Chapter 320
In the world, there are those called geniuses. Especially in the realm of magic, those hailed as geniuses are countless. They have all left their names in history, and their achievements have propelled the advancement of magic.
Most of them realized their talents at a young age. That’s why they say geniuses are different from the start.
In that sense, Laura Elsink definitely falls into the category of genius. Growing up hearing she was a prodigy, she could handle high-level magic even before enrolling in magic school. While others were mastering the basics, she had already become the best at handling ice magic within the Elsink family.
With her level of talent and capability, she could easily carve out a place in history. It’s safe to say that Laura Elsink stands at the forefront of the current generation of mages.
In the past, Laura might have been arrogant, thinking no mage could surpass her. But there’s always someone better.
In Laura’s opinion, aside from herself, there are three other geniuses.
First, the sage Myohail. The first sage and a living legend who has lived for centuries, he is history itself. He not only holds all existing magic formulas in his mind but also creates new ones on the spot. A figure who understands the universe and seeks truth, fitting for a sage.
No mage who has left their mark in history could even come close to Myohail. If you were to pick the most outstanding genius among geniuses, Myohail would be the top contender. However, he has little interest in worldly affairs and is currently in seclusion, so it’s unknown when he’ll reappear. But if he does, the world of magic will take another great leap forward.
The next genius Laura knows is Mondri Cremont. To be precise, he’s a genius with somewhat lacking talent.
Because he’s an incredibly hard worker. No, in some ways, he’s downright crazy. He’s a mage who has made up for his lack of talent through sheer effort, achieving the seemingly impossible.
A true genius of effort. It’s no exaggeration to say Mondri has devoted his entire life to magic. For him, magic is both a scholarly pursuit and a fun toy.
Laura has never seen a genius who worked as hard as Mondri and achieved comparable results. He’s reached a level where he’s considered the closest to a sage in the empire.
Lastly, the genius Laura knows is William Ruelberta.
Of course, Laura is aware. It’s a bit of a stretch to call William a mage. Cursed from birth, he has no innate magical power.
Yet, Laura considers William a genius because of his extraordinary knowledge.
When Laura met him, William was just a boy in his early teens, but he had not only memorized all existing theories and forms of magic but also truly “understood” them.
Magic is highly conceptual, and there’s a clear difference in understanding between those who have used it and those who haven’t. In short, it’s nearly impossible for someone who has never used magic to understand it. Like a blind person trying to perfectly depict an elephant, no matter how hard they try.
But William understood magic solely through theoretical self-study. His level of comprehension sometimes surpassed that of active mages, even Mondri and Laura.
He could point out errors in established formulas and criticize inefficient magic usage that even seasoned mages often fell into.
Despite being the youngest disciple, William was a boy with knowledge so vast that he could hold conversations almost on par with Myohail.
If William was the last genius Laura discovered, could the girl now before her eyes also be considered a genius?
“Don’t be nervous, kid.”
“I-I’m not nervous…”
“…You really can’t lie, can you?”
Wendy, brought to Laura’s barracks, sat stiffly, clearly nervous.
“Th-thank you… I-I’m usually nervous, but I was holding it in…”
“That wasn’t a compliment, more like sarcasm… You’re too obvious.”
“Hic?!”
Wendy’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning, then she quickly bowed her head.
“Ugh… I’m sorry… I didn’t realize…”
Realizing what kind of person Laura was, Wendy became as tense as if sitting on pins and needles.
Laura decided to ease Wendy’s tension.
“Kid, want to eat this?”
“Wow… What is this?”
“It’s candy I made. It’s delicious.”
“This is candy?? Wow, wow…! It’s so shiny and pretty…!”
Laura handed Wendy a basket filled with candies that looked like colorful glass beads. Wendy, mesmerized, suddenly started glancing at Laura.
“Why?”
“U-um, can I really eat this…?”
“Of course, why else would I give it to you?”
“But it’s so pretty, it feels wrong to eat it…”
Laura couldn’t help but chuckle at Wendy’s adorable reaction.
“It’s fine, go ahead.”
“O-okay…!”
Laura observed Wendy closely.
As per the investigation, she truly was a crybaby and a bit of a scatterbrain. Her speech was halting, and she was so timid her voice often trailed off, lacking confidence.
Strangely, these traits didn’t seem negative. Her teary eyes and small, animal-like appearance stirred a protective instinct in anyone who saw her.
