“C-Curse... caster?”
Robert asked back as if he had heard something he was not supposed to hear.
“That’s right. Considering your disposition and talent, that is the most correct path.”
“Th-That’s possible?”
It was not that there were no mages who mainly dealt with curses. But their reputation was not good, and even among mages, they were never mainstream.
Most mages, in the end, used elemental systems, emission, or telekinesis.
Curses and curse-breaking were minor even among minors. If one really had to compare, they were pushed aside even by alchemy or golem studies.
“It’s possible, which is why I’m saying it.”
“But curse casters are.......”
“The perception is not good. More precisely, it would be correct to say there are no famous mages of that kind. But that is only when you look at it from a narrow perspective. You do know that most mages learn curse-breaking magic as a basic skill, yes?”
Astrology, charm, hallucination, and so on.
Curse and curse-breaking magic also had a wide variety of types and an expansive range.
Because of that, this kind of magic was, in most cases, something mages learned as a sub-skill.
In terms of classes, it was treated not as a major, but as a general education course.
But that did not mean one could not major in curses.
“A curse prepared properly can incapacitate the opponent before the battle even begins. The reason mages learn curse-breaking is precisely because of that.”
It was not mainstream, but there were quite a few mages who had reached mastery in that direction.
For example, the sorcerers and shamans of the indigenous tribes from the southern jungles. They, too, were closer to curse casters.
There was a reason Ludger had recommended it to Robert.
“A curse is a means of effectively subduing someone without fighting them directly. Robert, this is also the most suitable branch for you as you are now.”
Curses.
Robert felt flustered at the word, and yet at the same time, he felt drawn to it.
He could not help it. Was it not a method that allowed him to subdue someone easily, without having to fight them painfully head-on?
Robert hated combat and liked theory, but due to his family’s nature, he could not avoid fighting itself.
In that sense, curses were optimal for Robert.
“Certainly. If it’s just to the extent of subduing the opponent, it doesn’t sound bad.”
As Robert murmured that, he suddenly felt puzzled.
“But if curses are that effective, why don’t War Mages use curses when they subdue someone?”
What War Mages were famous for was flamboyant elemental magic. They used magic while moving, and if the situation allowed, they did not mind close combat either.
If curses were that effective, then instead of running around painfully, wouldn’t it be enough to just place a curse and end it?
“Even if curses sound this outstanding in words, once you enter real combat, they become the most difficult and complex kind of magic.”
Ludger pointed to a small flower that had bloomed among the bushes.
“If you had to incapacitate that flower by any means, what method do you think you would use?”
“You’d just smash it right away!”
Carlo, who had been listening beside them, cut in.
“Carlo. I was not speaking to you. Robert, what do you think?”
“Um. Well... I’d attack it with magic.”
“Right. And that magic would naturally start from basic mana emission, and if you go a bit stronger, it becomes elemental magic. Your answer was crude, but Carlo’s answer is closer to the correct one.”
Perhaps proud, Carlo crossed his arms and smiled smugly.
Ignoring Carlo, Ludger explained to Robert.
“Because applying an external physical impact like that is the easiest and fastest method. Subduing a single flower like this with a curse consumes time, and the mental expenditure is no small thing.”
It was inefficient.
That was precisely why curses could not rise into the mainstream.
Moreover, every living being possessed a certain resistance to mana.
Plants were no exception.
Such resistance did not take effect against physical damage inflicted by realized magic, but it was highly effective against curses, which flowed mana in and shook the opponent’s mind.
Even incapacitating a single lab mouse with a curse required dozens of times more mana and effort than subduing it with elemental magic.
“Of course, if the opponent is a mage, the difficulty rises exponentially.”
Mages naturally possessed enormous mana within their bodies, so their resistance to external mana was stronger.
For such people, learning curse-breaking as a basic skill was no more than the level of preparation of bringing a single chocolate bar on a picnic.
That basic level alone was enough to respond.
“But I saw possibility in your magic.”
