[Acquired purified soul (unique).]

[The Great Demon Asmodeus assists in absorbing the soul. The chances of loss and side effects are significantly decreased.]

[Absorption complete. The engraved spell has manifested, raising the levels of magic understanding, spell identification, and materialization to A-rank.]

[Embodies the abilities of First Prince Hector.]

[Acquired traits such as rapid incantation, multi-casting, high mana, and magic resistance, excluding Hector’s unique magic.]

[…Error occurred.]

[No loss of unique magic detected.]

[Identifying the cause…]

[It was determined that due to Asmodeus’s assistance, the unique magic was fully transmitted. The side effects of implanting someone else’s unique magic were nullified by the level of ◼️◼️.]

[The implantation of unique magic is complete.]

[Acquired the principles of causal manipulation.]

*

Messages popped up randomly before my eyes.

Of course, as always, I couldn’t see the contents. But that wasn’t really a problem.

My body was changing inexplicably.

All sorts of complex symbols were being crammed into my head.

I could tell something bizarre was happening without needing to see a notification window.

Circles are splitting.

I hadn’t achieved any enlightenment nor had I ever gone beyond a basic magic lecture before.

Yet, disregarding all that, the circles were forming and dividing on their own. It was probably my body changing to match the talents I absorbed.

This kind of thing had happened before.

So I grasped that fact easily, but being amazed by it was something different altogether.

If it was a game setting, I would have purchased artbooks from overseas and memorized everything by now.

Normally, forming a circle takes about half a year.

And that’s considering someone with some talent is getting help from their mentor.

Without talent, you couldn’t even start forming circles in the first place.

So it’s not like forming a circle means it’s all over.

It’s merely the starting point of a difficult journey.

To actually be regarded as a mage requires reaching at least the 3rd circle, which takes at least three years at the fastest for anyone.

For mediocre folk, it takes decades.

Once you reach the 4th circle, time alone won’t solve anything anymore.

Until then, even an average person could achieve something through effort.

But from that point on, talent is a strict requirement.

One in ten thousand.

It’s not even possible to enter unless you’re chosen for this path.

However, it’s still a tough road for those with talent.

Luck, time, and effort.

Without all of those, achieving success is impossible.

Even those chosen with talent can spend their entire lives without reaching the 6th circle.

Even if they reach it, typically, they end their lives there. That’s exactly why the 6th circle is called the human limit.

If the 6th circle is like this, what about the 7th?

If the 6th circle is considered the human limit, then the 7th circle is referred to as the realm of superhumans.

Superhuman.

It’s an achievement that transcends human limits, only possible for monsters who can’t be touched.

Not just one in ten thousand, but truly unique talent. A realm that only a true genius can reach after tremendous effort, surpassing common sense.

And… I just became a 7th circle mage.

The realm that those who dedicated their lives to magic cannot even touch, utterly beyond their grasp.

And I reached it just like that.

I merely shook hands with a suddenly appearing demon, without any formal magic training.

Students from magic towers who are stuck at the wall of the 3rd circle, having sold half their souls to demons, would be crying tears of blood.

This kind of accidental opportunity is beyond comprehension…

Furthermore, the bizarre principles of spells flooding into my head. The lines used for construction were in the thousands, and the mana consumed was an abnormal structure of magic.

This is unmistakably unique magic.

That nauseatingly shady technique that twists causality to negate attacks.

‘Why the hell is this being copied?’

The implementation of individual psyche? Powers created according to one’s journey that nobody could replicate?

I remember those settings clearly.

Yet these bizarre circumstances ignore all that and are plopping Hector’s unique magic straight into my brain.

And even during a trial, I could use it.

I smashed the restraints that had been holding the First Prince with my sword, and when I added the result of not wielding my sword, the broken restraints became intact again.

That I managed to use it at all was nonsensical.

Using someone else’s unique magic, especially magic above the 1st circle, is ridiculous in itself.

Sure, my body might be damaged, but it’s going to regenerate soon, and my mana will fill right back up. At this rate, it’s always available as a trump card.

Considering my absurd amount of mana and body… once I create one more circle, I might be able to unleash causal manipulation like it’s nothing.

Creating one more circle means becoming an Archmage. Isn’t that a ludicrous idea?

But…

At this point, having become a 7th circle mage in just one day proves that common sense is utterly meaningless.

