Chapter 74 : Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Exchange (4)

The second phase of the Exchange concluded successfully.

There was some commotion as mages from the Flame Magic Tower and the Dark Magic Tower protested to Eidon.

Though they claimed it was for my sake, I knew they were far more interested in [Flame of the Spirit].

When the uproar didn’t subside, I promised to visit both the Flame and Dark Magic Towers after the Exchange, barely calming the chaos.

“You’ve got to come to our Flame Magic Tower first!”

“What nonsense! It’s the flame of a spirit! Obviously, you should visit the Dark Magic Tower first!”

As it happened, the Mana Research Division had presented research on combining tunes with magic and merging attributes during this second phase.

Because of this, both towers couldn’t hide their desire to study [Flame of the Spirit].

Overwhelmed by their fervor—or rather, their insistence—I refrained from saying more.

In the end, Eidon and the Frost Magic Tower were recognized for their research achievements, and the second phase concluded.

The third phase of the Exchange began in the same venue.

The most noticeable difference was the number of participants—far fewer than in the second phase.

The second phase had no limit on the number of research presentations per tower.

Anyone with outstanding research that year could present their findings.

But the third phase was different.

Each tower sent only one mage to compete with their magic.

Thus, it became a contest where each tower sent their most prominent mage.

“Polarin-nim, you’re not nervous, are you?”

Labella asked kindly.

I had been chosen as the representative for the Mana Research Division.

“Of course not. I’ll prove the strength of our research division.”

“That’s right. Polarin-nim is part of our division too. It’s time to show the results of our research.”

Labella explained the format of the third phase again.

In the third phase, representatives from each tower demonstrated their magic.

Then, the tower masters convened to vote for the year’s winner.

They voted for the tower that achieved the most outstanding results that year.

“I heard the Frost Magic Tower originally planned to showcase Ice Coffin in the third phase. It’ll be tough to beat them this time.”

The impact of Eidon’s Ice Coffin in the second phase was so strong that other towers were worried.

Having already been shown, it might lack surprise.

But its overwhelming effect of neutralizing even tunes had dampened the spirits of other tower mages.

“By the way, the Mana Research Division is awfully quiet today. They barely reacted to provocations earlier.”

“Labella-nim is always like that, but even Mumbel being quiet is odd, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… Did they change their strategy?”

“Quietly losing?”

The mages didn’t even bother lowering their voices, speaking openly.

But the research division mages didn’t even scoff.

“The order for the third phase demonstrations will now be announced.

First, Frost Magic Tower, then Flame, Earth, Mana Research, Dark Magic, Thunderstrike, and Old Tree.”

Fourth out of seven towers.

Almost in the middle.

The order wasn’t particularly important.

I was brimming with confidence.

“But since the Frost Magic Tower already demonstrated their magic in the second phase, they will skip the third phase.”

Most nodded at the moderator’s words.

The grandeur of Eidon’s Ice Coffin was still vivid in many minds.

Then Palaemong raised his hand and stepped forward.

“The Frost Magic Tower proved their magic well. But could they show it once more? As the Flame Magic Tower’s representative, I’d like to compare it with the magic I’ll present.”

Eidon nodded.

He seemed to think reinforcing the Ice Coffin’s impact wasn’t a bad idea.

Eidon stepped forward again, drawing envious gazes from the mages, and drew a magic circle to recreate the Ice Coffin.

“We’ll overlay our magic on it.”

The Frost Magic Tower acknowledged that while breaking the Ice Coffin from within was difficult, it was still vulnerable to external impacts.

This created tension.

Palaemong was the Flame Magic Tower’s second-in-command, even considered a candidate for the next tower master.

“The magic the Flame Magic Tower will present today is simple. The purest flame. The hottest flame.”

Palaemong pointed his short, chubby index finger into the air.

His sausage-like finger trembled slightly as he drew a magic circle.

A black flame sparked at his fingertip.

Though only the size of a fingernail, it held intense heat that seemed to burn the entire hall’s air in an instant.

“Black Ember.”

Palaemong touched the outer wall of the Ice Coffin with his finger.

Ssssss.

Despite being the outer wall, the Ice Coffin, which seemed unbreakable, began to melt.

Crack.

Perhaps because the Ice Coffin’s impact in the second phase was so great, the hall fell silent when the magic broke.

Even in that moment, Black Ember burned. Some mages swallowed hard.

“Our Flame Magic Tower will focus on increasing Black Ember’s size for now. Then, it’ll be able to break the Ice Coffin from within.”

The Ice Coffin’s interior couldn’t be broken even by tunes.

But Palaemong’s confident claim filled everyone with anticipation.

Applause followed.

Feeling Black Ember’s heat, I was astonished.

If I could raise [Flame of the Spirit]’s temperature to match Black Ember?

I felt excited.

When the second phase ended, I’d agreed to visit the Flame Magic Tower out of necessity, but now I wanted to go if there was even a small lesson to learn.

The Earth Magic Tower’s demonstration followed, but honestly, it wasn’t impressive.

It was a spell to manipulate earth in various ways, with high utility but limited by terrain, as even their mage admitted.

Having constantly seen Arandir manipulate earth freely, I found it hard to be impressed.

“Next is the Mana Research Division’s turn. Come forward when ready.”

