Chapter 621 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

[Hello, esteemed citizens of Buyeongseong! Today, a dark mage has escaped from the Bureau of Security! We are releasing their features, so if you encounter them, please subdue them immediately or report to the Bureau of Security!] A pigtail girl avatar crafted through light magic eagerly relays the news. My face, captured at an unknown time, is plastered largely next to detailed characteristics about me. Origin: Military State. Minimal magical power. Has undergone implantation of a biological terminal as a bodily catalyst, among other things. The details were quite specific and distinct. “I’ve never been on a wanted list before. It’s my first time becoming this famous.” Though I'm in disguise, someone with a keen eye could capture me right away. Yet, no one managed to find me. No, they hadn't even attempted to look. “By the way…” I glanced around the information board and said, "Doesn’t anyone care?" The mages showed not a hint of interest. A few took note of the girl’s avatar, observing it curiously, but they left without listening to its content. In thorough indifference, the girl’s avatar repeated words no one would hear. I asked Lankart, “Lankart, is Buyeongseong always like this?” “In what way?” “…You didn’t care either?” Indeed, if he cared, I wouldn’t be allowed to pass by the wanted poster. The moment I pointed at the avatar, Lankart finally noticed it. “This avatar? It’s meant to announce news around Buyeongseong. They say the avatar's exaggerated appearance is to at least catch someone’s eye since mages are notoriously indifferent to anything outside their interests.” “Even considering that, they seem indifferent.” “Anyone with above-average intelligence knows it's unusual to be interested in virtual entities. It’s expected.” He’s making dangerous statements. It’s okay to immerse yourself in virtual beings a bit. “Apart from that, my face is on the wanted list.” “Wanted list? I’ve been on one too, but it wasn’t an issue. Mages are rational; if someone clearly superior exists, they bow down and seek teaching. Just throw them a little of your wisdom, and they’ll pant like dogs with delight.” YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WDFmM2pYMG9jSXd2bmN6dVNYTEdNWCtBNWVHRVBKais4d0RPeVlYdjVFMQ “What wisdom do I even have to offer?” I rubbed my temples. Lankart Spendry. A peer with whom I studied at Hamelin’s middle military school, who turncoated from the Military State to the Magic Federation. A child prodigy who awakened his unique magic at only thirteen. How did I become friends with such a genius? Simple. I pretended to be a genius on par with him. They say lies will eventually be revealed, but I am a mind reader. By merely following and reading the thoughts of the genius Lankart, I received a semblance of similar respect. Add the perception of others, and I’d pretend to advance further. Then I became the genius that surpassed him. That’s why Lankart staunchly believes I am the genius beyond him. Well, mind reading is my ability, so genius isn’t far off. “Let’s say the mages are indifferent. What about the ordinary people?” To my question, Lankart responded as if it was obvious. “Ordinary people? They wouldn’t even exist in Buyeongseong.” “The purpose of hierarchy is exploitation. Isn’t that why even mages need someone to clean or run errands, establishing a class of ordinary people?” “No need. Ordinary folks, at least not in Buyeongseong, have no place or air to breathe.” “Looks like you've fully become an elite during my absence.” “One doesn’t become elite; you're born as one. Even back in the Military State, it was you and I who weren’t foolish. The rest were, frankly, below standard. Don’t you think?” This is Lankart's personal opinion and stands far from mine. Such dangerous ideology you're holding there. “And Buyeongseong proves it doesn’t need ordinary folks to function. Look.” As Lankart said, it was true. A mage walking down the street arrived at a building. Though there was an entrance for visitors on the first floor, his destination was higher up. With a tap from his staff, gravity twisted up to lift him directly to the fifth floor. A hungry mage poured a milk crystal into a bowl and sprinkled crumbs. Infusing it with magic, he tapped it lightly. The milk crystal melted, the crumbs absorbed moisture and swelled, becoming cereal. The mage slurped it with relish. Another mage, reading a newspaper, tore a page and floated it into the air. He fished a gem from his pocket, mounted it on his staff, and dispersed light. A dazzling gleam penetrated the paper, ink turned to shadows, and was etched into a small orb as if sucked in. Having quickly scrapped the newspaper, the mage burned the rest and moved on. Magic enveloped the world. The boon of magic offered convenience just by knowing how to utilize it. Gravity, light, wind, crystal, space. Buyeongseong was truly a city of magic. “Mages dwelling in the lower realms hire ordinary people. But in Buyeongseong, even that's impossible. The mystical magics filling Buyeongseong would cause accidents if one cannot sense magic.” “Don’t mages here have attendants?” “Only archmages or tower lords may have students. Yet, there's no inherent superiority or inferiority among the elite. Anyone can awaken unique magic, being its master.” Ordinary folks are foolish. The elite are wise. Beyond this division, no further distinction is necessary. This was the rule governing Buyeongseong, a rule that