The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 22

Dedicated Knight

[The Magic Tower? The one I know?]

Even during the Sage’s time, the Magic Tower existed. No matter how fossilized the Sage had become, it couldn’t have surpassed the history of an entire organization.

[Why is the Magic Tower, which should be devoted to research, here?]

In the Sage’s era, the Magic Tower might have just been a school or research institute for magic. Not being an expert in magic or history, he couldn’t be certain, but the Sage’s reaction served as the basis for his assumption.

“Leonardo, you are being arrested and detained as an 【illegal magic user】. Are you aware of this?”

Silence filled the room instead of an answer.

[What the hell… what’s illegal about using magic?]

…said the Sage, 【the essence of magic and the origin of all magic, the one who established modern magic】.

Honestly, Leo wanted to slap his knee and agree, but he felt the need to maintain decorum first.

“I understand, but I can’t agree.”

“Your agreement is irrelevant. We are the ones who determine that.”

After speaking so firmly, the two magicians from the Magic Tower sat down. Leo also took a seat, facing the two.

“I didn’t ask you to sit.”

Such unnecessary pomp.

“I am not a criminal. I haven’t been brought here as one. There’s no reason for me to be oppressed to the extent of not even being able to sit.”

“…That’s something we’ll find out.”

The magicians didn’t add anything further, seemingly out of things to say other than threats.

[So, are they just going to lock you up?]

Leo had come along quietly to minimize the scale of the incident. If he tried to escape, they would only become more determined to accuse him of crimes.

[So what are you going to do? Better talk your way out of it.]

That was his plan all along.

Of course, he intended to use the more refined term ‘defend’ instead of ‘talk’.

“You have the right to remain silent and to appoint a lawyer. Anything you say can be used as evidence. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand.”

As if waiting for his acknowledgment, the woman in the blue outfit handed Leo a few photos.

“Between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM, an assault incident using magic occurred in this alley. You are aware of this, correct?”

The photos showed the alley in various states of destruction. To top it off, the assassins of the Bloody Shadow lying around made the destruction even more evident.

“I am aware, but ‘assault’ is not the right term.”

He needed to take control of the situation first.

“For an assault using magic to be valid, I would have to have attacked using magic or intended to do so, which doesn’t align with the current situation.”

The three magicians around him slightly widened their eyes and mouths.

Naturally, Leo could not be knowledgeable about magic or the law. Due to his environment and interests, both fields were distant from him.

However…

If this involved laws related to crime and violence, the premise of the conversation would change.

“If one were to be ambushed or preemptively attacked, a magical counterattack would be permissible. This is called self-defense, is it not?”

They must have been flustered.

They probably began the interrogation based on at least three assumptions.

Leo knew how to use magic despite not being formally trained.
Leo did not know how to use magic and used unauthorized magical tools.
Leo used black magic and illegal magic.

Those assumptions were likely the limits of their imagination when dealing with a 13-year-old boy.

If they had predicted that Leo was a regressor who also possessed the Philosopher’s Stone, they would be beyond geniuses—they’d be madmen.

“If I am mistaken, please correct me. My lack of experience makes it hard to be certain.”

Even without a verbal answer, their expressions provided an excellent response.

“…Knowing that at your age is impressive, but as you said, you lack experience.”

[…Tsk, tsk…]

The Sage clicked his tongue several times, clearly irritated. Leo also felt significant discomfort but chose to endure it for now.

“Why can’t self-defense be established?”

“First, from the fact that you tortured the assassin Kahn…”

“A dedicated knight is obligated to identify additional threats to protect their master. Considering that, the torture was a necessary process.”

He gave them no time or space to think.

Although he lacked eloquence, the Magic Tower held overwhelming superiority in magical and legal knowledge.

Thus, he had to overwhelm them with his presence.

“Considering the damage to his right eye, and fractures to his jaw, nose, and cheekbone, not to mention the injuries all over his body…”

“If I hadn’t used magic to respond, I might have been treated just as brutally, if not worse.”

This wasn’t merely said to dominate.

In reality, if he hadn’t used magic, he couldn’t have been sure of victory. Leo’s win wasn’t because they were weak but because of the wildcard of magic that they hadn’t anticipated.

“…Then why did you use such magic?”

“What do you mean by such magic?”

“Are you feigning ignorance?”

The man in black handed the photos back. They showed the scorched ground, shattered stone spears, and walls marred by wind bullets.

“Can you still say that after seeing these?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“Using 3rd-circle magic in self-defense—do you think that’s reasonable?”

[…Hmm?]

“…Hmm?”

Leo and the Sage reacted identically, like looking at a decalcomania. Their synchronized response was so uncanny it was almost creepy.

“…What do you mean by that…?”

When Leo showed a confused reaction, the two magicians seized the opportunity to pounce on his words.

“Don’t think you can bluff your way out of this. The power and form are at least 2nd-circle.”

“According to the penal code, using unauthorized magic of 3rd-circle or higher can be prosecuted. In some cases, it could lead to imprisonment…”

“…Kuh…”

Leo barely suppressed his words and breathing. If either slipped out, it would be a grave mistake.

