Chapter 309
After that, the banquet proceeded peacefully.
Ruina flitted about like a fish in water, eagerly expanding her network, while Evan sat beside Chris, drinking.
“…Is that any good?”
“Not really. I don’t understand why anyone would drink this. It’s bitter and just ruins your palate.”
‘…This guy’s really out of touch with blessings.’
Some people would give anything for even a sip in their lifetime!
But Evan’s behavior was strange.
Despite saying it tasted bad, he kept downing the drink.
“You’re overdoing it. Is it because of that famous swordsman from the capital?”
“…Yeah.”
Evan hesitated briefly, then nodded.
‘He said he’s the current head of the swordsmanship family, right?’
Chris crossed his arms.
He was originally the one who had taken Evan’s spot.
‘They even call him the “Little Sword King.” One of the strongest figures in the alliance.’
“What do you want me to do? Just say the word, and I’ll take care of him however you want.”
Chris grinned.
“You’re my servant, so let your master grant your wish.”
Evan looked at Chris quietly for a moment, then a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It was a rare sight.
“Thanks, but I’m fine. Could you just leave him to me?”
Chris paused, considering.
‘That sounds dangerous.’
The guy’s rank was a solid upper 7-star.
Evan had just barely reached lower 7-star himself, making this a tough match.
‘Evan’s my biggest pushover. If he gets hurt because of that guy, it’ll be a huge loss.’
Meanwhile, Evan caught Chris’s thoughts with his insight and shook his head.
‘As expected of Christian. Worrying about me again? Always thinking about others.’
“Thanks, but trust me. This isn’t just about some grudge against the family.”
Evan’s gaze was steady.
“This time, I want to be the one to help you.”
The swordsmanship family was the most prestigious in the alliance.
They possessed deadly secret techniques, and no matter how great Chris was, he could face serious danger. That’s why Evan wanted to step in.
He knew their secret techniques better than anyone.
“Chris, want a drink?”
“…No, I can’t handle alcohol.”
“Ah, practicing self-restraint for the good of the world? I should learn from you.”
‘…No, I just can’t drink, you idiot. Are you mocking me?’
It was baffling how someone with insight could be so oblivious.
‘Damn it, I can’t drink and I just want to go back already.’
But as the protagonist, he couldn’t just leave, so he stepped out into the garden for some fresh air.
Chris’s expression stiffened.
‘What’s this energy?’
A sudden ripple of power surged around Chris.
Someone was trying to attack him!
‘A 7-star teleportation spell? From the Sky Tower’s magic? Why would a teleportation mage from the Sky Tower suddenly target me?’
Just as he drew his sword to cut through the magical core in one swift strike, Chris hesitated.
The spell felt strangely familiar.
‘Look at this.’
He sheathed his sword and calmly waited for the spell to complete, as if observing.
Then—
A brilliant flash!
The magic activated, and suddenly the surroundings fell into silence.
It was as if encased in glass.
A barrier spell.
An incredibly powerful one.
No one could escape without the caster’s permission.
Despite the danger, Chris remained calm.
“Come out.”
He smiled faintly and spoke a familiar name.
“Lanya.”
The next head of the Sky Tower.
A future 9-star archmage and a former comrade, now appearing with a fierce gaze.
‘It’s been a while.’
Her violet hair shimmered over her shoulder, deep navy eyes.
Her proud, beautiful face was one Chris had seen countless times in his past life.
Instead of the usual mage’s robe, she wore a noblewoman’s dress.
Lanya.
The Sky Tower’s noble princess.
The greatest prodigy destined to lead the White Magic realm.
And—
‘A hopeless klutz.’
A smile crept onto Chris’s face.
Did his smile annoy her?
Lanya raised an eyebrow.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Of course. The so-called prodigy of the Sky Tower, right? The caged princess who thinks she’s all that.”
“!!”
Lanya’s expression hardened.
For the record, her pride was enormous.
“I’m no fake prodigy. I’m the real deal. Since the founding of the Sky Tower, no one has surpassed me.”
“Oh, really? Then what brings the princess of the Sky Tower here? I thought you’d be buried in your studies right now. Did you solve the problem I gave you?”
Chris had once sent a magical riddle to Lanya through Evan.
“That’s why I came.”
“Why? To thank me?”
“…Thank you? You insulted me with an impossible problem, mocking the genius that I am.”
Back then, Chris had written in his letter:
If you can’t solve this, maybe you should quit being a mage.
“Do you know how many sleepless nights I spent trying to solve that? If the Tower Master hadn’t declared it impossible, I might have gone insane.”
Looking closer, dark circles under her eyes peeked through her makeup.
She had clung to the problem like a madwoman, convinced no genius could fail it.
Lanya lifted her chin haughtily.
“Apologize for mocking and insulting the Sky Tower’s greatest genius with an impossible problem.”
“It wasn’t impossible.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Otherwise, the greatest genius like me wouldn’t have failed. Even the Tower Master said your problem was nonsense, not worth discussing…”
“The Tower Master? You really believe everything a half-step 9-star archmage says?”
