The Fusion of Two Magics

My current level was at the entry stage of the 5th tier.

To my past self or Lunia, it was a level so pitifully low they would have scoffed, but in the eyes of the general public, the 5th tier was by no means a realm to be taken lightly.

Above all, I was different from an ordinary 5th-tier mage.

In addition to common magic, I had mastered Benheim's Rune Magic, Lucen's Sword Creation Magic—though I had only picked it up by watching—and Airid's Spectrum Magic. On top of that, having reached the level of a Sword Expert, I could even utilize aura.

After just reaching the 5th tier, I had sparred repeatedly with the members of the Rune Sentinels who were at the same level, and I realized something.

No one in the 5th tier can ever be my match.

I had already defeated Barg back when I was only in the 4th tier. Now that I had reached the 5th, it was safe to say I had no rivals in the same realm.

Even a 6th-tier mage would find it difficult to face me. Even Valen, the captain of the Rune Sentinels, had to go all out against me. If Valen, who was at the very peak of the 6th tier, had to do so, what about Kyle, who was only at the mid-stage?

Even though Kyle's level was higher than mine, I could easily grasp victory if I caught him off guard. To make matters worse, he had made the foolish mistake of limiting his own power out of petty pride and honor.

If I were to use Sword Creation Magic or aura here, Kyle would be utterly helpless.

Boom!

Right on cue, the Spectrum Magic Kyle fired came flying toward me.

Placing my hand on the ground, I channeled the rune Hagalaz to overturn the earth and block it.

It would have been much easier to deflect it with a sword just now.

But I had no intention of using Sword Creation Magic or aura in this duel.

There's no need to use a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken.

I didn't want to show my hand to Oswald or Kyle unnecessarily, and since I had just learned Spectrum Magic, I wanted to make the most of what I had acquired.

So, to me, this wasn't a duel; it was a form of practice.

The thing in front of me was merely a slightly loud and sturdy scarecrow.

In that case, all I had to do was find the most optimal method to smash it to pieces.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

He's currently deploying a defensive barrier.

Kyle, who had been so arrogant, shifted his strategy entirely to defense just a few minutes after the duel began.

Perhaps realizing that my offensive was fiercer than he had anticipated, he decided to drag this into a battle of attrition. It was a petty tactic, but a wise choice.

The difference in total mana capacity between the 6th and 5th tiers was nearly double.

This held true even though I had absorbed mana from the elixir and the barrier stones.

If this battle of attrition continued, my mana would eventually run dry first.

I have to break through, no matter what.

Ultimately, I had to use the maximum firepower I could muster to tear down Kyle's defensive magic and neutralize his body.

It would be much easier if I used Sword Creation Magic or aura, but since I had decided against it, they were out of the question.

All I could use was Benheim's Rune Magic and the newly learned Spectrum Magic.

And that will be more than enough.

Normally, it was standard practice to use only one signature magic system at a time.

But I was different.

My core could utilize two conflicting magics as if they belonged to a single system.

This meant I could maximize my destructive power through their mutual interference.

What I need here is...

I had already thought of the Spectrum Magic needed to pierce that barrier.

The mixture of Red and Yellow that had melted the workshop wall not long ago: Orange.

But that alone wasn't enough. It lacked a decisive punch.

Attacking multiple times was an option, but Kyle would easily repair his barrier in the intervals.

In that case...

I'll support it with Rune Magic.

Steadying my breath, I drew up my mana. Then, spinning my mana core, I unleashed Rune Magic.

I overlaid Kenaz (ᚲ), representing release; Tiwaz (ᛏ), representing penetration; and Uruz (ᚢ), representing physical force.

Having reached the 5th tier, I was now capable of weaving three runes into a single sentence.

—Flash!

The three runes soon coalesced into an intangible spear of pure physical force.

Without stopping there, I operated another core within my engine to cast Spectrum Magic. A haze of orange light, a fusion of red and yellow, gathered around my right hand.

With that right hand, I grasped the intangible spear. The two signature magics, which should never have been able to mix, harmonized naturally.

From then on, it was similar to the Sword Creation Magic I had perfected. I overlaid the destructive power of Spectrum Magic onto the structure of the runes.