[Kuh…Kuhahahaha!!]

The Sage didn’t need to worry about such things and burst into laughter… but he had to hold it in for now.

“…What’s so funny? Don’t you understand the seriousness of the situation…”

“Hah… it’s because it’s 1st-circle.”

“…What? What are you…”

“The magic I used, and my circle level, are both 1st-circle.”

It felt subtly strange.

The reactions of the people from the Magic Tower, their sensitivity, and their response as if seeing black magic in a mere 1st-circle spell were indeed odd.

‘I initially thought it was just a simple threat… so that’s what it was.’

From the beginning, they hadn’t accused him of merely using 1st-circle magic, which was basic magic.

[So…! Kuh…! They mistook your magic for 3rd-circle…]

Their main purpose was to interrogate him about how he learned and used high-level 3rd-circle magic.

“Don’t lie! Are you mocking us?”

[He’s mocking himself with his own mouth.]

Leo wanted to respond exactly as the Sage did, but he couldn’t ruin his almost finished defense.

“Then shall I prove it?”

Leo raised one hand and projected a magic formula forward from his palm. As a result of his training in drawing diagrams, the magic circle for [Fireball] was constructed in less than a second.

“…What is this…”

“If you look at the magic formula alone, it’s a Fireball. Just the magic formula. If you find it hard to believe, check the mana in my body. You’ll find sufficient evidence.”

Thinking a bit more deeply, this power was also expected.

After all, the one teaching him was undoubtedly the 【essence of magic, the origin of all magic, the one who established modern magic】.

[Yes! This is what magic is!! Do you get it!? You poor wretches!!]

…Yes, this person was the ‘Sage.’

There was a suspicion, or rather a certainty, that he might be short for “Reality is a cesspool, kid.”

“…Then…! Who on earth taught you…?”

Leo glanced sideways at the very person in question.

[What? Why?]

The exalted teacher, feeling itchy in his ear, was scratching it with his pinky finger. Leo turned his eyes away, hoping it wasn’t the same finger used to pick his nose.

“I cannot say.”

It was, in a good way, a lie; in a bad way, perjury.

But Leo’s heart was as fine as sandpaper, too kind to crush the dreams and hopes of these young aspiring magicians.

***

[But why did you say it like that?]

The rough false testimony was as follows:

One day, Leo entered a cave to avoid the rain and met a man wearing a hood.

The man had been in the cave for days without food, and he asked Leo for some of his food and water.

After giving him food and water, the man, in gratitude, taught Leo magic.

Not long after, the man died of illness, and Leo buried him before continuing his journey.

…This story was a patchwork of events fit for a third-rate novel.

[Don’t you think you made me seem too pitiful? And what’s with me dying at the end?]

Honestly, the story had already been heavily embellished. If Leo had told the entire truth, the magicians would experience cosmic horror, tearing at their hair in an attempt to block their ears.

[Why are you looking at me like that?]

<…Anyway, it’s thanks to you, Sage, that I can use magic.>

Ultimately, it was thanks to the Sage’s magic that Leo could overcome the crisis. For this outcome, expressing gratitude was appropriate.

[…Good. As long as you know. But now, let me ask you something.]

The old Sage stroked his beard thoughtfully before speaking.

[How will you learn magic from now on?]

<…Magic? I’ll continue as I have been.>

What was the big deal?

[That’s not it, you fool. If you stick to that story, you won’t be able to learn 2nd-circle magic.]

Indeed, according to the current scenario, Leo couldn’t claim to have self-taught higher-level magic. Particularly, advancing to 2nd-circle magic couldn’t be explained away by self-study alone.

[A stand-in teacher?]

If someone pretended to teach Leo 2nd-circle magic, it would give him a plausible reason to learn it. Initially, he used magic to establish a pretext for this stand-in.

[Who is it? There are no magicians in the family.]

Leo stepped out through the iron door and pointed to the side.

A figure who had arrived via teleportation approached Leo.

With sly, narrow eyes and silver hair as elegant as Ariasphil’s, this person left a strong impression. The reason Leo was so well-versed in these legal matters was partly due to his mercenary work and largely because of this man.

[Hey, no way.]

The fool of the Reinhardt family, the eldest son, and…

Simultaneously, he was also a 4th-circle magician, Rios Reinhardt.

“You got out pretty early. Charming those old coots as expected from the Joke Assassin!”

Rios provoked him with those words and handed him a block of tofu wrapped in newspaper. Why he wrapped tofu, as fragile as pudding, in a newspaper was a mystery, but because it was Rios, Leo accepted it.

“In the East, they give you tofu when you get out. Enjoy it~”

“…Ah… okay.”

It was hard to argue anymore. He was hungry, so he might as well eat.

As he unwrapped the newspaper and took a bite of the tofu, a headline caught his eye.

“Joke Assassin subdues Bloody Shadow with magic joke technique…”

“…Damn it… cough…!”

The soft tofu, as delicate as pudding, blocked his windpipe, stopping his breath.

Before dealing with Jehad and the hidden mastermind, Leo fantasized about demolishing the newspaper office, causing his throat to repeatedly expand and contract.