Ludger recognized Robert’s talent.
A curse that was a hardship even to deploy for other mages, Robert would be able to do easily.
Beyond that, he might even rewrite anew the system of curse magic that had been left to rot.
“So the lesson we will begin today is this—digging into curse magic from the theoretical side, and fixing it anew.”
“Th-That... is possible?”
“It is possible. If I teach you, and you learn.”
Words filled with certainty, unlike anything he had ever heard even once.
Robert’s lips trembled.
People who had placed expectations on him, trusting only his talent, had always ended up disappointed.
What a pity.
What a waste of talent.
I’m disappointed.
Robert hated those words.
They expected things on their own, and they were disappointed on their own. As if he had asked them to.
That expectation was not about them doing something for him, but about wanting him to do something for them—selfishness hidden inside.
Why. I never asked you to. Why are you expecting things on your own, getting disappointed on your own, and then scolding me for it?
It would be a lie to say he had no resentment like that.
But Ludger was different.
He said Robert’s talent was inborn. Robert knew that too. Everyone around him had said it.
But Ludger was different from the others.
He said he would lead him.
Not that he would expect things on his own—
He said he would teach him.
“It’s fine if you make mistakes. The process itself will become something valuable. So decide whether you will do it or not. This is a choice you must make—not anyone else.”
“I......”
Robert’s lips moved, then he spoke in a voice full of overwhelming emotion.
“I’ll do it.”
Robert, who had always only bowed his head timidly, looked straight at Ludger for the first time.
As he realized that he had lived for this very moment, he answered in a voice that did not tremble for the first time.
“Please let me do it.”
With a satisfied smile, Ludger asked Robert.
“Robert.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Do you have any interest in dream work?”
* * *
“Uh, this is.......”
Robert broke into a cold sweat as he looked at the building standing tall before him.
He could not help it. Even Robert had heard enough rumors to know what kind of place this was.
The research building that “locks up university students.”
Officially, that was what it was called, but among the students, it was called by other names.
A torture chamber of twisted netherworld.
A zombie breeding ground.
A zombie breeding ground.
An eternal Wild Hunt.
Infamies with an overwhelming aura just from hearing them.
Infamies with an overwhelming aura just from hearing them.
But even if he had never heard those rumors, the research building was gloomy enough to make a first-time visitor swallow fear.
Even in the bright midday when sunlight was intense, the brightness around that building alone was so low it felt excessive.
Even though fresh spring had arrived and the weather was warm, the area around the research building felt chilly, like early winter.
“P-Professor. Why did we come here? I heard this is a dangerous place.......”
“You’re saying exactly what Hermoa said. You don’t need to worry. There is a student I once taught here, so we came to meet that child.”
“A-A student?”
Robert’s question could not continue for long.
Because the door of the research building opened by itself with a sound.
Inside, the light did not reach well, so it was dark. He could even see something pale passing by.
Robert’s complexion turned so white it was practically on the verge of fainting.
“Let’s go in.”
“M-Me too?”
“That’s why we came in the first place.”
As Ludger took the lead, Robert had no choice but to follow behind him, like swallowing tears with mustard.
Because instinctively, he realized that sticking close to Ludger was the only way to survive (?).
The moment they went inside, the door slammed shut on its own with a bang. Even the locking mechanism moved on its own and engaged.
As if to say that once you entered this place, there was no longer any escape.
No. It was not a misunderstanding. The moment they stepped inside the entrance, a single phrase was written on the second-floor wall of the lobby.
[Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.]
Good heavens.
In the end, I really have entered hell.
While Robert was standing there dumbfounded, Ludger walked down the research building’s corridor as if it were nothing worth mentioning.
“P-Professor. Can’t we just leave? This place is really scary!”
“It’s a place where people live. What’s so scary about it?”
Grrraaaah.
At that moment, accompanied by a low, dragging groan, a gaunt, pale group staggered out into the corridor.
“Hiiik! Zombies! They’re zombies!”