“!!”
Chris smirked.
“You call yourself a genius but blindly accept the word of a half-baked 9-star? Genius my foot.”
“……”
“The essence of a mage is curiosity and doubt toward everything. You’re not a genius, and you don’t have what it takes to be a mage. You’d do better to quit magic now for your own future.”
Lanya’s face flushed red with anger.
“You… just shut your mouth.”
“I’m just telling the truth. Don’t know why you’re so mad. Oh, right, I hit a nerve. Your name’s so tacky, maybe you should switch to being a physical fighter. That’d suit you better.”
“W-What did you say? You little— Didn’t I tell you to shut up?!”
For the record, despite her noble appearance, Lanya hated her country-style name.
She couldn’t hold back and cursed.
‘Just like old times.’
Despite her regal image, Lanya was hot-tempered and surprisingly foul-mouthed.
‘…Why are all the women in the hero’s party like this?’
Now that he thought about it, even the dark gossip queen had a fiery streak.
Anyway, Chris chuckled, enjoying the moment, but Lanya mistook his laughter for mockery and grew even angrier.
“You’re laughing? Do you find me funny?”
“Of course. It’s adorable how clueless you are, thinking you’re so great.”
“You… you… mutt! You’ll learn your lesson the hard way!”
Lanya clenched her fists, fuming.
“This is your last warning. Apologize immediately.”
“Why so talkative? Stop yapping and fight.”
“…What did you say?”
Chris snapped his fingers.
“I’ll personally show you that the problem I gave you is actually possible.”
“Hah! Stop spouting nonsense. There’s no way you can do that just by manipulating the phase field.”
“Not nonsense?”
Chris stared down at Lanya.
“If you’re so confident, why not make a bet? Is ‘rearranging the phase field to interfere with reality’ really impossible?”
Lanya fell silent, sensing his sincerity.
“If I win, you’ll give me your soul.”
“!!”
Her expression changed.
“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”
“If I lose, you’ll tell me the ‘truth’ about the Sky Tower that you want to know.”
“!!”
Lanya’s face went pale.
“How do you know about that?”
“Don’t you know I’m a hero blessed by the constellation? There’s nothing in this world I don’t know. I also know what happened back then in Argos.”
“……”
“Anyway, if you don’t want to, just quit. I won’t mind.”
Lanya bit her lip hard.
“What do you mean by ‘give me your soul’? You’re not some demon.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m a hero. I’m looking for comrades to fight alongside me for the world. But since the world’s dangerous, I can’t trust just anyone—I need comrades who can stake their souls. By the way, Evan, whom you know, is one of those comrades. My most trusted ally.”
It wasn’t a lie.
In fact, it was all true.
“…You must keep your promise to tell me the truth about Argos. If you lie, I’ll make you pay.”
“Fine, let’s begin.”
Chris didn’t draw his sword, which made Lanya look puzzled.
“I’ll fight with magic only.”
“Aren’t you a knight?”
“I can use some magic too.”
Currently, Chris’s mastery of white magic was about 4-star—his weakest skill among all his powers.
Lanya was on a whole different level—far beyond anything comparable.
“Then I won’t hold back. I’ll make you crawl on the ground begging for mercy! If you’re scared, just raise your hands and plead for your life!”
Lanya unfolded the fan that noble ladies carried with them.
Swoosh!
The particles rearranged themselves, and a massive whirlpool of water formed out of thin air.
A 5th-rank Aqua Storm.
Because it was a true-strength magic imbued with willpower, ordinary spells below 4th rank couldn’t even hope to counter it.
But then—
A streak of lightning sparked from Chris’s hand.
A 3rd-rank Lightning Spear.
Lanya’s eyebrows twitched.
“Trying to face my true-strength magic with such a low-level spell? Has he lost his mind?”
Just as she was about to dispel the magic, a crackling sound rang out.
The moment Chris’s lightning spear sliced through the air—
An unbelievable miracle happened.
Crack.
The Aqua Storm split apart and vanished completely!
“!!”
Lanya’s eyes widened as if they might tear.
‘W-what? How?’
No, she could vaguely guess what had happened.
But she refused to accept it.
It was impossible.
“So they say he’s a genius from the Mage Tower… but it was all just rumors. This can’t be all he’s got, right?”
“!!”
“This is disappointing, to say the least. Let me show you something a little more serious.”
Lanya’s expression turned grave.
A magic circle spread out around her, and a fierce surge of mana swirled violently.
With a chilling aura, the very air around her began to warp.
This was Lanya’s specialty—a spell that manipulated space itself to strike her opponent.
She lifted her chin confidently.
“This is the 7th-rank miracle magic, ‘Abstract Parade of Distorted Tremors.’ I, the Mage Tower’s greatest genius, personally designed and created this unique spell…”
“Isn’t that name a little childish? ‘Distorted’ what now?”
“!!”
“Besides, it doesn’t sound all that impressive.”
Chris let out a mocking snicker.