Chapter 4

### The Reincarnation of the Great Mage of the Hero Party - Chapter 4 (4/280)

#### Chapter 4

"To master Vel Sidious, it takes seven years; to master Vel Curious, it takes seventy years."

So it is said that this was the last will of the family's founder, Ryugen Ludwig.

Seven years, seven years.

The average time it takes to master Vel Sidious. And that's only if the family recognizes one's genius and begins the education for Vel Sidious.

'And he did it in just ten days...?'

The activation conditions for Vel Sidious rely on the simultaneous operation of three types of magic.

Simultaneous operation is the domain of the wise.

If you don't understand, try solving three equations at once right now. Can you do it? Impossible.

'But in the case of Vel Sidious, once you memorize the established formulas and equations, that is, once you grasp the knack, you can use it...'

It takes at least seven years just to grasp that knack. Dreaming of performing simultaneous operations on general magic, where all conditions and results change, is out of the question...

'In history, only two sages and the great mage Lin, who was called the prodigy of simultaneous operations, have achieved this.'

* * *

Elin Ludwig swallowed hard.

'Rain, is this kid a genius?'

No, it's beyond the level of a genius.

This kid is──

"Perhaps he has the makings of a sage?"

After finishing the society's schedule and returning to the mansion, Kaven repeated his sister's words in a daze.

Master Vel Sidious in ten days?

Is that even possible?

No, if he has already reached such a level, it means Kaven can no longer guide him.

"Brother, with Rain, our family might become the leading magical lineage. He's really insane."

After Elin rambled on for a while and left, Kaven sat alone for a long time.

My son...

While witnessing his son's tremendous growth, Kaven felt a surge of pride mixed with a subtle sadness.

'As a father, to be less talented than my son and unable to guide him...'

But...

"Jude."

As soon as Kaven gave the order, a figure appeared from behind the curtain. It was the capable butler who had managed the household for twenty years.

"Contact my father."

A moment of silence.

Jude's shadow trembled.

"Is there a problem?"

It wasn't an incorrect statement.

Kaven had a severe conflict with his father when he married Brim, and in the end, his father left to become a professor at the magic school in the central capital.

"Tell him that his son has not repented for his mistakes and does not consider them wrong."

"But also tell him that his grandson has the talent to surpass him and respectfully request his guidance."

Jude chuckled.

Kaven laughed along rather than scolding him. Jude replied.

* * *

Spring ended, and a short summer arrived.

Summer lasted for a year.

A dark monsoon front covered the continent, and the rain pounded the windows of the study every day.

"Summer..."

The summer when Rista found the boy was incomparably fierce and cruel.

A summer that lasted five years.

A summer that endlessly scattered blood across the world.

– I am Rista Alter Shurpan, a Phaquir of the Holy Dragon Order! Do you want to come with me?

Hearing the rain, the day she found him came to mind, and a bitter smile formed on his face.

Why?

It was really, really hard.

Hot, sticky, exhausting... a truly painful journey. Why is that time still so nostalgic, even in this peaceful golden age?

"Ow, summer, when will summer end?"

"It won't last long. It's already late summer."

Then the world turned white, and soon a thunderclap roared, and the frightened Sery clung tightly to the boy.

"Want to hear a scary story?"

"Y-Yes!"

"In midsummer, the lizardmen awaken from the abyss... but they are invisible... they use camouflage..."

"Ca-Camouflage...?"

"Silently, and formlessly, they approach from behind... Ahhh!"

The boy suddenly screamed, and Sery let out a shriek, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.

Now I can study.

The boy was cunning... but it wasn't a lie. It was one of the demons Lin had faced. It's even scarier in real life.

"Please take Sery away."

"Yes, young master."

That year, the boy was very busy.

He took family magic lessons from his father and aunt, taught basic magic to his younger sister, and trained his physical strength and mana in the evenings.

Physical strength was truly important.

It's not just that it allows you to run around like warriors when necessary; the biggest reason is that concentration in studies comes from physical strength.

And mana was also very important.

Without mana, even if you know how to use 4-star or 5-star magic, you can't use it.

'If I collapse from mana exhaustion, it's actually a relief.'

Frequent overuse could damage the spell knot, which would effectively ruin a mage's career.

In fact, after mastering Vel Sidious, there wasn't much more to learn from Elin or his father. The problem was Elin.

"How do you do this?"

"Are you really clueless? Ugh, give it to me!"

She was still a troublesome person, asking questions like this several times a day.

Is this a defense of etiquette?

Anyway, what recently piqued Rain's interest was the development of modern magic.

'To have simplified such complex formulas from the past...'

The power had increased, and the formulas had been drastically simplified, considering the activation time and learning difficulty.

"You're not an old man, so why do you use so many old formulas? Trying to look cool? Hey, girls don't like that. They think it's pretentious and dislike it."

