As the long summer ended, the autumn sky became clear and the world was dyed in the colors of autumn leaves.
The rattling vibration of the carriage gave my body a languid drowsiness.
Outside the car window, the deep fragrance of the tulip fields spread out in a rainbow of colors all the way to the horizon. The world had already become autumn.
"You have to behave, Rain."
"I know. It's the place to meet your grandfather."
"I'm sorry. If I had been better, I wouldn't have had to take you to a place like this."
"You just have to know."
"...?"
"...?"
"Oh, I see. Okay."
The boy flinched as he saw Caven smiling awkwardly.
Can't I answer like this?
The boy's extraordinary brain worked at high speed to recall his memories with Lista. How would Lista have responded at this time?
'I don't know....'
My mind couldn't work quickly because of the drowsiness that was creeping in right now.
He is said to have the intellect of a great wizard, but he is only eleven years old.
It is not possible to overcome the physiological reactions of a young body.
"You must be tired. Get some rest on the way. It's a five-day journey."
In the Holy Human Empire, there are five regional Elector Count Houses, and each of them has five Magus Cages who serve them.
The Warden County House of the East.
The Keppel County family in the West.
The House of Blado, Duke of the North.
The Page Duke's House in the South.
And the family that the boy belongs to is the Landgrave Ludwig, who serves the Elector Count of the central region, Prince Sion, who is the most wealthy in the country.
The Magus Family began when the Electors bestowed titles on outstanding court magicians, and among the Counts, only the Magus Family used the title of Baron.
The only exception here is the head of the Magical Family, Page Baekga, but we will explain this later.
The carriage crossed through Siastulica, the territory of the Ludwig family, and finally arrived at the Duke's city,
"wow...."
It was truly a beautiful city.
Each district of the city was divided into seven districts, the colors of the rainbow, each shining its own light in the autumn sunlight.
For example, the district where the King's castle was located was purple, and the district where the educational district was formed was blue.
Caven took the boy to the
"How about it, do you want to take a class too?"
"I like the lessons I receive from my father better."
It was a pure answer without any distracting thoughts, and it was the answer of my son who was already concentrating on the lecture.
This guy… … .
At that answer, Caven felt his heart swell.
"Do any students have questions?"
Grandfather, Scalzi Ludwig, put down his chalk and asked a question, and Lane raised his hand. Cavern tried to stop him, but Scalzi spoke first.
"What?"
"I wonder why the rune is written as a district. If you use it as a slash, you can use the mathematical formula more simply while increasing its power. There is also a slash as well."
Then, a look of surprise spread across Scalzi's face, and the students taking the class had to look back at the boy in a daze.
"That's amazing. That's what we're going to teach in the advanced section, 'Application of Runes and Mathematical Formula Condensation.'"
"...?"
"...?"
"...?"
"Since my family has come to visit, I will end the lecture here for today. The teaching assistant will summarize the lecture content, and you guys should follow along."
"You guys" was referring to the boy and Cavern. As the rich man followed him down the hallway, Scalzi glared at Cavern.
"Are you still like that?"
"I would like to vent my anger right now, but I hold back because I see the face of this clever grandson."
"It was Brim who gave birth to this brilliant grandson, Father."
Scalzi was a strong-looking old man with a straight back.
The proud wizard's prestige was alive throughout his body, and the magical power he unconsciously emitted was quite welcome to the boy.
Because Scalzi was one of only ten wizards of the rank of GLaDOS (4 stars) in the Empire at present.
"Yes, somehow you are smarter than your incompetent father and even seem polite. I like it. You go ahead. Didn't His Majesty the King ask to see you anyway?"
Why was it at that moment? Why did I have to intervene in such a routine conversation?
"My father was not bad. He was a good father and teacher."
Maybe it was because I remembered that first day I rode in a carriage, when my father smiled awkwardly.
– Sir Lista, why are you taking such a young and immature child?
– Aside from that child, there are six other skilled wizards of the same rank as GLaDOS (4 stars).
- That's right. Aren't you lacking in cooperation and being too arrogant?
It was a familiar look and remark.
To the orphan boy who had lived his entire life under the gaze of jealousy… … At that time, Lista Alter-Surpin stood there, smiling brightly and blocking his gaze.
- Lin is the best wizard. She is neither immature nor uncooperative.
– … … ?
- I just don't know yet. I can just keep learning from now on.
The voice that said that back then still lingered deep in my memory. I also wanted to do the same to someone someday.
"...."
"...."
Caven felt his eyes get hot and a sharp pain stabbing his chest.
Scalzi looked back at the boy, met his unwavering gaze for a long moment, and then suddenly smiled broadly.
"Don't you know that? He's my son, whom I'm most proud of in the world."
"father...?"
"Didn't I tell you to go away because I don't need you?"
"...All right."
"But don't run away to the mansion. After confirming Rain's suitability, let's have a drink together for the first time in a while."
"...!"
"Now, follow me."
Caven bowed deeply to Scalzi as he walked down the hallway, holding Rain's hand.
