Chapter 26

The final qualifiers are a total of three: Yuric, Azbeli, and a man named Ludwig.

After personally verifying them, the Grand Mage boarded the carriage that was waiting outside the ruins and called Yuric aside.

“Do you have any urgent matters? Would you mind having a brief conversation with me? Somewhere more comfortable, I mean.”

“Yes, understood.”

As the carriage raced off somewhere with great momentum, Yuric had to endure the blatant gaze of the Grand Mage upon him.

After quite some time, the carriage arrived at a grand mansion. It seemed like this was where she temporarily resided.

Violetta stepped out of the carriage and walked briskly into the mansion. Following her, Yuric took the opportunity to admire the luxurious interior of the house.

The room they reached overlooked a well-tended garden. Approaching the table near the window and sitting down, she gestured for him to take the seat opposite her.

“That index finger… it isn’t yours, is it?”

Without beating around the bush, the Grand Mage went straight to the point.

Since there was nothing to hide, Yuric readily admitted it.

“I saw that thing long ago. The mage known as the ‘Index Finger Mage’—he used to hunt demons relentlessly.”

“Titon… Titon it is.”

“Yes, Titon! Now it comes back to me.”

Titon was a figure from nearly two hundred years ago. Yuric couldn’t gauge how old the young female mage in front of him actually was.

Of course, he didn’t find it strange that she was old. After all, the Grand Matron also looked youthful despite being very aged.

“So, how did you come by it?”

“I obtained it accidentally in a dungeon.”

“Hmm… judging by what I see, it seems entirely uncontrollable.”

“Yes, I haven’t been able to control the index finger yet.”

Violetta nodded as if she had expected this.

And then she calmly said:

“Then cut it off.”

—?!

Yuric’s eyes widened dramatically at the sudden suggestion to sever his finger.

“…What?!”

“It’s poison. It will slowly consume you.”

Ah—. Yuric was at a loss for words.

Considering it was none other than the Grand Mage herself who spoke, her words carried immense weight.

“But, do I really have to cut it off…?”

“You have great potential. Even without the index finger, you possess the qualities to become an excellent mage. There’s no need to be fixated on something you can’t control. Besides, losing a single finger won’t hinder your abilities significantly, right?”

Yuric swallowed hard and fell into deep thought.

“What exactly reacted just now with the index finger?”

“…I thought I needed to break the protective barrier to capture the demon.”

“I see…”

Violetta gave a meaningful smile.

“You might not understand now, but later, that finger will endlessly seek out demons… likely until your d*ath, never stopping.”

—!

“The danger of uncontrolled magic is immense. …Though I must admit its destructive power is impressive. Frankly, I hadn’t anticipated the barrier breaking here. However, even without the index finger, you would have qualified.”

After a long silence, Yuric, with a fierce and serious gaze, looked at Violetta and spoke.

“Violetta Your Grace, is there no other way? …It’s not that I’m reluctant to lose my finger. As you’ve said, lacking one finger won’t stop me from becoming an excellent mage. But… it saddens me to see such a legacy disappear. That person saved my life when I almost died in the dungeon. And the finger chose me. I want to try as much as I can.”

The Grand Mage crossed her arms and let out a long sigh through her nose.

“If I were in your place, I would have cut it off immediately. I detest anything encroaching on my domain.”

“I want to try to coexist with it.”

“It seems our philosophies don’t align.”

“After hearing your advice to cut the finger, I’ve made up my mind. If you truly believe there’s no other way, I will cut off my index finger here and now.”

Yuric placed his right hand firmly on the table.

Violetta alternated her gaze between his face and the index finger.

Unlike weak and overly attached mages, he possessed decisiveness.

“Are you really going to cut it off?”

“Yes.”

The handsome mage’s eyes showed not a trace of hesitation.

If the index finger magic was uncontrollable and dangerous, as she said, Yuric, as a mage, could not have been unaware of this fact.

No matter how delicious food may seem, it’s wise not to swallow if it contains poison.

After staring intently at Yuric’s face for quite some time, Violetta ordered him to remove his hand from the table.

“…It’s uncertain. Another person’s magic is akin to their ideology. Whether or not you can assimilate that ideology depends solely on your own capabilities.”

