Editor 86

Wizards (2)

He sensed someone running out of the lecture hall a step too late.

The appearance of those who attacked the school in the middle of the capital in broad daylight was…

“Huff, huff, Ezra, you bastard! I told you not to add the [Acceleration] formula!”

“It’s true~ Got some real experimental results~ It’s a success~ Don’t be mad, Dalia~.”

“Aaaaagh! When Professor Zebedi comes back, he’ll try to kill us! He told us to reinforce the outer barrier, not break it!”

“Hey, what do you mean, break it. It’s just a tiny scratch on the mana stone carnelian~. Dalia, how long has it been since you graduated, and you’re still scared of the professor?”

A woman with disheveled hair and coat from running argued with a white-haired man.

“And if the Royal Mage protests, we’ll have to write a hundred reports. Deputy Chief, I won’t help you this time.”

From afar, a man walking leisurely around the edge of the school responded to the white-haired one. It was subtly annoying.

“Artemis~, don’t be so cold to your own subordinate~.”

They didn’t seem to notice Cleio’s presence. From the conversation, they were wizards who came to reinforce the outer barrier.

‘…Weren’t they attackers?’

“I’m done too!”

From a distance, a young woman’s voice shouted with [Amplification] magic.

At the same time, the school’s outer barrier was restarted.

Uuuuuuuuuuu—

Despite the huge explosion just before, the outer barrier began to shine brighter than ever.

The strength of the barrier was clearly different from when the teaching assistants of the Department of Magic had restarted it.

‘They may look like this, but I guess they’re skilled wizards.’

In Cleio’s head, the scroll of “Memory” spun rapidly.

He quickly found the names Ezra and Dalia. They were supporting characters mentioned several times in the latter part.

‘I know them as wizards who showed heroic feats during the war….’

Their appearance in front of him was far from heroic.

‘Well, this is the gap between reality and history.’

Tatata-tatata!

At that moment, Calvin, Professor Rosa’s teaching assistant, ran to the main gate at tremendous speed. His brows were deeply furrowed.

“Hey! Ezra, you’re not even a student and you’re here causing trouble again?!”

“Hey, Calvin, long time no see~! Causing trouble? As soon as I got to the capital, I got an order to restart the school’s outer barrier, so I came here without even changing my clothes~.”

“Of all people, it had to be you who got that order. The administration office must have made a mistake. I’ll look into it.”

“Hey, even if I dropped out, we were classmates. Isn’t it too cold to treat me like this? I just tried to shorten the start-up time because it’s too cold, and it overloaded~. No problem!”

“Whether it’s a problem or not will be decided when the headmaster returns. Go inside and wait.”

Around then, Dione arrived late at the main gate, holding an umbrella in one hand and Cleio’s coat in the other.

Calvin turned around and headed back toward the school.

The white-haired group had already gone ahead, rushing into the guest reception room. It was a cold day.

She draped the coat over Cleio with a gentle touch.

“Young master, how could you run out in this weather without a coat? It doesn’t look like a big deal, so go inside quickly.”

A lady more concerned about Cleio’s chilled body than the commotion at the main gate.

“Exactly. I really thought it was some kind of attack.”

“If it were an attack, you should avoid it even more. Why would you be the first to run over? Good grief! Ever since you started hanging around Prince Asher, you’ve picked up strange habits.”

“Well….”

Just as Dione and Cleio were about to turn around, the white-haired wizard shouted in an incredible voice.

“Oh, ohhh~ Pink-haired lady over there! Aren’t you Dione Greyer?!”

Usually so composed in front of others, Dione jumped as if in shock and turned around with a terrifying expression.

“Argh!”

‘Do they know each other?’

“Young master, why is there a talking bug at the school? We need pest control. Let’s go in quickly.”

It seemed they weren’t just acquaintances.

Being dragged away by Dione, Cleio glanced back at the white-haired guy.

Of course, he soon realized there was no need to look back.

Dadadadadat!

In a speed unbelievable for a wizard, the guy ran dozens of meters and blocked Dione and Cleio’s path.

Dione, who had stood firmly in front of Cleio even against the twin-headed wolf beast, now clung to his arm, trembling.

She was on full alert.

‘This guy must really be strange.’

