Ch 113
“Excuse me? Ah! Oh dear, am I not supposed to use this?”
“…”
Moria’s mouth hung open in astonishment.
‘What kind of guy is he?’
Secret Magic is a unique magic that transforms the nature of mana into one’s own energy to be unleashed.
It naturally requires the secrets of Unique Integration, and to skillfully handle Unique Integration, a certain level of magical power and sensitivity is required.
Rank 6 is the common standard, and therefore Secret Magic can be said to be a product of Rank 6.
It was common sense that even a beginner who had only learned basic theories for a year would know.
However, he acted as if he didn’t know that Secret Magic was a Rank 6 magic.
As a Rank 6 wizard, while using Secret Magic.
Moria tried to understand the intention behind Lisir’s actions.
It wasn’t easy.
His actions were too illogical to accept at face value,
and it was too clumsy to be a trick to use an improvised method in a sparring match.
Moria believed in the value of magic.
She didn’t think that a foolish person who would resort to such tricks in a sparring match could reach that level of realm at that age.
“…”
Then, what on earth does it mean?
That meaningless behavior.
If all this was a plan to cause confusion, it worked perfectly.
Lisir’s mental attack overloaded Moria’s thoughts.
Lisir looked at Moria and apologized politely.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know much about this magic, so I must have made a mistake unintentionally.”
“?”
It was an apology worse than doing nothing.
Moria’s thoughts, which were just beginning to stabilize, fell into confusion again.
Secret Magic is the identity of a wizard.
The teaching and realization of a wizard belonging to a school are established as Secret Magic and developed through it.
And that Secret Magic, what?
‘He doesn’t know much?’
For a wizard to say that about their own Secret Magic.
Even in Moria’s long magical life spanning two lifetimes, it was the first time she had experienced such a situation.
Perhaps, even throughout the entire history of magic, it wouldn’t be so?
‘He’s a strange fellow. It’s best not to talk to him.’
Moria decided not to think seriously about him anymore.
-Sarururuuk
The sand wind swirling around Lisir subsided. The grains of sand that fell to the ground naturally scattered and disappeared.
Lisir, having withdrawn his Secret Magic, said.
“I’m glad I found out before we started the sparring match in earnest. If it’s alright, shall we continue the sparring match?”
Lisir looked at Moria and Pallag alternately and said.
“…”
“…”
Moria and Pallag nodded at each other with disgusted expressions.
Then, Lisir looked at Moria’s waist and exclaimed urgently.
“Ah, I’m sorry! Before we continue the sparring match, there’s one more thing I’d like to confirm! Miss Moria━”
He looked at Moria and fiddled with the sword at his waist.
“Blue Breath is Miss Moria’s specialty, right?”
Even though he is now a wizard and not a swordsman, he can still handle the swordsman’s breath.
It proved Moria’s exceptional mana sensitivity.
In that respect, Blue Breath could definitely be called Moria’s specialty.
But, is it just my feeling?
The intention behind Lisir’s question felt quite different.
Moria said without paying attention.
“But, why?”
“But you left your sword behind?”
“?”
Why would he bring that?
‘Could it be that since she can use Blue Breath, it means she should use magic and sword together?’
He alternates between the wizard’s breath and the swordsman’s breath.
Even if she poured all her concentration in place, she would have to accept mana backflow and overload.
Yet, he’s telling her to use that during combat?
‘Is he mocking me?’
In the end, Moria judged Lisir’s actions that way.
The sword hanging at his waist belatedly caught her eye.
“So I’m asking, is this sparring match purely a contest of magical power? Only the use of magic is allowed━”
He even meticulously prepared props to mock her.
Moria decided not to be fooled by his unassuming atmosphere and cute appearance anymore.
That pathetic youngster.
-Jjeojeok
Cold hostility turned into an ice spear.
Numerous ice spears that appeared around Moria were aimed at Lisir.
“If I say no, I guess you’ll use that sword? You wouldn’t have brought a sword you wouldn’t use to a sparring match!”
Moria shouted. It was a message directed at the onlookers, not Lisir.
The High Priest knew how to deal with an arrogant young noble.
“That’s right, why did you bring a sword to a magic sparring match?”
“Could it be that you’re planning to show something with that sword?”
“Oh, come to think of it━ I’ve heard of it! With that sword in the back alley━”
“The story is strange? Isn’t he a wizard?”
“So what if he’s a wizard or a swordsman! If he’s good at both, that’s enough━”
“No, that’s not that simple━”
By focusing the attention of those around him on his sword, he will be caught by his own petty face and pride. That’s what nobles were like.
“I, your sparring opponent, allow it! Use that sword! Prove the meaning of you bringing that sword!”
The ice spears rushed towards Lisir.
-Hwiing!
Lisir did not use the sword.
