◈ Episode 38. Performance Test (1)
A long, long wait.
It was enough to surprise even the master who spent nearly all her time with her.
The pointed hat stirred.
Was this truly his disciple?
With a sigh—
-……
My disciple. Do you know the emotion called disappointment?
“…….”
Her master’s question.
But no answer came, neither from her lips nor in her mind.
Jesse’s gaze was fixed on her smartphone screen.
More precisely, on the man in the video.
Her master, the pointed hat, sighed once more.
-My heart is breaking. Breaking, I tell you……!
The pointed hat imbued with the wisdom of an archmage.
In truth, it was practically the archmage’s other self.
-So this is what this world’s language calls a reality check…….
That pointed hat was whining.
All of it was because of the man in the video, Hoyeol.
Because of that man who had changed his one and only disciple.
It was certainly something worth being surprised about.
Even just looking at the current video was enough.
He was clearly an adventurer, yet he manifested magic freely.
There was none of the rigid manifestation unique to adventurers.
That sight was more than enough to catch the interest of his disciple, who had once harbored doubts about magic.
“……
How did he understand it?”
That alone would have been enough.
Yet he had suddenly appeared at the regular conference.
Pointed out the presentation of the Chief Mage, Marcelo.
And had even gone so far as to imitate and manifest his magic.
That meant he had perfectly understood the concepts of magic—exploration, interference, and manifestation—that even his own disciple had not been able to easily accept.
-……
No, beyond that.
It was a talent surpassing even genius.
Of course, the pointed hat did not voice that impression aloud.
Whatever the reason may have been.
Jesse had finally erased her doubts about magic.
That was what made him feel hurt as her master.
She would not believe me no matter how many times I told her.
So how could she change her mind the moment she saw a man?
-My beloved disciple. All men are wolves!
Of course, it was a joke.
It was not because he was a man, but because he was a fellow adventurer.
Because an adventurer like herself had perfectly understood the concept of magic.
Jesse, too, must have been able to break through the wall of her prejudice.
-I can tell at a glance. Those sharp eyes and that arrogant manner of speaking. No doubt about it. That one is definitely a heartless bastard without a drop of blood or tears. He’s sure to make a woman suffer……
Tap—
At the sudden sound, the pointed hat, who had been fearlessly talking behind his back, flinched.
And it was then.
“Wow! I’m so jealous, Hoyeol-nim!”
The exclamation mark returned to Jesse’s eyes.
Jesse, who was in the middle of carrying out a mage class quest.
As she had gone in and out of the Magic Tower, she had naturally gotten a look at the mages’ laboratories.
“It’s much better than the skilled mages’ laboratories!”
But even Jesse had only been able to enter the lower floors of the Magic Tower.
In other words, the laboratories of apprentice and skilled mages at most.
So it was not strange for her to be amazed by Hoyeol’s laboratory.
“Sit and wait for a moment.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll wait!”
“Regrettably, I have no tea to offer.”
“……
Tea?”
“Rocket delivery does not reach the Magic Tower.”
……
What kind of tea did he mean?
Americano? Black tea?
Rocket delivery?
Was rocket delivery some new kind of magic?
She was curious, but Jesse held it in.
‘A carefully considered question……!’
She could not waste her chance to ask a question on such a trivial curiosity.
Jesse sat at the table for receiving guests and waited for Hoyeol.
Would staring too intently be rude?
Glance—
Beneath the pointed hat, Jesse discreetly rolled her eyes.
Scratch, scratch—
As soon as Hoyeol sat down at his desk, he picked up a quill pen.
Then he began writing something on the parchment without hesitation.
Jesse flinched.
‘Is he conducting research as soon as he returned?’
She wondered if she had disturbed him for no reason.
‘But he told me to wait……!’
Despite feeling apologetic, Jesse sat quietly and waited.
Afraid she might disturb him.
She no longer even turned her eyes toward Hoyeol.
But.
“?”
……
It was somehow too quiet.
At some point.
Even the scratching sound of the quill pen had stopped.
Still, she felt as though she had waited quite a long time.
Glance—
When she looked at Hoyeol, he was just as he had been.
His back straight against the chair.
The angles of his chin, neck, and arms in perfect balance.
