“This isn’t a problem that can be solved right away.”
This implies that one should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
With this in mind, Lennok swiftly began grading the remaining examination papers.
Upon completing the grading for the “Introduction to Mana Manipulation” exam, only one paper remained, which was focused on the “Introduction to Elemental Magic,” specifically centered on water-based magic.
Water-based magic wasn’t Lennok’s most frequently practiced specialty, but that didn’t mean he was unfamiliar with the necessary mana flows involved.
The complexity of manipulating mana within water-based magic varies significantly depending on how the flow of water is maintained.
While manipulating water in its natural flow direction isn’t particularly challenging, manipulating it against the flow or in situations where the flow is irrelevant results in less effective manipulation.
To address this issue, one could either forcefully manipulate the flow using potent mana control or utilize artificial tools or modify the terrain to adjust the flow.
However, the utmost priority lies in inducing the correct flow and designing the field before employing magic.
This stands as a crucial skill for wizards and sorcerers: the capability to thoroughly comprehend the environment and set the stage prior to casting spells.
This is precisely why Aris included discussions on water-based magic in the midterm exam questions.
The students who actually took the exam likely grappled with these challenges, but Lennok could vividly envision all these processes in his mind, stepping back.
Even in these minor details, one could discern Aris’s concern for her students.
She wasn’t merely instructing elemental magic but ensuring that even students who only studied it theoretically could benefit.
She hoped that the students nurtured under her guidance at Rabatenon Magic University would become accomplished wizards who could prove their mettle independently.
If Lennok had attended a university like other wizards, he might have learned magic from Aris in this manner.
It wouldn’t have been too challenging to achieve exceptional grades in all exams… Sometimes, he contemplated what it would have been like to experience life as an undergraduate at Rabatenon.
Lennok’s reverie was abruptly interrupted by bright blue eyes gazing up at him.
“……”
“……”
“……”
“I was planning to finish grading this… and head in. It’s an interesting topic, so there’s a lot to think about.”
Instead of responding, Aris simply stared silently at Lennok.
After a while, her voice finally broke the silence.
“For something like that, I didn’t hear any noise from outside……”
“……”
“It was unusually quiet, you know……”
He had cast a soundproofing spell to muffle the noise from the phone call.
Although the use of magic itself went undetected, the flawless soundproofing magic unintentionally aroused Aris’s suspicion.
Lennok, sensing that further argument would be fruitless, silently picked up the examination paper.
The papers in his hands bore meticulous annotations by Lennok.
Aris accepted them quietly, glanced at them, then swiftly turned away.
Lennok, keeping his lips sealed, followed her into the library.
The eighth floor of the library, reserved entirely under the name of a Rabatenon Magic University chair professor, was covered in hundreds of examination papers spread across a long, connected desk.
Bathed in the bright sunlight streaming through the floor-length windows, Aris pulled a chair from the opposite side and tapped on the desk.
Her golden hair, swept back, cascaded over the desk, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
“……”
She remained silent, and Lennok saw no reason to break the silence either.
Aris, gazing blankly out the window, appeared deeply lost in thought, unlike before.
The mana that composed her as a wizard slowly revolved around Aris, vibrating slightly.
Lennok comprehended.
‘She has already made a decision.’
All that remained was for him to verbally acknowledge it.
Time was all that was required.
Lennok nodded in satisfaction.
Despite being deeply entrenched in the Cartel conflict, these matters warranted carving out time, even when it seemed scarce.
A newly minted Level 7 Archmage.
Observing these rare moments of profound challenge within a city teeming with millions was, undeniably, a priceless experience for Lennok.
* * *
It had been more than three days since the rumor of a lone individual annihilating the Cartel’s execution squad had permeated the underworld of Vulcan.
After delivering Girad into Eolara’s custody, Lennok had been waiting to gauge Cartel’s response.
He didn’t anticipate an aimless, protracted conflict, but the underworld didn’t always adhere to rational decisions.
No matter how diligently Lennok tried, he could never unearth the discussions transpiring among the Cartel’s upper echelons.
In the worst-case scenario, it wouldn’t be unusual for a full-blown war to erupt with Cartel at any moment.
