The AI Archmage - Chapter 6

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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 6

What would happen if there was no need to recite incantations one by one when manifesting magic?

The answer is simple.

One would become free from speed, the greatest weakness of mages.

Then why do mages implement magic with long incantations?

The answer to that is also simple.

Because they can’t.

Of course, it’s not impossible.

When one reaches a high level, they can cast low-level magic with Chantless Casting.

However, most can only manage magic considerably below their own level.

Usually, one must reach the 6th Circle to barely use 1st Circle magic with Chantless Casting.

But now.

“H-how…”

Sion Rostery had manifested a 4th Circle magic, Mana Field, with Chantless Casting before everyone’s eyes.

Theoretically, this was a level only possible upon reaching the 9th Circle.

“N-no, that’s impossible!”

Tult shook his head violently, denying reality, and tried to manifest magic by reciting incantations again.

But this time was the same.

“Magic Missile.”

As if mocking Tult who was earnestly reciting incantations, Sion manifested magic without any incantation at all.

And that Magic Missile reached right in front of Tult’s nose in an instant.

Swoosh!

“Huh, urgh…”

Right before Tult’s eyes, an arrow made of mana had stopped.

A drop of cold sweat fell down his chin.

He stared at it with trembling eyes, then soon collapsed weakly onto the spot.

“Hah, haah.”

Silence enveloped the surroundings.

Sion paid no mind to the gazes focused on him and lightly extended his hand to manifest another magic.

There was no ‘incantation’ in that process.

No, to be precise.

[Do you now understand my usefulness, Human?]

‘Do you also understand my greatness in creating such a being as you?’

[Tsk, can’t let one word slide.]

Akasha had calculated so quickly that incantations were unnecessary.

Of course, Akasha’s computational ability was important, but Sion’s ability to utilize it was also at an unimaginable level.

Sion’s magic moved organically as if it were a living being.

It was a skill that could be called art in itself.

The students present could only watch the scene in a daze, unable to take their eyes off it.

Lumia was the same.

‘This is impossible.’

Having reached the highest level among those present, Lumia knew well just how absurd what Sion had just shown was.

Magic of a level she couldn’t even dare to imitate.

Something that would only be possible for someone like her master Belusian.

Then Sion’s voice rang out.

“Is it over?”

“Ah.”

Tult seemed to finally come to his senses, asking hesitantly.

“H-how did you d-do that?”

Formal speech had come out without him realizing it, but Tult couldn’t even think to correct it.

It had been that shocking.

“How did you use Chantless Casting magic…”

Only one possibility came to mind immediately.

The possibility that Sion Rostery was a high circle mage who had been hiding his true level.

That was the only way to use Chantless Casting magic.

“Ah, you mean Chantless Casting?”

“Y-yes.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Sion’s mouth.

Sion shrugged his shoulders and said.

“It’s easy if you know the method.”

“…Method?”

At those words, Tult’s mouth fell open.

What Sion was saying now was… how should he put it.

It was as if…

‘He’s talking as if there’s a method to use Chantless Casting magic?’

Not simply having a high level, but there being a method to use Chantless Casting?

But that was impossible.

If such a thing existed, it would have been known long ago.

Throughout the long history of magic, countless mages had researched it, but Chantless Casting magic was something they ultimately couldn’t achieve.

In the end, the known conclusion was that it could only be forcibly achieved based on an overwhelming level of mastery.

[Exactly the reaction you expected.]

Akasha spoke, sensing the gazes focused on Sion as if entranced.

[The other humans’ reactions changed instantly. They’re all focused solely on Human.]

‘Of course they would be.’

Chantless Casting magic carried that much weight.

He had intended this from the beginning when he showed it in front of everyone.

Most importantly.

‘I can see that the Tower Master can’t collect herself either.’

Lumia Kabala, the Blue Tower Master, was also staring at him as if entranced.

Now it was time to move according to plan.

“Now then.”

Sion looked at everyone and spoke.

“Chantless casting. Anyone here who’s ever thought they’d like to try it? Or perhaps someone who’d sell their soul if only they could do this?”

“S-soul?”

“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor.”

He meant he’d milk them dry enough to sell their souls.

At those words, the students glanced at each other nervously.

Sion smiled slyly and said.

“So, are there any of you with such grand ambitions?”

“W-wait a moment!”

One of the students raised their hand quickly.

Sion nodded with a benevolent expression.

“C-could it be black magic or something…?”

“It’s not.”

“T-then does that mean it’s a power without problems?”

“Yes.”

“N-no side effects either?”

“Yes.”

“…!”

At those words, the students murmured and expressed their amazement.

Chantless casting with no side effects?

This was truly a miracle.

But even so, the reason the students couldn’t boldly raise their hands was because the one saying this was none other than Sion Rostery.

The scoundrel of the Blue Tower.

Since all the mages of the Blue Tower knew of his track record, they couldn’t easily believe it even after seeing that magic before their eyes.

As the students were conflicted like this, someone’s voice rang out.

“…Student Sion.”

“T-Tower Master!”

The students reflexively stepped aside to make way.

Lumia followed that path and arrived in front of Sion.

Naturally, Sion faced Lumia without showing the slightest sign of being shaken.

“Ah, you’ve come?”

“…”

Lumia stared intently at Sion.

A person she simply couldn’t understand.

“What… do you want to do?”

Honestly speaking, she couldn’t get a read on him.

This was Sion who had committed all sorts of eccentric acts in the Blue Tower for a full three years.

Such a person suddenly dispelling a 6th Circle mage’s magic and even demonstrating chantless casting?

