"To obtain Bell Sidious, one must train for seven years. To obtain Bell Curious, one must train for seventy years."
That was the will left behind by the founding ancestor of the family, Ryuken Ludwig.
Seven years—seven whole years.
That's the average time it takes to master Bell Sidious. And that's only if one has been recognized as a genius by the family and given specialized training in it.
'And yet… he mastered it in just ten days?'
The activation of Bell Sidious relies on multi-layered calculations of three different spells.
Multi-layered calculations are the domain of sages.
If you don't understand, try mentally solving three equations at once. Can you do it? No, it's impossible.
'But for Bell Sidious, as long as you memorize the formulas and equations, as long as you grasp the method, you can use it…'
And that method alone takes at least seven years to master. Normal magic requires multi-layered calculations where all conditions and results constantly change, making it unthinkable to attempt.
'In history, only two sages and the archmage Lyn, known as a prodigy of multi-layered calculations, have ever achieved it.'
Gulp.
Erlin Ludwig swallowed dryly.
'Rain… could this guy be a genius?'
No, this wasn't at the level of a mere genius.
This guy—
"Could he be a vessel for a sage?"
Returning home after finishing his academy schedule, Cavin blankly repeated his younger sister's words.
Bell Sidious in ten days?
Was that even possible?
No, if he had already reached that level, it meant Cavin himself could no longer guide him.
"Brother, at this rate, our family might become the leading magical household thanks to Rain. That kid is absolutely insane."
After Erlin left, having talked his ear off, Cavin sat alone in silence for a long time.
My son…
Watching his son's astounding growth, Cavin felt both overwhelming pride and a quiet sense of sorrow.
'As a father, to be so lacking in talent that I can no longer guide my own son…'
But—
"Yude."
The moment Cavin called, a shadow loomed beyond the curtain. The head butler, who had managed the household affairs for twenty years, had appeared.
[Yes, sir. Your command?]
"Contact my father."
A brief silence.
Yude's shadow wavered.
[…You mean the former head of the family?]
"Is there a problem?"
[Given the strained relationship between you two, I felt it necessary to confirm. Please forgive my impudence.]
He wasn't wrong.
When Cavin married Brym, he had clashed bitterly with his father, and in the end, his father had left to become a professor at the Central Capital's Magic Academy.
"Tell him this: His son feels no regret for his past actions, nor does he consider them mistakes."
[…]
"But write to him with utmost courtesy, stating that his son's son possesses a talent surpassing even his own and that I humbly request his guidance."
Yude let out a quiet chuckle.
Rather than reprimanding him, Cavin chuckled as well.
Yude replied,
[You would truly go to any lengths for your son, sir. I shall deliver your message.]
Spring ended, and a short summer arrived.
That summer lasted a whole year.
Dark monsoon fronts covered the continent, and day after day, relentless rain hammered against the library windows.
"Summer, huh…"
The summer when Lista had come looking for the boy had been far harsher and more violent than this.
That summer had lasted five years.
A summer that had endlessly scattered blood across the world.
I am Lista Alter Shirfain, a Feyquaria of the Radiant Dragon Theocracy! Won't you come with me?
Hearing the sound of rain, he couldn't help but recall the day she had appeared, and a bitter smile crossed his lips.
Why?
It had been such a grueling time.
Hot, humid, exhausting… a truly painful journey.
Yet why did he still long for those days so much, even while living in this peaceful golden age?
"Onii-chan, when will summer end?"
"It won't last long. It's already late summer."
At that moment, a flash of white light flooded the world, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Frightened, Seri clung tightly to the boy.
"Wanna hear a scary story?"
"Yes!"
"When midsummer arrives, lizardmen awaken from the abyss… But you can't see them… because they use camouflage…"
"C-Camouflage…?"
"They silently creep up behind you, unseen… and then—BOO!"
As the boy suddenly shouted, Seri screamed, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.
Now I can finally study.
The boy was cunning… but he hadn't lied. That was merely one of the demonic creatures Lyn had fought. They were even more terrifying in real life.
"Take Seri out of here."
"Yes, young master."
That year, the boy was incredibly busy.
He took magic lessons from his father and aunt, taught his younger sister the basics of magic, and trained his physical and magical stamina in the evenings.
Physical endurance was critical.
Being able to move like a warrior in times of crisis was certainly useful, but more importantly, concentration in studies came from physical stamina.
And magical power was just as vital.
Without sufficient mana, even if one knew how to cast 4-star or 5-star magic, they wouldn't be able to use it.
'Collapsing from mana depletion is actually lucky.'
There were cases where magical circuits were damaged due to mana overload. That would be the end of a magician's career.
Truthfully, after mastering Bell Sidious, there wasn't much he could learn from Erlin or his father anymore. The problem, however, was Erlin.
"How do I do this?"
"You seriously don't know? Ugh, give it here."
Still as annoying as ever, she kept coming to ask him questions multiple times a day.
Was this some kind of etiquette defense battle?
Anyway, putting that aside, what intrigued Rain lately was the development of modern magic.
'They've refined formulas that were once several times more complex…'
Not only had their power increased, but casting times and learning difficulties had been drastically reduced by simplifying mathematical equations.
"You're like some old man. Why do you keep using those ancient formulas? Trying to act cool? Women don't like that, you know. They think it's just pointless bravado."
That remark from Erlin was what first piqued his interest in modern magic.
'The more I look into it, the more fascinating it is…'
Over the past 300 years, mathematics and the world had steadily advanced while Lyn had remained dormant.
'I've become completely outdated…'
If he fought against a modern 4-star magician, there was even a slight chance he might lose.
'Come to think of it, what happened to my old school…?'
The Osarius School.
It had been a small faction with a single, worn-down magic tower, yet it had taken him in, fed him, clothed him, and taught him magic.
This isn't where you belong.
The headmistress had given him the name "Lyn" (Rin; spring breeze) in the hope that he would bring a fresh wind to the magical world.
Come, follow me.
For Lyn, who had scavenged through trash in the slums, never knowing his parents or their voices, it had been like witnessing the dawn for the first time.
It was the first kindness he had ever received. The first luxury he had ever known… and so, he had worked tirelessly.
He had simply… done his best.
Because he never wanted to be abandoned again.