Chapter 645 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

In the nascent era of magic, when the term 'wizard' had neither been coined nor added to dictionaries, those who wielded the mysteries of nature were met with both reverence and fear. These individuals were wise, wealthy, quirky yet beneficial. Their arcane practices offered a glimmer of hope in this harsh, frigid land. The domain they crafted, altering the ordinary, shielded people from the unforgiving environment. In the vacant fields of the continent's north, these magicians became the focal point of humanity. However, a sentiment known as inferiority exists within the world. Humans can harbor feelings akin to hatred purely out of envy. Wizards were typically intellectuals, having devoted considerable time to academia, leaving them inexperienced in physical prowess. Those engulfed in inferiority attacked the magicians without fear of retaliation. If someone's toes had frostbite and needed amputation, it was attributed to the curse of the Ice Witch. A fire spreading from a campfire that burnt down a house was deemed the arson of the Flame Witch. A boat drifting away in the wind was considered the Wind Witch’s prank. If one’s secret shame became public gossip, it was the doing of the Sound Witch. All misfortunes were disguised as magical deeds, providing grounds to hunt down magicians. Trials were held successively, and witches were dragged to the square to suffer various ordeals. Witch hunters roamed cities, perpetuating the hunts. Until the time when Saint René mapped the lands. "The term 'ignorant masses’ refers to those unintelligent majority of humans. Though you call them such just for not understanding magic, from my perspective, there’s no difference between you and them. Even if a bee buzzes to differentiate itself from an ant, they’re still bugs, aren’t they?” Witch hunts were unforgivable atrocities of the ignorant masses. This notion inspired the 'duels' of magicians to become contests of knowledge rather than crimes if magic could not be proven. "A black magic source for white magic? Without even a gem as a medium, nor using alchemy. Where did he draw the magic from? How was it so seamlessly intertwined?" Tempelus strained to decipher my magic. A futile attempt, yet as an executor of the Celsius family, he couldn’t admit defeat. The foolish cannot judge those superior to them. "That brat must’ve inscribed a magic circle on the card! But the issue lies with the magic power! How did he manage to transmute black magic to white magic!" “A unique spell tool! You extracted your magic through a unique spell tool! Are you a magi?” “Do you think so? Hmm, that’s a plausible conjecture for those at a loss.” Rational indeed. In some sense, it was correct about the unique spell tool. "Despite having awakened a unique spell tool, why you dabble in black magic, I can’t say. But if you think you’re the only one with it, you’re gravely mistaken! The long-established Celsius family hosts four magi and boasts exclusive magical combat techniques! Don’t consider yourself extraordinary!” “Oh. That was exactly what I wanted to say.” How conveniently summarized. You saved me the trouble. “How detestable it was for someone riding on the magic crumbs of others pretending to be remarkable or unique! There are magicians aplenty, and you stand ordinary among them. You merely ascended a tower others built.” “You...!” “Being within order doesn’t make you the order itself. Everyone is under such a delusion? Well, being foolish and ignorant makes one human.” I sighed, shuffling cards before him. "What’s taking so long! Capture him now! Kill if you must!" The guards, gathering their wits, moved to act. But Hilde was already a step ahead. Even before they retook their stance with pikes, she had one foot practically inside their reach. “Oh my, indeed, mine is the toughest role here.” Whump, whump, whump, whump. A guard marked by Hilde’s footprints fell. As his body crumpled, she leapt over him, descending on another. In mere moments, four guards lay undone. The Magi Federation equates magic to authority. No power is shared with warriors foolishly trained in physical skills. As such, compared to other nations, their number and prowess were negligible. Even so, Hilde’s ability to incapacitate four in a single breath was remarkable. Tempelus was shocked. “A mere maid toppling my guards?” Hilde unwound the headscarf she had wrapped around her hair, replying, "A professional maid ought to wield the combat prowess of four warriors~. Isn’t this common knowledge?” “What kind of common knowledge is that! You were a covert guard posing as a maid. Tch, useless fools! This is why physical dolts are unworthy!” The toppled guards were merely the vanguard. Their role was stalling to allow the magic casting. By then, Tempelus had completed his casting, drawing a magical circle from the gem atop his staff. Light emanated from the circle in the air. Hilde halted her