Chapter 218 - Damn Reincarnation

Signature

Most mages had utterly wrecked daily routines, their days and nights reversed. That was why most magic towers, including the Red Tower, had no curfew. Of course, strict security governed entry to the towers, but as the tower master’s apprentice, Eugene was exempt from even those restrictions.

“Why are you here?”

The Red Tower Master, Lovellian Sophis, was delighted to reunite with his apprentice after so long, but he remained wary of Melkith, who had casually tagged along. With an unabashed scowl, he looked her up and down.

“Did you drink too much last night? However drunk you may be, confusing the Red Tower with the White Tower is rather excessive... I shall contact the White Tower immediately and summon a mage to escort you home.”

“Red Tower Master, why are you treating me like this? Are you actually joking? Sorry, you make jokes so rarely that I don’t think I quite understa—”

“I am telling you to go home.”

“Oh, come on... There you go again. Let’s not be so cold to a friend, hmm?”

Melkith winked at Lovellian with shameless familiarity. Looking disgusted, he retreated several steps.

Still, the fact that he could not bring himself to deny that they were friends proved that Lovellian was a man of character, a rare breed among mages.

“... Ah... Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I am Lovellian Sophis, the Red Tower Master.”

Lovellian smoothed away his grimace of disgust and turned to Kristina with a cheerful smile. She returned his greeting with a faint smile and a slight bow.

“My name is Kristina Rogeris.”

“How should I address you? To my knowledge, you still serve as auxiliary bishop of the Alcarte diocese. Should I address you as Auxiliary Bishop? Or as a candidate for sainthood?”

“It will be announced soon, but I have stepped down as auxiliary bishop of the Alcarte diocese. And I find the title of candidate for sainthood rather too grand for me.”

“Then may I call you Lady Kristina?”

“I would be honored and grateful to be addressed so by Aroth’s Red Tower Master.”

Melkith, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, waved a hand and leaned toward Eugene.

“Ugh, doesn’t that sort of conversation make you cringe?”

“Perhaps you simply don’t show other people enough respect, Lady Melkith.”

“I’m someone who shows it through actions rather than words.”

Melkith raised her head with a little laugh. There was no way Lovellian had failed to hear her muttering. He glared at her through narrowed eyes, openly irritated, but she pretended not to notice and pointed down.

“Red Tower Master, I hear your apprentice is about to start developing his signature? As a fellow mage and his senior, I’m here to help. Let’s head straight downstairs.”

“What are you talking about, barging in before dawn?”

“You weren’t going to bed right away anyway, were you? Why waste time? I hear the Red Tower’s underground research chambers are incredibly sturdy. Let’s go take a look.”

Despite Melkith’s enthusiasm, Eugene did not indulge her. Missing one night’s sleep would not tire him, but that was no reason not to sleep. Melkith squawked in protest, but Eugene and Kristina were each assigned a room and went to bed late.

“Young people these days just don’t appreciate how precious time is. Why go out of your way to sleep when you don’t need to? What a waste.”

“You sound like an old fogey.”

“An old—! As your senior in magic, I’m giving you advice that will do you a world of good.”

“That makes you sound even more like an old fogey.”

At Eugene’s teasing, Melkith clamped her mouth shut, both fists trembling.

‘Look who’s talking...’

With only her head poking out of the cloak, Mer merely pouted, unable to bring herself to voice the words on the tip of her tongue.

The way Eugene habitually gave Cyan grief at the main estate made him more of an old fogey than anyone Mer had ever seen. And Anise, who sometimes commandeered Kristina’s mouth, was hardly any better.

“Have you come up with any ideas for your signature?”

Lovellian did not lead them underground. As Melkith had said, the Red Tower’s underground research chambers were extremely sturdy, and Eugene had made use of them many times during his stay at the tower.

But however sturdy those chambers might be, if Eugene seriously unleashed his mana, he would destroy them without even casting a spell or producing sword force.

Lovellian knew that very well, so instead of taking Eugene to the underground research chambers and risking a collapse, he led him to the Red Tower’s rooftop. This wide-open rooftop served as Lovellian’s laboratory and practice area.

“Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin.”

He had given it plenty of thought, but nothing in particular had come to mind.

Lovellian smiled and drew a staff from inside his robe. With a light wave, something like a transparent curtain surrounded the rooftop. He had cast a spell to prevent anyone outside from observing it.

“That must be especially difficult for someone as exceptional as you, Eugene.”

“Exceptional?”

