The profession of a mage was, by and large, rather hysterical.
They were people who reads countless difficult books day and night to improve their skills.
With fewer opportunities to interact with others, their social skills naturally deteriorate, and it wouldn't be surprising if their personalities become twisted.
When they do finally achieve a higher level of skill, they often develop a sense of entitlement, wanting to be rewarded for all the hardship they endured, leading to arrogant behavior.
━After all the suffering I went through to become a mage, everyone should treat me with some respect!
That kind of attitude, right?
In that sense, I've heard that the prodigy of the White Mage Tower, Tefer, was a rather peculiar girl.
━Miss Tefer? She's a lively and kind person. Despite her outstanding abilities, she never boasts.
━She's very exemplary. Everyone should learn from Miss Tefer.
A genius who not only strives to be an example to others but was also kind and righteous in character—naturally, such a person would be very popular.
That's why she managed to achieve 4th place in the Ark's Summer Queen Contest.
Yet here she was, acting with unwarranted arrogance, completely out of character.
━Behold! The incarnation of mana!
"Ah…! So much power is draining from my tail…! Dordor's tail isn't listening…!"
When Tefer reached her hand into the air, the imps collapsed weakly to the ground with their tails raised high, as if they were antennas or lightning rods. 𝖗αꞐ𝔬฿ΕS̩
At the same time, a white orb appeared in Tefer's outstretched palm. It was about the size of a human head, but its brightness was akin to that of the sun.
Having recently reached a high level as a mage myself, I quickly realized that this was some sort of concentrated magic.
It was clear that she was absorbing the imps' magic and materializing it in her palm, like a Spirit Bomb.
「You have calmly judged the situation!
You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
━Did you notice? Absorbing the imps' magic to nourish myself—this is the proof of a king. The power to grow by using those beneath as sustenance…!
The orb in her palm grew larger, emitting an unsettling resonant hum. Realizing I couldn't just stand by, I quickly chanted a spell and aimed the tail wand at Tefer.
A bullet of air with the power of a Rank 3.
A projectile, strong enough to tear through skin and pierce bone if it hit a human body, shot towards Tefer.
But ten layers of petals formed around Tefer's body, blocking the bullet. Considering she was also an archmage, I somewhat expected her to block the attack.
However, my Air Bullet only managed to tear through one layer of Tefer's Mana Shield.
That shield was incredibly tough.
While I was momentarily taken aback, Narmi, who had been checking on the fallen imps, shouted at me.
"Tefer's a genius in defensive magic! Most attacks won't even faze her!"
Eh, a genius in defensive magic?
This means I'll need to increase the power and output even more.
I've recently been called a genius myself….
Losing in a duel between mages would be a disgrace. The problem was that the space we're in makes it hard to set up a proper one-on-one.
━What's all this commotion?
━Intruders! Intruders have entered the throne hall! Sound the alarm!
━All the captured imps have escaped! Recapture them!
Dang, dang, dang, dang-.
It seemed like the bandits had noticed our intrusion, as alarms started ringing and they began appearing from all directions. The one saving grace was that I had allies with me.
━Huh? Wh-why can't I move my body?
"Draco Necromancy—Shadow Bind! Hehe, how's that? You can't move with a dagger stuck in your shadow, right?"
"Reminds me of the old days. Should I try pulling the dagger out?"
Narmi and Stella, who had been conserving their strength until now, started to take on the bandits swarming from all directions.
━Th-these guys are strong! They're different from the intruders we've faced before!
━Call the boss! Get Gid-nim! Wake up the officers!
Narmi, who had been on the elite path, and Stella, who had honed her skills through countless experiences and battles, had no trouble dealing with the ragtag group of bandits with dubious origins.
Thanks to them, I could focus on my duel with Tefer, who called herself Solomon. It was reassuring to have reliable comrades watching my back.
As she observed the chaos, Tefer spoke.
━They are formidable allies. But soon, they will become my loyal subordinates.
━Yes, and you will be the same. It seems you possess considerable magic potential. Perhaps you are even more suited to be my vessel than this body.
A low hum resonating from the orb in Tefer's hand filled my ears.
Expecting a spell to be cast, I quickly reinforced my defense by extending the mana shield I had already prepared.
"Everyone, be careful!"
I felt a powerful shockwave hitting me from all sides.
It was as if multiple waves of force emanated from the orb, crashing repeatedly against my mana shield.
With each wave, one layer of my mana shield shattered, leaving only about five of the ten petals I had initially conjured. Still, I was in better shape than most.
Many of the bandits had either lost consciousness, been flung through the air, or smashed into the walls by the shockwave.