Chapter 157

I was a fool. I was trash. I didn’t even notice my disciple’s body falling apart.

I was garbage. A parasite that devoured both my master and my disciple. In the end, both died because of me.

On the day it rained, only the old priest and I attended the funeral. The elders of the Magic Tower, who had driven that child to death by burdening her… refused to attend, saying they couldn’t allow an orphan to be buried in the Tierra family’s cemetery.

“In the name of God, may there be no pain in Trisha’s death. And may the Apostle of Death guide her path…”

“Priest. I have a question.”

“…What would you like to ask?”

“Who decides a person’s lifespan?”

The old priest hesitated before answering.

“God decides everything.”

“…Then does God also grant talents?”

“Yes. Whether one has talent or not… it’s all decided by God.”

“So God decides everything, huh? This one has talent, this one doesn’t, this one dies young, this one lives long…”

Cold raindrops streamed down my face. Unlike the old priest, I didn’t use an umbrella and let the rain soak me.

“Priest… you may leave now.”

“Yes… and what about you, brother?”

“My business here is done. It’s not yet time to pray for her soul.”

I still had something to do.

I had to deny the world that labeled Trisha as talentless and fulfill my master’s dream.

I had to prove that my master’s dream was great and that Trisha was a genius.

I gathered all my research and headed to the Magic Tower. To deny everything and prove everything.

—

The attendees of this presentation were all the big shots of the magic world.

All the Tower Lords were present except for the Tower Lord of Water, who was absent due to issues with his daughter and successor. In his place, the genius Archmage Werner, known as a hero, was there. Though not yet an adult, he was undoubtedly the strongest mage.

Trisha was also his fan, and I thought she would be happy if he acknowledged my magic.

“The reason I’ve gathered you all here… is to share the magic that my master, my disciple, and I have completed.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have been thrilled, but my heart didn’t race. Instead of excitement, I felt only impatience to be recognized and anxiety about making a mistake.

“First… the foundation of magic lies in incantations. Of course, there is magic that can be used without incantations, but such magic tends to be weaker and hasn’t received much attention.”

Despite my explanation, Werner was staring off into the distance. I believed he would show interest once I explained the core theory.

“That’s why my master, Skadi Tierra, focused on the overlooked incantationless magic. To overcome the inherent weakness of incantation time…”

Werner suddenly pulled out something resembling a cigarette and lit it. I hadn’t said this was a non-smoking event, but there’s such a thing as common sense.

“To overcome this… she sought to create a new incantationless magic. By excluding communication with spirits and using pure magical energy…”

After burning through whatever he was holding, Werner now had his hand on his forehead, groaning. It seemed he had been drinking last night.

“I… continued the research after my master’s passing. I devised methods to enhance the magic’s power and the circulation of magical energy after removing incantations. But the subsequent energy conversion and operation methods were developed by my disciple…”

I wanted to mention Trisha’s name and have her genius recognized.

But Werner suddenly stood up and said,

“Sorry, but I’ll take my leave now. I’m not feeling well…”

“Lord Werner, if you’re leaving, I’ll follow.”

“Ah, then I’ll go too!”

In an instant, several Tower Lords who idolized him followed him out. I hadn’t even mentioned her name yet… I hadn’t gotten the recognition yet…

“Lord Werner…!”

“Ah, don’t worry about the new magic registration approval. I’ve already stamped it.”

Werner left just like that. I suppressed the dark, unknown emotions rising within me and continued the presentation. I hoped the remaining Tower Lords would at least acknowledge the greatness of this magic.

“That’s all. So the creators of this magic are Skadi Tierra, myself, and my disciple Trisha…”

Then, the Tower Lord of Fire raised his hand.

“I get it, but I don’t like that there are three creators. Especially that Trisha girl—wasn’t she a defective product with circuit flaws?”

“…What?”

The Tower Lord of Lightning raised his hand.

“Why not just register it under the Tower Lord of Earth’s name? Honestly, the previous Tower Lord was a troublemaker who tarnished the honor of magic and clashed with the Carven family, the shield protecting the Imperial family.”

“What does that even matter…”

The Tower Lord of Wind raised his hand.

“Besides, even if you ask if I like the magic itself… I’m not sure. It’s an effect that can be achieved with incantation magic. I don’t see the value in this research. Frankly, with that much magical energy, you could cast a stronger spell with an incantation.”

“Where exactly are you going with this…”

“The time for incantations can be ignored. Frankly, is there a mage who would die because they couldn’t cast an incantation?”

And so, they trampled on our dreams.

I despaired. That our dreams were not recognized.

I raged. At Werner Altan and the world of magic that trampled on our dreams.

I lamented. That my master and disciple had both given their lives for a dream that was ultimately crushed.

I drifted. In this wretched present where nothing remained by my side.

I grieved. For a future where our dreams would continue to be trampled.

What pierced my heart the deepest were the words thrown by the elders of the Magic Tower. I was so deeply despairing that I couldn’t even tell who said it, but those words stabbed my chest.

“Sigh… why are you trying to put that talentless errand girl on the Magic Tower’s mage list? Don’t act emotionally, try to act a bit more like a ‘mage.'”

That painful remark became a sharp blade stabbing my heart.

“Be a man and don’t get caught up in such trivial issues. Grow up.”

Everyone’s cold gazes poisoned me, causing me pain.

What does it mean to be a mage? What does it mean to be a man?

Master, I don’t know. What does it mean to be a man? Should I not shed tears even at your death? I don’t know. Please teach me.

Trisha, I really don’t know. What does it mean to be a mage? Should I just calmly move on even when everyone’s dreams are trampled? I don’t know. You’re a genius, so you must know the answer. Please tell me.

No one gave me an answer. No one remained by my side.

Magic no longer showed me its beautiful light. A deep, deep darkness covered my path. The incantations of magic no longer sounded like my master’s lullaby. They only sounded like the roars of beasts.

Then, that woman spoke to me.

“If you stay out in the rain like this, you’ll catch a cold.”

“…Fallen Saint. No, a demon who’s been pretending to be a saint from the start.”

“So, have you thought about my proposal?”

“…….”

That woman had come to me and asked me to join hands. But I refused. I wanted our dreams to be recognized by the world.

“I’ll accept.”

“I knew you’d understand our cause.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I have no interest in your cause.”

“Haha… then why are you joining hands with us and turning your back on the world?”

“…I’ll just prove it.”

If you deny me, my master, my disciple, and our dreams, and affirm this world…

I will deny this world by killing you all. Even if I become evil, I will prove how great my master, my disciple, and our dreams were.

If I can prove that even that so-called God is wrong… I will gladly throw myself into the abyss of evil and burn my soul in the flames of hatred.

“Anyway, welcome. There are many here who will understand your pain.”

“…I don’t need the understanding of people like you.”

I walked forward, drenched in cold raindrops. It was the first step to turning my back on the world.

“Refusing an umbrella from a saint like me is blasphemy, you know.”

“Coming from a fallen woman whose very existence is blasphemy, I don’t want to hear it.”

The Fallen Saint, who had been giggling, asked me,

“Do you like the rain?”

I looked up at the raining sky and answered.

“Yes, I like it.”

“Why?”

Hot raindrops streamed down my cheeks.

“…Because I’m neither a ‘man’ nor a ‘mage.'”