Chapter: 468
‘If you’re someone who’s entered the Academy, you probably already know this, but let’s briefly touch on the origins of magic. It’s the fundamentals of the study, after all.’
‘In the distant past, there were many opinions about what magic actually was. It was a miracle bestowed by God. A rebellious force that breaks regulations. A stepping stone to approach the divine. Countless opinions flowed forth.’
‘However, modern wizards don’t ponder this. The Great Wizard Erginius has uncovered the origins of magic.’
‘Magic is the act of expressing one’s will in the world through the power of magic. It is the mercy granted by God to powerless humans and the accumulated wisdom of the past sages.’
‘You, who will become wizards in the future. The contents written in textbooks will be your foundation, but don’t just get trapped in them. Magic is as diverse as the number of people. Keep exploring yourself for the day you will discover your own magic.’
When Joy first entered the Academy and met the professor of magic, the highly esteemed wizard in the academia began the lesson with these words.
Most students thought her explanation was just the usual wizard’s talk and let it go in one ear and out the other, but not Joy.
Having witnessed what magic for an individual truly is, Joy knew the professor’s words were not nonsense, but sincere.
And knowing it was sincere, she also understood how difficult it was to reach such a spectacle.
Her father, the Duke of the Partlan family, demonstrated a miracle that was so wondrous she doubted if she could ever reach it even if she dedicated her life to it.
“Wizard?”
“…Yes? Four?!”
“Focus.”
“Yes!”
After briefly losing her focus, Joy regained her senses at the skeleton’s voice, took a deep breath, and shifted her gaze back to the magic circle.
Until now, Joy had never thought there could be anything beyond the wonders her father showed her.
The magic of the Duke of Partlan, hailed as the greatest wizard in the kingdom and not falling behind the geniuses of the magical empire, was indeed extraordinary.
However, at this moment, Joy had no choice but to acknowledge that she was wrong in her thinking.
The wonders displayed by the greatest wizard in history, who even the foundational wizard of modern magic respected, broadened Joy’s world.
“Now, I will begin the teachings.”
“…Ah.”
As the skeleton snapped its fingers, the magic established by the Great Wizard returned to its initial state.
Joy, who had lost her marvel, sighed in regret, but the skeleton ignored her and conveyed his voice.
“This part. What was your intent in drawing it?”
“I aimed to address illusions. I brought something for reference from the magic related to the Duchy…”
“I didn’t ask about that.”
“…Pardon?”
“Wizard. Did you truly think you needed the Power of Void to counter it?”
“…”
“Not at all. However, because you lacked confidence in yourself, you tried to consider everything. That’s why it went astray from the beginning.”
The skeleton rebuked Joy and erased anything related to the Duchy from her magic.
Then, Joy’s magic transformed into something much cleaner than before.
“Magic is to express one’s will through magic power. If the God of Magic hears it, he might get angry saying that’s not it, but I don’t care! To me, that’s what magic is. Wizard?”
“Yes.”
“Think of it as a prayer. Among a single desperate wish and the myriad of desires chattering away, which would be clearer?”
“A single wish.”
“Magic is the same. One intense desire is stronger than dozens of trivial wishes. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Consolidate what you must do and embed only one will into the magic.”
Joy’s answer flowed out as if she had been waiting for it, making the skeleton let out a small chuckle.
“Good. Move on to the next step. Erase what you think is unnecessary in this magic.”
Joy, under the skeleton’s teachings, focused intently on his words as if enchanted by something.
The friends standing nearby, the faint sound of snoring from the corner, even the sound of someone swinging their mace—all of it failed to distract her.
What mattered to Joy, a wizard, was simply learning about magic.
“…This is hard to follow.”
Phoebe, who was listening to the explanation near Joy, let out a small lament as her head started to spin.
Though she was receiving teachings on divine magic under Bishop Johan while also expanding her knowledge of general magic, that knowledge had its limits.
In the end, what Phoebe had dedicated herself to was divine magic.
For her, lacking basic knowledge of general magic meant she couldn’t fully keep up with the skeleton’s explanations.
Arthur, beside her, was in the same boat. Although his academic performance didn’t lag behind Joy’s, that wasn’t the case now.
While Joy was nodding in amazement, he had to desperately rack his brain to understand the explanations.
While Joy was answering and evoking the skeleton’s laughter, he was gaining realization from her responses.
There was indeed a significant gap in the talent between them.