Since I had poured in all the mana I possessed, the fused magic I held now surpassed the 6th tier.

This spear would undoubtedly pierce Kyle's barrier.

Tap.

Leaping lightly, I dodged the beam of light Kyle fired. Readjusting my posture midair, I prepared to hurl the spear.

Just then, my eyes met Kyle's as he looked up.

Too late.

Boom!

An orange flash shot from my fingertips.

A tearing sound, as if space itself were ripping apart, struck my eardrums.

"Urgh!"

There was no way a barrier suppressed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the 5th tier could block a blow that combined the signature magic of two great families, especially one optimized solely for destructive power.

Shatter! The moment the spell connected, Kyle's defensive magic shattered like glass. The orange spear surged forward toward the space between Kyle's brows without losing any of its momentum.

Terror filled Kyle's eyes.

At this rate, his head would be skewered by the spearhead.

"A-Aaahhh!"

Kyle let out a shrill shriek and unleashed his magic.

Red, Blue, White.

The three colors blended to form a pale violet veil.

But the spell I had fired was a creation designed solely for maximum penetration.

Screeech!

Even the 6th-tier veil Kyle conjured could not stop my magic.

Just as the violet veil began to wear away and despair flashed across Kyle's face—

I flicked my hand slightly, twisting the trajectory of the spell.

Boom!

A cloud of dust billowed up.

After obliterating Kyle's veil, my spell grazed his temple and embedded itself deep into the ground.

"He-Heugh..."

Kyle collapsed, his legs giving out beneath him. I curled the corner of my mouth up at him.

"You broke your promise."

"..."

"That magic you just used. A three-color blend—that's the 6th tier, isn't it?"

Kyle's face turned deathly pale.

The duel was over.

His barrier had been shattered to pieces, and Kyle sat slumped on the ground.

Even after resorting to 6th-tier defensive magic, he had failed to block Raygan's strike.

If Raygan hadn't shifted his fingertips slightly to the left at the very last second, his head would have been pierced through.

"...It seems the match is decided," Oswald, who had been watching in silence, spoke up.

It was exactly as he said.

Kyle had cast aside his pride to wage a battle of attrition focused entirely on defense, while Raygan had met him head-on, shattered his defensive magic, and subdued him.

But acceptance was a different matter from understanding.

"P-Patriarch! This was only because I let my guard down...!"

"...Your guard down, you say?" Oswald let out a heavy sigh and continued. "In the end, you were the one who limited your own spells before the duel. You were the one who broke your promise and used 6th-tier magic. And even after using it, you were the one who suffered a pathetic defeat. There is nothing uglier than refusing to acknowledge one's own shortcomings."

"..."

"Captain of the Shadow Unit, Kyle Valerius Airid. Do you intend to disgrace the authority of the Airid family any further?"

The Patriarch's voice was low and cold.

Ultimately, Kyle had no choice but to hang his head.

Raygan, who had been listening quietly, shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I don't give a damn about the honor of the Airid family. A bet's a bet."

Raygan squatted down, bringing his eyes level with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kyle's.

"Say it again. What was that about my origin color?"

"..."

"I demanded a retraction and an apology for your insulting words. Ah, no need to go out of your way to kneel. You're already on your knees anyway."

He was referring to Kyle's pathetic, collapsed posture.

Kyle bit his lip.

Blood seeped out.

"I... apologize." In the end, Kyle bowed his head deeply. "I am sorry for... insulting your origin color. And... it was I who... did not know my place."

It was humiliating.

He wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and hide.

Raygan nodded in satisfaction, then reached toward Kyle's waist.

"Then I'll be taking this. Since you put it up yourself."

The prism-tipped wand, Eclat, was now in Raygan's hand.

Raygan stood up with the wand, and Kyle could only watch his retreating back, unable to call out to him.

"Damn it..."

He slammed his clenched fist into the dirt.

It was only because I let my guard down.

He desperately wanted to believe that.

But.

Even if he were to use every single 6th-tier spell at his disposal...

"...Why?"

Kyle could not envision a future where he defeated Raygan von Benheim.

