Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 278

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 278

179. The Name of the Secret Technique (3)

Now, let me organize this.

The reason that fellow refuses a proposal that no mage could ever refuse.

No, come to think of it, it’s embarrassing to even call it a proposal. How many mages have shed tears of gratitude and offered to become servants just from hearing a single word until now?

Surely the name Saul Hanston couldn’t be treated like some forgotten old man in the back room.

What the hell is this guy?

‘Dane Sogress.’

I’ve heard that name a few times.

A famous genius boy from the capital.

A genius who might go down in imperial history has appeared in the already outstanding Sogress County.

He even had a private audience with the Emperor, and at that age, he’s accomplished tremendous feats like catching heretics.

But even so, refusing this Saul Hanston’s ‘proposal’ is impossible.

Who am I?

A mage who will remain in imperial history forever, a legend among legends who created countless spells, magical tools, and structures.

Therefore-

“I cannot understand.”

For Saul Hanston, it was unimaginable, and shouldn’t be imagined…

And thus it was also a despairing statement.

“I’ve pursued for hundreds of years. A talent like you.”

“Ten years is too long.”

“It’s my secret technique. My secret magic, not anyone else’s! Are you saying a mere ten years is too precious? After that time passes, you could become a mage who goes down in history!”

“It’s an interesting story, but I don’t live my life for that purpose.”

“…”

Anyone watching would think the lich who lived for hundreds of years was over there.

Was he 14 or 15?

Anyway, watching a fellow who wasn’t even an adult talk like a philosopher who’d lived through the whole world made my blood pressure soar.

Though as a lich, I don’t have blood pressure to soar.

“I covet your secret magic, but I’m reluctant to spend ten years away from family and friends, unable to have academy life.”

“Just because of something so trivial…”

“If it weren’t for my friend, I probably never would have come here or met you.”

“…”

It was absurd, but Saul had nothing else to say.

He never imagined there would be a ‘mage’ who would refuse the transmission of his secret magic.

And then Dane added another ridiculous statement.

“Besides… I’m a summoner, a swordsman, and a spear artist.”

“What does that…”

“I’m saying I won’t live just one life as a mage.”

Saul thought.

Is that even possible?

Even he, who lived hundreds of years as a lich, couldn’t reach the ultimate level or find the truth.

‘This fellow is greedier than me.’

Actually, for him it was closer to resentment than greed.

The damned resentment of ultimately not finding a talent worthy of inheriting his secret magic.

But this fellow goes beyond that level – he wants to achieve everything he has talent for?

Rather than that…

Wouldn’t it be better to quietly inherit his secret technique and go down in history?

“Ha.”

Saul Hanston felt deflated.

If it had been a fellow trying to act tough and make deals with him, he would have subdued and kidnapped him.

But this fellow is different.

Something is different.

It seemed like he wouldn’t accept easily.

That’s when it happened.

“Of course, since I’m interested, I’m not completely refusing.”

Saul’s heart became urgent.

Though as a lich he no longer had a heart to be urgent, the emotions from his human days remained.

“Speak. What do you want? A research lab of enormous scale? Of course I have one. All kinds of experimental tools? I have them all. All the blueprints I’ve drawn throughout my life? If you just inherit my secret technique, they’re all yours.”

Saul’s urgency was indescribable.

The pride he should maintain as a mage of hundreds of years and a legendary mage was nowhere to be found.

“One month.”

“What?”

“I’ll consider it for about a month. During the next vacation.”

“…”

“As you can see, vacation will end soon, and I need to focus on my studies during the semester.”

“…Ha.”

Let’s grab any Magic Department student at the academy and ask.

If some great mage offered to transmit secret magic.

There would be plenty who’d take a leave of absence, or even drop out immediately.

They could just re-enter the academy later.

No, if such a thing happened, depending on the professor, they might allow indefinite leave.

All mages recognize how tremendous such an opportunity is.

But this fellow…

Because it’s during the semester.

“I’m in the Autonomous Department, not the Magic Department.”

No matter how he heard it, it sounded like nonsense, but he had no words to refute it.

It had been truly a long time since he’d met someone who seemed unmoved by anything he might say.

“…Do you think that makes sense? One month? You’ll inherit my secret magic in just one month?”

“If it really doesn’t work, I can receive transmission for one month and dedicate another month during the next vacation.”

He also added a shocking statement.

“You have plenty of time anyway, don’t you?”

Meaning because he’s a lich.

“You, you…”

The most outrageous statement of all.

Leila and Ernest flinched and trembled at those words.

“Dane, you’re cruel…”

“Wow…”

Even at their reactions, Dane just shrugged his shoulders.

As if it wasn’t his concern.

But the two understood Dane’s reaction and didn’t think it strange.

They couldn’t imagine Dane throwing away everything else for one thing.

Also, the person who had perfectly accomplished all those things until now was precisely Dane.

“Dane could probably learn it in a month, couldn’t he, Leila?”

“Still, it’s Saul Hanston. One month is a bit much – shouldn’t it take at least two months?”

“I say one month.”

“I say two months.”

“Fine. The loser pays 10 crown gold coins?”

“Will 10 coins be enough? Ernest? Are you scared?”

“Scared! 20!”

Watching them make bets like this, Saul felt so absurd that he wanted to just collapse and sit down.

“What kind of damn situation is this…”

The fellow he barely found after wandering for hundreds of years is saying one month because ten years is too long.

How can such an outrageous situation exist?

But from Saul’s position, there’s no other option.

‘This guy is strong.’

Saul instinctively realized that Dane was different from other fellows.

Perhaps it was thanks to experience accumulated over long years.

