C221: Research results (3)
Merry Christmas!!!
After entering the classroom, Rene hurried to her seat and sat down.
Erendir, who had come in advance, alternated between Rene and Rudger, who entered the classroom at almost the same time and flinched her lips as if she wanted to ask something.
Then Rudger, who climbed onto the platform, opened his mouth.
"Before we begin the lecture, I have something to tell you."
The students instinctively noticed what Rudger was trying to say.
The time has finally come.
"There are a lot of people here and there asking about my research results recently. Today I found out that someone tried to blackmail an applicant without even asking me first. How cheeky."
The students who were stabbed by the words talked among themselves. It was surprising that there was someone who would go so far.
"I'm very annoyed."
His voice was cold, and they could even feel a subtle anger in his tone.
The students in the classroom gulped down as they thought that Rudger might take it out on them.
"However there's no point in getting angry here."
Fortunately, Rudger didn't go any further.
"But let me tell you. If this happens again, then I will deal with the perpetrator myself. The ones that get caught won't step in Theon again so try hard not to get caught."
It was rare for Rudger to speak so openly. He would usually warn the students in an abstract tone but this time it was different since making them unable to step into Theon meant more than just suspension.
"And let me add that. No matter how much you bother the six applicants, you won't get anything. I kept it strictly secret about how to increase mana emissions and they just benefited."
The students did not understand his words since they were contradictory but Rudger wasn't wrong.
In order to increase the mana emission, the body's Mana Path must be found and strengthened but the only way to do it was to train while using mana inhibitors.
So basically, unless they know how to make a mana inhibitor, people won't even be able to find the Mana Path.
And Rudger was the only one who knew how to make the inhibitor.
"No matter how much you pry, there is no other way to know than to hear it directly from me. So, throw away those useless thoughts and focus on your studies."
Of course, not everyone believed his words but Rudger only spoke so that bothering the six applicants became a risk. That was enough.
"Okay, let's start the class because the third test is not far away."
* * *
Maybe it's because Rudger's warning worked but after class, no students bothered Aidan and Rene.
In addition it was hard to approach Rene because Erendir was with her and Aidan had friends.
Students in other classrooms who did not hear the warning sometimes talked to them, but it was much better than before.
'I was so tired that I was going to die.'
Rene managed to relax after having a hard time since people were bothering her. She was rather relieved that it was over although people around her were still watching her but that was all.
No one approached or talked to her as openly as before. Thanks to this, Rene was able to take classes comfortably.
"Spells are divided into ranks. The higher the rank, the more complicated and difficult the spell becomes, and more mana is needed. As a wizard, it's quite difficult to get to the top……."
She was taking a liberal arts class related to magical history that was also famous for its good grades compared to the difficulty of the class.
"The wizard has no name until the fourth rank. But from the fifth rank, it's named. As you all know, the fifth-ranked wizard is called "Amnuki." Why is that? Does anyone know?"
"Isn't it the name of a wizard who achieved the 5th rank for the first time?"
"You only got half right. It is true that the 5th rank is called Amnuki, but he did not become the first 5th rank. That's the same for the sixth rank. What's the name of the sixth rank?"
"It's Lexer."
"Yes, it's named after Lexer, a great wizard and adventurer but Lexer isn't that old. He's closer to the modern times. Who was the first 6th rank wizard?"
The students realized something, too. The name given to the rank it's not the name of the wizard to achieve that stage.
"The name given to the rank is not the name of the first wizard to reach that rank but it's because he established the hierarchy. There was a fifth-rank wizard before Amnuki, but no one had ever thoroughly analyzed and organized the 5th rank magic. The same goes for Lexer."
"Then, are you saying that there have been people who have achieved a high rank in the distant past?"
"That's right. In fact, if you look at the power of the ancient wizards in the ancient books, they've gone beyond the sixth rank of the fifth rank to the seventh rank."
The students thought it was a fake. Their common opinion was that in the ancient times, when magic less developed in magic than now, wizards couldn't reach that level.
"There may be an exaggeration in that part, but I wouldn't be wrong. In fact, starting from the 7th rank, it is like that."
"Isn't the 7th rank called Impera?"
"That's right, everyone. Do you know who the wizard, Impera?"
"Is that the first person to reach the 7th rank?"
"All of the previous ranks were named after those who established the hierarchy, but it's different from Impera, right?"
"What….?"
It's because the ranks are different from the 7th rank but the student didn't bother to say the obvious.
Wizards who reached the 6th rank were also treated with great respect, but the 7th rank was of course even greater than that. They were few in number, even on the continent.
It takes a very strong talent to get to the sixth rank but to reach the seventh rank something else beyond talent was needed.
Since the level of magic used was different, there was no need to establish the hierarchy. That's why the seventh rank is named after the first person who reached it.
"Impera was the first wizard that reached the seventh rank. Long before science developed as it is now, it was the emperor of the past empire. Even now, the 7th rank is a dream for many, but people at that time also achieved the 7th rank.
"No way. After all, he's an old-fashioned wizard."
One of the students said so.
Now, magic techniques are more advanced, and much more efficient and detailed magic is born. Just as sword-wielding techniques are created to use the optimal path, not the rough one, magic is also stereotyped, formalized, and changed.
