Dark Fantasy Normalized

33 – The Rival

Ordinary.

Meltas evaluated Lysir’s magical aptitude as such.

The achievement of reaching the 3rd level as an illegitimate child was certainly significant, but he was still a noble.

There were countless others who, despite achieving the 3rd level at the same age as Lysir, could not even step foot in the Magic Tower due to their commoner status.

If it weren’t for the power of normalization, Meltas would not have shown any interest in Lysir.

“Sometimes this happens? What do you mean by that?”

But what is this?

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Lysir had become a 4th level mage.

An achievement that even those with special talents needed several months to accomplish, he had achieved in just a few minutes.

“Did you secretly take some elixir on the way here?”

Meltas, in his bewilderment, uttered what sounded like a joke in all seriousness.

“You know, that thing of mine.”

But when Lysir subtly mentioned the ‘power of normalization,’ his expression changed.

“…That thing? What about it?”

“Well, it seems to cause these phenomena sometimes.”

“…Is that even possible? For such power to cause these phenomena.”

“Didn’t you say it was a very peculiar power, Sir Meltas? If we apply a completely different standard from the beginning, it might not be so unreasonable, right?”

“Hmm… It doesn’t seem like such a simple matter…”

Meltas could not accept the phenomenon that had occurred to Lysir.

Separately, his evaluation of Lysir underwent a significant revision.

From [an ordinary mage with special abilities] to [what on earth is this?].

“That, this, that, it’s all a mess. Can’t you speak in a way that people listening can understand?”

Meltas was brought back to his senses by Marina’s voice. He looked at her with a face that seemed to have remembered something.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

She barged into Meltas’s lab uninvited and bragged about her disciple. When Meltas showed signs of disliking it, she would smugly say, ‘Yeah, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.’

It was something Marina often did to Meltas.

“Ah. Ha.”

Marina nodded, indicating she understood.

She crossed her arms crookedly and looked at Lisir.

“The school?”

“No need to answer, Lisir.”

“I wasn’t asking you, Meltas.”

“I wasn’t talking to you either, Marina.”

‘What is this situation?’

Caught in the middle of a whale fight, Lisir stood awkwardly, looking back and forth between the two.

“First of all, I admit, the face is cute. Looks like a noble, but the atmosphere is so easygoing that other guys should learn from it. Why do you put so much strength in your neck and eyes? Do you think it will give you some non-existent charm and masculinity?”

“Evaluating faces right in front of me. How polite, Marina. The young wizards of the tower have a lot to learn from you.”

“Goodness. Making a fuss over a little talk about appearance. You may not understand, being aesthetically inappropriate like you, but handsome guys dress up to look like that, you know?”

Right?

Marina smiled at Lisir.

She didn’t forget to emphasize the skin of her chest, slightly revealed as she leaned her upper body forward.

“Lisir. Just so you know, don’t be fooled by appearances. Marina’s age-“

Before he knew it, Marina had a handkerchief in her hand. Throwing a handkerchief was the most common way to challenge someone to a duel.

Meltas averted his eyes and closed his mouth. Marina put the handkerchief back in her pocket and continued talking.

“So, what is it? Why are you making such a fuss? Can’t I ask about the school? It’s a question you’ll hear until your ears fall off once you enter the tower anyway.”

In fact, it was very natural for wizards to ask each other about their schools upon first meeting. It was like nobles asking about each other’s families.

An action to gauge the level of the person they were meeting for the first time.

For example, right now, Marina was gauging Lisir’s level. As a wizard.

As an apprentice.

‘This guy is the one Meltas has chosen as his apprentice… the one who will be my apprentice’s rival?’

Marina’s expression as she looked at Lisir was filled with a competitive spirit.

*

Meltas and Marina.

The two were rivals.

They joined the tower at the same time, achieved the 6th rank at the same time, and were recognized as elites by the tower at the same time.

The rivalry between the two, which began with their first teachings from the same master, had continued to this day, even after many years had passed.

Recently, their rivalry had entered a new phase.

– “Why a disciple all of a sudden? Isn’t it about time we took on disciples too?”

Marina, who had briefly left the tower for research, returned with a disciple.

– “Hey, did you hear? About Marina’s disciple.”

– “You mean Heina?”

– “Even from afar, she looked extraordinary. Who would have thought she had noble blood…!”

– “It was a family that had been in constant contact with Marina. Marina recognized her talent and strongly advocated for her.”

– “Before meeting Marina, she was only at the third rank?”

– “That third rank wasn’t just any third rank!”

– “She was self-taught, reading magic books on her own.”

