A Talentless Mage Devours a Disaster-Class Future - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 18

Cael’s brow furrowed the moment he saw Aion. The look on his face was as though he’d spotted an insect.

“What, you got summoned too?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”

Cael let out a derisive snort and muttered under his breath.

“Damn it. Of all people to call alongside me…”

Raven, who had been watching the exchange, let out a quiet chuckle and began organizing his papers.

“I’m relieved to see you two are on such good terms. The witness interrogation should proceed more smoothly than expected.”
“What? Me and this bastard?”

Cael released a hollow laugh, exasperated, but Raven made no reply. Instead, he exchanged a glance with Bark, the black dog sprawled at his feet.

Grrrrr.

As Bark growled low, Raven placed a small Magical Device on the desk.

“I will now begin the witness interrogation. All exchanges will be recorded as audio via this Magical Device, so I would appreciate your careful responses.”

Whirrr.

A blue light began to shimmer from the mysterious device.

Whoosh.

Raven interlaced his fingers and opened his mouth.

“Upon arriving at Exion, I visited the scene of the incident immediately. I examined the entirety of Hazle.”
“A place that could collapse at any moment? …You’re insane. Fearless to a fault.”

Cael muttered with obvious disdain. Yet Raven didn’t so much as blink.

“I hear that often enough, but it doesn’t seem particularly relevant at the moment. Cael.”

Raven set down the papers. With that single gesture, the air in the room shifted.

The hospitable smile he had worn until moments before vanished from his face.

“From now on, if you interrupt me, things will become quite difficult for you.”
…….

Gulp.

Cael’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly. It seemed he had been taking the Inspector’s authority far too lightly.

“There we are. I do prefer cooperative individuals. I hope you prove to be one of them.”

Raven’s expression softened back into a gentle smile as he redirected the conversation.

“Do you understand the concept of magical aptitude? Ah, you may answer that one.”
“…From what I know, every mage specializes in different schools of magic, and their growth rates vary accordingly.”

Aion answered matter-of-factly, and Raven nodded in acknowledgment.

“That’s right, Aion. In that sense, I should tell you what my aptitude actually is.”

Raven raised his index finger and tapped his temple slowly.

“Memory.”
“Memory…?”

Raven leaned back against his chair and continued at an unhurried pace.

“Memory Magic. It falls under the category of Illusion Magic, though it’s not terribly useful in combat. It’s the ability to read the lingering impressions embedded in objects or places. It’s rare enough that many people don’t know it exists.”

Aion began to piece together the implications of what he’d just heard.

If Raven had read the memories left at the scene, then he would have grasped a considerable portion of what had transpired that night.

There was a reason, then, for calling these two aside separately.

“I read the memories left behind at the scene. The shock from the fire prevented me from reaching the level of detail I wanted, but I did glean something useful.”

Raven’s gaze passed over Aion and fixed itself on Cael, seated beside him.

“I prefer to start by investigating those who seem suspicious.”

A brief silence fell.
While Cael sat rigid, uncertain what was about to be said, Raven slowly opened his mouth.

“Cael Pyiron. Why?”
“W-what do you mean…?”
“Why did you turn away from those who needed rescue in the fire?”
“…!”

Cael’s pupils trembled. His fingers, resting on his knees, slowly curled into fists.

“W-what are you…”

Raven didn’t reply. He leafed through the documents, his eyes downcast as if he were poring over an account book.

“It says here you’re quite a talented student. So why didn’t you save those trapped in the Small Auditorium?”

He paused, then lifted his head, fixing Cael with a direct stare.

“They cried out so desperately for help. You had more than enough power to aid them.”
“I-I never heard any such thing! There must be some mistake! The sound of the building collapsing was so deafening, I couldn’t hear anything!”

Cael’s voice grew louder with each word. His body, perched on the edge of the chair, lurched forward.

“I…!”

Woof—!
Woof-woof—!

Bark suddenly let out a harsh volley of barks. Cael flinched, jerking his body backward.

Raven clicked his tongue and stroked the dog’s neck.

“Enough, Bark. We’re in the middle of an interrogation.”

Whimper…

As Bark quieted, Raven nodded.

“I see. So there was a genuine misunderstanding. You didn’t hear the sound—is that it?”

A thin, bitter smile crossed Raven’s lips. He didn’t press further, only turned his gaze away.

“Then, Aion.”

Raven’s attention shifted to Aion.

