Chapter 327

Chapter 327

Aster barely managed to steady his racing pulse.

A moment later, Sallie parted his lips.

“Is there… truly nothing?”

“Is that how it is?”

Well, he hadn’t actually expected anything anyway.

Naturally, he hadn’t truly intended to strike him either.

‘It was merely a jest, nothing more.’

Had his genuine intention been to strike him, he would have done so instantly. He certainly hadn’t requested consent merely to grant the youth a fleeting moment of peace before launching an assault.

“Who are you, in truth…?”

“I have already given you my answer, and I shall say no more.”

Aster brushed Sallie’s inquiry aside before falling into a brief silence.

‘It is certain that he has not yet strayed onto a dark path.’

Though he had spoken in jest about severing limbs, Sallie’s response had been one of unmistakable revulsion. It was a genuine reaction that could not be feigned.

That left one final matter to verify.

“Very well, let me pose a question. If someone were to offer you supreme power on the condition that you take human lives to attain it, would you accept? Or would you refuse?”

He was utterly bewildered.

But that bewilderment lasted only a fraction of a second. His features hardened, for a very straightforward reason.

‘These people… they are entirely unhinged.’

It felt as though he were standing before a rabid beast, yet this particular brand of unease was not completely foreign to him. The outcome was distinct, but…

The Patriarch.

Whenever he stood before that man—whom he found uncomfortable to even address as “father”—Sallie experienced a comparable sensation.

“Your reply?”

Sallie carefully measured the temperament of the masked figure before offering his words.

“What sort of… power?”

“Expanding your core awakens your innate capabilities. Let us see… doubling your potential with every life taken. Eradicate a dozen or so, and your capabilities might actually become worthwhile.”

Sallie instantly fell silent.

He could not fathom the underlying motive behind the inquiry, nor could he comprehend if such a phenomenon was even achievable. What worth could this absurd interrogation possibly hold?

And yet.

“So, would you do it? Or would you decline?”

Faced with the absolute gravity of the masked man’s inquiry, Sallie had no choice but to agonize over his decision. Remaining silent was out of the question. He recognized that the sole guaranteed method to escape this predicament was to play along with the masked man’s whims.

Thus, his response…

“I possess the capacity to kill, but I would choose not to.”

“An unusual reply. If the capacity is there, you would normally act upon it, would you not? Yet you claim you would refrain?”

“Precisely.”

Sallie paused to reflect for a moment.

His yearning for true capability was by no means so feeble that involvement in deaths would stir his conscience. Furthermore, his upbringing had been devoid of warmth.

Even so, why would he refuse?

The justification was uncomplicated.

“It is utterly repulsive.”

“The inquiry itself?”

Sallie shook his head in denial.

“Taking lives to acquire capability is repulsive. It is akin to… invalidating my own existence.”

“Invalidating your existence?”

“Yes.”

Sallie nodded, calmly untangling his thoughts and shaping them into spoken words.

“It would be grand if strength arrived with such ease, but… the instant I agree, it is identical to conceding that my entire past life was an error.”

“A matter of self-identity, then?”

“……Conceivably.”

If guided purely by cold pragmatism, sacrificing a hundred or a thousand individuals could be rationalized, yet Sallie felt a deep aversion.

Why?

Because of the path he had trodden for more than half his days.

Like a swordsman who had gripped the hilt his entire life to validate his worth through his weapon, Sallie had validated his own worth through sheer, unyielding labor.

……Even if not a soul acknowledged it.

Regardless.

Having maintained those thoughts until now, Sallie watched the masked man’s demeanor with extreme vigilance.

The very instant his gaze locked with those hidden eyes, a shiver raced down his spine.

What lingered within them was… unadulterated animosity, a tiny shred of pity, and an analytical tangle of sentiments.

‘Perhaps…….’

Sallie came to a realization.

He might very well meet his demise right here today.

Sallie squeezed his eyes shut and tensed his shoulders. It felt as though the man might seize him and snap his neck at any given second.

Yet, what occurred instead?

A hand gripped him.

It took hold of his hair… no, his head.

The grip was firm, yet it stopped short of inflicting actual pain.

Sallie cautiously opened his eyes, only to find the masked man staring directly at him with those very same intricate emotions.

“Is that your defining principle?”

“My… principle.”

Sallie pondered the masked man’s phrasing.

Then, he delivered his answer.

“……Yes, I believe that is indeed my principle.”

Beneath the concealment of his mask, Aster’s eyes wavered slightly.

Following this exchange, he knew the truth with absolute certainty.

The Sallie belonging to his previous existence was entirely gone. Buried deep within that evaporated timeline.

The individual seated before him now was merely a youth who scarcely merited the lineage of “Decullan”… powerless and profoundly foolish.

“Very well, the choice is made.”

“What…….”

As Sallie tilted his head in sheer perplexity, Aster maintained his firm hold, refusing to release him.

With his head held stationary, Sallie had no alternative but to meet Aster’s gaze, and Aster weighed every single word heavily as he stared directly into his eyes.

“If you pledge that your resolve will remain steadfast, I shall instruct you until your departure from the institution.”

“What…….”

The aura enveloping the masked figure shifted so abruptly that Sallie found himself entirely speechless. The untamable, ferocious pressure dissolved, and in its place before Sallie stood a distinguished archmage.

Amidst this transformation, Aster pressed on as if delivering a solemn vow to himself.

“I cannot fundamentally alter your foolish lack of inherent talent, but I shall assist you in forging your own path, stride by stride. Your progress will be more gradual than anyone else’s, but I shall personally ensure that your labors yield fruit.”

