Transferred to Another World and Became a Teacher

Ch. 198 - Ancient Magic

One reason why elven magic was called ancient magic laid in the numerous complex magics that used the elves' unique language. The elven language had remained unchanged since ancient times. The magic studied in other countries amounted to nothing more than what human mages had simplistically created at most a thousand years ago so that any race could handle it.From the elves' perspective, other races were fools who could not understand the elven language nor master the most superior magic passed down since antiquity. Even if such humans and other races desperately researched, it remained doubtful whether they could achieve something equivalent to elven ancient magic.

That was the elves' assessment of other countries' magic.

"…About three hundred years ago, I believe. In one human country, a man called the greatest mage in history appeared. They said his magic would change the world, and it even influenced the trend of great powers. Hearing this, our elven kingdom conducted yet another investigation of other countries. But what we saw at that time was at best a mage equivalent to a senator of this Senate, and even compared to elven magic, there was not even a single new discovery."

Edra muttered, then turned his gaze to Glenn.

"I apologize, but even a half-elven mage has never surpassed that man. Because of such past events, we elves concluded that only pure elves could possibly reach the depths of magical mastery. Since then, we have occasionally investigated other countries, but that has basically served only to confirm whether any country has reproduced magics lost in the elven kingdom."

At Edra's words, Glenn groaned with a complicated expression.

"…Lost ancient magic, eh. I left this country as a child, so I lack knowledge regarding elven magic. I understand that Aoi's lightning magic reproduces a lost magic, but what other magics have been lost?"

When Glenn asked this, another elf snorted and turned around.

"If you call yourself the headmaster of a magic academy, you ought to have studied at least that much."

"Even if you are a half-elf, after all."

Another elf nodded in agreement. At this, Glenn gave a wry smile and replied.

"That is true… As I myself know, I am mediocre at everything. Though I am a half-elf, I cannot use elven magic, nor have I been number one at anything in human magic. For such reasons, I could not return to this country. Had I possessed a little more confidence in myself, perhaps there would have been a path to come to this country and learn elven magic anew…"

The elves looked at Glenn with eyes that seemed to regard him as worthless, but I shook my head and opened my mouth.

"To begin with, I believe the discriminatory attitude toward half-elves in this country is the problem. Without that, Headmaster Glenn might never have left this country. It would not be strange if he had even become a member of this Senate…"

When I said this in an attempt to support him, several elves laughed out loud.

"Foolish. No half-elf has ever joined the Senate. That is not due to bloodline but because they lacked the talent as mages."

At those words, I unconsciously sharpened my gaze.

"I believe Headmaster Glenn is a more than sufficiently excellent mage. I do not intend to compete over who is superior, but I am sure he would not lose compared to all of you in this Senate either."

When I lowered my tone slightly and declared this, Edra furrowed his brow and looked at me. However, perhaps because they acknowledged that I had indeed performed a magic they themselves could not reproduce, they offered no particular rebuttal. Though other elves exchanged glances and whispered among themselves, I saw no one who complained directly .

After a brief silence, I fixed my gaze on Edra and opened my mouth.

"…Then, please answer Headmaster Glenn's question from earlier. What other so-called lost magics are there?"

When I said this, Edra sighed deeply as if resigning himself and answered.

"…A flash of flame that melts even mithril, a flying magic that lifts enormous ships into the sky. An ice magic that freezes even raging rivers. Furthermore, an earth magic that instantly creates golems, or magic such as invisible walls of light. Also, there seem to be magics for conversing with those far away, or for seeing scenes at distances one should not be able to see."

Edra briefly explained the lost magics one by one. As I listened, I felt something like déjà vu.

"…Headmaster Glenn? Solare's original magic that sees distant things…"

"Hmm… From what I hear, it was a similar magic. Indeed, I believe it was a magic called Providence, the Eye of God."

As we exchanged such comments, Spire opened his mouth in astonishment.

"Surely not, a student of the academy? That is absurd…"

The other elves nodded in agreement with his words.

"This is not the kind of magic that mere students could develop, even though excellent mages in the elven kingdom have researched it for a thousand years."

"Indeed. It is likely a telescopic magic that makes distant objects appear near."

As if they found it entirely unbelievable, the elves muttered such things one after another. However, Solare's research achievements were solid.

Thinking this, I explained the magic Solare had developed.

"Solare's magic allows one to see distant scenery from inside a room without windows, as if seeing it with one's own eyes. That surely corresponds to the lost ancient magic you mentioned earlier."

When I said this, the elves made sour faces and looked at me.

"…Is there anyone present here who can use that magic?"

Asked this by Edra, I looked at Glenn, but Glenn furrowed his brow in a troubled manner and shook his head. Well, because it was Solare's unique research, others likely could not use it.

Having no choice, I decided to substitute it with my own original magic.

"I cannot use the same magic, but I can show you a scene of that magic in use. I will project it onto that table."

After saying this, I used a magic.

"Memory Slide."

Concentrating my magical power, I used fire and water magic to reproduce the images from my memory. Using the light shining in from outside the door, I projected the images onto a screen of water formed above the table. There, Solare appeared, creating a pseudo-eye using magic.

"This young man is Solare. You should see an eyeball floating in front of Solare, but by sharing his field of vision, he can see distant scenery…"

As I explained the images, the elves crowded eagerly around the round table. They opened their eyes wide and observed the screen floating above the table. Watching the elves staring as if devouring the images, Spire looked at me with a tired expression.

"…This magic too appears as astonishing as a lost magic, but let me ask to be sure. What is this magic?"

"This is an original magic that combines the beginner magics of water and fire. For now, I can only project images from my own perspective, but I eventually want to project other perspectives or scenes that other people have seen."

When I answered the question thus, Glenn gazed into the distance and nodded several times.

"…I recall having the same exchange before. As expected, it astonishes even in the elven country."

While nodding "I see" at Glenn's murmur, I ended the magic. The screen suddenly vanished, and one of the elves who had been watching as if clinging to the table fell headlong.

"Are you alright? If you are injured, I will heal you."

"Y-You can use healing magic too…"

After such an exchange, the elves for some reason gathered into a group and began some kind of discussion. Then, they moved back toward the table.

"…Your lightning magic, and the magic that projects memories. Both were unbelievable. In recognition of that, I will accord you the treatment reserved for honored guests in our kingdom."

Edra stood before the table and said this. I felt little change in his wording, but did this mean he would no longer discriminate simply because someone was not an elf?

Thinking thus, I nodded, and Edra called out to the surrounding elves.

"Summon the candidates. They will join us."

At Edra's words, two elves nodded and left the hall.

"If you summon the candidates, does that mean we can also see the candidates' magic?"

When I asked this, Edra nodded in affirmation.

"Yes, that is correct. I want you to see the candidates' magic and assess it."

"Oh, is that truly alright?"

Hearing Edra's words, Glenn was surprised. That was how special this was. No, the situation itself—non-elves attending—must surely be exceptional.

If so, I would have to properly fulfill my role. By doing so, I should be able to make the people who might become the next king of the elven country understand that non-elven races were not to be underestimated either.