Chapter 22

EP.22 Dedicated Knight - 4

[The Tower of Magic? The one I know?]

<Even if everything has changed over 300 years, historically it's the same, right?>

The Tower of Magic existed even in the era of the Sage. Even if the Sage was left like a fossil, it wouldn't surpass the history of a group.

[Why is the Tower of Magic, which should be dedicated to research, here?]

<In 300 years, it wouldn't be strange if the laws were completely rewritten.>

In the Sage's era, the Tower of Magic was probably just a school or laboratory for studying magic.

Since he was ignorant of magic and history, he couldn't be sure, but the Sage's reaction provided a basis for his speculation.

"Leonardo, we have arrested and detained you as an [Illegal Magic User]. Do you know that?"

Instead of answering, a moment of silence echoed.

[Shit... What the hell is this nonsense about illegal magic?]

...said the Sage, who was [the essence of magic, the origin of all magic, and the one who established modern magic].

Honestly, Leo wanted to slap his knee and agree, but he needed to maintain his composure first.

"I am aware, but I cannot agree."

"Your agreement or disagreement doesn't matter. We are the ones who make the judgment."

After saying this firmly, the two mages from the Tower of Magic sat down. Leo also sat in a chair and faced them.

"We didn't tell you to sit, did we?"

They really just acted out of unnecessary pretension.

"I am not a criminal, nor was I brought in as one. There's no reason to be oppressed even in seating, right?"

"...That's something we'll have to see."

Since they couldn't think of anything else to say besides threats, the mages didn't add anything more.

[Then are you just going to throw me in a cell?]

<If I didn't do anything wrong, why would you do that?>

He came in here willingly to minimize the scale of the incident. If he tried to escape, they would likely fabricate more charges against him.

[Then what should I do? I need to talk my way out of this.]

He was already planning to do that.

Of course, he would use the more dignified term 'defense' rather than 'talking his way out.'

"You have the right to remain silent and to appoint a lawyer, and any testimony you give can be submitted as evidence. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

As if waiting for his acknowledgment, the woman in blue handed Leo a few photos.

"Between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM, a magic-assisted assault occurred in this alley. You know about it, right?"

The photos showed the alley in various angles, destroyed. The bloodstained assassins lying around further emphasized the destruction.

"I am aware, but 'assault' is not the correct term."

He needed to take the initiative here.

"For a magic-assisted assault to be established, I would have had to use magic to attack or have the intention to do so, which doesn't fit the current situation."

The three mages around him all opened their eyes and mouths slightly.

Naturally, Leo was ignorant of magic and law. Environmentally and in terms of interests, these two fields were far from him.

But

If this was a law related to crime and violence, the premise of the story changes.

"If a sudden and preemptive attack like an assassination occurs, a counterattack using magic is also allowed. This is called self-defense, right?"

They must have been taken aback.

They probably started the interrogation with at least three assumptions:

Leo can use magic, even though he hasn't been formally trained.

Leo doesn't know how to use magic and used an unauthorized magical tool.

Leo used black magic or illegal magic.

These were the limits of imagination they could pour into a 13-year-old boy.

If they had anticipated that Leo was a reincarnated person with the Sage's stone, they would be beyond geniuses, they'd be insane.

"If I'm wrong, please correct me. I lack experience, so I'm not sure."

Their expressions alone were a great answer, even without a verbal response.

"...Impressive that you know this at your young age, but your experience is lacking."

[...Tsk...]

The Sage clicked his tongue a few times, seemingly annoyed. Leo also felt very uncomfortable but decided to endure it for now.

"Why can't self-defense be established?"

"First, the fact that you tortured the assassin, Kan, makes it..."

"Bodyguards are obligated to identify additional threats to protect their master. Considering this, the torture was a necessary process."

He didn't give them a moment to think or react.

While his eloquence was lacking, his magical and legal knowledge was overwhelmingly superior to the Tower of Magic's.

So, he dominated the momentum.

"Right eye damage. And the jaw, nose, and cheekbone fractures on the face, along with the injuries all over the body... If I hadn't used magic to defend myself, I might have been treated even worse."

This wasn't just to dominate.

In reality, if he hadn't used magic, he couldn't have been confident of victory. Leo won not because they were weak, but because he had an unknown wildcard in the form of magic.

"...Then why did you use such magic?"

"What kind of magic?"

"Are you trying to act innocent?"

The man in black handed him the photos again. They showed a charred ground, a broken stone window, and a wall dented by wind projectiles.

"Are you still saying that after seeing this?"

"Yes, what's the problem?"

"Using a 3rd Circle spell in self-defense, do you think that's reasonable?"

[...Huh?]

"...Huh?"

The Sage and Leo reacted identically, like looking at a mirror image. It was so similar that it was almost creepy.

"...What do you mean...?"

Seeing Leo's confused reaction, the two mages seized the opportunity to press on.

"Don't try to deny it. The power and form are at least 2nd Circle."

"Legally, unauthorized use of 3rd Circle or higher magic can be punished. In some cases, it can even result in imprisonment..."

"...What...?"

