[translator - kiteretsu]

    [proofreader - kyros]

    chapter 79

    whisper, whisper.

    "whoa, is that person really kaylen?"

    "no way!"

    the academy’s auditorium was already packed with students.

    as the reports and rumors about the completely transformed kaylen continued to spread, more and more curious eyes gathered.

    "wow, someone like that was at our academy? who are they?"

    "...they’re saying it’s kaylen."

    "what? what kind of nonsense is that?"

    hearing the rumors, lioness crossed his arms and scanned his surroundings.

    the mages, typically too engrossed in research, magic training, and a mountain of assignments to pay attention to such things, were...

    “creating such a commotion over whether someone is real or not?”

    for most people, such an event wouldn’t draw a crowd, nor would it warrant a test here.

    but the man standing before the testing device was different.

    an appearance transcending the world itself. more beautiful than even an elf, yet exuding an untouchable majesty.

    "how can a person look like that?"

    for the first time in his life, lioness felt a sense of defeat in terms of appearance when looking at another man.

    up until now, he’d never even entertained the thought of being outshined by another man’s looks.

    but now...

    "i thought lioness was the most handsome person in our academy."

    "me too, me too."

    "wow... just wow..."

    the voices of female students murmuring from the back.

    even though it was something that could have been annoying, lioness merely gave a bitter smile.

    "should i be thankful that they even consider us on the same level?"

    it wasn’t even a fair comparison.

    "eugh, why are so many people gathering here?"

    watching the students flock like clouds while the meister measuring device was being set up, the academy''s dean clicked his tongue in disapproval.

    for the kingdom''s most brilliant talents to abandon their studies and gather here over such gossip—it was irritating.

    if it were up to him, he would have dispersed the crowd immediately.

    but...

    "there are simply too many people. not to mention, even the heir of the oblaine ducal house is here."

    even as the academy''s dean, it was burdensome to tell the child of such a powerful noble to leave.

    if there were a valid reason, perhaps he could...

    but kicking them out just for skipping their studies and being here didn’t sit right.

    "on second thought, this might be for the best. everyone here will serve as witnesses."

    the crowd gathered here would testify whether this man was truly kaylen or not.

    yes.

    "it’s not that i can’t disperse them because of lioness."

    "it’s because i need witnesses, so i’m letting them stay."

    the dean convinced himself with this reasoning as the test began.

    "now, kaylen?"

    "yes, dean."

    "as i mentioned earlier, i trust professor irene. you are indeed kaylen, correct?"

    though he was inwardly skeptical, the dean began his speech with a composed demeanor.

    "but you can hear it too, can''t you? people asking if you''re really kaylen. saying it makes no sense. the claim that your appearance resulted from a failed magic experiment... it''s hard for the public to believe."

    a failed magic experiment caused that appearance?

    hearing those words, the students were dumbfounded.

    "even if he’s talented, could he actually cast 6th circle magic? isn’t that impossible?"

    true to their nature as mages, they delved into discussions about the implications of 6th circle magic.

    however, it seemed that the proof provided by the score was enough for everyone to acknowledge that he was indeed kaylen.

    "thank you for arranging this opportunity, dean," kaylen said.

    "yes... it seems you truly are kaylen. your talent is astonishing."

    "now that the proof is complete, i assume i may join the academy?"

    "of course."

    kaylen silently left the auditorium. shortly after, the academy dean formally declared to the students that kaylen’s identity had been verified.

    lioness, meanwhile, watched the door kaylen had exited with a complicated expression.

    in both appearance and talent, lioness had never found himself lacking before. but now, for the first time, he felt as though he had encountered an insurmountable wall.

    he suppressed the unfamiliar emotion as best as he could.

    "...i must bring him into the second prince’s faction."

    bormian magic academy library

    "wow. who is that? have we always had someone like him at the academy?"

    "they say he’s kaylen."

    "kaylen? what are you talking about?"

    "didn’t you hear about the commotion today? it’s been the talk of the academy."

    kaylen''s appearance had stirred such a buzz that even the normally quiet library was abuzz with murmurs. yet kaylen himself remained completely composed.

    his focus lay elsewhere.

    "the third mana circle is complete."

    the mana circles etched into his skin were now three. for kaylen, each mana circle allowed him to wield up to 2nd circle magic. previously, with two circles, he had been capable of 4th circle spells. now, with three, he could theoretically cast 6th circle magic.

    this realization prompted him to begin mastering 6th circle magic in earnest.

    "still, it won’t be easy to cast."

    the 6th circle was a realm few mages in history had reached.

    6th circle spells not only combined two elemental attributes but also required a deep understanding of each spell''s intricacies.

    "and there''s another challenge—operating the mana circles themselves seems integral to 6th circle magic."

    as kaylen read a book analyzing the spell blizzard, he came to this conclusion.

    the text emphasized controlling the flow of mana within the heart’s mana circles for each segment of the spell.

    to cast a single 6th circle spell like blizzard, a mage needed to manage 36 distinct flows of mana.

    "it’s no wonder casting such magic is so difficult."

    to reach the level of the 6th circle, one had to not only chant a lengthy incantation and understand the spell but also maintain perfect control of the mana circles'' flow throughout.

    kaylen let out a wry smile.

    he felt a twinge of guilt about how effortlessly he had sliced apart a spell that must have been painstakingly cast. the overwhelming power of the six swords technique had left no room for the magic to stand a chance.

    in truth, now that he had mastered the fourth sword, he didn’t necessarily need to sit in the library studying 6th circle magic. the sheer destructive force of his swordsmanship alone was more than sufficient.

    but there was something else on his mind.

    "the potential of infinity’s expandability... it feels like it would be far more efficient if integrated with magic."

    he had been captivated by the new characteristic of infinity—expansion—demonstrated by his descendants, the hellmeier family. kaylen felt certain that this trait would synergize better with magic than with swordsmanship alone.

    "now that i’ve returned to my former body, i can afford to reduce my focus on sword training."

    when he was in his original body, he had tirelessly honed his skills to achieve the perfect union of his physical form and swordsmanship. but now, in ernstine’s body, such training was unnecessary. ernstine’s body was already perfectly attuned to the six swords technique, leaving no need for further alignment.

    this allowed kaylen to allocate more time to studying magic instead of his sword.

    "before i rebuild the meier sword clan, i need to grasp the secrets of the 6th circle."

    having completed the fourth sword, there was no longer any need to hold back. as a sword master, he was ready to reveal himself to the world at any moment. however, kaylen was waiting for the perfect opportunity.

    the reappearance of a long-lost sword master would serve as the best possible advertisement. but instead of unveiling himself now, kaylen planned to align this revelation with the completion of myorn’s mana suit.

    with its debut, the meier sword clan would rise again in full glory.

    until then, he resolved to dedicate his spare time to mastering the 6th circle of magic.

    after days of research back at his estate, kaylen finally decided to put his studies to the test.

    "blizzard."

    he invoked the 6th circle spell.

    [translator - kiteretsu]

    [proofreader - kyros]