A Few Things About Brishisan

A chance to study Magic?

Li Mo was dumbfounded. There seemed to be only a few Magicians still around these days, didn't there?

Aoko Aozaki, who wielded the Fifth Magic, counted as one. But Touko had only appeared at the Clock Tower not long ago. The events of Witch on the Holy Night probably had not happened long ago either. As a magus who had entered the field halfway through, she was probably only half-competent herself, right? Option one eliminated.

Then there was the First Magic. Although everyone in the world of magi was certain it still existed, hadn't the family that inherited it failed to appear for several centuries? Option two eliminated.

That left only the Second Magic and the Third Magic. As for the Fourth Magic?

No one even knew who wielded it!

As for the Third Magic, the inheriting family was the Einzbern of the Three Great Families. But weren't most of their clan dead by now? Weren't the few remaining in Einzbern Castle all artificial humans?

After going through the possibilities, Li Mo's face lit up. He looked up at Brishisan. "Teacher, are we going to see that former Grand Marshal?"

Brishisan nodded. "Yes, you guessed correctly. It is indeed that person."

Kishua Zelretch Schweinorg, one of the world's only five Magicians. He wielded the Second Magic, one of the "Five Great Miracles," and bore many titles: Grand Marshal, Jeweled Sword Zelretch, Kaleidoscope, Old Man of Time, and more. At the same time, he was ranked fourth among the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors.

For some reason, Brishisan's eyes held a trace of concealed worry as he watched the delighted Li Mo. "That person has always maintained contact with our Clock Tower. This time, both sides have a batch of supplies to exchange, so I submitted teaching you as one of the conditions."

Really?

This was fantastic!!!

Li Mo's face was full of excitement. Of the Five Great Magics, what he desired most was the Second Magic wielded by that Grand Marshal!

It could preserve one's own continuity while allowing one to move freely through Parallel Worlds. Wasn't that basically the concept of time travel?

If he could freely travel through Parallel Worlds, was it possible for him to return to the main world?

Li Mo was brimming with excitement, while Brishisan stood silently beside him.

In his understanding, that person was not easy to get along with.

After all, far too many geniuses had been ruined at his hands!

That was right. Although Kishua was a powerful Second Magician, he still frequently involved himself in mundane affairs and had taken disciples all over the world.

However, few of Kishua's disciples had ever met a good end!

In the eyes of the Mage Association, anyone who could return unharmed after becoming his disciple was a talent rare beyond measure!

For example, a certain ancestor of the Tohsaka Family.

There was a common understanding within the Mage Association: "Becoming Zelretch's disciple" was equivalent to "being turned into a cripple." One could imagine the immense psychological pressure Brishisan had endured before making this decision.

But he had no choice.

At that moment, Brishisan's feelings were complicated.

On one side, he could not bear to part with Li Mo as his disciple. On the other was his disciple's future.

Previously, even if Li Mo had possessed 108 Magic Circuits, Brishisan would have had the confidence to teach him well if he gritted his teeth.

Doesn't my Department of Lore's thousand-year foundation have enough for you to learn?

But Li Mo now had 365 Magic Circuits.

The Department of Lore might have a thousand-year foundation, but it still did not possess Magic.

It was not worthy of this disciple.

Brishisan believed that with Li Mo's talent, he could reach greater heights. The Department of Lore could only become one segment of his life, not all of it.

Like every parent, when their child found a better path, they would not only refrain from stopping them, but would also do everything they could to pave the way.

"Mō-san, I hope that one day, I'll hear that you've inherited the title of Second Magician." Brishisan murmured, his gaze filled with reluctance and worry.

Then Li Mo's reaction disappointed him.

Li Mo looked at Brishisan in astonishment. "Teacher, don't you know that the Second Magic is related to time and space?

If I go study Magic under the Second Magician, I can come back anytime!"

Brishisan fell silent, a vein popping on his forehead.

So all the emotions I spent so long building up were wasted!

You think I don't know that? Do I need you to remind me?!

I worried for nothing...

Well, the reason the disciples taught by Jeweled Sword Zelretch had gone mad was simply that their talent had been insufficient. As a teacher, he was actually quite conscientious.

It was just that he never considered his disciples' individual limits and directly stuffed incomprehensible knowledge into their heads.

It was like giving someone who had just graduated from elementary school a book on advanced mathematics and telling him to study it. But geniuses were all prone to obsessing over things. Which genius, chosen by a Magician as a disciple, was not proud and arrogant?

Magic? Could Magic possibly stump me? Hmph! And then...

Then there was no then.

It was said that Tohsaka Nagato, that ancestor of the Tohsaka Family, had been able to graduate safely only because his talent had been too poor. He simply could not understand what Jeweled Sword Zelretch taught him, so he had not obsessed over it...

But Li Mo? Brishisan did not even know what to say.

Wasn't it precisely because this fellow's talent was too outstanding that Brishisan feared he would not be able to teach him properly?

Did he really need to worry about him?

Thinking of this, Brishisan relaxed, and his signature gentle smile returned to the corners of his mouth.

His golden hair fluttered. The sunlight was perfect, the breeze was gentle, and Brishisan felt that everything at that moment was just right.

Except for Li Mo's punchable grin beside him!

"Mō-san, come a little closer," Brishisan said seriously to Li Mo, his smile fading.

Li Mo obediently moved closer, nodding and bowing like a total lackey.

Then, smack!

Li Mo was dumbfounded. Why had his teacher hit him? Why so suddenly?!

He said whatever came to mind. "Teacher, why did you hit me?!"

Brishisan suddenly broke into a grin, one that made Li Mo's scalp tingle and made him want to turn around and run!

"Does a father need a reason to hit his son?" Brishisan asked solemnly, reining in his exaggerated expression.

"Don't you Easterners have an old saying? 'Hit the child on a cloudy day—being idle is being idle.'

What, do you have an objection?"

No objection, no objection. How could he dare have one!

Li Mo felt terribly wronged, but he could only say that his teacher was right.

"Heh heh." Brishisan nodded in satisfaction, wearing the expression of someone pleased that his pupil could be taught.

"Tomorrow, pack your things first. Judging by that person's past habits, becoming his disciple this time may not be so easy."

Huh? Hadn't taking on a disciple been included in the conditions?

Li Mo looked blankly at Brishisan with dazed eyes.

Just then, a magnetic voice suddenly came from the corner of the living room beside Brishisan.

"That's right. Becoming this old man's disciple is not so easy. I have a task for you. Whether you can become this old man's disciple will depend on your performance in that task!"

Brishisan and Li Mo stiffly turned their heads.

At some unknown time, an old man had already seated himself in the chair in the corner of the living room.