Early the next morning, on the roof of the Magic Association branch.
Naruto sat cross-legged in the western corner of the rooftop, with a dark blue-covered grimoire spread across his knees.
One hand supported his chin, while the other pressed against the open pages.
A scroll covered in symbols and text was also spread out on the ground in front of him.
He muttered the syllables of the Ancient Elf language under his breath, but got stuck halfway through, furrowing his brow as he went back to read it over again.
” Why is this section so twisted…
”
In the end, Naruto simply closed the book and switched hands to pick up the Flying Thunder God scroll.
By now, he had grasped most of its contents.
After becoming a bit more familiar with it, he would then customize weapons that could bear the Flying Thunder God Mark, and begin practical combat training.
According to the Nine-Tailed, his father’s Flying Thunder God Mark was carved onto a Kunai.
Naruto was also considering whether to customize the Kunai in the Ninja World or in the Magic World.
Just as he was zoning out while staring at the symbols on the scroll, footsteps came from behind him.
The footsteps were very light, as if deliberately slowed down, each step carrying hesitation.
Naruto then turned his head to look.
Lernen stood at the entrance of the rooftop, his short white hair blown back from his forehead by the morning breeze, revealing timid eyes.
He wore a clean light cyan robe, hands clasped in front of him, with a proper posture.
” Lord Naruto, good morning.
” Lernen slightly bowed, his voice very soft, ” Lord Serie instructed me to guide you in basic magic training.
”
” No need to call me Lord.
” Naruto moved the scroll aside, looked up, and grinned, ” Just call me Naruto.
”
Lernen’s brow twitched slightly.
He probably didn’t expect the other party to be so direct, froze in place for a moment, and then slowly nodded: ” Alright.
”
Then Lernen sat down next to Naruto, turning his head to look at the things spread out on the ground.
” These symbols…
” His gaze fell upon the dense symbols and text of the Flying Thunder God scroll, his brow furrowing slightly, ” Simply unheard of.
”
” This is Ninjutsu.
” Naruto looked along his line of sight, his tone casual, ” And it’s a subject I’m currently practicing.
”
” Ninjutsu…
” Lernen repeated the word, looking somewhat baffled.
Seeing him stare intently at the scroll, Naruto couldn’t help but chuckle: ” Well, isn’t it completely different from magic?
”
Lernen did not answer the question.
After watching for a long time, he straightened up, shifting his gaze from the scroll to Naruto’s face: ” I heard from Lord Serie that your talent is quite good, and you have already learned many magics. New chapters come out on g.com first.
”
” Yeah, Master also said I’m a genius.
” Naruto smiled with confidence.
” So…
” Lernen paused, gently clenched his hands on his knees, and then released them, ” How about I first teach you a Killing Magic and the corresponding Defense Magic?
”
” Killing Magic?
” Naruto swallowed hard.
Lernen read the tension in his expression and said softly: ” Please don’t be nervous.
”
” Killing Magic is the commonly used term in the continental Magic World, referring to the magic created by the great demon, Qual the Corruption Sage, which has killed countless people.
”
” Decades ago, Qual was sealed by the hero’s party, and the Mages of the continent began to study and analyze ‘Killing Magic’.
Today, it has become one of the mainstream offensive magics among Mages.
”
” Lord Frieren also made huge contributions to the research of Killing Magic.
” Lernen added with a bit more respect in his tone, ” Nowadays, a Defense Magic specifically designed to counter Killing Magic has also been born, though it is still constantly being perfected.
”
After listening, Naruto’s slight tension slowly dissipated, replaced by another emotion.
He leaned forward a bit, his eyes brightening up: ” I want to learn these two magics!
”
” Alright.
”
Lernen didn’t say anything more, instead raising his right hand with his palm facing up.
A light blue diamond-shaped block appeared above his palm, with sharp angles and a faint glow around its edges.
He turned his head to look at Naruto, his tone slightly softer than before: ” I will demonstrate it once first, watch closely.
”
…
For the rest of the day, Naruto spent his time on the rooftop learning these two magics.
Such long and sustained repeated practice caused Naruto’s magic power to deplete rapidly.
By the time the sky began to shift westward, he could no longer hold on, leaning backward and sprawling out ungracefully on the stone slab ground.
His eyelids were heavily drooped, and even the slightest thought made him feel dizzy.
Lying on the ground gasping for a long time, Naruto barely remembered that he could convert Chakra into magic power.
So he sank his consciousness in for a moment, converting the Chakra given by the Nine-Tailed as rent into magic power and injecting it into his body.
Seeing this, the Nine-Tailed snorted in the mental space, as if saying ‘ You consume too fast ‘.
But Naruto no longer had the strength to retort.
Sitting aside and watching his disheveled state, Lernen was silent for a moment before speaking: ” I didn’t expect Naruto…
your total magic power is so astonishing.
He paused halfway, swallowing the word ‘ Lord ‘ back down forcefully.
” Even I am far behind.
”
” And in just an afternoon, you have mastered these two magics to this extent…
No wonder Lord Serie values you so much.
”
Hearing this while lying on the ground, Naruto finally propped himself up on his elbows, turned his head to look at the shy older brother beside him.
At this moment, Lernen was gazing at the slowly reddening clouds on the distant horizon, his expression very quiet, quiet to the point of being lost in thought.
Naruto asked doubtfully: ” Big Brother Lernen, I always feel…
like you have something on your mind that is really bothering you?
”
Lernen’s shoulders moved slightly.
He did not turn his head immediately, keeping his gaze on that distant cloud for a while before slowly withdrawing it, letting it fall upon his clasped fingers with a bitter smile.
It was as if he had finally found someone he could confide in.
” I am merely an inexperienced young noble master.
”
” In the past, a good friend of mine named Duncan and I entered the imperial court to work as Mages together.
”
” Later on, because I was completely clueless about personnel matters…
I gradually lost my status.
”
” Not long ago, I came to this city from the empire.
”
” Duncan?
” Naruto recalled for a moment, then suddenly realized, ” Speaking of which, a few months ago when I was with Master, I also met a person named Duncan.
”
” That Duncan was wearing a monocle and eating with his wife.
They truly are a very happy couple.
”
Lernen raised his head, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes before returning to that gentle calm: ” He was indeed in this city during that time.
”
” Duncan’s love for his wife…
is truly impressive.
” He paused, his voice becoming a bit softer, ” On the day I left the court, Duncan was the only one who spoke up for me, even though it was of no use…
”
” But ever since then, I made up my mind that I must repay this favor.