Hence, preparing the necessary weaponry for that impending day constituted a prudent choice.
“Your arm is raised too high.”
Snap!
“Your leg balance is off.”
Thwack!
“You’re shaking your head again. Aren’t you going to do it correctly?”
Bam!!
Unable to endure any longer, Weian released an unintelligible scream at the top of his lungs.
His face had swelled to the point of being unrecognizable due to the bruising.
“Why the hell do you only hit the face, you bastard!”
“Why? Because if you get hit there, you could die in one blow.”
Mad Manson responded nonchalantly, the one responsible for Weian’s pummeling.
“Conversely, I have a head that can take hits without any trouble.”
Manson tapped his iron-like skull with his hand, wearing an exceedingly smug expression. However, Weian, aware of this fact, refrained from recklessly charging at him.
Through the numerous sparring sessions held in Jenny’s bar’s backyard, Weian had gained a profound understanding of Manson’s formidable combat prowess.
Manson would repel Weian, who wielded two swords in a reverse grip with full force, using just a single pipe, targeting areas that wouldn’t render him unconscious.
Normally, Manson was incredibly indolent, spending his days in the bar while enduring Jenny’s nagging.
Nevertheless, his swordsmanship was undeniably genuine, to the extent that even the Antares office mercenaries, who typically paid him little attention, congregated to witness these duels.
“Hmm.”
“Interesting.”
“Isn’t it?”
Not only Velber, Velita, and Dray but also other office mercenaries not on patrol duty formed a circle to observe the bouts.
Lennok, who had been aiding Jenny in grasping the basics of running a business, was so engrossed that he opened the window to watch.
“Come on, come back in.”
As Manson flicked the iron rod in his hand, Weian immediately assumed his stance.
Despite his earlier outburst of frustration, Weian recognized the rarity of this opportunity.
It was a chance to unleash his full potential against a vastly superior opponent without endangering his life.
This duel wouldn’t have transpired if Manson hadn’t capriciously avoided patrol duty.
“Hyaaaah!!”
Weian refrained from employing the mana sensitivity he had awakened during the previous operation.
While it did temporarily enhance his combat abilities, it had the drawback of making his body react instinctively to sensitivity, causing him to lose track of his fighting technique.
What Weian needed at this moment was an adversary capable of handling his significantly enhanced mana and strength-based combat style.
In that regard, Manson was unquestionably a suitable mentor.
However, Manson’s teaching methods were undeniably brutal and harsh.
“Do you know why people don’t use dual weapons often?”
Manson spoke calmly while mercilessly swinging his hand.
Splatter!
Blood, not just from a nosebleed but mixed with oozing skin, stained the end of the pipe in his hand.
Despite losing feeling in his face, Weian pressed on and closed the distance towards Manson.
The sparring session, while still a friendly bout, unmistakably demonstrated the lengths Weian was willing to go.
Manson continued his discourse upon observing Weian’s determination.
“It’s difficult and annoying.”
Wham!!
As Weian’s jaw swung to the left, Manson stepped forward and delivered a forceful kick to Weian’s already unsteady knee.
Crack!!
“Holding a weapon in each hand makes it harder to maintain body balance. If you can’t use two weapons effectively, it’s worse than not having them. On the other hand, to master dual wielding to the extreme, you inevitably lose balance.”
Splatter!
“That’s why dual wielding is for geniuses, those with a… split brain, so to speak.”
Manson emphasized this point while gesturing to his head with the hand not holding the sword.
Weian gazed up at him through blurred vision.
“But from what I see, you’re not that kind of genius. You were just lucky to be under a man like Dray, merely keeping your pathetic life.”
“……”
“If you can’t do that, then you need an extraordinary talent to bulldoze through the problems in combat, but I’ve only seen two people who could do that. One of them is…”
Manson paused, casting his gaze upwards.
Lennok, peering down from the window, regarded him with an indifferent expression.
“…Well, I don’t want to drag this out. Let’s get to the point.”
Manson poked Weian’s fallen form with the pipe.
“It’s a waste of time. You should change your weapon.”
“I’m not done yet…!!”
