Dark Fantasy Normalized

38 – Heinya Ye Mastien

The youngest master in the history of the Gray Tower.

Heinya Ye Mastien.

People used to talk about her.

They said she might be the greatest wizard in the history of the Grey Tower.

Her life as a wizard was filled with brilliant success.

Not a single failure, not a single setback.

At the end of every problem and conflict, the conclusion was always that she was right.

Thus, the genius wizard awakened an absolute belief in herself.

…And so, the genius wizard forgot how to doubt herself.

Heynia Ye Mastien.

People used to talk about her.

They said she might have become the greatest wizard in the history of the Grey Tower.

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▶Fate 64: Guidance

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[Title: The drunkard crawling near the Bondales Tower is really something]

Content: I thought she was just some open beggar when I heard she would answer anything if you brought her any kind of alcohol.

What the heck, lol, the 6th-tier magic opens up as a conversation keyword.

Even listening to her excited chatter, I actually unlocked a new 6th-tier magic.

What is she?

Is the drunkard cut-off for the tower really that high?

– : If I tell you her identity, it would be a spoiler, is that okay?

-[Author]: Ah, so she used to be successful but her life got ruined by this trash game’s forced plot?

– : Ahaha

– : Seriously, all the characters whose lives got ruined were originally successful but fell due to forced plot.

– : Born in a trash game world… I guess they have to accept it?

– : It’s like watching someone born in Hell Joseon working 80 hours a week.

-[Author]: So what is it?

-[Author]: Was she originally a successful tower wizard?

– : She was originally the youngest master of the Grey Tower.

-[Author]: ?

– : There, a scion of a great noble family ㅇㅇ

-[Author] : Isn’t a great noble family just below the royal family in this game?

-[Author] : Why is someone like that begging for alcohol on the streets?

– : The reason the Magic Tower cut ties with him also became a reason for his family to cut ties.

-[Author] : Oh, come on, is it black magic again?

– : No, no, it’s not that.

– : He became a wreck after experiencing a mana surge while researching lost ancient magic.

-[Author] : ?? Why is that a reason to cut ties?

– : The family and the Magic Tower tried to stop him because it was obvious this would happen.

– : The family and the Magic Tower were literally at the point of holding a knife to his throat, telling him to stop, but he insisted, ‘I can do it, if it’s me…!’ and then exploded.

-[Author] : He was just an idiot, lol.

– : But he wasn’t just an idiot; he had a lot of show-and-prove moments.

– : If you look at the flashbacks, he really seemed like the greatest genius who even defied the gods.

– : Even after ending up like that, people still say, ‘He could have been the greatest wizard in the history of the Magic Tower.’

– : [Photo] He was even really beautiful.

-[Author] : That caterpillar-looking guy was originally a blonde ponytail girl?

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[Title: No, damn it, this fate of the family ending is the most frustrating ever]

Content: The quest was about helping Hainia rehabilitate her magic, so I thought she would make a comeback as a wizard, but damn it.

As soon as she could use magic again, she immediately committed suicide with magic.

Is it because I chose the wrong option?

Instead of [You could have been the greatest wizard in the history of the Magic Tower], should I have chosen [You are the youngest master in the history of the Magic Tower]?

– : No, no, she would have committed suicide no matter what you chose.

– : But if you choose the latter, she commits suicide with a smile, satisfied.

-[Author] : No, damn it, what’s with committing suicide with a smile, that’s even more frustrating.

-[Author] : Isn’t there a way to save her?

– : Shall we develop time magic?

– : Let’s go back in time and give a proper lesson before becoming the greatest genius who even defies the gods.

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“You haven’t drunk the elixir yet…?”

Heynia stared blankly at Lishir for a while, then crossed her arms triumphantly with a smirk.

She interpreted Lishir’s behavior as an [excuse for being embarrassed after being caught drinking the elixir before the duel].

“Yeah. So you do have some awareness that what you did wasn’t honorable?”

“Is that so…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to make excuses. Actually, I’m rather glad you drank the elixir. Do you know why?”

Heynia said boastfully.

“…”

From the first time they met, Lishir felt it. This boastful young lady.

Dealing with her was quite draining.

Lishir suddenly felt parched and took a sip of tea.

“Here.”

As expected, Didoa immediately refilled the teacup.

She gazed at Lishir with her emotionless eyes, which subtly sparkled.

As if she was looking at something.

“Thank you?”

Hooray. They chatted naturally again.

Didoa returned to her standby state, looking satisfied.

Feeling drained from both sides.

Lishir thought he should quickly play along with Heynia and send her away.

“Why are you glad I drank the elixir? I’m really curious.”

Lishir’s reluctant attitude made Heynia frown for a moment.

But she quickly regained her composure and spoke in a boastful tone.