What surprised Laura most was Wendy’s appearance.
‘Is she really 12 years old?’
Not only was she taller than Laura, but her body also showed signs of maturity beyond her age. Her long limbs made her look nothing like a typical 12-year-old.
Yet, her face remained as innocent and pure as any child’s.
‘Hmm… She’ll grow up to be a beauty. Though not as stunning as I was in my prime.’
Wendy was seriously picking through the candies in the basket, like a child deciding which treat to eat first.
All the candies were hers to eat, but her adorable demeanor made Laura want to watch her.
But seeing her like this, it’s hard to imagine she had earlier dispelled a barrier. How did this little girl manage that?
As Laura pondered, Wendy popped a candy into her mouth and her face lit up.
“Wow…”
“How is it?”
“I-it’s my first time tasting this! It’s kind of herbal, but what flavor is it…?”
“Ah, it’s ginseng candy. I used good herbs while making it. Not too sweet, but quite an intriguing taste, right?”
“Yeah! It’s kind of addictive.”
Seeing Wendy smile with the candy in her mouth, Laura’s lips curled up involuntarily.
“Right? All the candies there are made with herbs. The green ones are made with boyamcho, and the red ones with piyanghwa. Ah… but they might be a bit bitter for you.”
“It’s okay. I’m from the countryside, so I can eat anything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I especially love candy. Hehe…”
“Hmm… So you’re well-off enough to buy candy?”
Of course, candy is a luxury. No, not just candy. Most sweet treats are delicacies only nobles can enjoy.
Unless, of course, this girl comes from a wealthy farming family.
But Laura’s guess was off.
“N-no… When I was little, I saw the children of the farm manager eating candy, and I really wanted to try it.”
“Uh… uh-huh.”
“Then, when I really wanted candy, I’d go to the stream and look for pebbles.”
“Pebbles?”
“Yeah. If you keep a small pebble in your mouth, it starts to taste sweet, like real candy.”
“……”
Something welled up inside Laura, and she instinctively covered her mouth.
“L-Laura? Why are you…?”
“N-no… it’s nothing… I’m sorry…”
“Huh?”
“Here, take all the candy…”
“Wow. Really? Thank you…!”
“No. I’ll make more if you want…”
Laura hadn’t expected Wendy to have such a destitute past.
Yes… It must be a misunderstanding. No matter how much of a genius she is, it’s impossible to build such skill in an environment so poor that she thought pebbles were candy.
Worrying about today’s meal, how could she study magic…? Even Laura, who doesn’t know much about commoners’ lives, could tell how destitute Wendy’s upbringing was.
In other words, even if this girl is a genius, she couldn’t possibly have the talent to dispel a barrier.
The barrier must have been due to some mistake or incorrect formula on her part. Thinking this, Laura could set aside her suspicions about Wendy.
‘Oh no! I didn’t call her here for this!’
The shock was so great that Laura almost forgot why she had brought Wendy here.
Regaining her composure, Laura cleared her throat and asked Wendy.
“Hey, kid… no, Wendy.”
“Yes?”
“I actually want to get close to your master.”
“Huh?! Y-you mean the Count?!”
“Why so surprised?”
“Why do you want to get close to the Count…?”
“Huh?”
Seeing Wendy suddenly on guard, Laura tilted her head.
Did I say it too directly?
Laura decided to come up with a plausible reason.
“Ah, I guess you could say I’m interested. Honestly, putting his personality aside, he’s good-looking, right? It’s natural to be a bit interested in him as a man… Let’s just say that. Mhm.”
“W-well, that’s true but…”
“Plus, he’s rich and powerful, so he’s a top-tier bachelor, right? With this expedition going well, once we return to the capital, everyone will be vying for his hand in marriage.”
“Marriage?!”
“Yeah. It’ll be chaos among the nobility with daughters. So, before we return to the capital, if I get close to your master, it’ll be helpful then.”
“B-but the Count doesn’t seem interested in you…”
“That stings.”
Not just uninterested, but likely dislikes her. Fortunately, it seemed this girl didn’t know that far.
“And… you’re still young, isn’t it too early for marriage…?”
“What?! Hey! Thanks for calling me a kid… Ahem… but, you know… what should I say? Ah! Right. They say age doesn’t matter in love, don’t they?”