The sun had already set by the time I returned to the Benheim villa in Orelion.

I expected to get a scolding for returning so late at night, but looking at the way Stern was glaring at me, it seemed my late return wasn't my only offense.

"I heard what happened. You did something utterly absurd."

Just like during the gambling den incident, Benheim's eyes and ears were everywhere.

No matter how strictly sealed the Airid villa was, there was no way Stern wouldn't find out about the duel.

"...I couldn't just stand by and take the insult."

"I was going to say that patience is also a necessary virtue, but..." Stern chuckled as he looked at the wand in my hand. "Well, since you won, I'll let it slide. To think you'd bring back Eclat on top of learning the Airid family's signature magic..."

"Is this thing that impressive?"

"Yes. Eclat is one of the Airid family's treasures. It's a magic tool that maximizes the efficiency of Spectrum Magic. It's on par with the glove Valen uses."

"Ho."

I lifted the wand, Eclat, to examine it. Come to think of it, the handle was made of high-quality hardwood, and the prism at the tip was larger and smoother than the one I had received before. I had only snatched it because it looked like something he cherished, but to think it was actually an Airid treasure.

Now I understood why Oswald had told Kyle that the duel carried the honor of their family.

It made sense, considering one of their family treasures was on the line.

"Raygan, we will be returning to our estate soon, so pack your bags."

"Are we returning already?"

"Yes. Lunia has been running wild all over Orelion, and it's giving me a headache."

During the five days I was learning magic from the Airid Patriarch, it seemed Lunia had been roaming the capital, causing trouble left and right.

Specifically, she was apparently bankrupting gambling dens all over the place using the knowledge she had learned from me.

I suppose that was just like her.

In any case, it was best to return to Benheim now, just as Stern said.

It was a pity I couldn't investigate Lucen more thoroughly, but resolving the Airid issue was the most pressing matter for now.

"Ah, and take this."

Stern handed me a letter as I stood lost in thought.

"What is this?"

"It's an invitation from Arkamen. Illine delivered it personally a few days ago. Seeing the broad grin on her face, it seems you two made some sort of deal."

"Well... if you can call that a deal."

I tore open the envelope to check the contents.

"It was likely a deal regarding the repair of 'The Engine'."

"Do you also know about The Engine, Patriarch?"

"Of course. I once visited them to try and repair it myself."

"You did, personally?"

Stern nodded.

"Not just me. At the time, the leaders of the Great Mage Alliance all tackled it together. Yet, we achieved absolutely nothing. It is an incredibly complex machine of unknown purpose."

To think that even the giants of the magic world, including Stern, a 7th-tier mage, had failed. My interest in this 'Engine' was thoroughly piqued.

"Illine seems to think that with your unique vision, things might be different. If you truly succeed in repairing The Engine, she will gladly open Arkamen's treasury to you."

"Is Arkamen's treasury really that impressive?"

"Arkamen's treasury is more vast than that of any other magic family—no, even more than the imperial treasury. It is packed with the finest artifacts in the Empire."

"Hmm..."

"Well, since you have received a personal invitation from their head, Arkamen will surely welcome you. It wouldn't be a bad idea to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pay them a visit when you have some spare time."

Nodding at Stern's words, I looked down at the invitation in my hand.

A treasury.

According to my memories, the Archduke of Demonic Magic had destroyed Arkamen first in my past life.

The reason was highly likely due to Arkamen's treasury, which was said to surpass even the imperial family's, just as Stern had mentioned. After all, the Archduke of Demonic Magic and his forces whom I had faced on the battlefield were armed with incredibly expensive armaments and artifacts.

Or perhaps... he needed 'The Engine' that only exists there.

What if?

What if the reason the Archduke of Demonic Magic destroyed Arkamen first was related to 'The Engine', the family's long-cherished desire?

What if it was to obtain that ancient mechanical device, which even 7th-tier archmages could not repair?

There was no way to know for sure now. Lunia hadn't told me the exact details. Still, one could never be too cautious.

"Instead of going when I have spare time..."

Slipping the invitation into my breast pocket, I mapped out my next destination in my mind.

"I should head there as soon as possible."