A Genius Mage Hides His Origins

7 – The Magician

– Is he the boy who uses magic?

– Yes.

Suddenly, Benjamin, who had come to the military camp and called for Dorothy, made a request for help in finding a certain boy.

Summarizing his explanation, which was followed by a friendly smile, it went something like this:

Found a prodigy.

Want him.

Help me.

Afterward, he looked at me not with arrogance but with confidence.

―…

I almost blurted out an offer without realizing it.

But soon, I regained my composure.

It was because it felt absurd.

Whenever anyone discovered a trace of genius in a young man, they became Benjamin’s target. Such exploits of Benjamin were quite familiar.

To the point that he might be nicknamed the collector of prodigies.

―Who is this person?

―A boy from around sixteen in the fourth district. Gray hair. Probably from the beggar or orphan side.

―Exclude personal details. I mean genius.

―Ah, that.

Benjamin answered confidently.

―He uses Type-1 magic [Disc], well. He uses it skillfully, even changing the angles in all directions.

―As you know, magic is not scribbling. It requires theory, principles, and inevitability.

―If it’s an old style, it’s old style. If it’s a disc, it’s a disc. Establishing the inevitability that magic should take such a form is the first step of magic.

“That’s why magic is a branch of science,” he said.

“Magic is born from the coexistence of theory and imagination. Imagination alone has its limits, and theory alone can become excessively rigid.”

“But that boy managed to achieve the coexistence of both. Probably through self-study.”

“It’s the realm of talent and instinct. It’s not something that can be achieved by piling up degrees like a tower.”

Dorothy found herself questioning without realizing it. What does that mean?

“If I were to teach him directly?”

“He would be able to imagine even a multi-story building blueprint.”

“So, please help me find him. I don’t mind helping you privately, but if the military gets involved…”

*

The war has begun.

Father stroked my head and reassured me. It’ll be okay, Eugene.

News has arrived. The landing operation itself was successful, but after a month, the supply line was cut off. Half of the troops were wiped out, and the other half surrendered.

Father lifted me up and comforted me. There’s no need to worry, Eugene.

The harbor was filled with warships. Magically powered high-speed ships surrounded the nation, and the heavily armed federal army began its march.

Father held my hand and led me to the escape route. Your father is full, so you eat this bread, Eugene.

Flames soared wherever the eye could see. Roars echoed. Roars that sounded like thunder. Lightning struck the dry sky, and countless gunshots poured down like a shower.

Father hid me under his legs. Stay there for a moment. I’ll go get us something to eat.

And then.

Boom boom boom boom―!!!

“……”

I opened my eyes.

Countless nightmares haunted me. Although I no longer shed tears, cold sweat still ran down my entire body.

Even though every detail of the dream was fake, the sense of reality was as intense as ever.

The face of ‘Father’ in the dream was always blurry. It was natural. I had been an abandoned child since birth. The contents of the dream were nothing more than a cleverly woven tapestry of the events of the past few years.

I was always alone. Just me.

When things are hazy, washing my face helps.

I blinked my eyes and sat up.

“Not yet.”

Thud.

Pushed by someone, I fell back onto the bed.

“Oh.”

“You’re not fully healed yet. You have to keep lying down.”

A familiar voice.

Rough gestures.

Every element woke me up. It was dangerous.

An old bounty hunter was looking down at me.

I abruptly stood up and shouted.

“So, you’re the one who kidnapped me. Did you really want the bounty that badly?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. Bounty hunter.”

“Hmm. It’s quite a pleasing title, though.”

Squeeze.

The old man, raising his arm, pressed his thumb firmly against my forehead.

With the overwhelming sensation of paralysis taking over my entire body, I couldn’t resist and fell backward.

And so, once again, I lay on the sickbed.

The old man licked his lips.

“It’s not the movement of a sick person.”

“….”

“It’s nothing like a bounty hunter, so you can relax. Introduce yourself. What’s your name?”

“Isn’t it proper to reveal your name first?”

“Well, you’ve had some decent education.”

The old man chuckled.

The answer didn’t come back immediately. More precisely, it wasn’t in the form of words.

The old man pushed a book into my view.

“Here. Your spell book.”

“Give it back!”

Somehow, my arms felt empty.

Regardless of my shouting or talking, the old man kept pushing the book in front of my face.

“Alright, I get it. But before that, read the text at the bottom right of the cover. It’s the author’s name.”

“I can’t read those characters.”

“Tell the truth.”

“I really didn’t.”

Soon, the old man’s expression became serious. There was no clue as to why, no idea whatsoever.

“This goes beyond my expectations… Did you really grasp the O’Sullivan transformation just by looking at my doodles without reading the instructions?”

“What are you saying? Don’t mumble stories only you know.”

“No. Forget it.”

He placed the next magic book on my chest after shaking his head reluctantly.

