“Don’t be so hasty. The battle between mages should be elegant.”
“Don’t make me laugh. How can a battle be elegant?”
“Foolish. To use one’s skills to the fullest and enhance the technique against one’s opponent, that is the true battle of a mage.”
“I see, so that’s why you were watching from the sidelines and left everything to Leonard?”
He calls the battle elegant, but what his son had done was anything but elegant. Kidnapping, brainwashing, confinement, inducement, and treason against the nation. Not a single one of those actions showed a shred of dignity.
“You can think of it that way if you wish. For me, it was merely preparation.”
“Tell me, why did you try to commit treason?”
When asked, Leonard offered no reply. That’s why he wanted to ask the true mastermind. The old man quietly closed his eyes and nodded.
“That’s a difficult question. If I were to answer you, it would be for the sake of mages.”
“Here we go again, spouting some nonsensical reasons about being for the mages.”
He had wished that a villain would at least have some pride, but it was beyond disappointing. To have caused all this for such vague reasons. It even made him angry.
“You’re too young. Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Listen. Your recruitment is not yet complete. I want you to listen to my story and, if you are convinced, become a comrade and cooperate with me.”
“Hah—try to convince me if you can.”
“Then I shall speak. I am worried. I cannot stand that superior beings like mages are being manipulated by those who have failed to evolve, the non-magicians.”
Lucas Gallagher’s reason for action was utterly arrogant.
“Mages should be favored? Of course, that’s only natural. Before that, why should we be favored by non-magicians? That’s where the mistake lies! Isn’t it only natural for superior beings to be favored!”
Jared Murphy didn’t believe that mages were inherently superior. He couldn’t understand it, nor did he want to. In reality, those who excelled as mages were indeed favored, and Jared himself had been favored by the Academy and the Magic Association. However, he never thought it was a given just because he was a mage.
He had made an effort. He didn’t want to be favored, nor did he want to be singled out. Jared continued to work hard for his own sake. And his efforts were recognized. Lucas’s words were different. He was espousing the unreasonable assertion that mages should be unconditionally recognized as superior. He believed without a doubt that mages were naturally superior to others.
“This country, no, this modern society is wrong. It’s as if non-magicians think they are rulers. Despite being weaklings who cannot form a nation’s fighting strength without mages, they are unaware of this and foolishly try to suppress us from above. Can you tolerate this, Jared?”
Jared couldn’t sympathize with Lucas’s words, spat out with such fervor, even in the slightest.
“I couldn’t care less.”
“…How foolish. I even pity you. With such great talent, why do you side so much with non-magicians? Do you accept this flawed world? You are wrong, Jared Murphy!”
With bloodshot eyes wide open, the old man continued to press his case, trying to make Jared acknowledge his intentions.
“Both you and I are the ruling class. Those with power have an obligation to guide the weak. I have no intention of telling you to trample on non-magicians as weaklings. I am simply trying to fulfill the obligation of the strong to guide the weak!”
“You are arrogant. There’s no strong or weak among humans. If there is any difference, it’s surely in the disposition of the heart.”
For example, like a woman who resolved to protect her mother, no matter how much she had to sacrifice.
For example, like a father who persevered in his belief to protect his beloved family, even if his daughter came to resent him.
“Lucas Gallagher. I don’t know why you came to think this way, nor am I interested. But there’s one thing I can say clearly.”
“Let’s hear it. Speak, young man.”
“You are wrong.”
“Hah—hahaha—ha—ha—ha—ha—ha—ha—ha! Is that so, wrong? Even after I’ve pleaded this much, you still deny me. Then it seems you have been utterly disarmed by the non-magicians, or rather, by Olivier Alway, to the point of no return!”
Lucas laughed, not out of ridicule, but from utter pity. With a look of disappointment toward Jared, as if to say the end of a pathetic human lay before him.
“Unfortunately, it seems I cannot take you as a comrade. You may be a mage, but your way of being is not that of a mage.”
“I am a mage. I won’t change until the day I die. However, I am truly glad to know that I won’t be with you.”
“Enough. Your words and actions are painful. I will kill you, who doesn’t see mages as mages, and then I will assault the Royal Palace. I will kill the foolish Court Mages as well, and present the King’s head as a trophy!”
“You think I’ll let you, you damn old man! I’ll end your boring ambitions here. Show me your so-called elegant magic!”
Words were no longer necessary. Jared understood. No matter how many words he exchanged, he couldn’t understand Lucas Gallagher. He knew from the start that it was impossible to stop him with words. He knew from the beginning that this was something that could only be resolved by fighting, and it was regrettable. But he had to stop him. He couldn’t let the enemy escape here.
“I’ll defeat you, Lucas Gallagher.”
“Bring it on, Jared Murphy! I’ll show you how a true mage fights!”
