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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Tower Genius Descends into the Labyrinth 7
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"The name of the spell..."
Even amid the massive surge of mana, the timbre of his voice rang out clear and resonant.
His faith in himself. His longing and earnest wish for the mystery he sought to achieve.
Sylbian realized it even as he completed the spell.
'Why did I ever think it was impossible?'
Even if his mana was sealed, the essence of who he was hadn't changed.
At that moment, Cherentia's amber eyes met his.
[Expectation.]
Cherentia was looking at him with eyes different from before.
Smoothly.
As Sylbian slowly raised his right hand, his eyes—dyed a deep blue—turned toward the vast sky.
A storm of mana brilliantly illuminated the darkened clearing.
Amid it all, Sylbian gazing up at the heavens cut a striking figure, the very picture of a true mage.
"Dehera."
⟨ Dehera ⟩
In an instant, an utter silence enveloped the surroundings.
――!
Not a single sound could be heard.
Yet the change that appeared was all too vivid.
It captivated not only Sylbian, who had cast the spell, but even Cherentia's gaze completely.
Whoosh...!
A wave of blue mana surged from the tip of his raised hand toward the sky.
The immense wave swallowed the air itself, leaving a brilliant trail high in the heavens.
Shaaa――!
Amid the faint bursts of mana scattering in the atmosphere, Sylbian let slip a subtle smile.
The spell he had unleashed was undoubtedly perfect.
And the change it etched into the sky was no less intense.
The clouds high above were pierced through, their remnants scattering widely in all directions.
Vwoooong…!
The spell's aftermath finally arrived late, billowing Sylbian's robe as if it might tear it apart.
Whoosh――!!
A ferocious blast of wind swept across the entire clearing.
"...!"
Cherentia struggled to steady herself amid the gale.
Her gaze, bordering on shock, peered through her whipping clothes at the sky torn open by the magic.
But soon enough, her eyes locked onto Sylbian, who had completed the spell.
'I can't believe it!'
Her narrowed eyes brimmed with disbelief more than ever.
Even after witnessing it with her own eyes and feeling the spell's aftermath with her body, it felt like a contradiction.
Sylbian was clearly an exile.
The Magic Tower's stigma etched on his neck was still plainly visible even now.
Yet he had unleashed a perfect spell.
Not some half-baked display of magic, but something truly extraordinary...
Shaaa...
As the wind gradually died down and the spell's aftermath faded, Cherentia still couldn't take a step forward.
Her eyes remained fixed on Sylbian.
Moreover, she had no idea how to resolve the disbelief filling her heart.
Step.
At that moment, Sylbian leisurely took a step forward.
A faint smile played at the corners of his eyes amid his subtly rippling silver hair.
He wore a brilliant smile, clearly satisfied with the spell he had cast.
Cherentia simply stared blankly until he approached.
Tap.
"Cherentia."
Stopping a couple of paces from her, Sylbian softly opened his mouth.
She belatedly came to her senses.
"Ah..."
Her lips moved, but no words came out.
Cherentia herself was greatly flustered.
She had to respond.
But no answer came to mind.
"I think there are still shortcomings if you're planning to parade me around. I can't exactly call myself perfect yet."
Gulp.
Cherentia blankly swallowed and nodded.
"Even so, I believe I've shown my worth."
It was different from when he had cast the spell.
His tone was gentle and calm.
Cherentia could clearly sense the change in him.
"...It seems I spoke out of turn."
She answered very cautiously.
"What out of turn? There's nothing to it."
"Declaring you had no value as a companion upon seeing you—that was undoubtedly rash."
Cherentia gently shared her impressions.
Her evaluation of Sylbian had shifted dramatically after witnessing the spell.
How could it not, after seeing magic grand enough to dye the very sky?
'If he can cast spells this grand...'
He was far beyond the level she had imagined.
Of course, her answer had to change from just a few days ago.
Now, it felt like she should be the one proposing they team up, not him.
"It's a bit surprising to see you so stiff like this."
"W-who's stiff? I'm not."
As Cherentia awkwardly replied, Sylbian unhesitatingly extended his hand.
"I think I've more than proven my qualifications now."
"..."
Cherentia blankly stared at his hand.
He seemed so at ease.
Even after casting such a massive spell, he showed no signs of fatigue.
'Does he really intend to take me on as a companion?'
It was an attitude far more generous than with other humans.
That made it hard for her to grasp his hand right away.
She had endured countless gazes filled with contempt and scorn whenever humans saw her seal markings.
Naturally, distrust of humans had taken root.
