Gunmage-Chapter 193: Mage hunting

"That’s the level in which you girls are, am I right?"

Selaphiel spoke, and both girls hurriedly nodded, their eyes slightly gleaming with pride.

"For them to reach such a level at their age is quite impressive. Hence my words."

"Oh."

Lugh was somewhat surprised at the detailed structure the members of the Von Heim family were following, but when he thought about it, it wasn’t really unexpected.

A culture built on legacy and magical merit would inevitably be rigorous.

A detail caught his attention though.

"All mages know Force Control?"

"All human mages,"

She corrected.

"...Well, almost all."

Looking at his expression, Sela chimed in to elaborate. Lugh hadn’t been taught anything about magic, unlike them, who had received the corresponding education since they were very young.

He had been kept hidden from everyone. And yet, he was better in magic than her. This made her infuriated to no bounds. However, she kept these feelings in check, explaining properly.

"Force Control is the beginning, the spell used to test a person’s aptitude in magic. It’s not hidden and is well known. All mages should be able to use it.

Since family magics like our wind manipulation are considered as specialties and trump cards that shouldn’t really be revealed unless in dire situations, most public exams or duels usually restrict the only usable magic to Force Control."

"I see,"

Lugh responded, while his other selves were hard at work. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"I’m guessing this has to do with our colonial history with Jazeer."

Most things had to do with colonial history with Jazeer. Their very culture seemed shaped around it—its trauma, its pride, its shame—so Lugh was not wrong to ask.

"Well... I don’t know,"

Sela answered, turning to Selaphiel, her grandmother.

The elf responded.

"Why yes. It was the test elves used to gauge the talents of their secret human apprentices."

"Yup. That sounds about right,"

Lugh murmured to himself.

Selaphiel spoke out, tone firm.

"Now I’ve explained my magic to you. It’s your turn to describe yours."

Damn.

Lugh had been had.

He hadn’t expected her to reveal her magic just like that. But in hindsight, why wouldn’t she?

After all, it was in a bloody curriculum. It was already exposed!

He exhaled heavily, knowing he’d have to reveal himself. The only question was—how much should he tell them?

But then a thought popped up in his mind. Was there really a point to hiding it?

Keeping the specifics hidden while telling them the general idea seemed safe enough.

He spoke.

"My magic lets me snuff out the souls of my victims and wear their skin."

They instantly recoiled in shock.

Mirelle and Sela, of course. Selaphiel didn’t move, however—her eyes narrowed, and she adjusted her position to get a better view of him.

"Y-you’re joking, right?"

Mirelle stuttered.

All three Lughs stopped, then with eerie synchronization, turned their heads toward her.

"Ack!"

She flinched back.

"Dammit! Horror novels aren’t my strongest suit."

Then Selaphiel spoke.

"That’s... quite an ability. Is there a limit to it? How many bodies can you control? Does the soul have to be weakened?"

Lugh glanced at her. Of course she would try to get the details out of him. In this case, answering honestly wouldn’t cause a problem.

"I... don’t know,"

Lugh responded. And that was the truth.

"I see,"

She said, her tone somewhat skeptical.

Lugh thought for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders, adding,

"It’s not really something I can freely test. After all, snuffing out a person’s soul also grants me the memories and skills the person once had."

"Wha—"

That got a huge reaction.

Selaphiel directly stood from her seat. Meanwhile, the two girls just stared in confusion, seemingly yet to fully process the information.

The elf paced around the room. Her movements were slow, thoughtful.

It all made sense now. Her mind flashed back to the healing arts Lugh had used, his strange mix of elven swordsmanship. He said he had been the one to finish off Emrys, didn’t he?

No wonder. No wonder.

She muttered under her breath, then turned to Lugh. Her eyes alight.

"So if you use your magic on me..."

"I’d gain your mastery of wind and sound magic,"

Lugh finished the sentence for her.

It was now that Sela and Mirelle fully understood.

"What the hell?"

"That’s cheating!"

"This,"

Selaphiel spoke,

"This is amazing! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

Lugh blinked, confused.

"What?"

This definitely wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. Wariness, maybe fear, and the strong desire to suppress him were things he anticipated—but not this.

The elf then turned to the two girls in the room. Mirelle instinctively felt a sense of mortal danger.

But that feeling washed away as soon as it came. Selaphiel let out a sigh, patting both of them on their shoulders.

"What you’ve heard today must not leave this room,"

She said, her voice grave.

"Yes ma’am!"

"Yes ma’am!"

They both repeated in unison, wiping a thin layer of sweat from their brows.

After some pondering, she spoke.

"So those aren’t actually clones. You just transformed the bodies to look like you using the transformation magic you inherited from the beastkin."

"Yes,"

Lugh responded, impressed that she had figured it out so quickly.

She then spoke, more to herself than to others.

"That means the bodies can also use magic. Which means... mana circuits."

It was quite terrifying how quickly she put together pieces of the puzzle. Lugh reckoned that before dawn, she might have completely unveiled it—finding uses that even he hadn’t thought of.

After a while, she spoke.

"Theoretically, your potential to grow is near infinite."

"Theoretically, but not realistically,"

Lugh said. There were various limitations. The most important being his mind.

Selaphiel seemed to show a slight understanding of his words.

She didn’t have to know all the specifics to realize that such an ability would manifest serious side effects.

She spoke.

"Lugh. You shouldn’t waste your gifts on rabble like beastkin."

"Rabble?"

Lugh repeated. These were his highest quality puppets!

"The Ring of Nyx can only work for a single person. That’s not good enough,"

She murmured under her breath again.

Her eyes glinted again.

"Lugh!"

She called out.

"Y-Yes,"

He replied, somewhat startled at the sudden exclamation

"Let’s go mage hunting!"

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