Became The Greatest Genius In History

Chapter 14 – Just Spend 100 Million

Erphs laughed heartily.

‘I heard you were a genius who solved the Millennium Problem, so honestly I thought you’d be gloomy, but you’re an extremely handsome young man!! It’s like seeing myself in my younger days!! Sending you that letter was truly the right decision!! I should praise my past self!!’

He was cheerful and energetic.

Among magicians, he had a rare extroverted personality.

‘Thank you.’

In contrast, Esther Tristida displayed the typical personality of a magician.

Quiet and concise.

Cold and rational.

‘You probably don’t like unnecessary conversation.’

Erphs smiled and sat down in a chair.

‘Yes. Thank you for coming here despite your busy schedule. I really wanted to have a conversation with you.’

‘It is my honor to meet the head of the Flame School, the Death Heat Magician.’

Death Heat Magician was the nickname given to Erphs, who could create the hottest and most painful flames in this world.

Erphs quite liked this nickname.

It had been a very long time since he was called by this name by others after becoming the Red Tower Master.

‘A nobleman before a magician.’

From his attire to each of his mannerisms, everything was noble and classical.

‘I heard he was called the Fallen Young Lord.’

Erphs had already collected all related information before Esther arrived.

Among the magicians of the Flame School, there were quite a few friends like Aria who worked in the Tristida autonomous territory.

‘There’s something I’d like to ask you, if that’s alright?’

Esther nodded.

‘I understand that the Blue Tower Master also sent you a letter. May I ask why you chose to visit the Red Tower first?’

Esther spoke concisely.

‘To receive the reward for solving the Millennium Problem.’

‘Oh.’

‘Also.’

Esther pointed to his heart.

‘Among all the letters I’ve received, you seemed to understand best what I want.’

The Red Tower and the Blue Tower tend to view each other as rivals.

Though they weren’t on bad terms.

Erphs was quite pleased that Esther had chosen the Red Tower.

‘First, I have something to show you.’

He handed Esther a brilliantly shining mint-colored bar.

‘Mithril.’

‘Yes. Mithril.’

Mithril is one of the most valuable metals in this world.

Objects that can contain mana are extremely rare in this world, and mithril is one of them.

This metal has the property of absorbing surrounding mana, to the extent that 1kg can absorb an amount equivalent to what 10 magicians possess.

Mithril that has absorbed enough mana transforms into the hardest metal in the world.

This completed mithril is used in the creation of artifacts, weapons, and military equipment.

It was a metal valued like gold due to its limited supply and inversely proportional enormous demand.

‘This is 100g of mithril. A treasure worth about 100 million credits at current market rates. It could sell for even more. A just reward for someone who solved the Millennium Problem. However.’

Esther didn’t even blink.

Even though it was money that even a child of the Tristida family couldn’t easily touch.

‘Hahahahaha!!’

What he wanted was clearly obvious.

There was no reason to drag things out.

‘Shall we get to the point?’

‘Yes.’

‘You have an incredible magical understanding. Truly at a remarkable level. The fact that you could propose the theory for the Hellfire reproduction…’

Erphs lifted his teacup.

‘It means you are a far more extraordinary being than this old tower master sitting here.’

‘You flatter me.’

‘I’ve heard that you were unable to use any magic at the Tristida mansion.’

Erphs knew the reason as soon as he saw Esther.

The old man had a special eye.

It was the Measuring Eye (測眼) that could detect the residual mana in others.

Esther had no mana.

Seeing that there was no sign of it being generated, it was a congenital mana deficiency syndrome.

‘I understand the reason. And why you responded to my letter. No matter how great your magical understanding is, without mana, it’s difficult to live as a magician.’

‘…’

‘This Erphs will solve your congenital mana deficiency syndrome. A reward for the genius who solved the Millennium Problem. Of course, it will take some time. The process of placing artificial channels is difficult. It’s a procedure that will put considerable strain on your body.’

Esther Tristida nodded.

‘Have you decided on a school?’

‘No.’

‘Then how about joining the Flame School? Our school is never conservative. We can support all the research you want to do.’

The Flame School mainly researched magic related to war or destruction.

