By the time the practical exams ended and the silence of night descended upon the Academy—
Professor Merlin was buried in a mountain of documents in his office. His breath was shallow, and his face was flushed with a frantic sort of excitement.
He couldn't get the image out of his head.
The spell 'Lightning Bolt'—
The sheer power behind the Lightning Bolt Albert von Kronstadt unleashed had been staggering. The defensive wards woven into that target dummy were substantial; even among the Academy’s faculty, few could produce such raw force.
And yet, a fifteen-year-old boy had pulled it off.
It was beyond a joke.
(No, that isn’t it. That isn’t the point...)
True, there were wizards who could produce similar levels of destruction. But the true value of that abnormality wasn't found in its power.
(How could a mere 'Lightning Bolt' produce that much force...?)
Among the spells used to conjure lightning, it was classified as low-class magic.
Naturally, a spell’s potency fluctuated based on the user's mana. Given that Albert was an extraordinary individual, it was logical that he would possess an equivalent level of destructive power.
However, even that logic had its limits.
Magic was governed by 'Magic Rank,' and the ceiling for a spell's output and effect was strictly bound by that rank. Low-class magic had low-class limits.
(And yet, Albert’s spell defied those laws!)
There had to be some kind of intentional manipulation involved.
Merlin mentally replayed the scene over and over, chewing on every detail. He could still see that vivid white brilliance as if it were seared into his retinas. As he obsessively recalled the moment, a passage from a specific text suddenly drifted through his mind.
『The lightning cast by that woman was as the sun itself. The night sky shone as white as day. The very air in its path was scorched away, and all it touched evaporated.
When I asked if this was the renowned "Chain Lightning of Divine Punishment," the woman merely laughed. "Ho-ho-ho," she replied.
"This is but a fragment of my anger— Merely a slap, is it not?"』
To confirm his memory, Merlin began tearing through his vast library.
Eventually—
"Found it..."
He traced the passage with a trembling finger. As he read the words, he compared them to the scene he had witnessed earlier that day.
(It’s the same.)
A bolt of lightning so bright it dyed the night white. It was exactly as the text described.
Of course, there were differences. Primarily, the scale of the power. While Albert’s Lightning Bolt was certainly unconventional, it was nowhere near the level of the description in the book. If that were the case, could it be something else?
(...No, is that precisely what "Magic Rank" signifies?)
It wasn't strange that even a genius like Albert couldn't replicate the full power of her magic.
—Because that woman was the Demon King.
She was an existence from the distant past who had plunged the world into the Sea of Chaos and challenged all of humanity to war. It was only natural that Albert’s strength would pale in comparison to hers.
(But if that was magic once wielded by the Demon King—)
Then the abnormality made sense.
Merlin remained half-skeptical, however. He couldn't ignore the fact that Albert had explicitly chanted the spell 'Lightning Bolt.' When exercising magic, one had to use the designated incantation.
(If he called it a 'Lightning Bolt,' then it must be a 'Lightning Bolt.' And yet...)
His intuition told him otherwise. That was no standard spell. He felt a nagging sensation that the pieces of the puzzle weren't quite fitting together.
(...Albert, are you truly using Ancient Magic?)
The suspicion didn't stop there.
—That boy was an enigma through and through.
The depth of insight and knowledge required to produce a thesis for which the strict Merlin would award 150 points out of 100 was staggering. His academic devotion was equally freakish; he had achieved perfect scores in every single subject, not just Ancient History.
He was the polar opposite of the rumors surrounding the "prodigal son."
Without a doubt, he possessed a terrifying amount of talent. He was truly a successor worthy of the Kronstadt heterochromia.
He has mastered Ancient Magic—
As ridiculous as that hypothesis sounded, it seemed plausible when applied to that man.
(If he has truly mastered Ancient Magic, he is a significant threat. For the safety of the Academy, I must uncover the truth.)
To do that, he needed concrete evidence.
Merlin stood up and began pacing the room, organizing his thoughts.
(I need a decisive situation to test him.)
How could he corner Albert? How could he catch him in a moment where he couldn't hide his true nature? Hypotheses swirled through Merlin’s mind like a storm.
"I can’t wait any longer. I must confront him."
He would expose the true nature of the human being known as Albert von Kronstadt.
This is a task only I can perform, as a specialist in Ancient History—
Deep within his heart, Merlin felt a sense of duty ignite.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
—Midnight.
A lone girl stood at the Academy’s training ground.
It was Luna, a commoner scholarship student.
In a silence broken only by the pale moonlight, Luna stood at the center of the field. Her gaze was fixed on the target dummy that remained from the day's practical exam.
(Lord Albert’s... Lightning Bolt...)
The scene flashed vividly in her mind’s eye. The lightning had burst forth like a divine spark, obliterating the target dummy.
Even Victor, one of the elite students, couldn't leave a scratch on it despite his advanced magic.
—Overwhelming destruction. —Unrivaled power.
Something smoldered deep within Luna’s chest.
(Incredible... It was too incredible...!)
The memory of that merciless, brilliant strike refused to leave her. Her heart wouldn't stop racing.
(Ah... how beautiful...)
A faint smile touched Luna’s lips. With an expression bordering on ecstasy, she clasped her hands against her chest.
(If only I had that power—)
Revenge.
Revenge against the Demon Race.
The burning hatred for the monsters that had slaughtered her family consumed her.
(If I had that power, I could...!)
She could see her ideal so clearly. And yet, her current reality was—
"Spell 'Lightning Bolt'."
Electricity sparked from Luna’s outstretched hand. The bolt struck the dummy’s chest and dispersed with a weak crackle.
"...No, this isn't it. This is all wrong!"
Luna stared at her right hand, her expression twisting into something hideous.
It wasn't even worth comparing to the lightning Albert had unleashed. The faint light that barely flickered in the dark, the pathetic weakness of being neutralized by the dummy—everything about it was wrong.
No matter how much she pondered it, the logic escaped her. Why did his 'Lightning Bolt' possess such immense power?
"Lord Albert must be hiding a secret..."
She had to know. Whatever the cost, she had to find out.
(I have to become stronger. To avenge my family. So that I never have to lose someone precious to me again—)
Luna thirsted for power. She refused to remain weak. She had been granted a glimpse of the ideal strength she required.
Albert’s power was her salvation.
A small smile curled her lips once more. It wasn't the innocent, bright smile she had worn upon her enrollment. This was something darker, pregnant with a dangerous, unsettling intensity.
"I will make it mine. No matter what."
Luna’s whisper echoed softly through the midnight air.
Cast by the moonlight, her shadow stretched long across the earth before disappearing into the gloom.