"Magic is elusive, spells are immeasurable, and the mysteries of magic are endless."

Around 8 PM, in a semi-circular living room, EeDeChi and Barrett leaned back in soft chairs. Across from them, old Tony sank comfortably into a woolen armchair, striking a relaxed pose as he spoke passionately.

"Magic can be amplified several times when released through quality conductors, such as a unicorn's horn, a wyvern's tail feathers, radiant crystals, or even the reproductive organs of fire lizards... Humans don't have a high affinity for magic, so we've created wands, staffs, and holy icons, among other things..."

Barrett had visited old Tony's place before and knew the way well. He guided EeDeChi to old Tony's home, knocked on the door, and explained their purpose: EeDeChi wanted to ask some basic questions about magic.

As the leader of an adventurer team capable of casting several 5th Tier attack spells, she had already stepped into what the humans of this world considered the realm of "heroes."

But she knew deep down that she could master much higher-tier spells, and she had to. Compared to Ainz Ooal Gown's 11th Tier—Super-Tier Magic, 5th Tier spells felt like trying to pierce a knight's adamantine armor with a goblin's crude bow and arrows.

To fight against a demon king, one must possess power that rivals the demon king's. EeDeChi had exceptional talent in magic, but if that talent couldn't be transformed into power, it was just empty talk.

"Snap!" Old Tony clicked his fingers, and suddenly flames erupted in the empty fireplace on one side of the living room. The dancing flames licked the cold stone walls, radiating warmth and light that filled the entire room.

image [https://www.chimneysaversolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/bigstock-Home-Fire-Burning-In-The-Firep-60059273.png]

"Save the candles," Old Tony waved his finger, and several white candles on the brass candlestick flickered out, wisps of white smoke curling from the charred wicks.

He then shook his right index finger, and a round oak table began to slide across the room as if pushed by an invisible hand, perfectly stopping between the three of them.

Old Tony snapped his fingers again, and three porcelain cups with matching saucers materialized out of thin air, making a delightful "ding" as they settled on the table.

EeDeChi and Barrett watched with keen interest as old Tony cast his spells. The old mage hadn't moved an inch from his woolen chair, yet everything around him seemed to obey his command.

"Tea time!" Old Tony clapped his hands lightly, saying with a relaxed tone, "On a cold winter's night, even without snow outside, a sip of red tea from the Bogat Highlands is simply delightful."

Barrett and EeDeChi's eyes widened as they stared at the three empty white teacups on the table, their faces filled with anticipation.

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A hurried voice approached, "Coming, coming!" It was a boy's voice. The boy ran in, carrying a heavy green-and-gold teapot, and filled their cups with a light red brew.

EeDeChi and Barrett looked up at old Tony, their expressions blank.

Old Tony stroked his goatee, a bit sheepish as he chuckled, "Food can't be created out of thin air with magic, just as living things can't be stored in a spatial ring. It's one of the few dull rules in the mysterious realm of magic.

"Let me introduce you. This is my nephew, Eddie Hill. You've met him at the dog-fighting arena. He chose the location for the practical magic course himself; I certainly didn't rescue any puppies out of kindness," old Tony said, patting Eddie on the shoulder.

The boy was around fourteen or fifteen, with light brown hair and a few freckles on his face. He felt a bit awkward facing the unfamiliar EeDeChi and Barrett. Barrett remembered using a sonic blast spell to warm up the stage for old Tony during the High-tier adventurer meeting.

Old Tony said to Eddie, "Use your summoning magic to grab a cup. If you can bring one out, you can have some red tea."

Eddie pouted and shook his head. "I already had some when I was brewing it. It was awful—bitter as hell!"

"How many times have I told you not to snack, especially on guests' tea?" Old Tony puffed out his cheeks and glared, pretending to get angry, though his backside didn't budge an inch from the soft chair.

With the big teapot in hand, Eddie took off running, disappearing in a flash.

"Kids these days are really hard to manage," Old Tony sighed while stroking his beard. "Now, let me explain the basic patterns of magic circles. By the way, what's the highest tier of magic you've used?" he asked EeDeChi.

"5th Tier magic," EeDeChi replied coolly.

"5TH TIER? DON'T JOKE AROUND!" Old Tony's eyes widened in surprise. "Do you know that Baharuth's strongest court magician, Fluder Paradyne, who's lived for over 200 years, only mastered 6th Tier magic?"

"Don't believe me?" EeDeChi stretched out her palm, magic rippling outward, colorful rings spinning around her wrist. A red and green magical disk blossomed in front of her hand.

"5th Tier Magic: Landslide…" EeDeChi was about to recite the full name of the spell.

Barrett and old Tony lunged from their woolen chairs, grabbing her arm and shaking her hard, interrupting her incantation.

"I believe you! I believe you! No need to prove it!" Old Tony nodded eagerly. "If you show me here, my house would be in ruins!"

As a seasoned magician and an elite adventurer, he could tell from the magical aura and the twisting of energy that EeDeChi was indeed capable of casting a 5th Tier spell.

Old Tony sighed and settled back into his chair. "You're already in the 'hero' realm. What do you need with an old guy like me who only knows 4th Tier magic?"

"I want to understand the basic rules of magical flow," EeDeChi lowered her voice, "to learn 10th Tier, or even 11th Tier magic."

"10TH TIER? 11TH TIER?" Old Tony looked astonished. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Where did you learn your 5th Tier magic?"

EeDeChi pulled out a thick, custom-bound book titled *The Mystery of Magic* from her spatial ring and tossed it onto the table. "I learned it from this book, but there are parts I don't understand."

Old Tony picked up *The Mystery of Magic*, flipped through a few pages, and exclaimed, "This is an unpublished secret book." He traced the author's name on the title page with his fingertip, murmuring, "The authors are renowned High-tier mages from Baharuth, legendary figures in our magical community."

He asked EeDeChi, "I've long admired them. Can you introduce me?"

"They're all dead."

EeDeChi took a sip of red tea from her cup and fell silent. *The Mystery of Magic* was a book she found while on an adventure in Baharuth, in a luxurious manor.

That adventure had been a trap set specifically for her by the Great Tomb of Nazarick. From what she gathered about the manor, the mages had been discussing revisions to *The Mystery of Magic* when they were all killed by Ainz Ooal Gown's subordinates.