The Book Eating Magician Chapter 59:

Veronica’s Special Training #1

It was just as Veronica said . The two of them stopped at a place Theodore was familiar with .

They were at the five stadium Pentarium where the Pupil Tournament had taken place . Veronica entered the central stadium where the final match had been held . The person who seemed like the caretaker opened the door as soon as they saw Veronica’s face .

Maybe she had come here more than once or twice .

“Isn’t there much more space here than at the Magic Society? It is usually used as a training ground or a place to demonstrate magic when a tournament isn’t occurring,” Veronica explained as she stretched her flexible limbs .

She wasn’t wearing much under her red robes . As every movement she made revealed a part of her body, Theo didn’t know where to look .

It was like she had no idea how provocative she was being as she continued her explanation . “The best solution to the disharmony you are experiencing is to completely reproduce the situation at the time your circles increased, but that isn’t possible . So, we will use the second way . ”

“…What is it?” Theo asked while trying look unconcerned . It was hard for his gaze to not rest on specific areas of her body .

“It is simple . In the end, the disharmony is a discrepancy between the body and the mind, so we just need to make it into one . ”

Once the warm up was completed, Veronica stopped stretching her limbs and stood in place . Her stance seemed to reveal gaps all over her body . However, Alfred’s sensory perception was crying out the reverse: those gaps were dangerous . Theodore accepted the contradictory analysis .

Veronica smiled when she saw Theo instinctively lower his posture .

“I will help you reach the limit . ” Shortly after she said this, the heat around Veronica’s body began to boil

Huuwoook…!

The ground turned red, and the hot wind blew into the air . Due to the wind pressure, her red robes were fluttering .  Awe filled Theodore’s eyes as his skin tingled despite the distance .

‘She isn’t intentionally doing this . She is just releasing her magic power…!’

It wasn’t a special phenomenon . A magician who reached a certain level would naturally affect the environment . For example, water never dried up around the Blue Tower, and the White Tower always had a breeze around it . Additionally, snow would never accumulate around the Red Tower .

However, this was on a different scale . Even if dozens of senior magicians gathered together, they would only cause the temperature to rise or drop a little bit . However, Veronica was burning like a living flame!

Her voice resonated in the haze, “Then kid, do you want to play with me?”

She only looked at him, yet there was a blast of hot wind .  Theo got rid of the hot wind with simple wind magic and responded to Veronica, whose form was unclear . He said, “Spar? With you?”

“I’ll give you some concessions . I won’t use magic of the 5th Circle and above, and I won’t attack in any direction other than the front . I will adjust my strength too, so don’t worry . ”

One of the two greatest magicians in the Meltor Kingdom was right before him, so Theo’s concentration level reached its peak . Even if she attached 100 types of penalties, she wasn’t a person he could face easily .

In general, 7th Circle magicians were on the same level as a sword master, and Veronica’s power was one step beyond that . So, Theodore couldn’t fathom it .  However, despite his sober judgment, he could feel his spirit boiling . “I understand . ”

Her titles, as being one quarter dragon as well as an 8th Circle magician, were brilliant, but Theodore was the owner of a grimoire . He wouldn’t shrink back just because of his opponent’s name .  Regardless of victory or defeat, this was a chance to test things out . It would be nice to make Veronica’s relaxed face look shocked .

‘I will try it once . ’

It was possible to spar with Veronica if Theo combined Gluttony’s third function with Battle Song . He would see if it was effective or not .

Theo looked down at his left hand and was reminded of the ability which had awakened .

 

[Grimoire “Gluttony” / D Rank]

[One of the seals containing Gluttony’s power has been removed . From now on, Gluttony will tell you the origin of the artifact or chant a spell in a voice which can’t be heard by anyone else . The former owners called this feature as ‘Another,’ but you can change the name if you want .

* ‘Another’ activates magic with the user’s magic power . However, magic which hasn’t been mastered by the user isn’t available . ]

 

It was a ridiculous ability . The ability, ‘Another,’ which had been unlocked from the third seal, was literally a cheat .

For magicians, there was always the risk that they would be attacked while chanting a spell . It was highly likely for the magician to fail in the chant if they were moving . However, a magician who stood still would be exposed to attacks .

So, if Theo’ had ‘Another,’ he would be able to use magic without any risk .

‘It is also possible to apply it this way!’

Five circles revolved within Theo’s body . He used his shaky 5th Circle as an aid while building up the magic formula of ‘Blaze Shell’ within his other four circles . Simultaneously, the mouth on his left hand chanted the spell for ‘Catapult’ in a voice which only Theo could hear . It was Theodore’s strongest Fusion Magic, ‘Volcanic Shell,’ which he’d used in the final match of the tournament .

‘It is magic similar to Memorize, but-’

It was possible to complete the two magics in an instant, as if there were two people .

“Volcanic Shell!” As soon as a giant rock emerged, red flames appeared around it .

The combination of mass and firepower was more intense than before thanks to the aid of the 5th Circle . It could destroy any 5th Circle defense magic with one blow, and Theo shot it without any hesitation .

Veronica extended her hand with a nonchalant expression . “Oho, is that Fusion Magic?”