“Actually, I was feeling guilty.”

“Guilty? That’s out of the blue.”

Hmm.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Heynia made a sound as she wiggled her fingers from side to side.

“Out of the blue? Not really. You must be aware of it too, right? Considering you hurriedly got and drank the elixir before the duel.”

“…So, is that it? You felt uneasy about challenging someone like me, who is far inferior to you, but seeing me secretly drink the elixir made you feel a bit better?”

“That’s right. But- to be honest, I still don’t feel completely at ease.”

Heynia gauged Lysir’s magical power.

When she first saw him, he had just entered the early stages of the 4th rank-

Now, he had just surpassed the early stages of the 4th rank.

It was an impressive achievement considering he had taken the elixir, but it was still far from enough to catch up with Heynia, who was preparing to enter the final stage of the 4th rank.

“Even though you went through the trouble of getting and drinking the elixir, you’re still not as good as me?”

“Since we’re on the topic, should we just say the duel is your victory?”

“Well, I do know that a wizard’s capability isn’t solely determined by their magical power. But still-“

Mana gathered in Heynia’s palm.

It wasn’t pure mana, but mana imbued with Heynia’s energy.

Homogenization.

The power to fully make mana one’s own and control it.

It was the foundation of unique mental techniques and magic, and a power that only wizards who had reached the 4th rank could wield.

“Impressive homogenization. It hasn’t been long since I heard you started learning it, but you’ve already mastered it?”

Didoa, who was watching Heynia’s homogenization from the side, commented.

Did you hear that?

Heynia, feeling proud, glanced at Lysir.

“Remember clearly. When I saw you at the magic shop, you had just reached the early stages of the 4th rank. So, let me ask you, do you know how to handle homogenization?”

“I just learned about the concept of homogenization.”

“See? And yet you want to duel me?”

“…”

Lysir looked at the homogenized mana and strained his eyes.

That. It feels strangely familiar?

Interpreting Lysir’s reaction, Heynia spoke with a hint of reproach.

“What were you thinking when you accepted my duel request?”

“It’s just a duel, isn’t it?”

“It’s just a sparring match, but- you haven’t forgotten, right? The loser has to grant the winner one request, whatever it may be.”

“Of course, I remember. Just wait and see. I’ll make sure to achieve my dream of turning my life around with that request.”

“Turning your life around?”

For some reason, Heinya felt a chill.

“What kind of request are you planning to make? Well- it doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to make that request anyway.”

“Well, we’ll see about that. So, why are you here now? You didn’t come all the way here just to scold me for taking the elixir, did you?”

“Oh, that- it’s to give you one last chance.”

“One last chance?”

A handicap.

As Heinya spoke, he scattered the mana he had homogenized.

“If you just ask, I can exclude homogenization from the sparring match. You might not think it’s a big deal because you don’t know about homogenization, but you should think carefully. The level of magic is distinctly different depending on whether mana is homogenized or not.”

A moment of hesitation.

Recalling the ‘homogenization’ he had just seen and felt before his eyes, Rishir said,

“I’ll gratefully decline.”

“What?”

“If I accept such a handicap, I might end up refusing to make my request even if I win.”

“…Ha!”

Heinya sneered, finding it truly ridiculous.

“Really? In that case, I won’t hold back either, right?”

“How about we both do our best without holding back, so there are no regrets later?”

“That sounds good.”

“You definitely said it sounds good.”

“?

Rishir took out a bottle and handed it to Didoa.

“Master Didoa. Shall we start soon?”

“Shall we?”

“What? What are you starting?”

Feeling an inexplicable unease, Heinya pretended to be uninterested.

To that, Didoa replied in his characteristic emotionless tone.

“Elixir consumption.”

“…Yes?”

Heynia’s pretense of indifference shattered.

She looked back and forth between the elixir in Didoa’s hand and Rishir in confusion.

Then she exclaimed in disbelief.

“Drink it again!?”

Rishir let out a small laugh.

“Again? Do I look like someone from a wealthy family?”

As Rishir said, consuming the elixir twice in a row was a luxury even the royalty could hardly afford.

“No, isn’t that the problem in the first place!? Drinking the elixir twice in a row. Your body won’t be able to handle it! Master Didoa, shouldn’t you stop him!?”

Didoa asked Rishir with a serious face.

“Rishir. Have you taken the elixir recently?”

“No. Not recently, not in my entire life.”

“That’s right, Miss Heynia.”

“No- No- Master Didoa? Weren’t you the assistant who helped him take the elixir?”

“I’m going to help him from now on.”

“???”

Heynia kept looking back and forth between the elixir bottle in Rishir and Didoa’s hands.

Her expression was gradually collapsing. Along with her world.

“No- No- No-“

Leaving Heynia, who was repeating the same word like a broken record, behind.

