Chapter 247: The Mage’s Wish (3)

“Now that I think about it, they say the world isn’t made up of four elements, but five. Apparently, mages use that fifth one.”

“What? Weren’t there four elements? What’s the fifth? Isn’t it earth, fire, wind, and water?”

“The heart.”

“Ah…!”

“Only with the heart can true magic be achieved. They say that studying formulas and other nonsense like mediocre mages do is useless. They’ve forgotten what’s truly important. The most fundamental ingredient in magic is our heart. Without a warm heart, magic cannot exist!”

“And where did you learn that?”

“I saw it in the latest issue of Maxim magazine.”

“Ah… that one…”

The knights’ faces flushed for a moment before returning to normal.

“Without a doubt, it’s a very educational magazine.”

“Totally.”

“An essential article in a knight’s life. Especially when one is still an apprentice.”

“Hahaha…”

Another knight continued the topic.

“Did you know that very young babies can use magic?”

“What?”

“Since they still have a pure heart uncontaminated by the world, they’re in the most suitable state to handle magic. It’s said that a few babies even remember their past lives. Although those memories fade as they grow, those who still retain them can use magic freely thanks to their pure heart and those memories.”

“Really? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Don’t you know the boy from Hindo? In the Hindo fief, in Liberta, there was a child who…”

Thus, the conversation, which had started with talk about black magic, ended up drifting into all sorts of supernatural phenomena the knights had heard about here and there.

“Unidentified flying objects sometimes seen in the sky…”

“A boy who bends spoons with psychic powers…”

“The fact that black magic is mentioned is actually part of a conspiracy of the international imperial capital…”

“Careful. They say that those who know the truth about black magic end up with magical listening devices in their ears…”

The crystal sphere on the table in front of them began vibrating more intensely.

But since the foreign-trained knights were speaking so loudly, no one heard the sound.

“In any case, black magic doesn’t exist!”

Someone shouted it loudly.

“That’s right! Black magic is a fraud!”

“It doesn’t exist!”

“It’s nothing more than a conspiracy theory!”

They all shouted in unison.

At that moment, the crystal sphere shattered into pieces. The fragments flew everywhere, striking the knights.

“W-what is this?”

“An attack?”

“They’re suppressing us for knowing the truth!”

Since they were trained knights, they weren’t seriously injured, but some ended up with bleeding cuts.

Inside, the interview room began to fill with thick smoke. The knights dispersed it while reflexively drawing their swords. Dozens of weapons gleamed inside the room.

Finally, when their vision cleared, they realized someone was sitting in the luxurious chair before them.

It was an old man with hair as white as snow. His white beard was so long it reached his waist. He was leaning back in the chair, holding his forehead.

“Damn it. They got on my nerves…”

His voice was deep and worn, yet powerful.

The knights’ eyes widened, and they began murmuring.

“It can’t be… is that man…?”

“The Master of the Tower?”

“Has he come to confirm we were right?”

“Please, tell the truth to everyone outside!”

The old man waved his hand impatiently. And in that instant, all the knights vanished.

The noisy room fell silent.

The old man, now alone, let out a few deep sighs, then stood up and walked toward the exit.

***

Since the knights had entered the room, no sound had been heard.

Jared tilted his head.

“Could they just be staying quiet?”

“The room is isolated from outside sound.”

“I see.”

Yuri, arms crossed, stared at the door.

“By my calculations, it won’t be long now.”

“Huh?”

Only a short moment had passed since the knights had gone in.

Hernando scoffed.

“What are you talking about, Your Highness? If it were that easy, why did Maryrose and I have to work so hard?”

If Yuri’s words produced immediate results, then all of Hernando’s effort would have been pointless. That’s why he insisted on criticizing him.

“Your idea isn’t bad, but it won’t work like that. Since when does spouting nonsense solve anything?”

“Really?”

“Yes. If someone came out of there just because of some silly talk, why did Maryrose and I have to go around the whole place? We checked every workshop…”

At that moment, the door to the room swung open.

Hernando, now more confident, raised his voice.

“See? The knights are already coming out. It was all pointless and—”

But the one who emerged was not a knight.

It was an old man with white hair and a long beard. Hernando saw him and went silent.

“……”

Silence fell over the place. Yuri let out a slight chuckle. It wasn’t hard to guess who that old man was.

Hernando opened his mouth awkwardly.

“Master…?”

Maryrose tilted her head calmly.

“Long time no see, Sir Sidherst.”

The old man replied,

“Yes. A long time has passed for all of us.”

That man was Sidherst, Master of the Tower and respected by all mages.

After greeting Hernando and Maryrose, Sidherst turned to Yuri.

“I received your gift.”

“I hope you liked it.”

“I nearly fainted from the outrage.”

Yuri lifted his chin and smiled.

“Good thing you came out before collapsing.”

Yuri extended his hand, and Sidherst shook it.

“Since these two weren’t of much use, I had to come myself.”

“I suspected it, but now I see it’s true.”

Sidherst looked at Hernando and Maryrose.

“You still have a lot to learn.”

Both only lowered their heads without saying anything.

At a glance, Sidherst was very old. He had probably been at the head of the Tower longer than they had been alive.

Yuri said,

“Master, I want to have a serious talk about black magic.”

“Black magic, you say…”

Sidherst stroked his beard, which swayed gently.

“Alright. Let’s go in.”

He gestured toward the interview room and entered first.

