Chapter 185 : Chapter 185
Chapter 185. Meeting a Direct Senior (5)
“He was a really nice senior.”
Radel muttered, clutching the artifact Senior Zirco had handed him with trembling hands.
An artifact was an item more precious than a magical tool. These ancient relics, often obtained as rewards from Dungeons, possessed various functions that were difficult to decipher even with the latest magic.
To think he would give such a precious item as a gift to a junior he was meeting for the first time.
‘Senior, what kind of artifact is this?’
‘……Figure it out from now on.’
Senior Zirco had left mysterious words when Radel asked. Moreover, as soon as he handed over the artifact, he disappeared like the wind, as if implying no thanks were necessary.
His steps were staggering, perhaps exhausted from creating the massive maze alone.
“He left so quickly I couldn't even thank him properly.”
Even that appearance made him a cool senior. Where could one find a senior who worked hard to create a maze for his junior and secretly cast magic to test him lest he lose his tension?
Thinking about it again, he was a rare, good-natured person. Since it was given by such a good senior, it must surely be a decent artifact.
Radel examined the artifact. It was an artifact shaped like a water pitcher, but there was nothing inside.
Other than that, there was nothing more he could figure out.
Radel, who had been examining the artifact, tucked it safely into his bosom. He intended to take it to Marcellent later and get it properly appraised.
“By the way, where is this?”
The Transmutation Magic Workshop had so many spaces that it was easy to get lost with just a little confusion. Plus, it was only his second time here, so it was even more unfamiliar.
It seemed he had lost his way since leaving the room where the maze was. Radel opened a visible door to move on to the next space for now.
WHOOSH!
And he was greeted by a familiar world. It was the world of his past life that he had created before.
Radel paused for a moment and gave a weak smile.
“I was wondering where this was.”
Several cars sped past in front of Radel. When the traffic light changed, people crossed the street.
Radel naturally mingled among the people and walked on the crosswalk. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time.
It was exactly as he had made it when he was with Professor Thomas. Buildings, roads, sidewalks, signs, shops, etc., passed by Radel’s side. It seemed no one had touched it yet.
According to Professor Thomas, the space that appeared whenever one opened the door of the Transmutation Magic Workshop could be changed by anyone.
“The seniors must have left it because they found it fascinating.”
It was a space Radel could recreate anytime, but it was understandable that people here would find it fascinating. In fact, Radel was equally amazed. Being inside here felt so realistic that it didn't feel like magic.
Radel changed his mind about leaving and decided to walk the streets for a while.
There was someone watching Radel walking the streets like that. It was Leon, who had been here since earlier.
He glared at Radel without a word.
‘What is he thinking?’
Radel was looking at a landscape Leon had never seen in his life as if it were familiar.
‘Why is he looking like that?’
Leon didn't know a world like this. It was a world that existed nowhere in the empire’s past, present, or future.
It was truly a space created solely from Radel’s imagination.
But it was strangely detailed. It was more vivid than any space Leon had seen while wandering around the Transmutation Magic Workshop.
The lumps of scrap metal and movements of people coming and going according to certain rules. Characters of a bizarre shape not used anywhere on the continent.
Leon’s keen instinct was telling him this was real.
‘No. That can't be.’
Leon shook his head in denial. Everything here was just imagination from that guy's head.
However, Radel’s expression as he stopped midway and looked at it was real. It was a wistful expression Leon had never seen before.
Noticing that, Leon’s insides twisted. He was a guy who always went around laughing nonchalantly.
‘But why…… is he making such an expression in an unfamiliar place?’
As if he missed it. Shouldn't what that guy misses be the memories with his mother?
Leon realized the thought he had unknowingly recalled and gritted his teeth.
It was all useless thinking. The only thing allowed for that guy was death.
He tried to treat him as less than a stranger, but it just wouldn't work out that way. The humiliation he felt during major classes, the eyes looking at him pathetically, the annoying expression.
If that guy stayed alive, he would constantly hold him back.
Leon turned his back without hesitation. To become emperor, he had to eliminate everything unnecessary.
If that was an annoying brother, all the more reason.
* * *
Combat Magic time.
Before he knew it, it was the last meeting with the major seniors.
Radel arrived in front of the Combat Magic Workshop on time. Familiar faces such as Inette and Gusto were gathered there.
“This is the Combat Magic Workshop? It's more like a tower than a workshop.”
Inette looked up at the Combat Magic Workshop with her mouth open.
“It's incredibly high. We don't have to walk up, do we?”
“Climbing stairs is also good exercise. I wonder if it might be just the right environment for someone who gets little exercise.”
At Gusto’s answer, Inette asked in a sharp voice.
“I wonder who that someone might be?”
“I am more curious why you are curious about that?”
Watching that scene, Radel thought that the Combat Magic major suited the two of them well indeed.
It was as Professor Lilian said. Those with the desire to become stronger had different fighting spirits from the start.
And the 2nd-year seniors who appeared soon after also looked like people with extraordinary fighting spirits.