Didoa carefully examined the elixir, then busily moved around the laboratory, gathering various reagents.

After mixing them on the spot, he said.

“Rishir? Could you take off your shirt for a moment?”

“Yes? Ah, understood.”

Rishir immediately became half-naked as per Didoa’s instructions.

“I feel bad making Rishir take it off alone. Are you embarrassed? Should I take mine off too?”

“It’s fine. Really.”

“Rishir is kind. Alright. May I touch you for a moment?”

Didoa asked cautiously, extending his hand stained with patterns.

Various reagents were soon applied to different parts of Rishir’s body.

Didoa explained the reagents to Rishir during the application process.

Rishir’s expression grew complicated as he listened.

“Um, Master Didoa? Just out of curiosity, these reagents… aren’t they quite valuable?”

“It’s fine.”

“…So, they are valuable? Is this what supplementing elixirs usually involves?”

“No. It’s an additional process. Not absolutely necessary, but beneficial if available.”

“So, you’re saying I’m consuming expensive reagents that I don’t necessarily need?”

“I’m doing it because I want to, so don’t worry about it.”

“…Thank you, Master Didoa. How can I ever repay this kindness-“

“If you really want to repay me, just call me Didoa instead of Master Didoa.”

“…Didoa?”

Hooray. I feel closer to Rishir now.

Didoa nodded satisfactorily with an emotionless face.

After finishing all the preparations, Didoa opened the elixir bottle and handed it to Rishir.

“Remember, after drinking the elixir, you must follow my instructions completely.”

“Understood.”

“Did I sound too harsh? If I did, I’m sorry.”

“…You don’t need to worry about me, just speak comfortably.”

“Okay. Thanks. As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, this elixir is of the highest quality. It contains immense power. Such elixirs inevitably come with tremendous pain during the absorption process. I’m telling you in advance, Rishir, you won’t be able to endure all of that pain.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Even so, you must endure as much as possible. While enduring, control the energy of the elixir. At least 50%. You must absorb at least 50% of the elixir’s energy. Even that is remarkable. I’m here with you, so don’t be afraid. Got it?”

“Understood.”

Rishir exchanged a glance with Didoa and then drank the elixir.

He braced himself for the impending storm.

His heart might race wildly-

His blood might boil-

His insides might turn upside down- such were the aftereffects he anticipated.

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[He resisted]

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“…Master Didoa. When does this pain you mentioned come?”

No aftershock, no matter how long he waited.

Lishir asked Didoa, looking like a patient waiting for the needle of an injection to pierce his skin.

“…”

“Master Didoa?”

Didoa’s emotionless eyes were trembling.

She spoke in a bewildered voice.

“It seems to be over.”

“What? Over? But nothing happened? Did something go wrong? How much of the elixir was absorbed?”

Didoa, even more flustered than Lishir, replied.

“All of it…”

“What?”

“It seems all of it was absorbed.”

“…Didn’t you say earlier that absorbing even half would be amazing?”

“…Do you feel any discomfort?”

“…For now, it seems not.”

Didoa nodded.

“Whatever it is, congratulations. It seems the elixir intake was a great success.”

Heinya, who had been watching the whole process from the side, muttered blankly.

“What the-“

Lishir.

He was looking at the realm of the 5th rank.

*

The next day.

In the afternoon, at the promised sparring time, in the promised sparring place, the inner courtyard of the Magic Tower, Lishir and Heinya were facing each other.

Heinya had to persuade herself countless times to arrive safely at this place.

‘It’s okay.’

‘Even though my magic power has increased excessively-‘

‘The fact that I just reached the 4th rank and know nothing about assimilation hasn’t changed, right?’

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“I can do it.”

“I can win.”

“Magic power is nothing.”

“I just need to surpass in mana manipulation and magical prowess.”

Finally, Heinya, who had made up her mind, nodded.

The usual confidence settled in her eyes.

That absolute confidence, bordering on arrogance.

A man watching from a distance spoke.

“Are both sides ready?”

It was Master Ladros, who was acting as the third-party judge for the duel to ensure fairness.

Lishir and Heinya looked at each other and nodded.

“Then, begin.”

Heinya immediately drew upon her power.

A fierce momentum to strengthen all her mana through homogenization.

“…Wait!”

Heinya’s momentum dissipated weakly.

He shouted, looking at Lishir.

“You, what is that!!!”

“?

Elemental magic.

Beyond homogenizing mana with one’s own energy-

It is magic that utilizes the mystery of elementalization, which freely transforms the nature of mana through homogenized energy.

Elementalization is clearly the next stage of power beyond homogenization, generally only perceptible at the 5th rank.

…An alien wind was swirling around Lishir.

There was no doubt it was elemental magic.

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▷Destiny 64: Guidance – Deactivated.

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