Chapter 314: Fishing for Mages is Going Well (3)
Claude’s words made the mage blink in surprise as he asked back.
“Thirty years?”
“Yes, that’s about the minimum required for someone to become a mage exclusively tied to the estate. It’s really not that long. We even have people here who’ve been around for over 200 years… Well, anyway, don’t other territories follow the same standard? Come on, if you don’t commit to at least that, you’re not a proper exclusive mage.”
“T-That’s true.”
The mage nodded reflexively, but in reality, that wasn’t the case. The duration of a mage’s service varied widely depending on their skill and research objectives.
Some stayed only for a few years before moving on, while others signed long-term contracts. It really depended on the individual.
However, with Claude’s overwhelming confidence, the mage couldn’t help but be swept along.
“Hmm…”
The mage hesitated, considering the situation. He was middle-aged now, and committing 30 years would essentially mean spending the rest of his life here.
But with ‘not much work,’ access to the mana concentration array, and the chance to learn from a 6th-circle mage, the terms were simply too tempting to pass up.
The only thing that gave him pause was the possibility that, despite Fenris’s current success in the north, they might have become enemies of a ducal family.
Mages were often oblivious to rumors, but as a wandering mage, he had picked up on a few such whispers.
While he mulled it over, Claude called for Vanessa.
“You summoned me, Chief Overseer?”
“Hey, Vanessa. This gentleman here seems to be curious about you. He has a lot of questions, it seems.”
The mage turned to look at Vanessa, and his eyes widened in shock.
“This… this woman is a 6th-circle mage?”
She was far too young. He had never heard of anyone so young reaching the 6th circle within the kingdom.
And her appearance disheveled hair that seemed like it hadn’t been washed in days, and the overall impression of someone who spent all their time buried in books was hardly what he expected from someone of such high standing.
Staring at her innocent face and blinking eyes, the mage asked cautiously,
“Are you truly at the level of the 6th circle?”
“Y-Yes… I’m still lacking in many ways, though…”
Vanessa squirmed bashfully, her cheeks flushing. The mage frowned deeply as he looked at her.
There was no dignity befitting a 6th-circle mage. No mage confident in their abilities would present themselves like this.
The higher the circle, the greater the pride and arrogance of a mage.
“Was this a baseless rumor? Or am I being scammed?”
He wanted to ask her to cast a 6th-circle spell to prove it, but he couldn’t muster the courage.
Mages were notorious for erratic behavior. She might seem innocent now, but there was no telling when she might snap.
If she suddenly became enraged at the suggestion and lashed out, it would be disastrous.
So, he cautiously asked again,
“I’ve been studying something recently, but there’s a part I don’t quite understand. Could you guide me on this matter?”
“Ah, please, ask me anything. I’ll explain as best as I can.”
Encouraged by her kind words, the mage brought out a book.
“I’ve been researching resistance to electric currents, but I’ve hit a roadblock here.”
As the mage pointed to a section in the book, Vanessa glanced at it briefly and clapped her hands.
“Oh, so this is the part you’re stuck on! The principle here is this: the primary cause is the collision of mana streams, which inherently generates resistance based on the flow. When mana collides, it disrupts the flow of electric currents, leading to a loss of thermal energy…”
“O-Ohhh!”
As Vanessa continued her explanation, the mage’s expression lit up with excitement.
Her detailed explanation unraveled the complexities of his problem, clearing the mental block he had been struggling with.
“It’s true! She really is a 6th-circle mage! Even if it’s not true, she must at least be at the 5th circle!”
Her comprehension of magic was leagues beyond his own. In his entire life, he had never encountered a mage capable of teaching so effectively.
Even his own mentor hadn’t been this clear. Her explanations felt like she was disassembling and reconstructing magic into a comprehensible manual.
“To think someone would teach so easily! She’s completely different from other mages!”
Most mages, regardless of their level, were reluctant to share their insights. Even as their apprentice, one had to endure significant hardship and obey countless orders just to receive the occasional morsel of knowledge.
And the wisdom mages imparted often had vague, almost cryptic elements built on personal understanding. Some deliberately gave convoluted explanations just to make their apprentices suffer.
Finding someone who could teach with such systematic clarity was nothing short of a miracle.
As Vanessa’s explanation stretched past an hour, Claude began to nod off, while the mage could barely contain his excitement.
“I see now! I understand! That’s the principle behind it!”
“Yes, yes. After that, the movement of the mana must shift, and…”
The two mages continued their discussion with great enthusiasm, the atmosphere resembling a lively debate hall except for Claude, who was dozing off nearby.
