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“…….”

Our esteemed elders didn’t react at all. I tried to break the awkward silence by talking to myself.

“Am I the only one who feels refreshed? Haha.”

I tried again, but I was completely ignored. But it’s okay. I know that the elderly can be too weak to respond.

Yes, it can be difficult. I’m such an understanding person.

“Stop feeling refreshed and sit down.”

“Yes.”

I sat on the edge and looked around. All the elders were gathered.

Head Elder Norman, Elder Isaac, and even a first-circle elder who looked like a master.

Looking closely, they didn’t seem to be lacking in energy. They all seemed to have a lot to say but were holding back.

Especially some of them were giving me burning stares.

There was a moment of silence…….

“Now that Ruin is here……Kehel!”

“Ruin.”

Kazen and Head Elder Norman spoke at the same time.

Head Elder Norman started coughing and drooling as if he was choking. The sudden memory of his foul saliva made me want to laugh, but I quickly covered my mouth and managed my expression.

“Ah, I apologize, Head Elder.”

“It’s alright. You speak first, Head.”

Kazen apologized to Head Elder Norman and looked at me.

“Are you feeling alright, Ruin?”

It wasn’t the question I expected, so I was momentarily speechless. Kazen’s expression made me feel strange, so I quickly nodded.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t answer so carelessly.”

Kazen scolded me in a stern voice.

“Where did you go as soon as you woke up? Look at yourself. Your eyes are as dark as a starved corpse. You may think you’re fine, but internal injuries don’t heal so easily. If you’re not careful, there could be serious aftereffects, so heed my words.”

His worried eyes felt a little burdensome.

“……I’ll be careful.”

Head Elder Norman exchanged glances with Kazen for a moment, and when Kazen nodded, he spoke.

“Ruin.”

“Yes, Head Elder.”

“……I can’t help but ask. What method did you use to make your circle magic different?”

With the Head Elder’s question, the atmosphere in the Head’s Hall changed. All eyes were on me.

All the elders had the same question, and Head Elder Norman asked it on their behalf.

And I had already anticipated this question.

I had been thinking about how to explain it, but I had decided that being honest was the best option.

“Um, I don’t know what you mean.”

I don’t know. That’s my honest answer.

Circle magic is supposed to have that kind of power. It’s the current generation of mages who are abnormal.

My answer seemed to confuse Head Elder Norman, who widened his eyes and replied.

“You don’t know?”

“Yes. I just did what I trained for.”

“How did you train?”

“Nothing special. I took a four-hour walk every morning and evening, and did a two-hour horse stance? In that state, I kept repeating the incantation. When I couldn’t stand anymore, I sat down and practiced breathing. I kept rotating the circle, and when I felt my heart burning like I’d done a lot of sit-ups, I’d maintain that state for about an hour.”

As I spoke, the elders’ mouths dropped open.

“You trained in such a crazy way?”

“Huh, even for a brute, that’s too much.”

“……Unbelievable.”

The Head Elder closed his jaw and fell into thought, and the other elders also fell into their own thoughts.

I watched them quietly.

After all, they had spent their entire lives studying circle magic. No matter how roughly I spoke, they would surely understand something from it.

Elder Isaac sighed and opened his mouth.

“……You pushed your body to the limit and burned the circle to its limit to accept mana.”

Head Elder Norman and the other elders also sighed.

“Huh……. It’s completely different from the basics. It’s a completely different path from the common mana training methods.”

“It’s a method that I could only think of because I hadn’t learned magic.”

Elder Isaac stared at me intently and then suddenly asked another question.

“Then what about the incantation?”

“Yes?”

“The Ifrit thing you were saying. Even the Crimson Flame seemed surprised. I’ve never heard of that kind of incantation before either.”

Once again, all eyes were on me. This time, Kazen was also looking at me.

Suddenly, I felt bitter seeing those longing eyes.

How nice would it be if the ones sending those passionate gazes were not old men but other people? I died in my past life without even having a single relationship. Damn it.

Anyway, this was a difficult question to explain, and no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with the right words.

In the end, I hesitated and replied as best as I could.

“I just blurted it out, Elder.”

“What?”

“What do you think an incantation is?”

At my question, Elder Isaac closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes. Instead, another elder next to him replied.

“It’s the manifestation of the mind or will. It’s the chanting of a standardized spell to embody the imagined image in the most stable form in reality.”

