Chapter 5

### Chapter 5 (5/280)

#### Chapter 5

As the long summer ended, the autumn sky spread clear and the world was dyed with the colors of autumn leaves. The jolting of the creaking carriage gifted a drowsy sleepiness to the body. Outside the window, the deep fragrance of tulip fields stretched to the horizon. The world had already turned to autumn.

"Behave properly, Rain."

"I know. It's a meeting with Grandfather."

"I'm sorry. If I had been better, I wouldn't have had to bring you here."

"It's fine, you know."

"……?"

"……?"

"Y-Yes, that's right. Sure."

The boy was startled to see Kaven awkwardly smile. Is this not the right response?

The boy's extraordinary mind spun at ultra-high speed, recalling his memories with Rista. How would Rista have responded in this situation?

'I don't know……'

His mind couldn't spin quickly due to the overwhelming drowsiness.

Though he possessed the intellect of a great mage, he was only eleven years old. His young body couldn't overcome its physiological reactions.

"You must be tired. Rest during the journey. It's a five-day trip."

In the Holy Human Empire, there are five hereditary noble families in each region, and each of them is served by five mage families.

- The Warden family in the east.

- The Kepel family in the west.

- The Blado family in the north.

- The Page family in the south.

- And the central region, the most prosperous, is served by the Saion Duke, which is the family the boy belongs to, the Ludvig family.

The start of the mage families was when the hereditary nobles granted positions to outstanding court mages, and among the noble families, only the mage families used the title of Duke.

The Page family, the leading mage family, is an exception, but I'll explain that later.

The carriage crossed the Ludvig family's territory, Siastulrika, and finally arrived at the Duke's city, Rainbow Garden.

"Wow……"

It was truly a beautiful city. The entire city was divided into seven sections, each a color of the rainbow, and each section emitted its own light under the autumn sun. For example, the section where the Duke's castle was located was purple, and the educational district was indigo.

Kaven took the boy to the Libarden Magic School where his father was currently teaching. His father was in the middle of a lecture.

"How about it, do you want to take the class too?"

"I prefer the lessons from Father."

An innocent and pure answer, and his son was already focused on the lecture.

This kid……

Kaven felt a warm sensation in his heart at the answer.

"Is there any student with questions?"

Grandfather, Scalz Ludvig, put down the chalk and asked. Rain raised his hand. Kaven tried to stop him, but Scalz spoke first.

"What is it?"

"I'm curious why you used the character for 'district' (區) instead of 'puncture' (刺) for the runes. Using 'puncture' (刺) can simplify the mathematical formula and increase its power. There's also 'testicle' (睾)."

Scalz's face showed surprise, and the students who were listening also turned to look at the boy in amazement.

"Remarkable. That's something we teach in the advanced section, 'Application of Runes and Simplification of Mathematical Formulas.'"

"……?"

"……?"

"……?"

"Since the family has arrived, I'll end the lecture here. The teaching assistant will summarize the content, and you all follow me."

'The family' referred to the boy and Kaven. As they followed into the corridor, Scalz glanced at Kaven.

"Are you still like that?"

"I'd like to vent my frustration right away, but I'm holding back for the sake of this clever grandson."

"The clever grandson was born to Brim, Father."

Scalz was an old man with a strong presence, still straight-backed despite his age. The aura of a proud mage radiated from his entire body, and the magic power he unconsciously emitted was quite welcoming to the boy.

Scalz was one of the ten Glados (4-star) level mages in the empire.

"So, how did you become not only smarter than your mediocre father but also polite? I like it. You can go now. The Duke must want to see you anyway."

For a moment, why did he interject in such a routine conversation?

"My father wasn't mediocre. He's a good father and a good teacher."

Perhaps it was because he remembered the day they first rode in the carriage, when his father awkwardly smiled.

- Sir Rista, why are you taking such a young and inexperienced child?

- A Glados (4-star) level mage has six other skilled individuals besides this child.

- That's true. He lacks cooperation and is too arrogant, isn't he?

Familiar gazes and remarks.

For an orphan boy who had lived his life under the eyes of envy…… At that time, Rista Alter Shurpan smiled and stood in front of those gazes.

- Rin is the best mage. He's not inexperienced and he's not lacking in cooperation.

- ……?

- He just doesn't know much yet. He can learn from now on.

That voice, which said those words, still lingered deep in his memory. He wanted to say it to someone someday.

"……"

"……"

Kaven felt a burning sensation in his eyes and a heavy pain in his heart.

Scalz turned to look at the boy, met his firm gaze for a long time, and then suddenly smiled.

"Did I not know that? He's my most proud son."

"Father……?"

"Brat, I said you can go. You're not needed here."

"……Understood."

"Don't just run off to the mansion. After confirming Rain's aptitude, let's have a drink together for the first time in a long while."

"……!"

"Come, follow me."

Kaven bowed deeply to Scalz, who was walking down the corridor holding Rain's hand.

