Please, Just Read It

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Please read this!

Episode 12

Riley’s Hideout (1)

The following morning.

After spending the night at the inn of the island, we hurried onto the carriage. Our destination was deep within the forest, about half a day’s journey away.

Inside the rattling carriage, I spoke to Riley.

[You said Irantes Magic Tower is one of the Empire’s Five Great Towers, right?]

‘Yes.’

[Then we need to prepare hard.]

Irantes.

In just 300 years since its establishment, it had risen to be among the five greatest magic towers in the Empire, leveraging the reputation of the Grand Mage Martha Parherich.

For my first revenge, Riley must enter this tower.

However, such a prestigious Five Great Tower was not a place one could simply enter with a recommendation letter.

All applicants had to take the Selection Test held once a year in ‘Wilhelm’, the City of Magicians.

[Don’t take this Selection Test lightly.]

‘Why not?’

[Because it’s an extremely difficult test.]

It’s not a test for promising candidates like ‘Apprentice’ or ‘Novice’ magicians. Rather, it’s more accurate to see it as a test for veterans.

Mercenaries who have spent decades honing their magic.

Mages who have studied for years in middle-tier towers.

Even mages who have graduated from Lutemis.

[The Five Great Towers aren’t looking for promising candidates like you.]

“……”

[Instead, they want fully realized and verified magicians.]

Luck aside, there are countless magicians who fail to pass even after ten years of trying the test.

There are even years when no one qualifies at all.

Experience and recommendations are merely tickets to take the Selection Test.

The Selection Test is a thorough meritocracy focused solely on the pure talent and potential of a magician.

For Riley to get selected for Irantes Magic Tower, she must showcase her unique strengths by surpassing many hidden talents and established magicians.

[Of course, ordinary magicians spend their entire lives preparing for this test.]

The Five Great Towers are, without a doubt, the ultimate destination for all magicians.

Thus, magicians taking this test are usually high-caliber practitioners.

In years of bad luck, even high-ranking magicians might attempt the test.

[It’s no surprise they call this test the graveyard for promising candidates.]

The graveyard for promising candidates.

This isn’t a metaphor. Literally, the Selection Test is a “graveyard.”

In a moment of careless overconfidence, one could lose their life.

A test without even the minimal safety measures.

The test for the Five Great Towers wasn’t made for those who couldn’t even protect their own lives.

This is not a test for evaluation. It’s merely a brutal battlefield for proof. That’s why there are deaths every year.

[But we’re going to take the test this year.]

‘……What?’

Upon hearing my words, Riley immediately questioned me.

‘You want me to grow enough to face mid-ranking magicians in half a year?’

[Yes.]

‘That’s impossible.’

She said firmly.

The current date is March.

There’s only about half a year left until the test in September.

It’s understandable for her to declare that. After all, half a year is definitely not a generous amount of time.

But, I was confident.

[It’s completely possible.]

“……”

[I guarantee it. If you’re with me, you’ll pass the test in half a year.]

Silence followed.

Riley still wore a skeptical expression.

It seems she thought I was just bragging this time.

Well, it makes sense.

How could someone who is still just an ‘Apprentice’ face mid-ranking magicians? Not in just half a year!

Of course, it’s hard to believe.

But….

Would she still think that way after seeing what I’ve prepared?

I inwardly chuckled confidently.

*

Hehe!

Clunk.

As the sun began to set, the carriage eventually came to a stop.

The coachman, who had been seated in front, frowned and asked us.

“Uh, excuse me? Is this the right place?”

In the middle of the dense forest, where nothing but thick trees could be seen. There wasn’t a single sign of human presence.

It certainly felt odd to be the end point of a half-day journey.

Looking around, Riley also asked me with a doubtful expression.

‘Magician.’

[Yeah.]

‘Is this really the right place?’

[Yep. So please ask to get off.]

Yeah.

There was no doubt about it.

The trees had indeed grown denser, but this was definitely the spot.

Although it had been over 300 years since I last visited, this place was etched vividly in my memory.

Hearing my words, Riley still looked skeptical as she got off the carriage. Once the carriage had moved away and disappeared from our view, she finally spoke.

“So, where exactly is this?”

[Here?]

I answered right away.

[This will be the place where you’ll train for the next six months.]

“……”

[And it’s also where my old disciple lives.]

The place where my old disciple resides.

Upon hearing that, Riley’s eyes widened as she asked.

“Your old disciple?”

[Yep.]

“If your old disciple is…. at least 300 years old, right? But they’re still alive?”

[No, they’re not alive. But, well, they’re not dead either.]

“……?”

Not dead nor alive.

Riley tilted her head at my somewhat contradictory words.

To clarify for her, I added an additional explanation.

[It’s called undead.]

“……Undead?”

[Yep. I mentioned before, didn’t I? One of my disciples turned into a Lich.]

To break the Phase System, I tried various methods.

I experimented with life potions.

Searched for artifacts.

Explored ancient ruins.

And among all those attempts, what was born was my undead disciple.

A wizard in undead form, who could only become a Grand Mage.

A fanatic who refused death and spent their life mastering magic in the mortal plane, utterly devoted to the craft.

A Lich.

Now, there’s something important to note.

[A Lich can only be a Grand Mage.]

“Does that mean…?”

[That’s right.]

I continued slowly.

[This disciple was a Grand Mage in life.]

Using the powers of my former disciple, I would grow Riley within a short period to safely pass the Selection Test.

That was precisely why I had come looking for my old disciple today.

With Riley’s overwhelming potential and my ability to train dozens of Grand Mages,

And with my former disciple, who once wielded great power across the continent, joining us, Riley would certainly catch the attention of Yan Irantes during the Selection Test.

And from that moment….

My revenge against the fraud who impersonated my disciple would begin.

