“I’ve been thinking about it lately.”
Aris, who was quietly looking at the book, spoke out as if tossing it.
A library where warm sunlight pours down. A resonant voice resounds in the neat space that smells like paper.
“Aren’t you very lacking in concentration?”
“yes?”
To think that Lennok, who could be called the incarnation of a wizard in terms of talent alone, lacked concentration.
It is quite an unfamiliar word for him to hear that he can control his mana in particle units even when blades are playing in front of him.
At least Lennok had never once failed to control his concentration since waking up in this world.
However, contrary to Lennok’s impression, Aris seemed to have a lot to say about this matter.
As if determined, she set the book down on the glass table and glared at Lennok.
“It is. Am I wrong?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“At most every time I come to the library, I take time to explain the theory myself, but my thoughts keep going elsewhere. It’s already the third! Did you know I didn’t know?”
…………
Yes. The meeting with Aris, which lasted once every two weeks, was already entering the third time.
Not surprising. Quite a bit of time has passed since I made an appointment with the girl I met again at the library.
The length of time Lenok stayed in the library was not short, as he took a considerable break as soon as the request was completed.
Lennok replied as he closed the book he was holding.
“Professor, you are making an absurd misunderstanding. Where is the evidence that I’m not paying attention?”
“Originally, the person who gets stabbed finds the evidence first.”
“But I have never been wrong in the questions and answers given by the professor.”
“…”
Aris shut her mouth with a disapproving expression.
Lennok looked at her face and bit his lip to hold back a laugh.
In fact, there is nothing wrong with her words.
The theories that Aris teaches Lennok are aimed at those who have not yet learned magic properly, so there are many basic parts, and it is also true that Lennok was not able to focus on such explanations.
It’s just that the questions she gave after the class were relatively simple, so I could hit them without taking the class.
Still, after seeing his face a few times, he seems to have noticed that Lennok was thinking about something else during class… But Lennok’s acting was too excellent to be stepped on.
Lennok stared at Aris, who pouted silently and picked up the book.
“……..”
‘Is it about time?’
No matter how much Lennok listened to her question in one ear and passed it off, there was no reason to hurt Aris’ sarcasm.
Especially considering the fact that Lennok intends to ask her for help.
In fact, even when we first met at the library, Lennok was going to be content with just taking her classes like he is now.
Revealing oneself always comes with its own risk, and Lennok wasn’t strong enough to bear that burden.
But now it’s different.
The encounter with the Ascendant left Lennok wanting a little more.
Wasn’t it part of that decision to take a risk and join hands with Dyke to increase his influence in the underworld?
And if you took a step forward in the dark, what would you be unable to do in the light?
It was clear that the person Lennok had experienced through three encounters, Aris Richellen, was more trustworthy than the unknown mercenaries from the underworld.
Lennox took a light deep breath before speaking.
I was thinking of bringing out the words that I had been thinking about even before this meeting today.
Recalling the words I had to say, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Actually, the professor is right.”
“…..What did you say?”
“There were circumstances in which I couldn’t concentrate in class.”
Saying that, Lennok got up from his seat and approached Aris.
Ignoring Aris’ reaction, who shuddered in surprise, I looked at her face.
If she even expressed her displeasure here, it would be difficult.
Rich blonde hair swept to one side.
Even though they were facing each other directly in front of them, their clear blue eyes made it hard to believe.
Lennok accepted the book she was holding, careful not to be distracted by her sophisticated beauty.
“Explanation of the magic power drive principle. In general, it deals with the principle of magic that is mainly used in using magic, but there are things I personally do not understand.”
Comparison of the practical knowledge and theory obtained while using magic by oneself.
For the first time, I ask her about the ignorance that comes from that gap.
“Magic acceleration using rotation and pumping through continuous pressure. The utility of both is described very simply in this interpretation. When the amount of horsepower available at once exceeds a certain level, the two effects of acceleration and pumping are completely reversed, and there is no explanation for the case where control becomes difficult.”
“Wait a minute. How do you…”
“Other interpretations and papers regard this phenomenon as a very unusual exception and interpret it only vaguely, but I think differently.”
Lennok’s calm gaze stares into Aris’ pupils.
“Isn’t this a rare theory that knowledge of this part is allowed only to mages who have reached a certain rank or higher…?”
“…”
Looking at the silent Aris, Lennok once again recalled the iron rule he had established before.
‘The talent part is thoroughly hidden. It is enough to open the knowledge of the theory you have and seek help.’
There are countless books related to magic in the library, but Lennok was aware that the principles of magic that he personally experienced at some point were slightly different from what was written in the books.
