◈ Episode 76. Nothing More Than Needless Concern (3)
Illusion magic.
A magic with ample potential, yet limits that were all too clear.
“In order to compensate for its extreme mana consumption, I attempted various variations during the interference process. Among them, I obtained several results that could be considered meaningful.”
Since he had personally reviewed it,
his disciple’s presentation was correct.
The clear limitation of illusion magic.
That lay precisely in its extreme mana consumption. ‘However, it cannot be helped.’ Yes, every magic had its limits.
But even if one had to accept an insurmountable limitation,
Nasrow sincerely believed that the value and potential of illusion magic were greater than those of other magic. ‘That is why I, Nasrow, chose it.’ It was not strange.
What was the position of a Senior Mage?
Those who deserved to be called the highest authority of their respective schools of magic.
In a way, it was only natural that they considered their own magic to be the best.
No, if they had not considered it the best and had harbored doubt,
they would never have risen to the position of Senior Mage in the first place.
Therefore,
it was not strange for Nasrow to be angry.
“Wh-what do you mean by that?”
“Accepting its limits. I asked whether that is truly the best you can do.”
“By limits, are you referring to its extreme mana consumption……?”
Even then, Nasrow had scoffed. ‘To bring up its limits.’ Enough to snort at Hoyeol.
That was not a criticism, but a clear mistake.
As stated, regardless of the field, all magic had limits. ‘You are making a self-destructive move.’ But Hoyeol’s next placement.
At that, Nasrow’s expression began to twist.
This was not a self-destructive move being thrown down. ‘How dare you……!’ It was a decisive move asking for a match.
“A shift in thinking is necessary. Do you truly believe illusion magic is a magic that creates something from nothing? If so, you fail from the very process of search.”
The reason Nasrow had been captivated by illusion magic?
It was simple.
Because illusion magic was a magic that could create what did not exist.
Unlike other magic, the target of search did not exist.
That was why its mana consumption could only be extreme. ‘And yet, what nonsense is he spouting?’ If one thought that way, one failed?
This was a statement that denied illusion magic itself!
However, Nasrow’s anger did not last long.
Hoyeol’s following words.
“As long as mana exists, there is no such thing as nothing in magic.”
The continuing placement.
Nasrow could not place a move against those words. ‘……He is right.’ If one traced it back, it was not wrong.
The target of search in illusion magic was mana itself.
That was why it had the limitation of mana efficiency.
“You must first discard the thought that only pure mana can serve as the target of search for illusion magic. Overcoming the limits of illusion magic begins with correcting that error in its search.”
To treat that as an error.
Even hearing it again, was he not denying illusion magic from its very foundation?
Nasrow endured it. ‘You will need to take responsibility for those words.’ Hoyeol had denied the essence of illusion magic.
Then he would have to present a basis for it.
If he could not, then that was nothing more than grasping at clouds.
Nasrow listened closely to what followed.
“The target of search may be light, or it may be the air in the atmosphere. Its efficiency would be superior to using mana as the target of search. Selecting an appropriate search target according to the surrounding environment. That, too, is an essential virtue in overcoming the limits of illusion magic.” ……
Light and air could become targets of search?
At those words, Nasrow flinched.
Likewise,
a skilled mage who understood what those words meant opened his mouth.
“B-but that means……?”
“Indeed. It would mean that outstanding talent in search is required.”
“Th-that!”
Nasrow fell silent. ‘There is reason in it.’ Yes, it was as Hoyeol said.
If one did not insist on mana as the target of search,
and instead selected the target of search according to the surrounding environment,
one might be able to overcome the limits of illusion magic. ‘Any target of search would be more efficient than pure mana.’ But it was by no means easy.
It meant that there would be not one or two search targets one had to grow accustomed to.
But Hoyeol’s next words followed.
“It is the illusion magic you chose. Grow accustomed to its weight.”
At those words, Nasrow felt as though he had been struck in the back of the head.
“……!”
Yes, the reason he had chosen illusion magic.
Because he had been certain that illusion magic surpassed other magic.
Because he had believed that illusion magic was what reigned above all other magic……!
To grow accustomed to the weight of such illusion magic.
It meant to acquire the ability to bear such illusion magic.
Naturally, that included what Hoyeol had mentioned just now. ‘Outstanding talent in search as well, I suppose.’ Nasrow looked at Hoyeol. ‘……How on earth?’ No matter how exceptional one’s knowledge of magic might be,
this was not a solution that could be presented without contemplation.
In other words,
it meant Hoyeol had seriously pondered illusion magic.
Nasrow thought, ‘Is he truly a mage?’ Because they were of the same kind, he could tell.
Mages were beings more selfish than anything else.
