Chapter 76 – It Is Merely a Groundless Fear (3)

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Hallucination magic.

A magic with sufficient possibilities, but limitations that are far too distinct.

“I attempted various variations during the interference process to compensate for the extreme mana consumption. And among them, I obtained a few results to which meaning can be attached.”

Just as much as I personally inspected it.

The disciple’s presentation was correct.

The distinct limitation of hallucination magic.

Because that squarely laid in its extreme mana consumption.

‘However, it can’t be helped.’

Right, because limitations existed in all magic.

However, even if having to endure an insurmountable limitation.

The value and possibility of hallucination magic are greater than other magic.

Nasrow sincerely thought so.

‘Therefore I, this Nasrow, chose it.’

It wasn’t a strange matter.

What is the position of a senior mage?

Those who are fitting to be called the highest authorities of their respective magic schools.

It was in a way a natural thing for them to consider their own magic as the best.

No, if they couldn’t consider it the best and harbored doubts.

They wouldn’t have even been able to climb up to the seat of a senior mage.

Therefore.

Nasrow being angry wasn’t a strange matter either.

“Wh-What do you mean by that?”

“I asked if acknowledging the limitation is truly the best.”

“If it’s the limitation, are you talking about the extreme mana consumption……?”

Even up until then, Nasrow sneered.

‘To bring up the limitation.’

To the extent of snorting at Ho-yeol.

That was a clear mistake, not a pointing out.

As said, regardless of the field, there were limitations to all magic.

‘You are making a self-destructive move.’

However, Ho-yeol’s ensuing groundwork.

At that, Nasrow’s expression started to distort.

This wasn’t a self-destructive move being thrown.

‘How dare you……!’

It was a winning move demanding a face-off.

“A shift in thinking is required. Do you really consider hallucination magic to be a magic that creates something from nothing? If so, you fail starting from that exploration process.”

The reason Nasrow was captivated by hallucination magic?

It’s simple.

Because hallucination magic was a magic capable of creating what doesn’t exist.

Because unlike other magic, there was no exploration target.

Therefore, the mana consumption had no choice but to be extreme.

‘But what are you blabbering about?’

If he thought like that, it’s a fail?

This was a statement denying hallucination magic itself!

However, Nasrow’s anger didn’t last long.

Ho-yeol’s ensuing words.

“As long as mana exists, there is no such thing as nothingness in magic.”

Continuous groundwork.

Because even Nasrow couldn’t put down a counter move to those words.

‘……That’s correct.’

Tracing back, it wasn’t a wrong statement.

Because the exploration target for hallucination magic was mana itself.

Therefore, the limitation of mana efficiency existed.

“You must first discard the thought that only pure mana can be the exploration target for hallucination magic. Overcoming the limitation of hallucination magic begins with correcting that error in exploration.”

To treat that as an error.

Even hearing it again, isn’t he denying hallucination magic from its foundation?

Nasrow endured.

‘Responsibility will be required for those words.’

It was Ho-yeol who denied the essence of hallucination magic.

He would have to put forth grounds regarding it.

If he couldn’t do that, that was merely a nonsensical sound.

Nasrow listened closely to the ensuing words.

“The exploration target can be light, or the air in the atmosphere. Because its efficiency would be superior to taking mana as the exploration target. Selecting a suitable exploration target according to the surrounding environment. That too is an essential virtue in overcoming the limitation of hallucination magic.”

……Light and air becoming the exploration targets?

At those words, Nasrow flinched.

Likewise.

The skilled mage who understood the meaning of those words opened his mouth.

“H-However. Are you saying……?”

“That’s right. It means excellent exploration talent is required.”

“S-Such a!”

Nasrow fell silent.

‘It makes sense.’

Right, it was exactly as Ho-yeol said.

Without insisting on mana as the exploration target.

If an exploration target is selected according to the surrounding environment.

It might be possible to overcome the limitation of hallucination magic.

‘Since any exploration target would have superior efficiency compared to pure mana.’

However, it was by no means an easy task.

Because it meant the exploration targets one had to get accustomed to weren’t just one or two.

However, Ho-yeol’s ensuing words.

“Since it’s the hallucination magic you chose. Get accustomed to that weight.”

At those words, Nasrow felt as if he had been struck on the back of his head.

“……!”

Right, the reason he had chosen hallucination magic.

Because he had certainty that hallucination magic was superior to other magic.

It was because he thought the one reigning over other magic is exactly hallucination magic……!

To get accustomed to the weight of such hallucination magic.

Meaning to equip oneself with the capability to handle such hallucination magic.

Naturally, that would include what Ho-yeol mentioned a moment ago.

‘The excellent exploration talent must be included too.’

Nasrow looked at Ho-yeol.

‘……Just how?’

No matter how outstanding his magical knowledge was.

