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Chapter 14: Auction (1)

After all, theory was just a framework. Even that framework was merely a shifting standard. Magic was an ever-changing flow driven by mana and, by nature, could not be bound by theory. Imagine if the quality of mana suddenly changed inside the dungeon or within the barrier.

The theory would undoubtedly falter if a mana storm disrupted the entire structure of magic spells. In the face of a raging mana disaster, or in the unstable atmosphere right after a mana explosion, the theory couldn’t possibly hold up against such rapid and drastic changes.

No, it could not. To a mage, theory is inherently incomplete. A theory that was always correct can suddenly become wrong, and at different altitudes, completely new theories might be needed. Therefore, a mage must strive for their own perfect intuition. At its peak, this heightened sense will become the ultimate law.

Sylvia sat quietly for a while, staring at her notes. She had confidence that she could solve even theoretical problems using her intuition. She believed she could find answers on her own, without anyone\'s help.

A small triangle, a larger inverted triangle surrounding it, and a circle enclosing both shapes. Six straight lines and one curve formed the Pure Element of water. A combination of water and fire. As Deculein\'s explanation replayed in her mind, she thought deeply.

She could apply the framework of his theory using Primary Colors. She could illustrate the combination of Pure Elements like a painting. In this process, the theory was just a guide, and she was the one walking the path...

... It was a disaster. She needed a special notebook for mages. An ordinary sketchbook had its limits. A mage’s notebook could automatically record the flow of magic circuits and spells. She needed to transfer her notes to one.

However, her Primary Colors couldn\'t stay in this Phenomenal Realm for long. The pencil stayed intact as long as she held it, but the graphite on the paper would fade away within an hour. Meanwhile, the lecture notes spanned sixty pages. Even if she got a magic notebook right away, the writing would disappear while she was copying it.

Sylvia looked around. Everyone had already left. The room was empty. Deculein\'s lecture had clearly inspired the students. She blinked, glancing between her notebook and pencil, but no solution came to mind.

“What should I do?” Sylvia murmured softly.

If things continued this way, her notes would disappear. Even transferring them to a mage\'s notebook would cause some loss of content. In this desperate situation, the only solutions she could think of were to ask the professor directly or find someone who had taken thorough and accurate notes.

***

Sitting in the third seat of row A in the Mage Tower library, Epherene finished her three-hour review. When she looked at the clock with tired eyes, it was already past midnight.

"... I can\'t believe I made this," Epherene mumbled to herself, staring at her notes.

Summary of Deculein\'s Lecture Notes.

She had bought a notebook instead of bread to eat today so she could record the lecture.

"What happened to him? I heard he wasn\'t like this before," Epherene sighed, slumping in her chair.

From what she heard, Deculein\'s lectures had always been notoriously bad. He seemed to explain things well at first, but it always ended up being self-praise. If someone didn\'t buy his book, which cost 5,000 elne, he would glare at them. Despite being a Head Professor, his lectures were not very popular because his exams and assignments were notoriously difficult.

However, today\'s lecture was different. She wanted to criticize it, but compared to other professors, the quality was on a different level. It was truly helpful. In fact, Epherene hadn\'t clearly understood why Pure Element magic was called Pure Element in the first place.

Since she hadn\'t come from the academy, she used magic haphazardly without reading any theoretical books. Deculein filled that ignorant gap, as she called it, which had been bothering her the most.

“It hurts my pride...”

No, it shouldn\'t hurt my pride. If I absorb your knowledge and become stronger than you, that would be humiliating for you. Epherene said in her mind.

“Yes, that\'s right. Yaaawn~”

Epherene stretched and went outside, having convinced herself. On her way back to the dormitory, she saw her classmates eating hotdogs on the street. The hotdogs looked delicious.

Epherene rummaged through her pockets. She didn\'t have a single penny. She had spent her meal money on a notebook. As a university mage, she had to use a special magic notebook, which was very expensive.

“Hey! Ephie! Ephie!”

Someone called out a strange nickname from behind.

“Ephie!”

Epherene knew they were referring to her as Ephie, but it irritated her that they had shortened it. Annoyed, she turned around. A pink-haired girl named Davy, the top student in the First Magic Department, ran toward her, panting.

“Ephie, Ephie! You have Professor Deculein’s class, right?” Davy said.

“Yes, but why?” Epherene asked.

Epherene frowned, annoyed that she used that nickname despite them not being close. Davy, however, smiled mischievously and got straight to the point.

“Do you have any notes from the lecture?”

“... Sorry?” Epherene said, tilting her head.

“Well, you know, the Wizard Board mentioned today that Professor Deculein\'s lecture was amazing. So now I’m looking for anyone with notes. If you have them, I’ll buy them. Just let me copy them,” Davy said.

Buy. Money. Notes. Copy. She wanted to buy Epherene’s notes. Those words piqued Epherene\'s interest because they meant she would get to eat something today. But...

