How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game-Chapter 23: The Mage Is Too Strong (1)

“I showed it to Mayer once, a long time ago. Not only is it written in Ancient Tongue, but its entire system is fundamentally incomprehensible compared to modern magic. If you’d like, I can also provide some partially translated material—”

“No, that’s alright.”

Karl shook his head.

He had no need for that.

Neither the language barrier nor the structural differences in magic were a problem for him.

[Mihain-type Circling]

[Desimon-type Circling]

[Arzak-type Circling]

...

...

The system—a perfect translator.

Even now, messages were streaming across his mind.

As long as the book contained enough information for him to learn the spell, it could function as a skillbook regardless of language or formatting.

“Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for.”

Karl’s eyes were fixed, unwavering, on the spellbook.

Watching him, Darkan once again felt a deep admiration.

‘...Truly an extraordinary thirst for knowledge.’

To have no interest in worldly desires at that age?

“I still feel this alone isn’t enough compensation. If you’d like, I could also—”

“No, really. This is more than enough.”

A reply without the slightest hesitation.

That alone forced Darkan to fully acknowledge Karl as a person.

In fact, he found himself wanting to give him even more, no matter what.

Perhaps sensing that, Karl looked up and gave an awkward smile.

“If I’m ever in trouble someday, please help me. That’s enough for me.”

Not even a proper request—just a token gesture of formality.

That wasn’t a reward. It was the natural obligation of any ruler.

Darkan gave a firm nod.

He didn’t want to end it like this, but insisting further would be an insult to this upright mage.

“I swear it on my name and on the honor of all House Rubedom.”

And with that, the matter was closed.

Just as Karl was about to leave the room, Darkan stopped him.

“Ah, and there will be a festival in the city square tonight. If you could make an appearance...”

Karl instantly stiffened.

“I overexerted myself fighting the shaman, and I’m not feeling well. I’m sorry, but I’d prefer to rest in my room.”

“Then for the dinner banquet—”

“I’d be glad to attend. Just let me know when it's ready. For now, I’ll head back and rest.”

He answered half-heartedly and promptly left the room, hurrying back to his quarters.

Click.

Closing the door behind him, Karl looked at the old spellbook in his hands and grinned.

“Damn, this is great.”

Just getting another Arcane spell after awakening to the 5th Circle had already been satisfying—but to top it off with something this valuable?

Karl sat down on the edge of the bed and began reading the information on the book.

[Lost Ancient Spellbook – ? Circle]

[Contains Circlings and multiple spells. Each must be learned individually by spending SP.]

[Mihain-type Circling]

[Desimon-type Circling]

[Arzak-type Circling]

...

...

But what the hell’s in this thing that there are so many different Circlings?

Judging by the names, they were probably each created by different mages. Having all of them in one book was pretty strange.

‘Well, the more the better for me.’

Karl shrugged it off and checked the spell entries as well.

And immediately frowned.

[Cannot read spell information due to insufficient Circle level.]

[Cannot read spell information due to insufficient Circle level.]

[Cannot read spell information due to insufficient Circle level.]

...

...

“...What the hell is this?”

Not a single spell’s info was available.

Normally, the system couldn’t parse spells above your current Circle level.

But he’d just awakened to the 5th Circle, and it still wasn’t enough?

‘So they’re all at least 6-Circle or higher?’

Karl let out a hollow laugh.

Here he was, thinking he’d finally get to learn some of those legendary ancient spells—and he wasn’t qualified yet.

“Tch. Got my hopes up for nothing.”

He grumbled in frustration and tossed the book onto the bed.

Then something occurred to him, and he picked it up again.

‘But wait, the Circlings did show up... So I can learn those, right?’

[Mihain-type Circling]

[Desimon-type Circling]

[Arzak-type Circling]

There were three total.

Karl read each one’s effect.

<Mihain-type Circling (150,000 SP)>

Increases total mana by 25% compared to current.

Increases fire-element magic destructive power by 75%.

Effects increase or evolve as Circle level rises. (Current: 5th Circle)

<Desimon-type Circling (150,000 SP)>

Increases total mana by 25% compared to current.

Increases ice-element magic destructive power by 75%.

Effects increase or evolve as Circle level rises. (Current: 5th Circle)

<Arzak-type Circling (150,000 SP)>

Increases total mana by 25% compared to current.

Increases lightning-element magic destructive power by 75%.

Effects increase or evolve as Circle level rises. (Current: 5th Circle)

“...Huh.”

What even is this?

Karl blankly read over the effects again.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

He’d never heard of Circlings that enhanced elemental power like this.

Usually, at best, Circlings only affected mana quantity or recovery speed.

These ancient Circlings clearly worked on completely different principles than modern ones.

“I’ve got to learn one of these.”

Not only did they amplify elemental damage, but they also boosted total mana by 25% compared to the current Circling.

Sure, the cost was insane, but investing in Circlings was basically an investment in all magic.

Karl decided to go for it without hesitation.

“Lightning’s still the best bet, right?”

He used lightning spells the most and had the broadest arsenal with that element.

Without a second thought, Karl chose the Arzak-type Circling.

[Spend 150,000 SP to learn Arzak-type Circling.]

Zzzzt.

A tingling sensation stirred in his chest as his Circling structure began to slowly shift.

Once the transformation completed, another message popped up.

[You have learned Arzak-type Circling.]

Karl immediately pulled up his mana.

The increase was obvious—25% more, easy to feel.

“Nice.”

He might not have been able to learn any of the ancient spells, but this was a satisfying win.

Promising himself to revisit the book once he reached the 6th Circle, Karl stored it back in his inventory.

* * *

The next day, Karl was fully prepared to leave Bard City.

