Chapter 8

The Marquess Family's Magic Genius - Chapter 8 (8/324)

8

After finishing my conversation with Leonhardt.

My mind began to work busily.

‘Is there a middle ground?’

Using 1st Circle magic in this world's way, the power is lacking, but using it in my way is too powerful and problematic. Moreover, the mana consumption is so extreme that it's essentially a finishing move.

‘I need to show something.’

The villains who want to swallow the continent.

If they invade a hundred years from now, I could take my time to grow, but the problem is that the central continent will be in ruins in about ten years.

The given time is not that lenient.

Therefore, I need to prepare quickly.

Of course, my own strength is important, but various elements like power and money are also necessary.

To obtain them, I need to present some kind of vision.

But I can't show them the cannon missile.

If I can find a suitable middle ground, it should be fine.

After all, I'll be treated as a talented magician who has overcome the Hermemus, so even if I use slightly stronger magic than a regular magician, it won't be that strange.

‘If I can create a method that has the power of the middle ground between the cannon and the Magic Missile.’

The possibilities are endless.

I could sell it very expensively to organizations like the Magic Tower or the Magic Guild, or I could publicly release it to boost my reputation.

‘That would be great.’

To stop the villains, I need to raise the overall strength of the central continent.

Naturally, it's more advantageous for me to reveal it to some extent rather than keep it hidden.

It's a nice move, pursuing personal success while also benefiting the continent.

‘Should I mix the two methods a bit?’

The magic activation method I know.

And the magic activation method here.

If I mix these two processes, maybe I can find a solution.

After activating the Insight Eye.

I moved the mana inside my body and started to find a new activation method for the Magic Missile.

Thanks to the mana structure, moving mana felt easier than breathing.

It automatically formed the shape I thought of. I started to mix the two methods a little.

At that moment.

A message appeared, and the mana in my circle began to drain rapidly.

‘...Huh?’

Between the channels where the mana moves.

A few spots began to glow red.

The color was so vivid that it felt like a minefield.

If mana flows there, it will cause a magical explosion like a mine detonating.

Many magicians have died while creating new magic or mixing two types of magic. I've seen it a few times in the game.

If I didn't have the Insight Eye, it would have been a disaster.

‘This is really a cheat skill.’

The red spots visible in between.

And the yellow lines that seem to guide me. If I move the mana along the golden path, avoiding the mines, it seems I can mix the two activation methods.

My mana began to move nimbly, avoiding the mines.

A short while later.

A Magic Missile appeared in my hand again.

Size, shape, color.

Everything was similar to the original Magic Missile, but the power was different.

The same maple tree.

The moment I embedded the Magic Missile into it.

Boom!

A different, moderate sound of breaking air echoed.

‘Nice.’

In the center of the maple tree.

There was a clean hole, and just above it, a new hole had appeared, slightly digging into the tree.

The mana consumption was also very reasonable.

While the cannon missile made me feel dizzy, this felt like it used about one-tenth of my mana.

Naturally, there was almost no dizziness.

I memorized the activation method.

I immediately understood what this phrase meant.

If I cast this magic again, I could naturally move the mana along the path. My body had memorized it.

The path of the first magic I used, perfectly.

Leonhardt, who had been quietly watching, spoke.

"Are you done?"

"Yeah. This seems just right. What do you think?"

"Definitely... it's not as shocking as before. It's stronger than a regular Magic Missile, but this level is acceptable. It's about the power of a 2nd Circle spell. But..."

He looked at me and continued.

"Did you create a new activation method?"

"Yeah. The one in the magic book is too weak, and the one I use is too strong. I compromised in the middle."

"...Young Master, do you know how much time has passed?"

"How much?"

"...Two hours."

I felt a bit dizzy, but it made sense.

Studying for an hour can make you dizzy, so creating a new magic activation method for two hours is understandable.

"It's been a while."

Leonhardt clicked his tongue at my nonchalant response.

"Young Master, you're even more of a monster than I thought. To create a new magic activation method in just two hours..."

"It's just a 1st Circle spell, right?"

"If it were easy to do, the number of spells you could use would be much greater than it is now."

"So, keep it a secret. Did anyone come while I was concentrating?"

"...No. A few maids came close, but I sent them away."

I knew whose maids they were without looking.

"Oh, right. Can you cut down that tree? And remove any traces."