“That’s why it’s a waste of my time. Continuing this will just make you a bigger fool…”
Manson’s words abruptly halted as he turned around.
Swoosh!!
The sound of a blade slicing through the air was distinct.
As Manson arched his head back, Weian’s reversed grip followed immediately.
While bending his back dramatically and spinning, Manson planted a hand on the ground and somersaulted, driving his foot down onto Weian’s head.
Boom!!
The strike was so powerful that it cracked the cement floor. Paradoxically, it signified that Weian had adeptly evaded the attack and was closing in on Manson.
The novice who, mere moments ago, struggled to decipher Manson’s moves was now launching a ferocious assault, as if he had transformed into a different person.
“Hehe…!!”
Manson grinned and, while spinning his inverted body, repelled Weian and regained his stance.
He looked at the staggering Weian with satisfaction and chuckled.
“You should’ve used that from the start… Now, things are getting interesting.”
“…Ugh…”
Weian remained silent.
He had challenged Manson to improve his skills without relying on his mana sensitivity, but without it, he couldn’t even compete.
There was only one path forward.
Weian, swaying like an intoxicated person, thrust his dual swords forward and charged.
Screech─!!
Coming to an abrupt halt right in front of Manson, who was poised to swing the pipe, Weian lowered his head and body, clenched his teeth, and executed a rapid spin, channeling his mana-infused strength into a powerful stomp on the ground.
In that instant, the onlookers held their collective breath.
Tatatatatatak!!
The intricacies of wielding dual weapons, as Manson had previously mentioned, were on full display.
Weian, as if to mock those words, embarked on a wild, airborne dance, flawlessly harnessing the finesse of dual wielding and maintaining impeccable balance in his movements and strikes.
The flash of the three steel blades interweaving in mid-air ignited frigid sparks dozens of times in the blink of an eye.
“Hahaha!!”
Despite the complete transformation of the battle’s dynamics, Manson didn’t retreat; instead, he chuckled while flicking his hefty robotic head.
The observing mercenaries also nodded in appreciation.
“I’m seeing this live for the first time, but… Well…”
“He’s been called a madman, but I understand why he hasn’t been hit even once so far,” remarked Velber.
Velita concurred with a nod.
“Weian is remarkable, but Manson is on a different level.”
“Manson’s swordsmanship is that exceptional?”
Lennok inquired, overhearing the mercenaries’ conversation below.
Clearly, even in a situation where Weian had gained the upper hand, their attention remained more fixated on Manson.
“Oh, were you listening?”
Startled, Velita glanced at Lennok and offered an awkward smile.
Velber nodded in response to Lennok.
“Weian is talented, but he still lacks the basics. Especially handling dual swords, and one in a reverse grip, indicates a heavy reliance on natural instinct. In other words, he’s not at a level where he can differentiate between real combat and sparring.”
“Hmm.”
“But Manson is still continuing the fight while fending off Weian’s attacks.”
“Look at the pipe in Manson’s hand.”
Velita gestured towards Manson’s pipe, which still bore no marks of damage.
“Despite the fierce clashing of blades unlike before, the fact that he can continue this spar without the pipe being cut or broken is… quite a difficult feat.”
Dray, observing from the sidelines, expressed admiration upon hearing this.
“An amazing technician. Completely different from what the rumors said about his personality.”
“Even he himself says that’s not even a combat model… There must be a reason why he’s still freelancing in this field.”
“…”
Lennok was aware that Manson derived enjoyment from employing various tools, not merely fixating on swordsmanship.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t hesitate to deploy an array of tools to outmaneuver Weian amid such a ferocious exchange.
Lennok, resting his chin on the window frame and observing the two below, casually remarked.
“Using mana to cling to the end of the pipe and flicking off Weian’s attacks right before they peak… It’s interesting that he’s doing it without manipulation magic, just by timing it with his body.”
It would be understandable with the aid of a mana user, but achieving it solely through physical coordination was remarkable.
Lennok pondered this for a moment and was about to shift his gaze when he noticed the bewildered expressions on the mercenaries gazing up at him.
“…Is there something I got wrong?”