Moreover, she knows about her master’s Secret Repository that even she, his disciple, doesn’t know about?

It doesn’t make sense by any standard.

But that doesn’t mean this situation can be denied.

Over dozens of people witnessed it with their own eyes.

And then Sion’s mouth opened.

“I give it 10 years.”

“…Excuse me?”

Lumia tilted her head in confusion.

10 years?

What on earth is he talking about?

Lumia’s question was soon answered.

“Until this Tower falls. At most, it’ll be 10 years.”

“…!”

At those words, everyone present widened their eyes.

“W-wait, Student Sion…! What are you saying!”

Serentia, the Sub-Tower Master who had been watching the situation from behind Lumia, shouted urgently.

But Sion’s words didn’t stop.

“You’re already on the Magic Council’s bad side to begin with. Moreover, they’ve even branded you as ‘heretics,’ haven’t they? That’s a word the Council only uses when they’re determined to kill their target.”

“…”

“The reason those old men want to kill the Blue Tower? It’s simple. Because it might interfere with maintaining their own personal interests.”

Sion looked straight at Lumia as he spoke.

“They’re trying to make you submit, Tower Master. And if they can’t make you submit, they’ll try to kill you.”

“…”

“That’s why it’s 10 years. No, lasting even 10 years would be doing well.”

It’s the same pattern as with Altair.

The Council is very sensitive to Magic Tools or theories that overturn the existing Magic World.

Using the word ‘heretic’ in the first place is something they would never do under normal circumstances.

Traditionally, mages have drawn a line between themselves and religion.

But the current Magic Council is trying to use the same methods that the Temple uses to eliminate hostile entities.

This is also proof that the Council has already lost the essence of magic.

‘What the…?’

Lumia was dumbfounded at being so naturally scolded in front of the students.

She had just asked a simple question… but somehow, the conversation had instantly jumped to the Blue Tower’s doom.

But it wasn’t wrong.

She too knew how precarious the current situation was.

“S-so what are you telling me to do? Since we might fall in 10 years, should we just submit as is? To that ‘corrupt Council’ you mentioned?”

“Of course not.”

With those words, Sion looked around at the students.

“In the end, a Magic Tower’s power is determined by the level of the mages belonging to that Magic Tower. So what would the answer be?”

Sion grinned.

“Every student here just needs to become superior to the mages of other Magic Towers.”

“…!”

It was an absurdly idealistic statement.

However, the students couldn’t find words to refute it because what Sion had just demonstrated was so overwhelmingly impressive.

Sion continued speaking.

“So how do we raise the students’ average scores? It’s simple. We teach them. The presence of excellent teachers is important, after all. However….”

Sion chuckled and said.

“There’s a minor problem that the Blue Tower currently lacks such excellent teachers.”

“Th-that’s….”

Since it was true, Lumia couldn’t refute it either.

Until Belusian disappeared, the Blue Tower had many excellent mages.

But during the decline, they left the Blue Tower one by one or were forcibly taken by others.

“Somehow, it seems the Tower Master and Sub-Tower Master are personally putting effort into education, but neither of you seem to have talent for teaching.”

“…!”

At those words, Lumia and Serentia’s faces turned bright red.

“Ah, they definitely don’t have much teaching talent….”

“We’re basically self-taught using Teaching Materials, aren’t we?”

The students agreed with Sion’s words.

Regardless of their good character and skills, their teaching abilities were at a serious level.

“Ugh, uugh….”

“So I’m offering to help. I’ve already proven my ‘definite value’ in front of everyone just now.”

“H-help, how would you….”

“Teacher.”

Sion declared confidently.

“Give me a Teaching Certificate. I’ll cultivate talent like crazy.”

“…!”

At those words, Lumia’s eyes widened, and she rolled them around.

‘This isn’t bad at all, surprisingly?’

Honestly speaking, there wasn’t much to lose.

Becoming a teacher meant teaching the Magic Tower’s students, not taking anything away from the Magic Tower.

With the skills Sion had just demonstrated, he would at least be better than herself and Serentia.

However.

“Um, excuse me….”

There was still one big problem that was difficult to resolve.

“But, we don’t have… money? Even if you become a teacher, the salary is….”

“Three months probation, unpaid.”

“Congratulations on becoming a teacher of the Blue Tower, Teacher Sion!”

Without any hesitation, Lumia immediately delivered a welcoming greeting.

Sion chuckled and nodded his head.

Akasha clicked her tongue and expressed her condolences.

[They took the bait. What a pitiful human.]

‘It’s a good deal for both of us.’

[In my simulation, I can see the near future of a poor Tower Master being dragged around by Human.]

‘They say pain is youth.’

[Ah, yes.]

Akasha, who knew Sion’s true intentions, looked at Lumia with pitying eyes.

Though she had no intention of saying anything about it.

* * *

‘Crazy.’

One person among the confused crowd swallowed hard, trying to hide their agitation.

‘This is… an unexpected variable.’

Considering the mission she had received, Sion Rostery’s existence right now was a tremendous variable.

A critical matter that needed to be reported to the Family immediately.

Who would have thought that of all people, a direct descendant who had been practically abandoned by the Family would possess such talent.

How on earth had he hidden it?

Either way, it didn’t matter much.

For her, she just needed to faithfully report the current situation to the Family.

That’s why she had infiltrated the Blue Tower.

Just as she was slowly backing away, trying to slip out of that place.

“…?!”

For a brief moment, Sion’s gaze turned toward her.

Shh.

Sion looked at her, quietly raised his index finger to his lips, and smiled.

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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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