Chapter 3

### Chapter 3 (3/280)

Chapter 3

Under the spring sky, a sea of tulips stretches as far as the eye can see, dazzling in their brilliance.

This is Siastulrika.

A land of tulips in the fertile central region, Richland, where the Ludvig family owns a third of the area.

"The weather is just perfect..."

Leaning back, Rain was lying on the ground, gazing blankly at the sky with a dandelion in his mouth. In the next moment, he suddenly sat up.

"To achieve something, one must have both long-term and short-term goals."

The ultimate truth of magic.

Now that he had decided to see it, even in his youth, he couldn't afford to waste a single day.

'So, should I try summoning Rudyen again?'

Rudyen (ルディエン, RudiyËn).

In the ancient language, it means "guide."

That's why when Lin was deeply engaged in his magical research, he named his guiding magic this.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Spreading a piece of parchment on the grass and drawing a magic circle on it, his younger sister toddled over.

'Sigh, this is so annoying...'

Ever since he was kind to her once, she's been a constant nuisance. Every time he tries to shoo her away, he hears Rista's voice in his head.

"I'm trying to set up some guidelines."

"Guidelines?"

"Do you want one too?"

At that, Seri Ludvig started dancing around.

"Wow~ Wow~ Wow~!"

She was very happy.

That kid always spoke like this, as if there was something wrong with her brain.

"The shape of the magic circle is a multi-dimensional transformation, and the runes are Zhu (柱), Liu (留), Dou (逗), and Ti (梯)."

Four runes.

They give a single spell four different properties. This is a 4-star spell, a level only ten people in the current Holy Human Empire have achieved.

"Wow!"

As mana flowed into the magic circle on the parchment, sparks of power began to fly.

Crackle, crackle...

Suddenly, a hot sensation ran through his body, and blood gushed from his nose while a sharp pain shot through his spell node. The spell node is the organ where mana converges.

'So, I still don't have enough mana to use a 4-star spell...'

If it had been a combat spell, the backlash would have ruptured his spell node.

'What a weak body...'

From physical strength to mana.

There's so much to train.

Feeling a childish frustration, he pinched his nose, and soon the storm of mana calmed down, and a butterfly-shaped light appeared.

"Come here, Rudyen."

It was a butterfly.

A butterfly of guiding magic, with a clear blue-white light, sprinkling particles of light with each flap of its wings.

"Wow."

When Seri reached out her hand, the butterfly landed on her finger and gently flapped its wings.

**Rosushigietra**

Detects the target's mana circuit and magical aptitude, as well as the available mana in the surroundings.

The particles of light from the butterfly's wings gathered and projected a string of light letters in the air.

This is the function of Rudyen.

It tells you what to study, what to learn, and what you can obtain from your surroundings.

'Zhu (柱) teaches the basics of mana when used in guiding magic, Liu (留) teaches about mana usage...'

In simple terms, it's like I've embedded all the runes that are good for learning.

It's incredibly simple.

That's why it's a 4-star spell. Even the great Lin couldn't cast it by mental calculation and had to draw the magic circle for a reason.

"Do you like it?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Then go over there and study by yourself."

Did the creator understand?

As Rudyen flew from Seri's finger to him, Seri ran over with a smile.

'First, I need to recover my mana...'

Until the sun was high in the sky, he sat in a lotus position, recovering his mana, and then summoned the second Rudyen.

**Gustaba**: Objectifies the caster's physical condition into mathematical values.

- Zhu (柱): Current mana level 3024.

- Liu (留): Current magic lines 77.

- Dou (逗): Physical and mental strength 64.

The mana level is even lower than that of a beginner magician. Magic lines (璇) are a brain function for mental calculation.

And physical strength...

It's a world apart from Lin, who grew up as an orphan. It will take a lot of effort just to bring this up to 300.

Ti (梯): It has been determined that it is possible to learn the secret techniques of the bloodline.

- Bell Sidious / Bell Curious.

At this point, his eyes widened.

Bell Sidious...

Right, I'm the eldest son of the Ludvig family, a noble family of mages in the empire.

'I like this...'

When Rista and I were traveling, a young man came to prove that he was the best mage in the empire and wanted to join our party instead of me.

