Chapter 93: Genius Lost in Light (2)
uY8“It’s a wise decision. Ignoring nine for the sake of one is foolish. In any situation, never stop thinking. Everything in the world is determined by the amount of thought. Combat is no different.”Gth6y
vDfyLPJ“Don’t be mistaken. I will never forgive you.”7ZLfb
lY0tLm1“Haha! If you’re also determined, there’s nothing more to ask for. Shall I guess? You grow in real combat. A school that teaches only standardized things doesn’t suit you. How about it? Won’t you join me? I’ll make you the greatest mage.”OD76A6w
tCQP“Don’t talk nonsense. I respect the teachers here far more than a murderer like you.”E8f70
OwVKCmi“Then tell me. What have you learned here? Photon Cannon? Red wavelength? Or did they even advise you on Immortal Function?”fKFdGc
uUBShirone’s eyes wavered slightly.rg4vzpZ
hDlWz“How do you know that…?”vkNe3xD
EHNmArcane burst into laughter. This must be why he enjoys teaching. Gathering naive children and spouting nonsense to his heart’s content.SHJEH
WSs“It’s indeed rare. Immortal Function, is that an ordinary realm? But child, there are terrifying monsters in places you don’t know. If you mingle with them joyfully…”PFmpzgg
j4REdArcane grinned slyly with one eye.pud
2dwleHD“Unlockers aren’t that rare either.”kuc0f
YwMbShirone swallowed dryly. How many life-and-death situations must one overcome to casually mention Unlockers as not rare? Regardless of skill, the accumulated experience alone made him a different entity.cKIIUh8
JtUSXo“In 100 years, I’ve met seven. Four were decent, and I killed three. The uniqueness of Unlockers is distinct. The potential for distortion is infinite. But untrained uniqueness dies before greater stability.”AW5Eh
iT0It was undeniable, though bitter. Uniqueness could be a variable that ignores objective power, yet sometimes it’s a double-edged sword, powerless before straightforward methods.tFfV7
dGDX1“You won’t learn anything in a school that ignores uniqueness, teaching the same things. You need to sharpen your unique strengths. I can help you with that.”p62Hbn
dUECu4“I don’t learn magic to defeat someone. Don’t lump me with someone like you.”RdQl
xYKx5Arcane read the conflict in Shirone’s eyes. Of course, without a similar obsession with magic, he wouldn’t have reached his current position.evA6o
mL4“You think everyone likes you now. But humans are naturally favorable to the great. It’s not that they like you personally. How long do you think you can interact with such hypocrites?”upa0ZCH
R3NmxsiEveryone frowned at Arcane’s words.D6N
R1KFPVBut Shirone just listened silently.u7rOuYg
7dtm“Get stronger. Make them unable to ignore you forever. Otherwise, they will trample on you. Can you still avoid conflict with polished excuses when that happens?”0JH5
fCZArcane spread three fingers.Pu5ZXL
YUaSC“Three years. I’ll make you a mage no one on the continent can ignore within three years. Too short? I don’t think so. If we maximize your uniqueness, it’s not impossible.”X7JBC
eyi02DFTo Shirone, it wasn’t nonsense. As an Unlocker, staying in school seemed fruitless. At best, he would easily land a job in the mage society.HWE9
vsMJ“Your words may be right.”LtsTXFN
dUFCcKLNade and Yiruki’s faces darkened.ST7P5f
cKEW7“Shirone…”AWeR0Zm
gUA1If it’s the truth, there’s no need to deny it. Unlockers hold a unique position in the mage society, and standardized education at a magic school has its limits in skill development.kFVv64A
4nAeA“Maybe you’re right. But still, I won’t follow you. This academy isn’t just a place for me to fight; it’s where my life is. Teachers, friends, a sense of belonging. I don’t think you can offer me those things.”CJd
