NOVEL NEXT Chapter 116
EP.116 Behind the Story (3)
Belnoa was sweating. She felt the beads of sweat trickling down her spine. The weather wasn’t hot. So this was definitely a cold sweat.
While sweating, Belnoa thought.
‘Is this… right?’
Her mind was filled with questions.
Belnoa looked ahead. In front of her was Professor Rania, sitting against the bed just like always.
However, there was a completely different feeling this time.
‘Raniel van Trias, the Ashen Mage.’
That was Professor Rania’s true identity.
She was somewhat suspicious and enjoyed bizarre antics, but… she could never have imagined that her true identity was the Ashen Mage.
It was nonsensical.
She couldn’t even begin to imagine how it had come to this.
But that wasn’t something Belnoa should be concerned about. What she should focus on right now was… the words coming out of Professor Rania’s mouth.
“Belnoa, are you listening?”
“Ah, yes. I’m listening.”
“Yeah, if you think about it, the essence of a Battle Mage isn’t really anything special. When you’re rolling around right before you die, it feels like your vision opens up a bit, you know?”
She smiled.
“Oh, it’s risky. When that thought crosses your mind, instinct makes you want to do something to survive. That realization pieced together and formed my combat tactics.”
She smiled beautifully.
“Realization in extreme situations.”
The words coming out of her mouth were anything but pretty.
“That’s the essence of a Battle Mage.”
It was a colorful smile, like a flower blooming. So vibrant that for a moment, she almost misunderstood the meaning.
‘In short, roll around until you’re about to die?’
Is this… really correct?
No matter how she looked at it, Rania didn’t seem to be joking. Belnoa’s face turned pale.
‘No, it’s not exactly wrong, but…’
Professor Rania was indeed the Ashen Mage.
Who is the Ashen Mage? The founder of Belnoa’s current class, the Battle Mage.
The founder of the Battle Mage is discussing the essence of the Battle Mage.
That was undoubtedly a correct statement. It might be crucial to take out her notebook and write it down right away. However, Belnoa couldn’t easily nod her head.
Finally, what came out of her mouth was an ambiguous affirmation.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, that’s about it.”
Rania nodded as if feeling relieved.
“Do you have any idea how frustrated I was?”
“Frustrated… were you?”
“Who was that professor from the Battle Magic Department…?”
“Professor Mackhart?”
“Yeah, that professor. What he says isn’t wrong, but doesn’t it get a bit frustrating when you listen? He keeps saying it should be based on close combat and whatnot…”
Rania let out a deep sigh.
Watching her shake her head in disbelief, a memory from a few months ago suddenly came to Belnoa’s mind.
‘Probably a month or two ago.’
It was when Professor Rania had visited to observe a class in the Battle Magic Department. The passionate voice of Professor Mackhart then echoed in her ears.
– Close combat is the essence of a Battle Mage!
– Ugh, you don’t even understand the basics…
‘…So, did Professor Mackhart discuss the essence in front of the founder?’
‘What a dizzying thought.’
Knowing Professor Rania’s true identity made Belnoa recall those past memories in a completely different light. In particular, the memory of the practical exam where she had poured all her strength into was… just funny to think about now.
‘Wow, she really pushed us to our limits.’
There were endless recollections to bring up, but… she decided to put them aside for now. After all, that was in the past. Belnoa took a short breath as she tried to come up with something to say.
There were questions she wanted to ask.
As if sensing the change in Belnoa’s atmosphere, Rania concluded her speech and paused for a moment. Belnoa took her time to gather her thoughts, and Rania patiently waited for her to speak.
After a brief silence, Belnoa opened her mouth.
“Professor, or rather, Ashen Mage…”
“Just call me Professor. It’s simpler that way.”
“…I have something I want to ask you.”
Rania nodded as if to encourage her to continue.
Belnoa spoke slowly.
“That day in the alley of Kadinak…”
As she began to speak, Rania let out a light chuckle. It seemed she had a fair idea of what Belnoa was going to say.
“You mentioned to keep an eye on it and that merely watching would be helpful.”
“Yeah, I did say that.”
“…Yes, and I did watch.”
The light.
A dazzling light so bright it nearly blinded her.
“I didn’t see everything, but I did see up to a certain point.”
“And?”
What did you feel, she asked.
To that question, Belnoa replied. It was the answer she had pondered many times. There was no hesitation in the words she spoke.