A smile shone in the grandfather's eyes, and tears streamed down the father's eyes.

The boy thought.

Is this also a gift from Rista? If he hadn't met her, would he have even thought about such things?

- You can do it. Rin is a kind child.

The boy, who had outstanding abilities as a great mage but lacked the capacity, took another step closer to becoming a sage today.

* * *

"So, how did you know about the combination of runes and the rearrangement of mathematical formulas?"

Scalz's classroom was simple. Only necessary furniture was arranged, and all the documents were neatly organized.

'He's really different from me.'

In the past, Rin's laboratory and Rain's current room were always cluttered with books and documents…… The boy answered.

"I read a lot of books."

"A lot?"

"A lot, a lot."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

I was at a loss for how to explain, but Scalz laughed heartily and ruffled the boy's hair until it was a mess.

"Actually, I didn't need to ask. Your father has been boasting about you…… You've already mastered the theory of 3-star magic, haven't you?"

"Yes, Grandfather."

I can't say it, but in fact, I've mastered up to 5-star.

"And I heard you came to see me to open the Bel Curious."

Bel Curious.

The absolute magic eye meaning 'penetrating perception' in the language of the gods. Scalz was one of the openers who had proudly inscribed their names in the family's history.

"How much magic power do you have now?"

"I can barely perform high-speed calculations for a 3-star magic, Grandfather."

"High-speed calculations for 3-star magic?"

Scalz's eyes widened.

I might need to explain the concept of 'high-speed calculation' that mages talk about.

Drawing a magic circle somewhere, filling it with runes and mathematical formulas, and activating it is not called 'high-speed calculation.' When all these processes are performed mentally without writing them down, it is called high-speed calculation.

Up to 4-star mages, the rank is upgraded when they can perform high-speed calculations for more than twenty-four spells of their rank. To reach 5-star mages, or great mages, they must be able to perform high-speed calculations for seven 5-star spells.

"This is astonishing. No, it's bewildering. It's already surprising that you can use 3-star magic at eleven, but high-speed calculations…… Has there ever been a precedent?"

If we really push it, there was one. The great mage Rin had achieved 3-star at eleven and 4-star at thirteen.

Compared to other great mages, it's an incredibly high level.

"Then, show me once."

"Here?"

"Yes, here."

"The room will be destroyed."

"It's fine."

"Everything will be scattered due to the air pressure."

"It's fine. I'll remove it before that happens."

Scalz showed a mysterious smile.

Remove it……?

The boy, though confused, spread his palm. In his mind, ultra-precise formulas were instantly calculated, altering the principles of this world.

'The shape of the magic circle is three fan-shaped sections. The runes inscribed in each are Yu (兪), Zhu (駐), and Zhi (制).'

To explain, it's about inscribing three properties into a wind attribute magic.

A chill ran through his veins like a cold thread, and the flow of magic power began to swirl, causing all the furniture in the room to creak.

"Wow…… It's really true."

As Scalz muttered, a chilling cold swept through his body, making his hair stand on end and cold sweat break out.

Wait……?

What's this?

It's gone, the magic is gone, the magic circle is gone, everything…… It hasn't even been activated, and I didn't stop it either?

"Don't be surprised. Didn't I say I would remove it?"

The boy, who had lifted his gaze in a daze, felt fear again.

Red glowing eyes.

The seven-pointed star inscribed in them.

Facing the eyes that could see through the conditions of the world's existence, even the intellect of a great mage felt a primal fear.

"This is the Bel Curious. You can control all abilities you can see at will."

But the fear quickly turned into excitement, and the excitement turned into exhilaration.

Why wouldn't it?

This infinite power will soon be his, and the boy, uncharacteristically for a great mage, let out a cry of joy.

"Wow!"

"Ha ha ha ha! Do you want to try it too?"

"Yes!"

The seven-pointed star in Scalz's eyes dispersed, and the burning light in his eyes subsided. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"Of course, it's not invincible. The caster must fully understand the magic to remove or modify it."

"Still, it's so cool!"

"And it requires a tremendous amount of magic power. You, who show signs of magic power exhaustion with a single 3-star magic, still have a long way to go."

Many of Ludvig's descendants feel this wall and give up, judging that they cannot overcome it.

"It's just far away."

"Hmm?"

"Far away doesn't mean it's impossible to reach."

But the boy was different.

All exploration was a joy to the boy, and the pleasure of overcoming the wall of knowledge was indescribable.

"Then, teach me how to overcome it, Grandfather."

The moment the boy answered confidently, Scalz's mouth almost split to his ears.

"My teaching will be very tough."

"Teaching should be tough."

"Ha ha ha ha ha! You are truly my blood! Brim, I must thank that child. To have such a clever child!"

Even a hedgehog sees its offspring as beautiful, and he thought his son's words were exaggerated.

But he was wrong.

This is a gem. Not just a gem, but perhaps a light that could shine on the stagnant imperial magic……