The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 82

The audience’s attention was immediately drawn to Kayden’s drawing paper.

“Oh…?”

“The magic circle looks just like…”

“Sheet music…!”

Professor Caroline stroked her chin.

‘As expected…’

League Wind-type mages activate their abilities differently from others, resulting in unique magic circle constructions.

‘He’s already captivating the audience with his originality.’

Thanks to Kyle’s clairvoyance, the magnified projection allowed everyone to closely examine the magic circle.

“He’s preparing a 4-star spell… Is he planning a symphony?!” Logan muttered, impressed.

While a symphony typically refers to a four-movement musical piece, its meaning subtly shifts when wielded by a League Wind-type mage.

Professor Owen nodded.

“That seems to be his aim! That rich timbre when the four movements resonate simultaneously… it’s like a concerto performed by a master orchestra.”

Illyin, a student of Chaihark, tilted his head.

“But wouldn’t four timbres at once just sound complicated and noisy unless you’re incredibly skilled?”

“You actually used your brain for once,” someone scoffed. “Exactly. Without skill, it’s a desperate gamble.”

Marchena, in the judge’s seat, thought similarly.

“High risk, high reward. Since the third seat is practically decided, is he aiming for the top spot with a hidden card…? Interesting.”

Lorelei, a young elder of the Harimun School [one of the Eight Great Magic Schools] in the audience, disagreed.

‘Kayden is a musical genius.’

Was he born to create music, or did he lose his voice *for* music?

“Kayden, cheer up! Go, go, go!” A plump, middle-aged man shouted enthusiastically, joined by his group.

Lorelei smiled and nodded to them.

“Father, you’ve come.”

“Oh my, Elder! It’s been a long time. You’re as beautiful as ever, haha!” The man fussed, shaking his belly.

The connection between them was deeper than expected. Kayden’s father was a well-known, wealthy merchant in the southern empire. His one sorrow was his son’s muteness from infancy.

“Master, how can the young master be a merchant if he can’t speak?”

“Pass the family business to a future child, and let the eldest grandson find another path.”

He feared his son would be hurt as a swordsman or consumed by religion as a clergyman.

While he pondered, the Harimun School visited for a performance, which he attended to clear his mind.

The performance exceeded his expectations, so he went backstage to express his gratitude and offer a donation.

“Kayden, no! Don’t touch their instruments…?!?”

What was happening?

The five-year-old was perfectly imitating the Harimun students’ song on the spot.

The most excited person was Lorelei, then the head disciple of Harimun.

“Ah, Father… Will you give me your son?”

“Yes?”

“Your son is a genius! A musical genius! He must make music! Entrust him to me, and I’ll ensure he becomes a magician and performer who makes history! Please!”

Thus, Kayden entered one of the Eight Great Schools as Lorelei’s disciple.

His growth was so rapid that by thirteen, he was a promising figure recognized throughout the school.

Kayden became Lorelei’s beloved disciple, a source of pride greater than her own child.

‘Our school values the beauty of magic, and no magician his age can surpass Kayden in this area.’

However, exclamations arose elsewhere, directed at Christa Warden, seemingly refuting Lorelei’s conviction.

“The magic circle looks like some kind of…”

“A painting…”

“That’s a bloodline limit magic circle…!”

Christa chose 3-star magic.

Despite being 3-star, the bloodline limit’s uniqueness and her fluid strokes created a strange harmony, making the circle appear artistic.

“What about Lane Ludwig?”

When Lane’s drawing paper was shown, reactions split. Some exclaimed, others blinked.

“Five magic circles…?”

“Does that mean…?”

“5-star magic…?”

Even with a slide rule, 5-star magic exponentially slowed calculation speed due to the increased formulas.

‘Even I, on par with a Glados [a powerful 4-star spell], find 5-star magic burdensome… She’s beyond student level.’ Madelia Page looked at Lane with surprise and concern. Casena asked, “Why? Isn’t high-level magic good? Lane will win with the strongest magic, right?!”

“No, it’s not that simple. It could backfire.”

“What? Why?!”

5-star magic requires incredibly precise calculations.

