Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 35: History Lessons with Professor Ellegaard

He felt a knot in his throat; it was the second time he had seen that man, and he always evoked that same feeling of unease and disgust. There was something wrong with that person, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Mitsuki swallowed nervously and looked down at the book with dull eyes. The maps were scattered across the pages.

’A gigantic world and people who make others feel fear just by being present... I’ve already seen what people in this world are capable of with Jeanne and Ellegaard, but I’m starting to question whether I’ll ever be like them—or if I’ll even survive once I can no longer hide behind other people.’

There was only one path toward salvation.

’I really have to keep training my magic. After that, I’ll have to go along with Jeanne and train my body with her.’ He crossed his arms and frowned seriously. ’Train my body with her...’

Well, last night they had been training their bodies together for a few hours. Those memories made Mitsuki feel embarrassed again, but his lust also flared up like a powerful flame.

’I wonder if we’ll be able to do it again someday. It wouldn’t be bad if we both...’

He covered his face with both hands and trembled in his chair out of embarrassment.

’Oh my God, what am I thinking?! I’m not a dog in heat, but I can’t stop thinking about it!’ He grabbed his hair with both hands and rested his forehead against the table. ’Begone, indecent thoughts! I can’t think about things like that now that I’m stuck in another world!’

Slap. A book fell onto the wood. Mitsuki lifted his gaze and saw Ellegaard behind two stacks of six books each. She was looking at him sternly—something he had already gotten used to.

"I didn’t know you studied with your face on the table. Does it help the blood circulate to your tiny brain?"

He sighed, thinking, ’You don’t have to be so hurtful all the time, tsundere elf. My heart isn’t made of stone.’ He meant it seriously. Sitting up straight, he replied in a bored tone, though a bit nervous. "I was just thinking."

"Hm..."

She said nothing else. She sat across from him and picked up one of the books, opening it to read. However, she glanced at Mitsuki with a frown. No words were needed to understand what she was thinking.

’She deserves to be called a witch.’

He opened the book History of Arcane Magic and began reading.

A few minutes later, after finishing the first three Chapters, Mitsuki was surprised.

’What the hell? So Arcane Magic begins with the idea of unraveling the mysteries of the universe through controlling the natural energy that lies within everything—prana. At first it was a branch of Witchcraft and an extension of conventional magic, but it gradually became its own single form of magic—the most mysterious and potentially powerful of them all...’

Now he understood why Ellegaard praised Arcane Magic so much. For her, this kind of magic wasn’t only the greatest act of rebellion from ancient times, but also a unique lifestyle completely based on discovering mysteries.

’The whole premise boils down to: if you control the Arcane, you control the universe. But how far has this magic actually gone? I’m curious to know. I should keep reading, but I could ask Ellegaard...’ He glanced at the elf from the corner of his eye; she was reading peacefully, so he felt it would be wrong to bother her. ’I think if I interrupt her right now, I’ll end up earning a hit on the head.’

Too bad, because Ellegaard was also quite perceptive. She noticed Mitsuki’s restlessness instantly and said, "Do you have questions?" The expression on her face and the words she used were... kind?

Mitsuki felt a bit out of place, but he nodded in response. The elf set her book aside and waited with the fingers of both hands crossed in front of her nose.

"Well... I was wondering how powerful Arcane Magic could become. You yourself said many times that you haven’t used your full power because the cinder beasts outside weren’t worth it, so it’s hard for me to find a limit to magic."

"That’s a valid question. At first glance, Arcane Magic is supposed to have no limit—but the mage using it does. I can still keep getting stronger, but I lack more information on how to continue studying and training."

"Hence the reason for your journey."

"Exactly. But if it helps, there’s a story about a man who reached the closest extreme to infinity. His name was Yadhis, an elf from the kingdom of Elarwyn—thousands of years ago."

She held her scepter and summoned particles of bright dust in pale green colors. The dust formed the figure of an elderly elf with a pointed hat and loose robes; he held a scepter strangely similar to Ellegaard’s.

"Many criticized his use of Arcane Magic, because most elves use Natural Magic—which, ironically, is the first step toward Arcane Magic. However, the criticism didn’t bother Yadhis. Instead, it encouraged him to keep moving forward."

The dust danced again, showing the old man walking across a lush mountain.

"That man traveled the world and discovered everything a rational being could. And when he was close to the end—when he was about to reach a tiny particle of the very beginning of existence itself—the legendary God of Time appeared and took his life with his Compass Sword."

The dust trembled, forming the figure of a metallic titan with dozens of limbs resembling spider legs, broken and rusted chains, and gears protruding from its limbs. Its body was as immense as a continent, and its sword—shaped like the needle of a compass—was so sharp that it could split atoms with ease.

’Could a man face something like that? Damn...’ Mitsuki wondered, somewhat inspired by the story, but also disappointed by the fate of that legendary mage.

Ellegaard continued:

"Yadhis, however, did not go alone to the World of the Ethereals. His powerful Arcane Magic—a fragment of the universe within his scepter—allowed him to take the life of the God of Time, whose corpse still remains in the waters of Ymir. After that, his legend continued to be told from generation to generation by his family and acquaintances, immortalizing him forever in the annals of history."

"Wow..." Mitsuki said, quite astonished. The mere idea of confronting a god was something often seen in RPGs, but knowing that there were real stories in this world about such things filled him with fear—yet also an indescribable excitement.

"That, more or less, would be the kind of power that Arcane Magic could reach. You would be capable of facing gods and defeating them."

"Now I want to keep learning even more," Mitsuki whispered, which made Ellegaard smile.

Mitsuki lifted his gaze, meeting the teacher who appreciated her student’s curiosity with that beautiful expression. However, Ellegaard soon cleared her throat and said, "Well, if you don’t have any more questions, continue studying. After this we have to go get lunch."

Mitsuki nodded and focused on his book.

’Now I feel motivated. Of course, I’m not going to let some evil god kill me, but I really would like to be as powerful as Yadhis. Maybe with that power I could go wherever I want.’

He read with enthusiasm. He even looked out the window, but the man from the Heralds of the Shadow was no longer there. This day, though strange, had been very productive—though it wasn’t over yet. There was still a princess preparing to see him soon.