TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 129
White Magic is different from Holy Magic.
Healing wounds and buffs.
Although their basic abilities, such as being strong against the Undead and providing beneficial effects to allies, were the same, White Magic had excellent efficiency in one-on-one combat, unlike Holy Magic.
Divine Power stemmed from a god’s love for humanity, so it was almost ineffective in one-on-one combat, but White Magic was not bound by such limitations.
White Magic (Celestial Magic)
Magic that, just by its name, made one feel chosen was a fortuitous encounter Ruin stumbled upon in an old library during the latter part of the novel.
After being defeated by Hans.
After his master, the Tower Master, died.
When he was mentally cornered, it was magic he obtained miraculously.
Ruin’s ultimate technique.
The foundation that gave Ruin the nickname of the White Flame Wizard in the latter part of the novel.
As he matured mentally.
Learning patience rather than anger.
It was a power he gained at the point when, after many failures, he finally blossomed.
That was one of the fortuitous encounters Ruin obtained.
The current Ruin was very different from his depiction in the novel. Perhaps because this was still the early-to-mid part of the novel, he was much younger and more lacking.
But the Ruin in the latter part of the novel was different.
The Sub Male Lead named Ruin in the novel was a charming guy. Although I didn’t like him because he wasn’t to my taste, I still remembered him as a somewhat cool character for what he did.
The Ruin in the novel was a bit colder and was an impressive presence in front of Yuria.
Chic, with a touch of decadent charm, overflowing with confidence because he knew his own talent, but not someone who bullied others.
And his temper wasn’t as nasty as it is now. Of course, the Ruin I remembered was from the mid-to-late part of the novel.
In the early part of the novel, Ruin didn’t have as much presence as one might think.
To be precise, his presence increased after Yuria’s upcoming kidnapping incident.
From that point on, I don’t know if That Guy matured, but he had a somewhat different vibe compared to the current Ruin.
A little more serious, with a nasty temper, but when Yuria told him to endure, he obediently held back like a lamb.
Perhaps the appearance of an amazing guy like me caused him to waver a lot.
The rivalry between the Young Lady and Ruin wasn’t elaborately described in the novel.
Although there was mention of them being rivals, I remembered there being no instances where he got angry or flared up like he does now when he saw the Young Lady.
Maybe it was because the novel only showed fragments of his character, but the Ruin I knew from the novel seemed slightly different from the current Ruin.
Growing deficiencies.
Flaring up.
Childish behavior.
Of course, it could be because I was directly experiencing stories not included in the novel, and from Yuria’s perspective, it might feel different from what I saw.
The same goes for Mikhail.
To my eyes, they seemed like Young Children consumed by deficiencies, but in the novel, their appearances were drawn with determination and coolness.
I suddenly thought it might simply be a difference in perspective.
“This is why having too much unnecessary interference is a problem. I should’ve just let him struggle.”
Even though I tried my best to avoid interfering with the story, it didn’t go as planned, leaving me with a bit of regret.
And as for what happened during the Ranking Battle… even I thought I went too far with Ruin, so I had nothing to say.
At that time, I was so excited to be at the Academy. Somehow, the thought of being able to legally beat up the Hero I had only seen in the novel made me lose control.
-Thrilling…!
-Stop…!
-The best…!
-Stop hitting me, you crazy bastard!
-Is this possession…?!
-It hurts! You son of a b*!
Even I thought I went too far.
Letting out an Empty Laugh, I pulled out One Book covered in dust from the bookshelf in the Underground Chamber of the estate.
The Underground Chamber, known only to the Young Lady and me, was a place where no one else was allowed entry, and the flickering lantern’s light illuminated the dark space.
Holding a lantern in my hand, I shone it on the book I had taken out.
“Is this the one…? Oh, it is.”
A book covered in dust, bound with Demonic Beast Leather, with nothing remarkable about it. A book that seemed to contain trivial content was hiding its presence under a thick layer of dust.
“I didn’t think I’d end up looking at this book.”
Ancient Grimoire
[Infinite Dance of Light]
The fortuitous encounter that allowed Ruin to grow into an Archmage in the novel and created an incomparable distinction from other Wizards.
When I was young, I had stolen it just in case, and I never thought I would end up using it myself.
An Ancient Grimoire typically contained knowledge about magic and the unique abilities of the grimoire itself.
Learning from someone was a good method, but the knowledge and understanding passed down through a grimoire created by a Wizard who had left the world after a long time were immense enough to be undeniable. Even a grimoire containing ordinary magic like Firestorm boasted a high price.
Especially Ancient Grimoires, which held astronomical value—or rather, value that couldn’t even be measured with money.
Standing before such a grimoire, I hesitated, lost in thought. Should I really be the one to use this grimoire?
I had taken it out with the thought that I’d rather keep it than give it to Ruin, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I could truly utilize it efficiently.
