Episode 352
At that moment, someone slammed their hand down on the table, raising their voice.
“Aren’t you all being too scared? What did Mahwi say? If the Round Table and the Mage Tower join forces, we can easily defeat someone like Mahwi.”
“That’s right. Especially since the Mage Tower has the venerable Lord Hephelman among its ranks.”
Indeed, combining the strength of the Round Table and the Mage Tower was no small matter.
Even Duke Dumas, head of the prestigious Duma family, wielded power far greater than Christian’s.
Yet, some voices still carried unease.
“Mahwi’s cunning schemes are the real problem. No one can predict what tricks he’ll pull.”
The heads of the Round Table fell silent again.
That was the greatest concern.
Mahwi’s danger wasn’t just his power.
He had always toppled opponents stronger than himself with ruthless, unexpected stratagems.
“He surely knows our combined strength. This time, he’s undoubtedly plotting some horrific scheme.”
As the room grew heavy with tension, a calm voice cut through.
“There’s no need to worry. Leave it to me.”
“Your Highness, the Hero!”
All eyes turned to Chris.
“Do you have a plan?”
Christian nodded.
“Of course. I have a good idea of what scheme he might use.”
He meant it.
‘After all, it’s my own staged play.’
“As the Hero, I can’t afford to be outmatched by someone like Mahwi. Leave it to me.”
The heads of the Round Table exchanged glances.
Mahwi was terrifying, but the Hero they’d witnessed was no pushover.
‘Maybe the Hero is even more dreadful than Mahwi.’
When they nodded in agreement to entrust him, Chris twisted the corner of his mouth and said,
“However, there’s one condition.”
“What is it?”
“You must all follow my orders without question.”
The heads flinched.
“This is to face a formidable enemy like Mahwi. If we don’t unite properly, it’s impossible. So you must obey my instructions.”
“…Understood.”
As everyone nodded, still a bit stunned, Chris quietly celebrated inside.
‘Good. Just as planned.’
Of course, Mahwi’s threat was a ruse.
Chris intended to use that fear to achieve his own goals.
After parting ways with the Round Table’s heads, Chris sought out another person.
Lanya.
“How have you been?”
“…So-so.”
Her tone was heavy, unlike her usual lively self.
“You said you were studying the grimoire? Seems like you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“Pushing myself? Not at all. I’m a prodigy mage. This is easy. Just wait. This time, I’ll finally show you my greatness.”
Lanya put on a confident front, but the forced smile was pale.
“Is the reason you’re pushing so hard to find your parents’ killer?”
Her face stiffened.
“…Yes. You’ve heard about my origins, haven’t you?”
Lanya was the adopted daughter of the Mage Tower’s master.
Her biological parents had been murdered by an unknown figure from the Round Table.
“If I master this grimoire and reach the rank of 8th Star, the Mage Tower’s master promised to reveal the identity of my enemy. I will… definitely avenge them.”
Chris’s expression grew serious at the weight in her voice.
‘I wonder if Lanya can handle the truth and overcome it.’
Chris knew all the truths.
He even knew what she would soon face.
It was the same event that had broken Lanya in her previous life.
He couldn’t stop it.
But this trial was necessary for her growth into a great mage.
‘But she can’t break down like last time.’
Lanya was already his “mark.”
He would never allow his mark to be destroyed.
‘All my marks must work for me.’
Chris decided to plant a seed of help to prevent the worst outcome.
“But can you really master that grimoire? With your limited talent, it seems impossible.”
“What nonsense is that? How dare you doubt my genius? I’ve almost mastered it. Reaching 8th Star is just around the corner.”
Lanya bristled, but Chris pressed on.
“Really? With your talent? Maybe the grimoire is just too simple.”
“Hah. This grimoire was written by my master, Lord Hephelman of the Mage Tower. The true essence inside is…”
She stopped abruptly.
Something felt off.
‘Come to think of it, why is this so easy?’
She had only just begun studying the grimoire, yet she’d already mastered most of it.
And the content wasn’t shallow.
Just mastering it should have brought her close to 8th Star.
But compared to the depth of the material, it was too easy. She’d thought it was because she was a genius, but now it seemed strange.
“Are you sure you’ve studied it properly?”
“…Of course.”
“If it’s your master’s work, it should cover the laws of spatial diversification and control. I wonder if you truly understand the mana’s influence on the surrounding phase and the related spells.”
Chris sneered.
“I have a feeling you skimmed over that part without fully grasping it. Let me see it for a moment.”
Before Lanya could protest, Chris snatched the grimoire.
He flipped through it quickly, then tossed it back with a casual remark.
“If it were me, I’d reverse-engineer the whole premise and convert it into the phase realm. The double negative becomes positive—a new path in the phase realm. But I guess that’s too much for someone like you.”
“Sh-shut up! I’ll handle it myself! Just wait! I’ll flatten your arrogant nose!”
