novelraw Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The Distorted Orthodoxy
“What are you staring at like that? Aren’t you going to sit down quickly.”
The teacher’s attire and appearance looked so similar to Draco Tylant.
On top of that, his manner of speaking was quite arrogant, and his gaze was sharply unpleasant.
It felt as if I were looking at a young Draco Tylant.
He was definitely different from Class 0’s Teacher Reji or Teacher Muhead, who had addressed students with formal speech.
“Is that him? The one they say is a Double Caster?”
“If you only look at his hair, you can’t really tell what’s special.”
At the same time, I heard the students whispering.
Every student and teacher had black hair and black eyes.
It was because they were Darkness Elementalists.
As I found the nearest empty seat, the teacher began writing on the chalkboard.
“How bothersome. I have to introduce myself again just because of you.”
‘This class is going to be exhausting.’
I sensed it instinctively.
Honestly, this was typical of Darkness Elementalists.
Their words were so blunt they could wound, and their actions lacked any sense of consideration.
It was one of the things I realized while teaching Draco Tylant, who had been a Darkness Elementalist in my previous life.
“My name is Draco Walfis. I’m in charge of Class 1 Darkness Element Theory and Practice. Now, let’s begin the class immediately.”
“Haa…….”
I let out a sigh without realizing it.
There was a reason I had disliked him from the very first impression.
‘There are too many members of the Draco Family in this school.’
The Vice Headmaster and even the teacher in charge of Darkness Elements were members of the Draco Family……
It didn’t feel like a coincidence at all—rather, an intentional arrangement.
For now, I decided to observe the class.
I absolutely wasn’t attending his lesson as a student.
If anything, this was me monitoring the Draco Family.
“You who have mastered the Darkness Element are the most exceptional Elementalists among all Elementalists. Why? It’s simple. Among the seven elements of magic, the most powerful element is the Darkness Element.”
But the lecture content was strange.
The most powerful element among the seven elements of magic was the Flewd Element.
The reason was that it allowed one to handle all seven elements without restriction.
I immediately raised my hand.
“What is it, Artel?”
“I’m curious. From what I’ve studied, I understood that the most powerful element is the Flewd Element.”
I clearly saw Walfis’s temple twitch in discomfort at the mention of the word Flewd.
I had to address this accurately.
Why had the absolute orthodoxy changed within just 300 years?
“What book did you read that made you ask me such a question, Artel?”
“I read so many books during break that I don’t remember exactly.”
“Well, fine. It’s simple. The head of my family, Draco Tylant, is the current Archmage. It’s natural, since only the most powerful mage can rise to that position.”
Just because of that?
That was far too childish of a reason.
Moreover, Draco Tylant wasn’t someone who had properly ascended to the position of Archmage.
I didn’t stop and continued to refute.
“I learned that the Flewd Element is considered the most powerful because it can handle all seven elements. Then does that mean the book was wrong?”
“That’s right. And more importantly, the Flewd Element lacks specialization.”
A mere Darkness Elementalist talking about specialization……
“I’m curious why you think that.”
“I’ll explain it in a way you can understand. Even in cooking, there are specialists. People who specialize in meat dishes, or people who specialize in noodle dishes—each has their own field of expertise.”
Walfis thought I was a child and was adjusting to that level.
That was why he used cooking as an example.
“The Flewd Element handles seven elements at once. If it were you, who do you think would reach the higher circle faster—a mage who handles multiple elements at once, or a mage who handles only one?”
“Isn’t that something we don’t know?”
“Really? Then I’ll ask the other students. What do you think?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be obvious that an Elementalist who handles only one element would reach it faster?”
“I think so too. If they handle multiple elements at once, I think, just as you said, their specialization would drop.”
But the students’ answers instead supported Walfis.
‘No. This feels like answers being mechanically recited as if brainwashed.’
Like mobs who moved when commanded—the students’ responses felt exactly like that.
“Then, how many Flewd Elementalists exist in the higher circles? If Flewd Elementalists clearly exist and are in higher circles, then isn’t specialization not an issue?”
“None. No Flewd Elementalist has been born since the vile Archmage Archis Eimer 300 years ago. No—they must not be born.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
To think I would hear the word “vile” aimed at Archis Eimer from a member of the Draco Family.
You truly have no idea what the truth is.
“Is your question finished?”
“……Yes.”
“Then let’s continue the lesson.”
I stopped asking questions.
The bloodline of Flewd Elementalists had been cut.
Since Walfis was a member of the Draco Family, this information was undoubtedly certain.
But suddenly, I grew curious.
Had they truly not been born, or had they been prevented from being born?
What was certain was that this era viewed Darkness as the most powerful element, and that was clearly part of Tylant’s intentions.
‘They must not be born…….’
Those were Walfis’s final words.
They sounded as though Flewd Elementalists had been hunted down and eradicated.
If they really had been—why?
There could be only one reason.
Tylant feared the Flewd Elementalists.
If a Flewd Elementalist were to appear, his position would undoubtedly be threatened.
When he killed me back then as well, Tylant realized he could not defeat me with strength alone—so he drugged me.
Of course, it wasn’t as if I foolishly accepted it without suspicion.
Tylant was both an Elementalist and an expert in pharmacology.
As the one guarding the sealing stone at the top, I always ordered tea to maintain my concentration, and my disciples waiting below took turns bringing the tea to me.
Draco took advantage of that and slipped a hallucinogen that disrupted focus into the tea right when it was Etar’s turn.
