After that, I climbed into the limousine waiting at the academy gates and headed toward my family estate—a place I hadn't seen in a full year.
The private territory of the Magus Divine Clan was about an hour's drive away.
Beyond the wrought-iron gates stretched a perfectly manicured garden road that wound on for five minutes or so before revealing a mansion so extravagant it practically shouted, "We're rich, and we want you to know it."
All that remained was to pass through the heavily guarded main entrance.
"We've arrived, sir."
"Thank you for the safe drive."
I nodded politely to the chauffeur and stepped out.
"The family head is waiting for you in his study."
Following the maid's lead, I entered the mansion.
The layout was exactly as I remembered.
The wide, almost barren interior reflected Father's personality—utterly intolerant of clutter, preferring absolute simplicity.
And I knew this aesthetic wouldn't change until the day he stepped down as family head.
After walking through the quiet halls for about two minutes, I arrived at his study.
"Master, Young Lord Hayul has arrived," the maid announced with a gentle knock.
"Let him in."
"Yes, sir."
The door opened without so much as a creak. The wood was so well-maintained it might as well have been new.
I gave the maid a small nod of gratitude and stepped inside.
"It's been a while, Father."
"Spare me the small talk. Sit."
Typical of him—straight to the point, no pleasantries.
I sat across from him.
"I didn't think you'd ever succeed as a mage."
Blunt as always.
"With casting speeds twenty times slower than normal, spell formulas that collapse at the slightest loss of focus, and the inability to perform multi-casting… there's no end to a Defective's shortcomings."
In modern magical theory, AI systems are as crucial as circles.
If the circle is the heart of a mage, then the AI is the brain.
A person can't live without either—
and likewise, a mage can't function properly without both.
That's the common belief of the modern age.
"That's why I told you to switch to AI Magical Engineering. With your intellect, you could have excelled in that field."
Objectively speaking, his reasoning was sound.
If I were in his position, I would have done the same.
When your child has a heart condition, you don't let them become a swimmer.
"So I'll admit—I didn't expect much this time either."
"Yes, sir."
"When you said you'd place within the top ten, I assumed you'd lost hope and were clinging to delusion."
"I understand."
I probably would've thought the same.
"When I told the Baek family to publish that article and to let it be, I secretly thought it might be a good opportunity. If you tasted bitter defeat, you'd finally come to your senses and follow my advice."
Exactly as I'd guessed.
"But the results… defied my expectations. You overcame the penalty of being a Defective."
The weight of his words pressed down on me like an unseen force.
"Four circles. Arcane Magic. You've carved out a new path in your own way. Your combat performance was worthy of being called 'a true mage.'"
His voice was heavy—measured and commanding.
"You've demonstrated your worth as a mage… no, you've shown that you're worth investing in."
"..."
"Our wager—you've won. As promised, you'll have my full support. Whatever you need, say it. If it aids your path as a mage, the Magus Divine Clan will spare no expense."
"Thank you, Father."
A genuine smile crept across my face.
Magic is an expensive pursuit, and starting from the second year, practical training becomes resource-intensive.
The financial pressure had been building—but now, that burden was gone.
It was impossible not to be pleased.
"Furthermore, I will allow your reinstatement. From this day forth, you are once again a rightful bloodline of the Magus Divine Clan. Serve the clan's prosperity well."
"Yes, Father. I'll keep that in mind."
"And one final warning."
The atmosphere shifted—the mana in the air trembled under the sheer weight of his presence.
This was the pressure of an 8th-Circle Mage, one of only three in all of Korea.
"My support does not absolve you of your sin as a Defective—it merely suspends it. The moment I sense stagnation or regression from you, I will personally shatter your circle, by force if necessary."
"…I understand, sir. I'll remember that."
But Father—
I can assure you, that day will never come.
Because I have Vaitener-style Magic.
Of course, I kept that thought to myself.
"Hmm. Good. Then tell me—what are your plans from here on out?"
After a brief silence, he continued.
"Your plans, I mean. How do you intend to achieve your goal of becoming the next head of the Magus Divine Clan?"
He rested his chin on his hand, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Right now, your position in the family is miserable. You're no match for Ji-han—and even Min-ji would outpace you."
My eldest brother, Shin Ji-han, was the strongest contender for the next headship.
He'd be my biggest obstacle.
My second sister, Shin Min-ji, on the other hand, had all but withdrawn from the succession race.
Among the siblings, she was currently the least influential—
'Well… she was the least influential. But now that I'm back, she's not at the bottom anymore.'
Because that spot belonged to me.
"You're a failed candidate with a record of dismissal. No faction, no influence, and a magic style so unorthodox it raises eyebrows. Even if I only list your major disadvantages, there are already too many."
If I went head-to-head against Min-ji right now, she'd crush me ten to zero.