He’d finished everything he needed to do. There was no reason to linger.

Darkan, Lette, Yurie, and Mayer all stood at the gates of the Baekjak Castle, their expressions tinged with regret as they saw him off.

“Isn’t this a bit too soon? If you stayed a little longer—”

“I’m alright. You’re all busy with post-war cleanup—I’d just be in the way.”

“What nonsense...”

Darkan trailed off, then asked cautiously.

“Lette told me everything yesterday. Is it because of the dangerous people chasing you?”

Karl glanced at Lette beside Darkan. She was staring at him with concern.

He shook his head.

“That’s not it. And even if it were, that’s something I’ll handle myself.”

His firm reply left Darkan at a loss for words.

Truthfully, it was strange for Rubedom to worry over the safety of a mage affiliated with Altius in the first place.

“Sir, as I said—if you ever need help, come to Rubedom.”

Lette added her own words.

“You can come for no reason at all, too.”

“My lady...”

Yurie tried to intervene, embarrassed, but Lette kept her eyes on Karl.

Karl met her gaze for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“If the opportunity comes, I’ll take you up on that. Take care, all of you.”

And with that, Karl set off—resuming the path he was originally meant to take.

Through the Forest of Gwangrim, and beyond the border.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

* * *

"Ugh, fucking orc bastards—why the hell are they still loitering around here?"

One of the rangers patrolling the outskirts of the Forest of Gwangrim grumbled as he yanked an arrow out of a fallen orc’s skull.

Nearby comrades snickered as they replied.

“Dumbasses probably can’t even find their way back home.”

“Yeah, annoying as it is, I guess it’s up to us to send ’em somewhere better.”

Of course, that “better place” referred to the skies above.

It had already been two weeks since the war ended.

Even after retreating to Gwangrim following their failed invasion of Bard, stray orcs continued to lurk near the outskirts, causing trouble for nearby settlements.

And dealing with those threats was entirely the rangers’ responsibility.

“Should we call it a day? Feels like we’ve done enough for today.”

“Yeah, it’s getting dark anyway. Let’s head back.”

They wrapped up their patrol and were just about to leave the forest when—

Grrruk!

“...!!”

A growl from the opposite thicket made all of them freeze.

And when they saw what emerged, their faces turned ghost-white.

“Is that... a Minotaur?”

A humanoid monster with the head of a bull—mid-to-high tier.

Even knights got ripped apart by those things bare-handed. The rangers had absolutely no way to handle it.

One of them muttered with a trembling voice.

“Fuck... Why the hell is a Minotaur this far out near the edge...?”

It was likely the lingering aftermath of Garduka’s rampage—his control over the orcs had disrupted the forest’s ecosystem and led to mass slaughter of local monsters.

GRAAAAH!!

“...Scatter and run!”

As the monster let out a deafening roar and prepared to charge, one of them shouted urgently.

Some would die, but it was the only chance they had to avoid total annihilation.

But then—

SHRACK!

A vivid sound of flesh being split apart.

Moments later, the Minotaur’s body cleaved neatly in half, falling apart with a heavy thud.

Thoom...

The rangers stared blankly at the monster’s bifurcated corpse lying on the ground.

And then they looked up again.

Someone had appeared—holding a bloodstained sword in one hand, the other raised and moving through the air.

It looked almost like the sign of the cross, the kind a priest would make.

“Wh–Who are you...?”

At the ranger’s hesitant question, the robed figure turned.

A woman—her face half-covered by a mask.

The bizarre appearance stunned the rangers into silence once more.

She stared at them for a moment, then spoke.

“Have any of you seen a mage pass through this area recently?”

A... mage?

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

But none of them dared question her. They only shook ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) their heads firmly.

“I see.”

Then be careful on your way back.

With those parting words, the woman turned and began walking deeper into Gwangrim.

One of the rangers flinched and called out.

“W–Wait! It’s almost dark. If you go in too deep, it’s dange—”

But he quickly shut his mouth.

Telling someone who just split a Minotaur in half that it’s “dangerous”? He couldn’t believe he’d even said that.

The woman soon vanished into the trees and underbrush.

The rangers stood in stunned silence for a long while, staring at the spot where she’d disappeared.

“...What the hell was that?”

* * *

Two weeks had passed since Karl had begun riding through the Forest of Gwangrim.

After briefly exiting into the plains, he had now reached a canyon—and was preparing for a night of camping.

“...Damn, this is way farther than I thought.”

Chewing on a piece of jerky in front of his campfire, Karl reviewed his next destination.

The Kingdom of Rubis.

Specifically, the Free City of Kerry on its edge.

He planned to pass through it first, then cut directly across the kingdom.

As he wandered through these idle thoughts—

“......”

He suddenly lifted his head toward the other side of the fire.

Heavy, ragged breathing had started to reach his ears from far off—drawing closer and closer.

Soon, the source stumbled into the firelight.

“Haa... haa...!!”

A man covered in blood from head to toe.

Looking like he could collapse at any second, the man locked eyes with Karl, then staggered toward him.

“P–Please... Take this to the Bawle family... Run...!!”

Thud.

And with those last words, he collapsed.

Karl checked his condition.

“...Dead.”

He then turned his gaze to what the man had been holding.

A gem-like object clutched tightly in his hand.

Karl frowned and slowly looked up again.

“...Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

Why?

Rustle...

As masked assailants emerged silently from the shadows to surround him, Karl muttered grimly.

“...Why the hell does this keep happening?”

The chimeras and black mages. Aranhel. The damn orcs.

Why did his path constantly get blocked by bullshit like this?

The one who looked like their leader stepped forward and curled a finger toward Karl.

“That thing—hand it over.”