Chapter 76

◈ Chapter 76. It's Just a Rumor (3)

Illusion magic.

It has ample potential, but its limitations are all too clear.

"I attempted various variations during the interference process to compensate for the extreme mana consumption. And from those, I obtained a few results that could be given some meaning."

To the extent that he had personally examined it.

The disciple's presentation was correct.

The clear limitation of illusion magic.

It was the extreme mana consumption.

'However, it's an inevitable matter.'

Yes, every magic has its limitations.

But even if it means accepting insurmountable limitations.

The value and potential of illusion magic are greater than other magics.

Nasrou thought sincerely.

'That's why I, this Nasrou, chose it.'

It wasn't a strange thing.

What is the position of a senior magician?

They are the highest authorities in their respective schools of magic.

It was only natural that they would consider their magic the best.

No, if they couldn't consider it the best and harbored doubts.

They wouldn't have been able to reach the position of a senior magician.

So.

It wasn't strange for Nasrou to be angry.

"What, what do you mean by that?"

"Recognizing the limitations. I'm asking if that is truly the best option."

"By limitations, do you mean the extreme mana consumption...?"

Up until that point, Nasrou had sneered.

'Talking about limitations.'

He had even snorted at Ho-ryul.

That was a clear mistake, not a criticism.

As he had said, every magic has limitations, regardless of the field.

'You're making a blunder.'

However, the next move by Ho-ryul.

Nasrou's expression began to twist.

This wasn't a reckless move.

'How dare you...!'

It was a challenge to confront.

"A change in thinking is necessary. Do you really think that illusion magic is a magic that creates something from nothing? If so, your exploration process is already a failure."

Nasrou was fascinated by illusion magic for a simple reason.

Illusion magic was a magic that could create something from nothing.

Unlike other magics, there was no exploration target.

That's why the mana consumption was inevitably extreme.

'But what are you babbling about?'

If you think that way, it's a failure?

This is a denial of illusion magic itself!

However, Nasrou's anger didn't last long.

The next words from Ho-ryul.

"As long as mana exists, there is no such thing as nothing in magic."

The continuous moves.

Nasrou couldn't counter this.

'...It's correct.'

Going back, it wasn't a wrong statement.

The exploration target of illusion magic was mana itself.

That's why there was a limitation in mana efficiency.

"Only by discarding the idea that only pure mana can be the exploration target of illusion magic can we begin to overcome its limitations. It starts with correcting the error in exploration."

To treat it as an error.

Even when heard again, it was a denial of the foundation of illusion magic.

Nasrou endured.

'This statement requires responsibility.'

Ho-ryul, who had denied the essence of illusion magic.

He needed to provide evidence.

If he couldn't, it would be mere empty talk.

Nasrou listened to the next words.

"The exploration target can be light or the air in the atmosphere. It would be more efficient than using mana as the exploration target. Selecting the appropriate exploration target based on the surrounding environment is also essential to overcoming the limitations of illusion magic."

...Light and air as exploration targets?

Nasrou was taken aback by this statement.

Similarly.

A skilled magician who understood the meaning of the words spoke.

"Bu, but, what do you mean...?"

"Yes. It means that excellent exploratory skills are required."

"Th, that's right!"

Nasrou remained silent.

'It makes sense.'

Yes, it was as Ho-ryul said.

Without insisting on mana as the exploration target.

If the exploration target is selected based on the surrounding environment.

It might be possible to overcome the limitations of illusion magic.

'Any exploration target would be more efficient than pure mana.'

But it wouldn't be an easy task.

It meant that there were many exploration targets to become familiar with.

However, the next words from Ho-ryul.

"Since you chose illusion magic, get used to its weight."

Nasrou felt as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

"..."

Yes, the reason he had chosen illusion magic.

He had a firm belief that illusion magic was superior to other magics.

He thought that illusion magic reigned over other magics...!

To get used to the weight of such illusion magic.

To have the ability to handle such illusion magic.

Of course, it included the excellent exploratory skills mentioned earlier by Ho-ryul.

'Excellent exploratory skills are included, right?'

Nasrou looked at Ho-ryul.

'...How exactly?'

No matter how excellent his magical knowledge was.

