The reform of Kamar-Taj was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Although Noah's changes were sweeping, and his original motivation was simply to make it easier for himself to slack off, there was no denying one thing-
The chips he had placed on the table were far too tempting.
Magic that could shape a mage's future was irresistible. The moment it appeared, every Master Mage's heart began to race. More importantly, many of Noah's reforms were genuinely aimed at the long-term future of Kamar-Taj itself.
With benefits this clear, the Master Mages had no reason to refuse.
Even Wong and Mordo-who were firmly opposed to Noah running around everywhere-could only swallow their objections. The cards Noah played this time were simply too perfect. There wasn't a single flaw they could seize upon.
"You really are generous," Wong said after the meeting ended, finding Noah together with Mordo.
"You're willing to hand over magic like that just so you can have more freedom? Is it really worth it?"
"Life is precious, love is precious," Noah replied with an amused shrug.
"But both can be given up for freedom."
"You've heard that line, right? Freedom and Love, by the great Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi."
"I've never heard of it," Wong said, shaking his head. "But you aren't an ordinary person anymore. You're the Sorcerer Supreme."
Mordo was even more direct.
"Why do this?" he asked bluntly. "Even if it strengthens Kamar-Taj as a whole, this kind of magic should be reserved for the next Sorcerer Supreme."
Noah's expression turned strange for a moment.
"Because I don't think any of you-Master Hamir included-are likely to learn this magic."
He didn't hide his thoughts at all.
"I know this power better than anyone. I relied on it to resist Dormammu. Its potential is beyond imagination, and so is the difficulty of mastering it."
To this day, Noah himself could barely recall how much effort it had taken to push his Domain to its current level.
He had killed an Isu for it.
He had stolen an entirely different civilization's magical framework.
That alone should have explained everything.
"Even if I publish the method completely," Noah continued calmly, "I don't think anyone could master it quickly. And even if a genius appears, they'll still hit a wall when they try to fuse powers of different attributes."
"Remember-even the Ancient One only made rapid progress after using my experience as a reference."
"So I'm not worried."
"If someone can learn it faster than me, I'd be delighted."
"The stronger Kamar-Taj becomes, the easier my life gets."
As for whether someone might challenge him for the position of Sorcerer Supreme?
Noah didn't even consider it a real possibility.
And even if it somehow happened...
Well.
He would make sure they understood exactly how desperate Kaecilius had felt.
Since his battle with Dormammu, Noah had noticed a change in himself.
He had become far more decisive.
Far more ruthless when necessary.
Yet his judgment remained intact.
Even the Holy Light couldn't twist his thinking.
If it ever did, Noah was confident he would notice-and deal with it immediately.
"I really don't like my judgment being influenced by unknown factors," he said calmly.
Wong seemed to have understood Noah's mindset long ago. He shook his head helplessly.
"You really are something else."
"It feels like you're dangling a carrot in front of a herd of donkeys. When you're in a good mood, you lower it so they can take a bite. When you're not, you keep it just out of reach."
"Even if they know it's a trap, the carrot is too delicious, and you're just merciful enough to make them believe they can reach it."
"That's a vivid metaphor," Noah said with a smile.
"But I'm not admitting to it."
"Keep that to yourselves. Don't let it spread."
Mordo let out a long sigh.
"Fine. Let's drop that topic."
"But what about the Houses?" he continued. "Four of them-what are you calling them? And how do you plan to appease the students?"
"The logistics alone are a nightmare. And the outside world won't stay quiet either. Last time the Ancient One adjusted the Magic Awards, the criticism was overwhelming."
"Relax," Noah said easily.
"I've already thought it through."
"Everything you mentioned is under control."
"I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't overlook something like that."
And he truly hadn't.
Aside from the names of the four Houses-which genuinely gave him a headache-everything else had been planned out.
Students did need appeasement.
Once the Houses were established, many teachers would be assigned based on their mentor lineage. Friends who once studied together-or even came from the same hometown-might end up in different Houses.
They could still meet, of course.
But the inconvenience was real.
Noah's solution was simple.
Distract them.
There were plenty of things that could capture a mage's attention.
And Noah just so happened to possess magical knowledge this universe didn't have.
Arcane magic.
Wong had already experienced it firsthand.
Even Master Mages could be tempted by it.
But after thinking it through, Noah decided to go even further.
He would drop a bomb.
If even Wong could pick it up so quickly, who knew how fast the old monsters would learn?
Besides, mages all had their own paths. Arcane magic would fascinate them-but it wouldn't monopolize their attention forever.
For ordinary mages, however...
Arcane knowledge had a fatal allure.
Students.
Grand Mages.
Independent spellcasters.
It didn't matter.
As for Kamar-Taj's internal mages?
Noah didn't actually need to care.
Even if they had opinions, very few dared to voice them openly.
Ignoring them wouldn't hurt him-but it would hurt Kamar-Taj's image.
And Noah wanted to win over the global magical community.
So his plan was simple.
Release a portion of Arcane knowledge to the outside world.
Not too deep.
Not too shallow.
Enough to be valuable, but not enough to give everything away.
And, of course-Kamar-Taj's own people would learn it first.
No blind charity.
Want the complete version?
Join Kamar-Taj.
Or pass the Grand Mage assessment.
Heard that Kamar-Taj also has magic that can change your future?
Correct.
Register under the High Council.
Being on-call as a hired mage is fine.
Meet the conditions-and you can learn it.
When Noah finished explaining all this, Wong and Mordo stared at him in silence.
They looked at him the way one looks at a seasoned schemer.
For a moment, they felt that Noah's youthful, handsome appearance was downright misleading.
He should have been an elegant gentleman with a refined mustache, wearing tailored clothes and sipping tea with a knowing smile.
That image would have fit him far better.
"You..." Mordo started, then stopped.
After a long pause, he sighed.
"You've completely overturned the image I had of you."
"I don't think my image with you was ever that good," Noah replied casually.
"And don't exaggerate. My goal is very simple."
"For the betterment of the magical world."
"And for the betterment of Kamar-Taj."
They couldn't argue with that.
Releasing this knowledge would bring unimaginable benefits.
And the greatest beneficiary would be Kamar-Taj itself.
The influence would be enormous-borderline terrifying.
As for Noah's personal reputation?
It wouldn't rise that much.
High-level mages might admire him more-but how many were there?
Even counting Seventh-Rank gatekeepers, there were only a few hundred.
Compared to the sheer size of the global magical population, that was nothing.
And among low-level mages?
Being the Sorcerer Supreme was already mythic enough.
Noah didn't need extra titles.
"I really don't know whether to call you great," Wong sighed,
"or a cunning old fox."
"But I do know one thing-you're unbelievably lazy."
"Don't tell me the Director of the London Sanctum is going to be me."
"Of course it's you," Noah said without hesitation.
"I'm the Speaker of the High Council. Why would I be a director?"
"Besides, the Director is also a House Dean."
"I'm the President of Kamar-Taj University. Do you really think I'll do that too?"
"...Damn it," Wong cursed.
"I knew I wouldn't escape."
"As it should be."
Mordo rubbed his temples.
"Fine. One last question."
"What are the Houses called?"
"..."
Noah fell silent.