Scary Guy, Bad Guy, Reckless Guy (1)
Just when he was thinking of giving it one more try, Dione peeked out from behind the hedge.
He'd known she was there for a while but let her be since she was clearly trying to hide her presence.
Without caring that her white lace skirt and pearl-colored shoes were getting dirty, she stepped into the messy pit.
Her lips pressed tight, the research magician examined every detail of the hole's shape and depth with sharp eyes—measuring the power of the magic used.
Then, she dug through the dirt with her bare hands and even unearthed fragments of what must have been a garden ornament, the likely target.
Settling down in place, Dione spread a circle and activated the magic formulas for [Analysis], [Tracking], and [Reconstruction].
"[Illuminate, reveal—the trail of power and light!]"
For a few minutes after a spell was cast, the ether lingering in the air preserved traces of magic like a lower page pressed beneath parchment.By combining [Analysis], [Tracking], and [Reconstruction], one could identify what spell had been used.
'A combination straight out of Magic Codex Vol. 3. Dione's magic is always textbook-perfect.'
Cleio made no attempt to stop her investigation.
'I've already added a confidentiality clause in the contract, and I'll be buying more magical catalysts from her later anyway—no need to hide it.'
After reviewing the flow of ether, Dione suddenly jumped to her feet. Despite wearing high heels on a muddy garden, she stepped lightly as if walking across air.
"Cleio!"
"Yes?"
"How many times can this spell be cast in succession?"
Considering the ether consumption and his own concentration, he could probably manage three consecutive uses—but to be safe, he understated it.
"As you saw, once or twice seems to be the limit."
"Wewuuung—myah~ (Liar, liar, fur on fire, tch!)"
Behemoth grumbled by his feet. Cleio pretended not to hear.
"Well, yes. That spell must devour an enormous amount of ether… This is no joke."
Even with his modest answer, Dione seemed deeply impressed.
Covered in dirt yet still graceful, she looked at Cleio and laughed, half in disbelief.
A breeze blew her hat away. Her ash-pink hair fluttered wildly, and her cheeks flushed naturally.
Excitement and awe made her face shine like that of a young girl.
"Ray, you really are a genius. No—that word isn't enough. There's never been a spell like this… A strike that begins in the sky."
Her serious tone of praise made Cleio scratch his cheek awkwardly and avert his gaze.
'Well, in the modern world, people are used to attacks falling from the sky…'
Given this world's level of technology, it wasn't impossible—but from what he'd seen in newspapers and books, airships hadn't been invented yet.Even hot-air balloons were only for sightseeing.
Aerial bombardment might be an idea far ahead of its time—something that would one day seem ordinary to everyone.
"This kind of power… it feels more like something that belongs to an angel—or a demon."
"Isn't that a bit much?"
"What's too much about it? To cast this spell, one needs exceptional control and ether sensitivity. Otherwise, the caster themselves could get hurt."
Cleio didn't mention that during practice, he'd nearly impaled himself with his own descending spear and had to hastily deploy a [Defense] spell.
"Let's see, the circle's radius is about twenty meters—so, Level 4? If this is the power of a Level 4 magician, I wouldn't have believed it without seeing it myself."
"Twenty meters is a distance even a low-rank swordsman could clear with a few steps. It's hardly practical in real combat."
"Don't try to brush it off with excuses like that in front of another magician. Do you plan to stay a Level 4 magician forever?"
Hands on her hips, Dione's eyes glinted as she scolded him in a lower, firmer tone than usual.
"When you reach Level 5, your circle diameter becomes eighty meters. At Level 6, it's two hundred.At that range, even mid-level swordsmen would take seconds to close the distance.When your incantation is faster than their leap… the result of that fight is obvious."
"But just as Level 6 magicians exist, so do Level 6 swordsmen. Within a two-hundred-meter radius, they're practically invincible. I don't think I could face one."
Ether capacity—the standard measure of one's ether level—was identical for both magicians and swordsmen.
Just as a magician's circle expanded with level, a swordsman's effective attack range grew proportionally with ether level too.
As a Level 4 magician could deploy a twenty-meter circle, a Level 4 swordsman could display peak performance only within twenty meters around their body.Attacking beyond that range was difficult.
"The fact that a magician even thinks about crossing blades with a swordsman is extraordinary.Someone who can't even wield a sword properly! Who'd think of using magic offensively? It's the most extravagant kind of waste imaginable…"
After venting her thoughts in a flurry, Dione regained her composure and took in the view of the rear garden again.
"You actually did it."
When Dione's aquamarine eyes turned icy, she looked far more genuine and beautiful than when she acted sweet and charming.
"The servants here are all loyal, but still—ask Mrs. Canton to remind them to keep quiet.Unless you want the Intelligence Bureau to put you on their watch list."
Thinking of Melchior—the one who sent the invitation to the upcoming birthday celebration—Cleio nodded.
"Thanks for the advice. I'd rather not end up in that kind of trouble."
"There are fewer than thirty Level 5 magicians in Albion.Level 6—eleven.Level 7—three.And Level 8, only one.Most of the high-level magicians are elderly.Even the strongest swordsmen among humanity can't launch ranged attacks unless they reach Level 6.If every magician could do what you just did, people wouldn't—"
"Euuung~uuuuung~ (This cat's ready to nap. When's this lady's speech ending?)"
Behemoth cut her off mid-sentence, yawning and scratching himself with his hind leg before resorting to direct action.
"—wouldn't have accepted magicians the same way."
Unfazed, Dione finished her sentence, then melted into a smile as if she'd never been serious at all.
"Oh, poor baby, are you bored?"
"Eung, nyah. (Glad you noticed.)"
