Chapter 155: The Magician’s Ethics

　The crimson slash that eradicated Ignas’s magic danced through the air, and after a brief delay, it turned into rain that poured down over the Kirchhen soldiers and Serodonia soldiers.

“This is…!”

“M-My body…!?”

　They all let out voices of shock in unison. The flesh that had been scorched by Ignas’s flames had regenerated in an instant.

　Seeing that, Ignas murmured.

“I see… So this is the power of Celestina, one of the ‘Seven Great Calamities.’ The forbidden art, Bloodcraft.”

　The power that once brought calamity to the world—Celestina’s Bloodcraft. Arts like the necromancy used by Lugdura are designated as forbidden, with their use and research restricted worldwide. For Ignas, this was his first time actually witnessing Bloodcraft.

“Not only does it wipe out my magic, but it even heals injuries… Truly magnificent. It’s positively radiant. But—that’s exactly why it’s such a shame. That your radiance will be snuffed out right here…”

　Ignas’s gaze distorted slightly behind his glasses.

“Crawl forth, amber flame serpent, Suls Lava Nag. —‘Blazing Serpent Waltz, Flammeus Nexus.’”

　The incantation. And the activation of the spell.

　Serpents formed from flames bubbled up from the ground. Ten, twenty… no, even more. Leaving trails of scorching heat, they all lunged at Siegfried in unison.

　Siegfried wore a quiet smile as he wove his spell.

“Pulse, crimson chains that bind life, Malis En Cratios. —‘Blood Chain Binding Soul, Regamunt Rosh.’”

　Countless chains born from blood appeared, ensnaring the flame serpents and slamming them into the ground.

　But in that very instant, Ignas was already deploying his next spell.

“Rain down, red fragments bearing karma, Zairos Lezelta Filos. —‘Scarlet Flower Meteor, Solis Fractus.’”

　Countless flames appeared, scorching the night sky.

　Shining like fragments of the sun, they poured down toward Siegfried.

　Yet the silver-haired youth didn’t retreat a single step, countering with an interception spell.

“To think he’d engage in a magical battle on equal footing with Lord Ignas…”

　The surprised voice came from a man in black robes, watching the battle from the shadow of a building a short distance away. About twenty others dressed similarly were hiding there as well.

　Among them, the oldest-looking man—an elder with deep wrinkles etched into his face—replied in a low voice.

“Indeed, I never expected Count Kreving to wield magic of that caliber—it surpasses my predictions. But the ultimate victor… will be Lord Ignas.”

　They were all court magicians under Ignas’s command. Among them, this elder—Joseph—was second in rank, the vice chief court magician.

　However, the gap in their abilities was immense. Joseph was a man who had dedicated his entire life to magic. From his childhood days to the present, there wasn’t a single day he neglected his training.

　Even so—he still couldn’t even reach the feet of the young Ignas.

(Lord Ignas is… the true genius. The one who can master the profound depths of magic.)

　Grand Caster Ignas, the chief court magician, was hailed in the Kirchhen Kingdom alongside Grand Master Zefard, the commander of the royal knights. But—to Joseph, that was a misconception by those who failed to see the truth.

　Ignas could take on Zefard, Julius, and Karlheinz—the kingdom’s three great knights—all at once and still emerge victorious. That’s why Ignas always maintained his haughty demeanor.

　His power was exceptional enough to allow it.

(Count Kreving is also a possessor of rare talent. However, he can’t match Lord Ignas!)

　The court magicians didn’t particularly like Ignas. He was arrogant, overbearing, and an insolent youth.

　Even so, everyone bowed their heads before him. No one doubted his victory.

　Because… Ignas stood at the pinnacle of talent.

　Meanwhile, around the same time, there was a presence lurking in the shadow of another building.

“Damn…! This looks like the end of the world…”

　The one who muttered that was Balgu, a sergeant from Serodonia.

　He had led his subordinates to hide in the building’s shadow to avoid getting caught in the magical battle. In a building a bit farther away, Kirchhen soldiers were hiding in the same manner.

　By now, neither army had any will to fight.

　The ferocious magical battle scorched the skies above and seemed to melt the earth itself.

　Faced with such an intense combat that they had no place in, how were they supposed to fight?

　For the Kirchhen soldiers, the reality was that they had nearly been killed by their supposed ally Ignas, only to have their lives saved by their enemy, Siegfried. They no longer even knew what they were fighting for.

　Suddenly, an amber glow illuminated the shadow of the building where the Kirchhen soldiers were hiding.

“Huh…?”

　A young Kirchhen soldier stared blankly up at the night sky.

　Before he knew it, a small fireball was approaching him.

　It was a stray ember from the aftermath of Ignas’s spell.

“Hey, you idiot! Run!”

　Forgetting the lines between enemy and ally, Balgu shouted without thinking. But—it was too late. The fireball was about to strike the young soldier directly.

　However, in that instant, a red chain flew in from another direction, ensnaring the fireball and extinguishing it completely.

　Needless to say, it was Siegfried’s magic.

　Ignas, who had witnessed the entire sequence from high in the sky, let out a small sigh.

“How foolish, Count Kreving… Saving someone without the radiance of talent.”

　Many in the upper echelons of the Kirchhen Kingdom adhered to the ethics of noble society.

　That is, the belief that royalty and nobility are exalted, while commoners are base.

　But Ignas was different. What resided within him was the ethics of a magician.

　Namely, that value lies only in those with talent. Those without talent have no worth in existing.

　Ignas held a certain respect for Luverios, who had recognized his talent, and for the monster who likely possessed power rivaling his own—Joachim.

　He also gave a measure of evaluation to those excelling in swordsmanship, like Zefard and the others.

　But for anyone else—mediocre existences—he saw no value, regardless of whether they were ally or enemy. He would simply discard them.

“I’m disappointed. I thought you were a bit like me… But if you’re concerned with talentless commoners, you won’t even be able to step on my shadow.”

“I see, so you can’t grasp the meaning behind my actions. That’s your limit.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry—it’s fine, Ignas.”

　While intercepting the spells fired at him one after another, Siegfried wore a somewhat amused smile.

“The ones I concern myself with are always the villains. Tonight, you’ll be slain by me and etched into the world as a villain. That time… is coming soon.”