"What, what is going on here?"
Elizabeth had received a message through the crystal ball from her magic teacher, Batory, and came rushing over—only to need a moment to comprehend the scene before her.
"…Kkeu-reuk."
Hans Byron, collapsed on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
"Hm. The sixth failure, is it? At this point one might expect him to give up. Where has his usual cleverness gone? Truly, you are absurdly stubborn."
Her teacher heaved a sigh so deep it looked as if the ground itself might sink.
"…Um, Batory? Could you please explain the situation to me?"
"Ah, Elly. Well now. Where should I even begin…?"
The vampire scratched her chin before shaking her head.
"I called you here to observe, thinking you too should see what lies ahead for any who pursue the path of magic… but, as you can see, this is the reality."
"M-me too?"
"Do not worry. You are steadily stacking pure mana into rings around your heart, so this problem does not apply to you. You won't suffer the same wretched state as Frost Mane."
"…Nnngh. I'm well aware how wretched I looked. Still, I wish you'd understand—truth can sometimes wound a person."
Already, Hans had wiped the froth from his mouth with a handkerchief and shamelessly rejoined the conversation, just as brazen as ever. Without a doubt, this was the Hans Byron she knew.
"What sort of training leaves you in this condition?"
"Would you believe me if I said I was attempting to take the next step toward becoming an Archmage?"
She had heard so many of his boasts before, she couldn't count them. His absurd words made her chuckle despite herself.
"Do you think becoming an Archmage is something easy?"
It sounded like the usual exaggeration and bravado—until Batory, a true Archmage, spoke up.
"He's not wrong."
"What? This guy, an Archmage?!"
"Why such surprise? The fact that he can already use Thought Transmission puts him leagues apart from ordinary magicians."
…That was true.
Thought Transmission.
It meant he had reached the same realm as her idol, Luciana.
The idea that Luciana's right hand was growing stronger… Elizabeth should have been pleased by this fact.
Yet—
'No matter what, I just can't like it.'
Crunch.
She ground her teeth in secret while the others were distracted with their conversation.
Because she was so alike in temperament, she understood Hans. His growth was all for the sake of keeping pace with Luciana.
Unlike herself, who struggled just to keep a single step behind.
He ran, striving to stand at the side of that blazing sun, Luciana—
—even if it meant putting himself through such torment.
'How dare you try to stand as Luci's equal? Where have you thrown away your humility?'
But she couldn't bring herself to voice it. She knew well enough that it was nothing more than her own ugly jealousy.
"So then, Frost Mane, did you gain any enlightenment from this meditation?"
"…Of course. I've acquired a Unique Magic most fitting for me."
"Oh? Then that's fortunate. I thought perhaps you could show Elly your true voice."
Interest glimmered in Batory's crimson eyes. At the same time, Elizabeth caught her breath.
"…Unique Magic, you say?"
She had heard of it before.
"Luci, could I borrow a moment?"
"…Liza, forgive me. I've been busy training of late. Can we postpone until next time?"
"Training?"
"Yes. Since you're my friend, I'll tell you—I'm trying to forge a technique of my own."
The reason Luciana pushed herself so harshly in the training yard had been the same.
"…Batory! Please, teach me Unique Magic as well!"
She couldn't let herself fall behind a man like Hans.
Though family affairs had recently prevented her from devoting herself fully to training—she could make up for it in the time to come.
To prove that her devotion to Luciana was no weaker than his, she earnestly entreated her master.
"Mm. Impossible. One must first meet the minimum qualifications."
"And those would be…?"
"Another ring stacked upon your heart, and mana control refined enough to use Thought Transmission."
But her overflowing determination quickly ran into the wall of reality.
Thought Transmission wasn't some easy level to attain. Among her peers, only Luciana and Hans had reached it.
"Don't rush, Elly. You truly do have talent."
"Still…"
"Huhu, indeed. What can you do? Your rival simply overflows with talent."
Hans seized the moment to interject with a mocking smile.
"From this day forth, I dare say, I am the one closest to Lady Luciana."
Placing a hand upon his chest, puffed up with pride—he was insufferable. At least in that moment, he was even more aggravating than the wastrel and incompetent who were ruining her family.
"…So arrogant. I'll deal with the family affairs, and then I'll catch up to you in no time."
"Haha, a rivalry of jealousy and envy. How deliciously stimulating! Go ahead and try. You'll never surpass me!"
A deadly glare passed between the two fiancés before they simultaneously turned their heads away.
'I must be crazy. For a moment I almost saw him differently, just because the Head acknowledged him.'
She was about to vent her frustration on her nails when—
"Well then, let us see your results. I too am very curious."
Batory's words made her instinctively look back.
A Unique Magic born of that accursed fiend. She couldn't help but feel curious.
'It's all for later. I need to understand his tricks in advance, to prepare countermeasures.'
And then Elizabeth's eyes widened at what she saw.
"…Of course. With your teaching, I've come to a clear understanding of my own existence."