Could Lennox’s overflowing talent have led him down a completely different path?
Rather, it is highly likely that information about magic theories disclosed to the general public is extremely limited.
For quite some time, Lennok had doubts about this hypothesis, and Aris’ reaction had just convinced him.
The lips of Lennok, who sat across from him again, began to move smoothly.
“It has been several years since I started reading.”
“……….”
“But the more I learned, the more the gap between the knowledge I knew grew wider and the things I thought I knew turned into awkward knowledge.”
Smoke is required from here.
Lennok slowly avoided Alice’s gaze as if in agony.
“Do you know why I am bringing this up now?”
I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them again and met her gaze.
In her eyes, he would look like someone who was obsessed with an unknown longing for learning.
It may be regarded as a student who cannot continue his studies due to being blocked by his talent and environment.
And as if Lennok’s acting had worked well enough, Aris’ gaze began to shake.
“…You tricked me.”
“sorry. But….. it was hard to get the words out easily. Who would I dare to tell such a story to?”
A suffocating silence flows.
At some point, only two people were left on the eighth floor of the library.
Aris sat there blankly for a while before answering slowly.
“Your guess is correct. There is information that is not unlocked by magicians below the 4th tier that are not authorized by the city government, and this applies to the citizens of Balkan as well.”
“……….”
“Unless you find a teacher and become a former disciple or belong to the Mage Tower, there are very few cases where restrictions are lifted. It is safe to say that it is a de facto information containment measure.”
“I see…”
Bringing out these words in itself must be a tacit expression of opinion from Aris’ point of view that such a ban cannot be violated.
No wonder. To her, Lennok was just another stranger whose name she didn’t even know.
It’s just that she has occasional meetings like this because of her personal favor. The relationship between the original two has never had any meaning until now.
‘How to persuade…’
What Lennok wants is not simply a teacher who will teach him theories that will not be allowed to him.
He just needs a wizard like him who can share some of his worries about magic theory, share stories with him, and provide inspiration.
“I don’t mean to ask the professor to inform us of the knowledge he knows.”
It was necessary to speak carefully.
“But how about changing the current class method a little bit?”
“What is that…?”
“This time, the professor listens to what I usually think about while reading theory books. Actually, I also had a lot of things I wanted to say while studying magic.”
He grinned as he caught the bewildered stare at Lennox.
This time it was a sincere smile.
“Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
Several days have passed since the meeting with
Test Aris began to take on new meaning.
As promised, Panoa not only handed over the relics to Lennok, but also gave him a lot of money due to the failure of this operation.
Lennok’s bank account, which had only 20 million cells, was filled with enough money to buy Stemonia once more in an instant.
It’s easy to buy another one as a spare right away, but it’s not like Lenok’s will.
No matter how much money you have, it’s useless if the auction doesn’t show up.
In the end, in order not to spend that money in vain, you have to aim for a higher place than now.
Another week passed and Lennok returned to Dyke headquarters where the negotiations took place.
“hello. I am Mana House, who has been entrusted with the assistant of the anti-mage from this operation.”
An employee with a very youthful impression greeted me with an expressionless face.
“You may have heard the explanation from Team Leader Panoa in advance, but starting today there will be a test to select the team members for this project. In the process, you can evaluate and weed out candidates you deem to be insufficiently qualified.”
She held out the small shopping bag she was holding to Lennok with both hands. Examining the contents inside, it was an ordinary suit worn by employees.
“It’s not a custom fit, but the size won’t be a problem. It will be enough to naturally blend in with the other temples.”
It wasn’t that Mana was wrong about not needing to stand out, but Lennok meekly changed into a suit.
He unbuttoned the first button of his tight-looking shirt and pulled down his narrow necktie, but Mana didn’t say much as she looked at it.
“It is a suit distributed directly by the company, and basically has good elasticity and durability, so there is some demand for self-defense. If you don’t particularly hate it, I recommend wearing matching outfits for future operations.”
“Because I can’t see you?”
“Because the other team members who will be selected this time will be able to replace Van’s life.”
Mana, who casually uttered an eerie word, turned her back.
Contrary to his youthful impression, he was a bloody person with an accidental view.
Lennok smiled and immediately followed her.
Take the elevator that slides at high speed and go down to the basement of the building.
Further down through the underground parking lot reserved for employees and executives.
Mana opened her mouth as she stared at the darkness reflected through the window.
“We lobbied the city government to secure an underground space for our head office. We put a lot of effort into preoccupying the route that the subway should have originally taken.”
“Can you tell me that?”
“We have already concluded that the half-mage’s help is essential for the project to succeed. It wouldn’t be a bad business if you can expose the company’s disgrace and gain trust.”
