Chapter 44
“Do you realize just how outrageous what you just said is right now?”
Shin Huzda asked, looking dumbfounded.
“In the history of magic, there’s only ever been one magician whose original magic was an entire magic system.”
“Yes, that would be Luna, the Founder of the Nebula.”
The current spell systems in use are, quite literally, the legacy of generations of great mages who created them throughout history.
And in all of history, only Luna had ever achieved such a feat alone.
To declare you’ll create a new spell system is no different from claiming you’ll stand as Luna’s equal.
“Do you think you’re on the same level as the Founder of the Nebula?”
Lilda narrowed her eyes as she asked, and Leo shook his head.
“Of course not. Luna was a mage on a whole other level—one I can’t even compare myself to.”
Leo, who knew Luna’s genius better than anyone, knew well that he could never catch up to Luna’s shadow in magic.
“But you don’t need that level of genius to create a spell system.”
Aydman laughed at Leo’s words.
“Then, can you show us the original magic system you created?”
At that, Leo raised his palm.
Strands of gray [Magic Power] spread out, forming a spell system.
The graduates, observing closely, gasped.
“He’s already established a fundamental system?”
“This isn’t just a simple copy.”
Shin Huzda and Lilda analyzed the magic, interpreting the spell system.
The first-years tried their best to analyze Leo’s spell, too.
But soon their heads started spinning.
‘How is that spell system so complicated?’
‘Is something that complex even castable?’
‘I give up. I can’t interpret this.’
Some of the top students worked hard to understand the system Leo showed.
After a while, Aydman spoke.
“You said your goal was to create a system that allows all attribute manifestation formulas to be compatible?”
“Yes.”
“From the structure, it looks like you could use any magic without penalty.”
At Aydman’s words, the first-years all looked exhausted.
‘Did he really figure out the structure just from a glance?’
“That’s right.”
“It’s absurd.”
“It’s even crazier seeing it in person.”
Lilda and Shin Huzda muttered after hearing Leo’s answer.
But their eyes were shining.
Magic is a discipline that makes the impossible possible.
Attempts that overturn common sense deserve to be praised.
“Why did you make this magic system?”
“To freely use every magic in existence.”
“You’re not sane, either.”
‘But the core structure is finished. Is this what genius looks like?’
It’s so absurd that there’s no way to know if this magic will ever be completed.
But he liked it.
‘A truly crazy junior has shown up. Now I get why the higher-ups think so highly of this class.’
A being who could wield all spells.
Every magician has dreamed of it at least once.
But because it’s so far-fetched, no one actually tries.
Now, a magician willing to chase that dream had appeared right before them.
“What’s the name of your original magic?”
“The name is Bible.”
A magic system used only by the Great Hero Kyle in all of history.
At that name, Aydman let out a laugh.
“Leo Plov, A+.”
—
“You actually managed to get an A+ with that insane idea.”
“The bigger the ambition, the better, right?”
“There are limits, you know. Don’t you understand moderation?”
Carr clicked his tongue.
The Bible magic system wasn’t something Leo invented from scratch—it was something he’d used since his days as Kyle.
‘I still can’t use it fully as I am now.’
Even at Kyle’s peak, the magic system was only barely completed enough to be usable.
‘And in the end, it was still unfinished.’
Because it was unstable, Leo couldn’t use it perfectly with his current abilities.
What he showed in the exam was only the basics of the Bible’s spell system.
‘If I showed the real thing, it’d cause a huge commotion, so I can’t reveal it.’
Leo looked up at the podium.
Only one student was left now.
“Presenter Chloe Mueller. Please come forward.”
Len called the last student.
“Oh wow, I’m nervous for no reason.”
So far, only Leo and Abad had received A+.
Both had presented original magics of tremendous scale.
But in terms of practical application, it was clear Abad’s would be rated higher.
Now, the Magic Department’s top practical student, Chloe, was about to present, so naturally everyone’s attention was on her.
Carr was especially tense, having witnessed Chloe’s challenge to Leo.
“Hello, seniors.”
Chloe bowed politely.
“All right, Chloe. What did you prepare?”
“The original magic I prepared is a fire-type spell.”
At those words, murmurs erupted from all around.
“Fire-type?”
“Chloe? Fire-type?”
“No way… isn’t Chloe an ice-type?”
“Why would she make her original magic an opposing element?”
“Quiet! Settle down!”
As the auditorium grew rowdy, Len raised his voice to calm everyone.
Even Len wore a puzzled expression.
He, too, found Chloe’s choice of attribute completely unexpected.
“I’ll demonstrate now.”
Chloe quietly recited an incantation.
Fwoosh—!
Red flames rose in midair.
“What kind of magic is this?”
Carr swallowed dryly, focusing on the spell.
If Chloe had prepared it, it had to be something amazing.
But the flames simply burned quietly, with nothing else happening.
“It’s… a bit plain?”
Lilda asked with a dissatisfied expression.
‘They said she’s as talented as Leo or Abad?’
Leo’s magic represented a magician’s dreams and ideals.
Abad’s magic embodied the ultimate pinnacle a magician could reach.
Compared to those, Chloe’s demonstration seemed far too ordinary.
“Why is this your original magic?”
Aydman asked seriously, and Chloe replied.
“I’ll show you the true power of this magic now.”
Chloe smiled confidently and murmured a brief chant.
A mass of water appeared in midair.
