Richard had a reticent but foolish father and a tough but foolish mother. The two were truly a well-matched pair. They were the same in loving their child in a foolish way.
It was suffocating, like wearing ill-fitting clothes. He thought he was somehow different. Escaping this Outcast Zone, that glittering Celsius family seemed like the place he belonged.
If only he hadn't been born in the Outcast Zone. If only his parents had even a little willpower, if only a chance was given to him. Richard believed he could become a more outstanding existence.
Doesn't heaven help those who help themselves? An opportunity came to him. A mage who came down from the Floating Citadel to teach everyone fairly. Missionary Cassas gave him the information, and Richard sneaked into the academy taking advantage of the opportunity.
He was frustrated by the cold reality he first faced, but the mage was neither arrogant nor vile. He was just cold.
"You have talent. A talent too good to throw away, but too troublesome and ambiguous to take in."
He affirmed the boy coldly.
"If you had received a proper education in a normal school district, you would have become a mage without difficulty. Depending on your effort, you might have even risen to the Floating Citadel. But you grew up in this Outcast Zone, and your foundational knowledge is absolutely lacking. A day will not come when you learn proper magic."
Richard knew it too. That nothing could be done right now.
That the match was already decided in a place that had nothing to do with him.
"I cannot say your effort is lacking. Magic braziers, mana lamps, ice crystals... all those things are made of magic. They are too expensive for outcasts to own, and you can't afford the mana to use as fuel. In a dark house, groaning from hunger and thirst, what achievement can you make by studying for a short time after labor?"
Viewed only from a dichotomous perspective, even commoners can use trivial magical tools.
However, they cannot maintain the magical tools, their mana is meager so the tools don't perform properly, and above all, they have no money. Even in the Magocracy where magical tools are widespread, it's not to the extent that 'outcasts' can use them freely.
"Let alone, the grimoire crystals to learn magic can only be read if you know magic. Isn't it ironic?"
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Magic is needed to learn magic.
This contradictory reality was the greatest wall keeping the boy away from magic.
"You don't have the talent to overcome that much of an obstacle. But that doesn't mean you are lacking. One cannot say the seed is at fault for failing to bloom in severe cold."
Richard nodded. It was a perfectly correct statement. Blaming the environment is an excuse? Even that excuse is a luxury for outcasts. Because for outcasts, let alone magic, even life itself is a right they can only enjoy if permitted.
"I will not teach you White Magic. Your talent is not special enough for me to care for and support you for three months. To me, you are extremely ordinary."
Three months. It couldn't be said to be short, but Richard was moved to tears by those words.
The greatest mage Richard had ever seen had declared it. Three months—he declared that with sufficient support, Richard had the talent to become a mage in three months starting from now. That he was several times more outstanding than the ordinary students of that mediocre academy.
"Instead, I will teach you Formula Magic."
Formula Magic—when he heard that word. Richard felt a sense of repulsion then. He roughly knew that the Magocracy was a nation of White Magic, and other types of magic were treated poorly.
However, he didn't feel more repulsion than necessary.
Because Richard didn't even know what Formula Magic was.
"Formula Magic is magic that invokes phenomenon-class magic upon one's body with extremely simplified hand seals and incantations. The effects are meager, but with this, you can overcome a significant number of the problems troubling you. Not only can you activate magical tools, but you will also be able to read grimoire crystals with light magic. By learning Formula Magic, you stand at the starting line. Will you accept it?"
The mage was speaking only the truth. As long as Richard overcame the vague fear of new magic in his heart, power would surely be given.
Richard, faced with a devil's proposal, asked.
"How long does it take to learn this Formula Magic?"
The mage looked straight into Richard's eyes and said.
"One hour."
***
Richard learned Formula Magic. It wasn't such a surprising thing. Even with deviations, the Magocracy's educational level is superior to that of the Military Nation, and especially in the field of magic, it is outstanding compared to anywhere else in the world.
The same was true for Richard, who had secretly eavesdropped on magic lectures in the Outcast Zone. Since Richard had a head for studying from the start, he easily learned the simple Formula Magic in no time.
"Set, Ri. Lux."
Richard's fingernails radiated bright light. Richard, having obtained the magic he had so yearned for, said with an empty expression.