Elin's words were the starting point for his interest in modern magic.

'The more I see, the more fascinating it is...'

Over 300 years, mathematics and the world had steadily developed. During the 300 years Lin slept.

'I've become completely outdated...'

If he faced a modern 4-star mage, he might lose with a low probability. The development of modern magic was at that level.

'By the way, what happened to the school I was in...'

The school that gave food, clothing, and a place to stay to the orphan Lin, and taught him magic, led by a kind-looking woman.

The school's name was the Ossarius School.

It had a long history but was one of the minor schools with only an old, dilapidated tower.

– This is not the place for you.

That person gave Lin (meaning "spring breeze") the name, hoping to bring a new wind to the magic world.

– Come with me.

For Lin, who grew up scavenging in the slums without knowing his parents or their voices, it was like the dawn breaking.

It was the first kindness he had ever received, the first luxury he had ever enjoyed... and so he worked hard. He just worked hard.

He didn't want to be abandoned again.

"..."

Thinking about the days of Lin brought only sadness, so he shook his head to clear his thoughts.

He rummaged through his father's study and found a thick book titled "The History of the Schools."

Looking through the table of contents from the back, strangely, the name Ossarius School was nowhere to be found.

"What? Did it dissolve?"

Despite financial difficulties, it should have been able to survive... Feeling a strange sense of loss, he flipped through the pages forward, and his heart nearly stopped.

- Belsedel School.

- Brina School.

- Harimun School.

- Rohinum School.

- Melib School.

- Chaihak School.

- Rivendel School.

- Ossarius School.

If the five great magical lineages, the Five Great Houses, ruled the empire, the Seven Great Schools dominated the schools.

'Now it's the Eight Great Schools? Ossarius has risen?'

One of the criteria for becoming a great school was the contribution to the development of knowledge and the production of notable figures.

Below the great schools were sixteen mid-level schools, and countless minor schools, making the status of the great schools as high as the sky.

'Has an incredible number of geniuses been produced in my absence?'

He chuckled and found the page for the Ossarius School.

- Origin: Founded by the 4-star mage Ossarius in the year 488 of the Tersian calendar...

...

...

...

- Promotion to a great school: Highly evaluated for producing the 5-star mage Lin and for publishing the mathematical theories established by Lin during his lifetime, the Ossarius School was promoted to a great school at the main conference of the Magic Alliance in the year 1115 of the Tersian calendar.

He blinked his wide eyes for a long time, then finally smiled wistfully.

'So, it helped.'

The path I walked, the battles I fought, helped the woman.

'Is this enough repayment, woman?'

Every morning, as part of a hopeful speech, she made the students repeat, "The Ossarius School will become a great school."

- How long do we have to do this stupid thing?

- Yes, it's embarrassing, Headmistress.

- Until it happens, you pests! If you don't want to say it anymore, study hard and make the school's name known!

At that time, the Ossarius School did not accept promising students. Most were children who wanted to learn magic but had difficult circumstances.

The headmistress took in these children and taught them magic for free.

So, that statement was probably part of a strategy to encourage us. I didn't know it then, but I do now.

'Hmm... I need to work hard to keep up with the school's juniors.'

Books.

I want to read more books.

I desire more knowledge.

The Ludwigs' library, befitting a great magical lineage, had a considerable number of books, but it wasn't enough.

Thirst.

An enormous thirst for knowledge always made Rain's throat dry. Eventually, he brought up the topic at dinner.

"Father, I have a request."

"Hmm?"

"Send me to the Magic Capital. I think about three years will be enough."

Kaven and Brim were startled by this.

The Magic Capital, <Golden Rose>.

The capital of magic, home to the great city of the leading magical lineage, the Page of the Fang, and the empire's top magic university, <Delighten>.

"Ow, where are you going?"

"Huh."

"Shi-ler! Shi-ler!"

Pushing away the annoying Sery, Rain looked at his father, who shook his head firmly.

"That's not possible."

"Why not?"

"First, because of your age. You're only ten, Rain. It's too early to leave the family."

And when he turns sixteen, Rain, as a scion of a magical lineage, will enter <Delighten>. The Magic Capital can wait until then.

"And because you have a more important commitment."

"More important commitment?"

Kaven placed a letter on the table. It was sealed with the Ludwig patriarch's seal.

"It's from my father, your grandfather."

Elin Ludwig, who had been shoving steak into her mouth, stopped her fork in shock.

"Father, to brother?"

Scalz Ludwig.

One of the ten 4-star mages in existence... and a figure with immense influence over Kaven, Brim, and Elin.

"And one of only three people in the family who have opened Vel Curious."

Vel Curious...!

Rain blinked in surprise, and Kaven nodded with a kind smile.

"He has agreed to personally take charge of your Vel Curious education."

"Vel Curious?"

"Yes. So, Rain, you need to go there first. Right after this summer ends, immediately."