“This isn’t a problem that can be solved right away.”
This implies that one should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
With this in mind, Lennok swiftly began grading the remaining examination papers.
Upon completing the grading for the “Introduction to Mana Manipulation” exam, only one paper remained, which was focused on the “Introduction to Elemental Magic,” specifically centered on water-based magic.
Water-based magic wasn’t Lennok’s most frequently practiced specialty, but that didn’t mean he was unfamiliar with the necessary mana flows involved.
The complexity of manipulating mana within water-based magic varies significantly depending on how the flow of water is maintained.
While manipulating water in its natural flow direction isn’t particularly challenging, manipulating it against the flow or in situations where the flow is irrelevant results in less effective manipulation.
To address this issue, one could either forcefully manipulate the flow using potent mana control or utilize artificial tools or modify the terrain to adjust the flow.
However, the utmost priority lies in inducing the correct flow and designing the field before employing magic.
This stands as a crucial skill for wizards and sorcerers: the capability to thoroughly comprehend the environment and set the stage prior to casting spells.
This is precisely why Aris included discussions on water-based magic in the midterm exam questions.
The students who actually took the exam likely grappled with these challenges, but Lennok could vividly envision all these processes in his mind, stepping back.
Even in these minor details, one could discern Aris’s concern for her students.
She wasn’t merely instructing elemental magic but ensuring that even students who only studied it theoretically could benefit.
She hoped that the students nurtured under her guidance at Rabatenon Magic University would become accomplished wizards who could prove their mettle independently.
If Lennok had attended a university like other wizards, he might have learned magic from Aris in this manner.
It wouldn’t have been too challenging to achieve exceptional grades in all exams… Sometimes, he contemplated what it would have been like to experience life as an undergraduate at Rabatenon.
Lennok’s reverie was abruptly interrupted by bright blue eyes gazing up at him.
“……”
“……”
“……”
“I was planning to finish grading this… and head in. It’s an interesting topic, so there’s a lot to think about.”
Instead of responding, Aris simply stared silently at Lennok.
After a while, her voice finally broke the silence.
“For something like that, I didn’t hear any noise from outside……”
“……”
“It was unusually quiet, you know……”
He had cast a soundproofing spell to muffle the noise from the phone call.
Although the use of magic itself went undetected, the flawless soundproofing magic unintentionally aroused Aris’s suspicion.
Lennok, sensing that further argument would be fruitless, silently picked up the examination paper.
The papers in his hands bore meticulous annotations by Lennok.
Aris accepted them quietly, glanced at them, then swiftly turned away.
Lennok, keeping his lips sealed, followed her into the library.
The eighth floor of the library, reserved entirely under the name of a Rabatenon Magic University chair professor, was covered in hundreds of examination papers spread across a long, connected desk.
Bathed in the bright sunlight streaming through the floor-length windows, Aris pulled a chair from the opposite side and tapped on the desk.
Her golden hair, swept back, cascaded over the desk, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
“……”
She remained silent, and Lennok saw no reason to break the silence either.
Aris, gazing blankly out the window, appeared deeply lost in thought, unlike before.
The mana that composed her as a wizard slowly revolved around Aris, vibrating slightly.
Lennok comprehended.
‘She has already made a decision.’
All that remained was for him to verbally acknowledge it.
Time was all that was required.
Lennok nodded in satisfaction.
Despite being deeply entrenched in the Cartel conflict, these matters warranted carving out time, even when it seemed scarce.
A newly minted Level 7 Archmage.
Observing these rare moments of profound challenge within a city teeming with millions was, undeniably, a priceless experience for Lennok.
* * *
It had been more than three days since the rumor of a lone individual annihilating the Cartel’s execution squad had permeated the underworld of Vulcan.
After delivering Girad into Eolara’s custody, Lennok had been waiting to gauge Cartel’s response.
He didn’t anticipate an aimless, protracted conflict, but the underworld didn’t always adhere to rational decisions.
No matter how diligently Lennok tried, he could never unearth the discussions transpiring among the Cartel’s upper echelons.
In the worst-case scenario, it wouldn’t be unusual for a full-blown war to erupt with Cartel at any moment.
