WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 638: Black Magic, White Magic, and Gray Magic - 2

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The Celsius prison was as unreal as the Ice Castle itself. Dozens of people stood frozen into statues, trapped behind bars of icicles without being able to move a muscle. In truth, the bars were merely for display. The ice encasing their entire bodies was their real prison.

"I understand you well enough. Those blessed with exceptional intellect are bound to be arrogant. Mages who pursue deeper knowledge inevitably lay their hands on black magic, believing they can control it."

Temperus was saying something, but there was something far more important at hand. I quickly counted the ice statues.

There were twenty in all. A little fewer than the number I had taught. Celsius territory probably had not found everyone yet. Most of the twenty were Outcasts. I had taught standard-issue magic to plenty of people in the school district too. Had they failed to arrest them, or simply chosen not to?

"But such arrogance can only bring ruin to yourself and those around you. Frankly, I don't care if you ruin yourself, but I have no desire to see the curse of black magic descend upon this land because of your 'experiments.'"

Five guards surrounded me. Every one of them had trained in aura arts. As befitted mercenaries of the Celsius mage family, they had all learned them. Aura arts were not particularly respected in this society, so their attainments were not high, but they were professionals when it came to putting them to use. They had more experience playing thugs than anyone.

There were a few guard mages as well, though they were no great threat.

Temperus, on the other hand, was exceptional.

"It would be best to eliminate an impurity like you, but there is Miss Elisha's message to consider. More than that, the results you have achieved deserve attention. Teaching and reforming foolish citizens is no easy task. The Celsius family has judged your abilities to be useful."

Temperus was a capable mage, but what mattered more was Celsius territory's arcane infrastructure. As an executor, Temperus had the authority to use the Celsius family's magical facilities.

A mage's strength was determined by how much preparation they had made. At this moment, Temperus possessed the strength of the Celsius family.

My calculations were complete. I slowly opened my mouth.

"So in the end, you're telling me to keep doing what I've been doing? You brought me all the way here just to say that?"

"Of course not. The family demands two things from you. First, you will join the Celsius family and teach magic to students. Second, you will immediately stop passing on black magic and cooperate with the cleanup afterward."

"The cleanup?"

"Erasing the black magic you spread through this land."

In other words, finding them all and killing them. It would be a tiresome and pointless task.

"Right now?"

"Not yet. We cannot cause a disturbance during such an important time as the Descent. We will quietly identify the black mages first, then wipe them out once the Descent is over."

"I think you've already caused plenty of trouble."

More than twenty people had already gone missing in the territory. When I pointed inside the prison, Temperus scoffed.

"These people? They are Outcasts. They live like parasites in the empty lands between territories. A bear could drag them off, or they could fall through the ice and die, and no one would know. There is probably no one looking for them either."

"Hmm. Is that really so?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No, it's nothing."

I just did not think there was no one looking for them. I shrugged and crossed my arms.

"There's just one thing I don't understand."

"I believe I explained it clearly enough. What is it that you don't understand?"

"The reason I teach standard-issue magic is that those dullards would never even be able to glimpse magic's great mysteries without it. It is a sliver of mercy I can show fools destined to live their entire lives as foolish citizens. That is standard-issue magic."

Temperus knew little about standard-issue magic, and even less about mercy. Their expression changed strangely as they failed to understand my words in the slightest.

"I don't understand. Black magic is mercy? Are you out of your mind?"

"Explain the sea to someone who has lived inland their entire life, and all they can imagine is a large lake. It is the same thing. No matter how much you explain magic's greatness and ecstasy, how could foolish citizens understand? I taught standard-issue magic to show even the slightest taste of sweetness to those who would live incomplete lives, excluded from magic against their will."

There was only one thing I had done in Celsius territory.

If someone could learn white magic, I taught them white magic. For those unable to learn white magic, I taught standard-issue magic.

In the end, everyone who learned from me became able to use magic.

That was the principle behind my actions. It was what I wanted.

No, I should say it was what they wanted.

"W-What are you saying? Black magic?! You spread filthy magic that offers one's own body as a sacrifice for such a reason?"

"You also know very well how gracious magic can be, don't you?"

"Even so! Abuse black magic, and your body starts rotting from the extremities!"