The old man chuckled and said, “Benjamin Oslo. The cripple wizard who wrote this magic book.”

I had to doubt my ears.

“Is it true?”

“Have I only lived being deceived?”

Lived being deceived.

But judging from the old man’s tone, it seemed to be a genuine statement.

I opened my mouth with a somewhat vacant expression.

“…Yujin.”

“Yeah. Yujin. Nice to meet you.”

The old man forcibly grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously, as if it were a handshake.

Only then did I realize.

“Grrr—”

The wounds around my shoulders were much worse than I had anticipated.

December 20th. Rain.

“Become my disciple.”

“No, thank you.”

It took me two days to get out of bed.

By then, I had a rough understanding of this place. A duplex house where an old man, Benjamin, and his daughter, Dorothy, lived alone.

When I found out that Dorothy was a federal military officer, I immediately considered breaking the window and escaping.

But after hearing that she had taken care of me while I was unconscious, I gave up on the idea of running away.

Above all, it was Dorothy who gave me food every meal without fail. She seemed to know better than the eccentric old man Benjamin how to win people over.

And now, after two days, I planned to express my gratitude and leave this house.

However…

“To become my disciple? What does that mean?”

I was caught right in front of the front door.

The old man, who had blocked the door with his body, spoke with his arms crossed.

“I’ve seen you use magic.”

“…Are you a wizard? You said you’re not a bounty hunter.”

“No.”

“Then what are you?”

“He used it well. Magic.”

“Huh.”

There was a bewildering sound.

I earnestly objected.

“If you really are the author of this book and a reputable wizard, I’ll gratefully accept that proposal. But I still can’t trust you.”

In the end, Benjamin’s essence is that of an eccentric old man with a daughter in the federal army. Even now, it was difficult for me to erase the thought that all of this might be a trap.

Above all else.

“Someday, I will go to the Federation.”

“To Fraubia?”

“Yes. I’ll learn directly there. That’s my dream, and for that, I’m collecting money. I can’t waste time living as your apprentice or something.”

‘Money.’ The old man sighed.

“Eugene. You’re not talking about eighty pounds, are you?”

“…Yes.”

“….”

After a moment of silence, Benjamin spoke slowly.

“That. You won’t be able to ride that. The Fraubian Federation only takes its own citizens.”

I already know about that much.

I confidently countered.

“I heard that the Edington Ship takes even imperial citizens. That’s what I plan to board.”

However, Benjamin’s expression remained unchanged.

If anything, it became more serious.

“Pre-war issued Free Trade Permit. A certificate with the seal of a military officer of the rank of Colonel or higher, a university professor, or a high-ranking federal official. Or a significant amount of money that could easily tip over Mr. James Edington’s carriage. If you have any of these, then what you’re saying is true.”

“……”

“If it’s not true, then listen to me. Edington Kyung is just lenient with free traders. There are quite a few ships that don’t even allow that.”

So the rumors have spread. The old man lowered his head and muttered in a low voice.

Is it true?

“I don’t lie.”

As if piercing through my thoughts, Benjamin added a word.

But it wasn’t much help.

I could tell from his tone that his words were true.

Thud. Strength drained from my arm.

Five years.

Five years.

I saved relentlessly for five years. Only to cover the cost of the trip to Provia.

How many days did I starve? How much did I suffer? How many beatings did I endure?

And yet, how full of hope were those days.

“……”

All of it was meaningless.

I slowly sank to the floor. It was because the dream I had held onto for five years had started to crumble.

How can the world be so cruel?

It was the moment when a corner of my heart began to crumble.

“What a pitiful sight.”

“….!”

“Did you hear me through your asshole?”

hahahahaha, Benjamin laughed boisterously and pointed at himself.

“I am Benjamin Oslo, the disgraced former professor and washed-up theoretical magician from the Magic University.”

Then, he extended his arm and pointed at me.

“You, the insignificant Eugene, already agreed to become my disciple and learn magic from me.”

“….”

“Don’t just sit there sulking because you can’t even ride a stupid boat. You’re not going to live your life sitting down, are you?”

Benjamin grabbed my shoulders with both hands and lifted me up. He effortlessly raised me to my feet with a display of incredible strength.

“You’re so skinny. How old are you?”

“Sixteen….”

No wonder I was so light.

I cautiously parted my lips.

“Are you really… going to teach me?”

“Finally, you believe me. You’re quite quick.”

Benjamin tapped my shoulder. It didn’t leave a mark.

“You have talent. That’s for sure.”

“….!”

“But you’re still just a raw gem. I will polish you and turn you into a jewel that even the people of the Federation won’t dare to look down upon.”

A glint appeared in the old man’s eyes.

“I will ask one last time.”

It was fervor.

A heat of tremendous will that had not withered even at the age of over sixty.

That intense blaze seemed to ignite, like a fuse, and come towards me.

Benjamin reached out his hand.

“Will you become my disciple?”