Even if he forcibly took him and injected secret magic, this fellow would absolutely not accept it obediently.

And magic ultimately requires the will to accept it.

He never imagined it would be this kind of fellow, so naturally it was a fact he hadn’t considered…

‘This is really driving me crazy.’

There are three options.

First.

Give up like this.

Obviously that won’t work.

Second.

Somehow take him to his research lab and inject secret magic whether he lives or dies.

This also doesn’t seem likely to work well.

Third.

Accept the proposal.

At least, this seems to have the highest possibility.

Because Saul is now in the position of being ‘weak’ for the first time in his life.

Eventually, Saul barely opened his mouth for the first time since becoming a lich, in a sensation as if blood was rushing backwards.

“…Fine.”

His clenched fist trembled.

“I’ll accept… the proposal.”

Saul was a more reasonable gentleman than expected.

He’s a legendary mage, and according to history books he was quite eccentric, but apparently that’s not the case.

Of course, this is only possible because I’m in an absolutely advantageous position right now.

Anyway, the lich I know is supposed to have abnormal desires and an evil heart, but Saul continued speaking obediently.

“Next vacation. Yes. After finishing the first semester of second year, I’ll go there.”

The place Saul Hanston told us about was a small island beyond the coast at the western edge.

“This is… ‘Altera’ island?”

The person who actually reacted wasn’t me but Ernest.

“You know this place?”

“Yes. It’s the first place our family explored. Though it’s not well known.”

“As expected of a renowned exploration family. Yes, a cooperative fellow like you should have had this talent!”

The sight of him praising while venting his frustration looked strangely sad, but I still have no intention of wasting ten years of my life.

“Phew. Yes. I’ve set up my research lab here. Since hardly anyone comes to this place.”

“It seems like such a remote place that once you go in, you can’t come out.”

“Well, I know well that you’re not the type who can’t get out.”

Well, I’d find a way if I looked for one.

“I, Saul Hanston, swear without needing a mage’s oath that I won’t confine you or treat you carelessly.”

“While we’re at it, let’s write up a contract.”

“…”

I prefer certainty.

Mother told me not to trust people carelessly.

In that sense, even if it’s Saul Hanston, there’s a need to make things certain.

Especially if I’m going to such a remote island that could be called Saul Hanston’s castle.

“Let me ask one thing. Are you really… confident about one month?”

“I don’t know what will happen until I try, but I’m not lacking confidence.”

“Hah. My secret arts… the magic I perfected over my lifetime…”

Saul sighed and eventually nodded.

“Fine. Let’s make a contract.”

The contract was simple.

A clause stating that if Saul Hanston violates the contract terms, he would transfer everything he possesses to me and end his life as a lich.

“Anyway, if it’s not you, I have no confidence to wait any longer and no reason to live.”

It could be called quite a strong clause.

“Since I’ve gone this far, what will you stake?”

After thinking for a moment, I wrote a clause into the contract.

Saul looked at that clause and muttered blankly.

“…You’re truly insane.”

The clause I wrote was this:

[Within the one-month period of staying on the island, I will receive transmission of Saul Hanston’s secret magic and be able to use it.]

“Really within one month… is it possible?”

“I’ll have to try.”

Secret magic is a bit different from general non-chain and chain-level magic.

Chain-level magic has different rearrangement level requirements for each chain.

1-chain is rearrangement at the level of simply drawing a few straight lines, 2-chain is at the level of drawing grid patterns, and higher levels become more complex than that.

But secret magic is a bit different from that.

It’s like creating new magic through independent rearrangement.

Of course it could be complex, but sometimes it can be accomplished with very simple arrangements.

Most importantly, the quality of mana and the speed of circulation.

I’m the only person in this empire who possesses ancient magic power that was unprecedented, that even Saul Hanston doesn’t have.

“If I fail, no matter how long it takes, I won’t leave the island until I receive transmission of your secret magic.”

“…Do you really mean that?”

“I wrote it in the contract too.”

“Good.”

Saul finally seemed satisfied and relieved.

“As soon as I return, I’ll send you some simple materials about secret magic. Study them in advance. Since we’ve made a contract, there won’t be any leaks.”

He even had a full smile on his face.

Then he suddenly tilted his head.

“But your mana, what exactly is it? I’ve been too out of my mind from hearing you won’t be my disciple to ask until now.”

“I have some secrets. Like your secret magic.”

“…To think I’d have more curiosity in this situation. Will you really hide it? Now that we’ve become master and disciple?”

“That’s that, and this is this.”

Actually, including Karnas hiding in my chest, there would be much to be curious about regarding me.

In the midst of this, Ernest cautiously asked.

“Um… Lord Saul Hanston?”

“What is it, polite and well-mannered child.”

Saul deliberately glanced at me as if for me to hear and answered like that.

“By any chance, when Dane goes, could we follow along too? If it wouldn’t be a bother…”

“Of course. All your friends can come. As long as they’re fellows who keep their mouths shut.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Ernest was overjoyed as if he could jump.

“But will it be okay? There won’t be much to see. There is one mountain in the center, but it won’t be much to look at.”

“It doesn’t matter. We can train. More than that, that mountain is more important. Father has been there, but I haven’t.”

“Amazing, but he’s still more polite than this fellow.”

I just shrugged my shoulders regardless.

Anyway, I gained an unexpected harvest from this trip to the Eastern Territory.

Not only did I meet the legendary mage Saul Hanston, who I thought was dead…

But I even got the chance to receive transmission of his secret magic.

Of course, it’s only within a month, but I’m not worried about that.

I’m confident.

Very much so.

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