was appropriate within the confines of Buyeongseong. Without awakening magic, survival here was close to impossible. Lankart chuckled and continued, “I don’t agree there’s no hierarchy among the elite, but it’s undeniable they're better than the Military State’s fools.” Looks like you've found a place that suits you. Happy for you. I internally offered Lankart some words of encouragement and said, “So, how about the person who's going to help us? Are they superior?” “They're superior. Though they're right-handed.” “More than you?” “For now.” Lankart admitted straightforwardly. Adding "for now"? From him, that's like a declaration of surrender. It took nearly a year for him to acknowledge defeat to me (or rather, to my mind reading). Earning his acknowledgment isn't simple. “Of course, not as much as you. But that's due to a lack of ambition. They aren’t making any efforts to become wiser.” “That’s a bit harsh, Lankart. Considering the time and resources spent looking after you, I’d expect you wouldn’t dare say such things.” Just then, a voice reached us. It must have been the acquaintance Lankart mentioned would help us. I looked in the direction the voice was coming from. Lankart’s acquaintance didn’t look like a typical mage. That is to say, they appeared bright and cheerful. A mage with tall, slender limbs. Short-cropped blue hair looked as cool as its color, and simple gold earrings adorned their long ears, catching the light. Without any gems, the earrings seemed to be purely for fashion. Their attire included wide-bottom pants that appeared skirt-like at first glance, and snug gloves that matched well with their blue shirt. Transparent eyes briefly peeked through lightly worn, translucent sunglasses on a pale face. I was quite surprised. To think a mage, no less the Blue Tower Lord, would care about their appearance to this extent! “That’s Huey. The associate I mentioned. They are the Blue Tower Lord.” A mage akin to a Blue Tower Lord and who has mastered unique magic pursuing fashion! “Elisha Celsius. More commonly referred to as the Blue Tower Lord here in Buyeongseong. Nice to meet you, ‘his’ friend, Lankart’s.” The Blue Tower Lord offered me a breezy smile and extended a hand towards me. Caught off guard by their welcoming aura, I shook their hand somewhat bewilderedly. Whether due to magic or their nature, the glove was cold to the touch. I wasn’t the only one sizing up the situation. The Blue Tower Lord glanced at my wrist and said, “You’re the dark mage who escaped, right? Heard you gave the Bureau of Security a good run?” “I had no other choice. I apologize for the commotion.” “Haha! No worries. The Bureau needs a good jolt from time to time. It’s a bit too relaxed in Buyeongseong where only the elite reside. Would it be alright if I call you Huey?” Their friendliness was overwhelming. Almost to an uncomfortable degree. I opted for a polite rejection and said, “That was a name I used in the Military State; I go by Hughes now.” “That’s a pity. It was a good name. But given what the Military State did, I can see why you’d discard it. Personally, I really regret what happened in Hamelin.” “Excuse me?” “It’s the main issue with dark magic. It can be amplified using other people’s lives. So, dark magicians are the easiest to corrupt.... But I respect you for rejecting the taboo and leaving.” Elisha continued the conversation with genuine sympathy. Caught off guard by Elisha’s probing question, I felt rather flustered. They knew about the Hamelin incident? Had they gathered some understanding about me? No, the Blue Tower Lord, Elisha Celsius, is the head of Buyeongseong’s intelligence. Collecting and understanding information, especially related to magic outside the Magic Federation, is what they do. Given their interaction with Lankart, finding out about Hamelin wouldn’t be difficult. Simply, purely... “Hey, Lankart!” I was bewildered by this mage's uncharacteristic warmth and friendliness! “You’re the one who introduced them! Now you take the lead!” It’s exhausting trying to interact with someone so forward when we’re not even close! As I called out, Lankart answered reluctantly. “I don’t feel like it. It’s draining.” “And interacting with me isn’t?” “You too? Strange. My judgment led me to think you two were similar.” “We’re in different leagues! While my friendliness blends in naturally, this person forcefully squeezes it in! It’s a dynamic where it’s just me who finds it taxing!” “Haha! Quite the entertaining plebeian you have there. You can say I’m a bit hurt, hearing such a burden stated to my face?” The Blue Tower Lord lifted their sunglasses and chuckled warmly. Their mere presence seemed to cool the surrounding air. This person, likely more popular among women than men, is the Blue Tower Lord, Elisha Celsius. The mage Shei thought could help us. I wondered what kind of eccentric mage would willingly offer help, but meeting them in person and reading their thoughts gave me clarity. ‘Plebeians can’t help it. They’re foolish. Who would choose to be born foolish?’ Is it out of kindness? Humility? Not at all. The Blue Tower Lord, as a mage... ‘Ah, the more I learn about the world outside Buyeongseong, the clearer it becomes just how riddled with foolishness it is. So much that it’s been normalized as common. Thus, I’d best treat them kindly. Providing plebeians with even a single strand of wisdom is a tribute to my luminous intellect.’ Among the eccentric mages, they stood out as an even more deranged oddball!