Karslan's Big Eyes Are Back Again

But what exactly was that globe-like thing?

You could call it a globe, but it was not a sphere—it was a triangular object. Yet if you called it a triangular object, it had to be mounted on a stand like a globe.

This thing was seriously weird, Li Mo thought.

But Kishua had actually comprehended the Second Magic through this thing, which made the matter rather troubling.

It was described as being so awesome, but was it real or not?

But no matter how much he thought about it, this did not seem like the time to investigate it... so he might as well leave it there to gather dust for now.

After stretching, Li Mo suddenly realized that aside from reading, he had nothing else to do.

After all... there was a fierce-looking burly man sitting beside him, there were no pretty young ladies on the train, and surely he was not supposed to stare like an idiot at the scenery rushing past the window?

"Haah~" His movements might have been a little too large, drawing a surprised look from Sakuragi beside him.

Don't look! Keep looking and I'll eat you!

Li Mo shot him a vicious glare, then picked up the magic book and resumed reading.

He turned a page. Mm, still nonsense.

"What is magecraft? What is magic? And what is a Magus?"

"So-called magecraft refers to phenomena that transcend common sense: using an unconventional method to bring about something that could be achieved through conventional means. It is an artificial miracle, a collective term for acts that recreate miracles."

"So-called magic is the use of human hands to accomplish what common sense cannot. The Second Magic's traversal of time and space, the Third Magic's materialization of the soul—these are methods unknown to mankind. A Magus is one who has mastered magic and carries out miracles."

"Are magic and magecraft related? Magecraft is equivalent to magic—the magic of the past."

Magecraft was actually magic from the past? Reading this, Li Mo suddenly understood the people of the Mage Association a little better.

Why did the Mage Association uphold "Thou Shalt Conceal" as its creed? Was it not because of the spread of magecraft and the loss of Mystery? When more and more people came to know of Mystery, was it still Mystery?

Magecraft possessed miracle-like power precisely because of its mystery. But as the mysterious magics created in earlier times were learned by more and more magi, the power available to everyone naturally diminished. The further things progressed, the weaker magic became, until it turned into magecraft.

In the beginning, all magecraft had still been magic. But with the advancement of science and technology, the number of things humans "could accomplish" increased, and the concept of "magic" gradually faded away, until only five remained today.

Why were magi so exclusionary? Why did the Clock Tower have an aristocratic faction? Why did first-rate mage families all look down on commoner magi?

Was it really only because of Magic Crests? But had not every mage family's Magic Crest been the same in the beginning?

Only now did Li Mo truly come to understand this world of magecraft.

"Sure enough, Professor Brishisan was right. Staying in the Clock Tower forever only turns one into an academic. Only a magus who has traveled everywhere can truly be called a magus." Li Mo muttered with his head lowered, earning another surprised glance from Sakuragi.

What qualified someone as a magus?

Back when he was at the Clock Tower, Brishisan had discussed this question with him. After all, simply knowing a little magecraft and having a few Magic Circuits did not make one a magus.

A true magus was elegant, learned, and possessed an immense passion for knowledge of magecraft. Those who learned a few spells and smugly believed themselves to have become magi would forever be nothing more than self-proclaimed magi.

This was also part of why the Mage Association looked down on freelance magi and commoner magi. Many such people either learned a minor spell by accident or had their Magic Circuits awaken accidentally, then exposed themselves before the eyes of the public and revealed Mystery to the masses.

Calling Li Mo a man of only three tricks was only because Brishisan thought highly of him... though it also had something to do with those three tricks genuinely being quite formidable.

Returning his gaze to the magic book, Li Mo continued reading.

"Why do we study magecraft? Our purpose is to reach the realm of magic.

"Once one has mastered magic, should one continue down this path? Yes. The path is boundless, and we pursue it for our entire lives."

Seeing this, Li Mo felt that he rather agreed with Kishua's view.

In the main world, there was a saying: "Live and learn." There were also sayings like "The sea of learning has no bounds." Knowledge was endless; no one could claim to have mastered everything.

And was not knowledge possessed only by oneself Mystery to others?

In the world of magi, Mystery represented power.

"What do I represent, then?"

Li Mo felt that he could not continue dwelling on this.

Alaya had no awareness of him, and the Root held no record of him. Although many people in the outside world knew of his existence, to the Root... he was Mystery.

"Could that be why I can develop Magic Circuits on my own?"

In the records of the Clock Tower—or rather, of the entire Mage Association—there had never been a case of someone being able to develop Magic Circuits by themselves. There were only artificial circuits.

That was why Brishisan had suffered from insomnia that night.

The unknown was Mystery. Even to the Root, which recorded all things in existence, Li Mo was unknown.

"Perhaps I really should not touch matters related to the Root right now. I should first see whether I can strengthen myself again?"

If his current speculation was true, could the path ahead of him truly continue without end?

"Sakuragi," Li Mo said, setting down the book in his hands and suddenly turning toward Sakuragi beside him.

"Hmm?"

Sakuragi froze for a moment before asking, "What is it?"

"I'm not going to Kanbuchi City. I'll get off at the next stop and return to Tokyo."

"Not going?"

"Yeah, go look around on your own first. If you find anything useful, come to the Clock Tower and find me later."

"Wasn't this already agreed on? You're springing this on me so suddenly—I'm not mentally prepared at all..."

Hearing Li Mo's words, Sakuragi instinctively seemed to want a cigarette. But after reaching into the pocket where he usually kept his tobacco, he remembered that smoking was forbidden on the train. His hand froze there, and for a moment, he had no idea where to put it.

Li Mo chuckled, but he had no idea how to explain himself.

Was he supposed to tell the truth—that there was a girl in Kanbuchi City who could connect to the Root, and that he currently couldn't, or rather, shouldn't, meet her?

If he actually said that, the entire world of magecraft would probably explode. And then there would be no The Garden of Sinners in the future—Ryougi Shiki would have long since been taken away by some big shot.

Unless Root Shiki came out and blew everything up.

But...

Fine. Root Shiki probably wouldn't come out at all.

So Li Mo could only widen his big Karslan eyes and put on an adorably innocent expression, hoping to divert Sakuragi's attention.

But who the hell cared about your big eyes?!

Sakuragi wanted to cry...