Unlike during other towers’ presentations, the tension seemed to dissipate.

Everyone seemed to view the research division’s turn as a mere formality.

But the anticipation and fervor in the research division mages’ eyes were different.

I stepped into the center.

My appearance, unexpected by many, sparked even greater reactions among the mages.

“I am Polarin of the Mana Research Division. The magic I’ll present will break the limits of conventional magic.”

I spoke confidently, enunciating clearly.

Only the research division mages understood my words fully. Others blinked, puzzled by what I meant.

“I will now dominate the mana in the space around me.”

It sounded a bit cringeworthy, but this was the way of mages.

Great mages were those who infused their will into mana.

The stronger their belief in their magic, the greater its effect.

And I was certain that when I cast this magic, I could dominate the mana in this space.

Many mages in Ostrum had shown interest in me.

But it was merely curiosity about an outsider.

Once the magic began, I’d see these haughty mages’ eyes widen in shock.

Humm.

An immense amount of mana poured from my Dragon Heart, and I began drawing the Three-Dimensional Magic Circle.

I had practiced it hundreds of times during the Exchange.

Like sculpting, I shaped the mana scattered in the air.

I could’ve done it faster, but I realized showmanship mattered at the Exchange.

Palaemong’s use of Black Ember on the Ice Coffin must have been a calculated move to display his magic effectively.

The crafting of the Three-Dimensional Magic Circle was complete.

A magic circle enveloped a 1.5-meter radius around me.

Mages standing close to me naturally found themselves within it.

Some flinched and fled upon seeing the light surrounding them, while others, intrigued, tried to analyze the magic within the glowing radius.

Thump. Thump.

My heart raced.

I could feel the mana being consumed in real-time.

But there was no issue.

I spoke softly to the mages.

“Termination.”

My voice was quiet but clear.

Everyone, focused, must have heard it.

Nothing changed except the light’s glow.

The light was warm, calming…

“Huh?”

But soon, reactions emerged.

“M-Mana! The mana won’t move!”

“What? That can’t be!”

“…Wait, it’s true?”

A few tried manipulating mana and noticed the magic circle’s effect.

Mages with curious eyes stepped into the field.

My surroundings teemed with greedy mages.

I was jostled by the crowd, but the field held steady.

Palaemong was among them.

As he extended his thick finger to cast a spell, heat began to rise.

An Earth Magic Tower mage slapped Palaemong’s neck.

“Are you crazy? Trying to kill us all? Control yourself!”

“I… I couldn’t control it properly.”

Even Palaemong, who’d been high-handed throughout the Exchange, was flustered.

At his level, he could likely cast magic within the field, but it wouldn’t be easy.

More people than a rush-hour subway crowded around, struggling to draw magic circles, generating intense heat.

I dispelled Termination.

As the white light vanished, the gathered mages looked disappointed.

But none returned to their seats.

They surrounded me, bombarding me with questions.

“This magic truly breaks the limits of magic! A spell that prevents magic use—is that even possible?”

“The research division made this? Can we even call it magic? Isn’t it a reinvention of mana?”

“The magic circle was extraordinary—I knew it! What kind of trick is this?”

“Could it be… like the erosion explanation earlier? Is it because his mana is denser than other mages’?”

The mages continued their heated discussion with gleaming eyes.

The moderator had to repeatedly call for order before the commotion subsided.

But even the moderator couldn’t take their eyes off me.

“…Please explain.”

“As some may have noticed, this magic was born from the Mana Research Division’s erosion research. With me as the core, it erodes the surrounding area with my mana.”

Hands shot up everywhere.

Almost no mage raised their hand.

Even the tower masters raised theirs.

The research division mages watched this scene with satisfaction, though no one paid them attention.

The uproar grew uncontrollable.

Then Anselm, the Flame Tower Master, stood.

Known for his long white beard and imposing presence, as well as his fiery temper, his rise silenced the hall.

“A magic that dominates the mana in a certain area. You’ve written a new chapter in magic history. I’ve studied magic my whole life and never seen anything like this. Impressive, Polarin.”

“No, sir. While it’s true only I can use this magic, I’m merely the medium. The research division mages constructed it.”

If other mages draw magic circles in two dimensions, I can express them in three.

I’m not the only one who can pour mana three-dimensionally, but I’m the only one who can sculpt it as it’s absorbed.

But bringing this magic to theoretical fruition was entirely the research division’s achievement.

They deserved the praise.

“Hoh.”

“With Labella-nim leading, the Mana Research Division mages provided the theoretical foundation and created this magic.”

Only then did the mages’ gazes shift from the stage to the research division mages.

Mumbel, moved, wiped his eyes, and the other research division mages rejoiced at their efforts being recognized.

Labella, too, looked at me with a gentle smile.

“I pay my respects to the research division’s achievement.”

At Anselm’s words, applause erupted. It went on endlessly.

Then the moderator spoke.

“Due to time constraints, we’ll skip Q&A. Next is the Dark Magic Tower…”

“What?!”

The next presenter from the Dark Magic Tower leapt up, cutting off the moderator.

“Skip my turn! My magic doesn’t matter! Just give me the first chance to ask a question!”

“That’s… not allowed…”

The moderator’s words likely didn’t reach the excited mages’ ears.

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