An Insult to Gold
Two days had passed since then.
I was in the workshop, learning Spectrum Magic from Oswald Airid, the head of the Airid family.
The process wasn't particularly difficult.
In fact, it was surprisingly easy.
"Including the primary colors, mana is divided into five distinct hues."
Oswald Airid held up five fingers.
"Blue, red, black, white, and yellow. Each of these five colors possesses its own attribute. They also correspond to cardinal directions. Thus, every color carries a dual meaning. As a mage of Benheim, you should already be well aware of this."
"Yes. You are referring to the trigger words and attribute words, correct?"
"Indeed. That should suffice for the theory. Now, give it a try."
I extended my hand and split my mana.
The principle of Spectrum Magic was simple. Just as light splits when passing through a prism, one simply had to twist the pure mana surging from the core into specific wavelengths.
An Airid mage would have trained in a mana breathing technique specialized for Spectrum Magic, allowing them to skip steps and split mana instantly. But my body was trained in the Benheim method. I couldn't split it as rapidly as a native Airid mage.
However, my mana control was exceptionally high. In less than a few seconds, I managed to extract all five colors from my split mana.
Combining these five colors in the right proportions was the core of Spectrum Magic.
"An Airid mage's circle is determined by how many colors they can combine, and how intricately they can weave them together."
Just as Oswald explained, at my current level of the 5th circle, my limit was mixing two colors.
So, I decided to go with a combination known for its outstanding destructive power.
"Red and yellow."
Red, the most aggressive wavelength, representing fire.
And yellow, my origin color, symbolizing dominance and amplification.
The two colors collided and swirled together at my fingertips.
The resulting hue was...
"Orange."
—Rumble.
An orange flame erupted from my fingertips, instantly filling the workshop.
Though it looked similar to the 5th-circle common spell, Fire Storm, its essence was fundamentally different.
Unlike flames conjured by standard magic or the rune Kenaz, the fire of Spectrum Magic was closer to a mass of pure light that merely mimicked the form of fire.
Because I was manipulating a formless mass of raw power, I could freely reshape the magic by adjusting its output.
'Like this.'
Flash!
The surging orange flames condensed, overlapping to form a straight beam of light that shot forward.
Because the thermal power was concentrated into a single point, the workshop wall began to melt. I hastily withdrew the magic.
"...Hmm."
Seeing that the workshop wall—supposedly impervious to 5th-circle magic—was scorched and melted, the destructive power of my spell had easily rivaled the 6th circle.
"...Not bad."
As I shook out my tingling hand, I noticed Oswald staring at me with his mouth half-open.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...Have you... ever learned Spectrum Magic before?"
"I'm learning it right now."
At my nonchalant reply, Oswald sputtered in disbelief.
"That's impossible! You've only been studying this magic for two days. Even my daughter, Yusefin, took years just to successfully mix two colors."
"Then your daughter must simply be average."
Oswald shook his head vigorously, completely ignoring my blunt remark as if it were nonsense. He still looked utterly incredulous that I had mastered Spectrum Magic in a mere two days.
Watching Oswald's reaction, Stern let out a low chuckle.
"Indeed. Everyone reacts that way at first."
But Oswald didn't stop at mere surprise.
"Raygan von Benheim. No, just Raygan."
"Yes?"
"How would you like to join the Airid family?"
He was actively trying to recruit me.
"Oswald, you seem to have forgotten that Raygan is Benheim's son-in-law," Stern interjected, his tone laced with displeasure.
But Oswald paid him no mind.
"Yes, a son-in-law. However, I, Oswald, am not proposing that you become a son-in-law to Airid."
"Then what are you proposing?"
"Become my adopted son. I am willing to pass the position of family head to you. If you agree, I can even offer you my daughter Yusefin's hand in marriage."
Even Stern's eyes widened in surprise at that bold declaration.
"Ho. Oswald, that is an incredibly generous offer. Naming an outsider with whom you share not a single drop of blood as the successor? Surely there would be immense backlash within your clan."