“You never saw Cael at the fire site? Near the Small Auditorium, that is.”

Raven’s eyes sharpened. Aion’s mind flickered across a memory in that instant.

Before the Small Auditorium’s door, flames roaring skyward.
Screams from inside—pleas for help—while Cael’s retreating figure hesitated and fled.

Quite vivid, actually.

…But.

“I never saw him.”

Aion answered calmly.

Woof!
Woof-woof!

Bark barked again. Louder and sharper than before.

“Hush. I told you to be quiet, Bark.”

Raven suppressed the dog with an deliberately stern expression, then muttered while rolling his pen between his fingers.

“I see. Let’s chalk this up to another misunderstanding, shall we.”
“Ha… ha ha. See? I said from the start I wasn’t even near that area.”

Cael folded his arms and leaned back against the chair. The pallor that had marked his face was returning to its natural color, as though nothing had ever been amiss.

Regardless, Raven wrote something into his papers and asked again.

“One more thing, Aion. Is there anything you’d like to tell me? Anything at all.”
“Anything I’d like to tell you…”

Aion pondered briefly, then reached into his inner pocket.
His fingertips brushed against something rough and dry.

“I found something like this.”

What he withdrew was a blackened stone fragment. A Flame Rune, drained of all its power and reduced to nothing more than a hunk of rock.
Raven’s eyes narrowed.

“This is…?”
“I found it at the fire site. I kept it thinking it might be a clue.”

Raven took the rune and looked at Bark. The dog’s tongue lolled, but this time he didn’t bark.

“I see. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Raven pocketed the rune and stood from his seat.

“Ah, Cael. You’re free to go now.”
“…I… I’m not the culprit, am I?”

Cael asked hesitantly.

“Of course not. I’ll keep the possibility open, but for now I’d say it’s quite slim. You’re welcome to leave.”
“Hmph. Making a fuss, calling people in and out. What a waste of time.”

Cael grumbled as he rose from his seat. The iron door closed behind him, and silence settled over the reception room until the sound of his footsteps had faded completely away.

Only Aion and Raven remained. And Bark’s heavy breathing.

Thud.

Raven pulled out a sack from beneath the desk and overturned it.

Crash—

Dozens of stone fragments scattered across the desk. All of them were spent Flame Runes, identical to the ones Aion had submitted.

“These are additional Flame Runes we found at the fire site.”
“…So many of them.”

Aion clicked his tongue. Now he understood why the flames had spread so rapidly throughout the entire building.

“What are your thoughts on this case, Aion?”
“…I think it may have been Arson.”

Sss…

Raven’s lips curled upward.

“I share that assessment.”

He flicked one of the runes with his finger, fixing Aion with an unwavering stare.

“But then, why did you lie?”

The question was blunt. Aion didn’t even blink before responding.

“…Is it correct that Bark detects lies?”

Raven’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.

“Oh? What makes you think so?”
“He only barked when your questions were answered with falsehoods mixed in. And I noticed that Inspector, you watched Bark’s reaction more carefully than the answers themselves each time you asked a question.”

All expression drained from Raven’s face. As if every smile and coldness he’d shown until now had been nothing but performance.

“…You’re quite sharp for a student, aren’t you, Aion.”

Raven nodded, as if in admiration.

“That’s right. Bark has the ability to detect lies. He’s my personal assistant.”

He leaned forward, closing the distance between himself and Aion.

“So let me ask again. Why did you say you didn’t see Cael? You clearly saw him standing in front of the Small Auditorium entrance.”

Raven’s eyes gleamed with certainty. Having read the scene through Memory Magic, he would have grasped Aion’s movements as well.

“You’re protecting him? Then why on earth would you do that?”
“That is….”

Aion fell silent for a moment, then answered slowly.

“If I reveal that I know the truth, it will only make things troublesome for me.”

Raven glanced at Bark. Bark’s tail swayed gently, but he did not bark.

The truth.

Raven rested his chin in his hand, studying Aion. A deep curiosity kindled in his gaze.

“…Is that all there is to it?”

Aion paused for a moment.

Cael Pyrion. Why had he bothered to shield that arrogant, insufferable young master?

The answer came without need for deep deliberation.

“I found it unbearable to see him cornered and shrinking away.”

Yes, that sight had been unbearable.

Raven looked at Bark once more. Bark still did not bark.

“Pfft… Pf-hahahaha!”

