Chapter 62

Chapter 63 of the Viscount's Magical Genius (62/324)

63

Meleos.

In the game, he was a character I had encountered quite often.

He was originally in his early sixties, but as an Archmage, he looked incredibly young.

At first glance, he seemed to be around the same age as Remton.

That's why monsters like Sword Masters and Archmages can live until they're covered in wall paint.

As he took the seat he offered, the Duke began to speak.

"The magic you showed today was nothing short of revolutionary. I've been studying magic for over fifty years, and I've never seen such a magical formula. If you can create such excellent magical formulas at just twelve years old, your potential is truly limitless."

Meleos then stared at me intently.

"Frankly, I want to keep you here in the Duke's household. I want you to study magic with me for the rest of your life."

Oh, come on.

He says it's for research, but in reality, it would be imprisonment.

Why, just like a famous movie where someone was fed only pork buns for fifteen years. Of course, the menu here would be better, right?

As the Duke finished speaking, his eyes were filled with greed.

Do I really look that tempting?

Given that Meleos sees me as a once-in-a-lifetime magical genius, it's possible.

Anyway.

If things go according to this old man's desires, it would be quite troublesome.

After all, even without the Duke's help, creating new magic wouldn't be difficult.

There's no need to be locked up in a room to do research.

"That would be difficult."

At my words, Meleos smiled as if amused.

"I'm willing to offer a great deal. Your family is quite a distinguished one, but isn't it limited to swordsmanship?"

The Duke, making eye contact with me, continued.

"The support from a distinguished magical family will surpass your imagination. I promise you full support."

"I'm sorry, but don't you know why I participated in the tournament, Your Grace?"

"I do. But tell me, do you think your refusal has any meaning?"

Is this a threat?

As an Archmage, his pupils were quite transparent.

To the point where I couldn't read his intentions at all.

Meleos Emilton.

Behind the Archmage who dedicated his life to magic, there was a sense of fairness and justice.

He wasn't someone who would sell his conscience for magic.

If he were, he wouldn't have participated in the tournament.

So.

'He doesn't really want to imprison me, does he?'

If not, there's only one thing that comes to mind.

A test.

He might be subtly threatening me to gauge what kind of person I am.

With the Duke's power, it would be entirely possible to forcibly keep me here.

But in doing so, he would make an enemy of the Viscount's family.

'He wouldn't do that, would he?'

How the Duke reacts will likely depend on my response. Rather than relying on the prestige of my family, I should try to persuade him in a different way. After all, the Duke isn't swayed by the Viscount's power.

Looking at him, I said with certainty.

"I don't believe that magic is born solely from intensive research. Traveling the world, seeing and feeling many things—that's what I believe inspires new magic."

"Even if you study magic here, I would allow you to do that. What's so difficult about letting you travel?"

"That kind of half-freedom is not what I want. Besides... if I were to be trapped here and study magic, could I still produce magic as quickly as before? I don't think so."

"Hmm, a threat, is it?"

"You started it, Your Grace."

Our eyes met for a moment.

The old man's transparent eyes were quite intimidating, but I had no intention of looking away.

If I were to be trapped in the Duke's household, most of my plans would fall apart.

Even if I followed the plan precisely, I couldn't be sure if I could stop the villains.

Let alone if I were to lose my freedom and spend my life researching with the old man.

'I definitely couldn't stop them.'

In the end, it means everyone dies.

Since I have a reason not to back down, I won't give in to any threats from the Duke.

Moreover.

There's another reason I can stand my ground.

If I keep refusing, the Duke doesn't have many options.

Threats?

The only things he could threaten me with are my family or my life.

Threatening to destroy my family if I don't comply.

Threatening to kill me.

But my family isn't some weak noble house; it's a distinguished swordsmanship family.

Threatening my family is impossible.

So, at most, he could threaten my life.

'He can't really kill me.'

Would he kill a genius magician with a bright future, who knows what kind of formulas might emerge in the future?

A Duke who is obsessed with the study of magic?

'He wouldn't do such a foolish thing.'

So, threats won't work on me.

Perhaps because of my firm stance, Meleos smiled with interest.

"Interesting."

"What is?"

"Is it true that you've lived like a wild child?"

"In the past, yes."

"For someone who lived like that, your eyes are quite serious. Very distinct."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Yes, it is. By the way, aren't you afraid? I can extract your memories or even bewitch you."

Using high-level magic of the 6th Circle or higher would make it possible.