“Yes. There have been many warriors who used magic throughout the continent’s history, but most were middling, both as warriors and as mages. They did combine the two reasonably well, but even out of politeness, one could hardly call them first-rate. With the exception of Lord Vermouth the Great, the founder of Lionheart, of course.”

Lovellian was right. The archmages throughout history had pursued magic alone with almost stubborn dedication. Likewise, those who had won renown as knights or warriors had devoted their lives to combat and martial arts.

“People call you the second coming of Vermouth the Great, Eugene. I agree with them. After all, at such a young age, you have not only reached the sixth star of the White Flame Formula but also attained a level where you can freely wield Seventh Circle magic, have you not?”

“Well, yes...”

“That is precisely why coming up with a concept will be harder for you.”

Unable to follow his reasoning, Eugene tilted his head.

Lovellian had taught him both the fundamentals and the finer points of magic. He might not compare to Senya, but no one could deny that he was an outstanding mage. When an archmage like him explicitly called something difficult, Eugene could hardly brush it aside.

“Why would it be harder?”

“At its heart, magic is about doing what you cannot do.”

Lovellian smiled as he answered. He extended his staff, and blazing flames began to whirl at its tip.

“A person cannot conjure fire from their hands without using a tool. But with magic, they can. Ultimately, that is what magic is: a technique for doing what people—no, what I myself—cannot do.”

“...”

“To put it more simply, I cannot fly. But with magic, I can. If I ran normally, I would be slower than a puppy, let alone a horse, but with magic, I can move faster than anyone.”

“So that’s what you were getting at.”

Melkith, who had been listening quietly, chuckled and raised a finger.

“Here, look, kid. I’m not a warrior, and I don’t have a core. I can cloak myself in mana, but I can’t produce sword force like a warrior or knight. With magic, though, I can make a similar blade of mana, even if it works on a slightly different principle.”

Melkith moved her lips and cast a spell. Pale blue mana gathered according to its formula, forming a sharp blade. It was indeed a magical blade, distinct from sword force.

“This isn’t sword force. But it’s just as sharp and sturdy. I wouldn’t stand a chance against you, but I could probably put up something resembling a sword fight against most knights.”

“... Aha.”

Eugene now understood what they were getting at.

He was no ordinary mage. If he needed a sharp blade or an offensive technique, he could simply produce sword force rather than go to the trouble of constructing a formula and casting a spell. If he wanted to run fast, he could activate the White Flame Formula and run instead of casting speed-enhancing magic.

The line between what he could and could not do was different from that of an ordinary mage.

“That is why it will be difficult. Eugene, for an archmage, a signature is the essence of the magic they have built up over a lifetime of training and research. Usually, they spend decades studying magic, refining it to suit them perfectly...”

“To get to the point, kid, you’re certainly a powerful mage, but as a mage, you’re terribly incomplete. You’ve never even seriously thought about developing magic of your own, or felt any need to, have you?”

He could not deny it.

Eugene had been a warrior in his past life, and that had not changed after his reincarnation. He knew magic was convenient and powerful, but it had never once been the mainstay of his fighting. As a result, he had never researched new magic to meet his own needs.

“... Well, that’s true. Honestly, I’m more comfortable fighting physically than using magic.”

“But it is not as though you never use magic, is it? At the very least, flying must be vastly more efficient with magic.”

“Yes... Other than that... Hmm... Attacking enemies at a distance... I also mix Blink into my movements quite often. And I like using spatial magic to make things less predictable...”

The more Eugene spoke, the more his expression twisted.

However he looked at it, this did not seem like something he ought to be saying in front of Lovellian, who had done so much for him since childhood, taken him as an apprentice, taught him magic, and always stood by his side.

He did not know what his master truly thought, but surely most teachers wanted their students to put their teachings to worthwhile use?

“In other words, magic is merely a means of supporting you in combat.”

“Yes... I’m sor—”

“Why are you apologizing?”

Lovellian tilted his head, looking puzzled. Eugene cleared his throat and studied his expression.

“Well, Master, you went to all the trouble of teaching me magic. And I feel as though I may have neglected what you taught me...”

Watching through Kristina’s eyes, Anise found the situation quite entertaining.

Hamel, once so violent and unruly, was thoroughly intimidated by this neat-looking mage and anxiously watching his reactions. And he was calling him Master? Respecting one’s teacher was only natural for a student, but it would have been unimaginable for Hamel in his mercenary days.

[“I raised him.”]

Brimming with pride, Anise whispered to Kristina.