“I\'d like to, but... you know about my recent disciplinary hearing. I was too anxious to take proper notes.”

Epherene didn\'t want anyone to know how hard she had reviewed and studied Professor Deculein\'s lecture.

"Really? Well, that\'s unfortunate," Davy said, wrinkling her nose.

"Sorry," Epherene replied with a bitter smile.

"I\'ll go find another commoner. Take care~"

Just like that, Davy left quickly.

As she walked away, she muttered, "She can\'t even make the most of the opportunities that come her way~"

How pitiful. If Davy was going to find another commoner, she must be searching for other poor kids. But Epherene wasn’t a commoner; she was a noble. She might be broke, but she still had her pride. ... If Davy had asked just one more time, Epherene might have agreed.

Growl—

Epherene clutched her hungry stomach as she walked. Stumbling along, she suddenly bumped into someone else.

"... Oh?"

It was a blonde mage dressed in a luxurious velvet robe. Anyone could see she was a noble from a prestigious family. It was Sylvia. She stood still in the middle of the path, glaring at Epherene. As Epherene hesitated and walked closer, she felt a chill and stopped at a safe distance.

"What are you doing here?" Epherene asked.

Sylvia didn\'t answer and just stared at the notebook in Epherene\'s hand.

"Hello?"

Sylvia\'s eyes were fixed like lasers. Suddenly, she reached out to grab Epherene\'s notebook.

"What are you—hey!" Epherene exclaimed, startled as she quickly hid it behind her back.

Sylvia didn\'t give up after one try. She clawed at the air three times, trying to snatch the notebook, then slowly backed away.

"W-what the heck? What are you doing? Have you turned into a thug?" Epherene said, flabbergasted.

Sylvia didn\'t say a word. She smacked her lips in disappointment, turned around, and walked away. Her heels clicked as she disappeared into the darkness like a ghost.

"Wow, that was creepy. What\'s her deal?"

Some kind of psychopath she was, Epherene thought. Worried she might attack again, she carefully cradled the notebook and headed back to the dormitory.

Growl— Grooooowl—

Her stomach growled loudly as she walked down the dormitory hallway.

"Oh, man... I\'m going to be the first mage to starve to death. Why can\'t they just give us some free food when they make so much money?"

At least the tuition and dormitory fees were free. If they weren’t, she would have died a long time ago. Grumbling, she trudged down the hallway to her door and noticed something.

"... Wow, how childish," Epherene muttered in exasperation.

Her door was covered in red graffiti.

Who do you think you are? How dare you stand up to her?

You\'re not even from the academy, you lowly thing!

Get out of the Mage Tower, idiot!

It was written with a marker, presumably by Sylvia\'s fans.

"Pathetic idiots, truly pathetic."

She clicked her tongue and used magic to quickly erase the graffiti. When she opened the door, she found an envelope on the floor. A quick glance revealed it was a Sponsorship Certificate from the Mage Tower of the University.

"This one was actually kind of clever," Epherene said reluctantly.

Her heart skipped a beat before settling. The notion of sponsorship was absurd. No one would be foolish enough to sponsor someone marked by both the Iliade and Deculein families. It was clever, but not clever enough. The sting of knowing that her poverty was already widely known cut deep.

Mage Tower Sponsorship Certificate

Recipient: Debutant Epherene Luna

Amount: 100,000 ?

"One hundred thousand elne? Has this person completely lost their mind?"

Epherene knew she wouldn\'t receive any sponsorship, so she set the maximum amount at ten million elne.

But a sponsorship of one hundred thousand elne? If you\'re going to do it, do it right... Hmm... but it is pretty detailed to be a forgery... Wait, did this lunatic even forge the seal? This needs to be reported immediately, Epherene said in her mind.

"At least I can claim a reward for this."

"Thanks, kid. Now you\'re in big trouble," Epherene muttered, her lips curling into a smile as she headed straight to the Magical Administration Office near the dormitory.

"Excuse me, I\'m here to report something."

"Report something?" the clerk at the counter said, stopping his typing and tilting his head.

"Yes. Someone forged this and gave it to me."

"Forgery?"

"Yes. They even forged the seal. I think they were trying to mess with me."

"... What? Oh, okay. I\'ll take a look."

"Is there a reward for this kind of thing?"

"No, there isn\'t."

"Oh..." Epherene scratched the back of her neck and waited.

Three minutes later, she walked out of the administrative office, completely shocked, holding a sponsorship certificate.

"This..."

She stared at the certificate, holding it with both hands.

"Is this... is this a dream?" Epherene said.

One hundred thousand elne. She slapped her cheek. One hundred thousand elne. It hurt a lot. One hundred thousand elne. It was really one hundred thousand elne.

Startle—

Startled by the sudden breeze, Epherene shivered and looked around nervously before tucking the certificate into her coat. Someone might have seen it. They might know she had 100,000 elne. A thief might try to steal it. She needed to get to the bank quickly.