"They will understand once they witness the Spectrum Magic he just displayed. Does it make any sense for a 5th-circle mage, who hasn't even trained in our family's mana breathing technique, to perfectly blend two colors in just two days?"
"I must tell you, it is a futile effort."
"Are you afraid of losing your precious son-in-law? If so, Stern, why don't you wager your own position as family head?"
Oswald snorted, then looked straight at me.
"Raygan, you are a genius destined to reach the very pinnacle of magic. I guarantee it. And the Airid family will walk that path with you."
"...Hmm."
It was honestly a bit embarrassing.
I had been called a genius countless times, but being called a genius destined to reach the pinnacle of magic was a first.
But I was no genius. I had simply regressed after witnessing the future, allowing me to apply the wealth of experience from my past life.
A true genius was someone like Lunia, who had reached the 8th circle in my past life.
"I decline."
My refusal was firm. Oswald frowned, looking as though he couldn't comprehend my decision.
"Why? Along with Benheim, Airid is one of the two pillars of the Great Magic Coalition. We are by no means inferior to them."
"The family's prestige doesn't matter to me. I am with Benheim for an entirely different reason."
Oswald's offer was extraordinary, but it wasn't even worth considering.
I had joined the Benheim family solely because of Lunia. I wouldn't have given a damn about some prestigious magic family if it hadn't been for her request.
My goal, first and foremost, was to kill the Archduke of Demonic Magic and protect everything Lunia held dear.
Therefore, the position of the head of the Airid family held absolutely no appeal to me.
"Thank you for the offer, but I have no interest."
"..."
Stern crossed his arms and let out a smirk.
"Didn't I tell you? A futile effort."
Oswald's brow twitched.
Under Oswald's guidance, I went on to master the combinations of the other colors as well.
Oswald tried to persuade me to become his adopted son several more times after that, but my answer remained unchanged.
In the end, even his relentless persistence had to yield, and he gave up.
By the fifth day.
"...I have nothing more to teach you."
"Why is that?"
"It is a limitation of your circle. Mixing three or more colors is only possible from the 6th circle onward. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that one is considered a 6th-circle mage because they can mix three or more colors."
It meant that at my current level, there was no more Spectrum Magic I could learn.
Though I felt a twinge of disappointment, I nodded in understanding.
I had already grasped the knack of it anyway. Combining three or more colors would be something I'd have to figure out on my own once I reached the 6th circle.
"Thank you for your guidance."
I expressed my gratitude to Oswald.
This, at least, was genuine.
Even if the head of the Airid family was a sinner who had allied with black mages, there was no sin in his teachings. If anything, I should be grateful that he had so willingly passed down his family's foundational magic.
Later, as I remained in the workshop to practice, a sudden question arose as I stared at the five-colored mana swirling at my fingertips.
"Just out of curiosity, how many colors can you mix, Patriarch?"
"Four. It is a technique possible only from the mid-7th circle. Within the Airid family, I am the only mage capable of mixing four colors."
"Hmm..."
Oswald wore a strangely proud expression, but my curiosity was still not satisfied.
There were five colors used in Spectrum Magic in total.
Which meant...
"Is it possible to mix all five colors?"
As if he had anticipated my question, Oswald nodded immediately.
"Of course. That is the ultimate height of Spectrum Magic, and the pinnacle of the magical path that all Airid mages strive to reach."
"So even you haven't reached that level yet, Patriarch?"
"It is still far beyond me. One would need to be at least in the 8th circle, if not higher, to even touch it. In the entire history of Airid, only our founder ever achieved that state."
"What color do you get when you mix all five?"
"It is not a color."
Oswald shook his head as he explained.
"When you combine the colors of all directions into one, it ceases to be a color and becomes the void. A black light that swallows all of creation."
A black light that swallows all of creation...
'...Ah.'
At that moment, a memory flashed through my mind.
The final battle of my past life.
My duel against the Archduke of Demonic Magic.
Lunia had allowed the Archduke of Demonic Magic only a single strike, and that single blow had claimed her life.
