Chapter 28

A giant bear with a body length of three meters appeared. The people in the training ground were shocked and then terrified.

Ordinary bears might not have caused such fear, but the giant bear, a magical beast, seemed to instinctively evoke terror, and most people turned pale.

The exceptions were Isarco, Duke Octavius, and Ricardo.

At this moment, Ricardo was thinking that it was a good thing he had entrusted Monta to Patrick.

Remigio, who had summoned the Dual-Horned Armored Bear, had run out of magic power and was slumped on the ground.

The Dual-Horned Armored Bear was looking down at Remigio. It seemed to recognize its summoner and glared at him with eyes full of anger, as if to say, "Why did you summon me to such a place?"

Suddenly, the giant bear roared and began to charge at Remigio.

"No way!"

The duke's anguished cry rang out.

Ricardo scattered a catalyst while the Dual-Horned Armored Bear was glaring at Remigio and began to chant a spell.

"Fasnal [Fire and Water] · Ganubador · Sperogoma"

The magic of the [Molten Flame Bullet] activated, and a lump of molten lava hit the bear's shoulder just as its claws were about to reach Remigio.

By changing the incantation to "Fasnal [Fire and Water]," the [Molten Flame Bullet] became more powerful, cracking the bear's shoulder bone and burning its wire-like fur with intense heat.

The Dual-Horned Armored Bear let out a scream and began to roll on the ground, trying to scrape off the molten lava that was stuck to its shoulder.

Ricardo grabbed Remigio by the collar and dragged him back, putting about ten meters of distance between them.

The duke's guards ran over, lifted Remigio onto their shoulders, and began to evacuate with the duke.

Looking around, the examinees and examiners were all rushing towards the training ground's exit, screaming and trying to escape.

The only ones who remained were Ricardo, Isarco, and Tania.

The councilor, Reuben, who had been with the duke, had also fled and was nowhere to be seen.

Surprisingly, the royal scout had also run away. It seemed they were not a combat mage but rather an administrative official.

"Tania, you should evacuate too," Isarco said while glaring at the Dual-Horned Armored Bear.

"Councilor, I am a fully-fledged mage. I will fight with you," Tania refused and took out a catalyst. Isarco sighed and looked at Ricardo.

"Ricardo, you should evacuate too."

Ricardo took out a catalyst for the [Explosive Scatter Spear] and smiled wryly.

"I wish I could, but from the way it's angry, it will definitely chase us. It's better to fight here."

The sound of chanting spells could be heard. Tania was about to cast an [Explosive Flame Bullet].

A ball of fire formed at the tip of Tania's magic rod and flew towards the Dual-Horned Armored Bear. The ball of fire exploded on the bear's back as it was rolling on the ground.

The explosion of the [Flame Soaring Bullet] felt like a fire expanding, while the [Explosive Flame Bullet] felt like a dynamite explosion.

In terms of power, the [Explosive Flame Bullet] was far superior. However, the bear's thick fur absorbed the explosion's power, and it didn't seem to have taken much damage.

Isarco realized that he hadn't inflicted much damage on the Dual-Horned Armored Bear.

"Do you have a catalyst for the [Earth Blast Spear]?"

Isarco asked Tania.

"I just came to watch the exam. I don't have such a dangerous catalyst."

Isarco and Tania each had only one catalyst pouch on their waists. Most of the contents were healing catalysts for injuries, and there were only a few attack magic catalysts.

The Dual-Horned Armored Bear, having scraped off the molten lava, revived and glared at Ricardo with intense anger.

It kicked the ground with its four legs and charged at Ricardo with incredible speed.

Ricardo cast the [Explosive Scatter Spear] as a counter. The giant stone spear that formed in the air hit the Dual-Horned Armored Bear's chest and exploded. The wound was large, and blood dripped down.

While the giant bear was enduring the pain, Ricardo backed away to gain some distance.

"The [Explosive Scatter Spear] can't finish it off. To inflict a fatal wound, we need a high-level magic. ...But if we hit a vital spot..."

While Ricardo was thinking about how to finish it off, Isarco cast the [Heavy Wind Hammer] and blew the giant bear away.

However, the Dual-Horned Armored Bear jumped up energetically and roared in anger.

Isarco grumbled, wondering if anyone would come to help.

Ricardo took out two catalysts for the [Explosive Scatter Spear] from his catalyst pouch and threw them to Tania.

"These are for the [Explosive Scatter Spear]. Use them."

