Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 66: Verbal Sparring (With Extra Annoyance)

Chapter 66: Verbal Sparring (With Extra Annoyance)

Katherine turned the pages carefully, mindful of Ruel’s wary glances. The red markings along the edges pulsed faintly, as if responding to her presence. Despite Ruel’s earlier warning, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the script—it was ancient, yet strangely familiar.

As she read, the text unraveled itself in her mind, the meaning seeping into her thoughts like ink spreading on parchment.

Katherine traced the faded ink, the ancient script curling elegantly across the brittle pages. She read aloud, voice low.

"Magic is the language of the world, but not all tongues are meant to be spoken."

"Of all the colors woven into the fabric of mana, none is more feared than red."

Ruel frowned, tilting his head. "That’s what it says?"

She glanced at him. His eyes were locked onto the text, but there was no recognition in them.

"You can’t read this?" she asked, surprised.

Ruel huffed, crossing his arms. "Do I look like a scholar? It just looks like scribbles to me."

Katherine returned her gaze to the book, continuing.

"It is not an element, nor a school of magic—it is a force tied to the very essence of one’s spirit. It does not obey, nor can it be wielded through learned skill alone. It is awakened from within, shaped by the depths of the soul. But to call upon it is to risk being consumed by it."

Ruel’s expression darkened, even if he couldn’t read the words himself. He drummed his fingers on the table. "That... sounds familiar."

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Familiar how?"

He hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "There were... incidents. Places that vanished overnight, cities swallowed by something unnatural. The records were erased, but some stories survived—stories about red magic waking up."

Katherine turned the page. More script greeted her, the ink faded but legible.

"Red magic does not manifest in those who seek it. It stirs only in those whose spirits resonate with its nature—destructive, unyielding, untamed. It is not creation, but unraveling; not power, but release. Those who have tried to master it found themselves undone, their very essence stripped away, leaving nothing but echoes in their wake."

"And so, it was cast away, forbidden by decree, buried in history."

A silence settled between them.

Ruel leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Well. That’s terrifying."

"Yes. Yes, it is."

Ruel groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is exactly how people in bad stories die, you know that?"

"Good thing we’re in a good story, then." She grinned, ignoring his stare. "Come on, we have research to do."

With that, she tucked the book under her arm and strode toward the librarian’s desk. Ruel sighed, muttering to himself as he followed.

***

As Katherine is about to leave the library with Ruel, her mind buzzed with questions. The connection between magic and the spirit of its wielder, the forbidden nature of red—a color tied to something uncontrollable—it all felt too significant to be mere superstition.

Ruel, who had been watching her read with growing curiosity, leaned closer. "So? Got any world-changing revelations yet?"

Katherine exhaled, tucking the book under her arm. "More questions than answers, honestly."

"Typical." Ruel smirked. "That’s how you know it’s something worth digging into."

Before she could respond, a voice rang out from the library entrance.

"Lady Katherine, there you are!"

A sharply dressed student strode toward them, his robes embroidered with the academy’s crest. The confident gleam in his eyes immediately put Katherine on guard.

"We’ve been looking for you," he continued smoothly. "You’ve been selected to participate in today’s academic symposium debate. It would be unseemly for you to decline."

Katherine blinked. "I—what?"

The student clasped his hands behind his back, clearly expecting no resistance. "Scholars, nobles, and mages alike are testing their intellectual mettle. A lady of your standing wouldn’t refuse such an opportunity, would you?"

Katherine shot a suspicious glance at Ruel, who barely stifled a laugh. "Sounds like fun. You should go," he said unhelpfully.

Her eyes narrowed. "I don’t recall signing up for this."

"Your name was submitted by popular vote," the student replied cheerfully. "A debate wouldn’t be complete without someone of your... reputation."

Katherine had a bad feeling about this.

"Let me guess," she said dryly. "I wasn’t invited to participate. I was invited to lose."

The student’s polite smile didn’t waver. "That would depend on your ability, Lady Katherine."

Katherine groaned inwardly. Great. Just great.

***

The debate hall was packed. Rows of students, scholars, and nobles filled the tiered seating, their voices blending into a low hum of excitement. At the center of it all, standing near the podium, was Katherine—arms crossed, jaw tight, regretting every life decision that had led her here.

This is a setup.

It had been obvious from the moment her name was called. No one had asked for her participation. No one had even hinted at it beforehand. And yet, somehow, she had been elected to represent her class in today’s academic debate.

