Chapter 58

Duke's Magic Genius - Chapter 58 (58/324)

58

3rd day.

After the preliminary judging process was completed.

Heltin, who had come to report the results, quietly entered the study where the Duke was.

"Have you arrived?"

"Yes, Father."

Heltin then looked at Duke Meleos.

Magicians of the 7th Circle and above are called Archmages.

Meleos.

He was also an Archmage.

One of the five 7th Circle magicians in the Central Continent.

The Duke then looked at Heltin.

"How was the level of this tournament?"

"Judging from the preliminaries, it wasn't particularly high. This applied to both theory and practical skills. There were a few exceptions, though."

The Duke smiled at this.

"Most tournaments are like that. I've overseen about fifteen tournaments since becoming the head of the family, but I only thought the participants' level was high in two of them."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. The number of talented individuals is bound to be small. By the way, who are the notable ones you're referring to?"

In response to the Duke's question, Heltin immediately handed him a piece of paper. It was a document containing the details of the participants. As the Duke read through the document, his interest gradually grew.

"Hmm. Sinton. A variation of Fire Storm, you say? That's quite a good topic. Did you check the activation method?"

"Yes. After my retainers and I verified it, it activated without any issues. The power is much stronger than before, and the mana consumption has decreased."

"Good. If that's true, this boy might win the championship."

Fire Storm, a 4th Circle magic.

This was quite a high-level magic. Naturally, it would be difficult to modify. If this Sinton really succeeded in the modification, the winner of the magic formula category could be considered half-decided.

As the Duke read through the list of qualifiers starting with Sinton, a question arose in his mind.

"Kail Seltarion? Did I read that correctly? This boy passed the preliminaries? In the magic formula category?"

"Yes."

At this, Meleos let out a hollow laugh.

A few days ago.

When Duke Remton contacted him directly and mentioned Kail.

The Duke had understood it as a request for some leniency in the participation process due to his affection for his youngest son.

So, he made it easier for him to take the test.

He thought Kail was just a participant to gain some experience.

'But he passed the preliminaries?'

This was quite unexpected.

Heltin.

His son, but also a strict judge. If someone had mediocre skills, he would fail them immediately, even if they were the son of the Seltarion Duke.

"A variation of Fire magic. If you let him pass, he must have had something."

"Father, it's not just something. Take a look at this."

Heltin then immediately cast a spell.

As a flame shape appeared above his hand, Meleos' eyes began to sparkle.

"Not a typical Fire magic. Is this what Kail showed in the preliminaries?"

"Yes. After analyzing the activation method, we found that it has a surprisingly high versatility. With some attention to certain points, any magician could learn it."

Heltin then handed him a document.

Kail Seltarion.

A document where the boy had described his Fire magic.

Meleos slowly began to read the document.

Five pages in total.

As he read, Meleos' eyes filled with astonishment.

"Did he submit this during the judging process?"

"…Yes. That's correct."

"Indeed."

The reason for his reaction was simple.

The content of the document.

It almost entirely lacked an explanation of the theory behind the magic.

A single illustration of a human body.

And only a description of how to move mana and the points to be careful about.

'…'

If it weren't for the title, it would have been hard to tell that this was about Fire magic.

'What an interesting fellow.'

Most magicians would be obsessed with theory.

To cast a spell, one needed accurate calculations and a deep understanding of why the spell worked.

Magicians were a profession that lived and died by theory.

However, the content of this document was completely the opposite.

It only described the activation process.

There was almost no explanation of why the magic worked this way or how it was created.

'The existing explanations are just a patchwork.'

Just a few phrases that sounded plausible.

An ordinary magician might overlook it, but the Duke, being one of the top Archmages, immediately recognized it.

'Did he intentionally hide it?'

It was a possibility.

If one moved mana as described, they could use the magic.

But.

'They wouldn't understand the core.'

They wouldn't understand why moving mana in this way strengthened the magic.

1+1=2.

Like a reflexive agreement, they would use the magic without any thought.