He had always known she was a genius, but strangely enough, that day she seemed to be standing even further away.
Somewhere completely out of reach. While Joy’s eyes sparkled and her voice poured out without pause, the skeleton engaged with her, sharing various tales.
The time the other two were desperately trying to keep up with the skeleton’s explanations came to a sudden stop when the skeleton clamped his mouth shut.
“…Lord Erginius?”
“It seems I’ve given you enough advice for now.”
“But still…”
“Aiding from start to finish isn’t called advice. After this, figure it out on your own.”
“…Is it possible?”
“It is possible. I, Great Wizard Erginius, guarantee it.”
Leaving Joy, who was full of regrets behind, Erginius turned his head away.
Having been alone for such a long time, he was thrilled to encounter decent talent.
He had ended up sharing even unnecessary information.
…Time is indeed a scary thing.
Despite lamenting inwardly, he wanted to impart a few more words to the skeleton.
These are people who will be with the Apostle of God for a long time, so as the one who left behind a burden, he thought he should advise them.
“Faithful one. You are currently on the right path. If you persist, surely God will respond to you.”
“You don’t need to worry. I’m already under His guidance.”
“Indeed. That’s a fortunate thing.”
Gazing at Phoebe’s bright smile, the skeleton’s eyes shifted to Arthur, and he paused momentarily before speaking cautiously.
“Descendant of Soladin.”
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“Do you remember what I said at the outset?”
“About… desperation?”
“To truly become desperate, you must not doubt your own desperation. Do not turn away. Face it. That is the maximum advice I can give you.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
The skeleton seemed to have something more to say, twitching his lips, but he turned his head without uttering another word.
At that moment, he caught sight of Lucy, who was repeatedly assuming the same posture in one corner of the room.
At first glance, it looked like she was just recklessly swinging her mace, but that wasn’t it.
She was gradually correcting her stance. Looking to find movements suitable for herself.
Observing Lucy’s naturally captivating movements, the skeleton gained a singular certainty.
When he first encountered the little one, he had some doubts, but now it was clear.
The one advising that little girl was certainly.
As the skeleton approached Lucy, he created a space where only Lucy and he could hear each other.
Lucy, who had already sensed the skeleton’s approach, confirmed the barrier and shot a sidelong glance at him.
“What is it? Sympathy Wizard? Have you come to ask how to get closer to the Sloppy Fox?”
“…Ahem.”
In an instant, the skeleton almost nodded, but he suppressed it with superhuman patience. This little one would ramble on with all sorts of nonsense at the slightest opportunity.
“Little one. You’re asking for advice from that Luel, aren’t you?”
“That old man, with such cuteness, is refusing to help me. I’m just indulging him. He’s such a bothersome old guy.”
“…Hah! Hahaha!”
The skeleton burst into the loudest laughter he had ever let out over the humiliation of his comrade.
Puhaha! I can’t believe there’s someone who can say that to that picky jerk!
Things we would never have imagined while living as heroes!
Is that guy Luel simply bearing it despite hearing that?! He’s internalizing it!
That guy has rusted beyond repair!
“Sympathy Wizard, have you finally lost it?”
“No! I’m still intact! I can’t show a shoddy appearance while that jerk Luel is watching! Never!”
“Really? Then bring that Sloppy Fox along.”
“Please don’t! I’ll give you proper advice!”
“Hmm. Go ahead, then. I’ll listen and decide.”
Her arrogance towards a Great Wizard was too much, but the skeleton tried to accept it.
If that enchanting woman were really to approach him, he would go totally nuts!
Definitely.
He would never do anything to please Luel.
Absolutely not!
“You’re currently searching for movements that suit your body, aren’t you?”
“Wow! How did you know? Have you been sneakily watching me with sticky eyes? The Sloppy Fox is a smokescreen and actually trying to charm me.”
“Shut up! Why would I— …Ahem. Anyway, to get back to the main point. If you’re creating something new, it’s better to filter Luel’s advice a bit. He instinctively seeks out rules and regulations since he’s the old fart he is.”
When creating something new, it’s unnecessary to completely discard existing knowledge, but also one shouldn’t rely too heavily on it.
Getting too stuck on established knowledge means whatever you create anew just becomes a derivative of the old.
“Right now, that Luel jerk is probably venting nonsense out of irritation at my words. Convey it to him. I’ll refute each and every one.”
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