He was nothing.

He was nothing, but he was difficult because of his eyes that could see through everything. He could see through all the magic I used and counter it.

'That's Bell Sidious.'

The bloodline limit of the Ludvig family.

It can discern what magic the opponent is using just by the flow of mana.

This is an incredible ability.

'Magic is a battle of who can counter better when the skills are equal...'

And Bell Curious...

It's said that only three people in the history of imperial magic have successfully opened their eyes.

"Whereas Bell Sidious spies on the opponent's magic, Bell Curious steals the opponent's magic," it is said.

The nickname "thief mage" given to the Ludvig family is due to this eye that successfully opened.

'I don't know the details...'

It's said to be able to eliminate or steal the opponent's magic... in any case, it's an incredible ability.

'So...'

The goals for his youth are starting to take shape.

First, basic physical strength and mana.

Without physical strength and mana, you can't do anything. To rise to the ranks of the Great Mage again.

"Rain."

When he heard the voice, he turned his head slightly to see his father approaching with the dignified gait of a noble.

"Do you know that our family has a bloodline limit?"

What is it?

Was he watching from behind?

"Yes, of course..."

"Although you are still young, do you want to learn about the bloodline limit?"

Is it going to be this easy?

Hmm...

Maybe I'll just put the theory in my head and start practicing when my physical strength and mana are ready?

"Yes."

"Then from today, Elin will guide your education. Only when I'm away at the academy. When I return, I'll guide you myself."

"Elin?"

What is it?

It's a name in Rain's memory... who was it?

"She is a kind-hearted and talented mage, a professor at <Delaiten>. Most of all, she loves her nephew. You met her when you were young."

Then, the sound of footsteps on the grass was heard, and Rain's expression turned pale.

"Eh..."

It was a shocking, unconventional outfit that broke all the rules of nobility.

Dangling white jade earrings on both ears, a short and tight robe that revealed her figure, a modified version of the Ludvig family's ceremonial robe.

"Eek..."

A sharp-eyed beauty, she looked down at Rain with a haughty expression, then crossed her arms and frowned.

"Seriously, I, the genius professor Elin Ludvig, have to personally guide a talentless and cute kid like you?"

Kavanaugh smiled brightly and pointed to Elin Ludvig.

"Here, this is your aunt Elin Ludvig, who loves you as much as I do! It's been six years since you last met. Say hello."

Father.

You don't know what love is?

* * *

"Do you know who I am?"

"Aunt Elin, right?"

"Heh, I'm known as the genius professor Elin Ludvig. A genius professor who hates dullards who can't understand things at once."

She seemed to really like the nickname "genius professor."

"So, don't ask me any questions about what I teach you once. Got it?"

That's how the bloodline limit education began.

Bloodline limit.

In other words, family magic.

It's said that the knowledge of family magic is not documented to prevent theft by other mages. To learn it, you must meet a senior member of the family and receive the knowledge directly from their mind.

"Let's see once."

As Elin focused mana in her eyes, they turned a fiery red, and a silver-white death star was etched into her pupils.

This is Bell Sidious.

Feeling the same sensation as when his body and soul were scanned, Rain let out a childlike exclamation.

"Wow!"

"How is it, cool, right? To use this, you need to perform three magic calculations simultaneously. Three, three! Can a kid like you do that?"

Satisfied with Rain's sparkling eyes, Elin proudly puffed out her chest and wrote a few formulas on the parchment.

Magic transmission.

Magic interpretation.

Magic penetration.

Rain examined the formulas closely and hummed, nodding his head.

'I thought it would rely heavily on innate sense, but it seems to have a lot of theory.'

If the founder of the family, Ryugen, hadn't imposed genetic restrictions, the past Lin could have used it too.

"Don't you get it? Don't you get it? You won't get it no matter how many times you see it, right? You can't understand it, can you?"

"No, I think I can understand it if I just have some time to organize it."

"Ugh, you're hopeless. I can teach you specially... what?"

"I appreciate the guidance. I'll figure it out on my own from now on."

He bowed politely and spread out the parchment.

That was Lin's personality.

He preferred to study and explore on his own by reading books and reflecting, rather than learning directly from someone. Besides, as a Great Mage, what was there to learn?

