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Chapter 34
“Hm.”
Silia lifted her eyes from the book she was reading and stretched. The bench tucked into a corner of the Academy’s fencing arena was rarely used, making it the perfect spot to sit and spread her things around.
“The theory sounds like nothing but empty words.”
Beside her was a growing pile of books she had already skimmed through.
What she was trying to study was a kind of magic that had succeeded only a handful of times in history, so there were few records and finding any real information took time.
‘Well, it’s that complicated—that’s why that bastard liked using it so much.’
The Attribute-Reversal Magic Formula.
Unlike ordinary magic, which could use only one element at a time, this one invoked two or more opposing attributes simultaneously.
It was notoriously difficult and complex. When Illode had first succeeded at age seventeen, the entire kingdom had been in an uproar. Even Silia, who had been buried in the countryside back then, had heard whispers of a young prodigy’s emergence.
‘I even saw him use it a few times on the battlefield.’
To be honest, it had been incredible—so much so that “genius” or “hero” felt like words created just for him.
Illode was especially famous for combining contradictory elements—ripping and mending, fire and water, repulsion and attraction.
By difficulty, it was top-tier. But if you managed to pull it off, the result was spectacular. The skill of simultaneously slicing through a demon beast and fusing its body somewhere else was legendary—a spell that combined brilliance and complexity in equal measure.
“If only I could recreate it exactly like that.”
If Illode could use it, then she—who had inherited his power—should be able to as well. Knowing she could meant there was no reason not to try.
“And if that bastard actually takes the bait and shows up, even better.”
The problem was… she couldn’t feel it yet.
She had learned all sorts of magic, including mana control, but she wasn’t yet as skilled as Illode had been in her past life.
If she had known how to use it properly, she’d have broken through the Heinz family’s security magic by now. The theory books only danced around the topic—nobody seemed to know what it actually felt like to perform it.
‘And I can’t exactly go asking…’
Just then, a puzzled voice interrupted her thoughts.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the Mage Tower?”
It was Swordmaster Ozka.
“Your swordsmanship practice for the week should’ve been finished already.”
“There’s no point going to the Tower right now.”
“Hmm?”
“…I just wanted to practice swordsmanship a bit more. Thought I’d read to clear my head first.”
“A fine attitude.”
Silia smiled politely and watched him leave.
Right—asking around was pointless while the Mage Tower was in chaos. Ever since the sudden order for research presentations had been issued, the mages had all gone insane—pulling bizarre stunts left and right.
Dealing with straightforward swordsmen was far easier on the mind than dealing with mages who’d gone mad from overwork, eating paper and drinking unidentifiable alchemical liquids.
Anyway, Silia tried to refocus.
Then came another voice.
“Reading a book in the training grounds? There’s a limit to how much one can disrespect swordsmanship.”
Surrounded before she realized it, Silia looked up to see Ingram Phillips and several other students smirking down at her.
“Care to spare us a moment?”
“No, I don’t.”
She rejected him flatly.
‘These people really think they can order me around?’
If Lyman was the one pestering her at the Mage Tower, then Ingram was the nuisance in the fencing division.
She had no idea when things had started going wrong. She hadn’t done anything to make enemies—hadn’t even done anything questionable.
Yet somehow they had wronged her first and still acted like she was the problem. She was busy enough already without this nonsense.
Ingram sneered at her refusal.
“My, aren’t you hard to get a hold of.”
Silia replied, unimpressed.
“Yes. Unlike someone, I actually have value. I’m neither idle nor overflowing with free time.”
“……!”
His face went pale at her retort—funny, since Lyman used to turn bright red instead. Regaining some composure, Ingram puffed out his chest.
“I don’t think you’re in a position to be so proud.”
“And why exactly should I entertain a viscount’s son?”
“If you refuse, I’ll file a formal complaint with the Diaman family. I’ll say your patron lacks the qualifications to be one—that you dare to disregard the laws of the kingdom and insult a marquis’ house.”
“Heh.”
‘You little bastard.’
