Chapter 67

Duke's Magic Genius - Chapter 68 (67/324)

68

The boy's talent was quite impressive.

Magic Circuitry.

When crafting artifacts, one must engrave magic circuits.

This talent helped to engrave those circuits more finely and accurately.

Additionally, Alchemy allowed him to instinctively find the right ratios when manufacturing items like potions.

Combined with Magic Research,

‘This guy is just a bookworm, isn’t he?’

It’s hard to say.

Items of moderate quality that I find too troublesome to make myself.

If he were to oversee the production and management of such magical items, he could show quite good efficiency and be a valuable talent.

Moreover, his other trait was also quite impressive.

Diligence.

It simply meant he worked hard.

Because of this trait, he was able to reach the 4th Circle at a young age.

Of course, when I saw the phrase "ambitious" in his traits, I would have to guarantee him a certain status.

Still, he was definitely worth cultivating.

“Where do you live?”

“In the northern part.”

“Do you have family?”

“Yes.”

“Can you pack up and come down?”

At my words, Simeon nodded.

“I can. If you give me about a month...”

A month.

The timing was quite good.

By then, the succession ceremony would be over, and it would be time to tidy up the venue.

“Then, tidy up and come to the Duke’s residence by then.”

I handed him a platinum coin, and his eyes widened.

“This is...?”

“You’ll need some money to pack up and come. Think of it as a bonus.”

“...Thank you.”

“By the way, what were you doing before the competition?”

“I was employed by the Brahmnan Viscount in the north.”

“Is your employment period over?”

“Yes. I didn’t extend it any further.”

“Didn’t they try to keep you? A 4th Circle Mage is quite valuable.”

“Ah... that’s because...”

After scratching his head for a moment, Simeon quietly said,

“They thought I was a 2nd Circle Mage.”

“Oh, you were hiding it?”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t uncommon for a mage to hide their circle. I, for one, was also hiding my circle publicly.

“Got it. Then, go. Try to... come by mid-June. If you’re late and I’m not there, go to Abel. He’ll tell you where I am.”

“Understood.”

After that, as I left the terrace with Simeon,

I spent time chatting with other mages about trivial matters.

The questions were consistent.

How did you create such magic?

What inspired you?

They started bombarding me with all sorts of questions, trying to get even the tiniest bit of knowledge.

Of course, my answer was set.

I was just lucky.

That was it.

There was no need to act arrogant, so it was a natural response.

It was also true that I had created it by luck.

With the Divine Eye and Mana Body,

Without these two, winning this competition would have been a dream.

After about three hours of the banquet,

I sent mana to my head, which was quite muddled from the alcohol, and the dizziness disappeared.

“This is quite convenient, you know.”

“...What is?”

“Whether you’re a mage or a knight, you don’t get drunk easily. Just sending a bit of energy to your head clears your mind.”

Leonhard’s eyes widened at my words.

“Have you already opened the crown of your head?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re fast. It’s not easy to gather mana, right?”

Ah, right.

He doesn’t know I have an inner dantian.

In such situations, it’s best to pretend you don’t know.

If I mentioned that I had an ogre’s inner dantian, it could lead to trouble.

“I just kept trying, and it worked.”

“If you’ve opened it this far, it will be easier from now on.”

“Yeah. I can feel it. It’s downhill from here. And being a 2nd Circle Mage makes it much smoother. I think it won’t take long to open it completely.”

After opening the crown of my head,

I was also continuously working on the block located on the left side of my body, not the right. I was currently working on the left side of my face, and I think I can open a path in a few days.

“By the way, is your impression of opening the crown of your head just that?”

“Roughly? It’s so good. No hangover.”

“Usually, when people say it’s comfortable, they mean something else.”

“Of course, there are other effects, but this is the best for me.”

Thinking back to the days I suffered from hangovers, this was truly revolutionary.

Long live the fantasy world.

After having such a conversation, I entered the magnificent room assigned to me.

I laid my head on the soft bed.

?

* * * * * *

As the sky grew quite dark,

Ersiel.

She entered Kyle’s room and immediately summoned the light spirit.

Flap!

“Sorry. Were you bored?”

At that moment,

A rather cute boy’s voice began to echo in her mind.

No, it’s okay, Master. This place doesn’t feel very good, though.

“...Eh... eh?”

Why?

“...Can you talk?”

Yeah, I can. It’s not hard to learn human languages.

“Then... why didn’t you talk until now?”

Because your spirit power was lacking. You didn’t meet the qualifications.

“Do you meet them now?”

Yeah. That necklace is better than I thought.

The spirit then pointed to the necklace with its small hand. It was the necklace from Llewel, which Kyle had given her after clearing the dungeon.

It could store spirit power and gather natural energy faster than usual, which is why she always wore it.

“...Is that so?”

Yeah. By the way, I think I understand why that Kyle guy said what he did. It would be dangerous to summon me carelessly around here.

“...What do you mean?”

There’s a lot of evil power here, Master. Have they already come this far? There seem to be quite a few puppets.

“...Puppets? Come this far?”