With seven circles and talent thrust into me, what’s left that I can’t do? Becoming an Archmage seems entirely achievable.

…This situation is so good it hardly seems believable.

Thus, suspicion creeps in.

What are the odds that such incredible luck would come without any connection? I need proper skepticism.

‘After all, the one who gave this is a demon, right?’

The demon gave me the soul.

That’s undoubtedly the root of all this.

The First Prince became an Archmage by absorbing others’ talents.

If the purified soul I absorbed was refined through various experiments, it would explain what’s happening.

But the important thing is that a demon wouldn’t do something nice for no reason. I’ve seen enough of that in Blood and Bone.

He can’t lie in contracts.

Even with such a limitation, the demon plays with people like a cat with a mouse.

There’s no way he’d do something beneficial for me without any hidden agenda. There’s definitely something up…

‘Why does it not feel wrong?’

No matter how much I look, there’s nothing wrong with my body. I wondered if he slipped something into me while infusing my soul.

But there were no spells inscribed anywhere.

There’s no evidence he tricked me at all.

So to sum it up…

The suddenly appearing demon tricked the First Prince for my benefit, gave me the soul, and helped me absorb it for no price at all before fading away?

‘…Does that even make sense?’

I was flabbergasted, it was just that absurd.

But there was no other way to explain this situation.

Right now, the most logical conclusion I could come up with is that this demon somehow became my fan and was supporting me without asking for anything in return.

In this situation, all I had left to say was one thing.

“…What luck I have.”

Maybe. When good fortune comes knocking, it’s better not to overthink and just enjoy it.

What the demon did doesn’t matter.

Good things are good.

I decided to put this issue off for later and headed towards where Renyah was for a report.

*

The 30th Division of the Empire’s army was peaceful today.

Well, that’s only natural since the 30th Division prioritized peace above all else.

How much do they love peace? They prioritize building a fancy golf course over upgrading worn-out military supplies they can’t even use.

Perhaps this love for peace inspired the people?

In this vast space, despite having the optimal facilities, hardly anyone used them.

Everyone is so considerate that even if they occasionally use them, they preferred picking up balls rather than hitting them.

A neat swing.

Along with it, the ball flies through the air in a perfect arc.

Watching that, the Division Commander smiled.

The weather was nice, the sky was clear, plus he had received unexpected funds from the military supply company, making him feel particularly merry.

A smile was plastered on his face.

However, a sound interrupting this happy moment emerged from somewhere. Someone was panting and running towards him with peculiar documents. Naturally, his expression soured.

Seeing someone rush in like that could only mean one thing: Something significant was happening.

“C-Captain! This is bad!”

The subordinate thrust the documents forward. He read it with a serious expression, and his frown deepened even more.

He couldn’t help but do so.

“This is just shocking! What’s all this fuss about? I thought something serious had happened!”

Contrary to the ruckus, the paper merely had some very ordinary content.

Just a new recruit arrived.

He had heard a certain exam had gone terribly wrong recently and had destroyed a mountain. Apparently, it was resolved, and they held the exam again, yielding a pass.

The name… Sian, I think.

He’s probably going through his ‘initial induction’ right about now.

Being from a commoner background, it would likely be a brutal ordeal.

He was surely suffering a lot… but why did that have anything to do with him?

“I was in such a good mood. Why are you bringing up that common kid out of nowhere?”

“B-But he’s not just any commoner!”

Had that guy eaten something weird?

His rambling was starting to annoy him more than anything and he genuinely became worried.

If some high-up person had pushed that through, sure.

But looking at the document, it not only showed he was a commoner but also came from an orphanage. How could such a kid have any backing…

“He’s someone sent by the Second Prince!”

“…What?”

In that moment, his brain froze.

A flood of ominous premonition washed over him. Trembling fingers picked up the last part of the document.

[Due to legal procedures, he’ll be staying here for one day, so treat him as a guest.]

Signed by the Second Prince.

A clear royal seal.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Suddenly, an impromptu quiz show erupted in his mind.

What’s happening to the promising individual that the Second Prince values right now?

The answer was simple.

Under the guise of initiation, he’s likely undergoing collective beatings while being subjected to all sorts of humiliating and disgraceful nonsense.

If that resentful kid Sian reports that to the Second Prince, what would happen to me?

This problem was even simpler.

So simple that the answer just slipped right out of his mouth faster than he anticipated.

“…I’m screwed.”