Chapter 14
Alter began by teaching the boy the basics of how to use a grimoire, along with a few simple theories of magic.
As if to prove his inherent talent, the boy easily absorbed Alter’s lessons like a sponge.
…Ordinary children would take more than a week to understand just one of Alter’s explanations. Yet, this boy effortlessly internalized every single sentence Alter uttered—without skipping a beat—as if asserting his own worth.
The moment Alter explained it, the boy comprehended it completely.
Thus, Alter realized he had unintentionally extended what was supposed to be a short, simple teaching session into something that lasted over an hour.
Before long, Alter’s senior disciple, Lir, had also leaned in, her long ears perking up as she listened intently to her Master’s words.
Even as the carriage rocked back and forth, Lir pulled out her notebook and carefully transcribed her Master’s teachings.
Alter’s lecture continued while the carriage’s wheels rolled on without pause, much like the original expedition team’s journey from the capital without a single stop.
“Uh… excuse me, could we take a short break?”
It was none other than Bin who interrupted Alter’s lecture.
After over two hours of Alter’s relentless teaching, the boy sighed in exhaustion and began massaging his temple as he leaned against the carriage wall.
“…Damn, I got too carried away without realizing.”
Alter had intended to give only a few light lessons, admiring how the boy earnestly strove to improve as a member of the Sword Saint’s party.
However, the boy’s ability to understand and claim those teachings as his own was far from ordinary.
After learning the basics of the grimoire’s use, the boy quickly advanced, posing complex questions, pointing out subtle differences between Alter’s magical theories and those in general literature, and even re-explaining it all using his own words.
It was an odd sensation.
The boy appeared to be learning magic for the first time, yet many things about him seemed otherwise impossible for someone new to the craft. Despite his evident ignorance about basic theories, he effortlessly assimilated profound knowledge and theories that ordinary mages could only grasp after years of effort.
“…This kid is accepting these theories as if they’re the most natural things in the world. Most students who hear this for the first time just stare at me with blank looks…”
Alter deliberately added incorrect parts to his teaching to ensure the boy truly understood, not just pretending. However, each time, the boy precisely pointed out the inconsistencies in Alter’s intentionally erroneous instruction.
“…Hm. This kid is already far beyond even my younger self in his twenties.”
As admiration grew, a curiosity arose in Alter’s mind: just how far could this boy’s limits reach?
Thus, Alter began progressively teaching increasingly complex theories, testing the boy.
“Magic is the power of thought. Fundamentally, magic is the overlay of the brain’s thought processes onto the internal magical power.”
Before long, the lecture had advanced through the intermediate…
“The names of spells were developed to aid complicated magical calculations within the brain. While it is possible to cast spells without speaking their names, doing so greatly increases the complexity of the mental calculations. Writing calculations on paper is much faster and more accurate than doing mental calculations alone, right? It’s the same principle…”
By this point, Alter realized he was even teaching high-level theories.
“Truly incredible understanding. Even those who’ve studied magic for years and surpassed the age of forty would find these concepts hard to grasp…”
As Alter leaned against the corner of the carriage and watched the boy massaging his temples, he couldn’t help but smile faintly. The boy, eyes closed, was unaware, but his senior disciple Lir quickly grasped the meaning behind the smile.
Alter wanted to take this boy on as a disciple.
Just by observing how he absorbed and internalized complicated theories, one could already see glimpses of his extraordinary talent.
It didn’t matter now what became of Bin’s bolt. Even if his bolt turned out to be hopelessly mediocre, Alter had already resolved to take the boy as his disciple.
Just as that thought solidified in Alter’s mind, the boy, who had been massaging his temples with both hands, suddenly asked a bold question.
“If I become proficient in magic, wouldn’t it be possible for me to develop new spells?”
I sat crumpled in the corner of the carriage, rubbing my temples and sighing deeply.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m dying.”
When I first met Alter, it felt like I’d been cornered at the edge of a cliff.
The moment we met, he asked to see my bolt without preamble, staring at me with outright suspicion…
At first, Alter’s sudden questions left me feeling merely flustered.
However, I soon realized that this was both a crisis and an opportunity.
The expedition to Enker High Plain would take about two weeks round trip. We might encounter failed mutant creatures abandoned by the Marauders or regular goblins along the way.
Near the capital, regular infantry might suffice to handle these minor nuisances, but as we approached Enker High Plain, we’d likely face stronger adversaries—enemies that would challenge even Level 20-30 elite soldiers or a Level 40 elite captain.
As a half-formed Mage capable of only the “Blossom” spell, I was completely useless in such minor battles.
But the addition of Alter, a Tier 8 Mage, and his disciple Lir to our infantry force completely changed the situation.
Especially Alter—former head of the Magic Tower—was an extraordinary being capable of easily taking out all the monsters between the capital and the Enker High Plain all at once.
Whether Alter was testing me or glaring suspiciously didn’t matter.
Given that simply including him in the expedition team would make our survival rate close to 100%, it was a necessary sacrifice to play the role of an intelligent and extraordinary person while in his presence, even if it left me exhausted and with a headache.
“Still, it wasn’t all for nothing.”
Fitting for a former Magic Tower head, Alter was an excellent teacher.
Even someone like me who had never studied much in life could understand his explanations. It gave me a vague understanding of why parents pay millions to tutors like the renowned “One-Touch” instructors.
“Alright, I’ve grasped the basic mechanisms of magic.”
According to Alter, chanting the name of the spell wasn’t just for show.
Magic, fundamentally, was a mental process. Magic involved refining the brain’s internal magical power into calculations and releasing it outward.
The speed and power of the magic were directly linked to the speed and accuracy of these mental calculations.
The spell names were merely aids for these calculations.