He deflected the trajectory of the spears lightly by creating a gust of wind.
The ice spears, having lost their target, shattered as they hit the floor and walls.
Instead of throwing the remaining ice spears, Moria dropped them to the ground.
The ice spears broke helplessly, making a sound.
It was as if they were rebuking Lisir for ruining the fun.
“What’s going on!? It was a chance for that great sword to shine!”
Moria set the stage for the audience to ridicule Lisir.
Most of the audience, being nobles, did not miss the opportunity to slander others.
“Somehow, it seems like Lisir is losing in terms of presence. Is it alright to just watch? Since I’m an outsider when it comes to magic━”
“I don’t know much, but it seems like Lisir tried to tease Moria with that sword and is now being backfired.”
“I thought it was strange that a wizard came to a sparring match with a sword, but that’s what it was?”
“Just carrying a sword you’re not going to use will only get in the way, he’s not serious.”
Moria smiled at the words she heard around her.
It seems that she was underestimated as ‘Moria’, a country bumpkin from a rural village, but she chose the wrong opponent.
For a High Priest, it was nothing to toy with a young noble.
In words, in actions, and in magic.
“No. Not now. This fellow will shine in a more important moment. A trump card, so to speak.”
Lisir said with a cheeky smile.
Moria scoffed, considering it a pathetic bluff.
“Oh, I see. That’s what you’ll say. But, what should I do? I can’t help but want to see you use that sword? Ah, this will do.”
-Jjeojeok
Moria created ice spears once again.
More.
Bigger.
‘As if to show off their number and size,’ the creation of the more threatening bundle of ice spears was done very slowly.
“How about it, would this qualify as the ‘important moment’ you mentioned?”
“It’s getting more important.”
Moria smirked, and Lisir responded with a cheeky laugh.
A moment of silence.
And the sound of splitting the air.
-Shwik!
Of the many ice spears, only one moved.
The smallest of them all rushed with an unmatched presence compared to the ice spears Lisir had deflected with a gust of wind.
It was an unnatural speed created by the ice spear enveloping the energy of the wind.
Everything Moria had shown Lisir was for this one move.
The previous attacks were to dull Lisir’s senses.
She created more and larger ice spears slowly, as if to show them off━ to make him focus on something other than speed.
Multiple Attributes.
A power that is almost impossible for a Rank 5 wizard to skillfully handle in actual combat.
Therefore, a power that Lisir, who was facing a Rank 5 wizard, would not have considered.
Thus, Moria widened the existing gap and pierced through it with a decisive blow.
There was no way he could react.
The moment Moria fired the ice spear, she was already prepared for the expected outcome.
That is, Pallag’s defensive magic that was cast on Lisir’s body would be destroyed because Lisir could not cope with Multiple Attributes.
Thus, the ice spear instantly reached Lisir’s close range and was about to reach him.
In that fleeting moment, Moria’s pupils dilated slightly.
Lisir’s mana moved half a beat faster than she had anticipated.
It was a speed that came from anticipation, not reaction.
The mana that was already concentrated reacted to Lisir’s will, and a gust of wind swept through.
Unlike before, this gust of wind contained the energy of flame.
Hwak!
Steam spread like an explosion in front of Lisir’s eyes.
The ice spear engulfed in the flame storm disappeared without a trace in an instant.
‘How-‘
Moria couldn’t hide her astonishment at Lisir’s response.
Let’s set aside the extraordinary nature of the flame that melted the ice spear in an instant.
Let’s also set aside the fact that even at Rank 6, perfectly handling Multiple Attributes is also something else.
‘How did he anticipate it?’
Lisir was precisely prepared for ‘acceleration’.
However, acceleration is not in the realm of ice magic.
The reason Moria could use acceleration as a gambit was because she used the power of wind with Multiple Attributes.
For example.
Lisir accurately anticipated that Moria would use Multiple Attributes.
Anticipating various dangers in battle is prudence.
However, if it goes beyond that, it becomes foolishness.
To accurately anticipate Multiple Attributes in a sparring match with a Rank 5 and allocate concentration and mana.
Moria tried to consider it a coincidence born of foolishness, but ultimately failed.
“Did you anticipate that I would use Multiple Attributes?”
Moria couldn’t help but ask.
“I put myself in your shoes.”
“Your shoes?”
“With your first attack, you confirmed that ordinary throwing magic is inefficient against my wind magic. Yet, you used the same method in your second attack.”
“Same? The number increased, and the size got bigger!”
“As if to show it off. I felt a sense of incongruity there. Even if you were preparing an attack secretly so that I wouldn’t notice it immediately, you showed it off like that? I sensed an intention to distract me. I thought so. If all this was for one gambit, what would that gambit be? The first thing that came to mind was speed. If you directly enhance the ice spear at your level, that’s the most common method.”