“You're my direct junior! Let's fight well together.”
“Do you like Dungeons? Me too! What kind of Dungeons do you like?”
“Have you done a lot of duels? How far can you use area-of-effect magic?”
They were truly worthy of being disciples of Professor Lilian, the battle maniac.
Radel, having seen Gusto and Inette off as they met their respective direct seniors and entered the tower, looked around.
According to the seniors, today they would briefly tour the Combat Magic Workshop and experience light combat. They were scheduled to party up one-on-one with their direct seniors and go around the lower floors.
However, while other friends met their seniors and entered the tower, Radel’s direct senior had not appeared yet.
He must be a little late.
It was when Radel relaxed for a moment.
Ding.
[Skill, Superhuman Intuition activates.]
[Someone’s killing intent is felt.]
[A threat of death is approaching!]
What?
Radel dodged as soon as the skill activated.
BOOM!
A blazing fireball fell where Radel had been standing.
Fwoosh.
Flames strong enough to burn the ground. It was a pure flame resembling Inette’s Ability.
“Your movements are passably useful.”
Radel spotted a person walking from afar. Judging by the position of the staff held in his hand, he must be the person who had just fired the magic.
He had orange hair, which looked like it was burning red as it fluttered in the flames he had unleashed.
“My name is Tarun Venders. I am your direct senior.”
A senior who fires an attack spell full of killing intent as soon as he meets his direct junior.
Radel’s heart raced.
As expected of a Combat Magic major senior. It felt like he could become stronger if he was with that senior.
Radel was getting used to the Combat Magic major without even realizing it.
“Yes, Senior. I look forward to working with you.”
Radel greeted Tarun with a polite attitude.
* * *
Tarun Venders was a student more sincere about the Combat Magic major than anyone else.
Becoming stronger than any other magician in the world.
It was no exaggeration to say he had entered the academy to achieve that goal. Having deeply sympathized with Professor Lilian’s philosophy since his first year, he chose Combat Magic without hesitation.
And he had honed his skills solely for Combat Magic until now.
One day, while climbing up and down the tower training hard as usual. An absurd rumor reached his ears.
‘Did you hear there's something called an Integrated Major?’
‘Yeah. They say there's a 1st-year who applied for all majors.’
‘That 1st-year is really amazing.’
Amazing? What was amazing about that?
For a mere 1st-year, wasn't he taking the academy curriculum lightly?
Tarun had only heard rumors, but he didn't like that 1st-year. Even honing just one major was difficult on the path of magic.
Intending to do all majors was an arrogant thought. To dare covet Combat Magic with such a mindset.
‘I will personally teach him a lesson.’
It just so happened that he was that 1st-year’s direct senior. Tarun vowed to properly scold the insolent 1st-year and make him give up on the Combat Magic major.
And as soon as he met his direct junior, he put his plan into action.
“Senior, where is this……?”
Radel asked, looking at Tarun. The place his direct senior had brought him to was an island in the middle of the ocean.
“This must be a terrain you're seeing for the first time. You should see an island on the opposite side. Going there alone without using a teleportation magic circle is today’s goal.”
Radel listened to Tarun and gauged the distance from island to island. The island on the opposite side was far enough to look like a dot.
‘Despair will soon rush in. Because there will be no way to get to that island.’
Watching the junior checking beyond the horizon, a mean smile appeared on Tarun’s lips.
That guy's amount of Magic Power was at a terrible level compared to an ordinary magician. He could tell just by glancing at it.
Flight magic? There was no way a 1st-year learned such high-level magic.
Freezing Magic? He might be able to freeze the sea a little, but it was obvious he would fail due to a lack of magic power.
No matter how much he racked his brain, it was impossible for that clumsy 1st-year to escape here without a teleportation magic circle. However, Radel looked at the island for a moment and then nodded obediently.
“Understood, Senior.”
“……I will be waiting on that island over there.”
Tarun turned and stepped onto the teleportation magic circle. The last scene he saw was Radel climbing a huge tree.
‘Why is he climbing up there?’
Ending his thought there, Tarun moved to the island on the other side. Now, he planned to kill some time here and say this to the 1st-year who realized his limits.
‘A guy who only amounts to this wants to major in Combat Magic? Give up immediately.’
Just imagining it made him smile.
How much time had passed? Just as Tarun was about to find shade under a tree to take a nap, a strange sound reached his ears.
SCREECH!
“Aren't you going to do it properly?”
It was the mournful cry of a winged magical beast. The magical beast was a Giant Sea Gull that often appeared here, a tricky fellow with a beak full of teeth.
But wasn't Radel sitting on top of the Giant Sea Gull holding a tree branch? A piece of jerky was hanging at the end of the branch.
The magical beast flapped its wings with all its might, smelling the jerky. Moreover, whenever it tried to resist even a little, Radel would tap the seagull’s head with his scabbard.
TAP!
SCREEECH!
“Let's do well, okay?”
It seemed the magical beast had already been tamed by Radel.
Tarun was speechless at the impossible reality.
‘What on earth is that……?’