In a way, Mana, who responded without blinking an eye, was quite similar to rational wizards.
Did Panoa pay attention to her disposition and put her on purpose with Lennok?
After a brief moment of thought, the elevator stopped and the door opened.
After passing through the cold metallic hallway and crossing the arched bridge, a huge cavity was visible beneath it.
It is a crude form that seems to have simply dug up a huge space that is hard to see properly completed and put lights on it.
It was an empty space with nothing but construction equipment in sight, except for the fact that the floor was cemented with hard cement and a podium was built in one corner.
In the meantime, many people are busily moving, bringing, arranging, and moving various landmarks.
Structures are installed one by one according to the colorful paint drawings densely drawn on the floor.
Lennok’s eyebrows twitched when he saw Kilian directing the work from the front.
“What is that?”
“We are setting up a temporary facility to test candidates. Kilian has been in charge of airlifting related items.”
“Killian?”
I thought he was just a bully who would argue with anyone, but did he think he would do such a thing?
Moreover, the shape of the structure they were installing looked quite plausible, which was even more surprising.
Perhaps sensing the emotion behind Lennok’s words, Mana glanced back at him before opening her mouth again.
“Killian comes from a fairly high-ranking warrior class among the lycanthropes. Because of this, he knows very well what kind of training can physically validate a warrior. This physical test is entirely under his jurisdiction.”
“It’s a warrior class…”
I knew that Werewolves lived in a tribal society when they were young, but I didn’t know that I would hear that word here.
Lennok looked down at the raucous green-haired man with new eyes.
If there is even talk of rank, the werewolf blood of Killian is pure enough to be incomparable to that of Gail, whom he met last time.
While talking, the two of them descended the spiral staircase and arrived at the common floor and headed towards Killian.
While moving the structure with other employees, he recognized Manya’s presence and turned his head.
“A precious wizard has arrived. How are you feeling better?”
“As much as you made mistakes.”
Lennok’s cold reply instantly fell silent in the audience.
Other Dike employees are already in a hurry to see if there was any word about Lennok’s identity in advance.
In the end, Killian was arguing for nothing, but couldn’t even find a match and shed an embarrassing laugh.
“…You really don’t lose a word. I also regret this operation.”
“……..”
“But isn’t the reason why you came here to do well together? We are doing our best to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“I’ll have to see that for myself.”
“of course. What I’m preparing here right now… is, so to speak, the minimum cut-off. Shouldn’t the specs be good to protect our mage?”
Are the tests that are currently underway the result of reorganizing the project centered on Lenok?
Lennok acutely realized that Panoa had been determined and betting.
Isn’t this enough to leave the direction of the project to Lennok’s ability?
It seemed that Lennok’s strength, which he had shown in the harbor, had reached the employees of Dyke Company quite impressively.
‘doesn’t care. After all, that thought itself is not important.’
After a short conversation with Killian, Lennok sat down on a platform at the end of the joint and watched the situation.
Marja stood behind him without saying a word and watched the scenery below.
Only after the structures to test the ability to cope with various situations are in place, Panoa appears in the cavity.
She looked around in all directions while busy talking on the phone with one hand on her phone.
When she spotted Killian, she immediately went up to him and said something, and he scratched his chin awkwardly.
Other employees who came in after her move in perfect order, set up a tent nearby, build a fence, and start putting in all sorts of measuring equipment.
After a while, the elevator door opened and a group of people began to enter the cavity, guided by another employee.
They must be the candidates chosen by Panoa for this plan.
“…”
Lennok watched the group of people, who looked to be about twenty, with sharp eyes.
The mana he exudes has a bold direction and stretches out straight, pressing down on the shoulders of the candidates.
Woooo!!
At the same time, I quickly moved my gaze left and right to see who was responding.
“….!!”
Four people turn their heads in amazement. Five people noticed something.
And three people turned their heads exactly this way.
‘There are three guys who handle magical powers decently… not bad.’
It seems that Panoa has selected decent candidates rather than expected.
A faint smile spread across Lennox’s lips.
“…Ban-nim, have you already started?”
“hmm?”
At Mana’s belated question, Lennok was slightly startled and turned his head away.
“Did you notice?”
“I could feel the fact that the wizard is using magic.”
Mana shook her head slightly with a troubled expression.
“I would appreciate it if you refrain from provoking the candidates as much as possible before the physical test is over. Since the conditions for secrecy are set quite tightly here, they must be in a very sensitive state as well.”
“………”
Lenok nodded roughly at Mana’s words, but that wasn’t what really surprised him.
