After leaving Beast-Head Village, the group continued northwest.
During that time, Norn and Erik improved rapidly in magic. They could already skillfully use a spell like Light Arrow, though neither had learned the highest-level tracking magic or Light Pillar Magic.
However, at that moment, the two of them made completely opposite decisions.
"Norn, have you really made up your mind?"
Looking at Norn before him, Rhode asked sternly.
Just moments ago, Norn had said that he would no longer study more advanced magic.
"Yes, I've made up my mind."
"May I ask why?"
Rhode was somewhat puzzled.
In his view, Norn absolutely had the talent to become a powerful mage.
It might take decades at this stage. That might mean little to a long-lived race like elves, but for humans, it could be an entire lifetime.
But the investment would be worthwhile.
If a powerful mage suddenly emerged among weak humanity, he would surely leave a deep mark on this Mythical era.
"That doesn't seem like a decision you would make."
After traveling together for some time, Rhode had thought he understood Norn well enough.
Norn was somewhat like him, someone who considered the humans of this world.
Yet he was not Rhode, because Rhode was nowhere near as thoughtful and thorough as he was.
The two of them were destined to reach different endings.
Just as a king traveled alongside a Sage.
The Norn before him possessed the qualities of a king. That was obvious from how he had once managed his village in perfect order.
"Our human lives are too short. I don't have the luxury of spending so much time becoming stronger.
Rather than having my own name remembered, I want more people to know of humanity as a race, instead of having us be stared at like that Beast-Head Village before.
And not everyone can learn advanced magic, so I only need to refine basic magic and let more people learn it."
Rhode smiled.
Not mockingly. He simply wanted to laugh.
"Then what if there are humans like you, with sufficient talent for magic? Would you only teach them the most basic magic as well?
If humanity only knows basic magic, then we would merely go from being a weak race to one worth mentioning. That would not change the situation at all, would it?
If we do not possess sufficiently powerful force, how will you resist the oppression and even bullying of other races?
Norn, I'm sorry, but I cannot agree with your idea.
If you want to prove yourself, then defeat me. Defy the will I have imposed on you, and walk your own path!"
Rhode had his own selfish motives.
He hoped Norn could become stronger.
Not everyone could make basic magic blossom into something extraordinary. This was not the future; basic magic was simply basic magic, without so many variations.
With ideals like his own and such great strength, the two of them could better help the humans of this era.
Yet Norn was now saying that he wanted to give up becoming a powerful mage. Rhode could not allow that, and he did not hesitate to use an exceedingly forceful tone.
Anyone with eyes could see that Norn's chances of defeating Rhode were minuscule.
Rhode was stronger than him, stronger than everyone in this team except Serie.
What he lacked was only accumulated mana and combat experience. Even Serie had noticed that Rhode was gradually growing stronger, and might even surpass her someday.
Therefore, Norn knew that Rhode's demand was something fundamentally impossible to fulfill.
Since that was the case, he decided to persuade him instead.
"I am not giving up on becoming stronger, Mr. Rhode. I will still choose the path of a warrior. You know that my talent for magic is not as outstanding as Erik's. Wouldn't another path offer broader horizons?"
"Oh, I understand. I understand. So you are going to betray me, betray the noble profession of mage, and become one of those warriors covered in useless muscles?"
Rhode's strange tone made Norn want to laugh, but he ultimately held it in.
He merely grumbled inwardly that if Mr. Kraft heard that, he would definitely show Rhode the sheer numerical beauty of a warrior.
Mages?
They were nothing but fragile glass cannons!
Norn took a deep breath and looked Rhode in the eyes. "Mr. Rhode, I am not betraying the profession of mage. I want more people to be able to become mages."
Human strength had its limits.
Becoming a qualified warrior was not difficult, but becoming a powerful mage required the accumulation of time.
That did not mean warriors were inferior to mages.
It was simply that as time accumulated, a mage's mana would continuously grow, allowing him to use more numerous and more powerful spells.
Human physical limits determined the upper limit of warriors. Norn's talent was plainly there; he could never become a stat monster like that Blue Horse.
"As for advanced magic, Erik is still here. His talent is better than mine, and he will definitely become a powerful mage."
"Sigh, placing your hopes in someone else is not a wise choice."
"But he is not someone else. He is my friend and companion, isn't he?"
At last, Rhode understood Norn's thoughts.
Norn did not want to devote all his effort to becoming a powerful mage. Instead, he wanted to study the most basic magic so that humanity could learn magic more easily.
Rhode truly had overlooked that point.
Thinking back on it, ever since Norn began creating magic books, he seemed to have been working toward this goal.
It seemed he had come prepared.
First, he would create a magic book belonging to humans. Then he would research and refine his basic magic before incorporating those improvements into the book, allowing people to become mages more easily.
As for those who wanted to go further, that would depend on whether they could understand the two sentences at the beginning of the book.
Magic was not merely learned; it was created through innovation.
Failure was the mother of success.
Even if they could not understand them, Erik's advanced magic would still serve as a fallback.
"It seems you and Erik have already made your choices."
"Yes. He will continue walking the path of a mage."
"Sigh, children grow up eventually. They will have their own lives."
"Mr. Rhode, please do not use such a strange analogy." Norn maintained a polite smile.
"Call me Rhode. I understand what you mean now."
Sure enough, Rhode was someone like him.
That was what Norn thought to himself.
Only someone like that could understand his meaning so quickly.
To be honest, Norn himself felt that his request was somewhat ungrateful. The other man had been willing to teach him magic unconditionally, yet he was saying that he did not intend to learn it. It was practically refusing to give Rhode any face at all.
But fortunately, Mr. Rhode was a good person.
Before Norn could finish feeling sentimental, the good person Rhode gave him another shock.
"Since that's the case, Norn, let's create a nation belonging to humanity!"
Norn: ???
Before you continue