Chapter 3
After the declaration in the Siers Hall, the Lord's residence in the North Wing.
"Lord, it is Rowen."
"Come in."
The one who had come to Lord Blake Siers' study was a young man with long red hair.
He was a 6th Circle mage and served as an instructor teaching magic in the East Wing.
"Regarding your declaration, are you certain about it? I believe it will be quite difficult for someone with no foundation to create a circle and stably manifest 'Fire' within a month."
The ultimatum given to Kain.
Since it was an official declaration in the Siers Hall, it would be difficult for even the Lord to simply retract it.
To satisfy everyone with the standard Blake Siers had set for 'showing results,' Kain Siers would not only have to create a circle but also manifest and stably maintain the basic magic 'Fire,' and even demonstrate coordinate movement.
However, while creating a circle might be possible, mastering the manipulation of magic within a month seemed like a rather short timeframe.
"No, we can no longer delay. If I hadn't judged it so, I wouldn't have made the declaration in the first place. And Kain..."
Blake Siers trailed off, about to add something.
"...It's nothing. Is that all you needed?"
"No, Lord. There has been a change in the recent movements of the snowy mountain monsters, so I came to report."
"A change?"
Rowen brought up the main point of his visit.
"Yes. First, the population of snow rabbits, which mainly inhabit the northeast, has been increasing recently, and their territory is also gradually expanding."
Snow rabbits.
Despite their name, they were quite ferocious monsters, unlike their appearance.
With considerable aggression and close combat abilities, like small kangaroos, they often surprised disciples who bravely set out to hunt them during their first tests.
"While the snow rabbits can likely be dealt with by increasing the number of disciples assigned during tests or exterminations, the snow leopards in the northwest are currently acting somewhat unusually."
"Snow leopards?"
Blake Siers, who had been indifferent to the snow rabbit story, frowned.
"Recently, adult snow leopards that usually reside deep within the snowy mountains have often been found outside their usual habitat."
"I see..."
While ordinary snow leopards were one thing, adult snow leopards could inflict terrible damage on inexperienced disciples in an instant.
"For now, refrain from sending disciples to the northwest for extermination among themselves. If you do send them, make sure they are at least 3rd Circle mages. And we will investigate that matter separately later."
"Understood, Lord. Then, I'll take my leave."
Rowen bowed and left the study.
"Hoo..."
Left alone, Blake Siers rose from his seat.
He looked out the window facing the training grounds of the East Wing, watching the disciples practice fire magic, and murmured softly.
"Kain... when are you planning to change your mind?"
***
He had devoted his entire life to ice magic.
He had more talent than anyone else, and he trained as hard as his talent allowed.
As a result, he had reached the 9th Circle, known as the limit of human potential, and became the first ice magic Archmage.
'But in the end, I couldn't reach the 10th Circle.'
After much research, he had discovered a theory to overcome the limits of the 9th Circle, but it was already too late.
'There wasn't even a little space left in my heart for the mana of fire to reside.'
He had realized this while watching the magic of Harman Flameforce, the Archmage of fire magic, and his research had confirmed it.
That was that the extreme stability that ice mages had pursued until now, and filling all four circle rooms in the heart with the mana of water, ultimately created the limits of ice magic.
Sein Siers had devised a way to accept both the mana of water and the mana of fire together to overcome that limit.
'Independent Circle.'
A theory that would allow the creation of two completely independent circles within one heart, without interfering with each other at all.
However, to implement that theory in Sein Siers' body, he had to dismantle everything he had built up while reaching the 9th Circle and create a clean state in his heart, devoid of mana and circles.
In other words, he had to give up everything he had accumulated over decades.
'If it hadn't been for Desmond, I might have had a chance to try it.'
Starting from scratch itself didn't matter.
Just the thought of gaining new enlightenment and reaching a higher level was enough for Sein to be prepared to try anything.
However, at the time, Sein Siers had too much on his shoulders to do so.
He had to stop Desmond who was right before his eyes.
'But now...'
Desmond was dead, and his newly born body hadn't even learned basic magic, a blank slate with nothing to dismantle.
'With this body, I can try.'
Kain quietly recalled the research he had done in his previous life.
Even now, every basic theory and every single line of the formulas came to mind very clearly.
It was only natural.
Since it was a theory that made the impossible possible, the risk was correspondingly high. He had to memorize and understand everything without a single mistake.
'If even a little goes wrong, the two incompatible manas will collide in my heart and it will explode.'
Not only did the theory have to be perfect, but he also had to respond accurately without a single error to everything that occurred while handling it in real time.
