The AI Archmage - Chapter 2

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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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AI Archmage Episode 2

“…Lumia.”

A young man in luxurious clothing was trying to persuade a woman with a regretful expression.

“How long will you continue this meaningless work? Do you truly intend to waste your magical talent in this manner?”

The woman’s identity was Lumia Kabala, the Tower Master of the Blue Tower.

She answered with an unwavering voice.

“My thoughts remain unchanged.”

“Your choice has failed.”

The young man pressed Lumia with a frustrated expression.

“How long do you intend to cling to the research of a failed human?”

“…”

“Altair failed. Though his body was never found, the accepted theory is that he died miserably without achieving his goal.”

The young man continued with a cold voice.

“Granting magic to unqualified commoners? Don’t you truly understand what will happen when magic falls into the hands of those who don’t know its value?”

“…”

“Imagine if bandits possessed Attack Magic instead of rusty daggers. How much it would corrupt this society…!”

But the young man’s words could not continue further.

“…Stop.”

“You still have a chance.”

Despite Lumia’s restraint, the young man did not bend his argument.

“My proposal from a few days ago is still valid, Lumia. If you accept my proposal, as the successor of the Red Tower, I promise the revival of the Blue Tower.”

“Shut up.”

Lumia coldly brushed away the young man’s hand that was placed on her shoulder.

Then she glared at the young man with a chilly expression.

“Do you think I don’t know that you people from the Red Tower were deeply involved in our Tower’s downfall?”

“…”

“As soon as my master disappeared, you were the first to cut off relations and pressure our Tower in the Academic World.”

“Because what you were doing was dangerous. What you’re trying to do is too radical. It could completely destroy the society that has been maintained stably until now…”

“That’s not it.”

Lumia glared at the young man with bloodshot eyes.

The young man’s identity was none other than the successor of the Red Tower, Hayden Kaul.

As a 5th Circle mage with outstanding talent and appearance, he was a rising star receiving attention in the Academic World.

And he was also a guardian of orthodox magic and a disciple of Rotel Kaul, the Tower Master of the Red Tower.

On the other hand, the Blue Tower had researched the ‘Grimoire’ according to Altair’s will under the previous Tower Master Belusian’s intentions.

A Magic Tool that would allow even commoners who weren’t chosen by mana to become mages.

But those records disappeared without a trace after Altair’s death.

However, even so, that will remained.

Lumia believed that Altair’s method was correct.

“You people want to possess magic. Isn’t that right?”

“I already told you. Altair’s methods are an abuse of magic…”

“Bullshit.”

Lumia realized that further conversation was meaningless.

“I refuse any further visits. I hope we never have to see each other again.”

“I’m making this offer out of consideration for you, Lumia.”

Hayden rubbed the hand that had been slapped away by Lumia as he continued speaking.

“This whole Altair business is just something from when we were kids. There’s no reason for you to carry that burden too. You should just focus on saving the Tower…”

“Get out.”

Lumia cut off his words and spoke firmly.

At the same time, intense waves of mana began surging around her.

A resolute attitude that she would not tolerate any further rudeness.

And Hayden’s reaction to facing that tremendous mana was…

“Ah.”

Ecstasy.

He spoke to Lumia with the expression of someone gazing at a brilliant sun.

“This is exactly why it’s such a waste. The genius who reached the 6th Circle at the youngest age in history is distracted by trivial matters.”

Of course, no answer came from Lumia.

Hayden stepped back without hesitation, as if he had expected even this.

“I’ll withdraw for today. But next time, the atmosphere might not be so gentle. Remember that the Blue Tower is still classified as heretical.”

Hayden smiled slyly.

As if he was already certain that Lumia wouldn’t be able to refuse his proposal.

“I’ll be waiting for your answer.”

Then he turned and left the room.

“…”

She remained sitting like that for a long time even after Hayden left the Tower, lost in thought.

…Frustrating as it was, Hayden’s confidence wasn’t without basis.

The Magic Council was not a temple.

Naturally, words like ‘heretical’ didn’t suit magic.