approach, observing my calm demeanor. “Master of the Eternal Frost. Mediator of the pinnacle. Celsius Archive, Set! Contracting the circle, skipping incantations. Mana control backup!” In that brief moment, Tempelus completed the circle. Under Celsius domain rules, the backup allowed for incantation omissions and circle simplifications. The entire power for condensation transitions was reassigned to potency. During that brief period, Tempelus fully charged the circle with magic, reciting his spell while striking his staff down. “Freeze. Al Asus!” An all-encompassing freezing spell. The atmosphere venturing from his staff crystallized into pure white ice and a fierce cold storm surged toward me. I hunched against the chill. Frost solidified over my skin. My shoes were encased in ice, immovable. My body felt like a mass of icicles. “This is the magic of Celsius!” The attack, indifferent to even catching his guards, swept through. Hilde evaded with two of the guard’s piled bodies, but I was engulfed directly. With a sidelong glance, I noted icicles sprouting behind me. Yet, I still could speak. "The magic of Celsius may seem like a cold spell, but in reality, it's about controlling the phase transition between solid and liquid states. Although the crystals appear cold, they aren't necessarily related to coldness. The core of it lies in storing and releasing heat and magic through forced phase transitions. It might look like freezing, but your body remains unharmed." “Enough with the arrogant boasting! That ice is a solid magical crystal. You won't even be able to move a finger now! If you try to break it forcibly, that force will tear your body apart!” Shall we see about that? I shrugged my shoulders and replied. “You should think a little harder. I’ve understood your magic. Do you really think I wouldn’t have prepared for it?” Crack, crack. Chunks of ice fell away with a clatter. Though still enveloped in ice, I walked forward as if nothing was amiss. Tempelus, watching me approach with ice still clinging to me, was astonished. “…What? How are you moving?” “That’s for you to figure out. How do you think I did it?” “What kind of unique magic tool is this? You didn't even cast another spell...!” “Huh? Didn't you see what I did? Oh, dear. I expected more from a wizard who holds his head so high…” Tempelus stepped back hesitantly. His ice had certainly enveloped me, just as he had calculated, but, contrary to his expectations, I could still move. “Don’t understand yet? I’ll take this as a declaration of your defeat, alright? My patience isn’t long; I can’t wait forever.” “Ugh, urgh! Not yet, it’s not over!” ‘What spell should I use? Crystallization doesn’t work. Then maybe crystal explosion? No, he’s already figured out my crystal magic! Should I try a different type? But it won’t faze a magus without backup…!’ “It’s too late.” His deliberation took too long. A wizard’s prowess is often reflected in their ability to think quickly. I strolled over and reached for Tempelus's staff. Alarmed, he hastily invoked a spell. An icy path unfurled following his heel, and the wind pushed him backward. This was an escape spell, something any magician lacking in close combat skills would be wise to prepare. However, just before the spell completed, Tempelus stumbled and fell inelegantly. Embedded at his feet was a card. “Huff, huff! When did this appear?” “Knowing isn’t as crucial as you think. There are countless unknowns in this world anyway. You might be floundering, but do you truly know any genuine truth?” Tempelus understood nothing. He couldn’t grasp what magic I employed, how I had approached him with ice clinging to me, or how that card had suddenly appeared beneath his feet. Nor did he understand why he became an executor, why he was revered, or why he had to deal with black magic. Of course, it was all because he had been deceived without even realizing it. “Magicians of the Magi Federation are not just a group of power brokers. If power was truly that precious, they would hoard it and monopolize it; they wouldn’t share opportunities with ignorant frontier districts. So is spreading magic to enlighten everyone really their intention? I doubt it, otherwise they wouldn't harshly abandon outlying districts.” “Ugh…!” “While black magic isn’t benevolent, there’s no need for this hyperactive aversion. Magicians don’t practice religion, nor do they favor the Holy Church, yet they hold a unanimous stance against black magic. Even after suffering witch hunts long ago.” “What does that mean to imply…?” Without even applying any force, I wrapped my ice-crusted hand around his throat. He gagged as the ice constricted him. “It means you, blindly following orders like a scarecrow, are no different from those ignorant masses.” The defeat from failing to grasp the magic, the pressure of my presence, and an innate fear. It was too harsh for a frail magician to withstand. Overcome, Tempelus soon rolled his eyes back and passed out.