The handsome mage bowed deeply from his seated position.

“Thank you!”

“There’s nothing to thank. The demon still lives, and your finger might prove useful in capturing it. This is merely a reprieve.”

She glanced outside; the sun was still high in the sky.

“Is there anyone accompanying you?”

“No.”

“In that case, stay here. I’ll guide you.”

“I’ll work hard, Your Grace!”

There were still three days before the Subjugation Team was set to depart.

Of course, Yuric wasn’t foolish enough to think he’d gain control over his index finger within those three days.

However, in the pitch-black darkness where he couldn’t see even a step ahead, he felt as though he’d found a glimmer of light.

He firmly believed that if he followed this light continuously, he would eventually achieve his goal.

*

Grand Mage Violetta had not imparted teachings in a very long time—almost forty years since her last disciple.

“…Look at this one.”

Frankly, she didn’t expect much. Though he possessed a natural talent for circuits, that was merely modern magic. Understanding the concept of verbal magic was an entirely different matter.

Surprisingly, he began to grasp the vague notion of verbal incantations in a remarkably short time.

In truth, Yuric didn’t fully understand verbal magic itself. The idea of embedding mana into language was unimaginable to him.

So, he decided to slightly alter his approach.

“…Think of language as pictures. Language, in a broad sense, is ultimately just an agreed-upon symbol.”

Honestly, embedding mana into language was beyond comprehension, but doing so with images seemed possible. In fact, since his childhood, before he knew magic, he could embed mana into drawings.

He didn’t know exactly how it worked—it was something beyond intellectual understanding. He simply knew it worked when he tried.

Verbal magic was probably similar. Thus, Yuric drew upon his past memories and experiences.

Of course, there was no visible change on the surface. However, each time Yuric touched upon the concept of magic, his mana subtly fluctuated.

And Grand Mage Violetta silently observed all of this.

“…This one is definitely a modern mage.”

Though she had lived since the era when verbal magic existed, the handsome mage before her was different. Clearly, he was a modern mage who had only ever known runes and circuits.

Yet, astonishingly, he was gently brushing against a new magical system. Though it was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, she could feel it.

This one is different.

Initially, Violetta planned to sever the index finger after the subjugation mission.

The owner of the index finger magic was the “Index Finger Mage,” someone so formidable that even demons, who treated humans as insects, reluctantly retreated when he appeared.

Could anyone possibly handle the unique magic of such a person? Honestly, it was laughable.

But Violetta’s thoughts began to waver.

Being able to touch the concept meant definite talent.

It was a terrifying level of talent.

Perhaps, even surpassing hers…

Of course, there had been talented individuals before.

But his learning speed was beyond comprehension. She had only given him slight hints, yet he was already fumbling toward the right path.

Truthfully, he had already experienced something akin to verbal magic during his childhood, though she had no way of knowing this. Even if she did, it would still classify him as a prodigy.

Violetta licked her lips.

For the first time, she felt an urge to possess someone.

And she was a very straightforward person.

She was the Grand Mage after all. What could possibly hold her back from saying whatever she wanted?

“Study under me.”

At first, Yuric was confused about what she meant. Wasn’t he already receiving lessons?

“This means formally. As my disciple.”

Yuric blinked his wide, innocent eyes several times. Violetta, who believed mages should be cunning, wasn’t particularly fond of such a gentle demeanor despite his good looks.

“Uh, well…”

“Why? Is there a problem? What is it? …Just say yes immediately!”

Yuric hesitated, thinking too many masters already guided him.

Moreover, from their two days together, he realized she disliked anyone contradicting her words. Likely, whatever he said, she’d push forward with, “I’m the Grand Mage!” …Besides, it felt somewhat disrespectful to reject someone who was working hard to help him save his finger.

After all, aren’t all beings who offer guidance considered teachers?

“…Yes, I will regard you as my master.”

Only then did Grand Mage Violetta’s expression soften.

“Your talent is undoubtedly remarkable. However, you need a teacher who can fully cultivate it. That teacher is me.”

“Yes, thank you. I will study harder.”

Thus, Grand Mage Violetta became Yuric’s sixth teacher.

Of course, he wasn’t clueless enough to mention the number six.

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