When Vanessa’s explanation finally came to an end, the mage bowed deeply, his expression on the verge of tears.
“Thank you! Truly, thank you! I’ve finally understood something that has eluded me for so long!”
“I’m so glad to hear that! Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
At Vanessa’s words, the mage excitedly pulled another book from his robe.
Just as he opened it to ask his next question, Claude, who had woken up and was wiping his drool, grabbed the mage’s arm.
“Tsk, tsk. Have some decency… I mean, that’s enough for today.”
The mage’s face fell as if his world had collapsed. He was desperate to quench his thirst for knowledge.
“W-Why? Just one more question, please just one!”
“Nope, not happening. There are other people waiting for their turn. How long do you plan on monopolizing our mage here? This is highly inappropriate.”
“I’ll sign the contract! I’ll do it!”
“Oh, really?”
“If I sign, I can continue learning from her, right?”
“Oh, absolutely. Since you’ll be working together every day er, researching together you can ask her questions whenever you want. Honestly, you’ll probably get sick of casting spells at this rate.”
Claude wasn’t lying. In this estate, mages could use as much magic in one year as others might in a lifetime.
Without hesitation, the mage stamped his seal onto the contract.
After all, his own talents had reached their limits, and it seemed better to live here, receiving guidance and enjoying good treatment.
“Then, I’ll be in your care from now on.”
“Of course. Please follow the staff; they’ll assign you a room in the research lab.”
Once the mage left, Claude leaned back in his chair with a smug grin and muttered,
“Ah, exhausting. Why can’t they just sign the contract quickly instead of making it so complicated?”
“……”
Vanessa, watching Claude, remained speechless. She felt like she’d somehow helped turn the estate into a haven for mage “servants.”
In the end, every mage who visited the estate was persuaded by Claude to sign a contract. In fact, the mages themselves practically begged to join after witnessing Vanessa’s vast knowledge, making the process smooth.
A total of twenty mages were recruited in one go, an extraordinary achievement given how rare and difficult mages were to come by. And their numbers would only continue to grow.
Of course, the mages were quite satisfied as well.
“I heard this estate was rich, but I didn’t expect this level of wealth.”
“Didn’t dwarves help build the facilities here? The craftsmanship is incredible, both functionally and aesthetically.”
“How much money does this estate have to provide mana concentration arrays for everyone?”
For many of the mages, it was their first time even seeing a mana concentration array. Typically, mages with the ability to utilize such tools wouldn’t be unaffiliated in the first place.
Every night, they received instruction from Vanessa and dedicated themselves to personal training. They wanted to learn all day, but Vanessa was strangely busy.
“Well, Lady Vanessa is a 6th-circle mage. Of course, she’d be busy.”
“She’s often away during the day. What could she be working on?”
“Perhaps she’s focusing on personal research to break through to a new level.”
The mages held Vanessa in immense respect, thanks to all they had learned from her.
Having joined the estate later than others, they still felt a bit awkward with the older mages, so they often gathered together to chat.
“It’s so comfortable and nice here that I feel a little guilty about it.”
“The treatment is too generous. Shouldn’t we offer to help with estate affairs?”
“By the way, I’ve noticed mages from the Crimson Flame Tower here. Why do they smile every time they see us?”
If it had been mockery, they would’ve been offended, but it wasn’t. Instead, the smiles seemed a mix of pity and warmth.
While the new recruits balanced their enjoyment and slight guilt over their luxurious lives, a messenger from Claude arrived.
“It seems you’ll need to assist with estate duties.”
“Ahem, well, it’s about time. Lead the way.”
Though deferential to high-ranking officials, mages were notoriously arrogant toward ordinary people.
With haughty expressions, they followed the messenger to an open area near the research lab.
Soon, multiple carriages arrived, and the drivers began shouting.
“Fire magic! Anyone specializing in fire magic?”
Several mages stepped forward.
“I’m from the Fire School. What’s this about?”
“Get in! Quickly!”
“What?”
“Get in now! There’s no time to waste!”
The mages boarded the carriages, still bewildered by the situation.
The other carriages were equally noisy.
“Anyone proficient in wind magic, get on here! We’re also handling road leveling!”
“This one’s for support magic! We’ll need strength to assist the workers!”
“We need someone to clear large boulders! Someone who can destroy them effectively!”
“……”
The mages fell silent. This was like watching a labor agency hurriedly recruiting workers.