That's how dire my position was.
"At this point, joining the faction of Ji-han, Min-hyuk, or perhaps Se-ah would be the most sensible move."
And he was right.
Logically, aligning myself with one of the three major successors would be far more advantageous than aiming for the headship myself.
That was how little power I currently held.
"Even in this worst-case scenario… do you truly intend to compete for the position of next family head?"
His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding.
The sheer magnitude of his presence—immovable as a mountain, vast as the sea—pressed down on me from all directions.
The pressure was suffocating.
It felt like I might collapse to my knees at any moment.
So this was the weight…
of an 8th-Circle Mage.
When faced with such an overwhelming aura, vanity or arrogance would be swept away in an instant.
But that had nothing to do with me.
"Yes."
My determination and goal weren't born out of vanity or pride.
"As I said before—my purpose is to become the head of the Magic God Family. That's all."
I met that towering presence head-on and spoke clearly and firmly.
"I have no intention whatsoever of serving under any of my siblings."
My father's smile deepened.
"You asked how I plan to proceed from here."
Maybe I was getting used to his overwhelming aura—or maybe he was simply easing up on the pressure.
I couldn't tell, but the suffocating weight pressing down on me was gradually fading away.
"First, I'll make it so that everyone will have no choice but to acknowledge me."
As I watched the corners of my father's lips curve slightly upward, I declared with confidence:
"I'll achieve one great accomplishment after another—achievements so extraordinary that no one will even care about me being an 'Incompatible.'"
Then, staring straight into my father's now fully smiling face, I voiced my resolve:
"I'll become the strongest in the world and take both the Magic God Family and your seat with my own strength."
At that moment, I truly believed I could do it.
* * *
After Shin Hayul left—
Shin Inhyuk remained alone in the study, quietly mulling over the words his son had just said.
"...Heh."
Even on second thought, it was an amusing thing to hear.
"He said he'll achieve feats that no one has ever accomplished before?"
He said it so casually, as if he were talking about taking a stroll around the neighborhood.
"What a bold brat."
What? He'll become the strongest in the world and take over the Magic God Family?
The more he thought about it, the funnier it became.
The last part was the icing on the cake.
"Of course, I know mere words aren't enough to convince you."
"So I'll make you another promise."
"Two months from now, I'll take first place in the World Academy Olympiad."
The World Academy Olympiad—
A global festival held every year, open only to academy students under the age of twenty.
The participants are geniuses from all over the world, and the competition is nearly on par with professional adult tournaments.
"He says he'll take first place there?"
To date, Korea's best record in the Olympiad was a single silver medal won by Kim Kangin. Not a single gold—not even a bronze—had ever been achieved.
That's how high the level of competition was.
And Shin Hayul had just declared he would take first place in that tournament.
He had said it with complete conviction:
"So until that tournament begins in two months, please block any interference from my brothers and sister."
"If you grant me that much, I'll bring you Korea's first-ever gold medal."
Audacious.
So audacious that it was laughable.
"To demand protection in exchange for a medal he might not even be able to win..."
Shin Inhyuk laughed out loud again.
"For me to have accepted such a ridiculous proposal... I must not be in my right mind."
Normally, Shin Inhyuk wouldn't have even bothered listening to such absurd words—but this time, for some reason, he wanted to accept.
It wasn't out of affection or pity.
It was just a gut feeling.
A feeling that Hayul might actually bring that gold medal home.
"A mantis standing before a cartwheel, huh..."
Shin Inhyuk leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile.
"If that thing were human, he'd surely be a terrifying warrior."
He recalled an old proverb he'd long forgotten.
* * *
Late at night—
After returning to the dormitory, I took a quick shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat at my desk.
It had been an incredibly long day.
From the round of sixteen all the way to the finals—four duels in total—and then that confrontation with Father.
So much had happened that the day felt twice as long as usual.
"Still, it all turned out well."
A long day, but a rewarding one.
I'd secured first place safely, regained the Family's support, and even earned a full two months of peace.
"I didn't expect Father to accept that proposal without any conditions."
Honestly, that had been a surprise.
I never imagined he'd agree to something that absurd.
All the contingencies I'd prepared ended up being pointless.
But in the end, everything had worked out perfectly, so it didn't really matter.
I was just a little deflated, that's all.
"Anyway, this means I can now train freely for at least two months, backed by the Family's full support."
Two months.
I had to make the most of that time.
"Well then..."
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I opened Idred's Book—『Ray Bell Bytener』, which I'd placed on the edge of the table.
Then, from the part I'd been reading early that morning, I began carefully deciphering and studying it again.
[The efficiency of the Ring of Resonance varies depending on its rotation rate and frequency.]
[The state of perfect control over the Ring of Resonance is referred to in the Bytener system as 'Resonance .']