At least, according to the content of this document.

"Heltin."

"Yes, Father."

"About the magic this boy created. Is this the only one?"

"I'm not sure. But… from what he said, there might be a few more."

At this, Meleos nodded.

The reason for only describing the method and glossing over the core.

There were two main possibilities.

He might have accidentally discovered it and didn't know, so he wrote it down this way.

'Or, if not…'

He might have written it this way to hide the secret of enhancing magic.

The Duke still couldn't be sure which was true.

Kail Seltarion.

A mere 1st Circle magician hiding an amazing secret in this document?

Even to him, it seemed a bit far-fetched.

After looking at the document for a while, the Duke tilted his head.

"By the way… the activation methods are mixed."

"…Pardon?"

"It seems to me that the activation method of an existing Fire magic and an unknown method are mixed together."

"…Is that true?"

"Yes. At first glance, it looks like a new activation method, but in fact, two methods are very cleverly blended. You and your retainers probably wouldn't have noticed it."

If he had overlooked it, he wouldn't have noticed this fact either.

The two methods were mixed so perfectly, with no room for error.

If it weren't for the magical knowledge he had accumulated over a lifetime as an Archmage.

'He would have just thought it was a new activation method.'

The reason he noticed it.

Faint traces of a familiar activation method were left throughout.

As the Duke thought about it, he immediately cast a spell.

*Whoosh!*

Flames bloomed in his hand.

"A fast, powerful, and highly versatile magic. If the precautions described in the document are followed, it will be a great help to lower-circle magicians."

"Yes. We plan to make it into a spellbook. By the way… Father."

"What is it?"

"You said the methods are mixed… Do you know anything about the mixed activation method?"

Heltin's question made the Duke shake his head.

Even Meleos, who had mastered almost all existing magics up to the 7th Circle, was seeing this activation method for the first time.

"No."

Heltin's eyes widened in surprise at the Duke's firm answer.

Duke Meleos.

If an Archmage like him didn't know the activation method, it could be considered the first public disclosure in the Central Continent.

"…Then, is it impossible to separate one of the two activation methods?"

At this, the Duke looked intently at Heltin.

He immediately understood his son's thoughts. The existing Fire magic activation method and the unknown method were mixed, resulting in a surprisingly powerful magic.

If they could separate the unknown method and use it to cast the spell?

He might have thought it could enhance many other spells.

However.

The Duke had guessed it was impossible from the moment he first saw the magic.

Looking at Heltin, he replied.

"It will be difficult. Distinguishing the two methods is hard. They are perfectly mixed, so separating one might ruin the whole thing. It might be possible if my knowledge deepens, but I doubt it."

Heltin's eyes widened in surprise.

Meleos.

Who was his father?

One of the five Archmages in the Central Continent.

If he said it was impossible,

Even if the entire family focused on this activation method, it would be impossible to separate the two methods.

"How did he come up with such an activation method…"

"Either luck or skill. Which one is it? When does the main tournament start?"

"Tomorrow."

"And when does the magic formula category start?"

"Probably… around 3 PM."

"Good. I'll participate in the judging process."

"…Pardon? You personally?"

Duke Meleos.

He had recently started passing the head of the family duties to Heltin and was not appearing at public events.

This was not only good for the transfer of power but also because he was not an active person.

Meleos Emilton.

He had a typical lifestyle of a shut-in magician.

But this time was different.

The Duke, with interest in his eyes, was looking at the list of qualifiers.

His gaze was fixed on the name Kail Seltarion.

"The others are just average, but… I need to see this boy's magic in person. Who knows? He might have a few more. And whether the activation methods of those spells are similar to this one…"

His eyes sparkled as he continued.

"If so, the study of magic might make a significant leap forward. I need to see it with my own eyes."

Heltin nodded heavily.

If the method used for Fire magic could be applied to other spells,

The study of magic could advance tremendously.

"I understand."

Thus, the name of the Archmage was added to the list of judges for the main tournament.