Walking cautiously and staying alert, Epherene soon found herself unable to go any further and squatted by the roadside. Her chest tightened with emotion, making it impossible for her to move.

"... Sob."

Epherene buried her face in her knees and clenched her teeth. A wave of emotions surged up her throat. She tried to hold them back, but she couldn’t.

Perhaps this was what made life worth living—someone had recognized her talent, even with the mage family\'s suppression. Yet, how they knew remained a mystery to her. A strange, animalistic sound, neither a cry nor a growl, echoed on the street. Epherene remained there for a while, struggling to stifle her unbearable sobs.

***

On the last weekend of a pleasant March, the day finally came for the auction where I had promised to buy the Snowflower Stone. I drove to the city of Luten, where the auction house was located.

"We\'ve entered Luten. It should take about five minutes to reach Schatzenjewel," the driver said.

"Good job. When we arrive, take a break and wait outside," I replied.

"Sorry? Oh, yes! Thank you!"

The streets of Luten, one of the wealthiest commercial cities in the Empire, were indeed dazzling. While not entirely modern, there were many high-rise buildings, and some streets were lined entirely with luxury stores and jewelers. We passed through these glamorous streets and headed to our destination, the auction house on the coast.

Luten Schatzenjewel

I easily read what was written on the sign. Inspired by the Sydney Opera House, Schatzenjewel was truly impressive. I got out at the entrance of the auction house, which led to the sea, escorted by my attendants. My body was covered in wounds, making it difficult to move, as I had been practicing with shurikens at the mansion.

"Right this way, Head Professor Deculein," attendants said.

We entered through the VVIP passage and reached the waiting room.

"When the time comes, I will personally escort you. For now, please feel free to relax," one of the attendants said.

I nodded and sat down, intending to pass the time. Unexpectedly, I saw someone familiar. She had striking ash-gray hair with a mystical hue and wore white light armor. I didn’t know why she was in armor at an auction, just as she had been at the party. It was Yulie. I never imagined I would meet her here today.

She stood in the middle of the waiting room and, upon seeing me, walked over with the steady gait of a knight. I nodded in greeting.

"I heard you brought charges against two mages with the disciplinary committee," Yulie spoke first. I looked at her, sensing she was here to meddle again.

"You\'re late to the news. Did you just hear about it?" I said.

"What do you mean late? I heard it yesterday. Is it true?" Yulie asked.

"It is. Are you going to blame me for that as well?"

Yulie was speechless. She hesitated, unsure of what to say since she didn\'t fully understand the situation. Finally, she spoke.

"They\'re just Debutants, freshmen at the Mage Tower, full of dreams and hopes. Don\'t crush their spirits. Don\'t repeat the mistakes of the past. It will catch up with you someday. This is my final advice to you."

Her words marked a definitive end. Yulie had already made up her mind. And so had I. No matter how impressive and beautiful Yulie was, I had no intention of marrying her just for those reasons. Besides, there was a real risk of dying at the wedding, given all the death variables around her, especially her fiercely protective sister.

"I won\'t."

I nodded, signaling my agreement and the end of our conversation. Yulie gave a silent bow and left. As I watched her walk away, a sudden curiosity arose.

"But, did you come to this auction to see me?" I asked.

"... W-what? You\'ve got to be kidding me!" Yulie said, spinning around and exclaiming loudly.

That was enough for me. I was about to go back to reading my book when she quickly moved closer and added, "When I say \'you\'ve got to be kidding me,\' I mean, I didn\'t come here to see you. You\'re mistaken if you think I did."

I nodded again.

Yulie eyed me suspiciously, then stepped back but lingered nearby. After a moment, she returned and muttered clearly, "Really. I have my own reasons for being here—"

"I get it. You only need to say it once," I replied.

I couldn\'t believe how much she was underestimating someone with the Comprehension attribute. When I firmly cut her off, Yulie pouted and left. She was the one who had misunderstood in the first place.

Her quiet grumbling was oddly cute. As I was smiling to myself, I suddenly stopped, surprised. Hopefully, I hadn\'t picked up Deculein\'s feelings of liking Yulie. Of course, seeing her didn\'t make my heart race or make me feel dizzy. And at that moment...

— Attention esteemed guests of Schatzenjewel, the auction will commence shortly. Please follow the guidance of your attendants. Thank you.

At that moment, an announcement came over the loudspeaker, and I stood up. As I walked into the auction hall, a small figure followed closely behind me, saying, "Since you don\'t seem to understand, let me explain it one last time—"

"I did understand," I replied.

"You already did it last time. You might spread weird stories about us in the social circle again—"

"I won\'t spread any. Trust me."

"I didn\'t come here to see you. I really didn\'t."

"I got it..."

We entered the auction stage, supposedly on good terms, and soon took our seats, apart from each other.