– “Then one day, she met Marina, received her teachings, and boom! Her talent literally exploded.”

– “Within a year of formally learning magic, she reached the fourth rank… What have I been doing all this time? Should I just quit magic?”

– “Did you hear that?”

– “Ah, you mean Heina. I heard she’s already showing achievements in resonance?”

– “She’s now a full-fledged fourth-rank mage.”

– “Indeed. It feels like I hear about Heina at least once a day these days.”

– “Exactly.”

– “Meltas must be feeling quite bitter.”

Since Marina took on a disciple, her unilateral scoring continued.

The previously equal standing between the two began to tilt in Marina’s favor.

– “This is driving me crazy.”

Meltas was in a very difficult position.

He had already been thinking about taking on a disciple, and now this had happened.

Given the situation, he couldn’t just take on any disciple.

It had always been that way, but now even more so.

He had to find a talent that was not inferior to Marina’s disciple.

– “…How?”

Thus, Meltas faced a crisis.

Heina and Mastien.

Born into a noble family, he achieved the third rank through self-study and reached the fourth rank after just one year of formal education. Where on earth could they find a disciple comparable to such a precious talent?

Even throughout his not-so-short life, he could count such talents on one hand.

And now they had to find a new one?

One without any master?

Meltas was practically resigned.

…At least, that was certainly the case until this morning.

A chance encounter with a man named Rishir.

And the special power he happened to possess.

Meltas thought.

Maybe he could do it.

*

Afterwards, Marina asked Rishir about various things besides the school.

Each time, Meltas told Rishir he didn’t have to answer, and so Rishir didn’t bother to respond.

Marina didn’t mind much.

She was confident that no matter what kind of disciple Meltas brought, they wouldn’t be as good as her own.

It was the leisure of the privileged.

But there was one thing that bothered her.

“Marina. Would you mind stepping aside? You can take as much of my time as you want, but as you can see, I have company right now.”

It was Meltas’ attitude. There was a subtle ease in his demeanor.

A stark contrast to his usual self, who would always try to change the subject or leave the room whenever the topic of disciples came up.

‘What is this?’

Marina observed Rishir once more, just in case.

At the beginning of the fourth rank for his age.

Not exactly ordinary, but not particularly special either.

A rather flimsy basis for confidence.

“Master.”

It was then that another voice was heard.

Rishir’s gaze naturally followed the voice.

The golden hair tied back swayed gently with the steps, looking like threads spun from gold.

The green eyes were endlessly deep and clear, reminiscent of jewels.

“Is it just me, or does the saturation seem different?”

She was a woman whose every element of her body held a vivid radiance.

“Ah, Heynia. Did you receive the item?”

“Yes.”

The girl called Heynia extended her hand to Marina.

In her palm lay a silver ring.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you wearing it on your finger? Don’t you like the ring?”

“You said it’s an artifact that helps with mana recovery. I plan to wear it when I rest.”

Heynia replied in a crisp tone.

“Still, why don’t you try it on now?”

“I tried it on when I received it from the shop owner. I took it off again because its appearance doesn’t suit my taste. Master, as I’ve told you repeatedly, there’s no need for you to provide me with material support. If there’s something I need, just let me know. I can obtain it on my own.”

“How heartless. Don’t you understand a master’s desire to give even one more thing to their disciple?”

After finishing her affectionate conversation with her master, Heynia looked at Meltas.

“Sir Meltas. Hello, it’s nice to see you here.”

“Yes, Miss Heynia. Nice to see you too.”

Heynia then stared at Lisir. Marina spoke up.

“I’ll introduce you. Meltas, is that alright? Heynia, this is Lisir. He will be Meltas’s disciple.”

“?”

I’m going to be Meltas’s disciple?

Lisir looked at Meltas with a puzzled expression.

“Ahem. Marina, isn’t Lisir feeling awkward?”

“What’s there to feel awkward about? Anyway, why don’t you two introduce yourselves? You’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”

As soon as Marina finished speaking, Heynia extended her hand to Lisir for a handshake.

Her stiff yet unhesitant movement matched her precise way of speaking.

“I’m Heynia. Just remember me as Marina’s disciple.”

“Ah, I’m Lisir. Just remember me as Lisir.”

Lisir lightly shook Heynia’s hand. As he tried to pull his hand away, Heynia didn’t let go.

“Miss Heynia?”

“You’re a 4th rank, aren’t you?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. It seems you are also a 4th rank, Miss Heynia. That’s impressive for your age.”

It was not a mere formality, but genuine. Rishir knew how remarkable it was to achieve the 4th rank at Heinya’s age.