It was akin to calling an equation like “a² + b² + c = 0” simply a “quadratic equation,” which helps the brain easily remember the methods to solve it and react instinctively.
…Honestly, I don’t know what quadratic equations are for. I dropped out of high school, and math was something I gave up on long ago.
In any case, the important thing was that I understood the mechanism of the power I’d need to use.
Once I understood the underlying principles, I could potentially tap into even greater power.
Just like how a soccer player who just kicks the ball instinctively will naturally differ from one who studies and practices meticulously, refining their technique through systematic research and training.
Moreover, this structured study and training would open up new horizons for me.
“If I become proficient in magic, wouldn’t it be possible for me to develop new spells?”
On the skill menu, I’ve locked out all spells other than “Blossom.”
But what if I develop a new spell? I’d surely be able to use it.
When I set up my character and locked all the spells, these new spells didn’t exist yet.
How do you lock something that doesn’t exist?
Even if it doesn’t rival classic spells like “Bolt” or “Lightning,” the ability to develop and use my own unique spell would dramatically increase my chances of survival.
“But the current system took hundreds to thousands of years for countless ancestors to refine and perfect. It’s been 200 years since the last new spell was developed. If such a thing were possible…”
Alter’s tone was slightly concerned, and he trailed off.
“Lord Bin, you would carve your name into the history of our Storm School.”
Hmm.
Not an option.
There’s no way someone like me, who’s never seriously studied anything, could suddenly come up with something as sophisticated as a boiler formula.
Rather than wasting time trying to do something meaningless like that, it would be far easier and faster to just gather ‘Artifacts’ hidden throughout the world or seek blessings from spirits.
“I should’ve set it up so I could at least learn ‘Bolt.’ Now what have I done…”
I sighed quietly, letting these meaningless regrets pass through me and closed my eyes.
I can’t understand why I feel so exhausted when I’ve done practically nothing.
Ultimately, this extraordinarily weak body fell into a deep sleep as the carriage continued to bounce around without cease.
It was barely sunset.
“…I suppose he didn’t mean what he said with much significance.”
As dusk fell, Alter watched the sleeping boy and furrowed his brow deeply.
“If this boy’s remarkable magical intelligence is backed by the finesse with which he handles mana… it’s not entirely impossible.”
Perhaps it wasn’t out of the question that this boy could bring a new horizon to the Storm School rather than just maintaining the current state.
“Do you have great expectations for him?”
Lir, having confirmed the boy was deeply asleep, carefully whispered.
“Does it feel like I have a pleasant expression?”
“Yes. You… look truly happy, Master.”
“Hm… pleasant expression, you say.”
The last time he’d heard that while teaching children was so long ago he could no longer recall.
“These days, we only have half-baked individuals around.”
“…Like that herd of Tauros that’s been trailing our team closely since earlier?”
Lir put down her quill and notebook she’d been quietly using to write down notes, adjusted her wizard hat, and continued speaking.
Under the nascent glow of the moon, amidst the sound of hoof beats, faint and unfamiliar vibrations could be felt.
“Yeah. After teaching these half-finished ones all the time, teaching someone with the makings of a dragon has unwittingly gotten me excited.”
“If you awaken him, Master, you were curious about his magic…”
“No, let him rest. I didn’t board this uncomfortable carriage to see him perform magic on such trivial monsters.”
Initially, all he wanted was a glimpse of the boy’s “Bolt,” which would’ve been enough to gauge his magical prowess.
However, as Alter conversed with the boy and unintentionally began teaching him, watching as the boy rapidly absorbed the teachings, his thoughts shifted.
Alter was curious about the boy’s limits to an almost maddening degree.
He wanted to see firsthand how far this boy could potentially rise, how monstrous he might become.
He wanted to confirm whether the boy could truly develop new spells, whether he was a genius destined to leave his mark on magical history.
“To see what he’ll do battling a dragon at full capacity.”
Enthralled.
Yes, Alter was completely enthralled by the boy’s talent.
“Tauros herd sighted to the rear! Estimated count: 30-40!”
At that moment, a loud call came from the rear of the convoy.
“Here they come. What’s the distance to the main convoy?”
“Roughly 50-60 meters!”
“A bit close to shake them off. Can’t be helped, everyone prepare for ba—”
Psssh!
While trying to draw his sword and interrupt his own words, the squad leader noticed a faint bolt of lightning flash by.
“Oh, just ignore them and keep moving.”
The high ranked Tier 8 Mage, Alter Heinzel, poked his head out of the carriage window, smiled warmly, and spoke.
“…Did you handle it?”
“Can’t delay on our long journey over trivial matters like this.”
The squad leader and his soldiers, who had just begun unsheathing their swords, exchanged glances, grinned, and tucked their swords back into their scabbards.
“This trip has been entirely easy, thanks to the mages.”
“The ex-Magic Tower Chief Heinzel along with the promising young Bin and Heinzel’s disciple—those three in that carriage alone could handle two or three cities easily.”
“Thanks to Bin bringing Heinzel along, the expedition has gone much smoother. When I first heard Heinzel would come along, I thought I’d misheard. Imagine, the legendary Magic Tower Chief himself coming to aid our mission.”
Alter Heinzel’s actions elevated the quietly sleeping Bin’s reputation, lying in the carriage corner.
“Wow, how did he manage to bring Heinzel along? Whatever method he used, Bin is clearly a remarkable figure—more than just his skills in magic.”
Of course, bringing Alter Heinzel to this team was Bin’s decision…
“Of course, right? Would the Sword Saint just take someone along for the ride if he were only good at magic? He must be extraordinary in other ways too.”
“That’s true. That’s not an easy seat to hold.”
This… was the conversation taking an unexpected turn.
The exhausted Bin, asleep in the carriage, was completely unaware that his status was soaring among the troops.
