Chapter 642 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

In the realm of Celsius, which had now welcomed the arrival, two "hot spots" emerged. One, naturally, was the celestial floating fortress. The capital of the Mage Federation, a miraculous city that drifted in the sky. Inside, it resembled an otherworldly domain where, due to gravitational anomalies, people could walk on walls and ceilings. It was a wonder incomparable to the Celsius domain, known merely for freezing ice a touch better. Today, those who longed for the floating fortress lay under its shadow, mouths wide open, eagerly waiting for the sweet fruits that might fall from it. And the other was the academy where a mage claiming to be from the floating fortress resided. In just over a fortnight, this mage ran a small academy on the frontier and had already produced five magicians, awakening magical senses in more than a hundred. His achievements in those fortnightly days matched the yearly output of the Celsius domain. It is often said that a word without wings can travel a thousand miles. All the lottery winners of the floating fortress rushed to meet him, who could supposedly confirm their winnings. Such was the demand that even non-existent black-market tickets were being sold. And whispers circulated quietly. Rumors said he secretly taught magic to hopeless fools. Many sought him out keenly. The hope of fools. The mage who made magicians. The teacher of the ignorant citizens. I was the very person they spoke of in those whispers. "Hilde, let in ten more people." "Yes! The next ten, please step forward!" Hilde, having gone outside, raised her voice high. Chaos ensued among the people who had been waiting in silence for this moment. "I was the tenth! Who's standing in front of me?" "Hey, over there! No cutting the line!" "We three are together. They were holding our spot." "What nonsense! You three planning to stick together on the road to the afterlife too?" Competition often turns savage, even when it's as simple as lining up. Hilde again shouted at the people with vigor. "Everyone! Stop the nonsense and show your tickets, please! You'll enter in ticket order! Numbers one through ten!" With the clamor rising, the students entered the academy full of expectation. Clutching a slim hope that they might be chosen to become magicians. And even if they weren't chosen? They'd still learn ceremonial magic. "Don't push! I'm number one!" "Who on earth is pushing? There's no one behind me!" "Hey! Whoa whoa...!" Then, collectively, the line of students was pushed aside. The crowd, dense and tightly packed, slid sideways as if moved by an invisible conveyor belt. Trying not to fall, they shoved each other, and like a chain reaction, one toppled another. Chaos erupted. Screams and noise filled the front of the academy as people rolled into a heap, leaving the area empty. "Excuse me." Then a group approached the now vacant street. They were magicians clad in robes holding a subtle blue hue, accompanied by five bodyguards. Experts in martial arts scoured the surroundings with sharp eyes. "Move! Get up! My daughter is trapped!" "Mom! Mom!" The front of the academy was in disarray. The unprecedented force that had come with the mage swept all the people away. Gently observing, the mage lowered his hand, causing the pressure in the space to dissipate. The mage, who had pushed aside all the people with just a gesture, scanned his surroundings with disdainful eyes. Meanwhile, one person among them managed to resist the magic. An elderly retired mage, currently running a small academy, rose and protested. "What are you doing! How can you use such rough magic with so many children around!" It was evident that the mage was the cause. It was clear that, logically, no one else would have the capability or reason to wield magic. However, the magician shamelessly retorted. "Magic? What magic?" "The...!" The elder couldn't answer the mage's question. He didn't know what kind of magic it was. Though a magician in the past, his skills hadn't been particularly advanced. The magic that the current elite performed was too complex for the elder to grasp. ‘The mana is infused into the space. Is it wind magic? But there wasn't any wind...’ The elder stayed silent, while the mage spoke contemptuously. "If you are a magician too, prove it. Prove what magic I used. If you accuse me without knowing, I'll charge you with defamation." The Mage Federation's rule was straightforward. Those who claimed victimization must prove their claim. This was only logical. Proving non-existence is impossible, so the burden of evidence falls on those asserting a happening. But if it were magic? Something that common sense couldn't explain, a force too subtle to perceive without magical detection? The Mage Federation adhered firmly to this principle. Even if it required proving the unprovable facts of magic, non-magicians are still expected to verify it. As if retaliating for witch hunts of old. Knowledge is power, and magic is authority. That became the ideology of the Mage Federation. It's beneficial to me. "It was a combination of wind and crystallization magic. Air was solidified into a faint crystalline form, making space feel like jelly. By moving it with Pascal's principle, people were pushed all at once." Had he meant to clear them out, he could have generated a strong wind or pushed them with ice. But the magician deliberately used a complex approach. To show off his prowess and avoid leaving room for even lesser beings to refute. A futile effort against one who can read thoughts, like me. I discerned the mage’s train of thoughts and provided the perfect explanation. The elder, finally understanding, exclaimed in awe, while the mage twisted his lips in dissatisfaction. ‘He’s a mage preparing to scale the ladder after being expelled from the floating city, yet he recognized air crystallization right away? He’s got potential.’ Such internal musings were brief. Compared to that, the mage somewhat politely addressed me. "I apologize for the delay in introducing myself. I am Tempelus Kelvin, a magic scholar employed by House Celsius. I came here after hearing tales about you." "Did you pick a queue number?" "...Excuse me?" I replied with a casual expression. "I asked if you got a ticket. Everyone here has come specifically to see me." It was only then that Tempelus noticed the tickets clutched in the hands of the fallen people. His expression stiffened as he quickly realized their purpose. "Ha... a jest. Do you really think I'm the same as them?" "Well, order isn't always crucial. There are times when I can see someone first, regardless of their ticket." "Of course." Hmm? Not what I meant by special. I corrected his misunderstanding. "I hope what you need is special enough to interrupt my work. Otherwise, it's merely a waste of time." "...!" "Hilde, pack my things. We're going on a trip today." After calling Hilde inside, I casually donned my coat and stepped outside. Ignoring Tempelus's glare, I addressed the crowd lying around. "Today's lessons are canceled. While I'm away, you should study on your own. I don’t know when I'll return, but even if I do, only those who are prepared will receive magic." "Agh... I've waited for days..." "This man here performed magic to take first place without even drawing a ticket. That power to disregard order, now that's true magic. Strive diligently, so you too can become such a magician. That is all." Tempelus's face turned a shade of crimson. Why? Did he think my speech was a mockery? It wasn't. I was merely stating the truth. As I finished my speech, Hilde emerged with my belongings. I took them from her and gestured for Tempelus to lead the way. Tempelus commented, "This isn't a place to bring a maid." “Then should I ask you to assist with my baths?” "...How vulgar. Do as you please." 'If not for Lady Elisha's words, I'd execute this man here. Why does she care for such a person?' Tempelus bit his lip and whirled around. His escorts broadened their formation to encircle both Hilde and me. It was unclear whether they were protecting or transporting us. Under heavy escort, we headed to the heart of the Celsius estate. Known as the Ice Castle, the Celsius family’s estate is aptly named. The simplest and most accurate description. The Celsius estate seemed like a fairy-tale ice castle brought to life. Its walls and pillars were transparent, emanating a soft blue glow. The transparent crystals distorted sunlight like a kaleidoscope, illuminating the world in lieu of the sky obscured by the floating fortress. The enormous wall and giant gates were also made of ice. Not bricks, but solidified into that shape from the start. Despite being a massive structure, its surface bore neither small scratches nor blemishes. The unrealistically large ice castle appeared as clear and transparent as if it had been plucked straight from a fantasy. As I walked, I nonchalantly reached out to touch the ice wall. It was warm. For ice, that is. It was warm enough to believe it was warm water frozen solid. Warm ice, two seemingly incongruent words, coexisted as a unified concept. "Do you know the rules of the Celsius estate?" Tempelus, who was watching me with sideways glances, suddenly asked. Without looking at him, I replied. "Above freezing and boiling points, yes?" "Then you must also understand the principle behind the ice of the castle." 