“Don’t worry. They’re graduate students.”
Soon after, with a soft swish, a pure white figure floated through the air.
“G-Ghosts! Ghosts appeared!”
“You don’t need to worry. That’s a graduate student too.”
“B-But it doesn’t have a body?!”
“They separated their mind with dream magic. The body is resting comfortably in the sleeping quarters right now. One of the excellent welfare benefits of the research building. What do you think. Isn’t it appealing?”
Calling those hollowly wandering ghosts “excellent welfare”?
Even for Robert, who was ignorant about this field, it was abundantly clear that this place was deeply abnormal.
–Grrraaaah.
–Graduation, please let me graduate.
–Please, anything but another thesis rejection. I’m begging you.
The murmurs of the graduate students, like resentful voices of the dead, echoed in his ears.
Then, with a thud, the sound of a door opening somewhere rang out.
At the same time, the pale ghosts screamed.
–Hiiiiiik!
–It’s coming! She’s coming!
–Everyone, run!
The sight of ghosts—terrifying enough on their own—fleeing in terror was unbelievable even as Robert saw it with his own eyes.
“M-My goodness.”
Robert realized that someone was approaching—someone even ghosts feared.
That realization only fueled his terror.
Even the crawling zombies seemed to sense the commotion and vanished with staggering steps.
In an instant, silence flooded the corridor.
And breaking that silence were footsteps heading their way.
It’s coming. Something is coming.
Robert felt every hair on his body stand on end. He hurriedly hid behind Ludger’s back.
“P-Professor! Something’s coming! Something scarier than ghosts—a demon from hell, maybe!”
“You don’t need to worry. It’s someone I know.”
Someone you know?
Anyone could tell this felt like the lord of hell himself was approaching—someone even ghosts feared.
Robert wanted to ask that, but fear froze his mouth shut, and no words came out.
Meanwhile, the footsteps drew closer.
From beyond the corner of the corridor, a woman revealed herself.
An overwhelming presence that naturally radiated outward.
Fluttering white hair that stood out clearly even in the darkness.
Eyes bloodshot, as if bound by resentment toward the living world.
Ah. She has finally appeared.
The Ghost Queen from hell, feared even by the spirits of the underworld and resurrected zombies alike!
The Ghost Queen, who had been glaring at Ludger with bloodshot eyes, opened her mouth.
“What is it in the middle of the day? Without even contacting me.”
“Looks like you didn’t sleep well. Did you read all the materials I sent you?”
“That’s exactly why my head feels like it’s about to burst. Where in the world did you even get materials like that? I stayed up all night reading them.”
“So that’s why your eyes are red.”
“More importantly, who’s that kid behind you?”
Julia belatedly noticed Robert hiding behind Ludger.
She had discovered him late simply because she wasn’t particularly interested. What mattered to her right now were the papers Ludger had sent regarding the systematization of dream work.
“I brought him because I thought he’d be helpful to you.”
“Helpful to me?”
That clumsy kid who couldn’t even make proper eye contact?
Judging by the uniform he was wearing, he looked like a first-year who had just enrolled.
She was already exhausted to death from not sleeping—what kind of joke was this supposed to be?
“.......”
But Julia quickly corrected her thoughts.
This was a student Ludger had personally brought here.
Knowing that Ludger never acted carelessly, Julia decided to think differently.
There was a strong possibility that he truly possessed skills and talent worthy of Ludger’s recommendation.
“He’ll be a tremendous help in systematizing your dream work and establishing it as theory.”
“......He’s trustworthy, right?”
“I guarantee it.”
That was enough.
Julia grinned and approached Robert.
It was meant to be her own version of an attractive smile, intended to win his favor.
But she failed to consider the fact that her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and her hair was a complete mess, utterly disheveled.
“Hi?”
Julia leaned slightly toward Robert and greeted him.
“Gurgle.”
Robert foamed at the mouth and collapsed on the spot, fainting outright.
“......Ah.”
“Hm.”