ushernet Chapter 56
Chapter 56
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 56: Training Camp (1)
"Come in."
At the permission of the Deputy Tower Master, the man who entered the room stood tall with a rigid posture.
He was exceptionally tall.
He appeared to be in his late 30s, but he was probably older than that.
The depth of his mana was proof enough.
'A Level 6 mage of the Red Tower.'
The reason for his presence here was easy to deduce.
'They said the mage towers dispatched Level 6 mages to eliminate the Mage Hunters.'
This was likely related to that.
The Deputy Tower Master greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Welcome. I am Hamel Grimwiz, the Deputy Tower Master of the White Tower."
"Thank you for responding to this sudden request. I am Karim Fernian, a Level 6 mage of the Red Tower."
He bowed politely but without servility, briefly glancing at the two people sitting nearby.
His expression briefly conveyed curiosity about their presence, but upon noticing their youthful faces, he lost interest and averted his gaze.
"It seems you already had prior engagements."
"Yes, I was in the middle of an urgent report. But as this matter concerns you as well, please, have a seat."
Karim, slightly surprised by the implication, sat down and asked,
"Does this have something to do with the Mage Hunters?"
"That's correct. Since you’ve come to the White Tower to share information about the Mage Hunters, I should fulfill that purpose."
The Deputy Tower Master delivered the news concisely.
"The Mage Hunters are dead."
"...!"
Karim's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected news.
"You mean they've already been eliminated?"
"Yes."
"Who managed to do that? Was it the Yellow Tower?"
"The White Tower."
The Deputy Tower Master smiled and continued,
"The Mage Hunters were taken down by these two sitting here."
"...Them?"
At last, Karim's gaze returned to the two.
This time, his eyes carried unmistakable disbelief.
After a moment's hesitation, he asked,
"Frankly, that's hard to believe. The Mage Hunters even took down Level 5 mages of the Red and Yellow Towers."
"Ha-ha, I understand your skepticism."
The Deputy Tower Master nodded and turned to Oscar with a knowing look, signaling him to explain the situation.
After hearing the detailed account, Karim murmured,
"A two-person team... a trap hunt using a magical artifact called a calling card..."
"Both of them were Level 4 mages, but they weren’t as formidable as rumored."
"That makes sense. They must have been insects without a tower or a proper family."
Karim's indifferent reply revealed his personality.
'...A typical elitist.'
Someone who believed only those born into noble families were destined to excel in magic.
Incidentally, they hated who Oscar used to be the most.
'And for good reason. A back-alley orphan like me rose to become the world's greatest mage.'
He wondered if they felt even a shred of gratitude when he died alongside the Great Emperor.
"And..."
Karim's gaze finally shifted to us.
"Who are you?"
‘Finally, he asks.’
Oscar and Killian introduced themselves in turn.
"I’m Oscar Crucian, a Level 3 mage of the White Tower."
"I’m Killian Lockwood, a Level 4 mage of the White Tower."
Hearing their names, Karim's eyes widened slightly.
Both were among the fastest-rising mages across all the towers.
But Karim was only interested in one of them.
"I see. So, you’re the current head of the Crucian Count's family. A pleasure."
Ignoring Killian entirely, Karim extended his hand to Oscar for a handshake.
His intent was obvious, but it was best to play along as a guest from another tower.
"Yes."
The moment their hands met, mana flowed through the handshake.
'Trying to gauge my level?'
Oscar smirked inwardly.
'You're a hundred years too early for that.'
Karim’s expression stiffened slightly.
As a Level 6 mage of the Red Tower, he had met countless mages and prided himself on accurately assessing others' capabilities.
But this was the first time he’d experienced this.
'What is this?'
“Facts?”
“Yes. Back in the academy, I was always top of the class. That’s why I joined the Red Tower and became the first of my peers to reach Level 4. Meanwhile, you two were always average. That’s why you ended up in the White Tower and haven’t even broken past Level 3. Did I say anything wrong?”
“You little—how dare you—”
“Silvia, calm down!”
After observing the scene for a moment, Karim began walking toward them.
As he approached, the Red Tower mage recognized him and quickly bowed.
“Have you finished your meeting, sir?”
“Yes.”
Oscar glanced at the students and asked,
“What’s going on here?”
“Oh, nothing serious. Just catching up with some friends from the academy.”
“Friends, you say. Which families do they belong to?”
“Well... they’re commoners.”
“...Commoners?”
Karim frowned immediately and let out a sigh.
“Hah, Leo Brult. How many times have I told you? Only associate with people who are worth your time—like the heir to the Crucian Count, standing here before you. He’s a few years your senior.”
When Karim introduced him, Leo bowed again.
“Greetings! I am Leo Brult, a Level 4 mage of the Red Tower.”
“Oscar Crucian.”
Oscar gave a small nod in response.
Karim chuckled and continued,
“I’ve been taking this kid around to give him some field experience. He’s the first of his graduating class to reach Level 4. Being the second son of Viscount Brult, he’s got talent, but as you can see, there’s much to refine. If only he were more like you.”
“I see.”
To Karim, Oscar’s students no longer existed.
The moment he realized they were commoners, they weren’t worth his attention.
“Ah, there’s our ride. Let’s go.”
Oscar bowed slightly to Karim.
“Safe travels. Until next time.”
“Next time, let’s meet in a better setting with more fitting company.”
With a soft smile, Karim boarded a luxurious car with Leo, leaving them behind.
Oscar, still watching the spot where the car had vanished, spoke up.
“Frustrated?”
His two students, Benjamin and Silvia, who had been standing still, nodded.
“...Yes. I’m frustrated.”
“I can deal with being looked down on, but having the White Tower insulted really pisses me off.”
“Well, that’s the current reputation of the White Tower. There’s no helping it.”
Oscar’s calm tone made Silvia pout.
“Don’t you feel angry when you hear things like that, senior?”
“Of course, I feel angry. But will anything change if I lose my temper?”
He turned to face her, his expression unwavering.
“The world is full of people who judge and discriminate based on your birth, status, and affiliation. Do you know the only way to stand tall before such people?”
After thinking for a moment, she answered,
“Is it... skill?”
“Exactly. Overwhelming skill that leaves no room for doubt, no matter the other factors.”
The two students’ faces darkened.
“But... that guy’s already a Level 4 mage. He’s better than us.”
“It’s unfair. Nobles grow up with all the support they need to learn magic.”
“True, the starting line is different. But so what?”
Oscar asked nonchalantly.
“The world isn’t fair. Change doesn’t come from complaining about that—it starts when you accept it and face it head-on.”
Benjamin, mulling over Oscar’s words, cautiously asked,
“Compared to noble-born mages, we lack talent, and we started learning magic later. The White Tower’s current state is also worse than the other four major towers. How can we surpass them?”
“It’s obvious. Use what the White Tower has that the others don’t.”
“What the White Tower has that the others don’t...?”
“Does such a thing even exist?”
As they stared at him with wide eyes, Oscar grinned confidently.
“Me. You won’t find a better teacher than me in the entire continent.”
“....”
“....”
Judging by their sour expressions, they weren’t convinced—but that didn’t matter.
He would show them.
What kind of results could the once-strongest mage in the world produce when he trained them with full dedication?
“Post an announcement on the Tower’s board when we get back.”
Oscar’s voice was brimming with his characteristic confidence and composure.
“All Level 3 mages in the Tower will attend a training camp in three days. No exceptions.”
“...A training camp for Level 3 mages, with full attendance. Got it.”
“When should we say the camp ends?”
Silvia asked.
As if the answer was obvious, Oscar replied,
“When every participant reaches Level 4.”
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]