'Let's see if you really grasp it. The Celsius domain is the wealthiest and most exceptional in the Mage Federation—it's not a place for the likes of you to disrespect!' Starting the mind games already? Hmm. But too bad, structurally, you can't pose a question I don't know the answer to. Reading Tempelus's mind with telepathy, I responded, carefully choosing my words for elegance. "Warm ice doesn't melt. It lacks the warmth to take from me." "...Your expression is poetic, for a magician." Was that sarcasm? A lack of literary finesse. I clarified further. "The rules of the Celsius domain surpass freezing and boiling points. In essence, the ice forms a crystalline structure not from cold but from magic. They've applied this rule to the castle walls, creating ice that's nearly room temperature. It’s due to the unique Celcius magic... and likely thanks to an artifact too, I assume?" Tempelus was caught off guard, not expecting I'd discern even the presence of an artifact. I savored his reaction, lightly adding to my statement. "How did I know about an artifact? A simple deduction. Even above freezing, the point shouldn’t be this high. Otherwise, you'd lack drinking water due to everything freezing over. My waterskin still holds unfrozen water. Therefore, if magic affects only the ice structures, it wouldn't be just regular magic but rather an inherent magical phenomenon... leading to the conclusion of an artifact." Artifacts, by nature, cause such extraordinary phenomena without needing additional magic. The Celsius domain likely housed several of those kinds of artifacts. Possibly feeling overwhelmed by my abundant explanation, Tempelus coughed awkwardly to silence me. "Ahem, ahem. No need to be so exhaustive." "Wrong." "Pardon?" "Your answer was wrong. I was merely being courteous, explaining since it seemed you'd misunderstood. You should be thankful." Tempelus's face turned beet red at my blatant dismissal. Tempelus, a part of the elite. As a problem-solver for House Celsius, he had the prowess to ascend to the floating fortress if he wished. He had chosen to reign in Celsius estate rather than eke out an existence in the floating fortress. While he disdained others, he had never experienced such disrespect. Yet here I was, an outsider, openly dismissing him. It was a deeply humiliating situation for Tempelus. But what can be done? With telepathy, I maintain a subtle advantage over anyone in a contest of knowledge. I know what he knows, but he doesn't know what I do. In other words, I am ranked one step above anyone else in this Mage Federation. So, that makes me the best, right? Isn’t that the truth in this Mage Federation? Exasperated by my consistent arrogance, Tempelus glowered at me. "...Enough of that. I understand you are extraordinary. At first, I was skeptical, but meeting you and having this conversation has made it clear." "I understand. It's often difficult to know until you see someone in person." "I'm not sure if your arrogance is justified, but I now comprehend why the lady values your abilities so highly." Tempelus spoke as he led me deeper into the Ice Castle. I boldly stepped forward. The ice doors slid open soundlessly. "However, this land belongs to the House of Celsius." With that, the doors of the Ice Castle closed behind me, cutting off any escape route. Just as he had been waiting for this moment, Tempelus snapped his fingers. His five escorts turned and encircled me. The sharp energy they exuded made it obvious that their intent was no longer to protect. Hilde feigned fear, clutching her bag tightly and trembling. "Oh? Teacher, what's going on? You said this was a business trip?" "I guess this is the 'business' they were talking about. Threatening me?" In the tense atmosphere, where conflict seemed imminent, Tempelus struck his staff on the ground. One side of the Ice Castle melted away, revealing a hidden facility. It was a prison with icicles hanging like long bars. A minimalist construct meant solely for confinement, with no amenities or furnishings. Inside, people were frozen in place. They weren’t dead yet. That ice was also crafted from magic. It must be cold, but not as severe as if it were pure water. They were simply trapped within the icy shells that encased them. I recognized several of the faces among them. "The House of Celsius has given me an order. Hughes. Teacher of the foolish citizens." T1NrUTkreFYvQUZ1VEE0bGdJSWROd2kvMDNIak9HZUd0OXJtb2VkT3R5UDcvMjUrZnY0ZkZaeXpSakdFL2NSbw Richard and his friends whom I met in the outer district, and the underachievers who secretly visited the academy at night. All of them had learned ceremonial magic from me. "You are to be captured or... eliminated for spreading dark magic in the domain." Brandishing undeniable evidence against me, Tempelus aimed his staff at me.