“…”
At first glance, it was a surprisingly sharp and logical deduction.
However, there was a fatal leap in logic.
“Multiple Attributes is the most common method at my level?”
He was taking it as a basic premise that a Rank 5 wizard skillfully handles Multiple Attributes in actual combat.
Multiple Attributes, which is overwhelming just to unleash at Rank 5.
“Did I make another mistake?”
“…It can be called luck born of ignorance. For a Rank 5, Multiple Attributes is not a common power at all. What Rank 5 wizard skillfully handles Multiple Attributes in actual combat?”
“Is that so? As you said, it can be considered luck born of ignorance. I didn’t know that either, as I learned Multiple Attributes at Rank 5 like you.”
Lisir readily accepted Moria’s sarcastic remark.
In a very ordinary tone.
It clearly showed how natural it was for a Rank 5 to skillfully handle Multiple Attributes in his mind.
“…”
Moria was amazed.
The reason he could notice her gambit was because he took it for granted that a Rank 5 would handle Multiple Attributes?
And that such a distorted way of thinking comes from his ‘ordinary’ experience?
“…Kyahhahahaha!!!”
Soon, Moria burst into laughter.
“I didn’t know that Secret Magic was a product of Rank 6. Everyone thought I, like me, perfectly handled Multiple Attributes at Rank 5! It’s funny. It’s terribly funny.”
Genius.
Moria sneered as she looked at Lisir.
That’s how she judged the actions that deviated from the standard Lisir showed.
That he is now acting like a genius.
That he is mocking her, who had talked about ‘true genius’.
The High Priest’s pride was scratched.
In such an emotional state, the High Priest reaches an irrational conclusion that could negatively affect her grand plan.
That is, she would show true genius to prevent him from acting like a genius anymore.
The power of transcendence that even a Rank 6 like him could not naturally act, even if he pretended.
It was ‘Ideation’, the secret of Rank 7.
At that moment, Moria’s reason spoke to her.
-What are you going to do about the aftermath?
Undeserved talent is naturally accompanied by suspicion.
Even when she had just handled Multiple Attributes, she had struggled to convince Pallag.
So, what would happen if she used the secrets of Ideation in front of him?
What would happen if she revealed the fragment of the High Priest hidden by genius?
Would Pallag simply admire her?
Or would he wield suspicion until his greedy curiosity, which had put him in the former Tower Master’s position, was satisfied?
It’s a foolish act.
Moria’s reason perfectly understood that.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t listen to the voice of reason.
Her genius, which she had devoted her life to obtaining, was being mocked and toyed with.
By that pathetic youngster.
How could she let that happen?
Moria silently fired ice spears at Lisir repeatedly.
On the surface, she was calm and composed.
However, inside, her thoughts were swirling chaotically.
Calm down. You have to endure. There will be another solution.
“No.”
Soon, she muttered grimly and swung her arm.
The ice spears that appeared around her plunged to the ground.
-Jjeongrang!
The ice spears shattered into fragments.
And, those scattered fragments gathered together again to form one ice spear.
It was clearly ordinary elemental magic.
However, what was contained in that elemental magic was the secrets of Ideation, which had been completely dismantled.
It was a power that was not fully permitted to Moria now.
Ukshin!
The magical power that made up Moria’s existence weakened.
The youth and genius obtained at the cost of immense power faded.
Very fine wrinkles appeared on Moria’s smooth skin.
Right now, her body had undergone aging equivalent to several years.
Still in the realm of youth.
Although the change was not outwardly apparent-
“Now then, genius! Try to receive this one too!”
The power obtained at his expense was clearly outwardly apparent.
✦✦✦
──────────
■Moria
Level : 33（61） > 40（61）
──────────
✦✦✦
A huge ice spear forged by will rushed towards Lisir.
Its speed was clearly slower compared to the ice spear containing the energy of wind.
Before the ice spear could fully approach, a flame gust rose to meet it.
-Hwaaaak!!!
The flame storm that swallowed the ice spear emitted steam.
The ice, molded into the shape of a weapon, melted and gradually lost its shape.
Just as Moria’s attack seemed to be thwarted,
“…Huh?”
Lisir’s eyebrows twitched.
The scattered steam gathered towards the flame gust again.
No. It rushed towards the flame gust.
“This━”
Lisir felt his mana that made up the flame gust gradually fading.
It was not loss, but erosion.
Moria’s will, which made up Moria’s magic, was eroding Lisir’s magic.
Soon, the ice spear disappeared without a trace.
Only the flame gust remained there.
-Hwalreuk!
It was Moria’s flame gust.
“Kyahhahahaha!!!”
Moria burst into laughter, seeing Lisir’s bewildered expression.
She swung her arm with all her might.
The flame gust, which was originally Lisir’s, enveloped him.
Through the flame gust, Moria could clearly feel it.