Simpletons possess paths that only the pure-hearted can walk. And Aster possessed more than enough expertise to shepherd Sallie along his journey.

It was purely a matter of personal intent.

Conversely, an intrusive thought drifted through his mind.

‘If this choice ultimately serves to benefit Decullan…’

No, that was wrong.

For the moment, he refused to entertain that thought. A solitary youth, struggling clumsily, was standing right before his eyes.

Sallie observed this version of Aster in profound silence. He was entirely unable to process this sudden reversal.

To instruct him? To claim he couldn’t alter his flawed talent, yet promised to make his labors shine?

Not even the mages within his own household had ever offered such a thing.

And yet, why would a stranger…?

It was precisely at that moment, as Sallie’s thoughts swirled.

“Have faith in it.”

That singular utterance.

Those words alone sufficed to make Sallie’s eyes tremble faintly.

And then.

“……Ah?”

Involuntarily, Sallie brushed his fingers against his cheek. But for what reason? His fingertips came away damp.

The tears that had initially trickled down one by one suddenly poured forth without restraint.

His breathing grew ragged quite naturally. His voice shook. As if caught in a waking dream, Sallie voiced his query.

“Is there… a chance for me?”

He had been cast aside by everyone he knew.

But right now, at this very juncture.

He recognized the truth.

This man spoke with absolute sincerity.

Someday, your resolve will fracture. I guarantee it. But if, when that hour arrives, you succeed in piecing your shattered resolve back together, you will ascend. To the very domain you have always yearned for.

“When your resolve falters, I shall provide the fortitude required to reclaim it.”

“Then… what must I offer in return…?”

Aster provided his terms.

“Do not turn your back upon those who share your plight.”

“Just as I am instructing you today and sharing my knowledge, display leniency and grace toward the vulnerable.”

That comprised the entirety of Aster’s desire.

If he could achieve that…

The fact that Sallie belonged to Decullan carried no weight whatsoever.

“I understand…”

Sallie bowed his head low.

With that, Aster extinguished the final embers of his animosity.

…At the precise moment the Magic Tower welcomed the youth whom Decullan had cast away.

Aster exchanged a handful of additional words with Sallie before making his way back to the living quarters.

Though he had resolved to instruct his adversary from a past existence, his inner state remained perfectly tranquil. It had not been a rash, emotional choice.

‘I am currently the premier mentor of the eastern continent.’

He held onto that vision.

Naturally, should Decullan crumble by his own machinations, this endeavor would prove entirely redundant, yet it would still possess inherent value.

In a sense, Sallie stood in great need of proper guidance. He represented the type of figure that the Magic Tower ought to cultivate.

At any rate.

“A single year…”

Aster contemplated what knowledge to impart to Sallie during the remaining year available to him, though the solution was far from simple.

For the record, he had absolutely no intention of revealing the Celestial Origin Arts. He was merely guiding the youth along the proper path.

‘It will scarcely be an easy undertaking.’

The nature of magic was inherently complex. Transmitting raw data was straightforward, but uncovering the precise methodology suited to an individual was a feat no one could approach casually.

Above all else, what he required to teach Sallie extended beyond mere sorcery.

Recalling his observations of Sallie over the preceding days, Aster outlined a general strategy for the curriculum and then shifted his gaze toward the window.

‘For the time being, Sallie is secure.’

That left the subsequent dilemma.

A year spent within the academic sphere.

Mr. Muspellun had advised him to cast aside all external obligations and concentrate entirely on academic life, but adhering to that was no simple matter.

Why?

Because there existed certain maneuvers that could only be executed from within the institution.

And what exactly did that entail?

‘Securing capable individuals.’

The current state of affairs stood as follows.

“To begin with, regarding fiscal administration, my servant… no, my capable asset, Evelyn, ought to suffice.”

Should the administrative duties accumulate, he would expand the staff, but he fully intended to leave that domain entirely in Evelyn’s hands.

What, then, remained…?

Precisely.

When he had chosen to establish a presence within the Second Mixed Black and White District, he hadn’t perceived a significant deficiency.

For what reason?

Because, irrespective of their tier, the syndicates kept watch over those particular sectors.

However.

‘Establishing a foothold in Arapurkin alters the entire dynamic.’

Shine was absent. Mr. Myselrn would be returning to the Blandoga Family to instruct Damian at that point as well.

Naturally, Instructors Parun and Pellina were present, yet…

‘…The two of them will fall short.’

Relegating security measures to mages of professorial rank was highly inefficient. They would be occupied with far more vital responsibilities.

Consequently, the assembly of a dedicated combat unit was a natural progression.

“The dilemma lies in the method of enlistment.”

Naturally, he harbored no intentions of recruiting active pupils from the academy.

Although individual ranks carried less weight now due to the shifting global landscape, he required forces that were prepared for immediate conflict.

Even so……

‘I can forge connections with the student body.’

Individuals like Pola and the Kallia mercenary company.

“Hmm, nevertheless… we shall see.”

Is there truly anyone else among the academy students worth establishing a connection with, aside from Pola?

Aster drifted deep into contemplation, reviewing the dossiers of the academy students he had observed and caught wind of over the past several years.

‘Which asset should I secure to ensure word spreads that I have acquired a choice prize?’

He desired a loyal subordinate… no, an ally, akin to Evelyn.

“My friend!”

While Aster remained lost in thought, a voice originating from the exterior disrupted his concentration, prompting him to step outside.

However.

Thump, thump.

Venturing out for acquisitions was invariably an exhilarating prospect, after all.