Aion shuffled toward his temporary quarters, turning over the words Raven had just left behind.

Then, as though waiting for that cue, the voices of the Extreme Points burst forth in his mind.

【Magic: The purpose is difficult to discern. It may not have been the work of an individual.】

“…It’s not something I can judge so readily.”

He paused to gather his thoughts, then asked.

“Do any names come to mind for you?”

【Flame: There are a few that do surface, but they’re not the sort you speak of lightly.】

Earth’s voice cut in immediately.

【Earth: Didn’t you hear what Mado just said? If you go prattling on about things that haven’t even happened yet, you’ll only summon disaster closer to us.】

The Extreme Points agreed in unison.

Restraint.

Whoever the culprit was, this was not the moment for Aion to step forward.
Hasty speculation leading to action could trigger a Butterfly Effect, drawing down calamities that ought never come to pass.

“…Understood. For now, I’ll focus on minding my own business.”

【Water: That’s the prudent course.】

With that conclusion reached, Aion stepped into the lobby of his temporary lodging.

And that was when it happened.

“Aion Iscar?”

Someone called him to a stop again. This time, too, it was a staff member from Exion’s administrative office.

Aion’s brow furrowed slightly.

“…Another interrogation?”
“Pardon? Interrogation? Oh, no, no.”

The staff member waved a hand dismissively and held out some documents.

“It’s about dormitory reassignment. Given what’s happened, we’ve been instructed to prioritize your placement.”

“Ah, at last….”

The staff member tilted his head quizzically.

“I’m sorry?”
“Nothing, never mind.”

The temporary quarters had felt distinctly cramped. No proper private space of his own, after all.

“Come along, then. You can make your decision there.”

The administrative office consultation counter.
Before Aion lay a school map and several options.

“Bertaron is full at the moment, so the places available for immediate move-in are Sirwen, Lumenia, and Nocturna. These three.”

The staff member pointed out the three locations with his pen.

“Most of the students who were staying in Hazle will probably want to move to Lumenia. Each dormitory has its own culture, and adjustment takes time, after all….”

The staff member clearly expected Aion to choose Lumenia. But Aion, chin resting on his palm, found himself unable to decide.

“Would it be all right if I took a moment to think?”
“Of course. Take your time with the decision.”

Aion excused himself and stepped out onto the terrace beyond the administrative office. The night air was cold.
He leaned against the railing and closed his eyes quietly.

“Which one would be best?”

At his question, the Extreme Points began pouring out their opinions one after another.

【Flame: Lumenia is an attractive place. If not for that fire incident, I’d have far more pleasant memories.】
【Life: So would I. I’ve never met people as kind as the students of Lumenia. And it seems there’s an opening in the Maple Wing, where I used to stay.】
【Earth: You all know Bertaron is closed-minded, don’t you? Tch. I wouldn’t go there even if they begged me!】
【Lightning: Hehehehe! Nocturna! Nocturna is the best!】

His future dwelling remained undecided. It was a matter that would directly affect Aion’s growth, so caution was inevitable.

Then, in that moment,

【……c……o……me.】

The voices of the Extreme Points cut off abruptly.

【Flame: What is this?】

No one answered. Aion held his breath.

【…c……o……t.】

It came again. A faint, fragmented sound. As if carried on the wind from some distant place.

【Flame: Speak clearly. Yggdrasil isn’t detecting anything. Who just spoke?】

Silence fell. It was clear the Extreme Points were examining one another.

【Water: It wasn’t me.】
【Earth: Wasn’t you? It wasn’t me either.】
【Magic: Who’s playing tricks?】
【Lightning: Hehehehehehe!】
【Life: …Is it possible none of us are?】

If all six Extreme Points claimed it was not them, then who was speaking now?

Aion’s grip tightened on the railing.

【Flame: This can’t possibly be…】
【Earth: It’s that one!】

The faint voice tickled at Aion’s ears.

【Wind: To that place… c……o……me….】

The Extreme Point of Wind, which had maintained silence until now, spoke to Aion for the first time.

The Talentless Mage Swallows a Catastrophic Future · Episode 18

Ji Eun Lee
Wang Motchi
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yeon
Cover Art
Dalli

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260706063.0018

ⓒ2026, Wang Mozzi

※ This e-book is a copyrighted work protected under the Copyright Law of the Republic of Korea.
No part of this work may be reproduced or modified in any form without permission from the author and publisher.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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