There were spells that could extract memories or bewitch the mind.

If I had only rudimentary magical knowledge, I might have fallen for that threat.

But I was different.

I knew the weaknesses of those spells all too well.

"High-level magic like that, while powerful, can't be used continuously. Usually, one use is enough to drive the target mad, right?"

Whether it's bewitching or extracting memories.

They're essentially one-time use.

Bewitching might last a few days before the target goes mad.

Extracting memories would melt the target's brain with just one use.

These are quite malevolent spells, often called forbidden magic. It seems the Duke knows about them.

Given that he's called the pinnacle of magic, he must have learned them.

But even that threat doesn't affect me.

I'm just a 1st Circle Mage publicly.

And while I have incredible knowledge in my head,

'That's a secret only I know.'

Would the Duke, who doesn't know this, use such malevolent magic on me?

If he did, I might go mad, and he would never see my new magical formulas again.

Even the Duke's family wouldn't let it go easily.

The youngest son of a distinguished swordsmanship family visiting a magical family and then meeting with an accident?

Erasing the traces of someone with my background has its limits, even for the Duke's family.

The Viscount's family would surely start a thorough investigation.

If they found any evidence,

There's a possibility the two families would clash.

If they let this slide, the Viscount's family's authority would plummet.

Would the Duke risk all that to use forbidden magic on me?

If he were the Duke I saw in the game,

'He wouldn't do it.'

It goes against his values.

And most importantly, he doesn't know about the knowledge I possess.

"If that happens, Your Grace won't get what you want. Why should I be afraid? Unless you're a 9th Circle Mage, which you're not, right?"

I smiled slightly, and his eyes sparkled.

"Do you know about those spells?"

"They're forbidden magic, aren't they?"

"…How did you know?"

Forbidden magic.

They can be considered a branch of magic from the ancient empire. Occasionally, magic books containing remnants of the ancient empire are found in dungeons or ruins on the continent, and these spells are among them.

They were banned because of their malevolent effects, such as erasing memories, bewitching the mind, or draining mana.

Most of these spells fall into those categories.

Probably only a few mages know about these spells.

After the magic books were discovered,

The high-ranking mages of the empire decided not to make them public.

They were too malevolent for human use. The Duke was one of the mages who made that decision.

That's why he's asking.

How a mere 1st Circle Mage knows about such knowledge.

My answer was prepared.

"I found it in an ancient book. It mentioned that such magic existed during the ancient empire."

If I saw it in a book, what can he do?

I then looked at Meleos.

"I'd like to get along well with Your Grace. There's no need for us to be enemies. If we both make some concessions, we can move in a positive direction. So, how about we have a more constructive conversation?"

There's no point in continuing this power struggle.

I have no intention of accepting the Duke's offer.

It's better to steer the conversation in a direction that benefits both of us.

Especially since, in a few years, I'll be busy fighting the villains.

The Duke and his retainers will serve as a shield against them.

There's no need to turn them into enemies.

The Duke, who had been sipping tea, chuckled.

"Are you really twelve years old?"

"I've never lied about my age."

"You're becoming more and more tempting. I was serious about what I said earlier. I wanted to study magic with you. Of course, I never intended to use forbidden magic."

He probably wouldn't.

Given his character, he wouldn't like such magic.

Meleos, looking at me, nodded.

"You have quite a bit of nerve. Good. Let's have a serious conversation. From now on, I'll treat you as a fellow tower master."

Treating me as a tower master.

It means he recognizes me and has given up on trying to make me a retainer.

It's good news for me.

Now we can have a more serious conversation.

I immediately asked Meleos.

"Besides what you mentioned, is there anything else you want from me?"

Usually, the more urgent party is the one who puts forward the conditions.

After thinking for a moment, he said,

"When do you plan to become independent?"

"It shouldn't take long."

After the succession ceremony, I plan to build a tower soon.

Meleos nodded.

"Your succession ceremony is coming up, so it should be soon."

"Yes."

"Do you have a location in mind for your tower?"

"I'm considering the eastern region."

The eastern region, where the Viscount's family is located.

Building a tower there would make it easier to get support from my backers.

The Duke then asked,

"Would you consider the western region instead of the east?"

His thoughts were obvious.

As the chairman of the Western Tower Council, he naturally wants to bring me to the west.

That way, he can further develop the western region's magic and elevate the status of the Western Tower Council.

He wouldn't ask me to come outright.

"If I go to the west, what will you offer me?"

Now it's time to hear the conditions.