"Isn't that already happening?"

Celsius territory was better off than most. Thanks to its anomalous freezing point, a simple application of water magic could provide clean water and warmth. That allowed for at least a little farming in Celsius territory.

But that grace did not reach the Outcast district.

Without magic, the north of the continent was still cold. People melted ice and snow to drink, huddled ragged tents together, and endured the cold. Clutching magic tools Celsius territory had thrown away like alms, they lived primitive lives.

"In the Outcast district, it is common for people to lose hands or feet to frostbite. If a wound gets infected, the treatment is to cut it off before it starts to rot. What is so special about black magic? Every moment of their lives is black magic. If their hands and feet are going to rot away anyway, wouldn't it feel less unfair if they lost them through their own choice?"

Temperus seemed deeply shocked by my words. After remaining speechless for quite some time, they pressed a hand to their forehead.

"...Ha. I thought you had touched it out of curiosity, but this is severe. Are you saying you refuse to give up this stubbornness?"

"You are the stubborn one. Black magic, black magic, every time you open your mouth. A parrot would speak better than you."

"It seems there is no other way. You are ideologically dangerous. I was ordered to recruit you if possible, but..."

Temperus aimed the staff at me. At the same time, the temperature around me began to drop. Before I knew it, dozens of sharp weapons made from transparent ice floated in the air, all aimed at me.

"It would be better to dispose of you here. I am an executor of the Celsius family. I will erase black magic from this territory, along with you."

"Will that be all right? You said you did not want to cause a disturbance."

"You act proud, but are you not also a wanderer expelled from the floating castle? Even if I deal with you here, no one will know. Just like these Outcasts."

Ice had already risen to my ankles. At this rate, I would not even be able to move my feet.

It was a situation where I would die without being able to resist.

But Temperus had miscalculated.

"Is that really so? They should be here any moment now."

"...You keep saying that. What do you mean?"

"The Outcast district may be abandoned land, but not everyone has abandoned it. If the child who comes every day does not show up, wouldn't someone naturally look for him?"

"Who?"

I did not need to answer. That person had already arrived.

The strength was sufficient. The will was full. All that had been lacking was a trigger.

"In the name of the Celestial God and the Holy Maiden, I declare. The primordial cloud of dust settled for seven days and nights, and earth and sky were divided. All I require is time, and the wicked shall fade away within it."

One who had protected the faith and the weak for many years completed a sacred chant. A baptismal chant, resembling a mage's incantation yet entirely different, echoed through the prison as it recited a passage of scripture to reproduce a miracle.

"Pour time upon the lamb's head."

Magic was the art of binding phenomena with the chains of mana and dragging them into reality. Because it was unnatural, it would eventually scatter if left alone.

All it needed was time.

Gospel, Time Anointing.

The ice melted away. Mana scattered and vanished. Glittering particles drifted through the air as the binding ice used to freeze people dissolved beneath the light of purification. Bright sunlight poured through where it had melted.

Only one person in Celsius territory could wield that much divine power. Temperus called the name.

"Father Casas...!"

Missionary Casas appeared through the drifting light, carrying Richard in one arm. Holding a rosary in one hand and floating a radiant Bible in the air, Father Casas shouted in a stern voice.

"Executor Temperus. Stop at once!"

"How dare a Sanctum lackey interfere in the family's affairs!"

"That is what I should be saying! You dragged a poor child into your dispute. Do you have no common sense or compassion?"

A hero had arrived.

For Richard and me alike.

The Sanctum was undeniably one of the strongest powers on this continent. People often forgot that because, despite possessing such strength, it rarely made itself conspicuous.

It did not occupy vast nations or wield overwhelming political authority. The Sanctum simply existed. In people's hearts, in churches, in monasteries, and in holy lands.

Still, the Sanctum possessed power.

Missionary Casas, holding a Bible and rosary, was proof of that.

As I secretly cheered at the arrival of an ally, Missionary Casas suddenly pointed at me and exploded in anger.

"Isn't that mage the one who spread wicked knowledge? Punish him, then! How can you seize innocent people and try to kill them! Can you still call yourself an adult after doing this?!"

...Maybe that person was not my ally.

Footnotes:

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