Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 143

Having composed myself, I headed to my dormitory.

Every academy student was given a room.

However, it was dusty, as I hadn't used it much.

Pat! Pat!

I dusted off the furniture and sat at the desk.

Now, there was something I had to do before anything else.

Learn new magic.

I needed to master the two secret magic books Asion Gale had given me.

"I wonder what kind of magic is here."

Flip!

With anticipation, I opened one of the secret magic books.

I hadn't properly understood what kind of magic it was when I skimmed it earlier.

About five minutes passed.

Then, the book's contents began to gradually become clearer.

Well, this book didn't contain anything particularly impressive.

It was just about creating a spiraling pillar of fire.

Still, its power wasn't bad.

While it couldn't match the darkness from the [Lich's Wand], it was much stronger than the usual fire pillars or [Swimming Light] I used.

Well, it seemed more like a spell for Kayla, who mainly used fire magic, than for me.

Come to think of it, I had chosen it earlier with that thought in mind.

That I would teach this magic to Kayla.

In [Demon Fantasy], no matter how strong you were, solo growth was meaningless.

As the game progressed towards the later stages, there were numerous hurdles you couldn't overcome alone.

Therefore,

"...I should teach her."

I decided to share this magic with Kayla, and read the book more carefully.

I planned to master it first and then pass it on to Kayla properly.

Teaching her the technique directly would be much better than making her read this complicated book.

I could also enhance my own fire magic at the same time.

'Once Kayla and Thompson level up, I should teach them other magic too.'

Flip-! Flip-!

A long time passed as I read the book with those thoughts.

The magic was more difficult than I had expected, but I was finally starting to get a grasp of it.

I immediately put it into practice.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Mana gathered around me instantly.

'Like this?'

I completed all the formulas exactly as I had seen in the book, then overlaid the spiraling mana on my fingertip with the fire element.

Then,

Whoosh!

The spiraling mana became a crimson pillar of fire and rose into the air.

'One more time.'

Wanting to check it in more detail, I used the magic again with the [Lich's Wand].

Whoosh!

The spiraling fire pillar, much stronger than before, rose into the air.

It looked powerful enough to be effective against high-ranking demons.

"Well, not bad."

While it wasn't as astonishing as other magic I had learned from secret magic books, considering the total mana consumption, casting speed, and other factors, it was a cost-effective spell in many ways.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say I wasn't slightly disappointed.

"Tch, but this was better than the others..."

It was an unavoidable situation.

It was certainly better than magic that sprayed water or dropped heavy rocks.

secret magic books didn't necessarily contain only spectacular magic.

Although most were indeed incredible.

Glance-.

I turned my gaze to the other secret magic book I hadn't learned yet.

"This is the main event, really."

Among the books Barus had presented, this was the one I knew I had to choose the moment I saw it.

It was the lightning attribute.

In a way, it was the first proper lightning-type magic I was learning since transformation magic.

With that in mind, I excitedly read the book.

And,

"...This is insane."

I couldn't help but marvel.

Even though it was also a secret magic book, the level of the content inside was different.

Formulas, magic circles...

Every single word was crucial, packed with essential information.

It was a book of a completely different caliber than the previous one.

I could feel it even before trying it.

Therefore,

Thump, thump, thump!

I wanted to use this magic right away.

My heart pounded with excitement, eager to try it out.

There was one problem.

"...I can't do it here."

The place wasn't suitable for using this magic.

Even though the dormitory was somewhat magic-resistant, there was a risk of setting it on fire.

Moreover, the ceiling was completely closed.

I had to move.

Of course, I knew where to go.

This was a magic academy, after all.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

I quickly moved.

Was it because I was about to use the magic?

My steps felt very light.

***

The academy's magic training room.

This place, which I had visited before, was still well-maintained and clean.

Of course, having seen the training room in Sector 1, I wasn't as impressed as before.

Anyway.

Thud.

I took a human-shaped training dummy from the pile of tools and fixed it to the floor of the training room.

Then, I opened the ceiling of the training room.

Rumble!

Like the roof of an open-top car, the ceiling split open.

Only after the clear sunlight flooded in did I confirm that all preparations were complete.

Without further delay, I raised my mana.

While it could be a little dangerous if someone was nearby, I had already confirmed that there was no one around except me.

Without any particular worries, I immediately cast the spell.

"Hyaah!"

Imbuing it with everything I had read in the book.