This was a solution that couldn't be proposed without deep consideration.

In other words.

It meant that Ho-ryul had seriously considered illusion magic.

Nasrou thought.

'Really, is he a magician?'

He could tell because they were of the same race.

Magicians were incredibly selfish beings.

But Ho-ryul was different.

Nasrou, who had been pondering, muttered softly.

"I've inadvertently incurred a debt."

The regular meeting had just started.

From the very beginning, it had made a skilled magician and even a senior magician incur a debt.

*

"...What the hell is he saying?"

"Exploration? Interference? What's manifestation? Really!"

"Ah, what's the point of the translation function if it doesn't translate this?"

You see things based on what you know.

This time, I won't fall asleep.

Despite the firm resolve.

Sighs from the players didn't stop.

"Hey, Nam Taemin. Do you understand anything? Does Hyunmin-oppa understand?"

A Gaon Guild player, a magician class.

She asked into her earphones.

A hearty voice hit her eardrums.

-How would I know? Still, Ho-ryul is really something.

-Yeah. Even if I don't understand, I can feel the expertise.

-That's why he gets the top treatment at the magic tower.

-The magic tower magician couldn't even counter.

-Kya. I really should have been worried. Who is Ho-ryul!

...Yeah, I should have asked the barbarian.

As mentioned, this place.

Players gathered in the Crystal Hall had high hopes for this regular meeting.

If they could get a quest and clear it to join the magic tower like Ho-ryul?

It would mean a connection with the magic tower.

It was an incredible quest reward.

That's why the guilds were naturally attached to it.

"Everyone, say something. You all heard it, right?"

So, the players whispering into their earphones weren't just one or two.

But there was no way they would get a response.

Even if the guild analysts were hanging on.

They couldn't understand it either.

-Exploration, interference, manifestation? What the hell is this? Magic is just about shouting skill names!

『Magic』 and [Skill] are completely different.

It took Ho-ryul days to realize this.

There was no way the players could realize it by putting their heads together.

However, there was one exception.

Jesse Haines.

The top-ranked guild.

Receiving full support from Shining?

No, Jesse wasn't even wearing earphones.

That's right.

She had only a cap as a teacher.

And the experience of a meeting with Ho-ryul.

"Woah."

Even so.

Jesse didn't understand much.

Putting aside the crack in the wall, monster hunting, and other matters.

After spending the whole day reading magic books.

Exploration, interference, manifestation.

She had only just begun to understand the structure of magic.

But that was enough.

"Amazing!"

To realize Ho-ryul's extraordinary nature.

The cap sighed as usual.

-Teaching every day is useless.

Just one day.

A few hours.

The feeling of having his disciple taken away by the short Q&A with Ho-ryul.

But apart from that.

The cap had to admit.

-This isn't a matter of talent.

Just evaluating and suggesting improvements.

There's a world of difference between the two.

It means that talent is essential, and time and consideration are required.

The cap was agitated.

-Indeed, a man who stimulates my interest.

A man who stimulates the interest of a great magician.

He wanted to tell the person directly how significant the treatment was.

But it was frustrating that he couldn't.

Still, it wasn't too bad.

-It feels like a proper meeting for once.

The pursuit to break through limits without being satisfied with the current state.

It was a satisfying scene even for a great magician.

He wanted to tell how significant it was.

Unable to hold back, the cap whispered to his disciple.

-Disciple, could you put me on that man's head someday? He might not allow it with his prickly personality. But, isn't it up to how you make excuses? Yeah, let's make excuses like in those magic school movies! I can talk like that cap, so it's not a lie...

But the cap soon trailed off.

The next presentation.

Ho-ryul, who had been silent, spoke again.

"I have a question."

"..."

"There are countless medicinal herbs that look similar but have completely different effects and mechanisms. For example, Lagrari leaves and Canaria petals."

An upright posture, without even crossing his legs.

And he didn't beat around the bush.

A straightforward way of speaking, even more so than his posture.

"Both medicinal herbs have the same appearance and habitat, but their effects are clearly different. Do you think the cultivation method you presented can provide a common cultivation effect for all medicinal herbs, including these two?"

The cap was shocked.

