"Professor, is Rine okay?"
Erendir, who followed Rudger all the way to the infirmary, asked with concern.
"She's fine."
"But why did she suddenly collapse..."
"It's probably because of the magical beast. You felt it too, right?"
"Yes. Everyone was shocked because of that peculiar magical beast."
"Some of the newly born magical beasts have rather sensitive aspects. They unknowingly consume excessive mana from their owners. Rine fainted because of that."
Erendir wanted to ask if that was the only reason, but the question didn't come out of her mouth.
Rudger's serious expression didn't allow for such questions.
"Erendir, I understand your concern for your junior, but you should go now. Don't you have classes to attend?"
"But..."
"Leave this to me here. I have plenty of time, so I can take care of Rine."
"...There's no need for a teacher to do it."
"This is what happened in my class. If I don't do it, who will?"
In the end, Erendir had no choice but to leave the ward, acknowledging Rudger's words.
Rudger silently watched over Rine, who was sound asleep on the bed.
-Why are you showing guilt?
Those were Rine's last words before she collapsed.
It made Rudger's emotions become complicated.
'just for a moment, the sealing magic was pierced, and the energy inside the judgment eye exploded exponentially.'
Rudger had read such contents in the literature.
The judgment eye sees the true nature of a person.
However, the abilities of the judgment eye could not be defined in just one line.
The judgment eye was a mysterious power that allowed certain existences to awaken as saints.
That power distinguished between good and evil, sought hidden darkness, and expelled what was impure.
The first power of the judgment eye.
The eye that discerned what was impure.
Rine's ability to distinguish whether someone had malicious intentions or posed a threat was thanks to this fundamental ability.
Likewise, her ability to approach Erendir or Rudger without hesitation was because the judgment eye didn't send any danger signals.
The problem was the new characteristics that emerged as this power grew stronger.
'It can read emotions'
No deceptive existence could hide its true nature in front of the judgment eye.
The judgment eye saw through the evil and distinguished their lies.
There is a difference between reading thoughts and reading emotions.
However, it was easy to tell if someone was hostile or harbored some kind of ill intent.
Rine asking Rudger why he felt guilt was due to the strengthened abilities of the judgment eye.
'Why did it suddenly become stronger? I even used sealing magic to suppress that power.'
The biggest reason was undoubtedly that magical beast.
The mysterious magical beast that had no records in any literature until now.
It manifested some kind of power, and because of that, Rine's judgment eye, even if only momentarily, explosively grew stronger.
'But it's strange. Rine's non-attribute mana and the judgment eye are clearly separate things.'
There have been no stories of previous owners of the judgment eye possessing non-attribute mana.
Conversely, those who possessed non-attribute mana did not possess the judgment eye.
In a way, Rine was a malformed child of an era where these two peculiar cases merged into one.
There has never been one before, and there will never be another in the future.
She was a unique existence.
'With existing knowledge, it's impossible to make a reckless judgment.'
If anyone knew this fact, they would think that Rine had been blessed.
Possessing two exceptional talents that others cannot have would be an object of envy to those who don't possess them.
However, Rudger knows that it is neither a blessing nor a gift.
—Unwanted power is nothing less than a curse.
Just like he can hear the voices of the gods.
Rine, too, would have endured a lot of suffering, even though she didn't express it outwardly.
'Non-attribute mana. I must find a solution for that at least.'
Non-attribute mana is a rare type of mana with unknown properties in the world.
Rudger searched through numerous books and papers, but he still couldn't figure out exactly what kind of mana it was.
However, one thing he could be certain of is that non-attribute mana consumes the user's life force.
Kwak!
Power naturally surged into Rudger's fist.
The previous owners of non-attribute mana ultimately couldn't withstand their own mana and died.
The scene of that day is still vivid in his mind.
'Even so, I thought I had enough time.'
The owner of non-attribute mana can hardly surpass the age of 25, no matter how long they live.
As time passes, the mana becomes stronger, but the body cannot endure it.
The mana that gradually becomes more powerful is poison to the body.
If it cannot be expelled, that person's life gradually heads towards its end.