I was just surprised by Mana’s sensitivity to belatedly noticing the magical energy she hadn’t used as a target and confirming its direction.
It was obviously a rare talent, considering that all the other candidates moving there didn’t even notice Lennok’s magic until they had their shoulders pressed on him.
“Is there any magic or spell learned separately?”
“I’m not one to participate in the battle of the plan…”
“I’m asking because I’m curious.”
When Lennok said that, Mana reluctantly replied.
“I have learned a little bit of search-type magic before. It won’t help much now.”
“That’s right….”
It’s a scouting class…. It’s hard to stop thinking of the face of ‘Thousand Dogs’ whenever you meet those kinds of wizards.
At that time, the clue to the word Alkaid, which Chun-gyeon did, is still not found.
At least, since I’ve started a conversation with Aris, I’ll have to approach him carefully by using his personal connections.
It was a distant story right now.
In the meantime, the candidates lined up in front of the podium, and Panoa, who was standing in front of them, opened her mouth.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Panoa, the planning team leader of Dyke. We all met once before and conducted individual interviews.”
“………”
The people did not respond.
Panoa also continued speaking as if he did not expect an answer.
“As mentioned before, this test is conducted to select the most suitable personnel for the project at the head office, and to those selected as team members, the advance payment and success reward promised in advance will be paid sequentially.”
As soon as the story of conservatives comes out, the eyes of the candidates change completely.
If freelancers gathered from various fields reacted like that, it must mean that Panoa really accepted the bleeding without looking back.
“We are going to select people through two stages, a physical test and a personal test.
With those words, you can feel the eyes of the people glancing at Lennok, who was sitting on the podium behind her.
Sharp and sensitive emotions flow in without filtering.
His animosity towards the judges who were trying to evaluate him was projected as it was.
Unlike the bloody murder that Kilian exudes, Lennok looks like an ordinary young man on the outside, so it’s only natural in a way.
If he made up his mind and hid his magic, no one in this room would notice.
As soon as Panoa finished speaking, other staff quickly took the candidates and started guiding them.
Apparently, the testing process has already been designed, and how much does it reflect Kilian and Lennok’s intentions in the process?
It starts with lightly basic physical ability measurement.
Muscular strength, agility, endurance, horse power, and mana-sensing stress control ability are measured, and other employees standing next to them record the figures.
At some point, Lennok’s eyes sank deeply as he watched the process.
Among the candidates, there is one woman who is mixed in the middle.
A rather strict impression with black hair tied back.
Although it looks ordinary on the outside, the mana that flows out when measuring mana captures Lennok’s senses.
A cold magical power that feels strangely artificial and impersonal… It’s definitely the kind I’ve encountered myself somewhere.
Verification
Lennok, who found the answer in an instant after a short contemplation, turned his head toward Manya.
“No.”
“Tell me.”
“I must have heard that they were recruiting new team members.”
“……That’s right.”
Hearing her words, Lennok frowned slightly.
At the same time, a heavy mana spewed out from him, soaking all directions.
“But why are there people from the side of Cybrid Echo mixed in?”
“…”
He pretends to be a human being just like everyone else, but Lennok’s senses cannot be fooled.
The magic of that cold steel. A sense of heterogeneity that is distinctly different from the slow and sticky flow of humans.
It’s very similar to the mana I felt for the fugitive in the last operation.
And it made no sense that Dyke didn’t know about this fact.
The moment when Lennok was about to get up from his seat, a faint expression of embarrassment flashed across Mana’s face.
“Cybrid Echo has once again expressed its intention to participate in this operation. Since the reward we promised them this time is a reward, they don’t seem to be willing to give up easily.”
After the explanation, Panoa approached the podium and said.
………
“What happened in the last operation was actually a mistake on our part, and it is said that it is a more competent force than the Echo agents who participated at that time, so we will watch it.”
Panoa’s words were so calm, as if she was talking about someone else’s business, but Lennok liked her calm demeanor more.
It seemed better to clean up the mess and focus on the work with a clean deal with Lennox than to remain intimidated forever because he had made a mistake in the first operation and groan while losing the initiative.
If you’re going to be with someone for the time being, you need someone who’s at least a bit competent. That was all.
In the meantime, the physical test is progressing rapidly.
Unlike his bully-like impression when we first met, Killian was quite skillful in wielding the candidates.
If you want to roughly draw the average value, go straight to the next step and lightly ignore the voice asking for a chance to try again.
As soon as the quantification progressed to a certain extent, he immediately divided the candidates into three based on the measured figures, and then rolled up his sleeves and began to step forward.
“The six members of Group 1 line up in order. Because you’re going to stick with me. The seven members of Group 2 can go in front of the podium over there, and Group 3 can go home.”