“H-How dare they treat mages like this…”
Before the mages could voice their indignation, Alfoi and the existing mages poured out of the research lab.
“Hey, hey, hurry up and get on!”
At Alfoi’s urging, the other mages climbed onto the carriages. They looked at the newly arrived mages who were still standing around and said,
“What are you doing? Get on already. We’ve got work to do.”
“If you’re late, it’ll only get harder for you later.”
“Look at them, still not grasping the situation. It seems like they’re clueless.”
The newly joined mages stammered and asked hesitantly,
“W-What kind of work are we doing that you’re all behaving so crudely?”
Alfoi smirked and replied,
“What kind of work? Mostly construction. Clearing rocks, emptying cesspits, leveling the ground, constructing buildings, moving materials there’s plenty of magic involved.”
“A-Are you saying mages are doing this sort of work?”
“Who else would do it? Magic is the fastest method.”
“We… We’ve never done such tasks before. This kind of work is beneath the dignity of mages. It’s utterly shameful.”
“Even I, ‘The Man Who Defeated a God,’ is doing it, and you’re trying to back out? Get on already! I’m the team leader at the construction sites, so keep that in mind! I’ve been waiting for you guys to get assigned!”
Faced with Alfoi’s threat, the new mages squeezed their eyes shut and reluctantly held back their complaints. They didn’t dare think of confronting the existing mages, who outnumbered them.
Just as they were gritting their teeth to endure, Vanessa came running over in a hurry and climbed into one of the carriages.
“What are you all doing? Hurry up and get on, or the construction will be delayed.”
“……”
Now they understood why she was always absent during the day. This insane estate was making even a 6th-circle mage work on construction projects.
It was, in a way, remarkable. Working on construction during the day and conducting personal research and teaching lessons at night.
With Vanessa urging them, the mages couldn’t refuse. In the world of mages, circles dictated power, and Vanessa, as the highest-ranking mage, held the ultimate authority here.
Clatter, clatter!
The carriages carrying the mages scattered across the estate. Alfoi patted the shoulder of one of the mages sitting sullenly and said,
“It’s always like this at first. You’ll feel regretful, wondering if you became a mage for this. But you’ll get used to it eventually. I’ll even teach you how to gamble later.”
“…Understood.”
“Hey, cheer up. You think you’re special? In this estate, being a mage is no big deal. Sometimes even goddesses visit, you know.”
“……”
While some mages grumbled for a few days, Alfoi and his friends swiftly subdued them. Even a mage who tried to escape was caught and brought back by Alfoi.
“Y-You said you were only 3rd-circle mages?”
The subdued mage asked in shock, and Alfoi answered smugly,
“Doing construction work improves your skills.”
“…That makes no sense.”
“Are you doubting our abilities after seeing them? I don’t know why, but it works. And if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can just ask Vanessa. So think of it as training. Try running away again, and you’ll regret it. Got it?”
As more mages joined, the workload became lighter. Alfoi had no intention of letting them go easily.
Eventually, the mages resigned themselves to their fates. Though they were bound by contracts, it was Vanessa’s teachings and the mana concentration arrays that kept them going.
After all, advancing their magical prowess was every mage’s dream.
Of course, the older mages had long abandoned such lofty aspirations. Their goal was simply to live comfortably day by day.
Meanwhile, Claude continued to promote the estate’s benefits: the teachings of a 6th-circle mage and access to mana concentration arrays.
The rumors spread beyond the north to other regions.
Though not in great numbers, wandering mages began arriving one by one, lured by the rumors, only to be promptly captured by Fenris Estate.
“Hmm, the fishing for mages is going well. With more mages, construction is speeding up tremendously.”
It was as if every time he cast a fishing line, he caught something. Vanessa and the mana concentration arrays were irresistible bait.
Of course, as the number of mages increased, new problems inevitably arose.
“We’re running out of runestones. There’s hardly any left to mine.”
Assessing the situation, Claude went to see Ghislain.
The estate had consumed an enormous number of runestones for its development. Selling them to the magic towers only sped up their depletion.
Though they had tried to conserve supplies by reducing sales, the reserves had finally run dry.
After hearing Claude’s report, Ghislain nodded nonchalantly.
“Well, it was bound to happen eventually. But we made good use of them. Very efficient.”
“What should we do? Without runestones, many operations will slow down. Maintaining the mana concentration arrays will become an issue, and we’ll need to reconsider our relations with the magic towers.”
“What else? The answer is obvious.”
Ghislain grinned. Running out of runestones? Then it was time to gather more.
After all, that place was full of them.