"Ne-E-E-E-E-OM!"
With a voice full of anger, Dezium roared.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled. He was consumed by such intense anger.
"How dare a magician imitate a knight!"
The "magician" that Dezium pursued was the epitome of a stereotypical mage.
The most typical magician in the world, questioning what a magician is, was exactly the form of magician that Dezium pursued.
But now, such a Dezium could not tolerate an unbearable mutation.
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"How dare you!"
Dezium roared again.
Meanwhile, the target, Alonzo, looked at Dezium quietly, wondering what was going on.
What was it about himself that made him look at Dezium and twirl his beard?
"Do you need to go to the bathroom?"
Seeing him shaking so vigorously, it seemed that might be the case.
Of course, Alonzo felt it too.
The fact that the person in front of him was a magician of the 7th rank, just like himself.
He could probably figure out who it was with a little more thought.
But he didn't.
Why?
"It's not like it's going to help me in any way, why bother thinking about it?"
Especially since he was already focusing on producing the magical swords that Kyle demanded recently, and not sleeping much.
So.
"Hmm."
Alonzo decided to turn his body and leave this place. From experience, getting involved with such people would only lead to trouble.
But that moment.
"Just imitating a knight…!"
"…Huh?"
Alonzo's eyes widened.
"What did you just say?"
"I said it as I heard it! Aren't you a magician who has reached the 7th rank like me? Yet you wield such a ridiculous sword…"
"Hey!"
Alonzo's eyes rolled back.
Everyone has a line they cannot tolerate. For Alonzo, that "line" was related to knights.
"A spellcaster who doesn't even respect preferences, how dare you say such things…!"
"A spellcaster?!" [TL:NOTES:- he is insulting mage by telling him spellcater]
As if he had heard something he shouldn't have, this time Dezium's eyes rolled back.
"Are you unaware that it is an act of spitting on your own face! How dare you say such foolish words!"
"Then what should I call a spellcaster if not a spellcaster!"
Alonzo also roared.
Dezium's face grimaced severely. At this moment, they both felt the same thing.
"He doesn't acknowledge me!"
They were poles apart in personality.
It would be even stranger if they acknowledged each other.
They glared at each other as if meeting their enemy on a narrow bridge.
"This, this, this…!"
Dezium was the first to move.
Immediately, a massive amount of mana was activated around Dezium.
As befitting the 7th rank, the rank immediately appeared in the air, showing powerful strength.
KWOONG!
For a moment, mana around Dezium surged.
Of course, even if he was angry, he still maintained some rationality.
'If I set my mind to it, it's not impossible to control this area…'
It was an act no different from declaring war on the aristocracy.
Dezium focused his mana solely on Alonzo, increasing his concentration.
Alonzo, of course, did not remain still. He also raised mana to counter Dezium's mana.
A clash of 7th rank magicians.
Truly a situation on the brink of explosion.
And then, at that moment.
"It's quite a big fight, isn't it?"
A voice was heard.
Instantly, both turned their heads in the direction of the voice without even thinking about who would be first.
And what they saw there was.
"Your, Your Highness…!"
A boy with a sullen expression.
Kyle Grave.
His gaze naturally turned towards Dezium, who was engaged in a mana struggle.
And at that moment.
Snap!
Kyle lightly flicked his finger, and at the same time, an unbelievable phenomenon occurred.
"What, what…?!"
The mana that Dezium was clearly 'controlling' dispersed.
No, not just Dezium.
Alonzo's mana also dispersed simultaneously. It was natural for Dezium to be astonished.
The mana of two 7th rank magicians dispersed simultaneously.
Judging from the situation, there was no doubt that the young aristocrat had caused this.
'But how?'
Is it possible that such a young boy, who is said to be one of only three to reach the 9th rank on the continent, did this?
That's impossible.
It's ridiculous.
He once again denied it.
But Dezium's thoughts didn't continue.
As if mocking his thoughts.
Thump!
Mana of an unknown origin began to weigh down on Dezium's shoulders.
"This, this is…"
Dezium's eyes trembled as he faced a situation that he could not understand logically.
***
To deceive, one must first not be caught deceiving.
If a magician is caught revealing his trick, it becomes nothing more than a sleight of hand rather than magic.
The current situation is no different.
'It must be surprising.'
I laughed inwardly as I looked at Dezium, who was staring at me with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief.
I know about him.
Dezium Alba, the head of the magic Tower's Academy.
As a 7th rank magician, he is infamous as a magician theorist, or rather, a reputation…
In any case, he is a significant figure.