But at some point, the Council had begun boldly using the word heretical for anything connected to Altair.

There was no other reason.

It was convenient for burying enemies that way.

The designation of heresy had a strange power to make targets into evil, regardless of religion or academia.

Altair had become ‘heretical’ in that way.

Because the Council wanted to bury everything related to Altair.

It wasn’t even funny.

“…Engagement.”

Lumia spoke aloud the ‘proposal’ that Hayden had mentioned. It would solve things if she did that.

But if that happened, all the efforts she had made until now would lose their meaning.

Then what would be the point?

Even if it meant the Blue Tower disappearing into the back alleys of history, it would be better to fight to the death…

Crash!

But at that moment, a thunderous roar forced her to stop her thoughts.

“What, what is that?!”

She jumped in surprise and checked the Tower’s situation.

Soon after, she confirmed that an explosion of unknown origin had occurred on the lower floors of the Tower.

And the room where that explosion occurred was…

“No way…!”

Lumia’s eyes wavered as she thought of ‘someone’ who would be using that room.

Swoosh!

She hurriedly headed toward the room where the explosion had occurred.

* * *

“What, what is this? What’s happening?!”

“An attack?! Is it an attack?! Have those crazy bastards from the Red Tower finally launched an assault…!”

Despite feeling the urgent commotion, Sion muttered in a calm voice.

“Did I overdo it?”

[…]

Akasha, who had already collapsed from the overload caused by excessive calculations, couldn’t answer.

Of course, it didn’t matter.

Whatever Akasha might have said, Sion’s answer was already decided anyway.

“No. It had to be at least this much.”

Sion nodded his head and came to that conclusion.

Then, ignoring the surrounding commotion, he observed the inside of his body.

‘The Mobius Circle has successfully settled. The stabilization is sufficient too.’

The core of the Mobius Circle is none other than the ‘Grimoire’. More precisely, the Grimoire installed in the soul.

Since the very premise was unreasonable, it was an option that had only remained as theory in the past.

But now it had become applicable to reality.

The excellent point of the Mobius Circle is that it’s not constrained by circles.

Existing magic forced step-by-step growth. In other words, the ‘stages’ of circles were firmly required.

But in the Mobius Circle, no such thing exists.

Because it’s the ultimate circle.

For Sion, who was already theoretically looking beyond even the Archmage level, it was the optimal circle.

In other words, if ‘mana’ could support him, Sion could currently even use 9th Circle magic.

Though realistically, with his current body and mana, around 6th Circle seemed to be the limit.

“Akasha, calculate the currently available mana amount.”

[The main system of current model 【Akasha】 is resting due to overload. Switching to automatic response mode.]

Akasha’s report continued with a mechanical voice.

[The currently confirmed controllable mana amount of 【Akasha】 is confirmed to be a maximum of 6th Circle level. However, for stable operation, we recommend using only up to 5th Circle magic.]

“For now, 6th Circle at most.”

Even 6th Circle alone was considered a high-level mage by worldly standards.

Though it was only one level difference from 5th Circle, the required amount of mana from that point exceeded imagination.

And for now, Akasha wasn’t in a normal state either due to executing ‘massive calculations.’

There would be nothing he could do about it for now.

In the end, time was the medicine.

‘Since overload is the cause anyway, the mana problem should resolve itself over time.’

So Sion decided to consider himself a 5th Circle mage.

He could use 6th Circle magic, but if stable usage was difficult, it didn’t have much meaning.

“What’s happening!”

Just then, someone urgently entered the room.

Sion confirmed the identity of the uninvited guest who suddenly intruded and chuckled.

The memories of this body’s original owner informed him of the uninvited guest’s identity.

“Well now, isn’t this the Tower Master.”

“…Student Sion.”

A woman looking at him with an expression full of tension.

Sion recalled the information about her remaining in his memories.

‘Tower Master, Lumia Kabala.’

The youngest 6th Circle mage in continental history.

An unprecedented genius who could remain in magical history, and the current owner of the Blue Tower.

