The Undying Magician - Book 5 - Chapter 14

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Nathan
Year 2851 | Month 5 | Day 4

There are a few things that I quickly learn about the general political situation in the outside world.

For one, while they do have immense influence, the Emperor of the Empire of Maltar and the Chairwoman of the Melcians are not feared. So the nations amongst those attending that have more power than the average nation don’t fear them enough to stay away while the two are with me.

However, the President of the Voltanian Republic is different.

They all fear her to the point of not approaching me while she is nearby. Which makes her a rather convenient shield against them.

And she seems perfectly happy to act as a shield for me. Keeping most of the other representatives and rulers away from me.

She even helps me get away from the other two rulers of the Alliance.

“Thank you for your help,” I tell her with a faint smile, to which she nods as she takes a sip of wine. With the two of us standing on a balcony looking out over the city.

Then the two of us just stand in silence taking in the scenery.

Neither of us are very talkative, so she makes for a good conversation partner at this banquet.

After some time of silence though, someone builds up the bravery necessary to approach. Which surprises both me and the president next to me as we turn to glance at the approaching man.

Only to find a man in his forties or so approaching me. One that look rather familiar in appearance.

He looks a lot like Juan. And he clearly has fire mana judging by his flaming eyes and bright red hair.

In fact, he looks like a much younger version of Juan.

The man has long hair though, which is different from Juan. And he is wearing a set of black and red – mostly red – armor instead of a suit.

I glance at the president to find her eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the man. Following which I look back at him again to find him with a straight face as he says, “Greetings, Undying Magician Nathan Fox, I am Jorge Sequani. The son of Juan Sequani and the current ruler of the Hall of Fire.”

Right. I almost forgot that Juan said his family would be greeting me at the opening ceremony to give me money.

“If you may spare the time later, I will transfer the funds Father wishes to give you then,” Jorge says without any change to his expression. “We may talk further about the relationship between you and the Hall of Fire then.”

After that he just nods his head once and walks away in silence.

Hmm…

From what I’ve researched about them, the Hall of Fire is one of the most powerful nations outside of the Alliance. To the point of them being strong enough that the Alliance takes issue with them sometimes.

They’re too strong in the Alliance’s eyes.

It interferes with the Alliance’s plans of complete domination over the other nations.

The president turns back to look out over the city again, to my surprise. She doesn’t even ask anything about my relationship with the Hall of Fire.

I turn to look out at the city below as well before waiting a few minutes and asking, “You’re not going to say anything?”

“Your affairs are your own,” she answers seemingly without any interest in the matter. “And I have nothing against the Hall of Fire myself. So long as they do not attack us.”

Huh. She’s different from what I’ve heard.

I purse my lips while staring at her for a second before turning to look out at the city.

This means I should probably look at the politics here beyond just the public image of these rulers.

Something else I’ve heard about the Hall of Fire is that they are even bigger on worshiping fire than Juan and Natra are. But they don’t strongly discriminate against other affinities quite as much.

They simply feel that fire is superior. They don’t look down on people who use other affinities at all.

It’s just that fire is better to them.

Nothing more, nothing less.

They practically act like a religion. Just like the two religious nations.

Except that instead of worshiping a god, they worship fire itself.

Most nations don’t really have religions nowadays though. Since mana has largely proven that it is responsible for everything in our world.

Some people still claim that mana was created by gods, but since almost all magicians are scientists at their core, they choose to ignore unprovable opinions like that.

And magicians dominate the world. So what they say goes for most places.

I let out a sigh at that before turning around when the First Tower Master begins speaking, his voice echoing throughout the hall, “Welcome one and all to the Opening Ceremonies of the Tower Master Trials! We shall now finally announce the first trial of this round of trials!”

My eyes narrow a little at that as I watch the First Tower Master rising into the air with blood flowing all around him.

Blood that has me feeling slightly hungry with my eyes flaring ever so slightly.

They still haven’t announced until now what exactly the new first trial will be. Since they changed the first trial this time for my benefit. So that I can actually pass it.

But what did they change it to?

“The new first trial for this round is the Mana Pressure Trial!” the First Tower Master declares, his voice echoing throughout the room. “During this trial, all the trial goers will be placed under the mana pressure of over a dozen Class S magicians with myself included. And to pass the trial they must survive to the end of the ten minute period under the pressure without activating their red card to escape.”

I blink at that before feeling the corner of my lips quirking upwards a little.

That’s one way to do things.

It’ll make it easy for me to pass the trial, albeit with a lot of pain and discomfort, while still ruling out people who are not Class S magicians from passing the trial.

I’d have to purposefully give up to fail the trial.

I take a sip of wine.

That’s good.