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Chapter 91
After leaving Ani Persson's residence...
-This... things are about to get very interesting.
"Ha... What does that even mean?"
The words I had heard earlier kept replaying in my head.
I couldn't understand what was suddenly going to be so interesting.
He wouldn't even answer when I asked him about it.
'Did I do something wrong?'
That thought crossed my mind, but well...
No matter how much I thought about it, there wasn't anything that I could pinpoint as a mistake.
It's only natural, since I just did as I was told, so what could I have possibly done wrong?
"Forget it."
In the end, I couldn't come to a plausible conclusion and stopped my thoughts.
Anyway, thanks to visiting Ani Persson, I gained a lot.
Firstly, I secured a promise to meet with him regularly, and secondly, I accurately grasped the current state of my Light magic.
This had quite a significant meaning.
Knowing the problem meant finding a way to fix it, a way to improve it.
"It was a simpler method than I thought."
Why hadn't I ever tried this before?
I had only thought about how to improve in my head, but I never imagined directly looking at the magic itself to find problems.
Not only me, but also the other high-level mages I had met so far, such as Dercion, the elders of Aldeon, and Asion Gale, must have been the same.
I had never received advice from them to look into my own magic.
In other words...
"This is Ani Persson's unique method."
This meant that it was a method he had discovered himself.
It wasn't surprising.
Who would think of sitting still and watching their own magic for hours?
Improving the mana circuit, reorganizing the formula, increasing the total amount of mana.
There are so many things to do, just off the top of my head.
Perhaps this was a method that Ani Persson was able to grasp precisely because he was not an Awakened with mana.
Since he couldn't use magic, all he could do was observe.
He must have observed the magic cast by others, meeting countless mages instead of using his own magic.
Naturally, he would have developed an eye for magic.
To be honest, I was a bit uneasy about learning magic from a non-Awakened, but now that I think about it, it was an unnecessary worry.
I never expected that there would be something new to learn from a non-Awakened.
Anyway...
"Shall we go back now?"
Today's learning was over.
I successfully delivered the contract to Barus.
Now I had no business left in the inner sector.
Then, I should return to sector 6 where I was originally staying and make other preparations.
Physical training with Barundel, the reward for the request I was supposed to receive from Lena, and material support from Asion Gale.
Once that was done, I would visit Ani Persson again to learn Light magic, and so on.
It seemed like I had done a lot, but there was still a mountain of things to deal with.
"Busy, busy."
A little over a week left until the Great War.
It seemed like that time would fly by.
***
A regular pub in Sector 6.
"Really? That professor is something else. You must be having a hard time, missy."
"Still better than the head of the academy. I heard a rumor that you were beaten day and night the day before yesterday?"
"Ha, haha... Did that rumor spread that far?"
"Ahem, Rief has entered the second stage of physical training."
Kayla, Barundel, Thompson, and me.
Everyone gathered for the first time in a while.
The reason we gathered like this was because the war was imminent.
According to the prophecy, tomorrow was the day the war would break out.
"By the way, we've all improved a lot, haven't we?"
Everyone nodded at my words.
"Indeed, a lot has changed in the past few weeks."
Barundel was right.
We had changed a lot.
"Uncle Thompson, have you completely mastered the Body Transformation magic now?"
"Hey, Mr. First Place! Completely, my foot! I can barely cast it now. It'll be a while before I can show you proper Body Transformation magic!"
"Still, that's something. You can use it in war."
Thompson was able to use Body Transformation magic to some extent.
"Kayla, Professor Ziren said you're now a complete 4th Circle mage?"
"...Not really surprising. It's only natural to level up after being pushed that hard."
Kayla had become a full-fledged 4th Circle mage.
"Ahem, I'm completely used to the axe now."
Barundel had completely mastered the use of [Anatak's Great Axe].
I also had some progress in Light magic and reached about the middle of the 4th stage of physical training.
Thanks to that, the penalty of 'forced sleep' that occurred when I overexerted myself disappeared.
Of course, I didn't miss out on other magical growth by attending classes at the academy whenever I could.
Now I was a mage who could handle 5th Circle level magic perfectly.
Considering it was only achieved in a few weeks, it was a tremendous achievement.
'If I do well, I might even be able to aim for the 6th Circle in this war.'
Education while sitting still or Ani Persson's teachings are good, but magic truly grows the most through actual combat experience.
In that sense, I might be able to reach the 6th Circle level in this war.
And if that happens...
With the effect of the [Holy Staff], I can use 7th Circle level magic.