As Katherine took her place among the debaters, she had the sinking feeling that she’d just walked into a trap. Not the fun, exciting kind with hidden treasure at the end—but the kind where you step on a rake, and it smacks you right in the face.

They definitely picked me on purpose.

A quick glance at the other participants confirmed it. Accomplished scholars, renowned mages, insufferably smug nobles—all of them seasoned debaters with impressive magical credentials. And then there was her.

A noblewoman with zero

known magical ability, standing in a debate about magic.

This is like throwing a cat into a dog show and expecting it to perform tricks.

The whispers in the audience didn’t help.

"She doesn’t even use magic—"

"Maybe it runs in the family..."

Oh. Oh.

Katherine’s fingers drummed against the podium. That wasn’t just a dig at her. That was about her brother.

Her missing brother.

Or, as the academic world called him, the Father of Innovation.

A genius. A visionary. A man who had single-handedly brought modern ideas into this world—introducing concepts that made life easier, businesses richer, and traditionalists deeply, deeply uncomfortable.

And yet, despite being practically worshipped for his brilliance, he had one tiny, itsy-bitsy flaw.

He couldn’t use magic.

Which, in this society, was the equivalent of being a tech billionaire in the modern world... with a flip phone. People admired him, sure, but that admiration was very begrudging. Katherine was pretty sure he had just as many admirers as he did secret haters.

And now, here she was. His sister.

In the middle of a magic debate.

Wow. What a coincidence. Totally not a setup.

Katherine fought the urge to sigh. They must think I’ll crash and burn. That I’ll stand here, stammer like an idiot, and give them all a good laugh.

Unfortunately for them, she had no intention of playing along.

Straightening her shoulders, she plastered on her best oh, I’m about to ruin your day smile.

"Let’s begin," she said smoothly, completely ignoring the murmurs.

Let’s see who really regrets this decision today.

Katherine leaned against the podium, her expression as neutral as possible while her brain worked overtime. The moderator, an older mage with a penchant for unnecessary dramatics, cleared his throat.

"The topic for this round: The Ethical Limitations of Magic in Innovation."

A ripple of interest passed through the audience.

Katherine barely resisted the urge to let out a ha! Of all the topics they could’ve chosen, they went for the one that might as well have had her brother’s name stamped all over it.

Oh, they’re really trying to trip me up.

Her opponent smirked, a young noble with perfectly combed silver hair and the kind of self-satisfied air that made her itch to throw something at him.

"A fascinating subject," he drawled. "And a timely one, considering how certain... individuals push for innovation while disregarding tradition." His gaze flickered toward her meaningfully.

Okay, sir, let’s see how much I can make you regret that smugness.

Katherine gave a pleasant smile. "You mean like how healing potions were once considered an abomination because they ’interfered’ with a mage’s natural recovery process?" She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Or how enchanted tools were condemned because they allowed non-mages to perform basic magical tasks?"

Her opponent stiffened, clearly not expecting her to counter so quickly.

Katherine rested her elbows on the podium, feigning curiosity. "Tell me, Lord Brandt, were you personally against those innovations? Or just the ones that make your life inconvenient?"

The audience stirred, some murmuring in amusement, others in shock.

Brandt’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure. "Magic is a gift, Lady Katherine," he said smoothly. "And not everyone is born with it. If we rely too much on external advancements, we risk weakening the very essence of what makes mages powerful."

Katherine tilted her head. "So you’re saying the magical elite should maintain control while everyone else just... struggles?" She made a small, exaggerated ohhh face. "How progressive of you."

A few chuckles broke out.

Brandt’s jaw tightened. "That’s not what I meant."

"But that’s what you said," she countered easily. "And words matter, Lord Brandt. You wouldn’t want to be misunderstood, would you?"

The moderator cleared his throat, hiding his amusement behind a cough. "Let’s stay on track. Lady Katherine, please elaborate on your stance regarding the limitations of magic in innovation."

Katherine straightened, tapping her fingers against the podium as she considered her response.

"Magic is tied to the spirit," the book had said.

If magic was only about bloodlines and talent, her brother wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything. And yet, despite not having a single ounce of magic, he had left a bigger impact on the world than most mages.

She exhaled and met Brandt’s gaze head-on.

"Magic is powerful, but it isn’t everything," she said. "It’s a tool, just like science, engineering, or medicine. Relying solely on one force while ignoring all others is not wisdom. It’s stagnation."

Brandt opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, Katherine heard a snort from the audience when she turned to look who was it, it was Adolfo who was seating in the audience area with his usual smug on his face.