Not long after Yujin's meeting with the head of the Magicians' Association, the entire organization was once again thrown into upheaval.

The reason? The magician who had established a new branch of space-time magic—Yujin—had announced that he would deliver a lecture on the subject.

The association head, confident in the announcement's credibility, immediately began preparations to host the lecture and spread the news far and wide across the nation.

Initially, when the announcement began to circulate, most dismissed it as exaggerated rumors.

"Space-time magic? It’s probably just another partial recovery of knowledge from the transcendents, like always."

To this day, space-time magic had never existed. Specifically, time-related magic was completely nonexistent, while spatial magic was limited to a few rudimentary spells.

Yet the news spread by the Magicians' Association claimed that space-time magic had been established not only as a usable field for magicians but also as a complete discipline vast enough to form an entire school of thought.

Naturally, this was met with skepticism. What was space-time, after all? Even among the transcendents, only those with specific powers over it could manipulate this distant and incomprehensible realm.

The few existing spatial spells—like dimensional pockets, teleportation, and the expansion or contraction of space—were more akin to divine abilities processed into knowledge by the dragons, the masters of magic. They were spells that only the greatest magicians could handle.

And yet, someone claimed to have fully systematized such magic into a school of thought? A dream of magicians for generations, realized so suddenly?

Many assumed the Association was making a fuss over some newly unearthed knowledge, likely just another spell to manipulate space on a small scale.

"Still, even that would be remarkable enough to warrant a visit. It surely won’t include time magic, though..."

Such were the thoughts of many, until the association head’s statements and the thesis he revealed turned opinions on their head.

"This is the thesis submitted by the magician. It contains part of the newly established knowledge of space-time magic."

The association head’s confident declaration, combined with the undeniable contents of the thesis, sent shockwaves across the nation.

Scholars, magicians, and even political figures scrambled to secure a spot at the upcoming lecture.

The Day of the Lecture

The Magicians’ Association’s grand hall was packed with attendees.

"Is it true? The author of the thesis on space-time magic will personally take the stage?"
"That’s right. The association head himself brought him in."
"And he’s doing it for free? Without demanding any compensation?"
"Incredible! The association head truly has authority."
"But can this really be true? Fully establishing space-time magic...?"
"You’re behind the times. The magic formulas have already been verified—it’s real space-time magic."
"Who in the world is the one who accomplished this?"
"I heard he’s from the East."
"What? The East? That’s a place with no connection to magic at all!"
"Who knows? Maybe the East holds some unique insight into space-time..."
"Finally, the secrets of space-time magic will be revealed!"

The buzz of conversations filled the grand hall, echoing across the rows of seats.

In the audience were a multitude of figures: prominent magicians, renowned heroes, scholars, and influential leaders.

Their discussions revolved around two central topics: the newly established field of space-time magic and the mysterious author of the thesis.

This was the person who had turned the lofty concept of space-time—a domain typically reserved for transcendents—into something an ordinary magician could touch. Speculation about their identity and background was rampant.

"This way, Madam Chancellor."

"Very well."

A sharp-eyed woman with shoulder-length, dark purple hair respectfully guided another woman to one of the VIP seats on the upper level.

The woman being escorted had striking red hair, golden eyes, and a voluptuous figure. But the most distinctive feature was her eyes.

Within the golden irises, the vertical slit of a reptilian pupil glinted like a scar, radiating an otherworldly intensity as she gazed down at the lecture hall.

"Professor Reyna," the woman said.

"Yes, Madam Chancellor. What would you like to know?"

The woman escorting her was none other than Professor Reyna Sahart, who had overseen the labyrinth trial for Hugo’s party. She had also resolved to investigate Yujin after hearing of his exploits.

And the woman she served?

"Are you saying, as you reported, that the one who established this space-time magic could be a black magician?"

"Yes, Madam Chancellor."

"I see..."

This was Ines Karandar, the Chancellor of the Academy.

Known as the "Grand Witch" and rumored to bear the bloodline of dragons, she was one of the most powerful beings in the world.