This was a method that couldn’t be put forth without agony.

That meant.

It meant Ho-yeol had seriously agonized over hallucination magic.

Nasrow thought.

‘Is he truly a mage?’

Because they were of the same kind, he could tell.

Mages were incomparably selfish existences.

However, Ho-yeol was different.

Nasrow, who had been struggling, murmured in a low voice.

“I have unintentionally ended up owing a debt.”

The regular academic conference had just begun.

From its start, Ho-yeol was making not a skilled mage.

But even a senior mage owe him a debt.

*

“……What does that mean?”

“Exploration? Interference? What’s manifestation again. Seriously!”

“Ah, what’s up with the translation function, not translating things like that!”

One sees as much as they know.

I shall not doze off this time.

Making such firm resolutions pointless.

Sighs did not leave the Players.

“Hey, Nam Tae-min. Do you understand anything? Does Chul-min oppa understand it?”

A mage class Player affiliated with the Gaon Guild.

She asked into her earpiece.

A hearty voice struck her eardrums.

-How would I know? Anyway, Ho-yeol-ssi is seriously no joke.

-Exactly. Don’t know what it is but can feel the expert aura?

-That must be why he’s treated as the Chief even in the Mage Tower.

-Look at how the Mage Tower mage can’t talk back, right?

-Kya. Really worried about what we should’ve worried about. Who is Ho-yeol-ssi!

……Right, I should’ve asked the barbarian what I should’ve asked.

As mentioned, this place.

The Players gathered in the Crystal Hall staked a lot on this regular academic conference.

What if they happen to secure a quest, clear the quest, and enter the Mage Tower like Ho-yeol?

To form a connection with none other than the Mage Tower.

It meant a truly tremendous quest reward.

Because of that, it was natural for the guilds to cling onto it.

“Everyone, say something. You must have heard it all, right?”

Meaning there was not just one or two Players whispering into their earpieces.

However, there was no way an answer would return.

Even if the guild’s analysts hung onto it.

It was the same that they couldn’t understand it.

-Search, Interference, manifestatioooon? What kind of bullshit is this? You just shout the skill name and it fires. What we call magic!!

『Magic』 and [Skill] are completely different.

Even Ho-yeol took several days to realize that fact.

There was no way the Players could figure it out even if they put their heads together.

However, just one person.

Jesica Highness alone was an exception.

Guild ranking 1st.

Because she was receiving the full support of Shining?

No, Jesica wasn’t even wearing an earpiece.

It was.

It was because she simply had a master called the pointed hat.

And the experience of a one-on-one talk with Ho-yeol.

“Wow.”

Even so.

Even Jesica hadn’t realized many things.

Putting aside rift raids, monster hunting, and everything else.

After delving into magic books all day long.

Search, Interference, manifestation.

It was to the extent that she only now finally understood the structure of magic.

However, that alone was enough.

“He is amazing!”

To notice Ho-yeol’s extraordinariness, that is.

The pointed hat lamented without fail.

-It’s useless even if I teach you every day.

Just one day.

Mere few hours.

This feeling like its disciple got stolen by a brief Q&A with Ho-yeol.

However, apart from that.

The pointed hat had no choice but to acknowledge it.

-That is not the realm of talent.

Simply evaluating and presenting a direction for improvement.

A difference as wide as heaven and earth exists between those two.

It meant that talent is essential, and time and agony are required.

The pointed hat bobbed.

-Indeed, fitting for the man who stimulated my interest.

A man who stimulates the interest of a great mage.

Just how incredible a treatment he was receiving.

It wanted to inform the person involved directly but.

It was only resentful that it couldn’t do so.

Still, it wasn’t too bad.

-Feels like an academic conference for once in a while.

Not satisfying with the present but an exploration to break through limitations.

It was a satisfying sight even for a great mage.

It wanted to let him know how amazing this was too but.

Unable to bear it any longer, the pointed hat whispered to its disciple.

-Disciple. Won’t you place me on top of that man’s head someday? With his prickly personality, he won’t allow such a sight though. Why, it all depends on the excuse, wouldn’t it? Right. Let’s make an excuse like that magic school movie! Since I can talk like that hat too, it wouldn’t be a lie…….

However, the pointed hat soon ended up trailing off.

The ensuing presentation.

Because Ho-yeol, who had been staying still, opened his mouth again.

“I have a doubt.”

“……!”

“Even if their appearances are similar, elixir herbs with completely different effects and mechanisms are innumerable. For instance, Ragrari leaves and Caniria petals.”

An incomparably upright posture without even crossing his legs.

Also, not beating around the bush at all.

A manner of speaking more upright than his posture.

“The two elixir herbs have identical appearances and even habitats, but their effects are clearly different. Do you think the cultivation method you proposed can present a common cultivation effect for all elixir herbs, including those two?”