She was a person in a completely different position from Sion, who was in this shabby room.

Of course, for the ‘current’ Sion, Lumia was a bit different.

‘That guy’s disciple, huh.’

If she was Archmage Belusian’s disciple, she wasn’t unrelated to Altair either. Belusian had been his close friend.

But suppressing such sentiments for now, he opened his mouth befitting Sion Rostery.

“I never expected the Tower Master to come personally.”

“…What trouble did you cause this time?”

This time?

Sion searched his memories for a moment.

Though he had just completed synchronization, Sion Rostery’s memories didn’t naturally come to mind right away.

And after reviewing the memories, bewilderment filled Sion’s face for the first time.

‘…Is he insane?’

He never expected he would say such words about another person.

Sion Rostery.

A dullard who yearned for magic but wasn’t chosen by magic.

Up to this point was the level he had recalled earlier.

However, the other things were quite serious.

‘Three years ago, attempted civilian kidnapping to solve a problem.’

‘One year and two months ago, threw himself into the Blue Tower’s Sacred Frozen Lake to understand the nature of mana. Rescued by Lumia.’

‘Eight months ago, devised a plan to capture a Blue Dragon Hatchling, but was discovered beforehand and confined to Solitary Confinement for a week.’

All sorts of bizarre memories rummage through his mind.

These were antics that even made Sion let out a hollow laugh.

‘How on earth has he managed to stay in this Tower until now?’

With behavior like this, it wouldn’t have been strange if he’d been kicked out of the Tower long ago.

Maybe if he were an elder who was like a pillar of the Tower, but for a mere student lacking talent, these were crimes that should have gotten him expelled long ago.

But then, how had Sion managed to keep his place in this Tower until now?

And kindly enough, Lumia answered that question for him.

“If you weren’t the direct heir of the Rostery Marquis Family, a scoundrel like you would have been…!”

“Ah.”

Problem solved!

The answer was simple.

Sion Rostery’s family background was incredibly good. So good that even Lumia, the Tower Master, couldn’t ignore it.

“Well, well.”

Sion touched his lips and fell into thought for a moment.

And then.

‘Good.’

He was satisfied.

‘If this was originally a crazy bastard’s body, then it doesn’t matter what I do, right?’

In other words, plausibility had been established.

It also meant that even if Sion acted selfishly, no one would find it strange.

That is, it meant he could act however he pleased in the current situation without any problems.

Having finished his thoughts, Sion immediately spread both arms wide and shouted.

“Tower Master, you can rest assured now!”

“What the hell are you talking about now…”

“Because I’ve been reborn anew as of today. I’m no longer a scoundrel, but newly reborn as Sion 2.0.”

“What?”

Even nonsense tends to sound somewhat fresh when it crosses a certain threshold.

That was exactly Lumia’s current state.

Since she couldn’t understand what on earth he was thinking by acting like this, she wasn’t even angry anymore.

“Right now… after destroying a perfectly good room, what you’re saying is… that?”

“Yes.”

“No, you crazy bas… Hup!”

Unable to overcome her momentary emotional change, Lumia ended up cursing.

She belatedly realized her mistake and covered her mouth, but Sion didn’t seem to mind.

‘What?’

Lumia felt a bit puzzled.

If it had been the usual Sion, he would have thrown a fit at those words.

Could it be that he really had become Sion 2.0?

While Lumia was feeling confused, Sion opened his mouth.

“So, to commemorate being reborn anew, I would like to offer one piece of advice to the Tower Master.”

“What is it.”

Lumia listened to Sion’s words with a tense expression, and Sion casually dropped a bombshell as if it were nothing.

“You know that Magic Theory the Tower Lord recently made public?”

“What about it.”

Lumia crossed her arms and glared at Sion, as if to say she’d listen to whatever nonsense he was about to spout.

Sion smiled brightly and declared.

“Scrap it immediately. It’s garbage.”

“….”

A moment of silence flowed between Sion and Lumia.

And a little while later.

“What did you just say, you bastard?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Lumia erupted in a roar.

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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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