Requesting a Magic Battle

Extremes are said to meet. I realized this while living in the Floating City.

The Floating City, suspended in the infinitely high sky, and Tartarus, eternally falling into the abyssal pit. The two could not be more different.

The Floating City, where the most renowned mages of even the great Magic Federation gathered.

Tartarus, where criminals captured even from that pitiful kingdom gathered.

The two are literally as different as heaven and earth, but I felt a similar sensation in both spaces.

That was the feeling of isolation.

Study, study, and study. Having become the Azure Tower Lord’s disciple, I was living the life of a prisoner. Attending the Azure Tower Lord’s lessons at set times, reading books in the library packed with books, and doing extra studying. Then, when a space opened up in the workshop, I would sneak in and experiment with magic.

There’s no time for leisurely meals. Just shoveling pre-ordained victuals down my throat, quick as I can, that’s the extent of it.

No dawdling allowed, either. The Azure Tower Master kept a close watch, checking my progress at every turn. If I so much as stalled, he’d ask if something was amiss. I had to fight tooth and nail to keep from tumbling out of this relentless cycle.

“Remarkable, isn’t it? Perhaps Lankar is right to laud you as a prodigy. To master Crystal Structure Theory in three days, then apply it to designing High Crystals?”

It’s because you’re watching me like a hawk! If my progress slows even a little, you grill me about it, so what choice do I have?

“The structural analysis is flawless. Dare I say, on par with my own. Some are naturally gifted at analysis, but you’ve surpassed even them.”

Truth be told, I just read the Azure Tower Master’s thoughts and recited them verbatim. But if that counts as analysis, so be it.

“Crystal Structure Theory, structural analysis, High Crystal design, magical array application. All S-rank, and you only learned them a few days ago. I, the Azure Tower Master, guarantee it. However…”

But even I, showered with such praise, had a glaring weakness.

The Azure Tower Master spoke with genuine curiosity.

“How can such a genius lack the ability to sense mana? My disciple, have you been neglecting your training?”

“You’ve been watching! You know it’s not getting any better, no matter how hard I try!”

My ability to sense and control mana was simply abysmal.

What good is it to read knowledge and insights with mind-reading? The hardware just won’t cooperate. I need magic tools just to detect mana, and I barely have enough to activate them, let alone cast spells.

I’ve felt a slight increase in strength recently, and I was hoping… but it seems my mana hasn’t increased. Couldn’t these stats improve across the board for once?

“I know. I’ve seen firsthand how hard you’ve worked, despite your talent. It’s just… this imbalance between knowledge and mana is perplexing.”

“Imagine how perplexed *I* am! I know the concepts, I know how to apply them, I even have the sensation, but I still can’t *do* it!”

“Perhaps you earned the ire of a black magician? Could you be cursed?”

“Huh? Am I cursed?”

“If only. Then I could have someone remove it. Alas, judging by your reaction, it doesn’t seem to be a curse.”

“Is my ineptitude akin to a curse, then?!”

“Don’t despair. After all, it is *I* who am teaching you.”

The Azure Tower Master patted my shoulder, offering a shred of comfort.

*‘A truly curious case. Anyone else might dismiss it with a sympathetic, “That’s a shame,” but a genius such as myself cannot overlook such an imbalance. There’s something unnatural about Hughes.’*

Unnatural might be a stretch, but I have my suspicions. I turned to the Azure Tower Master.

“Azure Tower Master, you mentioned the Intelligence Bureau, right?”

“Indeed. Your master also holds the title of Director of the FIA. Something you wish to inquire about? Though I must forewarn you, classified information is off-limits.”

“It’s more akin to statistics than classified intel. Among the people of the Magic Federation, what percentage are naturally gifted?”

“Walking a fine line there, are we?”

*‘I wouldn’t tell anyone else, but you have earned the right to know and my student is entitled to hear it. Hmm.’*

Once again, the Azure Tower Master conjured a graph made of solidified mana.

“Statistically speaking, the probability of someone born in the Mado Federation becoming an ‘Elect’ is around one percent. Several times higher than other nations. The rate of awakening Magic Control and Magic Sense are three and five percent respectively, but usually, if you master one, the other tends to awaken naturally, so they aren’t independent.”

“So, I’m on the ‘average’ side?”

“For someone ‘average,’ you sure know Magic Control and Magic Sense. That’s what’s peculiar.”

*Of course, now that you’ve caught my eye, I’ll unravel even that enigma.*

Arrogant, but the direction is positive, so he seems alright. The Azure Tower Lord made his own conclusion and handed me three blue crystals.

“There’s a chance it’s a matter of mana capacity, so next time, I’ll look into methods to support that. Here. Today’s lesson is over. Read all of this by tomorrow.”

“Huh? Read *all* of this?”

“Yes. You should have enough time with a day, shouldn’t you?”

“There’s no way. These are Mado Book Crystals. One crystal contains the knowledge of an entire book.”

