Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

Chapter 33

They said it was the first time they had gathered like this since escaping the magic tower, and the conversation didn\'t stop.

It started with gossip about the now-deceased Head of the Magic Tower, then moved on to their own heroic deeds in battle, insights into magic, and so on.

And now, the conversation had flowed to the story of when I closed the rift.

"Does everyone remember when the first-place guy moved alone? I still can\'t forget that scene!"

"...It was amazing."

"Yuhan, how were you able to move like that?"

"Just don\'t be scared."

"Damn, he\'s so lucky."

I gave him a \'what can you do\' look and was about to take a gulp of beer when I noticed someone who was unusually quiet and not participating.

It was Rief.

Putting down my glass, I casually asked,

"What\'s wrong with you?"

"Huh? Ah..."

Rief seemed to ponder for a moment before opening his mouth.

"...Thinking about that time still makes me feel pathetic."

"Pathetic? Why do you think that? Didn\'t you fight well, unlike during the evaluation?"

"That\'s true, but..."

Rief bit his lip, looking frustrated.

"That\'s not the issue. It\'s just... I\'m too weak now."

"Hmm."

I think I understood what he meant.

When the rift opened, Rief fought well, but he didn\'t achieve anything significant.

The same was true for the other mages.

"Well, except for Thompson, Roan, and Yuhan... we were just insignificant side characters."

"...That\'s true."

They were all gloomy now, despite having been boasting about how amazing they were just moments ago.

The atmosphere became awkwardly subdued.

Perhaps they were feeling frustrated, remembering their shortcomings.

I decided to lighten the uncomfortable mood.

"Stop being so down. It\'s not the first or second time. That\'s even more pathetic."

"...What?"

"You guys were clearly courageous and became better mages. But if you\'re not satisfied with the results, what do you think you should do?"

"..."

No one could readily answer.

It wasn\'t that they didn\'t know. The answer was very simple.

Realizing this, they started murmuring.

"...You\'re saying we should work harder."

"...Yeah, you\'re right, Yuhan. Nothing will get better if we just stay dejected like this."

Meanwhile, Rief, who had been deep in thought with his eyes closed, raised his head with a determined look.

"Yuhan, I want to be like you. What kind of effort should I make to do that?"

He wanted to know how to become like me...

It was a welcome question.

It was something I was going to bring up first even if he hadn\'t asked.

"First, you need to remodel your weak body. I happen to know a good training center to introduce you to."

"Training center? Are you telling me to train my body now?"

"If you don\'t want to, don\'t do it. But you need to know one thing: you\'ll never be like me without physical training."

"..."

Seeing Rief lost in thought, I egged him on a bit more.

"Are you going or not?"

"...Will I be able to become like you if I go there?"

"The result depends on your effort."

It was a lie.

No matter how hard this guy tries, he won\'t be able to catch up to me with two Mythic tier traits.

But what does it matter? As long as he grows, the result doesn\'t matter.

Not everyone needs to live their lives aiming for the peak.

"Then I\'ll go."

It didn\'t take long for Rief to nod.

Then, the others, who had been listening quietly, followed suit.

"Mr First-place! Can I go too?"

"I was thinking of visiting the Tower of Fire... but I guess I\'ll have to postpone that."

"Yuhan, please introduce me to that place too."

"Alright."

They were all guys with similar pain.

I turned my head towards the one who hadn\'t said anything yet.

"Roan, aren\'t you going?"

"I\'m fine. I don\'t think physical training is... very meaningful."

Roan firmly refused.

"Well, alright... It\'s up to you."

I didn\'t push him any further.

With a Legendary tier trait, he would be above others no matter what he did.

Just as I was thinking that,

"Um, Yuhan."

Roan nudged me and spoke softly.

"Let\'s talk for a moment."

"Talk?"

Roan gestured for me to come outside with a flick of his hand behind his back.

He didn\'t speak until we were outside the bar.

"Yuhan, you know I\'m part of the academy, right?"

"Yeah, I even heard that you\'re the top student. Why?"

"I want to invite you to our academy."

"...The academy? Suddenly?"

Swoosh!

Roan nodded once and suddenly cast a spell.

A small blade appeared above his palm.

It was an ice spear, Roan\'s specialty.

"You used magic similar to this when you closed the rift, right?"

"I did."

"Can you summon it?"

I didn\'t know his intentions, but I followed Roan\'s words for now.

A spear of light, the same size as Roan\'s ice spear, appeared above my palm.

"Compare them. Your spear and my spear."

"Hmm."

As I carefully compared the spears as Roan suggested, I noticed a few differences.

\'It feels more refined.\'

The size and design were similar, but Roan\'s ice spear was more detailed and sophisticated.

But... what was the point of this?

"Isn\'t this just a difference in skill?"

I\'ve only used this magic twice.

This could be attributed to the difference in skill level.

But Roan didn\'t seem to think so.

He then made another request.

"Then this time, create the principle behind this spear, the magic circle, I mean."

"Magic circle..."

I closed my eyes and thought about the principles of the spear of light.

But it didn\'t come to mind easily. I wondered how I had used the magic in this state.

