly shouting Christa's name with a flushed face—the source of that stench now sat.
"......"
I'd expected him to show up, but seeing that face in the flesh again still made my heart skip a beat.
"My Lin" was sitting right next to me.
Or rather, the guy with "Lin's" face.
"If you make any weird noises, I'll kill you right here."
He said that as he held out a rag soaked red with blood. I stared at it curiously, then unwrapped it—and let out a hollow laugh.
It was a silver pocket watch.
Engraved in the center with the "Alliance" mark.
An item given only to Special Forces mages, proof that its owner was one of the top battle mages of the era.
"Did you kill all the owners of these?"
"What a ridiculous question."
"Huh."
Did he think I was trembling in fear? When I let out a scoff, Ribadin grinned back as if amused.
"Yeah, knowing you'll end up the same soon, all you can do is laugh."
"No, I'm just glad a proper black mage has finally shown up."
This kind was better.
Better than someone inscrutable like Valensidis.
"Why so glad?"
"Because now I can kill you without a second thought."
Rain's cold glint in his eyes made his tone sound as casual as "good morning" or "sleep well"—as if dealing with and killing black mages was just everyday routine.
That made Ribadin blink in momentary bewilderment, his eyebrows twitching blankly.
'I was planning to use his family as hostages and lure him out of the city if he tried to run or back down.'
So killing Ribeni wasn't just luck. Of course, I'd known that from the multi-calculation he'd shown on the first day.
"Ha, you little shit... You've got spirit, at least. First-rate, even."
"You think it's just spirit?"
"Pick where you die. I'll at least let you choose the final view for your worthless life."
It wasn't mercy. Just playing along with Valensidis's threats.
'Act like we're on the same page and lure him out of the city. Easy.'
At that, Rain stood from his seat. Thinking he might bolt, Ribadin reached for his shoulder—but Rain handed back the bloodstained pocket watches and said,
"Outside the city sounds good. An empty forest."
Ribadin was slightly taken aback. Wasn't that his line?
"You've already painted targets on us with the 'Golden Children' and the Special Forces because of you lot."
"Oh? And?"
"Killing you in a crowded place like this would make it impossible to deny involvement. I hate complications."
* * *
The Ruins of the Forgotten King's Temple.
Filled with shattered statues in the ancient Alvrazum style that instinctively evoked dread, the place echoed today with decadent, primal melodies.
Those melodies were echoes of a dream.
Faint cracks forming in the seal of one of the Abyss's five kings—the queen who traversed space and time with her screams...
Amid that melody, Tureina sat cross-legged.
Normally, during meditation, she ignored her disciples' reports unless it was a major issue.
But not this time.
[What you just said—is it true?]
Number 5 asked in a shocked voice, and Number 1's shadow nodded.
[He's already infiltrated the school. No chance to stop him.]
Number 5 sighed and pinched his brow, while Number 4 nodded playfully.
[What can you do? He's dying for revenge. They were like blood siblings. Or actually siblings?]
Ribadin and Ribeni were both homunculi Tureina had created through human transmutation, forbidden by the Light Dragon Church and the Magic Alliance.
Made from fragments of the great mage Lin, they all bore an uncanny resemblance to Lin in appearance.
No need to explain how exceptional their abilities were, matching their looks. Though starting from the same point, Ribadin—who loved battling the strong— was three times stronger than Ribeni.
[Brother Valensidis, things just got interesting, huh?]
Number 7 snickered, narrowing Number 1's eyes.
[Does this look funny to you right now?]
[Haha, don't get so sharp. Think about it. It's unexpected, sure, but this makes things way easier for you.]
Valensidis was someone Tureina had painstakingly placed in the school—he absolutely could not be exposed before graduation day.
But Ribadin?
Even if he caused trouble, Valensidis could just play dumb. No one knew of any connection between them.
[Just let Ribadin kill him. How convenient is that? Ribadin's a mage hunter specialist. Is there any mage who can beat "that ability" of his?]