“This flame spell isn’t being supplied with any [Magic Power] right now. What do you think will happen if I pour water on it?”
“It’ll go out, of course.”
As Shin Huzda answered, Chloe smiled and poured the water onto the flame.
Splash—!
The flame faded.
Fwoosh—!
But instead of going out, it blazed back to life even more fiercely.
“…!”
“…!”
Not only the graduates but the students’ faces all changed.
Leo’s expression hardened in an instant.
“How did she do that?”
Lilda asked, shocked, and Chloe replied,
“This is my original magic.”
Chloe proudly extinguished the flame with her hand.
“As long as I don’t want it to, this flame will never go out.”
“Wait! Hold on! Chloe, are you saying you’ve given magic permanence?”
Lilda’s eyes widened as she asked.
“Yes! Unless I want it gone, it will never go out!”
Magic is governed by formulas and laws.
So, absolute permanence cannot exist.
Any spell disappears the moment [Magic Power] is no longer supplied.
But Chloe had created immutability within the magic formula.
Chloe began explaining her magic system.
Everyone focused completely on her presentation.
‘Impossible.’
Listening to Chloe’s explanation, Leo muttered inwardly.
He tried to piece together the formula structure in his head.
But he couldn’t reproduce an unquenchable flame.
Even if it was a trait unique to Chloe’s [Magic Power], it should have been impossible.
As far as Leo knew, only a single existence could produce an eternally burning flame.
‘Erebos.’
It was something magic could never reproduce.
‘Even Luna failed at this.’
“Chloe Mueller, A+.”
“Thank you!”
As the presentation ended, Leo naturally recalled the summoning practical exam.
“How did she even make something like that?”
Carr mumbled in disbelief.
“Hey, Leo. Isn’t that crazy?”
Carr glanced over at Leo.
“Leo?”
“Hm? Ah, it’s amazing.”
“Why do you look so spaced out?”
“It’s nothing.”
Leo watched Chloe step down from the podium.
‘I need to talk to Chloe, at least for now.’
—
That evening.
After dinner, Leo left the boys’ dorm and headed for the girls’ dormitory.
“Huh? Leo? What brings you all the way to the girls’ dorm?”
Celia, who had been sitting on a bench talking with a friend outside the girls’ dorm, approached with a curious look.
“Celia, sorry, but could you call Chloe for me?”
“Chloe said she was going to sleep early today. She barely slept at all during exam week.”
“Really? Then can you tell her that I want to see her for a bit before tomorrow’s exam? Tell her to meet me at the entrance to the main training ground.”
“Okay. But why Chloe all of a sudden?”
“I just have something I need to talk about. I’ll be going now.”
“Wait, Leo.”
Celia stopped Leo.
“What is it?”
“Has something been going on with Chloe lately?”
“Why are you asking me? Shouldn’t you know better than me, since you’re in the same class?”
“Chloe’s gotten into fights with other kids in class a few times. I thought it was just stress from exams, but it seems to be getting worse. And I heard she’s been hanging around with some troublemakers in the Magic Department.”
‘Chloe?’
Chloe was the type to look after others.
At the start of the semester, she’d even helped Leo adjust to modern magic theory by tutoring him after class.
Celia, too, had been resentful at first when she lost the class president spot, but soon came to respect Chloe’s leadership.
So the idea of Chloe fighting or getting into conflicts was hard to imagine.
‘First Carr, now Celia… Is something really going on?’
Thinking about Chloe, Leo returned to the dorm.
He drew the curtains and sat on his bed, opening his hand.
Fwoosh—!
A summoning circle of flame appeared.
Fiora stuck her head out of the summoning circle.
“Can you call your mom?”
Fiora went back into the circle.
A moment later, Pirina appeared.
“It’s been a while, Leo.”
“Have you been well?”
In her human form, Pirina had Fiora sitting on her head.
Peep! Peep!
Fiora spread her wings and chirped animatedly as Pirina looked on fondly.
“She’s been talking nonstop about what it was like being big since you summoned her.”
Pirina set her daughter down on Leo’s desk.
Fiora toddled around on the tabletop.
“So, Leo, what did you want to see me for?”
“You know about the [ demonic beast] that appeared during the summoning exam, right?”
“Yes, a [beastmaster] tried to pull something on a Lumene freshman, didn’t they?”
Pirina looked visibly displeased.
To Pirina, a spirit beast, [demonic beasts] were an extremely unpleasant existence, and those who handled them were enemies that needed to be eliminated.
“Pirina, you said you’re at Lumene at the principal’s request, right? Is that related to this incident?”
Pirina rested her chin on her hand.
The attack on Lumene five years ago.
Only a handful knew the truth behind the incident, let alone the culprit.
The upper administration at Lumene was currently investigating possible connections between the current incident and what happened back then.
‘But there’s no way I can tell a first-year like Leo about this.’
“I don’t know if it’s connected yet. And even if it is, I can’t tell you.”
“I understand. I just wanted you to pass a message to the principal.”
“What message?”
“Tartarus might not have only targeted Sen Ryu.”
Pirina’s expression changed instantly.
“Do you know something?”
“I can’t say for sure yet.”
Just because someone created an unquenchable flame didn’t mean it was definitely connected to Erebos.
But Leo had to inform the administration just in case.
Hearing Leo’s words, Pirina, wearing a serious expression, picked up Fiora and spoke.
“I’ll pass your message on to Kalian.”