“…”

However, despite Rishir’s pure intentions, Heinya’s expression twisted. It was understandable, as Rishir was also at the 4th rank.

Rishir had just unknowingly reached the 4th rank, and thus had almost no awareness of being at that level.

The praise for the 4th rank that came from his mouth.

Heinya pondered how to interpret it and soon reached a reasonable conclusion.

‘Is he challenging me?’

It wasn’t strange. Heinya was Marina’s disciple, and Rishir was Meltas’s disciple.

Heinya tightened her grip on his hand and smiled.

“Should I say the same to you? That you’re also amazing for reaching the 4th rank at our age?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Right. There’s no need for me to do that. Not all 4th ranks are the same. After all, you’ve just barely entered the 4th rank, haven’t you? I’ve long since passed that point.”

Why is she suddenly so aggressive?

Heinya became even more confident, interpreting Rishir’s awkward reaction.

“What books did you mainly refer to when building your magical knowledge? In my case-“

“…- So, what is your magical imagery based on?”

“What do you think of Todrial’s two rules?”

It could be seen as a kind of duel to compare magical knowledge.

Rishir couldn’t do anything in that duel.

Before he knew it, a complete victor’s smile had appeared on Heinya’s face.

It was time to deliver the finishing blow.

“I just said it. Not all 4th ranks are the same. Do you know why?”

Whoosh!

Heinya extended her palm towards Rishir, then folded all her fingers except for one.

“One year. It only took me one year to get here.”

There was no sense of arrogance. Her eyes, shining with pure confidence and pride, were directed at Rishir.

“What about you?”

“…One month?”

Rishir cautiously stated the plain truth.

“Then should I change it to one week? Don’t joke around.”

However, as expected, Heinya didn’t believe it.

In the end, Rishir had no choice but to take drastic measures.

“…I think it’s been about a year now.”

He had exaggerated his career.

“…”

Heinya glared at Rishir for a moment, then let out a small laugh.

“Really? You’re quite something too, aren’t you?”

“The content of your words and your expression are too different.”

“Oh. I’m sorry if it felt that way.”

Ah!

At that moment, Heinya clapped her hands as if she had thought of something.

“Rishir. I have a good idea, do you want to hear it?”

“Let’s hear it.”

“This is the first time. Seeing a wizard at a similar level to mine.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that not all fourth ranks are the same?”

“Hey~ why are you like that. We’re both in our first year. So, I was thinking, why don’t we have a duel?”

“A duel? Suddenly?”

“As you know, it’s not easy for people like us to find a sparring partner at a similar level, right? It will be a great help in broadening our horizons.”

“…”

Rishir nodded unconsciously.

As he listened, her proposal seemed quite attractive.

‘A duel.’

It was a good opportunity to check his growth and understand his current level.

Seeing Rishir’s reaction, Heinya’s expression became even more mischievous.

“And, just having a duel is boring, so let’s do it this way. The loser has to grant any request of the winner. Sounds fun, right?”

“What if the request is to give up all my possessions?”

“Do you think I would make such a stupid request?”

“I was planning to if I won.”

“…”

After a moment of hesitation, Rishir accepted the proposal.

*

After setting the time and place for the duel, Rishir parted ways with Heinya.

The duel time was tomorrow afternoon.

The duel place was the courtyard of the Gray Tower.

Afterward, Rishir headed to the Gray Tower with Meltas as originally planned.

Meltas first guided Rishir to his private laboratory.

There were many things he wanted to discuss with him regarding the recent events.

The moment they arrived at the laboratory, Rishir immediately took something out of his luggage and showed it to Meltas.

“What is that?”

“It’s an elixir.”

“?”

Meltas doubted his ears.

The state of the item that appeared out of context?

“Just in case, Sir Meltas. Is there a better place in Bondales than here, Sir Meltas’ laboratory, to consume the elixir?”

“That’s sudden. But to answer, there aren’t many such places.”

“I agree. So, Sir Meltas, could I ask for your assistance in consuming the elixir?”

This was another reason why Rishir readily accepted the tower tour proposal.

The note that Master Pamon had given him regarding elixir consumption. According to its contents, the tower was the best place to consume the elixir.

“Just in case, did you drink the elixir between leaving the laboratory and arriving at the magic shop?”

“Sir Meltas, what do you think an elixir is?”

“…No, never mind. Don’t worry about it. By the way, why now?”

“I need to win the duel. Would it look too bad if I demanded money after winning the duel?”

“…What do you think an elixir is?”

Meltas was starting to get curious about the true identity of the man named Rishir.