“Dione~! Are you still sulking just because I burned a bit of your hair back then~? It’s grown back beautifully! Don’t hold grudges against your old classmates~.”

“Well. I do not associate with those who conduct illegal magic experiments or who are not gentlemen.”

“Eh, so that kid is a gentleman?”

“He is a fine gentleman and a knight.”

The white-haired one, dressed in the Capital Defense Force spring and autumn uniform, stared at Cleio almost rudely.

Cleio also sized him up without reservation. Not only his hair but also his eyebrows and eyes were a very pale ivory color.

‘Does this wizard have albinism…?’

“Still wet behind the ears, calling him a knight, please.”

“Please refrain from making insulting remarks to Sir Cleio Asher, Deputy Commander of the Capital Defense Force Magic Corps.”

Ezra’s voice suddenly turned malicious. The unique, drawn-out endings of his words became sharply short.

“Cleio Asher? Hey, are you that rumored Zebedi research student?”

“I was offered, but I have not yet accepted to become a research student.”

“Playing hard to get? You must be pretty skilled, huh?”

“The rumors are exaggerated….”

Paaaat—

Ezra deployed his circle at an incredible speed. The surrounding 200 meters was engulfed in platinum ether.

Cleio’s plan to deal with the crazy guy appropriately and slip away was ruined.

[Level 6 Wizard

Title: Silver Pioneer]

‘That’s a high level!’

Cleio tried to deploy his own circle in response, but inside Ezra’s circle, he met tremendous resistance.

At that moment, the contents of volume 3 of the “Book of Magic” flashed through Cleio’s “Memory.”

‘They said you can’t deploy a circle within a much higher-level opponent’s circle. It’s true. Damn it.’

No matter how hard he tried, ether circulation was blocked, and he couldn’t draw ether out of his body.

“What’s this~ Weak. You can’t even deploy a circle under my pressure, so you’re about level 4? Hm~, the rumors must be exaggerated~.”

Ezra, circling around Cleio as he tried to deploy his circle, stepped back as if to enjoy watching his struggle.

Then he pulled out a beast’s forepaw-shaped object from his pocket and tossed it toward Cleio.

“Here! Go and bite the back of that cheeky brat’s head~!”

The tiny paw was wrapped in ether and turned into a gold-glowing animal between a rabbit and a rat.

[Transformation][Regeneration][Acceleration], etc.—six magic formulas were intricately intertwined.

‘What is that!’

Cleio, activating “Perception,” shielded Dione and dodged the charging rabbit.

Kiiiik!

Despite its small and cute appearance, the ether beast bared sharp teeth.

‘It’s not even a max-level rabbit!’

Dione, who had drawn her sword from her parasol before he knew it, stepped forward skillfully with her left foot and stabbed the charging rabbit downward.

Kang!

The sword and the beast clashed with a metallic clang.

Though Dione’s skill was excellent, she couldn’t pierce the bizarre beast, as she couldn’t unleash sword energy.

“Ugh!”

Dione barely managed not to drop her sword, but it seemed difficult for her to attack further.

Kyaaaaat!

The enraged beast now targeted Dione, leaping at her with lightning speed.

“Dione!”

Paaaat—

At that moment, the ether swirling fiercely in Cleio’s vessel burst out, forming a circle.

Cleio chanted the strongest [Defense] incantation.

“[He is my rock, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my high tower, my refuge!]5)”

A [Defense] magic circle, solid as a rock and tall as a tower, surrounded Dione and Cleio.

Kakang!

Ting!

Kakakang!

Whether rabbit or rat, the beast repeatedly bounced off Cleio’s shield, then crashed to the ground and vanished.

‘The magic is just like the caster. So impatient.’

Sssssss—

At last, both Ezra and Cleio’s circles faded.

Despite having just attacked people so ferociously, Ezra grinned as if he was delighted.

“Pretty good for level 4~! Your ether sensitivity is amazing! Just like the report about you joining the Capital Defense Force!”

“Did you do this dangerous thing just to test that? Lady Dione was dragged into this as well. Apologize properly.”

“Come on, no one got hurt. Dione was the most versatile wizard in the 972nd class~. You saw it just now~.”

Dione ignored Ezra with a voice colder than the wind from the northern sea.