'I thought Rine had several more years considering her age.'
Rine's progress was faster than expected.
Could it be because of the book he gave her about non-attribute mana?
Or was it due to the unique synergy between the judgment eye and the magical beast?
'This magical beast formed by non-attribute mana is unlike anything I've ever witnessed.'
Until Rine unleashed her power, her judgment eye had remained stagnant.
It was truly a total crisis.
'In the end, should I contact him?'
There was one person they had been pretending not to know each other.
It's not that he avoids meeting him personally, but if he had to choose between liking or disliking, he would lean towards the latter.
He was Rine's magic teacher, whom Rudger entrusted her to after erasing her memories.
'If we only consider skill, he could easily become one of Owens' as an executive.'
However, Rudger didn't call him because of their relationship.
Rine's magic teacher despised Rudger deeply.
Just like dealing with a bitter enemy.
Rudger knew the reason, so after leaving Rine with him, he didn't interfere or even make contact.
There was also the fact that he didn't have the qualification to do so, but it was also because the person couldn't stand him to the point of having seizures.
It was only natural considering what happened between them in the past.
However, regarding the study of non-attribute mana, the two of them had a shared goal, so he must has been diligently researching during the past years.
There must be some results.
'Come to think of it, that guy had his own problems too. I told him to take care of her properly, but he just sent her to Seron?'
Rudger became annoyed with him, but he couldn't help it.
'That stupid guy. He probably acted all serious on the outside, but if Rine pleaded with him desperately, he wouldn't have been able to refuse.'
Rudger understood what kind of person he was, so he couldn't completely understand why Rine had come to Seron.
'He may come across as useless, but he's likely been far from idle. While his character may be questionable, his skills are truly remarkable.'
When considering only skill, he could rival Owens' executives.
Rudger even went so far as to think about a code name assuming that he might join U.N. Owen.
'If only the relationship between him and me had been a little better.'
His code name would have been 'Goethe'.
"Hmm."
At that moment, Rine, who was lying down, groaned and opened her eyes.
* * *
Rine was taken aback.
She opened her eyes to find herself in a hospital room?
She couldn't recall when she had lost consciousness.
What surprised her even more was that the person who had been taking care of her by her side was Rudger.
"Mr.Rudger?! Why are you here?!"
"Don't you remember? You collapsed during the lesson, and I brought you here. Don't you have something to say first."
"Uh, thank you?"
"Yes."
"Well, I appreciate it, but you don't have to keep waiting here."
"What happened during my class is my responsibility as the teacher in charge."
Rine felt unnecessarily sorry, thinking that she had burdened Rudger.
"Rine, are you feeling alright?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. I think I'm okay now."
Rine checked her body condition here and there as she answered.
She belatedly remembered why she had fainted.
"I... I fainted because of the magical beast, right?"
"Do you remember what you saw before fainting?"
"Uh, well... I summoned the magical beast, and my magical beast emitted some strange power. And then..."
And then...
Rine mumbled those words but couldn't finish her sentence.
"I don't remember."
"You don't?"
"No. I have a vague feeling of what I saw last and I might have mumbled something unknowingly. But I can't recall it."
"...."
Rudger carefully observed Rine's appearance.
He had a suspicion that she might know something but was pretending not to, but her expression didn't give him that impression at all.
There had been a similar incident before.
At that time, Rine unknowingly mumbled Rudger's real name.
Perhaps the seal on her memories had been slightly disturbed.
"What did I say? I didn't say anything disrespectful, did I?!"
Rudger gave Rine a prepared response.
"You didn't say anything. You simply fainted due to the shock of summoning the magical beast for the first time."
"Oh."
"It was good that you summoned the magical beast for the first time, but this time, it went too far."
Rudger's concerned reproach made Rine feel unnecessarily embarrassed.
"I'm sorry."
"But it was my fault for not mentioning it beforehand, so you don't need to apologize."
"Really?"
"Your magical beast is like a newborn baby. It's natural to react sensitively without adapting to the world you encounter for the first time."
"Magical beasts can be like that too?"
"A magical beast doesn't necessarily obey only its owner's commands. Sometimes it refuses, and at times, it even tries to devour its owner."