Meanwhile, Roan displayed a very elaborate and detailed magic circle beside me.

"Do you understand now?"

At this point, I think I understood what Roan was trying to say.

"Are you saying my learning is lacking?"

"That\'s right. Your magical talent is tremendous, to the point that even I can\'t keep up. But that\'s not enough. For more perfect magic, you need systematic education. That\'s why I\'m inviting you to the academy."

Simply put, he was telling me to join the academy through a backdoor and receive magic education.

"Hmm."

Certainly, it seemed like I needed that kind of process.

Actually, until now, I had only been imitating the magic I saw in the game.

As Roan said, if I went to the academy and received formal education, my level would definitely improve.

Furthermore, I might be able to research my light magic trait with the help of the academy.

However, the question that arises here is,

"Why are you trying to help me?"

I don\'t understand this guy\'s intentions.

Even though we\'ve become close after going through a few situations together, this kindness is inevitably suspicious.

This is a world where you never know when you might get backstabbed.

And Roan\'s answer was simpler than I expected.

"I want to properly confirm the level of the person I need to surpass."

To determine the truth, I looked into Roan\'s eyes. His eyes held a firm determination.

The determination to surpass me.

It wasn\'t a situation I would avoid.

No, it was rather good.

"You\'ll regret it."

"That won\'t happen."

"..."

I definitely warned him, right?

***

The next day. Training took place in the morning because I had promised Roan to go to the academy in the evening.

So I asked Barundel for his understanding and moved the training time to the morning.

"Focus more, more on your senses!"

While I was training hard like that, mages visited the training center.

Barundel\'s eyes widened at the sight of the noble mages rushing in.

"Oh, you\'re here?"

"Yuhan, who are these people...?"

"These are the mages who will be training here from today."

"Is that true...?"

"Yes."

Just then, Rief approached and bowed politely.

"It\'s a pleasure to meet you. I am Rief of the Hermon family."

Following suit, the others also bowed their heads, each offering a greeting.

"Huh..."

Barundel looked at me in disbelief at the sight of the nobles bowing politely.

"Didn\'t I promise to bring you clients?"

"Yuhan, you really are..."

Was he so happy to have clients?

Barundel, his voice choked with emotion, cleared his throat with difficulty.

"Ahem! Raise your heads, mages. I have something to say before we begin the training."

They raised their heads and looked at Barundel.

Their eyes were filled with passion.

"The training we do is by no means ordinary. If you approach it with a half-hearted attitude, you\'ll get hurt badly. Especially for mages who haven\'t used their bodies much. Are you sure you\'re alright with this?"

Their passion did not fade despite Barundel\'s warning.

"Yes!"

A resounding answer.

It was certainly a sight to behold... but it brought back unpleasant memories for me.

\'When I first came here... I was just as energetic as them.\'

And what happened?

Ah, right.

I stretched out my hand and covered Rief\'s eyes, who was standing at the very front.

"...What are you doing, Yuhan?"

"Rief, what do you see?"

"I don\'t see anything."

"That\'s your future."

[TL/N: ]

"..."

He definitely had a nightmare that night.

***

8 hours after the training started.

The smell of sweat filled the training center, and the sunset glow was coming through the window.

That\'s when Roan came looking for me.

"Oh, aren\'t you the mage who shot the ice spear that time?"

"It\'s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I\'m Roan Vilgef. I\'m here to pick up Yuhan..."

Roan stopped mid-sentence.

He had seen the scene before him.

"What... is this?"

More precisely, he saw the guys sprawled on the floor.

Groans were coming from all over the place.

"Ugh... I\'m dying!"

"Damn it...! Why can\'t I move my arms?!"

"...I can\'t get up."

Some had fainted, and some were constantly gulping down potions.

Roan, with a dissatisfied look on his face, asked me,

"Is this the training you were talking about yesterday?"

"Yes. It looks like this, but it\'s very effective."

"You\'re doing something pointless."

"...Huh?"

At Roan\'s words, the people sprawled out behind him got up.

"Pointless?"

"Wouldn\'t studying magic be a much more efficient way to grow in this time?"

Roan said firmly.

Of course, hearing those words didn\'t change my mind.

\'Training the body has beneficial effects on magic.\'

This is the result of countless tests in the game.

The problem is...

"Are we doing something pointless...?"

The other mages who were training hard were being swayed by Roan\'s words.

\'...They have so little faith.\'

In the end, I decided to step up.

"Roan, do you really think so? That physical training doesn\'t help with magic?"

"Of course. Building basic stamina... well, it\'s not bad, but learning magic would be a hundred times better than this intense training."

"Really? Is that so?"

Whoosh!

I threw the practice staff I had prepared for the others to Roan.

Roan, who caught it, tilted his head and asked,

"...What is this?"

If you use magic with this practice staff, the power is reduced compared to actual magic.

Because of this, no matter how strong the magic used, it wouldn\'t be life-threatening.

In other words, you can fight freely.

"Let\'s have a match, Roan."

It seemed necessary to (properly) educate this blond noble who was ignorantly muddying the waters.