"Was magic always this easy?"
"Even a fool can learn White Magic. It wouldn't be profitable if Formula Magic, which is easier than that, was hard to learn."
It's a matter of course that controlling one's own body is easier than controlling a machine. I explained briefly.
"Formula Magic uses your body, especially your fingers, as a catalyst. Compared to White Magic, it's like a magic wand. Just as gemstones used as catalysts do, the structure breaks down as the price of exercising mana."
The reason mages use gemstones as catalysts is that their structure is uniform. Depending on the type of gemstone, they emit mana suitable for different magics, and whoever casts it, going through the same procedure produces the same effect.
The mana of gemstones is truly like bricks. They are the elements of a solid and uniform fortress.
In comparison, the body's structure is heterogeneous compared to gemstones, and deterioration occurs over time. Metaphorically, it's closer to an ominous and damp lump of flesh.
If White Magic is building a tower with bricks, Black Magic is sculpting with lumps of flesh. If you were to mold a human shape, the lump of flesh might be better, but a massive and systematic miracle like a tower can only be achieved by White Magic.
"If you use fire magic a lot, your fingers will get burned. If you use water magic a lot, your fingers will swell and burst. If you use light magic a lot, your fingers will soften, and if you use lightning magic a lot, you'll get electrocuted and your senses will dull. Each has its risks, so you must use them to the extent that your body isn't destroyed. Overuse it, and you'll have to cut off your fingers."
"...Feels like I learned it for nothing."
"That's right. The reason Formula Magic wasn't chosen as the mainstream is because it wasn't that useful. It's fine as long as you use your fingernails as a sacrifice. It produces relatively uniform performance, and even if it crumbles from the mana, it grows back. But avoid using your fingers as a medium as much as possible. If you lose your fingers, you'll lose Formula Magic as well."
I had to maintain my fingernails for card tricks, so I mostly used my fingers, though. Well, I warned him fiercely, but he doesn't need to worry too much. Unless he uses it an extreme amount, his fingers won't be harmed.
"Remember. Formula Magic is also a tool. Depending on how you use it, your future will change. And."
Looking at Richard staring at his right hand as if it were a shame, I added one last thing.
"If worst comes to worst, you just don't have to use it."
"Huh?"
"You can learn White Magic without using Formula Magic. Or, use Formula Magic just to overcome your difficulties and learn White Magic as you do now."
"Can I learn White Magic even after learning Formula Magic?"
"Of course. Whether it's Formula Magic or White Magic, they are merely tools. Isn't it natural to start with an easy-to-use tool and gradually switch to a more difficult and superior one?"
It is commonly known that if you learn Black Magic, you cannot learn White Magic, but that is not true. It's just that dullards who lack the intelligence to learn White Magic often have Black Witchcraft implanted in them through shortcuts.
The dream was not over yet. Even though he had learned Black Magic, his possibilities were still open. As the saying goes, he had merely acquired a 'good tool'.
"...Understood!"
Richard jumped up.
"Thank you, teacher. Whatever this is, what matters is that I've obtained magic. I can read grimoire crystals now."
Until now, there was no way to read them, but having learned Formula Magic, it was different. If he shot light toward the crystal screen and illuminated the grimoire crystal, a page of the grimoire would be reflected as it was.
Now Richard had magic. Even if it was wicked Black Magic, this magic would show its wickedness for his sake.
"I'll try."
Richard stepped out of the mission with firm resolve. To use his newly acquired power.
Silence descended on the mission after the boy disappeared. Pure white light seeps in through the windows made of unmelted ice. The half-shadowed statue of the saintess looks down at us in silence.
For a moment. Thumping sounds were heard from the confessional over there. The wooden door flew open, and Missionary Cassas, tied up tightly, popped out. Missionary Cassas, his eyes glaring as if they would pop out, shouted so loudly that the entire mission reverberated.
"Y-You damned bastard! Teaching Black Magic to an innocent child... Mmph!"
"I'm sorry, Father! Please bear with it for a moment!"
And the maid who followed behind apologized repeatedly and gagged the missionary's mouth. I gestured to stop her as she tried to drag him back into the confessional. The maid glanced at me, then quietly let go of the missionary.