Hence, preparing the necessary weaponry for that impending day constituted a prudent choice.
“Your arm is raised too high.”
Snap!
“Your leg balance is off.”
Thwack!
“You’re shaking your head again. Aren’t you going to do it correctly?”
Bam!!
Unable to endure any longer, Weian released an unintelligible scream at the top of his lungs.
His face had swelled to the point of being unrecognizable due to the bruising.
“Why the hell do you only hit the face, you bastard!”
“Why? Because if you get hit there, you could die in one blow.”
Mad Manson responded nonchalantly, the one responsible for Weian’s pummeling.
“Conversely, I have a head that can take hits without any trouble.”
Manson tapped his iron-like skull with his hand, wearing an exceedingly smug expression. However, Weian, aware of this fact, refrained from recklessly charging at him.
Through the numerous sparring sessions held in Jenny’s bar’s backyard, Weian had gained a profound understanding of Manson’s formidable combat prowess.
Manson would repel Weian, who wielded two swords in a reverse grip with full force, using just a single pipe, targeting areas that wouldn’t render him unconscious.
Normally, Manson was incredibly indolent, spending his days in the bar while enduring Jenny’s nagging.
Nevertheless, his swordsmanship was undeniably genuine, to the extent that even the Antares office mercenaries, who typically paid him little attention, congregated to witness these duels.
“Hmm.”
“Interesting.”
“Isn’t it?”
Not only Velber, Velita, and Dray but also other office mercenaries not on patrol duty formed a circle to observe the bouts.
Lennok, who had been aiding Jenny in grasping the basics of running a business, was so engrossed that he opened the window to watch.
“Come on, come back in.”
As Manson flicked the iron rod in his hand, Weian immediately assumed his stance.
Despite his earlier outburst of frustration, Weian recognized the rarity of this opportunity.
It was a chance to unleash his full potential against a vastly superior opponent without endangering his life.
This duel wouldn’t have transpired if Manson hadn’t capriciously avoided patrol duty.
“Hyaaaah!!”
Weian refrained from employing the mana sensitivity he had awakened during the previous operation.
While it did temporarily enhance his combat abilities, it had the drawback of making his body react instinctively to sensitivity, causing him to lose track of his fighting technique.
What Weian needed at this moment was an adversary capable of handling his significantly enhanced mana and strength-based combat style.
In that regard, Manson was unquestionably a suitable mentor.
However, Manson’s teaching methods were undeniably brutal and harsh.
“Do you know why people don’t use dual weapons often?”
Manson spoke calmly while mercilessly swinging his hand.
Splatter!
Blood, not just from a nosebleed but mixed with oozing skin, stained the end of the pipe in his hand.
Despite losing feeling in his face, Weian pressed on and closed the distance towards Manson.
The sparring session, while still a friendly bout, unmistakably demonstrated the lengths Weian was willing to go.
Manson continued his discourse upon observing Weian’s determination.
“It’s difficult and annoying.”
Wham!!
As Weian’s jaw swung to the left, Manson stepped forward and delivered a forceful kick to Weian’s already unsteady knee.
Crack!!
“Holding a weapon in each hand makes it harder to maintain body balance. If you can’t use two weapons effectively, it’s worse than not having them. On the other hand, to master dual wielding to the extreme, you inevitably lose balance.”
Splatter!
“That’s why dual wielding is for geniuses, those with a… split brain, so to speak.”
Manson emphasized this point while gesturing to his head with the hand not holding the sword.
Weian gazed up at him through blurred vision.
“But from what I see, you’re not that kind of genius. You were just lucky to be under a man like Dray, merely keeping your pathetic life.”
“……”
“If you can’t do that, then you need an extraordinary talent to bulldoze through the problems in combat, but I’ve only seen two people who could do that. One of them is…”
Manson paused, casting his gaze upwards.
Lennok, peering down from the window, regarded him with an indifferent expression.
“…Well, I don’t want to drag this out. Let’s get to the point.”
Manson poked Weian’s fallen form with the pipe.
“It’s a waste of time. You should change your weapon.”
“I’m not done yet…!!”