'The hole pierced through Lunia's chest...'
It had looked as if the space itself in that spot had been completely erased.
'...It wasn't black magic.'
In those final moments before my death, I had assumed it was some profound black magic beyond my comprehension. My understanding of magic had been shallow back then, too.
But now, having regressed, I understood.
The Archduke of Demonic Magic, Demian Carius, had driven the Airid family to ruin. Through the Spectrum Magic he stole from them, he had reached a realm that even the head of the Airid family could not attain.
And...
'He used that magic to kill Lunia.'
I clenched my fists tight.
Things were different now.
Demian's plan to overthrow the Airid family had been thwarted by me, and I had mastered their Spectrum Magic just as he had in my past life.
'In this life, you will be the one with a hole in your chest.'
All I had to do was diligently hone this Spectrum Magic and return it to him in kind.
As I made that vow, a sudden commotion erupted outside.
"Out of my way! I must see the Patriarch immediately!"
"You cannot enter! The Patriarch is currently with a guest...!"
"A guest? You mean that Benheim son-in-law?!"
Judging by the servant's protests, someone was trying to force their way into the workshop.
'Is it Lunia?'
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a man brushed past the blocking servant and burst into the workshop.
He was a white-haired man who appeared to be in his thirties.
"Patriarch! I cannot understand this! That man is an outsider!"
The white-haired man shouted at Oswald. The look he directed at me was filled with blatant hostility.
"Why are you teaching our family's secret magic to a mere brat like him?! He belongs to Benheim, of all places! To hand over our secret magic to Benheim, our rival family? This is unacceptable!"
"...Hmm."
I understood the situation.
This man belonged to the Airid family, and he was deeply displeased that I was learning their secret magic.
It was just like when Arno had shown up to pick a fight when I was learning Rune Magic at Benheim. A nearly identical situation.
Experiencing the exact same thing twice was honestly getting tedious.
Oswald rubbed his temples, looking troubled. I quietly approached him and asked.
"Who is he?"
"Kyle. He is from a branch family of Airid and holds a key position in our combat unit. He is one of the three mages I brought with me."
"Hmm..."
I sized up his level with a quick glance.
Mid-6th circle.
If we fought... my chances of winning wouldn't be very high.
He didn't seem like Elder Varon, who lacked real combat experience.
In fact, the quality of the mana radiating from Kyle's body was remarkably sharp.
"So you're that Benheim son-in-law!"
Kyle barked, turning his gaze to me.
When his appeals to Oswald failed, he redirected his anger toward me.
Had Stern been here, Kyle wouldn't have dared to utter a single word. Unfortunately, only Oswald and I were in the workshop.
"I hear you're of commoner birth. Ha! You practically reek of the gutter."
Kyle strode over and poked me hard in the chest.
At first, I intended to just let it go in one ear and out the other.
But in the next moment, he crossed a line.
"And yet your origin color is gold? What a joke. A lowborn bastard claiming gold? It's probably the color of dung."
"..."
"Have you no shame, coming to another family to steal their secret techniques? Know your place."
"Hey."
I finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer.
Kyle flinched slightly at the icy tone of my voice.
"What did you just say?"
Kyle smirked as he took in my reaction. He clearly thought I had fallen for his provocation.
"I told you to know your place."
"Before that."
"That you reek of the gutter?"
"No, in between."
Kyle scowled, racking his brain to recall his exact words.
"That it's the color of dung, not gold...?"
I let out a deep sigh.
Then, I slipped off the wyvern-leather glove on my hand and threw it straight into Kyle's face.
Thud.
Kyle's eyes narrowed as the glove struck the bridge of his nose and slid to the floor.
Throwing a glove.
The meaning behind this gesture was unmistakable.
"I am challenging you to a duel. Get your ass outside, you son of a bitch."
I could tolerate any other insult.
But gold.
That was Lunia's color, and the origin she had engraved upon my soul.
I would not stand by and watch that color be defiled.