Yuri followed, curiosity in his eyes.

What he found was a space completely different from before. They were at the top of a cliff.

“Ah…”

Yuri looked down. An immense forest stretched to the horizon, and multiple rivers branched out like roots. A strong wind ruffled his hair.

“This place is…”

“My favorite place.”

“And the knights?”

“I sent them back. If I had listened to them a bit longer, I would have incinerated them all.”

Sidherst looked out over the landscape and then sat down in a chair set to the side. In front of him was a long table and three chairs.

Yuri took the one in the center. Hernando and Maryrose, still marveling at the view, sat beside him.

Sidherst looked at each of them in turn.

“So, why did you come?”

“You already know.”

“No. I have no idea.”

Hernando cut in:

“We’ve been looking for you all this time. Why were you hiding?”

“Hiding? I was just busy with my own things.”

“Don’t play dumb. We know you were watching us.”

“Then why didn’t you find me? Hernando, you still have a lot to learn.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. But my skill doesn’t matter right now. The situation demands it.”

“And what situation is that?”

“Black magic.”

Hernando leaned forward.

“This is plunging the world into chaos. The Tower of Magic must intervene. Mages like us must go out and set things right.”

“And why?”

Sidherst shook his head.

“There’s no reason to do so.”

“Excuse me?”

“Black magic… hmm?”

“Black magic has grown to an enormous extent.”

Sidherst frowned.

“I agree that it’s a vile and evil power.”

“And?”

“Why should we be the ones to intervene?”

Sidherst raised an eyebrow as he spoke.

“If you oppose black magic too hastily, you’ll become its target. There’s no need to act recklessly. Especially because what they recently summoned, now that…”

Yuri realized he knew more than he let on.

Yuri spoke.

“In short, you’re saying you’re hiding because you’re afraid of the risks?”

“To some extent.”

“I see.”

Sidherst stroked his beard and went on.

“It’s better to watch the situation slowly rather than rush in and draw attention. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. It’s not the time to act yet.”

It was the policy of an old and cautious mage.

Hernando frowned.

“A disappointing answer.”

“There’s no other choice. I’ve spent more time with magic than you’ve been alive. Those who acted recklessly died long ago. And if I’ve managed to protect the Tower for so long, it’s precisely because of this caution.”

“So the safety of the Tower is more important than people dying and black magic threatening the entire continent?”

“That’s right.”

Sidherst replied.

“And what are you going to do about it?”

“What am I going to do?”

This time Yuri answered.

“You’d better start cooperating.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

“Yes, black magic is dangerous. But the one using it is someone who can be reasoned with.”

“I’m not talking about black magic.”

“What?”

“I’m talking about me.”

Yuri placed a hand on the table.

“I’m not asking for much, just that you acknowledge black magic exists.”

“I already said no.”

“I see you think black magic is the only scary thing.”

Yuri stood up.

“Seems you’ve thrown away shame and conscience over the years. But you still have a bit of fear left, so instead of appealing to your conscience, I’ll have to appeal to your cowardice. That’s the only way to move you, right?”

“Oh…”

Sidherst laughed.

“I’ve heard your sword is impressive. That you’re a genius.”

“Yes.”

“But do you think that power you’ve built up is enough to threaten me here?”

Sidherst also stood up.

“Looks like I’ll have to teach this brat a lesson.”

“You’re just a cowardly old man who talks too much.”

“Insolent!”

Sidherst swung his arm, and suddenly a staff appeared in his hand. Light began to shine from the crystal sphere at its tip.

Hernando and Maryrose tried to dispel the magic, but Sidherst was faster.

“Stay out of this!”

Both of them froze in place as if turned to stone.

Sidherst’s eyes locked onto Yuri.

“I value that you’re fighting against black magic, but if you threaten the Tower of Magic, I’ll have no choice but to act. Today you’ll learn a lesson.”

“And a coward who stayed silent out of fear wants to teach me a lesson?”

Yuri laughed. Not a forced laugh, but one so genuine his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

“Very well. Today I’ll cut off that beard.”

“You little…”

Sidherst’s staff released a blinding light.

In that instant, Yuri’s field of vision changed.

A moment ago he had been sitting at the table atop the cliff, but suddenly everything around him transformed, and he found himself standing in the middle of a sea of flames.

The heat engulfed him from all directions. On the other side of the fire, Sidherst’s figure appeared.

The waves of fire began closing in on Yuri.

“I’ll show this arrogant brat the taste of my flames.”

Yuri didn’t respond.

Instead, he drew Guilty. A blue icy aura shone amidst the hellish flames.

While Sidherst swung his staff and chanted the spell, Yuri closed his eyes and then opened them again.

He had entered the realm of the mental domain.

He had suspected Sidherst might be corrupted by black magic, given his strange attitude, but that wasn’t the case.

Sidherst’s body showed no trace of black magic contamination. It was clean.

Yuri strengthened his mental domain even further.

Just as he could see the flow of black magic, conventional magic was no different.

Magic also sprang from human will. And before his technique, Cut of the soul and the heart, which severed soul and consciousness, even the purest magic was nothing but a target.

The flow of mana Sidherst manipulated revealed itself clearly to him. That flow was constructing a specific form that altered the world around them.

Yuri observed the magical flames surrounding him and the arrangement of his opponent’s mana.

And finally, at the very end of it all, he also aimed at Sidherst’s trembling beard.

And cut everything in a single stroke.