"At first, I was simply curious about who could have achieved what even I could not: the systematization of space-time magic. But then you came to me with such a startling report. His name was... Yujin, wasn’t it?"

"Yes, Madam Chancellor."

Reyna bowed her head respectfully.

Since her encounter with Hugo’s party, she had indeed investigated Yujin.

And the result?

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Yujin's past was unnervingly clean, almost suspiciously so—like someone who had simply dropped into existence.

This peculiar lack of history fueled Reyna's suspicions. When she later learned that Yujin had caused an uproar in the Association with his thesis on space-time magic, she immediately reported the matter to the Chancellor.

Black magicians and demons were matters of grave concern even within the Academy. In fact, though it was a closely guarded secret, one of the Academy’s students, the second princess of the Arcedium Empire, was slowly being corrupted by a demon’s influence.

The black magicians had been targeting her as part of their schemes. For the Chancellor, who was well-known for her deep care for her students, such a threat could not be ignored.

And now, a figure suspected of being a black magician was preparing to lecture on a newly established field of space-time magic.

The Chancellor, already intrigued by the concept of space-time magic—a field she herself had never been able to fully systematize—found another reason to attend the lecture in person.

"A black magician who established space-time magic… It’s not certain, but it’s worth finding out who this person is," she thought, her gaze turning icy.

At the back of the lecture hall, Yujin stood conversing with the Association head. For a moment, his attention shifted toward the direction of the Chancellor’s seat.

"...Huh?"

"Hm? What’s the matter, Yujin?"

"...Oh, nothing," Yujin replied.

He had felt a faint but familiar mana, something reminiscent of a dragon, and glanced toward its source.

Tiamat, too, had noticed it.

『Wait, this mana...』

A sense of familiarity struck her.

『...No way... Karandar, is it really you?!』

Though only present as a spiritual entity, she felt a wave of embarrassment and flushed deeply.

『Tiamat, did you sense that too?』 Yujin asked calmly.

『Uh, um...』

『It’s faint, but I can detect the presence of dragon mana. Oddly enough, it seems to be coming from a human.』

Tiamat’s blush deepened.

『Y-yes, that’s it...』

『Hmm? Tiamat, you seem to be radiating embarrassment. Do you perhaps know something about this?』

『N-no! I don’t know anything! Really!』

『...Is that so?』

Yujin felt she might know more than she was letting on, but he decided to let it slide, focusing instead on his conversation with the Association head.

Meanwhile, Tiamat quietly muttered to herself, her embarrassment growing.

『Karandar... No matter how I think about it, how could you possibly... with a human?!』

The thought that one of her kind—someone she had once guided—could have done "such a thing" left her overwhelmed with shame.

Back at the conversation, Yujin and the Association head were wrapping things up.

"Yujin, all the preparations are complete..."

"Yes. I suppose it’s time to head up."

"Please, I’m counting on you."

The Association head clasped Yujin’s hands, bowing repeatedly as he earnestly entrusted the lecture to him.

"He’s so deferential it’s almost guilt-inducing," Yujin thought.

It felt slightly pitiful to see the head of the Magicians’ Association, a man of such stature, bowing so humbly. Yet, Yujin had no intention of backing out of the lecture, so he left it at that.

With the Association head stepping aside, Yujin began walking toward the stage.

Step. Step.

The sound of his measured footsteps echoed through the hall.

Despite being quiet, the footsteps carried an immense presence, silencing the bustling crowd.

Step. Step.

All eyes turned to the stage. Some attendees swallowed nervously, while others stared intently at the man ascending the steps.

His hair, styled neatly for the occasion, gave him a polished appearance. He had taken the suggestion to adopt a formal look.

Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked less like a magician and more like a distinguished musician from the upper echelons of society. His calm and gentle smile, coupled with an inexplicable charisma, made it impossible for anyone to look away.

Step. Step.

The footsteps came to a halt, and the man finally spoke.

"Greetings. My name is Yujin, the author of the thesis on space-time magic."

His voice, amplified subtly by magic, carried across the hall.