It was not a lie. From the moment Hamel joined their party, Anise had spent a long time correcting his manners and his attitude. She had never managed to fix his foul mouth, the worst problem of all, but he was not swearing at his master, so surely that counted as a success.

“Eugene, how a mage uses magic is entirely their own business.”

Understanding what Eugene meant, Lovellian let out a small laugh.

“I did teach you magic, certainly, but that does not mean you need to become a pure mage. In fact, I never wanted you to become such an ordinary mage in the first place. Your talents would be wasted on being only a mage.”

“Ahem...”

“Eugene. As I said earlier, a signature is the essence of the magic a mage has built up through training and research. What matters is what sort of magic that mage has practiced.”

Support in combat.

“You have no need to seek offensive power from magic. You can launch stronger attacks without going to the trouble of casting a spell. Support in combat. If that is what you want, it is enough. That is how you decide the direction of your signature.”

“Once you’ve decided on a direction, you construct a formula and build on it. Magic produces phenomena that shouldn’t happen. Like kindling a flame in a downpour or raising a blizzard in midsummer. You make impossible phenomena happen through a well-constructed formula.”

Chuckling, Melkith removed her coat.

“You won’t really understand it just by listening to us talk, so I’ll show you the signature of the great archmage and great spirit mage, Melkith El-Hayah. Consider it an honor. Few who have seen my signature have lived to tell the tale.”

“I would hardly say few. The other tower masters and Lord Trempel have all seen your signature.”

“Stop ruining the mood with pointless comments when I’m trying to look impressive!”

Melkith shot Lovellian a glare before composing herself again.

“Kid. As you know, I’m the greatest spirit summoner in the continent’s history. I’ve contracted with both the Lightning Spirit King and the Earth Spirit King, no less. Naturally, my signature concerns spirits. And its name is...”

Knowing Melkith’s signature, Lovellian promptly backed away. He beckoned Eugene and Kristina over as well.

Eugene retreated as instructed, watching Melkith stand tall at the center of the rooftop with curious eyes.

“Spirit Fusion, Trinity Force.”

Light flashed in Melkith’s eyes.

RUMBLE!

Black thunderclouds formed above the Red Tower in an instant. Terrifying mana swirled around Melkith’s body. The earth surrounding the Red Tower rose in one great mass.

Melkith stood high in the sky. The earth rising from below wrapped around her and began to take shape.

CRASH!

Lightning poured from the thunderclouds and coiled around the earthen form, currents flashing.

Eugene, Mer, and Kristina watched, speechless. Melkith was no longer visible.

Or was that really the right way to put it? What had appeared above the Red Tower was a gigantic Melkith El-Hayah molded from earth. An earthen doll... That was probably the best description. Though made of earth, it was not actually earth-colored.

Spirit Fusion, Trinity Force. It simply looked as though Melkith had become a giant. Of course, that enormous body was not truly her. Melkith was inside the center of the gigantic earthen doll, controlling it perfectly by linking her mind to its body.

“Well?”

Trinity Force, the enormous Melkith crouching in midair, opened its mouth... Her smile was exactly like that of the little human Melkith.

“This voluptuous body, sculpted from earth, matches my proportions perfectly. I can change its clothes however I please, too.”

“...”

“But that’s not all that makes my signature amazing! This body is practically an incarnation of the Earth Spirit King, so while I’m like this, I can control the earth however I want. And all the energy that moves this huge body comes from the Lightning Spirit King!”

Melkith spread her enormous hand. When she snapped her thumb and forefinger, a terrifying force of lightning gathered at her fingertips.

“Hehehe! With Trinity Force, perhaps I could sink the royal palace of Abram with a single twitch of my finger...?”

“It is fortunate Lord Trempel is not here.”

“Even I wouldn’t say that in front of that royalist old man, you know.”

“Stop talking nonsense and come down. As I have told you before, White Tower Master, however excellent and impressive your signature may be... its appearance is dreadful.”

“That’s my face!”

“You need not make it look exactly like yourself.”

“I love myself.”

The gigantic Melkith cupped both hands beneath her chin, framing her face like a flower. Looking utterly repulsed, Lovellian turned his gaze away from the sky.

“... Dreadful appearance aside, I believe the White Tower Master’s signature is a good example. It embodies both the essence of the magic she has built up and the realization of her ideal.”

Eugene, too, gripped Akasha and peered into Trinity Force, agreeing with Lovellian.

