Aslan Seminar (4)

"... What?"

Some people were taken aback.

Baek Yu-Seol, who usually showed fondness towards Eisel, seemed to be attacking her.

The same went for Edna and Hong Bi-Yeon.

'Why on earth?'

Baek Yu-Seol, who always treated Eisel with care, now not only refrained from helping but chose to criticize her.

'... Or is this the only way to help?'

Edna knew the 'original novel.' There, Eisel presented an unfinished thesis which received criticism, feedback, and opposition from everyone.

And… she got saved by Haewonryang.

It was also the time when Haewonryang started forming a significant fanbase from the original work.

However, before Haewonryang revealed his true charm and confidence, Eisel suffered so much criticism that she broke down.

Their criticism was not just about her magic but it even questioned her existence, and clearly crossed the line.

Of course, the story had considerably diverged now. Unlike the original plot, Eisel stood with a complet thesis.

So, Edna felt a sense of relief, thinking it might take a different path from the original.

However, it wasn't about the thesis.

Just... the setting itself was the problem.

Everyone despised and criticized Eisel. They harassed her with baseless jeers and mockery, forming their own image by showing their ridicule to her face.

They were truly vile and disgusting people.

Was it even okay to call them mages?

"A flaw... You say...?"

When Baek Yu-Seol seized the opportunity to point it out, Eisel looked at him blankly and asked back.

"Yes, a flaw. There isn't a single mana circuit connecting the runes in your magic array. It's more of a pattern, so it's rather hard to see it as a magic circle. How exactly do you plan to activate magic with this?"

There were murmurs of agreement here and there.

Baek Yu-Seol's argument was quite convincing... no, it was a piercing factual attack.

"Your magic circle lacks even the basic elements of a magic circle."

Baek Yu-Seol's critique was valid and seemed impossible to refute by any means.

However...

That was merely how it appeared to others.

He had completed the final part of this thesis with Eisel, knowing where she had deeply contemplated.

——

"I want to create a completely different magic circle, different from the conventional form."

"If that's what you want, then go for it."

"I'm serious! That's why I'm contemplating. How to actually implement this..."

"I don't know."

"I didn't ask for your ideas."

"Figure it out yourself."

——-

Regarding that aspect, Baek Yu-Seol didn't even offer a single bit of help. He knew that eventually, Eisel would be able to solve it on her own.

And indeed, Eisel perfectly managed it.

Baek Yu-Seol still remembered her proudly boasting about resolving the problem she had been struggling with for just a few days.

So, this was why he made such a critique.

'You know how to do that.'

To others, it seemed like a factual attack targeting a flaw.

However, for Eisel, it was the first-ever support which made her speak up.

"... I'll show you myself."

As Eisel raised her staff, the audience focused on her hands.

Instead of a regular circular magic circle, a hexagonal snowflake patterned magic circle spread on the ground, and snowflakes began swirling all around.

"Wow...?"

"What's that? How does that work?"

"What's going on? I didn't get it."

It was just a simple spell summoning an ice pillar.

Anyone could do that much.

However, those who had a deep understanding of ice magic shower a different reaction than ordinary mages.

"Well, there's no freezing point, no runes connecting the mana circuit, how did the pillar rise up?"

"Huh? Now that you mention it..."

Yes.

A magic circle was formed by creating a large 'circle,' connecting points specifying attributes, and shaping them through 'runes' that circulate mana.

However, in Eisel's magic, there were no circles or points.

Even looked at the circle, and found that interpreting it as 'Ice Pillar Summoning Magic' was impossible.

Did the magic actually activate?

"... The hexagonal shape of the ice crystal is because the component is water. The structure of mana molecules composing water is formed by two hydrogen atoms bonded together, and when these mana molecules arrange in a hexagonal shape, it becomes the most perfect form."

The most perfect form of ice, a hexagon.

"I don't need circuits connecting mana. I merely tailored the most perfect form for ice, and they turned into ice according to my will."

Until now, Humans had always forcibly shaped the elements of nature into their own desired forms. For that purpose, magic circles were created.

But Eisel stepped away from the framework created by humans and aligned herself with nature itself.

As a result...

Splash!

From the tip of her staff, a translucent crystalline flower bloomed.

'Crystal Flower'

Once, a Class 4 magic which required total concentration.

But now, she could just… activate whenever she desired it.