"Can we finish it off?"

"I'll stop its movement. Aim for the neck or head."

Tania nodded and gave one of the catalysts to Isarco.

"Stop its movement? ...What does he plan to do?"

Isarco asked Tania, but Tania also didn't know what Ricardo was planning.

The Dual-Horned Armored Bear slowly approached. Its gaze was fixed on Ricardo's every move, ready to pounce if he made any strange movements.

Ricardo realized he was extremely thirsty. The Dual-Horned Armored Bear looked like a monster from a nightmare.

He quickly scattered the catalyst and chanted the spell rapidly.

"Amsnal [Earth and Water] · Hyginuska · Graszbayz"

The giant bear, realizing Ricardo was about to cast a spell, stood on its hind legs and tried to bring its vicious claws down on Ricardo's head.

At that moment, the spell took effect. The ground beneath the Dual-Horned Armored Bear turned into a muddy swamp, and its massive body was dragged into the mud, burying it up to its chest.

Isarco and Tania stood there, stunned.

"Finish it off!"

Ricardo shouted, and both of them snapped out of their daze and cast their spells.

Isarco's [Explosive Scatter Spear] hit the giant bear's head, and Tania's [Explosive Scatter Spear] hit its neck, exploding and shattering its eyes and brain.

The giant bear, which had been thrashing in the mud, gradually lost its strength and stopped moving.

"Did we finish it off?"

Tania asked in a hoarse voice.

"Yes, it seems to be dead."

Isarco let out a deep breath and approached the Dual-Horned Armored Bear, touching the muddy ground. The mud, which had lost its magical effect, was rapidly drying out, leaving the bear buried.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Ricardo frowned and replied.

"[Mud Bind]... It's a composite magic of [Earth] and [Water]."

Isarco and Tania's faces showed surprise.

"Wait, composite magic...?"

Isarco thought for a moment and then laughed.

"I see... It was you."

Tania looked at Isarco with a puzzled expression.

"Massimo's thesis. I thought it was strange. A foolish young man couldn't have written such a thesis."

"Wait, you mean Ricardo wrote that thesis?"

Tania exclaimed.

"Since that thesis, Massimo's research hasn't progressed at all. Yet, Ricardo has shown us new composite magic. Do you understand what this means... Ricardo's research on composite magic is more advanced."

"So, the leading expert in composite magic is Ricardo?"

"Yes, there was a possibility of Alessandro, Massimo's teacher, but a person from the countryside couldn't have written such a magical thesis."

Tania looked at Ricardo with an appraising gaze.

Ricardo sighed deeply.

"I thought it was only a matter of time before it was discovered, but I didn't expect to be found out before becoming a mage."

"Sure enough, it was you. ...Now, confess everything."

Tania treated Ricardo like a suspect. Isarco chuckled, held Tania back, and asked Ricardo for an explanation.

Ricardo explained that he had a debt to Alessandro and had given Massimo, his cousin, an unfinished magical thesis.

Isarco argued that the truth should be made public and the honor given to Massimo should be returned to Ricardo.

"I don't have any evidence since the magical thesis I wrote is in Massimo's hands."

"Hmm... I see. If there's no evidence, then write a new thesis on composite magic. You should be able to achieve the same level of honor as Massimo."

Ricardo smiled wryly.

"If I join the Research Bureau, I'll be bothered by factional disputes and pressured to write the next thesis."

Tania glared at Ricardo.

"What... You don't want to join the Research Bureau? It's an honor."

"But there haven't been any new discoveries or excellent theses published by the Research Bureau recently, have there?"

Isarco and Tania grimaced simultaneously.

"You hit a sore spot. It's true, but if you want to research magic, the Research Bureau has better reference materials and facilities."

Ricardo shook his head and refused.

"But don't you need the director's permission to research what you want?"

"Yes, but if you're an excellent talent, you should be given permission to research your desired field."

Isarco's words were hard to believe. The Mage Guild was looking for powerful attack magic. Ricardo had never heard of anyone researching magic to make life more convenient.

If Ricardo said he wanted to research magic to make life more convenient, it was uncertain whether he would get permission.

When he told Isarco and Tania this, they were speechless and didn't say it would be okay.

By then, mages from the Elimination Bureau had rushed in.

Seeing Isarco, they approached.

"Did Councilor Isarco finish it off?"

"No, we did it together."

It was Isarco and Tania's [Explosive Scatter Spear] that finished it off, but Ricardo had led the battle.