Lanya huffed and dived back into the grimoire.
‘Now I can guess what’s wrong with that grimoire.’
Even if trouble comes, she won’t be caught off guard.
After finishing his business, Chris stepped outside and looked up.
The floating island with the Sky Mage Tower was visible.
It was time to confront the venerable Hephelman.
The floating island with the Sky Mage Tower sat on the border of the Round Table’s territory.
It was extremely secluded, so even the White Mages of the Alliance rarely visited.
‘Only those recognized by the Mage Tower can enter.’
If even the White Mages had trouble, outsiders had no chance.
Though the Round Table’s members, as close allies, had relatively open access, outsiders were completely barred.
Even high priests of the Holy Empire or top nobles and royals of the Karn Empire were rarely granted entry.
Chris was no exception.
‘The Mage Tower doesn’t acknowledge the Hero.’
It wasn’t outright denial, but more like outright disregard.
‘It’s a complex. The Mage Tower has always played second fiddle to the Hero during the Alliance’s crises.’
For some reason, no mage from the Mage Tower had ever become a Hero who saved the Alliance.
That was why.
When Chris set foot on the floating island, hostile gazes poured down.
“I am Cairn, the Chief Elder of the Mage Tower. You say you are the Hero?”
“Yes, that’s what they call me.”
“Here to watch the contest for the Book of the Sages?”
Cairn smirked and muttered under his breath.
“Not sure what you think you’ll learn by watching.”
His words were meant to be heard.
Evan, standing beside him, twitched his eyebrows and tried to step forward, but Chris raised a hand to stop him.
‘How cute.’
Anyway, the mages of the Mage Tower needed to be humbled at least once.
It was easier if they came out like this.
“I heard the heads of the Round Table asked for your cooperation because of Mahwi’s threat, but it’s unnecessary. Mahwi is no match for the power of our Mage Tower alone.”
Just as Chris expected.
The Round Table’s heads had firsthand experience of Chris’s greatness, but the Mage Tower only held resentment toward the Hero.
Instead of responding, Chris asked another question.
“It’s noisy inside. Is the contest underway?”
Chris sensed the clash of mana from within the floating island.
“Yes, it is. Before the contest for the Book of the Sages, it’s tradition to offer teachings to the visiting White Mages from various regions. Are you interested?”
A look of disdain flickered in Cairn’s eyes again.
As if to say, “What could you possibly know about White Magic?”
“May I participate?”
“You? The Hero? You don’t have the qualifications…”
“Judging by your arrogant attitude, I doubt I lack the qualifications.”
“!!”
Chris sneered and cut him off.
“I’m curious how impressive the Mage Tower really is. I wonder if your skills match your big mouth.”
Cairn flushed with anger.
He opened his mouth to raise his voice but held back and nodded.
“Very well. But if you lose in the first round, you will be expelled from the floating island and lose the right to watch the contest.”
‘This is my chance to humiliate him thoroughly.’
Chris smirked, seeing right through Cairn’s thoughts.
“Well then, what if I win the whole thing?”
Cairn laughed incredulously.
“If that happens, we will obey whatever you demand.”
“Are you qualified to say that?”
“I am the Chief Elder. I hold full authority in place of the reclusive Tower Master. Rest assured.”
And so, Chris’s participation in the contest was decided on the spot.
After all, the contest’s purpose was for outside White Mages to challenge the Mage Tower’s White Mages and receive their teachings, so sudden entries weren’t unusual.
“I am Walter, Supreme Mage of the Mage Tower.”
A young mage stepped forward.
A Supreme Mage—that’s a five-star achievement.
‘They really underestimate me.’
Come to think of it, Chris had never publicly revealed his white magic mastery within the alliance.
As a hero, Chris was known for his swordsmanship.
“Be careful. My True Strength magic doesn’t have eyes. Even now… Guhk!!”
Annoyed by the arrogant chatter, he brushed off his hand and subdued his opponent in an instant.
Mana Disruption.
He precisely targeted the moment the magic was about to manifest, reversing the mana flow.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
“W-what? Why all of a sudden? Could it be… Mana Disruption?”
“That requires your mastery to be far beyond your opponent’s, doesn’t it?”
Only then did murmurs of panic ripple through the crowd.
Chris yawned, clearly bored.
According to the tournament rules, the next opponent was supposed to be a six-star white mage.
“Those small fries aren’t worth my time. Bring him out.”
Chris flicked his finger.
It was Cairn, the senior elder who had just dismissed Chris so arrogantly.
A seven-star white mage.
“You’ve been all talk, so I expect you’ve got the skills to back it up.”
Cairn stepped forward with a stern expression.
“You’ll regret this. I don’t know how you managed that lucky Mana Disruption.”
“Are you really that blind? You think that was luck?”
Chris smirked.
“Why don’t you put on a little show?”
Annihilation.
One word that perfectly described the outcome of the tournament.