I nodded.

“That’s right. But at that moment, I didn’t have an incantation to express my image. The only thing that came to mind was Ifrit, so I just blurted out whatever I could think of.”

Head Elder Norman, who had been listening quietly, opened his eyes wide and shouted.

“You’re saying that’s possible!”

‘Is this guy crazy?’

What is he talking about? Of course, it’s impossible.

If it were, everyone would be an archmage.

Strictly speaking, what I manifested wasn’t an incantation. The only incantation I’ve memorized is Fireball. I simply forced the Ifrit’s essence to awaken and put it into the Fireball.

But there was no way to explain this, so I kept my mouth shut and remained silent.

I just hoped that the elders would think more deeply about ‘Ifrit’…….

“Huh. My mind can’t comprehend it.”

“Same here. It seems a genius has appeared in our Samael.”

“……A blessing. This is a blessing.”

Despite the admiration, everyone seemed somewhat disappointed.

‘Huh?’

No. This wasn’t the reaction I wanted.

According to my Samael development plan, I still had things to exploit from the elders, no, things to do through the elders.

I needed to make the elders crave me even more. I quickly looked around at the elders and continued speaking.

“Elders, it’s not that I’m talented.”

I simply resurrected like a dog.

“You can do it too, Elders.”

“…….”

“Fighting.”

Seeing the veins bulging on Head Elder Norman’s forehead, I realized my mistake and quickly launched into a passionate speech.

“I’ll help you, Head Elder. Please don’t take it the wrong way and listen.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Think about it. It’s embarrassing, but until recently, I was living a reckless life. Don’t all the elders here know that? The disgrace of Samael, without a single ounce of mana, associating with trash, trash among trash. The worst of the worst. The most useless of the useless. Even a fool like me was able to do it. It’s presumptuous of me, but if I could just help you a little, I’m sure you could achieve even greater things.”

Hearing my tearful self-loathing, the elders’ eyes gradually began to burn with desire. Of course, it wasn’t because they pitied me.

‘Yes, this is it.’

My intentions were working perfectly.

I knew that no matter how old they got, the fiery passion of Samael wouldn’t fade.

As the elders rushed to ask questions, Kazen slammed his fist on the table a couple of times.

Thump— Thump—

“Elders. I think it would be better to ask personal questions later. Haven’t we heard Ruin’s opinion on the agenda yet?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“I guess I got a little carried away.”

The elders, with embarrassed expressions, adjusted their posture and sat down again with a serious demeanor.

“Ruin.”

Kazen made eye contact with me and spoke.

“I’ll tell you the real reason we called you today. We called you because we’re curious about your opinion. Think carefully and answer.”

I had a feeling something important was about to come up.

“Do you still think we don’t need the help of the Red Magic Tower?”

“Yes.”

Kazen’s voice grew a little louder.

“Has your opinion not changed at all?”

“Of course not.”

Kazen stood up and approached me, saying,

“Even if it means the family will be in great danger? Think carefully and answer, Ruin.”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“This is our matter. Help is only meaningful when it’s between equals. The very thought of relying on the Red Magic Tower is making us weak. The more we rely on the Red Magic Tower, the more Samael will lose its power. It’s right for us to overcome this, even if it’s difficult.”

Kazen, who had somehow come right in front of me, stared at me as if he were trying to pierce through my eyes.

“Even if it means the family will perish as a result?”

I thought of Pelleer and met Kazen’s gaze.

“That is the Samael way.”

“…….”

There was a moment of silence.

Rough breathing could be heard.

Kazen slowly walked back to his seat and muttered,

“……Alright. I heard you well. So that’s what you think, Ruin.”

Suddenly, a smile spread across Kazen’s face. I suddenly felt a familiar scent from him.

Kazen stood up and declared,

“From now on, Ruin, you will be responsible for the apprentices’ training.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve already informed the Red Magic Tower, so you should know.”

Only then did I realize that Kazen and the elders had already made that decision and asked me.

Suddenly, I remembered the annoying tiger eyebrows and asked,

“Then did Hector return to the tower?”

Kazen shook his head.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Hector so shocked, so I don’t know. But he wouldn’t have returned to the tower. He would have told me if he did. He’s probably somewhere in Mount Khaoto.”

“I see.”

I casually changed the subject.

“By the way, about the Bayern’s money. Is there any progress?”