Seeing Ricardo's troubled face, Isarco decided not to reveal the truth.

After that, onlookers started to gather, so Ricardo returned to the employee dormitory.

The practical exam was postponed to the next day.

The next day, Ricardo passed the practical exam with safe magic.

The magic he demonstrated included the upper-level [Flowing Water Blade], the lower-level [Explosive Scatter Spear], and the upper-level [Shattering Rain].

The results were announced the following day. With an average score of over 70 points, including the written exam, Ricardo passed the Mage Certification Exam.

Those who passed the exam received a copper certification tag, the mark of a mage. The tag was inscribed with the Mage Guild's recognition of Ricardo as a mage.

Surprisingly, Remigio also passed. The duke's influence seemed to be effective even within the Mage Guild.

After receiving the certification tag, Remigio approached Ricardo.

"Hey, I'll say thanks, but I could have repelled a Dual-Horned Armored Bear without your help. Don't boast too much."

It seemed the duke had ordered Remigio to say thanks properly. There was little gratitude in his words, but Ricardo accepted it philosophically.

Ricardo joined the Mage Guild as planned.

He wanted the identity card the Mage Guild would issue, but he also felt a bond with Sydney, Robson, Patrick, and Tania and didn't want to leave.

Especially the students like Sydney, whose magical talents were just beginning to grow, he didn't want to abandon them.

Isarco and Tania kept the secret of the composite magic and assigned him to the Miscellaneous Bureau as he wished. Six people were assigned to the Miscellaneous Bureau, and surprisingly, Remigio was also among them.

Given the problems he caused, he couldn't be assigned to the Research Bureau from the start.

Ricardo would have preferred if Remigio had been assigned to the Research Bureau, but it seemed the Mage Guild wanted to appear fair in their assignments.

After receiving a new identity card and being freed from Alessandro's restrictions, Ricardo started thinking about returning to his hometown, Unius Village.

In this country, children who go to work don't return home for two years to adapt to their new environment. It had been about two years since Ricardo left Unius Village.

He was scheduled to start working at the Miscellaneous Bureau in a month, so he had time to return home.

A few days after becoming an official mage, Ricardo received a message from Bernaldo and went to his mansion.

Meeting Bernaldo at the mansion, they moved outside the city. They headed towards the sea from the Second South Gate.

"Kikyue" (It smells strange)

Monta, who had poked his head out of the shoulder bag, was sniffing the air. Monta seemed to have grown a bit. His body, which was as small as a newborn kitten, had grown larger.

"It must be the smell of the sea."

Monta had traveled by ship with Ricardo to the capital when he was a newborn, so he should know the smell of the sea, but he didn't seem to remember it well.

"Kukyo Kue" (What is the sea?)

"You'll see it soon."

Monta climbed onto Ricardo's shoulder and looked forward, his fluffy tail standing straight and swaying in the sea breeze.

A beautiful sandy beach came into view.

Bernaldo pointed to a place where four stakes were driven into the ground, looking at a map-like object.

"The area surrounded by the stakes is Ricardo's land."

This land was given to Ricardo as payment for selling two Damir-made magic rods to the Boniperti Duke. The Duke, pleased with the magic rods, had generously given him more land than expected.

The land was cheap because it was outside the city walls and not suitable for farming. It was a vast 30 hectares, with a sandy beach, grassland, and a coniferous forest.

"Since you said you wanted land for experiments, we chose this place. Is it really okay?"

"Yes, it's perfect. I wanted to conduct experiments with magical trees, so this kind of place is better."

Bernaldo looked puzzled, but Ricardo was satisfied.

He thought this place would be suitable for grafting experiments using magical trees as rootstocks.

He had considered conducting experiments in the city, but decided to do them outside the city in case the trees escaped.

However, most of the land around the capital was owned by the royal family, and it required the authority of a noble to purchase it. So, he asked the Boniperti Duke to help him get land near the sea outside the city walls in exchange for the magic rods.

Incidentally, the reason he chose land near the sea was that the land around the capital became more fertile and suitable for farming as you moved east from the west, where the sea was. The land near the sea on the west side was cheaper. Indeed, the eastern side of the capital was used for farmland, and the land prices were more than ten times higher.

Ricardo looked around the coniferous forest that had become his land.

He thought he could start by building a small experimental breeding ground surrounded by a low fence and a simple hut. Ricardo felt a bit excited about it himself.

Chapter 1: The End of the Mage's Apprentice Edition