Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 102 – Demon (1)

Deis and Renches.

The two of them shared several commonalities.

They were both commoners.

And both were considered dullards.

Even though Deis had shown remarkable progress in recent weeks, the suspicion of being a “dullard” lingered.

In fact, every time he achieved something extraordinary, a certain rumor would resurface claims that he was secretly using an artifact to feign magical prowess without the professor noticing.

There was even a plausible explanation behind the rumor.

“Deis smuggled one of Avon’s custom-made artifacts!”

Indeed, his left hand bore one of Avon’s handcrafted magical tools.

Although he hadn’t used it since enrolling in Arniel, who could say for sure? Someone like Avon, renowned as the world’s greatest magic artifact craftsman, could very well create an artifact that left no traces when used.

Thus, when news broke that Deis had teamed up with Renches to form a two-person magic circle team, all the students burst out laughing.

“They’ll end up dead last.”

“Artifacts can’t help with a two-person magic circle.”

While there were artifacts and magical tools that could assist in implementing multi-layered magic circles, they required massive crystals, making personal ownership impossible.

In other words, any assistance Deis could rely on from artifacts ended here.

This class required students to complete the magic circle purely with their own skills. How could two “dullards” possibly manage such a task?

“Zelka Ainglass and Arad Kiros. You’ve finished first.”

“Thank you.”

“Next are Herael Citrinne and Curtin Royce. You’re second, but you’ve drawn an excellent magic circle.”

“…Thank you.”

One by one, pairs of students completed their magic circles.

Bang!

Meanwhile, Deis and Renches’ magic circle showed no signs of progress.

Their struggles prompted the other students to sneer.

“Without the artifact’s help, he really is useless.”

Since no one could leave until they completed their magic circle, Professor Adel had declared that this would be the last class of the day. However, few students truly cared about that declaration.

Most had finished their magic circles well before the end of class.

Everyone except one team.

Deis and Renches.

The two were the only ones left as the sun began to set.

“This is getting boring.”

“Let’s go home.”

Some students, curious to see how badly the duo would fail, lingered for a moment but soon left.

“…”

Princess Herael Citrinne squinted her eyes, observing Deis for a moment before leaving as well. Ailka Willed had disappeared much earlier.

Zelka Ainglass was the first to leave, and his followers quickly followed suit. In the end, only Deis and Renches remained in the practice room.

Until that point, Professor Adel had remained silent, simply waiting.

Ordinary students might think Professor Adel was harsh for not dismissing anyone who hadn’t finished their magic circles.

But Harang felt grateful instead.

Thanks to that, he could invest more time into this new magic!

“Am I going too fast? Should I slow down?” Renches asked cautiously.

Harang shook his head.

“No. You’re perfect. I’m the one who made a mistake. I’ll correct it.”

“If you say so…”

The reason it was taking them so long boiled down to one thing.

Harang was imitating Renches’ method of magic implementation while also correcting the flaws in Renches’ magic.

When Renches realized this, he was more excited than he had been since enrolling in Arniel.

‘To think my magic could be implemented this way…!’

Harang repeatedly tried different methods for Renches’ algorithmic spellcasting. This way, and that way, eliminating the flaws while increasing stability and casting speed.

Since these trials required coordination between two people, Harang meticulously squeezed out every second for experimentation.

Their repeated failures in creating the two-person magic circle stemmed from this but…

Renches’ magic steadily moved toward perfection. Meanwhile, Harang’s proficiency with it gradually improved.

Late into the night.

Wuuuuung!

Finally, the duo succeeded in activating the dual magic circle.

Exhausted, Deis and Renches collapsed to the floor.

“Deis, Renches. You’ve finally succeeded. Go home and rest now,” Professor Adel said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Without further comment, he vanished from the practice room.

Harang was so deep in thought that he didn’t even notice Professor Adel leaving.

‘…Thanks to Renches, my magic can evolve even further.’

He closed his eyes tightly.

‘But Renches…’

Renches, who had struggled to stand, stretched as if feeling refreshed.

“Phew! It took a bit longer than I thought, but it’s finally complete. Hah! And to think my magic got recognized too. Today feels like a good day. Maybe I’ll treat myself to two cups of instant noodles!”

“…Renches.”

“Huh? Did you call me?”

Harang, who had risen with difficulty, looked at Renches with a somber expression.

“I said it earlier. This magical system your father developed is incredible.”

“Hah, are you complimenting me again?”

“No. A compliment is a compliment, but this is a different matter.”

Harang spoke coldly.

“If you want to graduate from Arniel, you’ll have to set aside this magic for now.”