“I saw the destination.”
Her words were straightforward.
Because they were straightforward, it wasn’t hard to understand the meaning behind them.
“The destination, huh…”
After pondering Belnoa’s answer, Rania tilted her head slightly and looked at her. She then asked,
“Did you learn anything?”
“…I never thought I would be able to devote ‘such a thing’ to a star. And what I want to ask is about that part.”
Belnoa briefly examined her arm.
Her still injured arm was twisted. It would need a little more time to heal.
‘Since I used everything I could.’
Fingers, arms, muscles, blood.
Everything she could offer was sacrificed. The price was far from trivial. Some injuries would never heal.
‘But it still didn’t reach.’
She faced a wall.
When she needed strength, she had none. Belnoa needed a weapon to pierce through an enemy stronger than herself.
“How can I…”
Belnoa lifted her head.
She had seen wizards who had triumphed over beings much stronger than herself. Gazing at what she knew to be the strongest wizard, Belnoa asked,
“Is it possible to give your lifespan to the Balance?”
She had thought about it several times, but Belnoa could not find an answer. She considered that lifespan was also part of the body, but the concept of a trade didn’t align.
‘If one could sacrifice their lifespan…’
Perhaps she could have defeated that Black Knight.
She may have been able to protect Chloe. Belnoa wanted to know that method.
A way to predict victory against a formidable foe.
A way to bear the unbearable.
Belnoa thought she had to find out. Chloe would be targeted by many more in the future. Among them, there would surely be beings she could not face.
‘Somehow, I have to learn.’
That was why Belnoa asked.
“How can I…”
“Belnoa.”
A gentle voice interrupted Belnoa’s question.
“Don’t think about that.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t think lightly about sacrificing your lifespan. You, who barely learned the Balance, if you sacrifice your lifespan…”
She lightly tapped her own head.
“You’d go insane.”
“…Go insane?”
“Do you know about Madman Kelharlem?”
The wizard of a fallen nation.
‘The once Sage known as Madman, Kelharlem.’
She had heard that name before.
Belnoa nodded. Rania chuckled lightly and continued.
“Sacrificing your lifespan brings forth the potential of the future. It forces a power you cannot control into your soul. Even though it’s volatile…”
She opened her hand wide.
“Sometimes it happens. The soul can’t withstand it and just breaks apart.”
“The soul… breaks apart?”
“Yeah. Either go insane or die. It’s one or the other. Kelharlem went insane. He was lucky, that guy.”
…Can it really be called luck?
As Belnoa blinked in surprise, Rania flicked her forehead.
Thwack!
“I’m assessing the situation too, so what’s a rookie like you doing thinking about sacrificing your lifespan? Wake up, rookie.”
“…But.”
“You don’t need to go there.”
She said.
“Didn’t I just say? I’ll roll you guys a bit more. Did you listen to what I said?”
Belnoa rubbed her forehead and looked at Rania.
“You know now, don’t you? Who I am. Among all those students, you’re the only one who knows.”
“…”
“Given that, I’ll teach you. Personally.”
Do you still not understand what that means?
Seeing Belnoa’s expression, Rania looked at her as if saying she couldn’t help it. That gaze was no different from when she stood at the podium in the lecture hall.
“I’ve prepared everything for your curriculum, and I’m planning to accelerate it little by little. If you’re curious, should I tell you?”
She spoke while spreading her fingers.
“For starters, we have to sweeten the entry into the Balance in the first year. Aside from that, dismantling high-level circuits would also be worth it…”
Belnoa listened silently as Rania spoke of her plans.
‘To be led into the Balance’s entry.’
The plan was absurd right from the start. Hearing the prerequisites set laid out made her chuckle.
“Furthermore…”
She continued to speak.
She outlined her learning objectives and the rough plan for the year. Among them, there were already some things that had been achieved. As Rania continued to speak, Belnoa’s gaze transformed.
“And from the first semester of the second year, we’ll get into full swing…”
The plan didn’t end with just one year.
She continued to express her plan that could have started who knows when. It was absurdly ambitious. But for some reason…
“Starting from the third year, slowly…”
Was it because she was the Ashen Mage?
Or was it due to the classes she had shown over the past few months? Or perhaps it was both.
“When you graduate, by then…”
For some reason, Belnoa felt.