There was no chance to be impatient as the Volcanic Shell flew towards her . Magic power surged around her palms, and a red flaming spear popped out . The spear shot forward like a flash of light and pierced the shell .

Kuwaaang!

The pieces of shattered stone scattered in every direction . Fire Spear was just a 4th Circle magic, but Veronica had made it stronger . Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to destroy Volcanic Shell in a frontal move like that .

Veronica truly was going to use only 4th Circle magic . She deemed it would be enough to overwhelm Theo .  At that moment, dark smoke filled the stadium, and there was a temporary lull .

Huuk!

Suddenly, a human shape shot out from the smoke .  It was faster than it seemed, and Veronica involuntarily let out a sound, “Eh?”

She’d expected Theo to use magic to cover her field of vision and drag her into close combat, but his speed was too fast . Even if he used Battle Song, those weren’t the movements of a magician .  It was an acceleration speed allowed only for Theodore, who had mastered the full version .

‘Battle Song .

‘Sonata of Speed .

‘Vivace . ’

Theo ran like he was just grazing against the ground . He wouldn’t have achieved this speed if he hadn’t received some of Lee Yoonsung’s abilities .  With a perfect center of gravity, Theo’s body neared Veronica and leapt forward like a thunderbolt . Then he used the momentum to knee her in the abdomen!

Paaang!

There was a heavy sound, and Veronica took a few steps back . She couldn’t believe that a man’s knee had hit her as the impact was so powerful . The attack had forced Veronica to leave her spot .  However, instead of taking joy from his successful hit, Theo turned pale after the collision . ‘…What, this feeling?’

At the moment of conflict, a devastating image passed through the mind of the attacker, Theodore .  It felt like a child’s fist hitting a wall several meters thick or like a young child going against a heavily armed infantry unit .

Unsurprisingly, a strange smile flashed on Veronica’s face . “Good, isn’t this pretty exciting?”

Theo felt a sense of impending crisis from Veronica’s beautiful voice .

He moved as soon as he felt a chill go down his spine . Theo wasn’t late because he had jumped back desperately .

Peeng! The air burst due to her fist .

Theo had seen this scene during his synchro with Lee Yoonsung . It was a fist which could shatter a rock in one hit, crossing the barrier of sound . His bones would break from that strike, even if he activated Battle Song .

As one quarter dragon, the blood flowing through Veronica’s body gave her an ability equivalent to an aura user .

“Good movements . Haven’t you become a completely different person in 10 days? Why is it that I get so curious every time I see you? You are the best!”

“That— tha—nk— you,” Theodore replied through clenched teeth .

Veronica’s hand-to-hand combat skills were terrible . She did nothing aside from punch or kick . Even so, the absurd strength and speed of her attack made it beyond the level of a human .

In the first place, techniques were just for efficiency . It was what the weak studied to figure out how to defeat the strong . However, Veronica had been born with sufficient strength, so techniques were unnecessary for her .

‘I can’t fight her in close combat! Widen the distance!’ Lee Yoonsung’s experience and Alfred’s intuition told him this .

Veronica’s combat skills were bad, but there was no way for him to win in close combat . The analysis was contradictory, but it was reality .  While escaping, Theo prepared magic with ‘Another’ and aimed his right hand at the approaching fist .

‘Memorize .

‘All Slots Open .

‘Double Blaze Shell . ’

Two fireballs shot out hastily .

“You can use magic while moving?” Veronica’s eyes widened with surprise . Interest and surprise filled her golden eyes as the two fireballs headed towards her . “But it won’t work!”

Wind Cutter was invoked with a single gesture . Countless gusts of wind overlapped and broke the two shells .

Despite the 4th Circle magic being destroyed by 2nd Circle magic, Theo was able to achieve his purpose of widening the distance between them . Veronica approached Theodore but suddenly stopped moving .

She smiled brightly and clapped several times . “Wow, amazing! Learning the Battle Song in 10 days… Your movements are great as well . Moreover, you can use Fusion Magic and even cast while moving . This is enough to take down a few 6th Circle magicians that I know . ”

She was praising him . However, Theo just listened instead of rejoicing .  The result was that he’d failed to land a single strike on Veronica, and he hadn’t reached his limits . Talking in the middle of this situation meant there was something else .

She brushed away the dust on her robe as she spoke, “But that isn’t enough . Kid, do you still have any other means left? You will only feel the limit after using everything possible . ”

“I also heard it from the Blue Tower Master . Didn’t you reproduce Alfred’s Magic Missile? Even if Alfred returned alive, he won’t be able to beat me . He isn’t a match for me . ”

As she spoke, Veronica threw off her robe . “From now on, prepare to die . I’ll make you regret going in front of me . ”

Red magic power rose from her body like lava .

Ku ku ku kung…

The violent presence swelled even more . Veronica had intentionally activated her dragon blood . This meant the scale of her power before couldn’t even be compared to what Theodore had previously experienced .

Even people a few kilometers away would flee from this presence . Any sickly person in the Pentarium might have their heart stop beating .

Standing before her, Theo raised his finger . “I will surprise you once more . ”