Even Sein, who had reached the realm of Archmage, couldn't guarantee a hundred percent success.
'But I have to do it.'
Walking the same path as before would only lead him to the same wall.
At best, he would become another 9th Circle Archmage on the continent, moderately revered before passing away.
Kain had no desire to waste his new life in such a way.
'Besides, the current Siers has been inheriting fire magic since some point in time.'
Even as he thought about it again, it felt uncomfortable, but it was a fait accompli.
'No matter how inept Kain Siers was at handling mana, he must have inherited at least some natural affinity for the mana of fire.'
If the affinity for fire mana that Kain Siers' body possessed, and the understanding of water mana that Sein Siers had, were combined.
'It's definitely worth trying.'
Since the Siers was using fire magic anyway, it would be best for Kain to learn and use fire magic for the time being.
He would have to reclaim the 's ice magic, but that wasn't something Kain, facing expulsion, could do right away.
If he wanted to change the clan, he had to prove himself with skill, gain the right to do so, and change things according to procedure.
Arbitrarily overturning things he didn't like or resolving them with force was something that shouldn't happen in the proud Siers .
'If those disciples heard this, they'd probably call me 'old fogey' again...'
-Senior, did the Lord reject you again? Honestly, isn't this something you could just handle appropriately?
-Hoo, you know the Lord's personality. He's a really good person, but at times he's a bit of an old fogey... Gasp! L-Lord! How long have you been listening?
-Old fogey? What does that mean?
-W, well, it's...
What he had gathered from conversations with his disciples was that the neologism 'old fogey' was a slightly derogatory term for a 'wise person who is thorough in everything and knows how to abide by established rules.'
In any case, it was obvious that power was needed to make one's voice heard.
For now, it was necessary to gradually raise Kain's standing, who was at the very bottom among the direct descendants.
To do that, it would be best to prioritize learning fire magic for the time being and use it in front of the members.
After all, the reason for his impending expulsion was his inability to use fire magic.
'And as for ice magic, learning it itself will be quick if I put my mind to it.'
Kain, possessing the memories of his previous life, could build circles at a significantly faster rate than other ice mages if he so desired.
However, Kain intended to learn ice magic more slowly in this life than in his previous one, to learn it more solidly.
The things he had missed while running the royal road with his talent in his previous life, he would build up firmly in this life without missing a single one.
'Doing so will play a crucial role in reaching the realm of the 10th Circle later on.'
By directly using fire magic and absorbing its advantages, the ice magic he would build up solidly based on that would show a greater power than anyone else's casting, even at the same circle.
Having organized his thoughts, Kain Siers straightened his posture.
'First, I need to understand the current state of this new body.'
If his talent for handling mana was so lacking that he couldn't even learn basic magic, then his mana circuits were probably messily and incorrectly opened due to numerous past attempts, and mana residue would be left in every corner.
'And a ring so incomplete that it would be embarrassing to call it a circle would probably be barely clinging to the walls of the circle room. I need to deal with those first.'
After overhauling the mana circuits and circle room, he would have to rest completely for about a week due to the aftereffects during the remaining grace period, but it was a necessary process to surpass the realm of his previous life.
Kain quietly closed his eyes and focused his senses inward.
The mana circuits rooted deep beneath his skin.
And the heart, the starting and ending point of all those circuits.
The circle room.
"......"
How long had it been since he had scanned his entire body with such focus?
Soon, Kain, who had opened his eyes, muttered with a bewildered expression.
"What is with this guy?"
Kain was surprised for two main reasons.
First, the mana circuits Kain possessed were surprisingly well-suited for learning fire magic.
To be precise, they had a structure that was significantly advantageous for the manifestation of fire magic.
This level of aptitude could be considered a considerable advantage of being a direct descendant.
Second, despite this, Kain's mana circuits and the inside of his heart were incredibly clean.
'As if he hadn't even attempted to learn fire magic.'
It was an incomprehensible result.
There were occasionally disciples who had good physical conditions but struggled due to a poor sense for mana, and among them, many ended up with a messed-up foundation because they tried to solve it themselves somehow.
That was why Kain had planned to completely tear down the poorly built foundation of his past self before regaining his memories and build a new, neat, and solid foundation, better than any other mage.
However, there was no longer any need to do so.
Since he didn't have to forcibly overhaul the existing circuits, the burden on his body during the future process would also be minimized.
'The conditions are too good.'
A body born with a talent for fire magic was now possessed by Sein Siers, the master of ice magic.
And it was in the exact optimal condition he desired.
