Ice Rainbow, also known as Seven-Colored Ice.
This is an ice magic technique that requires a whopping five spells!
Recently, the technology of magical scrolls has been astonishing, but most of them have developed in a practical aspect. In other words, there are still few scrolls in the realm of art mixed like Seven-Colored Ice.
To put it differently, the success and shape of the magic that requires a touch of inspiration depend solely on the mage. One could say that using mana is akin to using paint to freely express oneself in art.
Ezekiel spat out Sunweed, then flipped his palm to face the sky, and the boy unintentionally concentrated.
…What kind of magic will unfold?
A chill began to swirl on his palm.
It’s incomparable to the clump the boy had gathered with all his might. The form alone is exquisite, and the size is several times larger.
“…”
The boy unconsciously held his breath.
Ice Rainbow. His heart began to race as he felt certain that he would see something he had never seen in his lifetime.
However, the man’s gaze was somewhat wistful.
As if the realm that someone struggled for their entire life to reach was extremely easy for him.
As if the spectacle that ordinary people could only hope to see once in their lives was far too familiar to him.
Like merely recalling a common scene from the past.
“…This brings back memories.”
Ezekiel simply muttered that much.
Meanwhile, 30 minutes ago. The bustling district near the Imperial Magic Tower.
Widro, the leader of the Theoretical Faction of the Imperial Magic Tower.
He stroked his white beard and said.
“There are only a few hours left until the Inauguration Ceremony. Was the reservation done without any problems? And you didn’t forget to send the letter?”
“Of course. We’ve reserved The Breath of Dusk, the most renowned place around here. The practical faction will likely be disappointed by now.”
“Well done.”
Nodding with a satisfied expression, he is currently wandering the bustling district leading his group. The reason is to hold a strategy meeting for today’s Inauguration Ceremony.
Just as he was making his way to The Breath of Dusk.
Boom─!
Everyone frowned at the sudden explosive noise.
Just like musicians have extremely sensitive hearing, mages are very sensitive to the sounds made by magic.
And just now, that sound was very unpleasant.
The noise when a magical manifestation fails miserably. It was an oddity that sounded like smashing an instrument to pieces.
Boom─!
Boom─!
In the midst of it all, a symphony of failures and noise continued.
Even when turning his head towards the source of the sound, the crowd blocked his view of the mage. Widro had to suppress the urge to knock everything down.
“It seems someone is begging with magic.”
“Is the bustling district always like this? It’s changed a lot since I last saw it.”
“Yes. Such incidents are quite common.”
In fact, Widro didn’t know much about the nature of the bustling district.
He was such an extremely authoritarian mage that he despised spending time in bustling districts, considering it to be beneath him.
“There are those who want to use magic but lack the talent to back it up, and they don’t have enough money to use magic but don’t want to do physical labor… Those kinds of people tend to beg for magic.”
“Hmph. These days, people view magic too easily.”
Widro scoffed.
Magic has never been a field that is so trivial that even lowly folks can dabble in it.
The difficulty of the spells is one thing, but each manifestation is also steeped in noble decorum, and other magical activities require an enormous amount of money.
“You don’t need to worry too much. Those who fail at begging will naturally disappear.”
“The one making the noise is the most curious. How can they keep trying? Don’t they feel any self-loathing for creating something like that? Aren’t they ashamed?”
As if the people shared similar sentiments, one by one, they began leaving the street. It seemed to be even more horrific up close.
Only then was the mage confirmed to be a shabby boy, and it seemed that a barrier had formed around him as the area cleared.
Except for one person.
With neatly arranged white hair falling to his shoulders and a tall stature… One man stayed right beside the boy until the end.
Widro gestured with his chin towards that man.
“Who is that guy to not leave?”
“He seems to be an outsider. It’s understandable to find it interesting.”
“Finding it interesting is why he’s watching that? He must have a great stomach for it.”
Widro didn’t want to give any attention to such a trashy display, so the topic of their conversation soon shifted naturally.
“Let’s talk about the newly appointed inspector.”
He pulled out something rectangular from his pocket. It was none other than a letter envelope.
“Already received a reply? What a bold fellow.”
“Wouldn’t it be good to at least check the contents? Who knows, it might say something like ‘Since I’m behind you, please take care of me in the future’.”
“I already read it. The content is even bolder.”
Widro chuckled derisively.
“It merely mentioned the location. What does that brat think, calling me over? Does he think a commoner like him has the gall?”
“…It is indeed somewhat strange. Not only is he a commoner, but he lacks any experience, yet he had the audacity to challenge you, Widro.”
Although the inspector holds a higher position, in terms of understanding the situation within the magic tower and practical experience, Widro holds an overwhelming advantage.
Thus, even with just the title of inspector, coming to the tower means he wouldn’t be able to do anything. If he suddenly tried to push things along, he would only hear complaints about not knowing the local circumstances.
“If he knows that flow, he wouldn’t act so boldly.”
“The more one knows nothing, the braver they become. To think such a fool could be an inspector… What a decline in the world.”
Widro clicked his tongue.
“Anyway, he’ll undoubtedly choose our side, right?”
“Surely he wouldn’t align himself with those practical faction fellows? If he knows even a bit about your standing, he wouldn’t dare do such a thing.”
Only then did the corners of Widro’s mouth rise in satisfaction.
“I think so too. If he stands with us, then I should ponder over what to have him do. I’ve got plenty to think about.”
Widro had been lacking higher status and stronger authority while working at the Imperial Magic Tower all this time.
Now that he might finally obtain them, all that had troubled him could finally be removed. Just thinking about it was exhilarating.
“Will you deal with the practical faction first?”
