The dawn before the sun rose. Yuric woke up, hastily gathered his clothes, and carefully left the accommodation to avoid waking Tornel.
Even though it was early in the morning, the streets were bustling with people heading out to work. Most of them were sailors. They seemed to have been drinking late into the night, as their breath still carried the smell of alcohol.
When Yuric arrived at the beach, faint light was spreading across the sky, turning the fluffy clouds floating on the sea red.
Walking quietly on the sparsely populated beach, gazing at the early morning sea view, he felt a dreamy yet poignant sensation. Yuric thought he would never forget this moment. The waves, making a “sa-a” sound as they rolled over the sand, leaving bubbling foam and dark traces, also left marks on Yuric’s heart.
Soon, the first light of dawn took control of the western sea.
An indescribable beauty dominated the sea. Yuric was deeply moved and couldn’t extricate himself from it for a long time.
Yuric sat on the beach and sketched the early morning sea, capturing the scene of the beach, sea, and stone buildings in his sketches.
He walked again on the sandy shore. Even though sand filled his leather shoes, it felt romantic to him.
After walking back and forth twice on the crescent-shaped beach, Yuric returned to the city and entered a nearby inn to order breakfast. He was served freshly baked warm bread, pickled herring, mashed beans, and half a boiled potato. After finishing his meal like someone closing their eyes while eating, he asked the innkeeper about a woman named Lady Rani.
At first, the innkeeper looked at Yuric with a suspicious expression, but when Yuric paid him a silver coin for information, his attitude changed immediately.
“Her Highness Baron Ollinger’s youngest daughter. She is wise and talented, and has earned His Excellency’s favor, but she started having seizures about a year ago… and ended up like this.”
Instead of saying she had passed away, the innkeeper waved his finger in the air.
“There’s an old saying that if one’s talent is too great, heaven will be envious. That’s exactly what happened here.”
“What do you mean by painting with blood?”
“Sometimes, when the seizures were severe, they even tied her hands and feet to the bed. Of course, they removed any dangerous objects. But she managed to free herself from the restraints and bit her own fingers to paint on the wall with her blood. It was so bizarre that even maids fainted.”
Yuric nodded slightly.
“It’s a pity. She was rumored to become a great mage. Her mother’s side is also known for its magical lineage…”
“Yes.”
“At first, famous doctors and mages related to this were called in, but all of them failed. Later, they even publicly offered a reward. Do you know how much it was?”
The innkeeper leaned slightly towards Yuric and showed three fingers.
“Just three thousand gold coins.”
“How impressive.”
“So, everyone tried. Mages who claimed they could cure her came one after another every day. Can you imagine, even a sane person might go mad seeing so many mages? Eventually, it seems wandering mages stopped accepting the case.”
The innkeeper picked up a rag and wiped the iron pot vigorously.
“Now she rarely meets anyone and stays alone in her room. His Excellency is a benevolent man, but the heavens are indifferent.”
With that, the conversation ended.
Yuric stood up, saying he had listened well.
Frankly, he wanted to visit the Baron’s Estate immediately to see Lady Rani’s condition and the paintings she made, but after hearing how much she had been tormented, he hesitated to take action. He couldn’t guarantee he could cure her illness, and if her seizures were due to mental illness, treatment would be even more difficult.
To learn more about Lady Rani’s illness, Yuric visited the branch of the Mage Tower. Showing his silver badge, he entered the building, and someone called out to him, “Isn’t that Mr. Yuric?” This was the circuitry expert he often met during debates at the tower.
“Ah, nice to meet you. You must be Mr. Edward?”
It’s crucial to form good relationships by using names. And Yuric, who almost never forgot anything he saw or heard, never neglected to use someone’s name.
The mage was very pleased when Yuric called out his name.
“I remember you. But why are you here?”
“Wandering around the continent, I somehow found myself here.”
“I see.”
“And what brings you here?”
“I was invited to a debate on circuitry. Several other professors are coming as well.”
Edward seemed delighted and invited Yuric to attend the debate. Since Yuric always enjoyed debates on magic, he gladly accepted.
“Your circuit diagrams have come up frequently as topics. With you here, there’ll be quite a stir.”
The week-long debate had already been going on for three days, and today was the fourth day.
“The debate is about to start. Would you like to watch?”
“Can I just show up like this?”
“Of course. Anyone affiliated with the Mage Tower can attend. There are many newcomers. Circuitry is the most popular field, after all.”
Circuitry was almost synonymous with modern magic. Thus, the regular circuitry debates held twice a year were the most popular.
So, Yuric joined Edward to attend the unexpected debate. Although Yuric intended to just observe, Edward brought him to the front and introduced him to everyone. Given that Yuric was the protagonist who brought innovation to circuitry, it was hard to stay silent.
“This is Mage Yuric!”
During the three-day debate, the name Yuric had been mentioned the most. He was the genius who opened new horizons in circuitry!
Everyone applauded Yuric, and he bowed deeply in gratitude.
Soon, the debate turned into something resembling Yuric’s lecture. Simply reading several interpretations of circuits and listening to Yuric’s vivid explanations of circuit creation principles was worlds apart.
The three-hour debate stretched indefinitely as no one wanted to leave and kept asking questions and taking notes.
The branch manager laughed heartily when he surprised Edward.
“In fact, I just happened to run into him by chance.”
“Heh heh, now that’s cosmic luck.”
Thus, the debate that began in the morning lasted half a day. Finally, Yuric managed to leave the conference room after his explanation ended. The branch manager asked Yuric to attend tomorrow as well.
“We’ll take care of your convenience at the branch.”
“Understood. I’ll attend tomorrow.”
Several curious mages followed Yuric, asking various questions, which he answered politely.