But Hoyeol was different.
After pondering, Nasrow murmured in a low voice.
“I have ended up owing you a debt, albeit unintentionally.”
The regular conference had only just begun.
Yet from the very start, Hoyeol had made not just a skilled mage,
but even a Senior Mage indebted to him.
*
“……What the hell is he talking about?”
“Search? Interference? And what’s manifestation supposed to be? Seriously!”
“Ah, what’s the translation function doing, not translating stuff like that!”
One sees only as much as one knows.
This time, they would not doze off.
Yet as though mocking their firm resolve,
sighs never left the players.
“Hey, Nam Taemin. Do you understand any of it? Cheolmin oppa, can you follow this?”
A mage-class player belonging to the Gaon Guild
asked into her earphones.
A hearty voice struck her eardrums.
—How would I know? Anyway, Hoyeol-ssi really is no joke.
—Right. I don’t know what he’s saying, but he gives off a real expert vibe.
—That must be why he’s treated as the chief even in the Magic Tower.
—The Magic Tower mages can’t even talk back to him, can they?
—Kya. We really worried about something that didn’t need worrying. Who do you think Hoyeol-ssi is! ……
Right, I should have known better than to ask a barbarian.
As mentioned, this place,
the Crystal Hall, was where players who had staked a great deal on this regular conference had gathered.
If, by any chance, they could receive a quest, clear that quest, and enter the Magic Tower like Hoyeol?
They would gain a point of contact with the Magic Tower.
That was, without question, an incredible quest reward.
Because of that, it was only natural for guilds to get involved.
“Everyone, say something. You all heard it, didn’t you?”
In other words, there were not just one or two players whispering into their earphones.
However, there was no way an answer would come back.
Even if the guild analysts clung to it,
what they could not understand remained incomprehensible.
—Search, interference, manifestaaation? What the hell is this bullshit? You just shout the skill name and it comes out. That’s magic!!
『Magic』 and [Skills]
were completely different.
Even Hoyeol had taken several days to realize that fact,
so there was no way the players could realize it just by putting their heads together.
However, there was one exception.
Jesse Heinness.
Was it because she was receiving Shining’s full support,
the number one guild in the rankings?
No, Jesse was not even wearing earphones.
That was right.
It was simply because she had a teacher called the Cone Hat,
and because she had experienced a meeting with Hoyeol.
“Wow.”
Even so,
not even Jesse was able to realize much.
Setting aside rift攻略, monster hunting, and everything else,
after spending all day poring over magic books,
search, interference, manifestation.
She had only just finally come to understand the structure of magic.
But that alone was enough.
“Amazing!”
Enough to recognize Hoyeol’s extraordinariness, that is.
The Cone Hat lamented as always.
—Teaching you every day is of no use, I see.
A single day.
A mere few hours.
This feeling that his disciple had been stolen away by a short exchange of questions and answers with Hoyeol.
But apart from that,
the Cone Hat had no choice but to acknowledge it.
—That is not within the realm of talent.
Simply evaluating something, and presenting a direction for improvement.
Between those two lay a difference as vast as heaven and earth.
It meant that talent was essential, and that time and contemplation were required.
The Cone Hat rustled.
—As expected, he is a man worthy of stimulating my interest.
A man who stimulated the interest of an archmage.
He wanted to tell the person himself
just how incredible a treatment he was receiving.
But it was merely vexing that he could not.
Still, it was not all that bad.
—It has been a long time since it felt like a proper conference.
Inquiry that did not settle for the present, but sought to break through limits.
It was a sight pleasing even to an archmage.
He wanted to tell them how incredible this was as well.
Unable to hold back, the Cone Hat whispered to his disciple.
—Disciple. Would you not place me upon that man’s head someday? With that prickly personality, he would not allow such a thing, of course. But excuses depend on how one makes them, do they not? Yes. Let us use an excuse like in that magic school movie! Since I, too, can speak like that hat, it would not be a lie……
However, the Cone Hat soon trailed off.
The next presentation.
It was because Hoyeol, who had been silent, opened his mouth once more.
“I have a question.”
“……!”
“Even if their appearances are similar, there are countless elixir herbs whose effects and mechanisms are entirely different. For example, the Ragrari leaf and the Caniria petal.”
A posture more upright than anything else, without even crossing his legs.
And a manner of speaking that was more upright than his posture,
without the slightest attempt to speak indirectly.
“The two elixir herbs are identical in appearance and even in habitat, but their effects are clearly different. Do you believe the cultivation method you presented can propose a common cultivation effect for all elixir herbs, including those two?”
At that question, the Cone Hat could not help but be astonished. —……Even knowledge of elixir herbs?