[Don't focus on the trees—look at the forest. What backlash will the school face from Rain Ludwig's death?]
[The school will be in an uproar, sure. But that's it. They won't cancel the graduation ceremony tradition over this, with so much time left.]
[It's not that simple—]
The sound that cut off Valensidis—not just his words, but drawing everyone's attention—was the tap of a pipe bowl against the floor.
It came from Tureina.
This meant she was issuing a direct verdict on the matter, so everyone instantly fell silent in prostration, eyes on her.
"Let Ribadin run wild. I'll handle the punishment later."
At her decision, Valensidis's eyelids drooped wearily. No room for him to intervene now.
[As you wish... we'll obey.]
If Rain Ludwig was the dangerous figure Milleg reported—the one who took down Ribeni—then the only members reliable for a one-on-one assassination were Numbers 1, 2, and 4.
"If it were any other kid, I'd order a retreat or have Valen assist, but that one? He should be fine."
The shadows gathered in the temple soon vanished one by one.
Swish.
Swish.
Tureina's decisions were final, and no one had the authority to object—so the meeting was over.
"......"
Tureina set down her pipe and resumed her cross-legged meditation, eyes closed.
Even at the peak of mastery, she refined her mana and trained daily without fail—because Lin had taught her to.
Tureina had never once disobeyed Lin's teachings in her life. Except for one: never touch black magic.
- Consistency is key in magic. Always train diligently.
Memories from 300 years ago resurfaced. The chill and weight of the relentless rain on the day they parted sent shivers down her spine.
Even after her master ended up like that, his so-called comrades just waited, doing nothing.
The other two could be excused for their ignorance of magic and rituals, but Master Fride was so capable, yet...
Tureina wasn't so ignorant or heartless. Instead of waiting, she desperately searched for a way.
She'd lived 300 years for that single wish... and the Abyss provided the answer. The long journey, once endless, now neared its end.
'Soon, we'll meet again.'
* * *
A foul stench wafted from the wind brushing through the forest.
In its wake, summer-green leaves withered to fall foliage in an instant, drifting powerless to the ground.
Amid those falling leaves, the hems of two masters' clothes fluttered silently. Rain was the first to toss his school uniform cape into the air.
"Just one question. What the hell are you really?"
Responding to the killing intent, Ribadin flung off his tattered cape.
"Why should a dead man soon care?"
"It'll decide how you go. Quick and easy, or screaming in agony like that punk Ribeni."
Ribadin's forehead vein bulged. If he weren't convinced this guy was a master, he'd charge and snap his neck right then.
"So spill. Who gave you Lin's face? And what the hell are you plotting?"
That actually startled Ribadin, leaving his mouth agape for a moment.
'No one's ever recognized I have Lin's face—outside the unit—until now...'
Most just think, "Have I seen this guy somewhere?" and move on.
No wonder.
They'd only glimpsed it on a statue, after all.
"Sorry, but your question's too weird—I can't answer."
The iron rods at his waist clanked, assembling into a three-section staff in a flash. At the same time, mana erupted around it.
The mana of an Abyss-wielding black mage corrupts into toxic miasma—not blue, but dark purple.
Unlike normal mana, which only affects through wind pressure, it rots and decays everything it touches.
"It wasn't given to me!"
Just like the trees withering and dew rotting in its wake, filling the air with stench.
"I am the reincarnation of the great mage Lin!"
Even veteran Special Forces mages would falter at that miasma's explosion. The chick seemed to lose his nerve, head bowed—
"Pfft."
—laughing. Mocking, incredulous. Ribadin's brows furrowed.
"Going mad before you die?"
"Sorry, it's just too funny. First time something like this before a fight."
Coughing to stifle his laughter, Rain removed his left glove, revealing a palm bizarrely wrapped in bandages.
"Lin's reincarnation? Talk about picking the wrong guy to mess with."
From the boy poured an indescribably intense mana vortex, sweeping away the surrounding miasma like a headwind. Accompanied by this quip.
"This one's the original Lin."