“Forget it. That’s not your concern.”

“…….”

“You can leave now.”

Seeing the expressions of the Head and the elders, who had just given me the order to leave, harden in an instant, I sighed inwardly.

“Ah, and Ruin.”

“…….”

“The atmosphere in Khaoto is quite ominous these days, so refrain from going outside the family estate if possible.”

Yeah, I’d like that too.

But it’s not like I’m not going to go out.

* * *

“It seems he’s finally breaking out of his shell.”

The young elder, who had been silent until now, muttered in an admiring voice.

“……Indeed. I didn’t expect him to change like this.”

Isaac nodded in agreement.

There were certainly some unclear parts in Ruin’s explanation, but that wasn’t the important part.

Enlightenment was often difficult to explain in words.

But what was truly surprising was Ruin’s attitude.

He didn’t hesitate to declare that he would protect Samael with his own hands.

‘Huh, really…….’

It didn’t feel like the mere bravado of a young child.

‘Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?’

The sight of Ruin fighting to the end against the Crimson Flame, even while coughing up blood.

Although the current Samael had lost its past glory.

The Ruin they saw today was worthy of being called the true heir of Samael.

“I agree. Of course, Ruin still seems a bit out of it……. Why are you making that face, Kazen? Ah, ahem. Of course, I’m saying this out of concern.”

Head Elder Norman thoughtlessly chimed in before hastily correcting himself. It was only after he noticed Kazen’s expression that he realized his slip of the tongue.

Only then did Kazen open his closed eyes and look around.

“Is there still no news from Leon’s side?”

Instantly, everyone’s expressions hardened.

Kazen’s words brought the elders back to reality.

“……There’s not a single one yet.”

“What about the noble families?”

“We can’t reach them.”

The elders sighed, looking at each other.

“……There are still families who haven’t given us an answer yet, so we’ll have to wait.”

“I hope there’s good news.”

“Since we decided not to ask the Red Magic Tower for help, we have to find a way somehow. Even if something happens……. We can’t give up Khaoto.”

A heavy silence followed for a while.

* * *

I sat on the railing, staring endlessly at the main gate like a stray dog waiting for food.

It was about time for Rihan to return with news from the outside.

I had planted the seeds of discord between Bayern and Dark Soul, so something must have happened by now.

‘Hmm, but he’s not coming back.’

Bored, I looked down at the training ground where the apprentices were in the middle of their training, and my feet instinctively moved.

“Gather!”

The apprentices walked over, grumbling with sour expressions. In the bright sunlight, I noticed something awkward about their movements and immediately asked,

“Hey guys, did you do your running today? I don’t think I heard the command.”

“That’s because……”

Zion, on behalf of the shuffling apprentices, spoke with a pitiful expression.

“Commander, my legs aren’t listening after yesterday’s training.”

“Aha. Yesterday’s training was hard, so you skipped it?”

Makan raised his hand.

“I ran, Commander.”

“Excellent.”

Clap clap clap—

As I applauded Makan, the other apprentices cursed under their breath.

‘That tactless bastard.’

I glared at the apprentices, and they all lined up in front of me with resigned expressions. Looks like they’ve only gotten better at reading the room.

“Makan, step aside. Today, we’re going to the middle of Mount Khaoto. Run.”

“……Yes, sir!”

“Go!”

‘F*ck.’

“Whoever said f*ck, step forward.”

Gasp! Two of them flinched at the sound, and I made a mental note of them. This is why psychological warfare is important. The little bastards were testing me, and they got caught right away.

I ran along with them, checking to see if anyone was slacking off at the back of the line. It was refreshing to run with the apprentices while receiving the mountain’s energy after a long time.

I took the opportunity to look around at the scenery.

The deeper I went, the stronger the smell of the mountain became, and the terrain became more rugged. Then, as I passed a steep cliff, I looked up at the top of the cliff without thinking.

“…….”

After running for a while longer, I reached the halfway point and passed the same cliff again in the opposite direction.

“Stop.”

I stopped the group for a moment.

“……Why, Commander?”

“We still have to go a little further down.”

“You guys go down first.”

The apprentices were tired and ran forward without saying anything. As soon as the back of the line disappeared from sight, I looked up at the empty air.

“Come out.”

The rubble on the cliff scattered, and with a flapping sound, someone landed behind me.

———-