Seeing historians studying magic asking about Dural’s treasures, Yuric realized his paper on treasure hunting and analysis submitted to the tower had been approved.
After answering all the mages’ questions, Yuric finally entered the library to read some books about Lady Rani’s seizures. After noting down the important parts, he went outside, only to find that the sun had already set.
Apart from breakfast and snacks during the debate, he hadn’t eaten much, and his stomach growled loudly.
When he returned to his accommodation, Tornel, the jack-of-all-trades with a conical hat, had already returned from the market, saying he had made better money than yesterday. He was stacking coins on the table, counting them.
“Looks like you had a good time?”
“I went to the branch of the Mage Tower and attended a debate. That’s why it took me some time.”
“A debate?”
Tornel reminisced about his last debate with a distant look. After becoming a jack-of-all-trades, he had attended debates diligently for a while, but then avoided them for over 80 years.
“Would you like to go together tomorrow?”
“Sure. I need to make money. Otherwise, how can I buy things?”
Tornel seemed to think business was better than debating. Yuric didn’t press further.
They had dinner in the hall and returned to their rooms. During dinner, Yuric went to the storeroom briefly, stroked his cane and spirit, and sat at the desk to read a spellbook. The curses that tried to draw attention faded into the background. While concentrating on the spellbook, a sudden magical reaction occurred, indicating someone approaching.
Tornel, who was organizing items with Yuric in the storeroom, also sensed the magical reaction and quickly came out with Yuric.
“Who is it?”
—I am Benedictra of the Knight Order. Is Mage Yuric here?
When Yuric cautiously opened the door, two men in uniform stood there.
“I am Yuric. What is the matter?”
“I have something important to discuss. May I come in for a moment?”
“Oh, please come in.”
The knights glanced at Tornel, seemingly asking who he was. Yuric answered without hesitation.
“He is my master.”
The conical-hat mage’s eyes widened slightly, then he wore a strange expression mixed with surprise and joy.
For a hundred years, he had lived alone. Even if it was just in name, having a master for the first time felt indescribably peculiar.
If Yuric became his apprentice, anyone would be happy. Talented, kind, handsome, and resourceful—how could anyone dislike him?
The knights nodded, thinking that if it was the master, it would be fine, and greeted Tornel. Then they turned to Yuric.
“Are you the one who developed the treatment for Mana Blockage Disease?”
“Yes, I am.”
“There is someone who wishes to meet you.”
As soon as the knights mentioned Mana Blockage Disease, Yuric roughly understood the situation.
“Is it Baron Ollinger?”
The knights readily confirmed it, as rumors about Lady Rani had spread far and wide.
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you want to talk right now?”
“Yes, right now.”
Yuric nodded, sensing the Baron’s deep love for his daughter.
He looked at Tornel. After all, he needed his master’s permission. The conical-hat mage also nodded upon sensing Yuric’s gaze.
“Go ahead.”
Yuric grabbed a bag and followed the two knights.
Since the sun had just set, a faint red glow remained in the dusky sky. Yuric admired the romantic sky as he got into the carriage waiting in front of the inn.
After a while, the carriage entered the Baron’s Estate and stopped in front of a mansion. The knights led Yuric inside.
The mansion gave an overwhelmingly gloomy feeling. Occasionally passing maids were very cautious in their movements.
Yuric sensed the flow of mana throughout the mansion.
“…Quite significant…”
Although the mansion was adorned with beautiful art pieces, Yuric had no time to admire them.
After walking through the hallway for a while, Yuric reached a door where four people stood guard. Two were armed and standing vigilantly beside the door, one was looking out the window, and the other was standing beside him.
Yuric recognized the man looking out the window as Baron Ollinger at a glance. His aura was unmistakable.
As Yuric approached, Baron Ollinger looked at him and said,
“You’re just as I expected. The prodigious mage who appeared at the branch.”
“Your words are too generous. I am merely an ordinary mage named Yuric.”
“My apologies for being late. I am Baron Ollinger.”
Baron Ollinger could sense mana but wasn’t particularly talented. He was just an ordinary mage, nothing special. However, that didn’t mean he lacked insight.
“I heard you developed a treatment for Mana Blockage Disease. I’ve seen it myself, though not to the extent of fully understanding it. I do know its value, though. As a mage, I express my respect to you.”
“Your praise is overwhelming. Thank you.”
“Have you heard the rumors?”
“About Her Excellency’s daughter?”
“Then let’s get straight to the point. I have a request for you.”
Yuric looked into Baron Ollinger’s eyes.
“To be honest, I can’t guarantee I can cure her.”
“That’s fine. I’m grasping at straws. In fact, I’ve been searching for the mage who developed the Mana Blockage Disease treatment. I didn’t expect to find you so soon, but I believe in cosmic guidance.”
Yuric couldn’t ignore the parents’ heartfelt plea.
“Then I will do my best, Your Excellency.”
“Thank you, truly.”
The knights cautiously opened the door.
A dense flow of mana surged out.
“If it doesn’t turn out badly, may I enter alone?”
“…Are you sure? It could be dangerous alone.”
“It’s fine.”
“Alright. If it becomes too dangerous, call us immediately. You can enter anytime.”
Yuric slowly entered the room through the open door.
The room was illuminated by four mana constructs. Upon entering, Yuric’s eyes immediately fixed on the bed.
The woman sitting on the bed, facing Yuric’s sudden appearance, stared at him fiercely.
“Oh.”
Her hair fluttered in the air, and mana circulated furiously within her body.
“This time, it’s the real deal.”
At the same moment, mana began to strongly pressure Yuric. Any inexperienced mage would surely have been overwhelmed and fled.
However, Yuric calmly raised his index finger and subdued the mana.
“Hello, Miss Rani.”
Yuric greeted her formally and introduced himself.
“I am Mage Yuric.”