"Wow..."

"That's magic...?"

Eisel's magic soared up to the ceiling. It was more akin to art then a fatal attack, leaving people in awe as they gazed upon it.

To showcase the magic more vividly to everyone, she stepped back and looked towards Cellyn.

"Earlier, you pointed out the inefficiency of the hexagonal magic array. Is this answer enough?"

Must magic circles always be circular?

Eisel didn't bother countering that.

Just presenting a perfect magic that no great ice mage could demonstrate was a sufficient response.

Logic? Theory?

Mages communicate through magic.

Eisel looked at Keka Dromian, who had pointed out her flaws for the second time.

"To put eighteen freezing points into a magic circle... Dromian Family is truly impressive."

While saying so, she pointed at the beautifully designed hexagonal magic circle which resembled a snowflake crystal beneath her feet.

"Freezing points burns a lot of mana, so having none is more efficient."

"That's...!"

Keika gritted his teeth and desperately tried to come up with a rebuttal.

"It would not be easy to correct the orbit with a hexagonal magic circle. How do you plan to alter the 'lines of trajectory' individually?"

Eisel remained silent and answered by transforming the magic circle herself.

"Wow...!"

"That's... peculiar..."

The hexagonal magic circle which resembled a snowflake crystal seemed alive, as the patterns inside changed according to Eisel's will. It was something a typical circular magic circle couldn't achieve.

The conventional magic circles could maintain the drawn lines' shapes and merely shift positions, but the hexagonal magic circle could freely alter the orbit's size and width.

'This can't be possible...!'

No, this couldn't be accepted.

Keika Dromian shouted again.

"But freezing would take an excessively long time!"

"Is it possible to specify a target and freeze it? Without freezing points, it won't discriminate between friends and foes and might freeze both!"

"The hexagon's mana circulation rate would be lower than that of a circular magic circle!"

Keika made numerous critiques, which sounded valid and piercing to anyone who listened.

Or at least, that was how it seemed.

"Is that so? Then shall we compare your proud magic with... efficiency?"

However, Eisel proved all of that efficiency wrong.

Not a single flaw remained.

Even without comparing it to Dromian's magic.

"Ugh..."

"Would you like to come and prove it yourself? A mage who uses the chance to question can even demonstrate magic himself."

Eisel spoke directly to Keika.

If you're dissatisfied, go ahead and compare Morph and Dromian's magic.

That was the message beneath her words.

However, that was utterly impossible.

He didn't have the confidence to showcase magic beyond that.

'Th-This isn't right...!'

Comparing Dromian's magic circle and Eisel's was a mistake from the start.

If Keika had just stayed still, the eighteen freezing points could have remained a remarkable achievement, but now, due to the comparison of their performances... it became known to everyone that Dromian's magic fell behind Morph's magic circle.

And it was all because of him.

"Th-That magic circle is...!"

Keika attempted to say something but couldn't bring the words out.

Eisel stared directly at the dog without turning her head. She had an expression that said, 'Say something more if you have anything,' but after hesitating for a while, Keika finally bowed deeply, and Eisel delivered the final blow.

"Seems like there's nothing more for you to say."

That was the end of it.

Dromian magic?

As of today, it would leave a lasting mark in history.

The highest number of freezing points, 18.

It was meant to be the greatest ice magic, yet ultimately served the purpose of proving that Eisel Morph's newly defined unique magic circle was greater.

Keika Dromian sat back with a dismayed expression, and as he retired, Eisel turned her head with an indifferent expression, and made eye contact with each mage who had criticized her.

Most of them avoided eye contact, and the smugly asked questions couldn't restrain Eisel's words anymore.

Why was she suddenly able to answer what she couldn't before?

Had Eisel Morph become smarter in that brief moment?

No, it wasn't that.

She simply realized something.

'... Not everyone hates me.'

It was truly peculiar.

Eisel thought she was accustomed to being shunned in such situations. But somehow, since she had read the 'Star Archive,' a strange lonely feeling had spread within her chest.

It was a side effect.

The circumstances she faced then.

Witnessing Baek Yu-Seol facing the Black Dragon alone...

As a prize for witnessing that sight, Eisel had absorbed some of the emotions Baek Yu-Seol might have felt.

Perhaps what he felt at that time was loneliness.

