Training Addict Magician in a Growth-Focused Story

Chapter 40

"I have something to do."

Arpina wasn’t disheartened by Leon's refusal.

She understood the reason why.

Arpina glanced at the human form of the strange bird that was asleep.

"Is it because you have to find it within a month?"

Arpina had overheard the conversation between Kito and Leon.

Leon nodded, lifting Kito onto his head. After using magic recklessly without a core, he had to find one within a month.

Naturally, he couldn’t store it inside the orb.

Arpina clicked her tongue in regret.

"The Mystic-class dark magicians will chase after me, so scattering might be one way."

"Wait a moment."

Leon used a search spell.

"That guy should be dead..."

Arpina thought Leon was trying to locate any surviving dark magicians, but that wasn’t the case. When Leon suddenly flew up to a spot on the ground that resembled a dugout, Arpina stopped talking and watched quietly.

Leon hovered over the dirt for a while before stopping at a particular spot.

"Dark Hound."

Leon called forth the earth elemental summon, which began to dig.

Soon, a silver broomstick with faded colors emerged.

Seeing it, Leon's face showed a tinge of regret.

"Persistent fellow... It could be repaired by a magical engineer."

Despite the impact of a grand spell, the artifact, an A-rank item useful even for Insight-level magicians, hadn’t been destroyed. It was only damaged.

Leon stole a glance at Arpina.

Noticing the meaning behind his gaze, Arpina chuckled.

"You can have it."

"Thank you."

"And take this too."

Arpina handed Leon a book.

[Arpina’s Law of Harmony.]

It was an advanced magic book, covering upper-level magic of the four basic elements—fire, water, wind, and earth—along with wood and electricity. It extensively dealt with magic for these six elements and how to harmonize them.

Leon, who had given up on obtaining multi-element magic as a reward, was thinking of creating new magic that linked various elements. This magic that dealt with harmony was sure to be a great help.

Summoning powerful creatures of the six elements alone made it at least a C-rank magic book.

"Consider it a parting gift."

"... Is it okay for me to accept this?"

"You’ve already learned my magic, right? It seems like you’re putting it to good use?"

Seeing Leon carefully accept the book, Arpina hid her satisfied expression.

‘If he learns this too, he might no longer be just my student.’

Hiding her ulterior motives, Arpina glanced at Ria and smiled bitterly.

"I’m already worried about how much she’ll blame me when she wakes up."

"Please speak well of me. I’ll come to visit."

"Sure."

The golden wings attached to Leon's back flapped.

"Once you’ve completed your task, come to the empire and find the Astellia faction."

Leon mentioned that he was heading to the Forest of Beasts in the west. While he didn’t reveal what his plans were after that, it was clear he couldn’t keep evading Teneuron’s pursuit forever.

Though they could wait for Teneuron to retreat into the shadows once again, as long as the master of Teneuron’s tower had reached the Insight Intermediate level, it wouldn’t be easy to shake him off.

And it would be a waste for someone with Leon's talent to stay hidden for too long.

Leon casually searched Hayden’s body and took the spatial pocket he found there. His actions exuded confidence.

Taking down the remaining Beginner Mystic magicians one by one was an easy task for Leon. Although he was at the Beginner Mystic level, he had already surpassed the level of a magician of that rank. His inherent magic skills were superior, and the artifacts he possessed were on a different level.

‘I’ve been facing opponents of much higher levels until now.’

Surviving those encounters had been lucky enough.

‘Let’s not get complacent.’

It seemed that regaining his composure had made him overly excited without realizing it. Leon wiped the smile off his face and immediately used the shadow blending technique to hide in the shadows.

Leon hunted down the dark magicians one by one, retrieving pouches from their corpses.

"Ah, you devil..."

Hearing that from the last remaining dark magician gave Leon a strange feeling.

"To you guys, being called a devil must be a compliment, right?"

"Our boss won’t let you go."

"Do you think an Insight magician would care about your deaths?"

"..."

It was just something he said, but there was no response. Maybe they really didn’t care.

Well, even Lairda was obsessed with his own training.

Leon drove a wooden sword into the dark magician's chest.

Leon pretended to head towards the civilian city but then immediately flew towards the Forest of Beasts in the west.

It took him a week just to reach it. And that was with him replenishing his mana constantly inside the orb.

Near the Forest of Beasts in the west, there was a free city called Crest.

Leon changed into a different robe while inside the orb and entered the city. Unlike other civilian cities, the guards in Crest didn’t pay much attention to the appearance of those entering and leaving.

It was, after all, a free city.

The streets were filled with adventurers of all kinds. Mercenaries and knights equipped with weapons were a common sight, and low-level magicians could occasionally be seen. These were wandering magicians who had left their magical towers.

They gathered in nearby taverns to drink or linger in front of low-tier weapon shops and armor stores.

The atmosphere was lively and free, unlike the quiet magic cities.

After wandering around for a bit, Leon, with his robe pulled low over his head, was standing inside the adventurer's guild, facing a receptionist.

The woman at the desk stood up abruptly.

"What? A third-rank apprentice?"

Her voice was loud enough that the other adventurers inside turned to look.

Leon pulled his robe down further over his head.

To find Kito’s core, he had to delve deep into the Forest of Beasts in the west. Before doing that, he chose to become an adventurer to gather information about the forest.

The receptionist had told him that he could quickly earn a bronze adventurer’s badge if he proved his skills. With that, he figured he could move in and out of the entrance to the Forest of Beasts with ease.

Leon concealed his rank as a third-rank apprentice.

In reality, there was no longer any need to hide his rank.

He had already far surpassed the abilities of those at his rank, so showing himself as a Beginner Mystic would be no different than concealing his true power.

However, if a Beginner Mystic boy suddenly appeared in a free city, Teneuron might take notice. Although this city was far from Widia and Meira, there was no harm in being cautious.

‘The difference between an apprentice and a Mystic is huge... third-rank should be fine, right?’

...or so he thought, but the reaction was unexpected.

Were wandering magicians not very skilled?

"Please wait a moment!"

The receptionist quickly looked him up and down, then exited the desk and went up the stairs to the second floor.

Soon, she returned with a man whose face was covered with a thick beard.

"Nice to meet you. I’m Maxius, the guild master."

He bowed politely.

"A third-rank apprentice magician?"

Leon, who was used to the world of magicians where people would immediately cast a search spell to assess each other’s rank, was taken aback by the respectful attitude.