"No, you don't have to learn? Hey, don't be arrogant..."

Seeing her nephew start studying on his own with such determination, Elin blinked in surprise and then pouted as if to say, "We'll see how you do."

"Go ahead, do as you please! It won't work! Don't come crying to me later!"

Sitting across the table, Elin loudly declared, but she kept glancing at her nephew while pretending to read "Statistics for Geniuses."

"Hmm..."

When her nephew's brow furrowed, seemingly stuck on a formula,

"!"

She snatched the parchment and explained the difficult part in a much simpler way before handing it back.

"?"

Confused, Rain looked up, and Elin pretended to read by raising the book to cover her face. Of course, it didn't last three minutes.

"Hmm..."

Just raising an eyebrow while solving a formula, she snatched the parchment again, wrote down some tips and explanations, and handed it back.

"???"

It was strange.

So strange that Rain just stared at the neat and meticulous handwriting on the parchment for a while.

'What is this? Is this how modern magic education works? Or is she testing me?'

Brim, Rain's mother, watched her brother's strange behavior with a smile and approached her son when Elin left the room for a moment.

"Rain, Rain."

"Yes?"

"Isn't your aunt a bit strange?"

"Yes."

"She's just being honest. She's eager to teach you anything. Ask her a lot of questions. Even if it's something you already know."

Thinking back to her days at the magic school with Kavanaugh, Brim smiled and fondly stroked her son's cheeks.

"She used to follow us around like a puppy. She was so cute."

To Lin, it was a completely incomprehensible human.

No... Where did the genius professor who hated dullards go?

When Elin finally returned, he glanced up while pretending to focus on the formula.

'Oh my...'

He was shocked.

She was whistling as if she didn't care, but she wasn't reading the book at all and kept glancing at his parchment.

When their eyes met, she quickly covered her face with the book, but after less than ten seconds, she lowered it again and peeked at his parchment.

'Annoying... How can you be more annoying than a six-year-old Seri, Aunt?'

He couldn't just let it go, and he was losing focus... Suppressing the frustration rising to his chin, he spoke.

"Aunt, I don't understand this part. What should I do?"

Reluctantly responding to the call, Elin slammed the book shut irritably. But as her mother said, she was clearly trying to suppress a smile that threatened to split her ears.

"Ugh! You don't know this? Really? ...Our family is doomed, doomed! Give it to me. What is it?"

"This part."

"This is how! See, how easy is that! Ugh!"

"I see."

"Ah! Here, if you use this formula, it's several times easier! Don't you know this?"

"I'm sorry."

"You have a mountain of things you don't know! What have you been doing until you turned nine?"

"Exactly."

Although he said that, his expression was one of pure happiness at having so much to teach.

Hmm, I see.

There are no normal people in this family.

Who was it that said not to ask questions at all?

"Then, this one?"

"Ugh... I can't help it. I'll teach you just this."

"Then, this one?"

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk! Is this really the last? You just keep asking. Just hit you on the head..."

"Aunt, this one?"

"Ugh, ugh ugh! What's so difficult about this... This is really, really the last time!"

That's how Elin's teaching went.

She was quite annoying, but thanks to her, the time it took to learn the theory and gain practical experience was significantly shortened.

On the tenth day of classes, Rain felt a burning pain in his retinas.

'The pain in my eyes... No, the headache is worse.'

It felt like blood was rushing to his head, and the world began to turn red. His eyes glowed red, and a silver death star was etched into his pupils.

010101010010110101.

What is this? Rain had to take a deep, ragged breath.

Everything is seen in numbers.

Everything in the universe is interpreted as binary mathematical formulas, directly transmitting information to his brain. It felt like he had become the Creator.

'Magic, magic is...?'

Trying to cast a basic spell, 01010101001, the runes and mathematical formulas that make up the magic circle were instantly transmitted to his brain.

'Aha, so that's how it works...'

When that kid challenged me, he must have seen through all my magic this way.

'This is really amazing...'

Feeling a hot gaze, he looked up and met Elin Ludvig's eyes.

"You, this, this, in just, just ten days... how...?"

Her lips were trembling.

Not just her lips, but her eyes too.