At that question, the pointed hat couldn’t contain its astonishment.

-……Even knowledge about elixir herbs?

As mentioned, this wasn’t possible with talent alone.

It means time and serious agony are needed.

The possibility of ‘no way’ bit its tail over and over again.

-No way, all the research presented at the regular academic conference……!

Not just examining them in advance.

To the point of being able to present directions for improvement.

Does it mean he had been agonizing over them?

Right, one sees as much as they know.

Therefore, the pointed hat wasn’t the only one astonished.

“!”

Starting with Nasrow.

The Senior Mage of Healing, Belier Yusia.

Curtain, Maia, even Garfield.

“!!!”

As the presentations continued.

And as Ho-yeol opened his mouth.

That astonishment had no choice but to grow even bigger.

The feelings piled up from the pre-verification?

The unfavorable gazes sent toward Ho-yeol?

Such feelings had disappeared a long time ago.

It was rather to the extent of making some senior mages reflect on themselves.

‘That’s an idea that even I, a senior, couldn’t come up with……!’

‘Are you saying that person agonized more than I did?’

‘I’m ashamed. I don’t even have the qualification of a senior!’

However.

As if giving no heed to the gazes from the start.

There wasn’t the slightest change in Ho-yeol’s complexion.

Ho-yeol merely called the name of the next presenter.

“Next. Senior Mage, Bangrit Tom.”

*

A fish in water.

Clearly, this is the saying for a situation like this.

Not just in the position of simply watching.

A regular academic conference attended as the Chief and host.

I should be realizing that weight but.

‘Really, whenever I open my mouth…….’

I was really, acting up like a fish in water!

It meant I was throwing tackles at every single research.

From the standpoint of those presenting.

How detestable I must look.

‘Let’s put myself in their shoes and think.’

So I realize even more that I did something terrible.

A professor, a boss at work nitpicking at everything, isn’t this exactly that?

And not just that, saying what? Is that the best?

‘Of course it’s the best so they presented it at the conference!’

Am I not a fish in water, but specifically a loach among them.

Why, just like a single loach muddying the water.

My presence at the conference was more than a loach.

However, I thought shamelessly.

‘If you’re upset, don’t make me do it next time.’

Right, being a crazy bastard is better than being half-assed.

As I decided, let’s finish the academic conference shamelessly.

Still, what’s a relief is that.

At least I didn’t spew out nonsense.

‘The hard work was worth it.’

The hard work of living while holding onto all kinds of books.

Back when I didn’t know anything about magic.

For example, the last regular academic conference was like that.

Back then I really, just ran my mouth as I pleased relying on Granfel’s talent but.

At least now I had things inside my head.

‘Of course, it was all studying to make a living for myself but…….’

Everything I had.

It means the knowledge I accumulated to use took effect.

Of course, the problem was that it helped in acting up.

─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat) ▲

●Proceed with the verification at the Topaz Hall. (Success)

●Successfully proceed with the regular academic conference. (Ongoing)…….

Anyway, both the regular academic conference and the quest are ending now.

I called the name of the last presenter.

“Next. Senior Mage, Bangrit Tom.”

The Senior Mage of Pure Magic, Bangrit Tom.

He was the only senior mage presenting research at this regular academic conference.

The continuing slump of the Pure Magic school.

I heard he prepared a presentation to innovate it.

Since senior mages didn’t have to go through pre-verification.

I hadn’t seen his face but.

‘I can guess how he must be feeling.’

Bangrit Tom.

I remembered him as a bribe.

-“I am Bangrit Tom, the Senior Mage of Pure Magic. I came by because I have a congratulatory greeting and a small token of sincerity I want to convey. May I come in for a moment?”

The moment I was recognized by all senior mages.

The one who knocked on my laboratory door was exactly Bangrit Tom.

‘A position unstable enough to try hanging onto a parachute.’

……Somehow I have a premonition that nice words won’t come out.

That expectation of mine hit the mark in a way.

Because as a result, I couldn’t open my mouth.

Silence

Even at my calling, Bangrit didn’t reveal his figure in the Crystal Hall. Since when, Bangrit Tom’s figure hadn’t been seen in the Crystal Hall.

The senior mages murmured.

“Where did he go?”

“He was definitely at that end seat until a while ago…….”

“Well, did he have some urgent business crop up?”

“What urgent business could there be more important than the academic conference!”

The murmuring grew louder.

The waiting continued.

However, Bangrit showed no signs of appearing.

I stood up from my seat.

Bangrit Tom.

Whatever circumstances arose for him.

It was something I couldn’t know.

But one thing is certain.

This is the regular academic conference I am hosting.

To me, there is a quest objective,

That I must successfully finish the academic conference.

My pride couldn’t tolerate such a variable.

Amidst the concentrating gazes.

I opened my mouth.

“According to its procedure…….”