If the genius before him joined the Flame School, tremendous masterpieces would be born.

Erphs felt his mouth going completely dry.

‘To think I’d be nervous in front of a child at this age.’

Esther’s talent was real.

He had thought Ethila Bedford was the talent closest to transcendence, but his thinking changed when the boy solved this Millennium Problem.

‘A talent unprecedented in the history of the kingdom, no, the entire continent.’

The goal of all magicians is to reach transcendence.

The basic framework of magic is to cause miracles.

For a specific phenomenon to occur in the universe, causality is needed.

For fire to emerge, fuel and heat are needed, and for lightning to be generated, charges within clouds must separate and discharge.

Like this, there are absolute rules in the world.

But magic can completely ignore those rules.

Because it can replace all these principles and processes with spells and mana.

A miracle.

The old man who had reached the position of Red Tower Master was convinced that there was no word more fitting for magic than this.

They study magic throughout their lifetime.

If mages are bows, then magic is the arrow.

How far the arrow shot at the cost of one’s life can reach depends on the mage’s own capability.

All mages commonly hope that the arrow they shoot will reach transcendence.

Nothing is impossible for magic.

Impossibility exists only for humans.

The way humans can come closest to omnipotence.

That was magic.

Erphs wanted to witness the infinite possibilities that the 15-year-old boy before him could reach.

However.

‘I have no particular intention of living as a mage. I’m sorry, but I must decline your offer.’

Thud- Erphs’s heart sank.

‘What…?’

‘I said I’m declining your offer.’

‘No, before that.’

‘I said I have no intention of living as a mage.’

What had he just heard?

A genius who could change the landscape of the magical world saying he wouldn’t become a mage…?

‘Why, WHY!?’

‘Being a mage isn’t particularly my dream.’

‘If you want to succeed as the head of the Tristida family, in this Red Tower…’

‘I don’t particularly dream of becoming the family head either.’

Erphs had been prepared to accept rejection.

He thought it was too early for a young boy to decide which school of magic to study.

He was even ready to accept if the boy said he wanted to join another school.

It would sting his pride a bit, but that would be an unavoidable fate.

But.

‘With this extraordinary talent, you say you won’t become a mage…?’

Esther never revealed the reason.

‘It seems our conversation is over.’

‘W-wait!!’

Erphs tried to persuade Esther.

‘Being a mage, you see, is truly a remarkable profession. It’s such a special existence that one cannot become it without knowledge and talent, even if they wanted to.’

‘I think so too.’

The hearty ‘Ha-ha-ha-ha!’ he had shown at their first meeting had completely disappeared.

He continued to list the advantages of being a mage in an urgent voice.

Right now, Erphs resembled less the magnanimous Red Tower Master and more a grandfather trying his best to persuade his grandchild.

‘You could revolutionize the magical world!! This Red Tower Master guarantees it!! Are you truly not considering the path of magic!?’

Esther shook her head.

‘For me, magic is merely a means to an end. The same goes for the successor trial I’m currently undertaking. Everything is just a means to an end for me.’

Esther’s words were enough to stimulate Erphs’ imagination.

But no suitable answer came forth.

He remained silent for a while, lost in thought.

***

I have Nob AI.

Difficult spells? Just use an ‘expert’ and say ‘do it’ and it’s done.

Self-protection? Use the ‘automatic protection program’ and say ‘do it’ and it’s done.

Of course, I could use Nob AI to solve the remaining Millennium Problems and conduct amazing magical research, but why should I bother spending time on that?

If I just get through this successor trial well, I could live comfortably in my room reading trashy novels.

I already had the reputation of solving a Millennium Problem, and didn’t I also solve the issue that had the Steel Lion Knights struggling?

Isn’t a happy life just enjoying moderate power and glory until death?

Honestly, everyone prefers the life of someone who made 30 billion with cryptocurrency, bought buildings, drives foreign cars, and lives comfortably over the life of a famous conglomerate chairman like brother Jaedragon, right?

Free riding, what a wonderful sound.

‘Ah, but 100 million is a bit of a waste…’

Maybe I should have just asked them not to treat me.