Just having a bit of loneliness wouldn't be so overwhelming.

But this emotion overlapped with the numerous criticisms, hatred, and ostracism Eisel had experienced, creating a tidal wave of trauma.

Now it was okay.

Even in this lonely place full of people who despised and hated her, there was someone on her side.

"Does anyone have more questions?"

Eisel calmly countered the criticisms of the mages.

By this point, both the young mages attending the Aslan Seminar and the audience had come to realize: 'All the ice magic that existed until now will be completely revolutionized.'

'Not just the ice magic, but the definition of magic circles will change.'

From now on, Eisel's magic would redefine the ice magic of this world.

Moreover, with Eisel's introduction of the 'non-circular magic circle,' all elemental magic in the world would evolve into various forms.

Today, at that moment, Eisel had initiated a revolution in the history of magic.

"This is unbelievable. There must be something wrong."

Everyone felt this truth deeply, yet the mages couldn't bring themselves to admit it.

Many prestigious families specializing in ice magic were present. They were unwilling to accept that their magic was inferior to the mere extinct Morph Family's magic.

'This is not right. Magic circles must be circular.'

They struggled to find any flaws in Eisel's magic, but her logic only became more elegant with each attack.

Participants tried harder and harder to suppress her... but pushing too hard became laughable.

Beep! Beep!

Five minutes after the previous question, buttons signaling a 'chance to counter' lit up all over the place.

However, the host looked at someone in the crowd.

Princess Hong Bi-Yeon of Adolveit.

She, too, seized the opportunity to counter.

With her silver hair neatly arranged, Princess Hong Bi-Yeon slightly lifted her chin, wearing an arrogant expression.

It seemed to say, 'You think you'll counter? Give it a try if you dare,' causing the mages to quietly withdraw their chance to counter.

'These useless fools.'

Hong Bi-Yeon felt oddly uncomfortable. She had long realized that Baek Yu-Seol was creating this situation and atmosphere.

Once again today, Baek Yu-Seol had gone out of his way to help Eisel in an astonishing way.

During the presentation, when no third party could intervene, one had to solve everything on their own.

But how could anyone predict that he'd turn Eisel's momentum around by using 'counter questions' like this?

She had the habit of carefully observing and deeply contemplating Baek Yu-Seol's actions, allowing her to understand his moves faster and more accurately than anyone else.

"... Please speak."

When the opportunity to counter was given to Hong Bi-Yeon, Eisel calmly met her gaze.

Eisel, who coolly trampled on all the mages counter arguments and responded refreshingly, seemed entirely different from the Eisel who couldn't say a word earlier.

Perhaps... even if the mages criticized her further, it would only make Eisel shine even more.

She didn't want Eisel to completely twist this situation and devour the Aslan Seminar.

She had also prepared herself simply for this seminar.

So, she casually threw out a question to wrap up Eisel's thesis presentation.

"That's enough, now tell us the name of that magic."

The presentation of magic concluded by revealing the name of the new magic at the very end.

In essence, Hong Bi-Yeon signaled the end of this tedious debate.

Eisel sensed that the end was near, and briskly responded to Hong Bi-Yeon's question.

"It's Morph Crystal."

"Hmm!"

"Ahem..."

Upon hearing the name of the magic, some people coughed uncomfortably.

Eisel chose not to include her name but used the family name.

It didn't mean Eisel Morph intended to start anew as an individual named Eisel but rather that she would rise again as the daughter of the Morph Family.

However, her thirst for knowledge and curiosity as a mage didn't allow her to give up that magic.

Perhaps many mages would desire the magic containing the Morph name, and gradually, it might spread throughout society as Eisel desired.

It was an unprecedented event—there had never been one like it before, and there might never be another.

In the magical society, betrayal was considered the worst crime, and they were often buried in history.

Who would have thought that a 'traitorous family' could once again breathe life into the community?

It was a concept diametrically opposed to the definition of magic, turning the impossible into possible.

"... Interesting."

While everyone remained speechless, chairman Jiaryumon gazed at Eisel with shining eyes.

"I admire those who race toward the impossible. I hope you'll stay strong, Eisel Morph."

Bang! Bang!

As if implying that no vote was necessary, the Chairman Jiaryumon even tapped the 'Gavel of Pronouncement' himself.

With that, the declaration was made.

Eisel's new magic had been approved.