If I were to take away a Secret Art or weapon meant for Mikhail, that might make sense, but as someone with no talent in magic, I felt it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to use it.
This grimoire was a tricky one that would disappear once its successor appeared.
“Sigh… This is troubling.”
Fundamentally, I had no talent for magic.
I objectively recognized that I lacked significant talent in calculating formulas and manifesting imagination.
That’s why I had joined the Swordsmanship Department instead of the Magic Department and had clashed with Mikhail.
Despite seeking out and learning many fortuitous encounters and spells, I had never been able to find a sense for it, so I had given up on learning magic.
That decision had been beneficial for me.
Even without magic, if I could master the sword, I could achieve unrivaled feats, and I thought it would be useful in battles against the Lee Cult, which could occur at any time.
The sword was stronger than magic in one-on-one combat.
As someone who had only pursued Swordsmanship, I was now deeply contemplating whether to learn magic.
It felt too wasteful to give it to someone else.
Yet, giving it to Ruin left me feeling bitter.
Getting stronger was good, but wouldn’t it be better to hand it over to someone who could use it more effectively than me?
The issue with the story caused by the absence of the grimoire could be resolved sufficiently by cutting down the seeds of the Lee Cult from an early age.
If Ruin couldn’t resolve it from there.
Then the conclusion would have to be that it wasn’t a lack of fortuitous encounters but rather his lack of effort.
Not just Hans.
But also the magic books that the Heretics would take.
Most of the individuals who would later grow into great evils had been killed by me or had their fates altered during my Childhood.
Even if problems arose, I could step in and resolve them. There was no need to overthink it.
Unable to reach a clear conclusion, I kept pondering until the lantern’s wick burned down to the bottom.
Thinking about whether there was anyone smart and reliable around….
How much time had passed like that?
I began to hear the loud sound of the beginning of a new day from above.
-Air Raid Alarm!!!!!
I let out a Small Smile.
‘Found it.’
Idiot.
Someone who hated studying but had unparalleled Magical Talent.
And someone I could gladly accept, even if betrayed.
Olivia.
Thinking of the Young Lady, who was likely lying in bed, I climbed the stairs.
*
“Young Lady.”
The Young Lady, lying in bed, rolled over and looked at me.
“Yes.”
“It’s a gift.”
“Hm?”
The Young Lady’s eyebrows twitched as she looked at the square, deep-brown object. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, spread her hands wide, and smiled.
“Chocolate!”
“No, it’s not.”
“Eh…”
At my firm denial, the Young Lady lost interest and turned away from the old Magic Tome with disinterest. To her, anything brown that wasn’t chocolate was naturally excluded from her life, and she huffed through her nose, “Hmph.”
Even though this One Book held the value to build a Chocolate Palace.
The Young Lady let out a deep sigh and shared her small grievance with me.
“I got excited, thinking it was a huge chocolate.”
“It’s something even better.”
“Ricardo, you’re being ridiculous. Nothing in the world is better than chocolate.”
“…”
The Young Lady firmly declared to me.
“I don’t need it, so give me something else.”
I looked at the Young Lady with a meaningful Smile.
“It’s an incredible Gift, though.”
Losing interest upon hearing it wasn’t edible, the Young Lady waved her hand dismissively, as if telling me to leave, showing a leisurely attitude.
“Books are boring.”
“This is an incredibly interesting book.”
“More interesting than the book you gave me last time?”
The Young Lady referred to my personal collection that she read every night. How did she know it was part of a series and ask such a sharp question?
Feeling a pang of guilt, I tightly shut my mouth.
“It’s not like that. It’s a Magic Tome.”
“A Magic Tome?”
The Young Lady rolled her eyes with interest, but soon, she turned sullen and rolled over toward the Window.
She seemed unwilling to talk.
“I can’t use magic.”
“But wouldn’t it be fun to read?”
“What’s fun about looking at something I can’t use?”
The Young Lady huffed and pulled the Blanket over her head, clearly showing her sulking mood.
Mage Who Lost Magic.
Even with her outstanding Talent, the feelings of the Young Lady, unable to use Magic, were something I could never truly understand.
Her Talent was second to none, even greater than Ruin’s. For someone like her, being unable to use Magic must have brought immense emptiness and shock.
However, on a personal note, I strongly wished for the Young Lady to read the Magic Tome.
Just in case.
Because this Magic Tome might create a Miracle, helping her find a clue to restore her lost Mana.
I didn’t fully understand the abilities of this Magic Tome either.
The only description in the Novel was the single line: “Gained wisdom along with White Light.”
What kind of abilities it possessed—I couldn’t know without reading it myself.
That’s why, with a small glimmer of Hope, I extended the Magic Tome to her.
“I’m not reading it.”
But it ended with the Young Lady’s Whiny Complaints.