Yes, there was not the slightest change in his posture from earlier.
“!”
But his eyelids were closed.
It was a posture that looked uncomfortable just to see.
At first, she had never imagined that he had fallen asleep.
She merely guessed that he might be meditating.
But when she focused her attention, she heard the sound of breathing.
……
Yes, Hoyeol was asleep.
In a perfectly upright posture without the slightest disarray.
‘As expected, today won’t work.’
Jesse carefully rose from her chair.
Then, as she was about to slip out of the laboratory, she stopped.
In front of the desk where Hoyeol was sleeping.
Glance. Jesse looked at Hoyeol’s face.
The sight of Hoyeol asleep was certainly new.
Shake, shake—
Only for a moment. Jesse shook her head.
‘……
This was rude of me!’
It was a relief she had not been caught!
Softly—
Only after Jesse closed the laboratory door did she take a deep breath.
Jesse whispered to the pointed hat, her master.
“To think you said he has no blood or tears. He’s so human.”
...
……
Did I doze off?
When I opened my eyes, I was still in the exact same posture.
It really hits me now that I overdid it.
In truth, all I did was place a spoon on a table someone else had already set.
And yet I am so weak I don’t even have the strength to lift that spoon.
‘……
Wait.’
Now that I think about it, something feels missing.
As though I had completely forgotten something……
Right, Jesse Hainnes.
“Good grief.”
Jesse was nowhere to be seen in the laboratory.
To think I had not even noticed her leaving.
Just how deeply had I fallen asleep?
When I checked the time, roughly five hours had passed.
……
I slept for five straight hours in this uncomfortable posture?
And yet there wasn’t a single place that felt stiff.
At this point, formality was dominating my body.
In any case, I had done Jesse wrong.
I had said I would answer her question, then fallen asleep.
‘This isn’t good.’
Jesse Hainnes.
My relationship with her was more important than with any other player.
There was nothing good about making an enemy of a top-ranked player.
But beyond her level, Jesse was someone who gave me inspiration.
‘To be precise, Jesse’s skill is what gives me inspiration.’
At any rate, when we meet next time, I should answer her as kindly as possible.
Because thanks to my pride, I am the type who cannot live while owing a debt.
“It is regrettable that I have no tea.”
……
I should also stock up on some green tea bags for guests.
At what point did I fall asleep?
I could tell by looking at the parchment.
At least I had managed to make the appraisal request before falling asleep.
A response to my request had appeared on the parchment.
-Understood. We will analyze in detail and report what kind of magic tools can be crafted with the items for which you requested appraisal, and whether they can meet your requirements.
My requirements were simple.
Above all else, the level restriction.
Even if I had to compromise on the effects, I needed magic tools and items I could use immediately.
Still, fortunately, by defeating the Seven Deadly Sin Greed, my level had risen by 50 all at once.
I added one line to that response.
-Cost is not an issue.
……
Isn’t this the worst possible line in a negotiation?
However, to the mages of the Magic Tower, as much as to Granfell, wealth and glory were meaningless.
They might fleece adventurers, but surely they would not rip off a fellow mage of the Magic Tower.
I shifted my gaze from the parchment.
Toward the pile of books stacked high on one side of the desk.
They were the magic texts I had requested from Marcelo under the pretext of research.
When I opened the book placed at the very top, truly, words still unfamiliar to me appeared.
“I see.”
Of course, what was even more unfamiliar was the sight of myself understanding such a book.
It did not require much effort to understand it.
The magic and concepts that had been presented at the regular conference.
Compared to those, this was childish.
Even so, the reason I needed such low-level magic texts was simple.
Because my level was terrible.
To put it simply, a bottomless jar.
That was exactly what I was.
Float—
A sphere of mana rose into the air.
The basic magic of pure mana studies, Light.
The most elementary of elementary skills, used to illuminate the surroundings.
The moment one changed class into a mage-type class.
It was one of the beginner skills they would learn.
The reason I was only now learning such a basic skill,
and not as a skill, but as magic?
Simple.
Because I was not a mage, but a demon hunter.
Of course, even the great mages of the Magic Tower would never imagine that I was a demon hunter.
Once again, the identity of my class came to mind.
But let’s think of it positively.
‘I’m building the fundamentals.’