As mentioned, this was not something possible through talent alone.
It required time and serious contemplation.
One unbelievable possibility led to another.
—Could it be that he has reviewed every study being presented at the regular conference……!
And not only reviewed them beforehand,
but thought about them to the extent that he could even propose directions for improvement?
Yes, one sees only as much as one knows.
That was why the Cone Hat was not the only one in shock.
“!”
Starting with Nasrow,
the Senior Mage of the School of Healing, Bellier Yusia,
Curtain, Maia, and Garfield as well.
“!!!”
As the presentations continued,
and the more Hoyeol spoke,
their shock could only grow.
The emotions that had piled up during the preliminary verification?
The unfriendly gazes they had sent toward Hoyeol?
Such feelings had long since vanished.
Rather, it was enough to make some Senior Mages reflect on themselves. ‘That is an idea even I, a Senior Mage, could not think of……!’ ‘Does this mean that man has contemplated more than I have?’ ‘I’m ashamed. I don’t even have the qualifications to be a Senior!’ However,
as though gazes had never been of concern to him from the beginning,
there was not the slightest change in Hoyeol’s complexion.
Hoyeol merely called the next presenter.
“Next. Senior Mage, Bangrit Tom.”
*
A fish in water.
Surely this was the kind of situation that saying referred to.
I was not attending the regular conference merely as someone watching from the sidelines,
but as the chief and the host.
I ought to be feeling the weight of that. ‘But every time I open my mouth…….’ Truly, I was showing off like a fish in water!
In other words, I was nitpicking every single study.
From the standpoint of those presenting,
how obnoxious must I look? ‘Let’s put myself in their shoes.’ That made me realize all the more that I was doing something awful.
This was basically a professor, or a boss at work, finding fault with every little thing, wasn’t it?
And as if that weren’t enough, what? Is that the best you can do? ‘Of course it’s their best. That’s why they’re presenting it at the conference!’ Maybe I was a fish in water, but among fish, I was a loach.
You know, like how one loach muddies the water.
My presence at the conference was even worse than that loach.
But shamelessly, I thought, ‘If they don’t like it, then don’t make me do it next time.’ Yes, better to become a lunatic than to be half-hearted.
As I had resolved, let’s finish this conference shamelessly.
Still, the fortunate thing was
that at least I was not spouting nonsense. ‘All that suffering was worth it.’ I mean, all that time living with every kind of book in my hands.
Back when I knew nothing about magic.
For example, during the previous regular conference.
Back then, truly, I had relied on Grandfell’s talent and babbled as I pleased.
But now, at least there was something in my head. ‘Of course, I studied all of it so I could survive…….’ Whether I had it or not,
the knowledge I had accumulated in order to use every last thing had helped.
Of course, the problem was that it helped me show off. ─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat) ▲ ●Proceed with the verification in Topaz Hall. (Success) ●Successfully conduct the regular conference. (In Progress) …….
Anyway, both the regular conference and the quest are almost over now.
I called the last presenter.
“Next. Senior Mage, Bangrit Tom.”
Senior Mage of Pure Mana Studies, Bangrit Tom.
He was the only Senior Mage presenting research at this regular conference.
I had heard that he prepared a presentation to reform
the continued slump of the Pure Mana School.
Senior Mages and above were not subjected to preliminary verification,
so I had not seen his face. ‘But I can imagine how he feels.’ Bangrit Tom.
I remembered him because of a bribe.
—“I am Bangrit Tom, Senior Mage of Pure Mana Studies. I came to offer my congratulations and, though it is modest, a token of my sincerity. May I come in for a moment?”
The moment I had been acknowledged by all the Senior Mages,
the one who knocked on the door of my laboratory had been Bangrit Tom. ‘His position must be precarious enough to try clinging to a parachute appointment.’ ……
Somehow, I had a feeling no kind words would come out.
In a way, my prediction hit the mark.
As a result, I was unable to open my mouth.
Silence—
Even though I called his name, Bangrit did not appear in the Crystal Hall. At some point, Bangrit Tom had vanished from the Crystal Hall.
The Senior Mages began to murmur.
“Where did he go?”
“I’m certain he was over there at the very end until just now…….”
“Did some urgent matter come up?”
“What matter could be more urgent than the conference!”
The murmuring grew louder.
The wait continued.
However, there was no sign of Bangrit appearing.
I rose from my seat.
Bangrit Tom.
What circumstances had befallen him,
I could not know.
But one thing was certain.
This was the regular conference that I was hosting.
I had a quest objective to complete the conference successfully.
My pride could not tolerate such a variable.
Amid gazes focused on me,
I opened my mouth.
“According to that procedure……”