The power of the defensive magic surrounding Lisir was weakening.
‘It’s done.’
She put an end to that youngster’s pathetic act of genius.
That fact brought Moria considerable pleasure.
“…”
However, that pleasure did not last long.
The exhaustion that comes after ecstasy.
Moria’s blood, which had been heated up, cooled down rapidly, and eventually became cold.
She felt the sharp gazes of Pallag and Dray directed at her.
They would know.
How absurd what she had just done was.
It was an ability that went far beyond the definition of mere genius.
Would they be able to accept this ability?
And would she be able to convince them of this ability?
Moria turned her head with difficulty.
Thus, she faced the reactions of Pallag and Dray.
“…”
“…”
Pallag and Dray.
They were laughing.
Their expressions clearly showed the ecstasy and thrill they couldn’t control.
Then, cheers erupted from the audience.
“Ah.”
Moria felt as if the atmosphere of the place was seeping into her body.
She realized.
That she had misunderstood genius all along.
True genius does not humbly demand understanding.
In the first place, if it can be understood, it is not genius.
A talent that can never be understood, no matter how much you try to explain it.
That was true genius.
Just like what she is showing right now.
“Ah…”
At this moment.
Moria truly understood genius.
She was no longer a fabricated, false genius.
Moria.
She still looked at the flame gust that was fiercely burning, engulfing Lisir.
The outcome was already decided.
Moria smiled with the composure of a winner and gestured.
Thus, she withdrew the flame gust that had become hers.
“…?”
It was then that Moria’s expression contorted.
She waved her hand several more times and stared blankly at her hand.
She thought it was just her feeling, but it wasn’t.
The mana contained in the flame gust.
It was no longer felt.
“You really are an unbelievable genius.”
Lisir’s elated voice was heard then.
Hwak!
The flame gust scattered.
Amidst the scattering embers, he was smiling.
“When I was at Rank 5, I couldn’t even imagine this kind of mana usage.”
The emotion contained in that laughter was pure admiration.
“…”
It was the same this time.
He still didn’t know anything.
Lisir took it for granted that Moria, who was acting as a Rank 5 wizard, was handling a fragment of Rank 7.
“I’ve learned a lot.”
And, he, a Rank 6, was also handling that fragment of Rank 7 as if it were natural.
More skillfully than Moria.
The scattered embers gathered together to form a flame gust again.
“…”
Moria stared blankly at the flickering flame gust.
She believed without a doubt that Lisir’s attitude was to mock and toy with her.
But now, she couldn’t tell what was what.
“How…”
The events that unfolded right before her eyes distorted her standards.
It began to destroy her world.
That confusion affects her inner world.
The magic that made up ‘genius Moria’.
The collapse of that magic, which had cracks, is accelerated.
Wrinkles appear on her skin that has lost its elasticity.
Her hair loses its strength and fades, and her eyes gradually lose their light.
It was as if only the place where she was standing was out of sync with the flow of time.
Moria, a young genius wizard from a rural village.
She was aging every moment.
No, she was regaining her original form.
Although greatly damaged, the vast power slowly returns.
“…Ha, hahaha… I got it, I got it!!!”
Moria shouted with unfocused eyes.
She was not in a state where she could objectively look at herself.
She considered the collapse of magic and the destruction of ‘Moria’ not as a crisis but as an opportunity.
That’s right.
With this magical power, I can defeat him.
The reason I was toyed with by him was because I was acting as a Rank 5.
He’s not a genius.
He’s not an unfathomable existence that I can’t understand.
Moria felt the surging power.
Just as she was about to unleash her power with all her might-
“…What?”
Lisir disappeared from Moria’s sight.
It was the moment when Lisir, who had been walking towards Moria, crouched down.
Jeobak.
A low yet clear footstep echoed in Moria’s ears.
Lisir was already in front of Moria, swinging his arm.
In the long stretched flow of time, Moria and Lisir’s gazes met.
An important moment.
Lisir’s eyes, serious yet subtly playful, seemed to be saying so.
In Lisir’s swinging arm was the sword in its scabbard.
It was the sword that had been hanging at Lisir’s waist.
Puk.
Moria’s chin shook with a dull sound.
Her body collapsed in place like a doll with its string cut.
Teolseok.
A piercing silence flowed through the place.
“””Waaaaaaa!!!”””
The cheers of the audience, which erupted belatedly, broke the silence.
Followed by a shower of applause.
A splendid and fierce sparring match. A dramatic ending to match it.
Everyone expressed their unreserved admiration.
“…”
“…”
A splendid and fierce sparring match. A dramatic ending to match it.
Except for those who fully understood its detailed content.
Pallag and Dray.
They, who had just been unable to hide their ecstasy and thrill while watching Moria, were now glaring at Lisir with angry faces.
✦✦✦
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