“…! Y-yeah…! Age doesn’t matter in love!”
Wendy nodded repeatedly, as if in agreement. Seeing this, Laura smiled inwardly. She was almost there. No need to resort to the final measure.
“Right? So, can you tell me a bit about the Count? Like what he likes or his preferences.”
Laura placed her hand on Wendy’s shoulder.
“Or maybe the Count has some secrets he can’t tell others. You know, like weaknesses… If you could just tell me a little, it’d be really useful in winning him over.”
“?!”
Laura felt Wendy’s agitation through her palm. So, she does know his weaknesses.
“Be honest. It must have been tough, right? I saw how the Count’s bodyguard knight was bullying you earlier. I can tell how you’re usually treated there…”
She was almost there.
Confident, Laura smiled benevolently.
“Honestly, I don’t really like the Count enough to marry him. It’s his wealth and power that I’m after.
If you help me become the new lady of the Ruelberta family, I promise to set you free.”
“Set free…”
“Yeah. I’ll make sure you and your family have enough to live on for life. The Count’s salary isn’t enough to live comfortably, is it? I know all about it.”
“I, absolutely…”
“Huh?”
“No way!”
Wendy suddenly shouted, leaving Laura dumbfounded.
“No way…?”
“That’s bad…!”
“Huh…?”
Wendy stared straight at Laura with wide eyes.
“Marrying for money is wrong! And trying to marry the Count through such underhanded means is absolutely unacceptable…! If you’re going to marry, it should be done properly…!”
“Hey, you…”
“Most importantly… the Count’s feelings are what matter most…! Ignoring that is absolutely unacceptable…”
Wendy flatly refused Laura’s proposal. It was astonishing. Not only was she outright rejected by a girl much younger than herself, but she was also systematically rebutted.
The girl who had been nervously trembling before Laura was gone, replaced by a brave girl who wouldn’t back down even before a noble of the Seven Stars.
Laura sighed.
“Sigh… Wendy. Look at this.”
“?!”
Laura drew a magic formula in the air with her finger, and it emitted a bluish light.
Seeing the light, Wendy’s eyes grew hazy.
Laura had used “Winter’s Illusion,” a formula that makes the target’s consciousness foggy. The target would dream within the illusion and answer Laura’s questions. It was akin to hypnosis.
“I didn’t want to go this far, but I have no choice…”
She was a girl with more backbone than expected. But in the end, she was still in Laura’s grasp. It was good she had prepared for such uncooperativeness.
Confirming that Wendy was staring blankly at the formula, Laura asked.
“Now, tell me. What is the Count hiding?”
“H-he’s not hiding anything… The Count would never do such a thing…”
“Hah. Impressive. Even in the illusion, she says that… Huh?”
“Huh??”
By the time Laura noticed, Wendy was looking at her with a puzzled expression.
When had she escaped from “Winter’s Illusion”?
‘Did I make another mistake?!’
Embarrassed, Laura quickly checked the floating formula in the air, but there was nothing wrong.
“You… how did you escape the illusion?”
“Huh…? Illusion…?”
“Don’t play dumb. Didn’t you see my formula?”
“I saw it…? It made my eyes dizzy, so I couldn’t look at it for long…”
“No. My formula isn’t something you can choose to see or not…!”
“S-sorry…??”
Wendy tilted her head, not understanding the situation.
Seeing her reaction, Laura concluded.
She hadn’t been affected by the formula at all.
It’s rare for someone to resist her formula.
For example…
“Those with strong mental fortitude are immune. Laura.”
“?! Who’s there?”
Hearing a sudden voice, Laura turned around to see…
“A cat…?”
A calico cat was licking its paw, looking at Laura.
“What the… where did you come from…”
“Hoho… You were an excellent student, but your memory isn’t great.”
“The cat is talking?!”
“Keke… Indeed, Mondri had a better memory.”
Only then did Laura notice that the cat’s shadow was oddly long.
“Have you forgotten me already?”
From within the shadow, a slender, white-haired old man slowly rose. The sage who had once taken Laura as his disciple and taught her before suddenly disappearing… He was looking at Laura.
“Myohail… Master?”
“Laura. Do you want to know why I’ve appeared before you?”
Myohail’s voice was far from kind. It was cold, icy cold.
Like a dragon whose reverse scale had been touched, he spoke to his former disciple.
“You’ve just crossed the line.”