-...Knowledge about medicinal herbs too?

As mentioned, this wasn't something possible with talent alone.

It required time and serious consideration.

The possibility that he had considered all the research presented at the regular meeting...

-Not only reviewing it but also suggesting improvements?

Had he been considering it all along?

Yes, you see things based on what you know.

So, it wasn't just the cap who was shocked.

"!"

Starting with Nasrou.

The senior magician of the healing school, Bellie Yushia.

Curtain, Maia, Gaffield, and others.

"!!!"

As the presentation continued.

The more Ho-ryul spoke.

The shock only grew larger.

The emotions built up from the pre-verification?

The unfriendly looks sent to Ho-ryul?

Such emotions had long disappeared.

It even made some senior magicians reflect.

'This is a thought I, a senior, couldn't come up with...!'

'Does this mean he has considered more than I have?'

'I'm ashamed. I don't deserve to be a senior!'

However.

It seemed that Ho-ryul didn't care about the looks.

His expression didn't change at all.

Ho-ryul simply called the next presenter.

"Next. Senior Magician, Bangrit Tom."

*

Like a fish in water.

This must be the phrase for such a situation.

Not just a passive observer.

Attending the regular meeting as the chief and organizer.

I should feel the weight of it.

'Every time I open my mouth...'

I really am like a fish in water!

It means I'm nitpicking each research.

From the perspective of the presenter.

How annoying must I look?

'Try to see it from their perspective.'

So, it feels even more like I'm doing something I shouldn't.

It's like a professor or a boss nitpicking everything, isn't it?

Not only that, what? Is this the best?

'They must have presented it at the meeting because they thought it was the best!'

I might be a loach among fish.

Why? Because a single loach can muddy the water.

My presence at the meeting was more than a loach.

But I thought shamelessly.

'If you're annoyed, don't ask me next time.'

Yes, it's better to be a madman than to be half-hearted.

I decided to shamelessly finish the meeting.

At least, it's fortunate that.

I didn't just spout nonsense.

'It was worth the effort.'

The effort of reading countless books.

When I knew nothing about magic.

For example, the last regular meeting.

If I had just spouted nonsense based on Granfel's talent back then.

But now, I have something in my head.

'Of course, I studied for my own survival...'

Whether it's useful or not.

The knowledge I accumulated to use everything was helpful.

Of course, the problem was that it helped me be a know-it-all.

-Weight of the Chief (Repeat)▲

●Proceed with verification at the Topaz Hall. (Success)

●Successfully conduct the regular meeting. (In progress)...

Anyway, the regular meeting and the quest are almost over.

I called the last presenter.

"Next. Senior Magician, Bangrit Tom."

Senior Magician of Pure Mana, Bangrit Tom.

The only senior magician presenting research at this regular meeting.

The continuous decline of the Pure Mana school.

I heard he prepared a presentation to revitalize it.

Senior magicians don't go through pre-verification.

I couldn't see his face, but.

'I can guess how he feels.'

Bangrit Tom.

I remembered him as a bribe.

-"I am Senior Magician of Pure Mana, Bangrit Tom. I came to offer congratulations and a small token of my appreciation. May I come in for a moment?"

The moment when I received recognition from all senior magicians.

It was Bangrit Tom who knocked on my lab door.

'He must be in a precarious position, willing to try anything.'

...I have a feeling that I won't say anything nice.

My prediction was somewhat accurate.

In the end, I couldn't say anything.

Silence—

Even after I called him, Bangrit didn't appear in the Crystal Hall. His figure had been missing from the Crystal Hall for some time.

The senior magicians murmured.

"Where did he go?"

"He was definitely at the end of the row just now..."

"Well, maybe he had an urgent matter?"

"What urgent matter could be more important than the meeting!"

The murmurs grew louder.

The waiting continued.

But there was no sign of Bangrit appearing.

I stood up from my seat.

Bangrit Tom.

What situation he was in.

I couldn't know.

But one thing was certain.

This is a regular meeting I'm organizing.

I have a quest goal to successfully complete the meeting.

My pride couldn't tolerate such a variable.

Under the watchful eyes.

I opened my mouth.

"According to the procedure..."