People who sell their souls for power. They’re boiling.

“Boiling?”

Flap!

The spirit started flapping its wings energetically.

Yeah. When you suppress the tendencies of many people using suppression spells, they usually boil. It seems to have been going on for quite a while. It’s about to burst.

Ashiris.

Ersiel tilted her head at the spirit’s words.

She didn’t understand what it meant, but it didn’t sound good.

As she frowned, the spirit shivered.

I’m sick of it... Anyway, if you catch the eye of these guys, I can’t protect you now. So, be careful. Kyle seems to know something, so stick with him.

“...Got it.”

The spirit, as if warning her, spoke in a firm voice, flapped its wings, and then

flew into the maid’s arms.

Phew. Good smell.

Ashiris, who had nestled into her chest, started looking around the room.

There’s a spell.

“A spell?”

An alarm spell. He’s really amazing.

The spirit’s voice was filled with interest.

“What is?”

He uses magic in a unique way. Like in the old days.

“The old days?”

Yeah. He seems to be a person with many secrets.

The spirit seemed to be talking about Kyle Seltarion, its master.

“...Is that so?”

Yeah. I miss it. The previous master also used this kind of magic.

“Back then...?”

It’s just an old story. By the way, I’m bored. Play with me, Master.

The spirit started acting spoiled in the maid’s arms.

Flap!

The spirit, flapping its wings widely, started circling around Ersiel.

There seems to be an uninvited guest. Be careful.

“Huh...?”

Right then.

Wheee!

A sharp alarm sound started spreading throughout the annex.

Clang!

“It’s an intruder!”

“Catch them!”

The knights waiting inside the annex also moved simultaneously.

The sound of swords clashing spread quickly.

The sudden commotion in the peaceful annex made worry appear in her eyes.

“...What should I do?”

Hide for now, Master.

Right then.

The door burst open.

“Lady Ersiel!”

It was Selon who had come to find her.

He started running towards Ersiel, looking around the room with an urgent expression.

“Please come behind me!”

“What’s happening?”

“...Assassins! They seem to be looking for someone, so you must stay close behind me!”

“I understand.”

Find them!

Scream!

There’s no time! We also need to find that gladiator, so search quickly!

The voices from all around quickly approached the door.

It was clear who they were looking for.

The assassins were after the two people in this room. Selon, who heard the voices, seemed to have made a decision and drew his sword.

At that moment,

His aura suddenly turned sharp like a blade.

“I’ll buy as much time as I can. Escape through the window during that time.”

“...What?”

“From the way they’re searching for me, it’s clear they want to capture us. I can’t hold them off alone, so you need to escape quickly.”

Ersiel shook her head.

“No. Let’s fight together.”

As she firmly answered,

Masked figures started entering the room one by one.

There were five in total.

The masked figures, who were looking at the two with eyes full of killing intent, nodded slightly.

“...The target. Kill them.”

As soon as he finished speaking, poisoned throwing weapons started flying towards the two.

There were dozens of them.

In the narrow room, there was no place to dodge.

As the throwing weapons flew towards Ersiel, Selon, who seemed to have made a decision, leaped forward.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

A huge light shield easily blocked the throwing weapons.

The assassins’ eyes hardened at the sight.

“...A spirit mage? This wasn’t in the request...”

“We have no choice. Attack all of them. Three of you take the one with the sword.”

The assassins started charging.

At the same time, light started flowing into Selon’s body.

For a moment, he was surprised, but then he seemed to understand and started engaging the enemies.

He began using the improved Storm Sword.

‘This might work.’

The power of the light was more formidable than expected.

He had only learned the mental technique a week ago.

His body contained a faint amount of aura. Normally, with this level of aura, he wouldn’t be able to use the improved Storm Sword.

It consumed a significant amount of aura.

But now, it was different.

After receiving the light, the aura flowing inside his body became much purer, and his recovery rate was much higher than before.

Five sword paths, which make up the first form of the Storm Sword, started unfolding from his body.

As Selon began moving like flowing water between the three assassins, their expressions hardened like lead.

Clang! “Gah!”

“What... What is this? A monster?”

“Hurry up and kill him, brother! We don’t have much time!”

As the three assassins engaged Selon in a sword dance, two assassins had already approached Ersiel.

Master, don’t panic. Release the power stored in the necklace. This is the time to use it.

As the two assassins closed in,

Hum!

The power from the necklace started flowing through her body.

Flash!

With a brilliant light, white spears flew towards the assassins.

The assassins’ eyes widened in shock as more than ten light spears flew at them.

The power of the ancient spirit.

It started sweeping through the room.

The two assassins fighting Selon were hit by the light spears, and the balance of the battle was disrupted.

The battle didn’t last long.

Three minutes.

The time it took for the five assassins to fall to the two monsters.

Looking at the bodies, she said to Selon,

“...Can you erase the traces?”

“I will do my best.”

Selon, holding his sword, started approaching the two bodies.

Thud.

He quickly started erasing the spear marks on the bodies with his sword.

There was no hesitation in his movements.