SLjxCnArcane frowned. Whatever Arcane did to brainwash the students was admirable.6sinhEE
o6YT“You’re being deceived. Those things don’t matter in life. If you weren’t strong, you would have been just an average kid at school. Proving your strength is everything in life.”aUwytl
OWkHw“If that’s really everything, then what’s left for you now? Everyone hates you. Aren’t you lonely? No one cares about you, so you can only prove yourself this way.”581uwoA
5eQfvbBArcane ground his teeth, his face reddening.oiraK
7uadU2d“Nonsense. The strong are lonely. It’s the weak who seek to band together. Look at the situation. Everyone is kneeling at my feet. I rule them. This is loneliness.”XSbALR
G68wV“No. You’re just a murderer who nobody cares about.”FNX
Wxd5tXrThe word ‘murderer’ ignited madness in Arcane’s eyes.bPVB
KEAFEtf“Haha! Maybe. But did you know? I once had comrades. But one led everyone to ruin. That’s the Alpheas you respect.”2k876u6
il2G0fShirone didn’t believe it. He had heard from Ethella about their enmity. The Alpheas he knew wouldn’t lead anyone to ruin.SiNJ
C8sYCC“I don’t know what happened in the past, but I won’t listen to you. You’re a murderer. And you’re still committing murder.”cKdk
pKT“Murderer, you say. Then isnt Alpheas… just like me?”5w4
eSrShirone widened his eyes, shocked.62b4IXa
s6SfBd“Lies. What do you know about the headmaster?”Sgo1
qOOg3C“Hahaha! Of course, I know. That kid was my disciple.”tdFKRWU
31tDSNV“What…?”DmQd
Y8nShirone was speechless. Alpheas was a pioneer of light magic since his youth. How could someone who practices dark magic be his mentor?i2qr
4hFArcane looked up at the sky, reminiscing. Realizing something, he turned to Ethella.EVV
LbCYJP“Did Alpheas ever marry?”xCaZk4
ByVjFC“No. He has devoted his life to education, living alone.”CjoRM
2n2lw9“I see.”Cy6shS
kL5WHx4A fleeting sadness passed through Arcane’s eyes. Although he harbored hatred for Alpheas for 40 years, the only thing he possibly felt sympathy for was the matter of Erina.wo9
dIVJA“You might not know, but Alpheas was once married.”tUuK
dTXjxEthella tilted her head in confusion. To her knowledge, Alpheas had always been single. Even if he had married and separated, it should have been documented as a union of houses.RD4iOl
kav“But Headmaster Alpheas is officially single.”uCncUGt
39GxkK“It seems his marriage was never acknowledged. But Alpheas was indeed married. They lived together for three years. Her name was Erina. A wonderful woman. She shone brighter and was more beautiful than anyone.”jJTVxo
TGOu4“What exactly happened between you two? Is it something worth harboring a grudge over, even after 50 years?”aqfCBK
phT“At that time, Alpheas was a rising star, recognized for his Photon Theory. Having received the Gold Circle Award from the Emperor, you can imagine his stature. He secured a position in the Thunder Dragons’ Magic Department and set up a household with a woman from the Bastadd family. He had nothing to envy in the world. But he had his worries.”CuL1
R1BBhO8Arcane tapped his head as he spoke.yAM
9GN0“His wife, Erina, was a bit slow. Her intelligence was around that of a ten-year-old.”60CQx
s3bdO2“I see.”3LL
XsATA“But Alpheas didn’t mind. He truly loved his wife. His affection was neither pity nor pretense.”rTPedcT
jZ3TTuArcane’s memory traveled back in time, to 40 years ago. It was when Arcane ruled the world, and Alpheas, a new star in the magic world, was dubbed a supernova.DiKZRh
KyOvP1“This year’s Gold Circle Award! Alpheas Myrhe!”ucQaA
ERN3VMFanfares echoed in the Grand Hall. As Alpheas walked amid the colorful confetti, tears of joy welled in his eyes. The Gold Circle Award, given to the mage with the highest achievement of the year, ensured entry into Thunder Strike and support from numerous noble families.nNHU