Dropping her serious mode entirely, Dione bent lower, and the plump cat leapt up, clinging tightly to her soft body.
Though she stumbled under his weight, she hugged Behemoth tightly and refused to let go.
"My little Moe, it's been so long! I've been so busy I couldn't even give you your treats!"
"Yaaong! (Exactly. Give me jerky.)"
"Hungry? There's a snack waiting inside!"
"Nyaat!!!"
'He really can't understand words, right? Then how does he respond so perfectly…?'
By now, the sun was dipping below the horizon.The two naturally began walking back toward the house.
Cleio felt the exhaustion and drowsiness of the past month crash down on him like debt collectors.
As he lagged behind, Dione clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"Your dark circles are so bad they've turned blue. Tsk, tsk. Looking at this backyard, I can tell just how much chaos you caused.The flowers and landscaping trees are all gone—it looks like a rural field before planting season."
Hearing Dione's words, Cleio stopped the string of yawns he'd been letting out.An idea suddenly flashed in his mind.
'If a war breaks out later, the capital will be blockaded. It might not last long, but… maybe I should turn this place into a field, just in case? You know, to prepare for food shortages.'
"Planting, huh… Well, edible crops are best. How about potatoes and beans? Cabbages would do nicely too."
Dione tilted her chin slightly, narrowing her eyes. The cat mirrored her expression, staring right at Cleio.
"You were serious just now, weren't you? You didn't even grow up poor—why do you sound like a pauper!And you're the son of the richest man in the country!"
"My father's wealth is… my father's wealth."
"So, it's not yours? Really? Says the man who owns enough land in the Orales District to build an equestrian arena?"
Cleio, who had been trudging along with slumped shoulders, suddenly straightened his back in surprise.
"Wait—don't tell me the purchase is already complete?"
"Oh, look at me rambling. You need to go inside and wash up first. We've got a mountain of documents to go over.Once the final review is done, we'll pay the remaining balance and register the ownership—within this week."
"All of them? Every single one?"
'She already untangled all those messy ownership rights? I thought that would take much longer. Incredible…'
Cleio looked at the petite young lady, covered in dirt and holding a cat, as though seeing her for the first time.
"Haha! Every single one! The contracts are ready—just need your signature.I think I might be better at negotiations than at magic."
"You're remarkable, Lady Dione. The title of 'genius' suits you far better than me."
It was praise that came straight from the heart.
Partnering with her had been an excellent decision.
*
That weekend, Cleio followed Dione's instructions, signing all the paperwork and reading through the main case precedents concerning land purchases and leases.
By Monday, the ownership transfer was complete.
The next few days passed peacefully—playing with Behemoth, drinking a bit, flipping through the List of Magic Stones that had been gathering dust in the house.A week slipped by like a dream.
That morning, Cleio woke up late as usual, smiling contentedly as he looked toward the wardrobe on the left side of his bed.Just seeing it made him feel good.
Inside the wardrobe sat a safe he had bought for 50,000 dinars.
It was a magical device—only the first person to imprint it could open or move it.
'I'll take it with me when I go back to the dorm. Just owning a land deed feels amazing.'
Under the name Cleio Asser, stamped with the seal of the Orales District Chief—his very own Certificate of Land Ownership.
Freshly issued, just two days ago.
'Getting it registered at seventeen… this feeling is unbeatable. I'm full even without breakfast.'
At that moment, a polite knock came from outside the bedroom door.
"Are you awake, young master?"
"Mrs. Canton. Good morning."
Rather than sending a maid, the housekeeper herself entered, pushing a trolley.
On the top tray were a warm cup of tea and milk, strawberries topped with syrup, poached eggs with tender ham, toast, and marmalade—all neatly arranged.
It was a breakfast prepared with care, portioned beautifully for Cleio, whose appetite was small.
Mrs. Canton was determined to help the young master gain a little weight before the new term began.
"You look much better today, young master. That puts my mind at ease."
"It's all thanks to your care, Madam."
"Training hard is fine, but you must take care of your health first."
Still in his pajamas, Cleio accepted the tray on the bed.
With smooth movements, the housekeeper also laid out four neatly ironed daily newspapers beside him.
"Please ring the bell when you're finished, young master."
"Thank you, as always."
It was the picture of an elegant morning.
And, as always, breakfast was delicious.
The chef, dessert specialist, gardener, maids, and the housekeeper—all of them worked together as perfectly as a single orchestra.
'I thought the dorm was comfortable enough, but this… this is true luxury.I wouldn't mind returning the 1.2 million dinars to Father—but this mansion? That would be a waste.Is there any way… I could have it transferred to me?'
He regretted that, between running away from home, attending auctions, and practicing magic, he hadn't had time to properly enjoy this house's "hardware and software."
'Maybe if I raise my grades and graduate top of the class—or win some competition?I could use that as an excuse later when we meet again.'
His father had visited the school only once—and hadn't contacted him since.That suited Cleio just fine; he hadn't reached out either.
Dione had said she would write Gideon Asser a letter, phrased with all the right words.With her tact, Cleio trusted her completely.
After placing the tray back on the trolley, Cleio remained half-reclined on the bed and opened the newspaper.
Reading four dailies was part of his morning routine—he was waiting for certain news.
Buried in his soft pillows, he turned a page—then suddenly sat upright.
"Tifraum Ore Deposit Discovered on Royal Grounds in Duvris City — Estimated to Be the Largest in the Dernier Continent""Government Launches Full-Scale Survey of Total Reserves""What Is Tifraum? — The Material at the Cutting Edge of Technological Advancement""Treasure of the Northeast — How It Will Reshape Industry and Logistics"
From royalist papers to republican ones, every newspaper was raving about the Tifraum mine.
'Finally. The press ban's been lifted!'