“Of course. It’s absurd to allow parasites clinging to scrolls posing as mages to enter the tower.”
However, there was someone nearby expressing concern.
“Um… Widro, there’s something I’m a bit worried about.”
“What is it?”
“This year’s schedule for the Imperial Magic Tower is too tight, right? We have to present performance evaluations for nearly a decade, and there’s also competition between the towers…”
The performance evaluations for the six towers occur every ten years.
In truth, if not for that, it wouldn’t have become apparent that the Imperial Magic Tower had done less in the last decade. It could almost be seen as nothing more than a shiny façade.
…It is a major issue.
To maintain its position, the Imperial Magic Tower must achieve results that surpass the accomplishments steadily built up by other towers over the past ten years at once.
Widro stared at him with a serious expression.
“So what are you trying to say? Should we use scrolls for immediate results and to win in the competition?”
“No, I definitely don’t mean that.”
“Then?”
“The scale of this year’s events is so great that, perhaps the Imperial Magic Tower might not be able to last…”
“Hey, you fool!”
Before he could finish his sentence, Widro barked.
“Why on earth should I worry about such a problem?”
“Yes, yes?”
“If there’s a problem with the Imperial Magic Tower, it’s the inspector’s responsibility. All I want is to kick those practical faction brats out of the tower!”
“If the whole Imperial Magic Tower collapses…”
“That won’t happen. The tradition of the Imperial Magic Tower is far too old to disappear. It will just be that the inspector will change.”
A sharp-witted onlooker quickly joined the conversation.
“Exactly. Even if the practical faction is expelled, and the inspector takes responsibility for performance evaluation, then perhaps Widro could directly act as the inspector afterward.”
“Inspector… me? Hohoho….”
A greedy desire filled Widro’s face.
“…”
As they walked, the Theoretical Faction suddenly came to a stop.
It was because they encountered some unwelcome faces. The opposite side seemed to have stopped abruptly as well.
It was no other than the flock led by Nox, the leader of the Practical Faction.
“Step aside.”
However, even with Widro’s words, both factions just glared at each other with hostile eyes and refused to step aside.
“What, are you in a hurry since you booked a restaurant with a huge gap in atmosphere? Is that why you’re trying to hinder us?”
“What utter nonsense.”
Nox adjusted his glasses with his ring and middle fingers. There was a blank expression in his eyes behind the lenses.
“Do mages really think that a restaurant’s reputation is what matters? Isn’t that a childish and pathetic thought? We don’t do things like that. We rely on skill.”
“What?”
“I understand how you feel. You must be anxious. You spent years pouring into every bit of your magic technique only to see young ones manifest it in one scroll activation.”
As Nox spoke, Widro’s expression darkened. The atmosphere between the practical and theoretical factions was growing increasingly tense.
Widro slowly stroked his beard.
“Why would I have a reason to feel that way?”
“Why lie so transparently? You’re just a backroom old man who doesn’t even realize he’s already been pushed aside!”
“Wasn’t there one that died recently? From the practical faction.”
“…?”
Nox’s brows twitched.
“Accidental death. That’s how it was announced.”
“….”
“What a ridiculous story. A mage didn’t die from having their magic countered or being trapped in a space where they couldn’t handle mana; they just didn’t prepare a scrap of scroll paper and ended up dead.”
Widro’s expression was nothing but disdain. It was as if he had heard the news of a bug accidentally being squashed under someone’s foot.
A blatant display of contempt, not even bothering to hide his disregard.
“…”
Nox quietly fiddled with the scroll hidden in his pocket. Gradually, Widro began to draw mana.
Just when their verbal battle was about to escalate into a fight, someone shouted.
“Hey, hey! Look at that!”
It was an understandable shout.
The prominent figures of the Imperial Magic Tower glaring at each other in the street would undoubtedly catch people’s attention. Widro and Nox remained locked in a death stare.
Nox pushed up his glasses and said.
“Would you like to try a taste of that scrap of paper?”
“Were you planning on dying today? I wasn’t aware.”
Then someone else shouted again.
“What’s that…! What is it?!”
“Whoa? Whoaaaaah!”
The reactions of the people contrasted strangely with their actions. Nox and Widro turned their heads simultaneously out of curiosity.
Only then did they finally understand.
The surrounding people were not interested in them at all.
“Hmm?”
“Uh…?”
Nox and Widro both murmured in confusion.
In the distance, a single ice sphere rotated, enveloped in clouds of chill. Looking at it, it was enormous, and it scattered massive energy around as if it were a source of mana.
At the same time, people began to shout more.
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“I-I don’t know! I’ve never seen anything like that!”
The sphere in the air vibrated with a loud crackle, like an egg about to break. It was a phenomenon that looked quite ominous to anyone watching.
“It seems like it’s going to explode! It really must explode!”
“Everyone run!”
If such a massive chill were to explode…
No one could guarantee what would happen to the surrounding area.
Crackle─! Crackle─!
An ominous sound, like the herald of disaster.
People scattered in a frenzy, running in every direction.
…But then.
In the chaos, someone shouted. It was the fellow next to Nox.
“Uh, uh? That guy…!”
He pointed at the protagonist of the commotion with wide eyes.
“It’s definitely him! It was that guy!”
In an instant, all the gazes of his companions turned to him.
To know the person responsible for causing such a huge uproar drew their curiosity, and they couldn’t help but turn their heads.
Immediately, the next words were even more shocking.
“It’s the inspector! The inspector who’s about to take office this time!”
This time, both factions’ gazes turned toward the inspector.
The inspector’s expression was strange.
It was a look akin to a playful troublemaker, not one that would provoke animosity.
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