YRUSL“Congratulations, Alpheas. I knew you would win.”63Z4M3
9avBXw“Count on me in the future. Don’t forget your old friends now that you’re successful.”R94
FSDMany mages flocked around Alpheas, hoping to make an early impression, foreseeing his continuously rising value.2Ehwe4
9vXS9However, not all eyes were favorable. Saroph, who had been a close competitor until the end, looked sour as if he had swallowed something bitter.PuFUD
NZCvq“Hmph. Married an idiot and rose to fame. Myrhe and Bastadd’s union, how can anyone compete with that?”WJi7kh
oOP“It’s true. It’s really frustrating. But what can we do, the results are out. We need to watch our words around Alpheas now.”lMD
zUWISaroph was aware too. As long as they were part of the magic society, it was wise to get on Alpheas’s good side.mW34XF
vdcs“What will you do, Saroph? Approaching subtly and seeking reconciliation might make it worse. Shall we leave it for later and go for a drink?”y9wZ
ZVv“Sounds good. I don’t want to stay here any longer.”wWl
R4myUNhSaroph left the castle with his friends. Although he narrowly missed the Gold Circle Award, no one paid attention to the loser.6ucH
n5AHPUKlumph heartily laughed, pulling Alpheas out of the crowd. Alpheas wanted a break, but soon found his face squeezed against Klumph’s muscular arm.yRkJ
u9WMG5“Hahaha! You did it, my friend! My friend won the Gold Circle! I can’t believe it!”7MEZ
OqPz“Ouch! It hurts!”83D1JNI
skJSAlpheas screamed, but Klumph’s celebration knew no bounds.wHKw
oHl“When you were being a smart aleck, I really wanted to beat you up, but now I see, you’re a genius! You did it, man!”nenotu
Tr4psImAlpheas felt dizzy but didn’t think of escaping. It’s the Gold Circle. When else would he experience such thrilling pain?FJ6FYM
jcX“Alright! Let’s drink until our stomachs burst on this great day. I’ve booked a tavern, just bring your stomach, leave your brain!”BrG8Aqr
9XDe6M“Ah, I can’t go right now. I need to stop by somewhere.”q8C
n9Yuz“What? The star of the night can’t be absent. What’s the matter?”AhWN
wbE“I’m going home. I want to put the medal on my wife.”rKql
k8im8pCKlumph couldn’t argue with that. Having married Erina a year ago, due to opposition from both families, they lived in a small house in a civilian area without any support.XHMpk4p
8fhIt started with the Myrhe family. They couldn’t accept their son, sent abroad for education, marrying a foolish woman.Femdy
1ridnbVThe Bastadd family didn’t back down either. They claimed that despite being nobles, they wouldn’t be looked down upon, even if their daughter was a bit slow.8jxHAAN
TNwOMVIn the end, Alpheas and Erina had an unofficial wedding ceremony with only friends present.2IL
IzziJ“Right. There’s Mrs. Erina. Why not bring her here?”Zrtri
8iRd“No need. What wife would like to see her husband drunk? I’ll just be back soon.”8j4nUR
eaXWn“Stubborn as always. Well, hurry back.”wOHKE
RJ4FGm“Will do. Go ahead to the tavern!”7DNa
g4vBmhzAlpheas rushed out of the castle. Despite being exhausted from relentless research, he felt exhilarated tonight.nqShsU
dz8t‘I did it! I made it!’PMQJ2Kq
3U5Winning the kingdom’s most prestigious award meant that the Myrhe family would have to accept him back, paving the way for a formal wedding with Erina.JWR7iRj
dC1Y2N“Honey, I’m back.”vrh4
xCHErina knew about the award day. In any other home, there might have been a surprise party, but she greeted him as usual from the kitchen.BQsw
s6HZaB“Are you back? Have you eaten?”ch44CV3
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!