The pinnacle of crystal magic, Mado Book Crystals. They crystallize information from a book’s page, layer by layer, and when illuminated by the White Tower’s light magic, the words appear on a screen.

With these, not just words and pictures, but even practice spells can be reproduced and stored in the crystal. Truly, it’s the optimal method for transmitting knowledge.

…Except. It’s not really working out for me.

Because instead of books, I gain knowledge by reading *people*!

“Introduction to Mana Amplification? Could the Azure Tower Lord perhaps lecture me?”

“Introduction to Mana Amplification is basic, rudimentary stuff. It’s a necessary theory if you want to grow your mana, and lecturing on basic processes would have us stuck together all day.”

“I wouldn’t mind being stuck together all day.”

“Cheeky. Do you even know how precious my time is? You’re already monopolizing most of my free time.”

The Azure Tower Lord wore a feigned expression of annoyance. But he didn’t seem truly displeased. The Azure Tower Lord is the type who enjoys being bothered. Why else would his hobby be plucking seemingly talented simpletons?

“Of course, it would be faster if I, the great one, taught you every single thing. However, mana amplification isn’t all that difficult, so consider it the rest of your homework.”

“Haa. Okay…”

“You climbed to the fifth floor in just a few days. It’s easier to climb the lower floors, but even considering that, it’s quite an achievement. You should be proud. Now, then. Be on your way. There are people waiting for you.”

With that blatant dismissal, I left the Azure Tower Lord’s room, carrying the Mado Book Crystals.

The concern was appreciated, but that wasn’t the problem. I scowled, gazing down at the heavy crystals.

Self-study! I’m no good at self-study!

It’s not as though I’m dull. I am the Human King, and if there’s a hallmark of humans, it’s high intelligence and learning capabilities. Even with my power diminished, ‘learning’ itself is close to my forte.

But it’s such a bother.

Books are just rigid text, and to make them my own, I need to dissect and digest each and every sentence.

In comparison, reading others with mind-reading allows me to perfectly grasp the knack and understanding. I’m more efficient when receiving instruction from someone.

The Azure Tower Lord is an undeniable genius, officially recognized as such, and if I read a genius, I’ll become a genius myself. But reading a book will only make me an average, hard-working student.

Haa. What should I do…? Must I rack my brains and study? I’m not in the mood.

I was slowly descending the Crystal Tower, each footstep heavy.

A murmur of voices drifted around me. The corridor, never particularly wide thanks to the Tower’s structure, felt unusually crowded today.

This was the fourth floor. The level where the mages of the Crystal Tower studied and researched. There shouldn’t be this many people in the hallway.

As I pondered this, continuing my slow walk…

“Hughes, student of the fourth floor! I challenge you to a duel!”

A mage clad in blue robes blocked my path, shouting.

A duel? Out of nowhere?

Before I could process my bewilderment, the small-framed mage brandished his staff and cried out,

“Turning to black magic, and still you become the Tower Lord’s direct disciple, surpassing us all! A Lower Realm native, yet so overflowing with talent that you receive personal instruction from the Tower Lord at that age? I refuse to acknowledge it!”

“Pardon? Are you suggesting that the Azure Tower Lord’s judgement is flawed?”

“T-that’s not what I meant! You must have deceived the Tower Lord with some underhanded trick!”

“So, the Azure Tower Lord can’t even see through my ‘tricks’?”

“No, no! Tower Lord! That’s not what I meant at all!”

He was rather fun to tease.

Seeing his companion’s distress, another mage approached and whispered something in his ear. Only then did the mage, renewed resolve burning behind his glasses, straighten up.

“Avant-garde, student of the Crystal Tower’s fifth floor! Let us clash with knowledge!”

“Well, there’s no good reason to refuse… I suppose I accept.”

Was this the person the Azure Tower Lord mentioned, the one I should expect? He must have anticipated some hazing. Even the Mage Federation… I loosened my hands, observing my opponent carefully.

A duel? Against a mage from the Floating City?

In the Lower Realm, I would never have accepted. I’d have found a way to back out or negotiate. If all else failed, I’d surrender.

But duels in the Floating City were a little different.

It was difficult for mages to simply brawl. They could only accumulate power as much as they prepared in advance. Their attack power soars compared to their defense. If they unleash attack magic at full power, a large-scale disaster was highly likely. It wasn’t for nothing that the Demon Lord intruded when a fight broke out between Tower Lords.

No matter how powerful a mage might be, their essence remained human. Even for the Favored, a serious injury could mean death. Only a Magister who could freely utilize Unique Magics became truly suited for combat.

“So, the problem is?”

“Hold! Crystal Set. Do, Re, Mi…”

And so, in the Floating City, when mages desired to settle a dispute, they agreed to a more gentle form of combat rather than risking mutual assured destruction.

The Magic Quiz Battle!