Upon hearing those words, Rine felt an inexplicable fear.
Being devoured by a magical beast.
Just hearing it was terrifying, wasn't it?
"Of course, such cases are extremely rare."
"I... I don't know magical beasts that well. Isn't my magical beast also an exceptional case?"
"That..."
Come to think of it, that was true.
Rudger hesitated to answer, and Rine became anxious.
"T-Then, will I be devoured?!"
"No, that won't happen."
"What should I do? I still have so many things I want to do! To go so soon like this!"
"Rine."
"Does it hurt a lot to be devoured by a magical beast? Is there no pain? Should I write a will...?"
"Calm down, Rine."
Rudger's firm voice instantly settled Rine's dizzying mind.
It felt as if a heavy anchor had been dropped into the turbulent center of her heart.
"That won't happen. The magician who was consumed by a magical beast was experiencing a state of magical frenzy due to the excessive utilization of magical power. It was a tragedy brought about by their own mistreatment of the magical beast."
"I... I see."
"That's right. So if you handle your magical beast properly, there is no risk of being devoured."
How to handle the magical beast in its unfamiliar form would be a future problem.
"But it seems you don't want to die."
"Do most people like that sort of thing?"
"Most people would probably dislike it. But there are also those who like it. More importantly, you mentioned that you have a lot you want to do?"
"Huh? Ah, well..."
Rine seemed quite flustered, not expecting Rudger to bring up the words she blurted out.
"Well, um... yes?"
"What do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? Well, I have so many things I'm considering. I want to explore various kinds of magic, I want to travel and see different parts of the world, and I also want to have new experiences."
"Do you have any career aspirations?"
"I want to become a magical researcher."
"A researcher?"
"Yes!"
Rine nodded with a brighter expression.
"There are still many unknown magics in the world, right? Including the non-attribute magic power I possess. I want to become a magical researcher not only for myself but also for people who don't know what kind of magic power they have."
"I see."
It was a highly altruistic reason for choosing a future career.
Usually, kids of her age only aimed for success through magic.
"Becoming a magical researcher is a challenging path."
"But I still want to do it! It's my dream."
"To become a researcher, you need extensive knowledge of magic, and you'll have to write a significant number of research papers. You need to excel in theoretical aspects, and your magical achievements should not be lacking."
"Oh... is that much?"
She had thought about wanting to become a magical researcher, but she didn't expect it to be this difficult.
"Becoming a researcher, especially someone studying magic, is a task reserved for the intellectual elite. Even someone like Clinton Rotschild, a 7th-rank Imperia-ranked magician, is a magical researcher. That's why he rarely appears in the public eye."
"I see."
Rine instantly became gloomy.
The goal she had wanted so desperately turned out to be an challenging path.
Rudger thought she resembled a puppy who couldn't go for a walk, looking dejected.
"Don't be too disappointed. If you make an effort, you can definitely become a magical researcher."
"Really?"
Rine's expression brightened again.
She was a sincere student, wearing her emotions openly.
That was Rine.
Someone whom Rudger valued and felt remorseful towards.
Therefore, he had an obligation to repay her.
"You're doing very well in the theoretical aspects of my class. If you can handle your innate magical power well, you will undoubtedly become a remarkable magical researcher in this century. I guarantee it."
"But still, it's going to be difficult, right?"
"It will be challenging. Sometimes it will be overwhelming, and you might want to give up."
"Yeah, I can imagine. Oh, by any chance, have you experienced something similar, Teacher?"
"Of course. I've been through the same."
"Really? I thought Mr.Rudger was good at everything."
"Everyone fails, and everyone faces setbacks due to the barriers of reality. I'm not exempt from that either."
Rine asked cautiously.
"In that case, how did you overcome such situations, Mr.Rudger?"
"I haven't overcome them. I just endured and persevered."
Yes, he just endured.
Even if the wounds engraved in his soul and memories healed, the scars remained.
It was impossible to completely overcome them.
"Why?"
Rudger's words were directed at those pure, innocent eyes that were fixed on him.
"Because that's how it has to be."