Indirectly, I would reach the level of a high-ranking mage.
'A high-ranking mage...'
I realized anew that my level had risen tremendously.
The things I had experienced so far flashed through my mind like a panorama.
Starting as a beggar in Sector 7, being imprisoned by Redhead, becoming the target of the Silver-haired Knight, the major incident at the Aldeon Magic Tower, the hellish hunt outside the border, and so on.
I had overcome many near-death experiences, but the sense of accomplishment that came with it was great.
Of course, I shouldn't get complacent and let my guard down.
"Tomorrow is the war. You've all done well so far, but that doesn't mean there will only be good results."
Because the greatest danger lies ahead.
"I know, Mr. First Place!"
"Don't worry too much. We'll do well. This time too."
"Yeah, let's think positive. It's not often we get the chance to indiscriminately blast demons with magic, right?"
I said heavily to the slightly excited group,
"What I mean is, some of us might lose our lives in the war."
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere turned cold at the mention of someone possibly dying.
I didn't care.
That's what I meant to do.
Right now, this was what we needed.
"So please, everyone, be on your guard. The moment you become complacent with your growth is the most dangerous."
Kayla, Barundel, Thompson.
I made eye contact with each of them, and they nodded with serious faces.
Slightly relieved, I brought up the main topic.
"Alright. Shall we formulate a strategy?"
A plan to prepare for various variables.
This is why we gathered at the pub despite needing to regulate our condition with sufficient rest.
It was time to calmly reduce the risks.
***
Meanwhile, at the Asternon Academy at the same time.
Asion Gale, the head of the academy, looked around.
The heads of each department, gathered around a large round table, were staring at him with stern faces.
Although he had summoned them himself, he felt grateful to see them all gathered like this.
"Thank you all. It must have been difficult to make time like this."
"Not at all. We should naturally come if it's an emergency summons from the head of the academy."
"With the war tomorrow, how can trivial tasks be important?"
"Hahaha. Everyone is full of passion."
Asion Gale smiled with satisfaction.
These were fellow mages who had once risked their lives together.
Just by exchanging a few words, he could tell that their friendship was still strong.
It remained unchanged even after many years.
'I can trust these people and have their backs.'
These were people with whom he had built a deep trust, without exception.
At the same time, they were also the most skilled individuals in the academy.
With them stepping up, there was no need to worry too much, even if it was the great war foretold in the prophecy.
Those demons would be running away with their tails between their legs.
Of course, what he was really worried about was something else.
"Three students from our academy are participating in this war. Are you all aware of this?"
"Of course, Dean. Student Yuhan, Student Thompson, and Student Kayla."
"Then, while leading the war to victory is important, protecting those students is the priority."
Perhaps it was because they had experience working together.
The conversation progressed smoothly even before Asion Gale could speak.
"That's right, Vice-Dean. I wish we could personally escort them, but... the situation doesn't allow it."
"Those damn government bastards. How dare they threaten the Dean?"
"This is a blatant disregard for our academy."
The story of the contract had already reached their ears.
Naturally, what followed was an angry reaction.
However, Asion Gale calmly eased the tension.
"I'll make those bastards pay after the war anyway, so don't worry too much. We need to focus on the immediate task at hand."
"Yes, you're right."
"So... Vice-Dean, and Research Committee Chairman. Could you possibly protect our academy students during the war?"
"Ah..."
The two people mentioned by Asion Gale hesitated and couldn't answer immediately.
No matter how important the students were, they weren't more important than the head of the academy to them.
In such a situation, being singled out like this and having to step away from protecting the head of the academy, they couldn't help but be reluctant.
However...
They had already experienced Asion Gale's stubbornness.
Once he decided to do something, he had to do it.
Even if they refused a hundred times here, they would eventually have to comply with his request.
"Understood, Dean."
The Vice-Dean, who was the first to realize this, accepted Asion Gale's request.
The Research Committee Chairman also nodded in agreement.
"If you order us to, we will."
"Haha, thank you all. Please protect our students. Especially student Yuhan. We must protect him. He is a talent who will make a mark on the history of magic in the future."
"Yes, we will make sure he doesn't get hurt."
"This is really reassuring. With the two of you there, I can fight with peace of mind."
Asion Gale said with relief.
'Whew.'
With this, one of his worries was gone.
All that remained was to win the war with minimal damage.
And that was what Asion Gale was most confident in.
'It's time to show off my skills after a long time.'
The nickname 'Lion of Glory' he earned in the war long ago.
It was time to bring back that old fame once again.
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