And after a few encounters, that distrust had grown into outright disgust.
Yet the Sylbian before her was different from the rest.
He had been the first to speak with her and even shared a meal without hesitation.
She had wondered if there was some ulterior motive and grown wary later on.
But even after a few days, Sylbian's attitude remained unchanged.
On the contrary, he had fully demonstrated his own value and now extended his hand first, just like this.
"...Cherentia?"
Sylbian felt a twinge of anxiety when she didn't take his hand immediately.
He thought he had shown enough through Dehera.
After all, any mage who could cast Dehera in the Magic Tower was recognized as a High Mage from that moment on.
And now, he had shown Cherentia the true magic of a High Mage.
Yet she still hesitated to close the distance.
"Sylbian, before I take your hand, there's something I want to hear."
As Cherentia slowly raised her head to meet his gaze, Sylbian swallowed hard in turn.
Her distinctive amber eyes stared straight at him more seriously than ever.
"...Ask away. I'll answer anything I can."
"Why do you want to team up with me? Ultimately, what are you seeking a companion for?"
Sylbian momentarily pressed his lips together.
It was perhaps a natural question.
But he hadn't expected her to ask so coolly even after witnessing Dehera.
It simply surprised him.
"Just as you rejected me. I didn't set out to recruit just anyone as a companion either."
That only made her caution all the more apparent.
"I just thought you were someone I could trust to watch my back."
"I see. Then what's the ultimate goal in seeking a companion?"
Cherentia asked again.
"The ultimate goal..."
Sylbian slowly lowered his gaze.
This question might be the crux of it all.
Dodging it here with vague words wouldn't be a huge issue.
'Cherentia now wouldn't press further anyway.'
She just wanted confirmation from him.
But answering like that would crack the trust if they traveled together long-term.
Even if it secured her as a companion right away, a lie was still a lie.
So he couldn't think in terms of immediate gain.
"My ultimate goal lies in the Northern Labyrinth—to neutralize the Magic Tower's stigma etched on me."
Sylbian calmly met her eyes and conveyed his true intent.
"The Northern Labyrinth. That does make sense as a purpose."
Cherentia murmured softly, then extended her hand.
Grab!
Sylbian, who had been watching tensely, flinched in surprise at her sudden move.
"Is the labyrinth really okay as a destination?"
"It doesn't matter. The reason I came out into the world was because the elders told me not to hold prejudices."
Her voice carried a firm conviction.
"And a labyrinth offers experiences I couldn't easily have elsewhere, so I think it's a fine destination."
In her unwavering response, Cherentia even shook his hand firmly.
"Sylbian, looking forward to traveling with you."
Sylbian blinked blankly at the strength in her voice.
"Y-yeah... Likewise."
He gripped her hand harder than ever to keep from going limp.
Fatigue from casting Dehera weighed down his entire body, threatening to make him collapse.
But.
'I can't show weakness now.'
His pride wouldn't allow it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Sylbian and Cherentia stocked up on necessities from a general store and left the city of Helsen.
Step.
As Sylbian walked the grand avenue, he glanced to his side.
There was Cherentia, carrying an enormous backpack.
How strong was she to stride along so casually with all that luggage?
It was astonishing no matter how many times he saw it.
"Why do you keep staring like that?"
Cherentia suddenly met his gaze and asked.
"No, it's just... don't you think you packed a bit too much?"
"This is nothing to me. It's a long journey ahead—don't we need this much to feel secure?"
Twitch!
Cherentia's distinctive ears perked up, emphasizing her point.
Sylbian gave up asking further, seeing how fine she seemed.
'Well, if she's okay with it.'
There was no need for him to refuse her wishes.
Sure, extra luggage would be cumbersome and slow them down.
But conversely, a companion who could handle it would make that baggage a huge asset in many situations.
Thud!
After walking the avenue for a while, the two had to halt.
And as if on cue, they both turned their heads in the same direction.
-Kyaaaah!
-Gahk...!
The avenue was bordered by dense forest, thick with foliage that muffled all sounds.
Even so, the screams rang clear to their ears.
"Sylbian, your hearing must be pretty sharp too."
"That's because I'm using the spell Hesente."
Sylbian answered calmly but pondered briefly.
It would be best to pass by.
With the long road to the north ahead, they had no time to help strangers and delay.
But that was just his thinking.
He needed to respect the opinion of Cherentia, whom he had now officially taken as a companion.
"Cherentia."
"Sylbian."
Calling each other's names at the same time, the two looked at one another in considerable surprise.