Most of the wizards' perception was that ancient seventh-rank wizards couldn't even be a sixth-rank wizard of the present era.
"Teacher, what's the 8th rank called?"
"The eighth rank is called Grander."
"Is the name also derived from the name of the wizard who reached the rank for the first time?"
"Maybe so."
"Maybe?"
Unlike before, students wondered at the unclear answer.
"I don't know how the name Grander spread, but a wizard with that name didn't appear in any literature. Of course, it may be written in ancient documents that have not been interpreted, but it is now widely believed that the name Grander was passed down by word of mouth and not academic materials."
"Then why do we keep using that name?"
"That's because there's no other wizard who achieved the eighth rank yet."
Everyone who dreamed of becoming a wizard admired the eight rank 'Grander' even the seventh rank wizards who stand at the top now.
Even elves, a species that live longer than humans, have never heard of an 8th rank wizard. In the first place, it was questionable whether the 8th rank existed.
Perhaps Grander is not a name, but a noun that refers to 'impossible' in an ancient language.
"If one day a new eighth rank wizard is born, that person might change the name of the rank."
Even though they knew it didn't make sense, the students imagined themselves becoming that eighth rank wizard. Everyone would chant their name and they would remain in history for eternity.
Where in the world could there be more glory than this?
* * *
'It' walked the road. The outside world after a long time was very strange. It's only been a few years, but the world has made a lot of progress in those years.
Just looking at the prosperous city was enough entertainment.
Maybe 'It' can look around a little more on its way to find its student.
It turned its head suddenly after thinking that.
Beyond those red eyes, 'It' felt something. Men with considerable magic all gathered in one place.
Seeing that they are gathered in a deserted place, they are not honorable people, and considering that, they are quite strong.
'It' could ignore it and pass by, but 'It' became interested in them because it's been a long time since 'It' went out.
'It' headed to a place where it felt energy with a light step.
When 'It' arrived at the place where 'It' felt the energy 'It' could see suspicious-looking people planning something. The surroundings were covered with red bricks full of smoke, and it was dark and dull even in broad daylight but 'It' liked the place.
"What's going on?"
Those who gathered at the meeting, members of the Black Dawn Association, frowned at 'It' sudden appearance.
"Why are you here?"
The first thing they saw was gold hair flowing down gently like a carpet, red eyes and snow-white skin. She was wearing a wine-colored Gothic dress full of frills and a parasol in one hand.
Anyone would think that she was a girl who was small and cute like a doll and had a strange charm that was hard to describe so they wouldn't expect her to appear here.
"What did the guys who were guarding the entrance do?"
Even if she got lost, it was virtually impossible for such a girl to come into this place. The road is complicated, and the men who were guarding the entrance would have kicked her out.
"But that girl."
Feeling something strange, a Second Order narrowed its eyes.
'It's surprising to see someone like her in a place like this, but her reaction is weird.'
Usually, a person like her would be anxious about such a place. Even if she came in, it was normal to be scared or run away when she saw people with a bad impression gathered.
But what was that reaction?
She was walking towards them.
'She's not afraid of us? Does that mean she believes in something? Hidden escort? Or her skills?'
Did she read the intentions contained in that gaze?
The girl's red eyes drew a crescent moon.
"Ho. There's a guy who's surprisingly quick-witted."
"Who are you?"
The rest of the people moved quickly, perhaps realizing that the Second Order's reaction was unusual.
They surrounded the area and blocked the escape route to prevent her from escaping but the girl smiled at their actions.
"You're quick-witted and responsive. I came here out of curiosity, but it seems you aren't an ordinary group."
"I don't know how you got here, but since you've come this far, don't think about leaving alive."
At the words, the girl opened her eyes wide and burst into laughter.
Her cheerful laughter raised the eyebrows of the Second Order.
"Are you laughing right now?"
"Hahaha. How can I not laugh when it's funny? Don't think about leaving alive? I didn't think anyone would say that to me. I can feel that the world has changed a lot."
"What?"
In addition, from the way she talks, she sounds like an old person.
The Second Order was a little wary but he thought maybe the girl was out of her mind.
"Kill her."
The subordinates slowly approached the girl at the command of the Second Order.
At that moment, the girl folded the parasol she was using and as its tip touched the ground an extraordinary event happened.
"What is it?"
The Second Order was surprised to see his subordinates that were approaching the girl suddenly collapse like broken dolls.
'What happened?'
He couldn't understand what the hell happened and he didn't see or feel anything.
The Second Order felt his whole body shaking and his instincts crying out. That person in front of me, it's something he doesn't dare to face.
"You, who the hell are you?"
All he could do was ask in a trembling voice.
At that, the girl said with a smile.
"Grander, do you know that name?"
"What do you mean….?"
"You don't have to know."
The girl waved her hand lightly. Although her action was so simple that it could be considered meaningless it was also the last thing the Second Order saw.
Grander, a girl who took more than dozens of lives in an instant, lifted the parasol and looked up at the sky beyond the high wall.
"Where is the disciple who made this master move her heavy steps?"
That day a branch of the Black Dawn Society, led by First Order Nikolai, disappeared without a word.