A smile shone in my grandfather's eyes, and tears flowed from my father's eyes.
The boy thought.
Could this also be a gift from Rista? If I hadn't met her, would I have even thought of something like this?
- You can do it. Lin is a kind girl.
The boy who had outstanding abilities as a great wizard but lacked the talents, took another step forward as a wise man today.
* * *
"Okay, so how did you know about rune combinations and mathematical rearrangements?"
Scalzi's professorial office was simple.
Only the necessary furniture was provided and all documents were neatly organized.
'You're really different from me.'
In the past, Lin's lab and now, Rain's room were usually cluttered with books and papers... ... the boy answered.
"I read a lot of books."
"many?"
"A lot, a lot."
"Hahahahaha!"
I was at a loss as to how to explain it, but Scalzi laughed heartily and stroked the boy's head so hard that it was a mess.
"Actually, there was no need to ask. Your father bragged about you so much… You've already mastered the theory of three-star magic, right?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
I can't say it, but I actually know all the way to 5 stars.
"And I also heard that you came to me to open the eyes of Bell Curious."
Bell Curious.
The absolute magic eye, which means 'piercing perception' in the language of the gods. Scalzi was one of the enlightened people whose name was proudly engraved in the history of the family.
"How much magical power do you have now?"
"I can barely perform high-speed calculations on one three-star spell, Grandfather."
"You can perform high-speed calculations of 3-star magic?"
Scalzi's eyes widened.
I may need to explain and move on from the concept of 'high-speed computation' that wizards talk about.
Magic that involves drawing a magic square somewhere and filling it with runes and mathematical formulas to activate it is not called 'high-speed calculation'.
When all of these processes are performed mentally rather than by hand, it is called high-speed calculation.
Up to 4-star wizards, one would be promoted when one could calculate twenty-four or more spells of that level, but in order to become a 5-star wizard, or a great wizard, one had to be able to 'high-speed calculate' seven 5-star spells.
"This is surprising. No, it's embarrassing. It's surprising that he used three-star magic at the age of eleven, but high-speed calculations… Is there a precedent for this?"
If we really want to be specific, there was. Archmage Lin obtained the rank of 3-star magic at the age of eleven, and 4-star magic at the age of thirteen.
Compared to other great wizards, it is a level that is far higher.
"Then try it out."
"Here?"
"Yeah, here."
"The room is going to be destroyed."
"It's okay."
"Everything will be in disarray because of the wind pressure."
"It's okay. I'll get rid of it before that happens."
Scalzi smiled in an incomprehensible way.
You're getting rid of it... ?
The boy opened his palms in confusion. In his head, a precise formula was instantly calculated, changing the order of the world.
'The shape of the magic square is three fan-shaped. The runes engraved on each are Yu (兪), Ju (駐), and Je (制).'
To explain, it is to engrave three characteristics into wind attribute magic.
A chill ran through my veins as if a cold thread were piercing through them, and then the currents of magical energy swirled around, causing all the furniture in the room to creak.
"Huh... It really was."
The moment Scalzi muttered like that, an eerie chill ran through his body, his hair stood on end, and a cold sweat broke out.
Huh… … ?
What is this?
It's gone, the magic is gone, the entire magic square... ... I didn't even activate it, but it's not like I stopped it either?
"Don't panic. Didn't I tell you that I'd erase it?"
The boy, who had been blankly staring up, felt fear once again.
Red glowing eyes.
The silver-white seven-pointed star engraved there.
Even the intellect of the great wizard felt a primal fear when he met the eyes that saw through everything in this world and the conditions for its creation.
"This is Bell Curious. It will grant you control over every visible power at will."
But the fear soon turned to shivers, and the shivers turned to elation.
Why wouldn't it be so?
The boy cheered, unbecoming of a great wizard, as if the infinite power would soon be his.
"Wow, whoa!"
"Hahahaha! Do you want to try it too?"
"yes!"
The seven-pointed stare from Scalzi's eyes dispersed, and the burning glare subsided. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
"Of course, it is not invincible. The spell can only be dispelled or transformed if the caster fully understands it."
"Still, it's so cool!"
"And it requires a tremendous amount of magical power, even more than it looks. For someone like you who shows signs of magical exhaustion after using just one 3-star spell, you still have a long way to go."
Many of Ludwig's descendants feel frustrated at this very point, thinking they can't get over the wall and giving up.
"Is it just something far away?"
"hmm?"
"Just because it's far doesn't mean you can't go, right?"
But the boy was different.
All exploration was a joy to the boy, and the thrill of overcoming the wall of knowledge was indescribable.
"So please teach me how to go that way, Grandfather."
The moment the boy answered confidently, Scalzi's mouth corners almost split open to both ears.
"My education will be very difficult."
"Education should be like that."
"Hahahahahahaha! You are truly my bloodline! Brim, I should thank that child. For giving birth to such a smart child!"
Even a hedgehog thinks its babies are cute, and I thought my son's words were an exaggeration.
But it was a misjudgment.
This is a gem. Not just any gem, but perhaps one that could shed new light on the stagnant imperial magic…