Leo barely managed to suppress his words and breathing. If either slipped out, it would be a major faux pas.

[Ha... Ha ha ha ha...!!]

The Sage, not caring about such things, burst into laughter... but he had to hold back for now.

"...What's so funny? The seriousness of the situation..."

"It... It's 1st Circle."

"...What? What do you mean...?"

"The magic I used, and my Circle, is 1st Circle."

He found it subtly strange.

The mages' overly sensitive reactions and their treating a mere 1st Circle spell like black magic were indeed unusual.

'At first, I thought it was just a simple threat... but that's what it was.'

From the beginning, they weren't targeting 1st Circle magic, which is basic.

[So...! Ha...! You thought my magic was 3rd Circle...]

<Misunderstanding. You thought 1st Circle magic was 3rd Circle.>

The main purpose was to interrogate how he learned and used high-level 3rd Circle magic.

"Don't lie! Are you mocking us?"

[You're mocking yourself with your own words.]

...He wanted to answer the same as the Sage, but Leo couldn't ruin his well-prepared defense.

"Then let me prove it."

Leo raised one hand and unfolded a magic formula in front of his palm. Thanks to his special training in drawing shapes, the [Fireball] magic circle was constructed in less than a second.

"...What is this..."

"From the magic formula alone, it's a Fireball. From the magic formula alone. If you find it hard to believe, check the mana in my body. There's plenty of evidence to be confident."

Thinking a bit deeper, this power was natural.

The person teaching him was, after all, the [essence of magic, the origin of all magic, and the one who established modern magic].

[Yes! This is magic!! Got it!? You bastards!!]

...Yes, that person was the Sage.

He suspected, or rather was certain, that it was a shortened form of "Reality is a shithole, kid."

"...Then...! Who taught you...?"

Leo glanced sideways at the person in question.

[What? Why?]

The one who gave him those lofty teachings was scratching his ear with his pinky finger, as if his ear was itchy. Leo fervently hoped it wasn't his nose and turned his eyes away.

"I can't say."

It was a lie, a white lie, or a perjury, depending on how you looked at it.

But Leo's character was too gentle to crush the idols and hopes of these young aspiring mages.

***

[Why did you say that?]

<Because they wouldn't believe the truth anyway.>

The rough false testimony went like this:

One day, Leo entered a cave to avoid the rain and met a man in a hood.

The man had been starving for days and demanded food and water from Leo.

After giving him water and food, the man taught him magic as a thank you.

Soon, the man died of illness, and Leo buried him and left.

...It was a cliché plot straight out of a third-rate novel.

[Don't I sound too pitiful? And what's with the death at the end?]

<There's no choice. To eliminate any suspicion, it's best if he's dead.>

And honestly, this was already a highly romanticized version. If he told the whole truth, the mages would face cosmic horror and tear their hair out, trying to cover their ears.

[Why are you looking at me like that?]

<...Anyway, thanks to the Sage, I can use magic.>

Ultimately, thanks to the Sage's magic, Leo was able to overcome the crisis. This result deserved gratitude.

[...Damn, I get it. But listen.]

The old Sage, stroking his chin and beard, spoke.

[How are you going to learn magic now?]

<...Magic? I'll just keep doing what I've been doing.>

What's the big deal?

[No, you idiot. With that story, you can't learn 2nd Circle magic.]

Indeed, if he followed the current scenario, he couldn't claim to have learned magic through self-study. Especially 2nd Circle magic, which is one level higher, couldn't be explained away as self-discovery.

<It's fine. I've already found a substitute teacher.>

[A substitute teacher?]

A substitute teacher, someone who can teach Leo 2nd Circle magic, even if poorly, would provide a reason to learn.

Initially, he used magic to get a reason to learn from this substitute.

[Who is it? There are no mages in your family, right?]

<There is.>

Leo pointed to the side as he walked out of the iron gate.

<Why would I be knowledgeable about magic, especially magic crimes? >

A figure appeared, summoned by teleportation, and approached Leo.

His squinting eyes and as smooth white hair as Aria's were very impressive.

If Leo had to find a reason for his expertise in this field of law, 20% was due to his mercenary work, and 80% was due to this bumbling fellow.

[No way.]

Rheinhardt's bumbling eldest son,

<Despite appearances, he can even use teleportation.>

And currently, a 4th Circle mage, Rios Rheinhardt, appeared.

"Quite early release. Roasting those old farts, huh? You're the Joke Assassin, after all!"

Rios provocatively handed Leo a block of tofu wrapped in newspaper. He didn't know why tofu, as soft as pudding, was wrapped in newspaper, but he understood because it was Rios.

"In the East, they give tofu when you're released. Enjoy it~"

"...Ah... Yes."

It was hard to argue now. He was also hungry, so he had to eat this.

As he opened the newspaper wrapping and took a bite of the tofu,

《Joke Assassin, subdues Blood Shadow with magic joke...》

"...Shit... Cough...!"

The tofu, as soft as pudding, blocked his esophagus, stopping his breathing.

The image of destroying the newspaper office before finding Jehad and the mastermind repeated the expansion and contraction of his throat.

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