A magic circle with seven embedded jewels floated in the air. Avant-garde slowly moved his staff, touching the jewels in sequence according to an invisible score. A clear tone resonated, forming a harmonious chord.

Avant-garde displayed his meticulously crafted magic circle with a smug grin.

“The Scale Magic Circle! This ‘musical score’ forms the base magic circle of the Pythagorean school that builds up magic, the ‘Staff’! I will cast basic crystallization magic using the Staff; find the error within!”

Each time the music neared completion, ice formed crystals in the magic circle’s center… only to collapse just before finishing. Avant-garde had intentionally woven in an error.

And ferreting out that error was Avant-garde’s little quiz.

*‘If I know that cheeky one, his mana-sensing is wanting! There’s no way he’ll catch onto this staff notation, with its reliance on meticulous mana-detection…!’*

Indeed. Had I encountered this problem in a book, I might’ve pondered it for a while.

But.

*‘There’s absolutely no way he realizes I changed the clef halfway through drawing the staff notation!’*

“You switched the clef midway. That’s why the crystal is warping, and then collapsing partway through.”

“H-how did you…!”

A problem devised by a person is bound to have a solution. Unless the person who posed it doesn’t know the answer themselves, that is.

As if celebrating the correct answer, the magic circle burst with a *poof*. Avant-garde was splattered with the remnants of blue mana and toppled over backward. Her face was a mask of astonishment.

“The staff notation is a magic circle that was abandoned over thirty years ago due to its obscurity. How could you possibly decipher it…?”

“You not only sensed the mana, but you grasped the flow of the staff notation itself?”

“Impossible. Even geniuses have their limits…!”

Ah, easy peasy. I wish all duels were this peaceful. I wonder if the Holy See would consider adopting this?

*‘There’s no way a yokel from the Lower Realm could have studied such an esoteric magic circle! How did he figure it out? Could he have deduced it retroactively from the formation of the ice crystal?’*

“The trap was a bit too obvious. The very formation of the ice crystal was peculiar from the start. It was clear the inconsistency between the first and second halves would lead to its collapse.”

“I see…!”

“And if you were going to change the clef, you should have altered the crystal’s mana mid-way as well. The timbre and magic are misaligned.”

Murmurs of admiration ripple through the onlookers. Whispers that the Blue Tower Lord’s judgment was infallible, and that while he might be wretched and unlucky, his talent was undeniable.

A worried grumble about the supposed reincarnation of Lancharte reaches my ears, though I have no clue what that fellow did.

“…Unbelievable! I spent three days and nights agonizing over a single staff notation puzzle…!”

Speaking of. Avant-garde, was it?

A mage from the Floating City is, by all accounts, a genius. A complete genius, molded from a foundation created by the Magic Federation’s gifted in a supportive environment with ample resources.

Avant-garde’s sum of knowledge alone would eclipse the entire military’s mage corps. This is mainly due to the military’s rigidly uniform system of education, but nevertheless.

Yes. I’ve decided on you.

“But it was an impressive magic circle nonetheless. The staff notation seems to have the distinct advantage of excelling in mana amplification through harmony, despite its sensuous, yet abstruse, nature. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“If you’re a senior who can manipulate the staff notation, you must have mastered mana amplification.”

“I did receive an A+ in that area, but…”

I didn’t exactly ask for the evaluation, but I guess he’s seizing the opportunity to show off. Regardless, he has the qualities I was seeking. I brandished a mana tome crystal and extended a hand toward Avant-garde.

“Avant-garde sunbae. I seek your guidance.”

“Huh?”

“I wish to learn the Fundamentals of Mana Amplification. It’s essential to replenish my mana, and I require sunbae’s assistance.”

“Huh? Mana Amplification Fundamentals? That’s basic stuff I learned back in my second year….”

“That very foundation is what I hope you’ll help me with. My learning has been…abbreviated, and I need someone to fill in those gaps.”

“W-Why me….”

*‘If I teach a monster genius like him, I’ll only look pathetic! No! I won’t be mocked by a genius!’*

“Well. I did win the duel. And demanding ‘knowledge’ is the reward for victory, no?”

“Ugh!”

“Enough. Come along. I need to finish reading this Mana Amplification Fundamentals by today. You’ll stand beside me and explain it until I’m done.”

That the duel has come to this, that what he gains from victory is limited to knowledge or magic. Whether to call him fittingly a mage, or strangely peaceful for such madness.

I find it pleasing. Thus far, at least.

I’ve acquired a good grimoire… no, a mage. He will read the Fundamentals of Mana Amplification beside me, and impart his understanding. I dragged Avant-garde towards a nearby laboratory.

*‘He’s been studying magic for days already, and he’s still hitting the books?’*

*‘Before being a genius, he’s a diligently crazy b*stard. And to address someone less capable as sunbae so faithfully.’*

*‘Is he really Lancharte’s friend? He’s so different.’*

Leaving the thoughts of other mages behind.