Spirit Fusion. The name was not wrong. Using herself as the central point, Melkith had fused the Earth and Lightning Spirit Kings. Creating that physical form entirely out of mana would be nearly impossible, so she shaped its body from earth, the Earth Spirit King’s power, and supplied its energy with lightning, the Lightning Spirit King’s power. In doing so, Melkith could fully wield the power of both Spirit Kings while enhancing her own magic.

“It’s not fair if I’m the only one showing mine, Red Tower Master. Aren’t you going to show yours?”

“I will show it without your prodding.”

Lovellian moved a sufficient distance from Eugene and formed a hand seal.

“Pantheon.”

This signature required neither a lengthy incantation nor a complex formula.

Red Tower Master Lovellian specialized in summoning magic. Unlike other archmages’ signatures, his signature, Pantheon, the Temple of All Gods, did not create a magical phenomenon. It called forth a summon.

That gave Lovellian’s Pantheon an overwhelming advantage in speed. Melkith’s Trinity Force inevitably took time to cast and manifest.

The same was true of other archmages’ signatures. But Lovellian’s signature summoned a “gate” from another dimension with nothing more than a hand seal and the utterance of “Pantheon.”

BOOM!

An enormous gate fell from the sky, its surface covered in intricate engravings. After Eugene’s duel with Generic, Generic had been unwilling to accept the result, but the moment Lovellian descended with Pantheon, he had suppressed his hostility.

That was how unusual and troublesome Pantheon was. Its overwhelming speed was one strength, but another advantage it held over other signatures lay in its unpredictability and capacity for surprise.

“This gate itself is a summon I have spent my entire life creating.”

Lovellian stroked Pantheon’s iron gate, standing beside him.

“And the other dimension connected to this gate contains the summoned creatures and constructs I have collected and created throughout my life.”

Ancient monsters that had lurked in deep underground dungeons. Superior hybrids produced by breeding monsters together. Chimeras. Corporeal curses that had been sealed in grimoires and the like.

Nor was it limited to living things. Summoned constructs such as golems made by Lovellian and the Red Tower’s mages, as well as nonliving monsters capable of moving on their own, also slept within Pantheon.

“Only I know which creatures and constructs will emerge from this gate. By opening it, I can release all my summons and assemble a great army. But that alone would hardly be enough to call it a signature with pride.”

Lovellian turned to Eugene with a smile.

“I can combine the summoned creatures and constructs inside the gate. To put it simply, I create chimeras within it. Depending on how I combine them, their uses and their strength change.”

“That’s why the Red Tower Master’s Pantheon is so hard to deal with. Not knowing what will come out of the gate is bad enough, but there’s no predicting the power of a composite beast made by combining his existing summons.”

Trinity Force dispersed, and Melkith leaped down from the sky.

“The most horrifying part is that there really are no limits to combining summons inside Pantheon. In other words, he could mix a hundred summoned creatures and a hundred summoned constructs together into one thing that has only their strengths.”

“I have never tried it. Nor do I wish to, or hope to encounter a situation where I must.”

With a wry smile, Lovellian dismissed Pantheon.

“As you have seen, my Pantheon pursues the pinnacle of summoning. I hope my signature has been of some help to you, Eugene.”

“... Pantheon and Trinity Force...”

Eugene, who had been admiring them, murmured.

“... Um... Do you have to name your signature yourself?”

“Pardon?”

“I was wondering if you could name mine for me, Master...”

“Kid, what are you talking about? A signature embodies a mage’s essence and realizes their ideal! Of course you have to name it yourself!”

Melkith snapped at him, looking incredulous. That... Eugene understood that much. But he had little confidence in his naming skills.

“Ignition,” Mer whispered.

“Asura’s Frenzied Slaughter.”

“You’re dead.”

“Eclipse.”

Scowling, Eugene pinched both of Mer’s cheeks.

“Thash hurts.”

“Don’t lie. You can’t feel pain.”

“My heart hurtsh.”

How could any decent person keep pinching her after that? Eugene quietly released Mer’s cheeks.

“But Eugene, I think Eclipse is quite a cool name. You put a lot of thought into it, didn’t you? It really does resemble one, too. Turning the sun black, like a solar eclipse...”

Without listening any further, Eugene stuffed Mer’s face back inside his cloak.

“What’s Eclipse?”

Melkith tilted her head as she asked, and Eugene pressed his lips tightly shut.

‘... Still, isn’t Eclipse better than Asura’s Frenzied Slaughter or Dead End...?’

That was what he privately thought.