Pure nonsense. Silia met his eyes slowly. His face—laden with vanity—made her want to roll hers.
“Or perhaps I should go to Young Lord Flear Diaman directly. I believe he’s still at the Academy. A face-to-face conversation between our houses might be productive.”
His gaze clearly said: Do you really think a mere count’s house can stand against a marquis’ family?
Even after being humiliated at the symposium, he still had the nerve.
Silia tilted her head slightly each time he spoke, as if inviting him to keep talking—to dig his grave a little deeper.
Her expression, calm yet sharp as carved stone, made the boys around them blush faintly. If she listened closely, she could hear them muttering crude remarks.
“They say the Diaman heir dotes on her—guess we know why.”
“Didn’t think he was that kind of guy, but maybe she’s into—”
“That’s enough.”
Her voice cut through the air like a blade. The faint killing intent laced within it froze their tongues instantly.
Thud.
The sound of her closing the book echoed like a door slamming shut.
“You…”
She barely restrained the curse that almost slipped out.
“…gentlemen really should watch what you say.”
She hadn’t planned to respond—she’d figured they’d get bored if she ignored them long enough. After what happened with Lyman, she’d wanted to avoid trouble. Ingram’s whining meant nothing to her.
But if he was going to drag the Diaman name into it, that was different.
If he planned to smear Flear’s reputation or use the marquis’ authority to suppress others—no, she couldn’t just let that go.
Silia used the Diamans, yes, but she wasn’t about to let them be insulted because of her.
‘Otherwise I’d be no better than him.’
No better than the man who had used her and left without taking responsibility.
Silia, at least, intended to repay those she used—to take responsibility in her own way.
She couldn’t live owing others. She refused to become like that man.
Her tone turned glacial.
“Dragging the Diaman name into this? You’ve no sense of propriety, Lord Ingram Phillips.”
“As if you’re one to talk. I simply—”
“Enough. What is it you want?”
Silia slowly rose to her feet.
“So you’ve decided to cooperate after all?” Ingram said loudly, trying to sound triumphant despite the threat he’d just made.
She stepped forward—one deliberate step at a time. The boys surrounding her instinctively backed away, feeling as though a naked blade were aimed at their throats.
“I asked. What do you want?”
Ingram managed not to flinch, though his fingers trembled slightly. Remembering he had backup, he forced a grin.
“There’s somewhere you’ll need to come with us.”
Tatatak.
A shadow darted through the capital’s alleys—dark as midnight even during the day. His footsteps betrayed impatience.
Turning a soot-stained corner, he came upon a cloaked figure leaning against a wall, who straightened as he approached.
“So, you’ve decided to go through with it?”
“It was a transparent provocation, but… I’ll accept.”
Lyman Jaykal’s reply was curt. He took out a slip of paper, summoned a spark, and burned it to ash on the spot. His robe hood concealed his face completely.
The cloaked figure chuckled and drew something from his own garments.
“Confident, are we?”
“I tend to finish what I start.”
“A good answer. You understand, don’t you? My master’s expectations are high.”
“Your master—and you—are none of my concern.”
“Oh?”
“What matters is whether I succeed or not.”
“Hah. Youthful arrogance—I like it.”
Lyman’s gaze dropped to the vial in his hand. Inside shimmered a liquid of eerie, dark hue. When tilted, it glimmered like fragments of starlight—beautiful, like a cup filled with the night sky.
‘So beautiful…’
And yet, so perilous.
His expression hardened. There was no time for sentiment. He had to prove himself—
—to everyone, and to Archmage Akla.
To prove that all his years in the Mage Tower hadn’t been in vain.
That he, unlike that pretty red-haired woman who’d just waltzed in, could accomplish what she could not.
Thinking such thoughts—ones that would have made Silia faint with disbelief—Lyman tucked the vial into his robe.
The cloaked man chuckled lowly.
“If you succeed, you won’t need to find me again. The news will spread soon enough—through the Tower, the capital… then the whole kingdom, the entire continent.”
“……”
“They’ll say a brilliant mage has appeared—one who’s tamed the blood of a demon beast.”