He opposed Jormungandr until the end along with the regression, but in the end, he faced the end with the Tower.
Although I have never directly faced him, he is qualified for not bowing to Jormungandr until the end.
'He may have a ridiculous idea about magic, but…'
Well, that's something that can be adjusted well from now on.
There is no reason to give up on such talent as Dezium.
Moreover, capturing Dezium means getting these Tower novices who came today for free!
'Ah, I can't stand it.'
Yes, Kyle can endure it, but Mege kyle can't.
Anyway, the important thing is how I overwhelmed the 7th-ranked magician in an instant…
The method is simple.
'There is a flaw in the Tower's mana training method.'
The mana training method created by the Sage of the Tower is undoubtedly one of the superior mana training methods in existence.
But who would have known?
There was a deliberate flaw in that "superior" mana training method.
Thump!
'It seems to work well.'
Dezium trembled with his body shaking.
He probably won't be able to move right away.
Whether it was a test or a prank by the sage.
The mana training method of the sage had a flaw in that mana would disperse when it touched a specific mana wave.
There are various types of waves.
At least tens of thousands.
Naturally, analyzing those tens of thousands of waves and finding that ability is by no means an easy task.
Of course!
"Yeah, that's right."
"But what about Magic tower?"
"Isn't it a battlefield of monsters doing crazy things to reach the ultimate level of magic ?"
Jormungand was about to jump, and a sorcerer named 'Setter' detected those waves."
"That's it."
"'Setter's Wave.'"
It might seem a bit strange to use waves that should have been discovered by someone else originally like this.
"There's no way I'd feel guilty."
Of course, this Setter was the main culprit who cooperated with Jormungand and destroyed magic tower.
He was one of the beings that had to be killed soon.
"How…?"
Dezium still couldn't get over the shock.
To him, the mana training he learned in the tower was no different from the Bible.
"How could you scatter my mana like that? Obviously, the reaction just now was scattered due to external interference! And in this situation, other than the appearance of the variable…!"
"Well, this kind of thing?"
…!"
Dezium opened his eyes wide at my words. As if nailing his guess, I flicked my finger again to disperse Dezium's mana.
"H-How…?!"
"Curious?"
"Y-Yes!"
Dezium exclaimed, nodding repeatedly.
Dezium's movements had been monitored since he arrived at the territory. Naturally, there were signs that he did not like my territory and looked down on me.
"But his attitude changed like this right away."
Anyway, a magician.
I chuckled inwardly and spoke.
"Yeah, you must be curious."
"Yes, please explain the principle…!"
"However."
I paused for a moment and smirked.
"I'm not obliged to tell you, am I?"
…!"
Dezium's face stiffened at my words. Of course, I continued speaking without paying attention to his reaction.
"Think about it. Even though I invited you, you still challenged my guest."
…!"
"Moreover, you tried to be rude inside my mansion."
With that, Dezium was speechless and closed his mouth.
"I invited you as a favor, and you returned that favor with rudeness. But do I have any reason to show you favor again?"
"T-That's…!"
Unable to respond to my words, Dezium bowed his head.
He is a 7th-rank magician.
Even if the rumors of our family's decline had spread, no one could ignore the Imperial Duke.
Even if he was the master of the tower.
Of course, if he had the ability, he might be able to overlook some rudeness.
After all, it is widely known that tower magicians are eccentric and do not adhere to external rules.
But.
"In any relationship, pushing and pulling is important."
Once I decided to use him, I had to hold the reins.
So.
"I refuse this 'pilgrimage'."
I said firmly and turned away.
Dezium might have been relieved to be rejected if it were a normal day.
He wouldn't have to do any more troublesome tasks.
But what about now?
"Well, it's decided."
If the conditions are met, there is no one as easy to manipulate as a tower magician.
—
"Your Highness…!"
, who had followed in, bowed his head.
"I apologize. I came after receiving Your Highness's call, but I ended up provoking and causing a scene…"
"Oh, it's okay."
"…Yes?"
Alonso looked puzzled at my words. Did I unexpectedly summon Alonso for this?
"I called you knowing you'd do that."
"Your Highness… you mean you expected this from the beginning?"
"Well, yeah."
Dezium, who was driven out, hadn't decided what to do next.
But whichever way it went, it would benefit me.
However, before that.
"Alonso."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I lightly patted Alonso on the shoulder, who looked uneasy.
"You'll have to work harder."
"…Your Highness?"
Alonso's eyes avoided mine, filled with unease.