Killian’s unconventional declaration that he would drop about 10 people at once caused quite a bit of backlash, but it was soon settled.
They all roughly understood that there was nothing to be gained by making a fuss here.
Lennok nodded, realizing in an instant how Killian had selected the candidates.
‘Class 1 based on physical ability. 2 groups based on magical ability. I’m thinking of entrusting the second verification of magicians to this side.’
And among the seven, the woman of Sybrid Echo was also included.
To what extent was his magical ability using his unique modified body recognized?
Even during the first operation, as a person who was selected as a team member, he must not have lacked individual capabilities.
The people lined up again in front of the podium looked up at Lennok.
The woman, too, looked up at him with a slightly nervous expression, probably recognizing who Lennok was.
Lennok met her bluntly, then stood up and stepped in front of them.
Looking around the crowd, he slowly opened his mouth.
“It is difficult to measure the abilities of sorcerers.”
“………..”
“There are quite a few magicians who use power sources other than magic power, and it is also true that there are parts where it is difficult to tailor abilities based on combat ability alone.”
dump.
Lennok, who was perched on the steps of the nearest podium, gestured casually.
“First of all, explain yourself and your specialty. I think we need a different way to determine if we are capable of working together.”
I want to smoke a cigarette, but it is true that it takes a while to blow smoke in front of people.
If it’s during a battle, I won’t notice other people’s notice, but I’m sure this is an underground joint.
Of course, there should be a ventilation system, but is it the right thing to do in terms of basic etiquette?… After a
while, while Lennok was contemplating a dilemma about public morality, someone from the group walked out first.
It was the woman from Cybrid Echo who had just met his gaze.
She stared at Lennok with a slightly stiff expression before opening her mouth cautiously with a hard tone.
“…… Agria. Agria Noto.”
“Your affiliation?”
Agria replied in a calm tone, as if she already knew that Lennok had discovered her true identity.
“Cybrid Echo. Long-distance support is possible through body modification using magic engineering. I am somewhat confident in my basic physical abilities, but I am mainly active as a back support.”
As she said that, she stretched out her hand to the corner of the joint.
Wheein!!
As the wrist opens, a blue light leaks out from inside, transforms into a single laser beam, and spreads out to an unpopulated place.
Quaang!
Moderate noise and destructive power. It is an oriental medicine that clearly feels that the power is controlled.
Agria also calmly lowered her hand, as if there was no need to say more here.
“In addition to this, it can accommodate various cartridges and can perform most of the missions even if it is less than a specialized force that has been trained professionally.”
“You can easily escape in case of emergency, right?”
“…”
She flinched at Lennok’s sharp point, but bowed her head in silence.
Lennok, who had been quietly looking down at the top of her head, gave a chin gesture to one side.
Anyway, she was a different person than the masked woman I met then. There was no need to stimulate it with heat.
However, other people who were watching it seemed to take it completely differently.
“Wait a minute, this is a different story.”
The young man with a hood with a complicated pattern on it tied tightly around his head opened his mouth.
The impression that he looks very young, as if he had just taken off his boy clothes.
He looked only two or three years older than the boy I met at the Lair of the Blood Wizards.
“I agreed to take the test, but I wasn’t told I had to duck in like that. Why are you treating us this way in the first place?”
“what?”
After thinking for a moment, Lennok realized what that meant.
Hood had just seen the conversation between Agria and Lennok and thought he was forcing the same attitude on others.
Aren’t they not informed of what happened in the last operation?
Others seemed to have similar thoughts, but they didn’t look so good.
The hood, which had gained tacit sympathy from those around it, took a step forward and started talking.
“If you want to test us, you have to show your qualifications first. I’m sorry, but I’m pretty deaf, so I’ve heard everything that you were hired for this job, not Dyke’s.”
“…….Right.”
Lennok, who didn’t know what kind of confidence he had, muttered blankly, and Panoa, who was standing next to him, whispered.
“Ban-sama, here I am…”
“No.”
Lennok stood up as he said that.
“I do it myself.”
Hood’s claim was absurd, but it resonated somewhat with Lennok.
It’s about picking a team member who has to work together at least three times.
I didn’t go to Dyke Headquarters here to sit back and people watch.
It was right to check with one’s own hands to see if there was a usable magician.
Boom! Kwaaang!!
Lennok grinned at the sight of Kilian, who had already started the second test on the other side of the cavity.
It didn’t seem necessary to use any other method.
“Come forward one by one.”
“……what?”
Lennok, who glanced at the hooded man who didn’t quite understand, snapped his finger.
“I’ll show you what you deserve.”