“Coordinate calculation, power control… I doubt there’s room for aesthetic beauty.”

“…!”

“This isn’t a test where you score high just by using big, grand magic. That’s why I’m worried.”

Lane Ludwig…

Even with your skills, you were forced into a corner.

“There may have been no other choice,” Lilian Karain of the Rivendell School said.

“To compete against Warden and Harimun.”

Elin Ludwig in the VIP room thought the same.

“Lane’s strength is her magical skill, unmatched for her age… Maximizing that is the only way.”

But it’s still 5-star magic. Can she finish it in 60 minutes with the intended aesthetic effects?

“Are you serious?” Christa frowned, sharing the question. Lane didn’t answer.

She couldn’t. In extreme concentration, she recalled and drew out the scene she saw that day, vividly, more vividly than ever.

* * *

“Harimun’s promising student is the first to finish!” Kayden, having completed his magic circle and slide rule, approached the judges.

The judges, led by Marchena, were ten senior professors from the 2nd and 3rd grades.

Each could award 0-10 points, so a score near 100 meant a high chance of winning.

“Oh ho?”

“This magic circle is art itself.”

The judges were intrigued.

The circle had four attributes unfolding in their directions, intricately interlocked.

Professor Kyle examined it closely.

“North is square, east is circular, south is fan-shaped, west is triangular… Earth, water, wind, and fire, respectively.”

Was the order meaningful, or purely aesthetic? Marchena placed his hand on the circle.

“Let’s see your skills.”

Magic flowed from his fingertips, light spread along the ink lines, and the audience’s thoughts paused.

A heavenly sight descended.

As the square circle lit up, the earth waved gracefully, and a quiet flute played, painting spring in the ear.

‘Spring…’

‘I can hear spring…’

As the circular circle lit up, a new ripple arose from the flute.

‘Stars shining as if pouring from the summer sky…’

‘And the sound of water where the river quietly breathes with those stars reflected upside down…’

When the fan-shaped circle shone, it drew autumn’s loneliness with wind and strings.

Finally, the triangle shone, and the sound of a bonfire crackling in the cold wind came like a drum.

Until the sounds of the season ended, no one dared speak.

“What is it…?”

“An afterglow…?”

Quiet applause began, then the stadium erupted in cheers.

“Wow!”

“Amazing! Can you do that with magic? Not an orchestra?”

“I want to hear it again!” Lorelei proudly looked at Kayden, suppressing her emotions.

‘Kayden can’t speak.’

He expressed his feelings through music since childhood.

No.

Because he couldn’t speak, he expressed all his feelings, the world he saw, heard, and felt, through music.

“Amazing. League Wind types derive magic from music, but to derive music from magic so perfectly…”

“The runes and formulas used to create this melody are so elaborate that even I can’t evaluate them…”

“Truly a harmony! The harmony of the world!”

Head Professor Marchena examined the circle again.

The rune for spring is 잔 (Jan).

The rune for summer is 위 (Wi).

Autumn is 서 (Seo), winter is 운 (Un).

He used advanced formulas to create a light feeling in spring and summer, and lengthened the elementary equation to capture autumn’s loneliness.

“In winter, he separated the formulas and forcibly increased the calculation expression to capture the middle ground between the two beats… The runes and mathematical knowledge are perfect.”

“Right, teacher. A culmination of magic and music.”

“Exactly! You could take this straight from the orchestra!”

The professors wrote their scores and raised them.

[8]

[9]

[9]

[10]

[10]

[10]

[9]

[9]

[10]

[10]

The total was 94 points.

Cheers erupted.

“Amazing! Even the head professor, famous for low scores, gave 8!”

“Isn’t 95 the highest ever?”

“That’s the highest! Most 94-point students win!”

Was Harimun going to win? Was the game over? Murmurs filled the arena.

Regardless, Christa Warden confidently walked past Kayden to the professors.

‘I’ve fought those with overwhelming talent before.’

And won. With my weapon.

Except for one person. Today, I’ll defeat him too, and I, Christa Warden, will stand at the top.

“Are you ready to see the magic that will leave you no choice but to give me the top spot?”