*

I am a Magician.

Thanks to that, I could teach just about anything related to magic.

Endless vast knowledge.

With the applied skills gained over countless years of research.

It was no simple coincidence that I have been the keystone of magic for thousands of years. I had the skills and experiences to back it up.

And encompassing all of that, I was able to raise my disciples into great magicians.

However, there was a clear limit even for me.

That was the fact that I didn’t have a physical body.

I could only offer limited teachings that helped from a theoretical standpoint. Thus, those who made contracts with me would inevitably grow weak in practical combat.

That’s why my early disciples did not engage as true magicians casting spells on the battlefield.

Instead, most were stuck in their rooms, buried in research.

[In that aspect, my Lich disciple has been a great help.]

Unlike me, he had a proper mortal body.

Though it was just a skeletal undead, it was enough for him to spar with my disciples.

Through dueling with the Lich, my disciples gradually honed their practical skills.

Improvement in practical sense meant also an enhancement in combat prowess.

From that point onward, my disciples could grow into outstanding magicians.

Not as mediocre couch potatoes who only buried themselves in research, but as true ‘magicians’ sweeping through the battlefield.

“But I’m curious about something.”

[What is it?]

“If your old disciple became a Lich, then you’ve gained a disciple whom you can be with forever… so why are you trying to train a new disciple like me?”

[Hmm.]

It’s a valid question.

There are several complex reasons behind this.

First and foremost is the connection between the contractor and the ‘authority of bonding.’

There are other issues involved as well…. but well, that wouldn’t be something you could grasp with my explanation now.

I’ll just say I’ll explain it later.

“Then where is that Lich? Right now, all I see is trees.”

[That, I don’t know.]

“Eh?”

[I really don’t know.]

Riley looked exasperated. I hurriedly added more explanation.

[From here on, you’ll have to find the Lich on your own. He’s purposely hiding his appearance.]

“He’s hiding?”

[Yep. It’s a sort of test. He thinks those who can’t find him don’t deserve to learn magic.]

“…….”

That Lich was truly eccentric.

He preferred training alongside magician apprentices who had a certain level of accomplishment.

He found it unbearable to train with complete beginners.

Hence, he would hide his hideout in a different place each time.

Finding the Lich’s hideout hidden somewhere in this forest.

That was the first gateway of her training.

[You know how to find someone, right?]

“Of course.”

On the first day I met Riley, I taught her the technique, ‘Pathfinding.’

If she utilizes it well, she should be able to find the hidden Lich.

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy at all. After all, this forest is completely different from Lutemis’ secret passage.

“Hmm…”

Just then, Riley let out a quiet gasp.

“This is truly wretched.”

[Yep.]

Barriers.

Illusions.

Magic distortions.

….

And many more hundreds of complicated spells were constantly tugging at Riley’s senses.

All of these were mechanisms set up by the Lich to hinder Riley.

Only by overcoming all these obstacles could the Lich’s hideout be revealed. Knowing that very well, Riley closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

Whooo─.

Magic resonated. At the same time, Riley’s mana spread in all directions.

Boom─!

“……!”

But not long after, her magic was uselessly repelled.

Mana wandered aimlessly before vanishing.

The extensive barriers laid throughout the forest were effectively obstructing Riley’s ‘Pathfinding.’

[How’s it?]

“……”

With her eyes still closed, Riley sighed softly.

It seemed she was analyzing the phenomenon of her mana vanishing pointlessy.

Based on that analysis, I was sure she’d think to counter the spells blocking her ‘Pathfinding.’

Minutes later, she finally opened her eyes.

And she said.

“I think I can do it soon.”

[……Really?]

Confident she was.

Just as I was thinking that, a resounding, profound voice of mana suddenly reverberated throughout the forest.

– Golden-eyed girl.

– You’re feeling quite confident.

It was the voice of the Lich.

– You seem to have quite a bit of pride in your powers.

– While confidence is important for a magician, you seem rather arrogant.

He continued to speak, admonishing Riley.

– All the first-timers who came here thought the same. They would think, “I’d find it in no time. I’d easily see through these hindrances.”

“……”

– But girl.

– Even a mid-ranking magician took half a year to find my hideout.

– Meanwhile, you seem barely an ‘Apprentice.’

Riley spread her mana throughout the forest. Ignoring the Lich’s voice echoing from all around.

Boom─!

Once again, her mana was repelled and vanished.

Even so, Riley didn’t stop.

She continued to spread her mana, never losing track of where it dissipated until the very last moment.

Truly, it was monstrous concentration.

– I don’t make promises lightly.

– With your current level, even a year, no, three years wouldn’t be enough for you to find my hideout.

The Lich jeered at Riley with a chuckle.

Sure.

Riley’s emitted mana was constantly disappearing.

But that didn’t mean her ‘Pathfinding’ was failing each time.

How would she find her path?

In a forest filled with hindering spells?

At that question, Riley closed her eyes again and activated her mana once more.

Whooo─.

Her mana stretched out in all directions.

And as that mana drifted aimlessly…

Snap─.

As always, it vanished uselessly.

“……”

The moment her mana was vanishing, she could sense the hindrance at work.

Following the trace she felt, Riley began to walk quietly.

With confident steps, she followed the direction her senses indicated.

– I can’t understand why this mere ‘Apprentice’ has come to me already. She should’ve come back after gaining more strength, huh? Wait, what, wh-wh-what…

Sure.

Riley wasn’t using ‘Pathfinding’ from earlier.

Instead, she was tracing the mana of the one obstructing her ‘Pathfinding.’

A tracking capability unimaginable to ordinary magicians. Only those with insane affinity for mana, like Riley, could utilize this method.

– Y-you, how are you doing this right now…?

“I found you.”

Where her footsteps stopped, a colossal Lich stood motionless.