“That’s enough. It wasn’t a person but a bug’s doing, so there’s no need to hold anyone responsible. Let’s go in, young master.”

It meant, ‘I won’t even treat you as human.’

“Juuust, just a minute, just a minute, just a minute.”

Spinning to block Cleio and Dione’s path, Ezra bent his long body.

“Let’s make a bet. Hm? If you win, I’ll apologize!”

“No bet needed. I don’t need a conditional apology, either.”

“Hey, come on. Are you avoiding it because you’re scared of me~?”

Even Cleio, who rarely lost his temper due to lack of energy, found Ezra’s words irritating.

Of course, Cleio responded with his signature annoyed face and flat tone.

“I don’t want to continue any more unnecessary and unpleasant conversation. Please move.”

“Final exams are soon. In front of everyone, if you do the same thing I did when I was level 4, I’ll apologize! Or grant any wish!”

“If I lose, I assume you want something in return.”

“Be my test subject. I’ve never seen an intermediate wizard with ether sensitivity like you! How did you break through the level gap and deploy a circle? Even seeing it, I can’t believe it~!”

Whether from cold or excitement, Ezra’s pale cheeks flushed as he bounced around.

He was rather handsome, but with such an attitude and way of speaking, he just looked like a lunatic.

“You want Sir Cleio to imitate that stupid dual-casting you did as a third year?”

“Oh, if he’s a genius praised by the lady, that should be easy~?”

“That’s a worthless, idiotic suggestion. No matter how talented Sir Cleio is, how could he dual-cast right now….”

“Dual-casting magic is great! Why not? Showering the crowd with gem snowflakes would be perfect for the year-end and the festival of lights!”

Cleio agreed with Dione.

It really was a stupid proposal.

But at the same time, another calculation began.

‘People like this, who live their own way, often have no grudges as long as you give them what they want.’

It was a type often seen among those who achieved great things young.

Because they said what they wanted to your face, it raised everyone’s blood pressure, but they didn’t scheme behind your back.

‘I was wondering how to connect with the Capital Defense Force Magic Corps, and here he comes rolling in. Whatever his personality, as deputy commander, his position is quite high….’

The beast’s blood definitely passed from the Magic Corps to Aslan’s side.

To find out who smuggled the beast’s blood, he needed a connection to the Magic Corps.

Having decided, Cleio began to drop hints that would pique Ezra’s interest.

For people like this, the key words were obvious.

Can’t do it, impossible, no way.

“Dual-casting isn’t taught in the first-year curriculum, so I can’t turn the audience’s heads white. Of course, as a mere student, I obviously can’t get the kind of mana stone medium needed for dual-casting.”

He felt Dione’s wide-eyed stare, but didn’t look to the side.

Asher hadn’t even told Ishiel the full story about Cleio’s magic.

The only ones who knew Cleio could dual-cast were Fran and Asher.

“Hey, why say you can’t do it without trying! There’s still more than a week left. Just practice! You say you don’t have a mana stone~? Hmmmm!”

He hesitated for about three seconds.

Ezra took off the ring from his left pinky finger and handed it to Cleio.

“Here, a snow quartz mana stone ring. If you succeed, you don’t have to pay for it, and if you fail, just give it back~. But you have to be my test subject. As long as I’m in charge of the school barrier!”

Finally, Dione couldn’t hold back and stepped in.

“Ezra Sergeyev! What do you think you’re doing, acting so immature! Put your family ring away.”

“Why! If Cleio does it, then I’ll apologize instead~.”

“And you’ll grant any wish, right?”

“Hmph! I’ll even pretend to be a dog~! Woof, woof~.”

Ezra, sticking one hand behind his rear and wagging it like a tail, was so annoying Cleio wanted to hit him.

Cleio picked up the snow quartz ring Ezra offered and replied.

“Understood. I may not be able to, but I’ll do my best from now until next Friday to demonstrate dual-casting.”

‘And I’ll get to turn the Sergeyev family ring to dust, too.’

“Hahahaha~ Good thinking, Cleio~. I’ll go easy on you in my experiments, so don’t be scared~.”

“Ezra!”

For the next five minutes, Cleio had to use up all his remaining strength to stop Dione from drawing her sword again.