The missionary, having regained the freedom of his mouth, pointed with his eyes and shouted.
"Are you out of your mind! Do you know what Black Magic is?!"
"Of course I do."
"Black Magic is forbidden knowledge that destroys oneself! It is a wicked and terrible power that defiles one's soul! To teach that to a lamb who came to the church! That is an act that will send both you and Richard to hell!"
I shrugged and answered.
"Yet you didn't stop me until the middle of teaching Formula Magic, did you?"
"That's because I didn't know it was Black Magic!"
True. Formula Magic has a simple form, and the phenomena it causes are similar to White Magic, making it difficult to recognize as Black Magic at a glance. To commoners without mana detection abilities, it looks exactly like White Magic.
"Moreover, to think there was a secret art of passing down Black Magic without even a ritual...!"
"Oh, you even know about the ritual?"
"Of course I know! Who wouldn't know that when a wicked Black Mage seduces people with power, it's to use them as sacrifices!"
Why is Black Magic called an easy magic? It's because it uses the body as a catalyst. It is a self-evident truth that using the body is easier to handle than using tools.
However, there are two types of people who choose that path.
The 'sacrifices' who learn Black Magic through 'rituals' like body catalyzation surgery by other Black Mages.
And the Black Mages who command them endlessly.
From Missionary Cassas's perspective, I must have looked like the latter. He probably saw me as a villain who coaxed an ignorant child, under the pretext of giving him power, to later steal his body.
But his prediction was wrong.
Formula Magic is not that kind of Black Magic, and I am not that kind of Black Mage either.
"I didn't do anything to Richard's body, did I? You watched it yourself right now."
"T-That can't be! You must have used some sorcery!"
"Come on. I only fiddled with his arm right in front of you, what sorcery? This is a church, and the statue of the saintess is watching us. If she sensed something, she would have stopped me earlier. Don't you think?"
Why would I bother coming directly into the church and teaching Black Magic in front of a missionary?
It is a widely known fact among law-abiding citizens that if no one sees it, it's not a crime.
In other words, if you want to commit a crime, you need to make a witness. If it's a sincere, righteous, and honest missionary, there's nothing better.
"But the dark and ominous mana I saw was definitely Black Magic!"
"Originally, the Military Nation's Formula Magic requires piercing a bio-terminal to use. That's similar to the ritual you mentioned."
A bio-terminal is a trace of the body catalyzation surgery. The Military Nation uses it like an ID card, but that's only for external purposes.
Teaching Formula Magic to ignorant children. Committing all kinds of taboos on criminals was also possible because of the bio-terminal.
"However, I can engrave the method of using it as a catalyst without leaving any traces on the body. As you saw."
I am the one who even restored Tir's memories. With the Lightning Thief and Tir's Demon God present now, engraving Formula Magic into the nerves of an ignorant child is a piece of cake. Moreover, my Demon God has no side effects or traces.
The missionary, who watched closely, knew that fact better than anyone.
And what it meant.
"No way... T-That means..."
"You've finally understood."
Now. There is a Black Mage here. There are no traces of a ritual performed, and he hasn't become someone's puppet through drugs or curses. Outwardly, he is just a talented and shrewd child.
If so, what is the basis for defining this child as a Black Mage?
"Without leaving a trace, without any change, having merely gained a piece of knowledge."
'That man doesn't harbor ill will toward Richard...! Rather, he harbors goodwill toward him! He made a choice truly for Richard's sake!'
Formula Magic? If he doesn't use that magic which is too trivial to even be called Black Magic? If he just stays still, what difference is there from an ordinary 'outcast'?
"Who is a Black Mage, and who is an innocent citizen. Can the Magocracy tell? On what basis will they judge? How will they punish?"
'The one he holds malice against is the order of the Magocracy itself!'
A society that exists to learn magic. Differential education. And the alienated outcasts.
Completely abandoned by magic, born with the shackles of ignorance from the very bottom of that class from which they can never crawl back up. If they were to gain unwanted power and knowledge in the Magocracy...
"Do they have the right to trample the 'outcasts' they themselves excluded, with their own order?"
I posed a question to the missionary.