"F-Frost Mane?! That form is…"
"Heh. How is it? Quite the resemblance, don't you think?"
Two Batory Erzsébets.
"Seeing it like this, my teacher truly possesses a noble appearance. It feels almost wasteful for you to be in a maid outfit."
Golden hair flowing down to her waist. Crimson pupils like drops of blood, fangs peeking through parted lips. Even the languid cadence of her speech.
If not for the playful curtsy, lifting the edge of the maid's skirt, one could believe it was truly Batory.
"S-stop your games already…"
For once, Batory's face was red to match her eyes—perhaps from embarrassment.
"Games? I'm only showing the achievement you told me to reveal."
"That's enough! Mimicking others is the hallmark of doppelgängers!"
With a shrill voice, Batory flared her mana, striding toward the imposter as if ready to subdue him by force.
'Serves him right.'
Most magicians were thought weak in close quarters. But Archmages were different. Even if aura was more efficient, an Archmage could overwhelm with sheer volume of mana.
Elizabeth had no doubt Hans would soon be smashed into the floor.
"Haha, Batory. If I only copied appearances, I'd be no different from other doppelgängers. Such a thing could never be called Unique Magic."
"I—I never taught you that spell! How can you…?!"
The imposter met her charge head-on—using the very same Body Enhancement magic as Batory herself.
'Meditation, really…?'
At first Hans had doubted Batory's prescription.
Luciana poured her very life into training, yet he was supposed to reach Unique Magic simply by sitting cross-legged and breathing?
"…This is the third time already. Is it really working?"
By the third fainting spell endured in the name of absorbing pure mana, his doubts were at their peak.
"Would I lie to my own retainer?"
"At this point it feels like a waste of time. There's no progress."
"Hmph. That's your choice. But isn't it a pity? Just a little further and you might attain enlightenment."
The words reminded him of that meme—miners turning back just before striking diamonds.
"…Tch. Fine, one more time."
"Fufu. I knew it. You hate to lose out on what you've already invested. As expected."
Now she was reading him like a book. Perhaps they'd simply been together too long.
Meditating with pure mana—he had doubted, but the Archmage's guidance was true.
By the third attempt, he'd sensed the flow of mana.
[…You may choo…]
By the fifth, the system message faintly flickered into view.
And on the sixth—just before his mind and mana collapsed—he clearly saw it.
[You have met the conditions to acquire a Unique Magic.]
[ 2 / 2 ]
[Condition 1. Attain a certain level of mastery]
[Condition 2. Long exposure of your body to mana above your grade]
'As expected of Batory. I trusted you!'
How could he have doubted an Archmage who had walked this path herself? He punished his temple with a hard press for that lapse.
"…What strange behavior is that now?"
She tilted her head in confusion, unaware of his inner triumph.
The rewards the system now offered were dazzling.
[Please select a Unique Magic.]
[1. Perfect Butler's Service]
[When allies are present, provides a buff to draw out latent potential and enables joint skills.]
[2. Heretic's Road of Penance]
[Sets a minimum level of loyalty and faith for those of the same religion.]
[Evolves as the Religious System unlocks further.]
Both were decent, but—
'I can barely manage myself, let alone buff others…'
He already had plenty of skills like that. For his Unique Magic, he wanted something aggressive, a weapon.
[3. Mask of Myriad Forms]
The third option. His eyes locked on nothing else.
[Unique Magic]
[Mask of Myriad Forms]
[A loyal servant, a free rogue, a great king of his race, a doomsday cultist…]
[But Shadower Hans Byron was not satisfied with his many roles. He resolved to covet even the forms of others.]
[Can replicate appearances of those in memory]
[Can use some of the replicated target's skills]
[Efficiency depends on how well the target is understood and imitated]
As in any game, the longer the description, the stronger the ability.
[Skill "Body Enhancement" of "Batory Erzsébet" is now applied.]
Even Batory's magic could be copied to nearly equal effect.
"…Hmph. Truly a Unique Magic befitting you."
"Haha, it's only thanks to your teachings, my master."
Not without its flaws, however.
"Mmm, you've returned. A pity—I'd hoped to test your power further."
"I wish I could, but it seems I can't. I can only use it again after a full night's rest."
A mere minute of duration. A cooldown stretching over a day. Its efficiency was abysmal.
'Still, it's undeniably useful.'
Not only for skill replication, but perfect for deception.
And just in time, an event was approaching where it could shine.
"Lady Elizabeth, a question if I may."
"…What is it?"
He smiled sweetly at his fiancée's wary gaze.
"The Hunting Contest hosted by the Student Council—when was it again?"
An annual pastime of the academy's nobles. At the same time, a religious rite to gather offerings for the goddess.
'Time to pay a visit to the Holy Land.'
The relics were surely already plundered by the Saintess—but he was half-possessed, so who knew?
'And anyway, first come, first served, right?'
The Holy Land, Saleranto.
Just thinking of what treasures might yet be buried there made him salivate.
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