Could it get any better than this?
'But why in the world...?'
However, on the other hand, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
'The conditions are too good, which makes it feel suspicious. I wish at least some of my memories would return at a time like this.'
Kain sighed.
'No. Rather than memories, I need to focus on what's right in front of me. Learn magic, catch a snow leopard, and avoid expulsion.'
Just as Kain, having made up his mind, closed his eyes again to concentrate.
Knock knock knock!
"......"
At the sound of the knock, Kain rose from his seat.
"Young Master, are you there?"
"Come in."
The one who opened the door and entered was.
"So you are... um. Nefty?"
"It's Alice, Young Master. You seem to be in shock."
"......"
It seemed he really needed to regain his memories as soon as possible.
***
"Young Master, are you really alright? You've never failed to recognize me before."
"My apologies."
"Even your way of speaking is so..."
"My apologies."
"Young Master..."
"Sorry. Sorry? I'm sorry?"
"......"
"Damn it, this isn't easy."
Kain Siers muttered.
Only after hearing her speak did he finally recall that the maid with the red ribbon on the back of her head was named Alice.
He also remembered that Alice had been taking care of Kain since he was young, and that Alice cherished Kain dearly.
"Young Master, please listen carefully."
"I am listening."
At Kain's reply, Alice's large eyes became teary.
Just as he wondered if he had said something wrong again, Alice opened her mouth with a determined look on her face.
"I will definitely stay by your side, Young Master, even if you are truly expelled."
Alice pressed her lips tightly together.
"I will gladly accept any punishment for being caught. But I... I can't even bear to think about what would happen if you were thrown out into the world with nothing..."
"Thrown out?"
"...I don't even want to think about what would happen after that. Though I am of lowly birth, I will serve you to the best of my ability."
Judging by her hesitant tone, Alice seemed to be well aware of Kain's hopeless talent and the consequences that would follow.
Of course, she would.
She had been by his side since he was young, so she would know better than anyone.
If Kain Siers before regaining his memories were expelled in this state, he would likely encounter monsters or have what little he possessed stolen by bandits, and his life would be in danger before long.
'There's no way he'd have any guards.'
The Siers wasn't so lenient as to provide guards for someone being expelled.
"The Lord will formally assign guards, but they won't be of much help."
"......"
"Even if the guards do their job properly, you'll be left alone after you leave the territory completely. I have a plan, Young Master. There's a faster route to the Alken Duchy, and I can move ahead and secretly join you there..."
"There's no need for that."
Kain, who had been listening quietly hoping it might help him regain his memories, raised his hand to stop Alice's words.
"Young Master...?"
Alice looked bewildered, as if she hadn't expected Kain to refuse.
But that look soon changed to one of deep emotion, like being moved.
"Young Master... you're worried about me... you truly are a warm-hearted person. But my resolve won't change. I swore to serve Master Kain until the day I die."
"No, what I mean is."
Kain sighed softly.
It was both bothersome to explain everything he was about to do, and even if he did, she probably wouldn't believe him.
So, the most effective thing was to state the conclusion first.
"I won't be expelled, so there's no need to use that shortcut or whatever it is."
"Young Master... even if it's the Lord, he will really expel you this time. You heard the declaration."
"I'm not intending to rely on the Lord's generosity. I'm saying I will show results."
At those words, Alice's eyes widened.
Alice looked intently at the Kain Siers she served once more.
'Young Master just said he would show results...'
Kain Siers, who had been avoiding the gazes of others until now, had said with his own mouth that he would produce results.
'Come to think of it, Young Master's eyes...'
They were different.
At first, she had thought it was just shock from the expulsion declaration.
'...Deep.'
His eyes, which had been vivid but uneasy, now looked as deep as the ocean. So deep that she couldn't even fathom their depths.
Gulp!
'Was Young Master always like this?'
Even his way of speaking had suddenly become calm and measured.
'It's not just the way he speaks. His entire demeanor has changed.'
If the Kain she knew had said the same words he just did, even if he had said them verbatim, it wouldn't have felt like this.
'Has he finally had a change of heart about something?'
Kain, unfazed by Alice's surprised expression, continued speaking.
"I was preparing to train before you came anyway. I will be taking personal time, so do not disturb me."
Alice quickly composed her surprised expression and lowered her head.
"Understood. Then I will tidy your room while you are at the training hall."
Kain paused slightly at those words but nodded soon after.
"Alright. I'll leave it to you."
"Young Master."
"What is it?"
"Um... are you planning to keep using that way of speaking?"
"...Huh."
"Understood."