The change came swiftly.

A tingling sensation ran through my entire body, and at the same time,

Rumble!

Crackling!

With a thunderous sound, a sharp bolt of lightning fell from the sky.

And struck the dummy directly.

The dummy's body, hit directly by the lightning, turned pitch black, and then...

...Whoosh!

It burst into flames.

Although it was the first attempt, it was a complete success.

Of course, this time, my attention was focused more on the magic's power than the fact that I had succeeded.

'...This is insane.'

This was the mage I had always dreamed of being.

A mage who could drop lightning bolts.

A figure that any man would have a romantic fascination with.

Even though I was an unlucky soul, unwillingly dragged into this game.

"Hoo..."

Thump! Thump! Thump!

I tried to calm my wildly beating heart and took stance again.

I still had enough mana for one more use.

This time, I carefully chanted the spell with the same motions as before.

This time, holding the [Lich's Wand] in my hand.

'How much will it be amplified?'

I knew it was doubled in numerical terms, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes.

With that thought, I immediately chanted the spell.

"Judgment."

The change came quickly.

Flash-!

Crackle!

Once again, a powerful flash of lightning struck the dummy directly.

Snap!

The impact was so strong that the dummy broke and collapsed.

It was truly the power befitting a secret magic book.

"This is no joke."

Frankly, in terms of power alone, it felt stronger than the light beam.

It was the moment I had gained another powerful attack spell.

***

Returning to my dormitory, I flopped onto my bed.

It wasn't because I was particularly tired.

I just wanted to express this refreshing feeling.

"Things are changing incredibly fast these past few days."

From gravity augmentation magic, to teleportation magic, barrier magic, and even Judgment magic.

I had acquired a whopping four incredibly powerful magic skills.

Mastering so many magical skills as soon as I reached the 7th circle was definitely something to celebrate.

It was only possible thanks to my talent, my ability to seize opportunities when they arose.

If I had lived as a run-of-the-mill, ordinary mage, such things would have been impossible.

I might have missed most of these opportunities.

Well, anyway.

'Let's grow even stronger.'

Now, the goal of defeating Baal didn't feel so distant.

If I maintained this growth rate, I could definitely reach him soon.

No, I had to grow even faster.

Not just maintain the current rate.

Fortunately, there were still many ways to do so.

Step, step, step!

I gathered the books and moved on to the next task.

Now that I had mastered the books, there was something else to do, right?

Drinking the elixirs.

I had received four elixirs this time.

'...Should I start with the casting speed elixir?'

The casting speed elixir, as the name suggested, accelerated the casting speed of magic.

It increased the speed at which mana circulated within the body.

It had almost no side effects.

Perfect for starting with.

Pop!

I immediately uncorked the elixir and downed the blue liquid in one gulp.

Gulp, gulp.

An indescribable coolness flowed down my throat.

And then,

"Ugh...!"

Unbearable pain set in.

Every muscle and nerve ached.

Although the pain was fleeting, it was enough to make me lose my mind.

"Hoo...!"

Once the pain finally subsided, I exhaled the breath I had forcefully held back.

My legs gave way, and I naturally collapsed to the floor.

My mind was filled with confusion.

This elixir was supposed to have fewer side effects than the others.

However.

'...Fewer side effects, my foot!'

I realized that this damn pain itself was a significant side effect.

The real problem was knowing that this was the least painful elixir.

I was already dreading how to handle the rest.

'I have to drink three more of these?'

Perhaps today, when I had gained so much, would be my last.

...Well, I'd never heard of anyone dying from drinking elixirs, so that probably wouldn't happen.

Anyway.

'...Next!'

Without delay, I uncorked the next elixir.

This one was a green color.

The elemental affinity elixir.

It simply removed impurities within mana, but...

The problem was that this one also seemed to bring intense pain.

If that happened, I might not be able to endure it this time.

The lingering, dizzying pain from the first elixir hadn't completely faded yet.

However.

'I have a long way to go.'

This was only the second elixir out of four.

I had much more to drink.

There was no better place to drink them.

With that thought, I uncorked it immediately.

Poof!

The scent of wildflowers filled the dormitory.

Before I could even enjoy it, it began.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Thankfully, this time there was no pain...

I was about to say that, but then,

"Aaaaaaah!"

Pain greater than before struck.

I instinctively screamed, and at the same time, I had a hunch.

Drinking this elixir wouldn't be easy.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]