“That’s why it’s a waste of my time. Continuing this will just make you a bigger fool…”
Manson’s words abruptly halted as he turned around.
Swoosh!!
The sound of a blade slicing through the air was distinct.
As Manson arched his head back, Weian’s reversed grip followed immediately.
While bending his back dramatically and spinning, Manson planted a hand on the ground and somersaulted, driving his foot down onto Weian’s head.
Boom!!
The strike was so powerful that it cracked the cement floor. Paradoxically, it signified that Weian had adeptly evaded the attack and was closing in on Manson.
The novice who, mere moments ago, struggled to decipher Manson’s moves was now launching a ferocious assault, as if he had transformed into a different person.
“Hehe…!!”
Manson grinned and, while spinning his inverted body, repelled Weian and regained his stance.
He looked at the staggering Weian with satisfaction and chuckled.
“You should’ve used that from the start… Now, things are getting interesting.”
“…Ugh…”
Weian remained silent.
He had challenged Manson to improve his skills without relying on his mana sensitivity, but without it, he couldn’t even compete.
There was only one path forward.
Weian, swaying like an intoxicated person, thrust his dual swords forward and charged.
Screech─!!
Coming to an abrupt halt right in front of Manson, who was poised to swing the pipe, Weian lowered his head and body, clenched his teeth, and executed a rapid spin, channeling his mana-infused strength into a powerful stomp on the ground.
In that instant, the onlookers held their collective breath.
Tatatatatatak!!
The intricacies of wielding dual weapons, as Manson had previously mentioned, were on full display.
Weian, as if to mock those words, embarked on a wild, airborne dance, flawlessly harnessing the finesse of dual wielding and maintaining impeccable balance in his movements and strikes.
The flash of the three steel blades interweaving in mid-air ignited frigid sparks dozens of times in the blink of an eye.
“Hahaha!!”
Despite the complete transformation of the battle’s dynamics, Manson didn’t retreat; instead, he chuckled while flicking his hefty robotic head.
The observing mercenaries also nodded in appreciation.
“I’m seeing this live for the first time, but… Well…”
“He’s been called a madman, but I understand why he hasn’t been hit even once so far,” remarked Velber.
Velita concurred with a nod.
“Weian is remarkable, but Manson is on a different level.”
“Manson’s swordsmanship is that exceptional?”
Lennok inquired, overhearing the mercenaries’ conversation below.
Clearly, even in a situation where Weian had gained the upper hand, their attention remained more fixated on Manson.
“Oh, were you listening?”
Startled, Velita glanced at Lennok and offered an awkward smile.
Velber nodded in response to Lennok.
“Weian is talented, but he still lacks the basics. Especially handling dual swords, and one in a reverse grip, indicates a heavy reliance on natural instinct. In other words, he’s not at a level where he can differentiate between real combat and sparring.”
“Hmm.”
“But Manson is still continuing the fight while fending off Weian’s attacks.”
“Look at the pipe in Manson’s hand.”
Velita gestured towards Manson’s pipe, which still bore no marks of damage.
“Despite the fierce clashing of blades unlike before, the fact that he can continue this spar without the pipe being cut or broken is… quite a difficult feat.”
Dray, observing from the sidelines, expressed admiration upon hearing this.
“An amazing technician. Completely different from what the rumors said about his personality.”
“Even he himself says that’s not even a combat model… There must be a reason why he’s still freelancing in this field.”
“…”
Lennok was aware that Manson derived enjoyment from employing various tools, not merely fixating on swordsmanship.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t hesitate to deploy an array of tools to outmaneuver Weian amid such a ferocious exchange.
Lennok, resting his chin on the window frame and observing the two below, casually remarked.
“Using mana to cling to the end of the pipe and flicking off Weian’s attacks right before they peak… It’s interesting that he’s doing it without manipulation magic, just by timing it with his body.”
It would be understandable with the aid of a mana user, but achieving it solely through physical coordination was remarkable.
Lennok pondered this for a moment and was about to shift his gaze when he noticed the bewildered expressions on the mercenaries gazing up at him.
“…Is there something I got wrong?”