I am plugging the hole in the bottom, let’s think of it that way.
Someone might say this.
That only now entering the beginner stage.
Was surely inefficient.
It was natural to have such doubts.
However, that only applied to skills.
Magic and skills were different.
Unlike skills, magic could be manifested creatively.
Like now.
Float, float—
I manifested Light repeatedly.
Before long, dozens of spheres of mana floated in the air.
Even if it was beginner magic, its essence was a mass of mana.
Once again, exploration, interference, manifestation.
If it went through that series of processes……
Whoosh—
The sphere of mana could become a ball of fire.
Crackle—
It could become a sphere of electricity.
Whooosh—
It could even become a small storm.
‘Of course, only within the range my mana can handle.’
Magic of different attributes.
Perhaps because I had manifested dozens at once.
……
The mana consumption was no joke!
At this rate, I would not be able to use it easily even when Natural Enemy was active.
I realized it again.
I was still terribly weak.
Even if I had risen quickly, I was only level 226.
It was a level so low that, under the weight of my heavy pride, it would not be strange for me to sink at any moment.
Likewise, this meant I lacked fundamentals here as well.
‘I really won’t have a moment to rest.’
If I want to plug the bottomless jars on both sides, that is.
What if I struggle so hard I get a cramp?
While I was having such a pointless worry.
Knock, knock—
“?”
Someone knocked on the door.
Who was it?
There was no need to ask.
Because at the same time, the quest window flickered.
[Quest: Marcelo’s Research]
The Magic Tower’s Chief Mage, Marcelo.
In order to reach a magic that has advanced by one dimension,
he wishes to work together with you.
—Accept Marcelo’s proposal. (Success)
—Prove your ability. (In Progress)
●Convince the majority of the senior mages. (0/20)
Yes, I thought things had been oddly quiet.
Chief Mage.
No matter how much he was the person with real power in the Magic Tower, that did not mean every mage would be convinced by Marcelo’s decision.
Moreover, was I not the very definition of a parachute appointee?
A performance test for a parachute appointee.
I had expected that much.
I said,
“Enter. Chief Mage Marcelo.”
The door opened, and Marcelo came in.
Somehow, he looked even more gaunt than before.
As soon as he opened the door, he seemed visibly startled.
……
Is it because of the smell?
Until just now, balls of fire had been flickering in the air.
If it was because of the burnt smell, I could understand why he was surprised.
Just imagine if I burned down the laboratory I was borrowing.
Whether it was me or Marcelo.
Just thinking of the amount we would have to compensate already horrified me.
I quickly changed the subject.
“I know why you have come to find me.”
“……
Ah, have you perhaps heard? I have no excuse.”
Marcelo truly seemed apologetic.
After catching his breath for a moment, he continued.
“It is all because of my position as Chief Mage. In order to take the seat of chief, the senior mages constantly demand that the Chief Mage prove his qualifications. This time is no different. Because I am lacking……”
I shook my head.
It was not to the point that I should receive an apology from the person who had let me parachute in.
“No, what is lacking is not you, but their faith.”
……
Well, it might be a little cringe-worthy.
But I am not an ungrateful bastard.
Besides, a position where one must prove oneself constantly, was it?
『To underestimation, he responded with proof. As for overestimation, he inevitably made it into reality.』
That, too, was a position familiar to Granfell.
I rose from my seat with an utterly calm heart.
Then added to Marcelo,
“Become accustomed to that seat. Chief Mage Marcelo.”
...
Marcelo stood frozen for a moment.
Magic traces.
The traces left behind by manifested magic.
The magic traces still drifting through the laboratory.
They spoke of just how complex the exploration and how advanced the interference that had been repeated here were before being manifested.
The moment he stepped into the laboratory.
That was exactly why Marcelo had flinched.
‘……
He manifested magic of this level simultaneously?’
Leaving aside whether the amount of mana was high or low, his understanding of magic was “strange” to an extraordinary degree.
However, Marcelo did not think deeply on it.
-No, what is lacking is not you, but their faith.
Because he could not become someone lacking faith himself.
Marcelo hurriedly followed after Hoyeol.
“I will guide you.”
He had never been like this even when presenting any of his own results.
For the first time, he found himself looking forward to the senior mages’ reactions.