Nirvana is an Ultra-Conversion Magic. Its effect is to swap Light and Darkness. Specifically, good people become evil, and evil people become good.
Kira already knew this information, so he decided to ask about what he didn't know. "Why do they know about 'Nirvana,' and how did they figure out where it is?"
Hearing Kira's question, Goldmine explained without hesitation. "Their leader, Brain, was once the continent's foremost Magical Scholar. He attacked a branch of the Magic Council, which is how he learned of 'Nirvana's' existence."
"I see!"
The Magic Council has been established for a long time and holds many powerful weapons, including the nation-destroying Etherion and Face, which nullifies magic. "Nirvana" must be one of those assets.
Goldmine continued in a low voice, "The official Guilds have already formed an alliance army. Lamia Scale even deployed one of the Wizard Saints, Jura, for the cause. I also sent a forced restraint unit to assist. But the intel that came in today is very bad!"
Kira looked at him curiously. "What intel?"
Goldmine's expression was grim. His old eyes stared directly at Kira as he said seriously, "Jellal! He is also a member of Oración Seis."
Kira raised an eyebrow. "Jellal, huh?"
No wonder they called me here!
"Yes, this is information gathered by a Council spy. He's not dead, and he's even teamed up with the Six! Since he once infiltrated the Council and even served as a Council Member, he knows the exact location of 'Nirvana.' With Jellal there, Oración Seis will be able to find 'Nirvana'!"
Is that true? Did that guy never lose his memory?
Kira pondered, then asked, "So, what are you suggesting, Chairman Goldmine?"
"Jellal is incredibly strong. Jura alone may not be able to handle both him and the rest of the Six, so I was hoping you could go and take care of this problem!" Goldmine said, without a trace of embarrassment. "You've fought him before and defeated him. I have complete confidence in your strength!"
"Don't worry, I can have the restraint unit cooperate with you in capturing Jellal!"
Goldmine's words were calculated. He said the restraint unit would cooperate and only in capturing Jellal—it was clearly a ploy to trick Kira into being a hitman. But how could such a linguistic trap fool Kira?
"It's not a question of strength. If you really need reinforcements, shouldn't the Council send its own people?"
"In reality, the new Council was only recently established, and we are severely short on personnel!"
Kira rolled his eyes. "I have to say, you're surprisingly open about the Council's weaknesses, Old Man..."
Goldmine huffed. "This old man's conduct has always been forthright and honest!"
"If you're so amazing, why don't you go yourself?" Kira couldn't resist muttering under his breath.
"Hm? What did you say?"
"Nothing!" Kira glanced at the bandages on Goldmine and understood his reasoning: if Goldmine, a Chairman who debuted using Restraint Magic, couldn't defeat Zancrow, one of the Seven Kin, how many of the Six could the remaining Council forces handle?
Thinking this, Kira pointed to Hyberion next to him and said to Goldmine, "Jellal is a Wizard Saint, but I'm not! Why come looking for me when you have a perfectly good Wizard Saint right here?"
Goldmine understood Kira's meaning—he was complaining about not being ranked as a Wizard Saint in previous years. He tried to motivate him. "If you are willing, the Council can officially grant you the title of Wizard Saint once you capture Jellal this time!"
Unfortunately, Kira didn't buy it. He took a sip of his tea and said, "Hmph! Handing me something no one else wants?"
Goldmine: "..."
Hyberion lowered his head and drank his milk, chuckling inwardly. 'He really is from that most troublesome Guild. Mr. Kira has Master Makarov's style! I was too hasty judging him the other day.'
Seeing that Kira was completely resistant, Goldmine finally decided to reveal "Nirvana's" true effect: when the magic is activated, people whose emotions are at an extreme will have their concepts of "Justice" and "Evil" inverted.
Goldmine's bandaged right hand unconsciously clenched. He said darkly, "...It will plunge those of the Light into Darkness! It's a magic so powerful it had to be sealed. Its severity is nearly comparable to Etherion!"
"Since it can plunge those of the Light into Darkness, it can naturally guide those of the Darkness back toward the Light," Kira countered, already prepared for Goldmine's argument. "The more powerful the magic, the greater the side effects! You wouldn't be unaware of that, would you?"
The three remained silent.
Kira seized the opportunity to promote the philosophy he had borrowed from other worlds. "From what I've observed, the Light and Dark sides have always existed in a state of balance in the magical world. The more people who desire Light, the more people who pursue Darkness. Likewise, the stronger the evil people become, the sooner a strong, good person will emerge to check them."
Hyberion praised the idea. "That's a very interesting perspective!"
Konas's bright eyes sparkled. "It's true, but what does that have to do with this 'Nirvana' crisis?"
Kira's sky-blue eyes flashed. "If this hypothesis holds true, then every conversion by 'Nirvana' will happen in pairs! That is to say, once it plunges a righteous person into Darkness, it will naturally lead another wicked person toward the Light!"
Konas lowered her gaze to think, then looked back at Kira. "What if the strength difference between the two converted Mages is too great? 'Nirvana' can change their heart, but it can't affect a Mage's power! If the one who falls to Darkness is stronger, and the one who returns to Light is weaker, then..."
Kira understood her point and finished her thought. "In that situation, it means the 'Darkness' of the magic world has gained the upper hand. Naturally, a strong champion of the 'Light' will emerge later to resolve the issue!"
Goldmine stroked his graying beard and frowned. "Even if your theory is correct, it only holds true over a vast number of people and a long period of time. But the current subjugation team composed of official Guilds is small. If even one person is converted, the alliance could easily fall apart."
Kira admitted Goldmine's point. "You're right about that..."
Then he calmly continued drinking his tea.
Goldmine tentatively asked, "So, you agree to go?"
"Agree? Agree to what?" Kira looked up in confusion. "Weren't we just having a magical discussion?"
"Pfft—!" Konas choked and spat out her tea.
'Oh no! My image...'
Konas's quick reflexes kicked in. In the blink of an eye, she activated her Age Spell (A.K.A. Senility), and the magic instantly aged and evaporated the liquid mid-air. By the time the three men looked at her, she had regained her elegant composure.
"Is something the matter?"
Konas pretended ignorance, meeting their gazes with a look of confused determination, as if that sound hadn't come from her at all.
Kira was instantly impressed. 'Wow, she's a better actress than I am!'
The brief interruption did not sway Goldmine. His lungs were practically bursting with frustration. He nearly spat out, "Fine, don't go then!", but swallowed the words in the end.
Seeing Goldmine's beard twitching with anger, Kira genuinely feared his blood pressure would spike. He quickly diverted the attention. "I still have to teach the students at the academy! Headmistress Konas definitely wouldn't want to let me leave, right?"
However, Konas's reply caught Kira completely off guard. "Actually, it's fine."
Kira: ???
Konas blinked her beautiful eyes and smiled. "Little Kira finished this week's classes already. Seven days is enough time to deal with this, isn't it? If you leave now, you can totally make it back for your next class. If you absolutely can't, we'll just postpone it. I think those lovely students will understand once we explain the situation!"
She's an old lady, why is she acting so cute right now?
"Hey, hey... I've done a lot for the academy. Is it really okay to exploit my labor like this?"
Konas just kept smiling. After a moment, her tone became slightly more serious, and she gently asked, "Aren't you worried about your guildmates' safety?"
Kira gave her a "pfft" look. "I have faith in the strength of my comrades!"
"In short, I absolutely refuse to agree to go capture Oración Seis and Jellal!!!"