“…What?”

“You know this magic is an incomplete system. It would take at least several decades to perfect it. In other words, if you keep clinging to this unfinished magic…”

You’ll be expelled from Arniel.

Harang left the final words unspoken, but Renches understood them well enough.

“Expelled… expelled, huh?”

“You can revisit this magic after you graduate. It will undoubtedly become groundbreaking, an extraordinary magic. Perhaps even a magic named after you. But… for now, the right choice is to set it aside and focus on graduating. Surely, Arniel’s diploma is important to you?”

Renches had no notable family background, no wealth, and no connections.

For someone like him, a diploma from Arniel was nothing short of a lifeline. If he managed to graduate from Arniel, he would gain the qualifications to research his father’s magic as much as he wanted, wherever he pleased.

“…You might be right.”

Renches smiled faintly.

It wasn’t a sad smile.

As always, his confident smile was so bright and self-assured that even Harang, who had been worried, was left speechless.

“But the only place where I can give wings to my father’s final research, ‘Reversal Magic,’ is Arniel. Nowhere else will do. Only here. Once I graduate and leave the school, it’ll all be meaningless. So, I can’t give up.”

Arniel’s diploma?

If Renches chose to abandon this unstructured magic and fully embrace Arniel’s teachings now, he could certainly earn a diploma and walk a straightforward path to success.

Harang was convinced of that.

Renches’ talent was… comparable to, if not greater than, Zelka Ainglass.

Even if he lacked mana reserves and advanced magic capabilities, potentially lagging behind Zelka in the far future…

In terms of pure talent, Renches could graduate at the top of his class.

Yet, Renches chose to abandon all of that and declare his intention to walk a precarious path.

Because that was the road his father had left behind.

“…Alright. If that’s your decision.”

Harang relented.

Each person must carve their own path.

Even if it seemed impossible, no one had the right to stop someone who dared to challenge it.

“Instead, let’s study together from tomorrow, as friends.”

“…Friends?”

“Yes. We’re the same age and in the same class. We can at least be friends, can’t we?”

Harang extended his hand for a handshake as he spoke, but Renches, looking flustered, replied.

“I-I thought we were already friends.”

“…Is that so.”

Feeling oddly foolish, Harang lowered his hand, then simply laughed. Patting Renches’ shoulder, he spoke with a grin.

“Well then, let’s get along tomorrow like we did today. I find your magic and perspective on life quite intriguing.”

Renches also grinned widely, nodding in agreement.

Perhaps no one in Arniel, or even the world, could have known…

That this encounter between the two would eventually lead to the evolution of magic itself.

***

The next day.

Rumors spread throughout the school.

The buzz was that Deis and Renches had worked together through the night, not just for an hour or two but until dawn, struggling to create a two-person magic circle.

Students eagerly mocked them, calling it the union of clueless incompetents.

“Did you hear? About him this time?”

“Yeah. Apparently, he couldn’t even manage that and spent the whole night drawing a magic circle?”

“Well, it’s not like artifacts can be involved in a two-person magic circle.”

“He must’ve used artifacts when he faced the Agui Ogre too.”

“His magic skills seem to have improved lately, but doesn’t it feel like he’s secretly relying on artifacts again?”

“Puhaha!”

“Move.”

“Eek!”

As the students laughed at Deis, Ailka strode through their midst, deliberately breaking up their gathering.

“L-Lady Ailka?”

She glanced at the gossiping students with a sidelong glare, sighed, and shook her head.

“Pathetic. If you have time to belittle someone else’s skills, why not invest it in improving your own?”

“T-That’s…”

“Did you see it? Deis using an artifact?”

“Well, no, but… Young Master Zelka mentioned it. He said Deis was wearing an authentic magical tool from Avon on his left arm.”

“Magical tools always produce mana reactions when used. Have you ever seen that happen?”

“No, but… if it’s Avon’s artifact, maybe it’s possible…”

“You’re not sure.”

Ailka’s pointed remark left the students speechless. As they hesitated, she glanced at them disdainfully and walked away.

“Why do fools focus on tearing down those better than them… It’s truly disgusting.”

At her final comment, the students turned bright red and lowered their heads.

If it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t have mattered, but being criticized by Lady Ailka made them want to crawl into a hole.

“L-Let’s go back.”

“Yeah…”

The students who had been mocking Deis quickly dispersed.

‘Why is Lady Ailka defending that commoner?’

Though the question lingered in everyone’s mind, no one dared voice it.

They could only speculate that perhaps the young lady held a faint interest in the commoner…