"...Understood."

Leonhardt drew his sword and instantly moved to the side of the tree, then swung his aura-filled sword.

Boom!

The thick tree fell to the ground in an instant.

As expected.

His skills are amazing.

He then began to erase the traces of the magic. He shattered the parts with traces and left a strong aura in the gaps between the fallen trees.

"It's done."

"Not yet."

The parts with traces.

Although they were shattered, I wanted a perfect cover-up.

‘Goodbye.’

Fire.

The moment I activated the simple 1st Circle spell.

Whoosh!

A brilliant flame bloomed from my hand.

After burning some of the tree pieces cleanly.

I used Dig to dig a hole in the ground and buried the ashes deep. The remaining trees had no traces of my presence.

Now, if the spies see the fallen tree.

‘They'll probably think Leonhardt did it.’

With his skills, making such a huge noise wouldn't be difficult.

This was reassuring.

Hiding my true strength shouldn't be too hard. To deliver a fatal blow in a critical moment, you need to hide about 30% of your true strength.

Of course, I planned to hide about 70% of my strength. This place has many variables.

We started to head back to the annex.

* * * * *

A few days passed.

Thanks to Leonhardt's vigilance and continuous erasure of traces, my magic practice went very smoothly.

It was a very beneficial time, as I could apply the mixed activation method to most spells.

As a 1st Circle magician, I could use hybrid magic with the power of about 2.5 Circles.

Of course, if I use the formula I know, I can even use spells with the power of 4th Circle.

Of course, I would feel dizzy and the emptiness of a drained circle as a result.

‘Anyway, I think I've seen enough now.’

Ersiel.

It's been over a week since I gave her the Introduction to Elementalism.

I then called Ersiel and looked at her affection level. It was 70.

Was it because she was such a troublemaker?

Raising the affection of surrounding characters was incredibly easy.

Smiling and greeting.

Giving a warm word.

Calling their names.

Not drinking alcohol.

Just doing these things consistently raised the affection level.

One of the privileges of being a troublemaker.

Anyway, 70 was a good number to start making her my subordinate.

"Ersiel."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Have you finished reading the book I gave you?"

Her face slightly flushed at the question.

It looked like she was embarrassed, but could it be that...

She hasn't finished reading it yet?

"Well, if you haven't finished, you can read more..."

"No, I've finished."

"Really? What did you think?"

"It was... amazing. It was the first time I encountered such a book."

"Did you understand it well?"

"More or less..."

"Can you explain it once?"

At my request, she began to recite the book's content without hesitation.

‘Huh?’

More or less, she said.

She summarized the core content, which felt like she had memorized the entire book.

Elementalism.

To learn this, you need various prerequisites. Understanding of elements, special methods to summon them, and affinity with elements.

Looking at Ersiel now, it seemed she had solved the two prerequisites.

Her affinity is obviously maxed out.

She must have understood it from the book.

So, the only thing left is one.

Preparing to summon an elemental.

‘If I combine the materials needed for the magic circle with an elemental stone...’

It will cost a lot of gold.

Unfortunately, this troublemaker is under house arrest, and her allowance has been cut off. The money she had is long gone.

‘I need to get some gold.’

I should probably meet her father, Marquess Remton. He has the wealth to easily provide the gold.

"Ersiel."

"Yes."

"Do you want to become an elemental mage?"

"...What?"

"Do you want to be an elemental mage?"

The ten-year-old girl showed a flustered expression.

"Me, an elemental mage..."

Kid.

With your skills, you can summon top-tier elementals.

Anyway, your modesty is top-notch.

"Forget about your status. Just tell me if you want to or not."

I continued.

"Ersiel. I'll give you a chance. Do you want to live as a maid for the rest of your life, or do you want the opportunity to become an elemental mage?"

"...Really?"

"Yeah, really. If you want, I'll provide the education, the gold, and the elemental stone. If you want, you can be my personal maid..."

At that moment.

"I'll do it!"

She answered immediately.

"Really?"

"Yes. But... is it really true that you'll make me your personal maid?"

Of course.

In a world full of villains, would I be crazy enough to let such talent go?

"Don't worry. If you want, I'll keep you for life."

Ersiel nodded vigorously.

The persuasion went smoothly, so now I just need to get the materials to summon the elemental.

It's time to visit the Marquess.