No matter how great an Archmage I was, how could I notice a colorless, odorless drug already blended seamlessly into the tea’s aroma?
That was why I was struck down so easily, without even resisting properly.
No wonder Tylant had said, as he killed me, “The drug works wonderfully,” with such satisfaction.
And although I had felt it since Class 0, the lessons in this school—its entire curriculum—were largely distorted, bordering on brainwashing.
Just seeing how Darkness was now called the strongest among the seven elements proved that.
‘Fine, Tylant. At the very least, you understood your own weakness.’
This was enough.
Tylant, even after 300 years, still believed his greatest enemy to be the Flewd Elementalists.
After that, I didn’t ask any further questions.
Even if I tried to flaunt my power in front of Walfis, a member of the Draco Family, nothing would be resolved.
Rather, since the school rules stated that a student must not attack a teacher, it would only be me trapping myself.
After an hour passed, the theory class ended, and after a ten-minute break, we moved straight into practical training.
“The magic I will teach you today is called ‘Dark Space.’ The other students have already learned it before, but…….”
Walfis, who had been explaining, now looked at me.
“Judging from theory class, you seem to have quite a bit of knowledge. Do you know the magic called Dark Space, Artel?”
“Yes, it’s one of the basic spells of the Darkness Element. A spell that drops its target into darkness.”
Like the Light Element’s flash spell, it was a simple space-distortion spell with no lethality.
But because it restricted the opponent’s vision and movement, it was highly useful even as a basic spell.
“You know it well. Can you perform it?”
Even the way he asked was filled with disdain.
His intention was obvious—‘Even if you’re a Double Caster, you can’t possibly manage this, right?’
“What reward will I get if I succeed on my first try?”
The opponent was a member of the Draco Family.
I hadn’t revealed my identity completely, but I also had no intention of being obedient.
“You’re quite confident. Then I’ll give a reward through the teacher’s authority.”
“What is it?”
“No student here can move on to the next lesson unless they perfectly execute Dark Space. I’ll grant you the privilege of not needing to attend class until we advance to the next lesson.”
“Ooh!”
The other students reacted with excitement.
Well, at that rate, I didn’t mind either.
You were trying to test me now, but you chose the wrong opponent.
I stood up from my seat.
“Should I do it from here?”
“Where is your staff or wand? Teacher Muhead should have issued them.”
He was nitpicking over pointless things now.
“I heard it wasn’t mandatory, so I chose not to take one. Carrying it around everywhere is cumbersome.”
“You’re not exactly a model student. Fine, go ahead. The target is……”
As Walfis rolled his eyes to choose a target, I struck first.
“I’ll do it on you, Teacher. Since you’re the Darkness Element instructor, wouldn’t you immediately know whether I performed Dark Space perfectly or not?”
“Fine, do as you please.”
He actually snorted as he replied.
He would regret it.
The moment Walfis finished speaking, a black sphere formed above his crown, and shadowy strands stretched out like a mane, wrapping around his body.
“W-What is this?”
The students stirred noisily, and Walfis’s eyes were clearly shaken.
And in an instant, his entire body was swallowed.
In a blink, his figure vanished, leaving only a shadow-like black shape standing on the platform.
‘I have no intention of ending this peacefully. Every member of the Draco Family is my enemy.’
I couldn’t kill a teacher during a lesson, but I at least wanted to give him a little punishment disguised as a mistake.
Draco Walfis.
Through this class, I clearly understood that you were nothing more than a loyal hound to Draco Tylant, the one I must kill.
I never behaved disgracefully enough as an Archmage to deserve being called vile.
Fwoosh—!
When I added the Fire Element to the Dark Space he was trapped in, the entire Dark Space burst into flames.
“Wow……”
The students now watched my magic with awe in their eyes.
Two seconds later, I dispelled the magic and began acting.
“Huh……? I’m sorry. Since I’m a Fire-and-Darkness Double Caster, I’m sure I meant to use only darkness, but somehow fire came out as well. It’s hard to control.”
I purposely changed my expression, pretending to be apologetic.
I took advantage of the idea that I was still an immature Double Caster and made it seem like a deliberate mistake.
“Huff…… huff…….”
But when Walfis emerged from the Dark Space, his skin was slightly reddened, as though he had taken a bit of damage from my fire magic.
He stared at me with eyes full of murderous intent.
But mixed within that gaze was disbelief.
“Surely you didn’t take damage from a mere 1st Circle spell, did you, Teacher?”
He seemed quite prideful, so provoking him once felt justified.
Walfis scanned the reactions of his students.
The students already had their eyes fixed on me, mouths open.
“Even if I’m still an inexperienced Double Caster, is my Dark Space good enough to pass?”
If he had pride or awareness at all, he couldn’t possibly call me unqualified now.
“……It doesn’t seem like this was your first time performing it.”
“Yes, I practiced alone during break. I’m from an orphanage with nowhere to go anyway.”
Walfis’s eyes rolled even more violently.
It was clearly a reaction born from mental shock caused by my magic.
But perhaps because the students were watching?
I could see him trying his best to maintain a calm expression.
Now Walfis met my eyes with a gaze full of anger.
He clearly thought it had been intentional, but he had no proof.
Because I was only a 1st Circle Mage.
“What’s wrong, Teacher?”
I asked again with the same apologetic expression.
“……You pass. I’ll contact you via mob when the next lesson begins.”
Walfis reluctantly announced my passing.
Of course—every student had witnessed my perfect execution, so he had nothing to nitpick.
I bowed my head to him.
“It was an informative class.”