“At the very least, you should be able to catch Skebal.”
She saw the potential in that plan.
It indeed seemed possible. It felt like it could really happen. It would be a difficult path. An overly rough path. But if she were to properly walk that road and reach the destination…
She was compelled to think.
Belnoa, as if entranced, asked.
“Is that really possible?”
“Should make it happen.”
The Ashen Mage declared.
“I’m going to make it so.”
There was certainty in her unwavering words.
Belnoa fell silent.
…Now that she thought about it.
It was a tremendously glorious thing.
It was akin to seizing an absurd opportunity. Who was the person standing in front of her, the one she was conversing with right now?
The Ashen Mage.
A wizard who had become a symbol.
If she were to list the achievements she had accomplished, the list would never end. It could easily fill an entire historical tome with her exploits.
That remarkable individual said.
‘That she would teach me.’
That remarkable individual declared.
‘That she would raise me to that domain.’
Belnoa slowly opened her mouth.
“I… will.”
Looking into Rania’s eyes with determination, she enunciated each word with force.
“I will strive hard.”
Rania smiled, seemingly satisfied with that reply.
“If you understand, you can go now. I’m starting to get tired.”
Belnoa stood up.
As she stood from her chair and turned to leave the room, she glanced back for a moment. Rania, appearing tired with her eyes half-closed, looked at her as if to say, what are you waiting for?
“…”
Belnoa bowed her head silently.
She bent her waist, again and again.
“…Thank you.”
It was a single phrase carrying many meanings.
2.
Early in the morning, I stared blankly at my account.
Blinking at the gold deposited on my card, I muttered.
“What the hell is this?”
My curse slipped out reflexively.
Was I seeing things? I brought in a washbasin upon Master’s request and splashed my face with water.
Then I checked the card again.
The number displayed remained unchanged.
That afternoon, Kalt came to find me. I pointed at my card and asked him.
“Kalt.”
“Yes, senior.”
“I checked the card in the morning, you see?”
“Oh, it seems the deposit went through normally.”
“Is this… real?”
The digits had changed.
“I had a hard time preparing that. It’s hard to report that a heretic was taken down without your involvement. So, I made up a bit, but it seems the Royal Family has caught on that I have some sort of connection with you.”
“So?”
“Well, if they realize it, then what? It seems they’re grateful for the Ashen Mage providing assistance like this.”
Once again?
As I sent a questioning look Kalt’s way, he awkwardly smiled.
“They say you usually only realize the value of something after it’s gone. It seems they were quite anxious after you retired.”
“Anxious?”
“Yes, what if you decided to go to another country… it’s a concern. There seem to be quite a few political issues at play, but I don’t have the details.”
“So this is…”
“It appears to be a sort of compensation, a vague apology for future cooperation. Apparently, they’ve used up quite a bit of the budget for this.”
I looked at the amount marked on the card.
“Hey, Kalt.”
“Yes, senior?”
“Should I just build a Tower…?”
“One tower? Come on, let’s aim for five sturdy ones. Can I have one of those? My dream is to be a landlord.”
Kalt seemed to have received that half-jokingly, but I really needed to consider this topic seriously. While I was planning the tower construction in my mind, Kalt switched the subject.
“By the way, I heard that the Black Master and that disciple visited.”
“They did.”
“Were there no issues?”
“None really.”
I muttered while resting my chin on my hand.
“They seemed really enthusiastic, which is nice.”
*
On a day when the group project was just around the corner.
The students of Group E blinked in astonishment. They alternately looked at the paper in front of them and the boy who was holding it out.
“Uh, Belnoa?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s this?”
“Group project.”
He said calmly.
“Sorry for missing the last meeting.”
Suddenly apologizing, he raised the paper. Then he pointed at the Resistance Stone on the table with his finger.
Zing!
The circuit drawn on the paper glowed.
The circuit, having absorbed 1 pi of mana, created a shadow stake. The stake aimed at the corner of the Resistance Stone.
Crash!
The corner of the Resistance Stone shattered.
The broken fragments disintegrated into dust.
“Uh…?”
The members’ mouths gaped open.
“Just need to trace it over, that’s all.”
Belnoa held out the paper in front of her group members.
The eyes of Group E’s members widened in disbelief as they gazed at Belnoa. In their eyes, there was even a hint of reverence.
The runaway group leader had returned.
And just like that, after completing the group project.